SPL Shelf Life [kids]

These reviews appeared in the Stratford Gazette on June 30, 2011 

Written by Sally Hengeveld, Librarian

Wicked Will, by Bailey MacDonald, 201 pages.

@ SPL:  J FIC MacDo

 “Where there’s a Will... there’s trouble” begins this mystery which features a young, precocious William Shakespeare in Stratford-on-Avon, England. And, indeed, the mystery in this tale is a “murder most foul”.

Acting apprentice Thomas Pryne has travelled to Stratford with his uncle’s troupe, but the actors’ hopes of presenting their plays to the good citizens of the town are erased when the lifeless body of Farmer Speight is discovered.  Suspicion falls on Tom’s uncle because he had quarrelled with the cantankerous farmer shortly before the body was discovered. When more clues pointing to his uncle’s guilt are unearthed, Tom is certain that his Uncle Matthew has been framed.

One citizen, young Will Shakespeare, his imagination afire, befriends Tom and they attempt to solve the mystery together. Will hatches one imaginative scheme after another to find the true murderer, and all of them backfire – except the last. 

 Although the story is fictional, the details about clothing, food and customs are authentic and readers will learn much about Shakespearean England. It’s interesting to see Bailey MacDonald’s portrayal of the young William Shakespeare, with his dramatic imagination and his avid interest in people - attributes which he certainly put to good use later in life as a playwright.

Suspenseful and funny at the same time, this mystery will entice and hold the attention of young readers.

**Recommended for ages 8 to 12 years.

Neil Flambe and the Aztec Abduction, by Kevin Sylvester, 317 pages.

@ SPL:  J FIC Sylve

Neil Flambe is a master chef. Although he’s only 15 years of age, he can hold his own in the culinary world – in fact, he’s won a few major competitions already. Neil has just arrived in Mexico City for the world premier cooking competition series, the Azteca Cocina, a “high-profile battle of the chefs”.

Unfortunately, food isn’t the only thing that will be prepared at this competition - a heap of mystery, trouble and danger will be brewed as well!

No sooner does Neil win the first cook-off than his good friend, Isabella, is kidnapped. Then he receives a threatening letter with some instructions: he is to win every cook-off except the final one. If he does so, Isabella will not be harmed, but if he disobeys the letter’s instructions, she will die!

Now Neil must concentrate on winning the competitions (except the last one) and look for Isabella too. He’s not convinced that Isabella will be unharmed even if he follows the mysterious instructions. The further he delves into the “underworld” of Mexico City, the more certain he is that unless he can find Isabella himself, he’ll never see her again. And, ideally, Neil would like both to be the Azteca Cocina champion chef, and have Isabella safe.

Neil and his cooking assistants squeak through one adventure after another in their quest to find Isabella and win the cooking competitions.  Danger and hilarity confront them at every turn. Young readers will be thoroughly entertained by this wacky, fast-paced and easily-digested mystery, one of a new series by Canadian author Kevin Sylvester. 

** Recommended for ages 10 to 13 years.

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SPL Shelf Life [adult]

This review appeared in the Stratford Gazette on June 30, 2011
Written by Robyn Godfrey, Librarian

The Corvette in the Barn: More Great Stories of Automotive Archaeology, by Tom Cotter

@SPL: 629.222 Cot

The author of three other books about “lost” cars in need of makeovers, you could say that Ken Cotter enjoys the hunt as much as the cars themselves. In this fourth book, Mr. Cotter tells the tales of his far-flung ranging in search of classics and the serendipitous finds of other automobile aficionados. For instance, a mere glimpse inside a closing garage stopped Jeff Trask in his tracks, and uncovered not only a near-mint British Racing Green Sunbeam Alpine, but a dust-covered gold, like-new Aston Martin DB2-4 MK III as well, in the possession of someone only too happy to sell both. In the chapter on Hollywood Machines, Cotter relates how Karl Kirchner found his own bliss, a Black Beauty – one of the 1966 Chrysler Imperials featured in the original-but-short-lived Green Hornet television show (and which recently starred in the blockbuster movie of the same name). The detective work these car fanatics use to track down their faves and their owners is remarkable – even if the owners sometimes remain reluctant to part with their classic babies. The provenance of each vehicle is as lovingly detailed as the cars themselves, and nearly each short chapter comes with photos revealing the finds, or the befores and afters of completed restorations. For those wanting to know the secrets of Cotter’s success in finding hidden gems, he graciously provides a number of “barn-finding” tips. Weighing in with 250 finely-wrought pages, don’t let the heft of this book scare you – it is immensely readable all at once or in little chunks, and with the aid of its excellent index you can choose to read only about the cars of most interest to you. And for those wanting to know the fate of the Sleeping Beauties (you car buffs know what I’m talking about), Cotter has even managed to solve that mystery too.  Rev up your summer reading, and reserve The Corvette in the Barn at http://spl.bibliocommons.com. 

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Get Splashing!

Registration for the TD Summer Reading Club - SPLASH! Celebrate Summer is in full force at SPL. So far 147 children, aged 5-12, have registered. When a child registers, they receive a kit which includes a bookbag, a poster, and an activity book.  The children are encouraged to read all summer long, and when they do, they have a chance to win great prizes.  Those registered also are invited to attend a free weekly program where they can listen to stories, play games and make crafts. 
Learn more about the TD Summer Reading Club as well as the various drop-in programs held at the library all summer long. 

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Vacation Time!

Are you going on vacation or are you currently too busy to read all of the books you've requested, but don't want to lose your place in queue by canceling your holds? You can suspend your holds using the online catalog, still move along in hold queue and then have the hold reactive at a specific date when you are back and able to pick up the item.

To Suspend a Hold:

1. To change the status of a request, click in the checkbox next to each title, and then click the Suspend button. 
2. A calendar will appear where you can select the reactivation date.
3. Cancelled and suspended holds are each shown on separate pages. You can activate suspended holds from the Suspended page.

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Announcement from Ontario Works

Your Ontario Works office has a plan in place to assist you to receive your cheque on time.  During the postal disruption, you can pick up your cheque on June 30 or July 4 at the following locations:

Residents of Stratford
City Hall Auditorium, 1st floor, 1 Wellington Street, Stratfodr
Between 1 and 4pm

Residents of St. Marys and Perth South
Pyramid Centre, 317 James Street Room D, St Marys
Between 10:30 and 11:30am

Residents of Milverton and Perth East
Municipal Office, 25 Mill Street East, Milverton
Between 10:30 and 11:30am

Residents of Mitchell and West Perth
Municipal Office, Council Chambers, 169 St. David Street, Mitchell
Between 1:30 and 2:30pm

Residents of Listowel and North Perth
Municipal Office, 330 Wallace Street, Listowel
Between 1:00 and 3:30pm

NOTE: YOU MUST BRING IDENTIFICATION TO PICK UP YOUR CHEQUE.

If you receive Ontario Works benefits through direct deposit, payments will be deposited into your bank account as usual.

Please call the Interactive Voice Response service at 1-800-808-2268 to check for any holds on your file.  (If you don’t know your PIN / ID number, press 0 for help)

If you have any questions about your Ontario Works payment, please call your local Ontario Works office at 271-3773 or 1-800-669-2948.

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Longer Loan Periods for Cds!

Effective Monday June 27, cds at the Stratford Public Library will loan out for 3 weeks rather than the short 1 week period that has been in effect for 10+ years. Members of SPL have over 4,000 cds ranging from opera to country, from dance to musicals available to borrow from the libraries in the PCIN network.  
To browse the collection online and place requests, click here, but you can also search the catalogue to find specific cds.  Check the tips below.
Tips to finding CDs in the library catalogue:

• Musicians are the equivalent of Authors, so search by band or artist in the Author search. 
• Limit by the format Music CD once a search is performed (on left hand side of screen)
• Search by song! Type the name of the song in the general Keyword search, and you may find what you are looking for!
• To see what's new in the catalogue, click on Explore > New Titles > and then click on the Music link.  New cds added within the lat 30 days will appear. 

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What is your library worth to you?

Have you ever wondered how much would you pay out-of-pocket for the library services you use each  month?  Bet you will be surprised! 

Fill out the calculator on our website to estimate the cost of borrowing books, magazines, dvds, audiobooks, ebooks, attending programs and using the library computers. 

We'd love to hear what value you arrived at!

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SPL Shelf Life [adult]

This review appeared in the Stratford Gazette on June 23, 2011
Written by Shauna Thomas, Librarian 

Save as Draft by Cavanaugh Lee

@SPL: FIC Cavan

First off, be grateful. I was going to review a different book altogether. One called The Information, by James Gleick - all about the history of information and its technologies, and how they've shaped us. The plan was to scribble up something along the lines of how it sounds like a book only a librarian could love, but really any nonfiction lover with an interest in media theory should give it a whirl, because it's terribly witty and comprehensive. For the record? You should read that book, too.

Not precisely beach reading, though, is it? And fair enough. I was having the same thought when I picked up Cavanaugh Lee's first offering, Save as Draft, as my cuddle book (The Information hardly being the book you take to bed to sing you to sleep, after all. You'd have some mighty weird dreams). So why was Save as Draft so beguiling as to tempt me to change books for this week's review?

This book feels naughty. An information-age update to the epistolary novel format (written in diary entries and letters), Save as Draft is composed entirely of texts, tweets, status updates, emails and eHarmony messages. If that sounds to you like a recipe for poor character development and a one-sided narrative, you'd be wrong, and I was wrong with you. Lee has a gift for bringing out the voices of her characters through their digital trails. Maybe more importantly, she has a talent for capturing the juicy drama from all angles without giving you the feeling you're reading an expository tweet.

You spend the entire novel feeling like you've picked up a forgotten laptop at a coffee shop - you start poking around to find out to whom it should be returned (honest!), except her email is really juicy and you can't stop reading through it until you find out what happens. Here is what happens (minus spoilers, of course):

Whip-smart, sarcastic, and cheerfully idealistic, recent law school grad Izabell Chin lands a job at an Atlanta law firm. She's been lucky enough to settle near Peter and Elizabeth, close friends from school. But Peter's so close he's practically a girlfriend, and Elizabeth is married; Izzy's chances of finding love with this crew are painfully slim. So, she and a farther-flung school friend take up online dating to expedite the process, taking care to document the particularly hilarious matches and unsolicited creepy messages by cc-ing and bcc-ing each other into the action.

Before long, Izzy meets Marty. He's well-off, stable, charming, has a great relationship with his mother, and he's wild for Izzy. But just when things heat up, Izzy's best friend Peter finally makes a move. Who should Izzy choose? Obviously, the choice is Peter. They're best friends! Srsly. Except, love is seldom so simple. Before long, some entertaining and extensive Victoria's Secret retail therapy receipts crop up in Izzy's inbox, alongside sweet messages from Marty. What does Izzy do? Well, some really entertaining drunk texting, for starters (I snorted in public trying not to laugh). For the rest, you'll need to pick up the book. Save as Draft is the perfect beach blanket confection – a naughty-bad-fun, one-day read you'll miss when it's over.

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SPL Shelf Life [kids]

These reviews appeared in the Stratford Gazette on June 23, 2011 

Written by Sally Hengeveld, Librarian

Children are curious about many things in science. A well-written and attractively presented children’s science book can engage both an avid and a reluctant reader.  For the author, it can be a challenge to take complicated science and explain it at a level that can be understood by young inquiring minds, but many children’s science books have successfully done so, and the following new books are just two examples. 

Kaboom! Explosions of all Kinds, by Gillian Richardson, 83 pages.

@ SPL:  J 541.361 Ric

Explosions of various kinds actually happen all the time in nature, from the quiet “pop” of seed pods to noisy volcanic eruptions, dramatic solar flares in space and huge supernovas in neighbouring galaxies.  Some explosions are man-made, such as fireworks, gunpowder, dynamite or the exploding fuel in the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine.  Some explosions occur in our own kitchens, such as when we pop corn or shake a bottle of carbonated beverage.

What causes an explosion?  It happens when a rapid release of energy occurs – often a result of gases under an extreme pressure (such as heat) expanding and needing more space than what is available.

One of the best-known explosions on our planet occurs every 20 minutes or so in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. The spouts of Old Faithful, a geyser that erupts in steam when water beneath the earth’s surface reaches the boiling point, can be as high as a 20-story building.

Some of the most famous and dramatic explosions in history are described in this book, such as the Halifax Harbour Explosion of 1917, the Hindenburg tragedy (1937) and volcanic explosions such as the eruption of Mount St. Helens (1980, Washington State).

The many photos and careful selection of information (which is easy for children to understand but still adequate to explain each phenomenon) has resulted in an intriguing children’s science book which addresses a topic that’s sure to be of interest.  Sources of more information are provided.

** Recommended for ages 8 to 12 years.

Journey to Mars: Quest for the Red Planet, by Jonathan Webb, 48 pages.

@ SPL:  J 523.43 Web

For years, Mars has been the setting of many science fiction adventures in book and film. Little was actually known about the “red planet” but all sorts of fantastic possibilities – such as green aliens with ray guns, or creatures with tentacles - were imagined.  Modern technology has allowed us to learn more.  We now know that our neighbour planet has no humanoid life forms, and we also know that its air is composed mostly of carbon dioxide, temperatures are generally very cold, and the soil is toxic.  

Journey to Mars describes the spacecraft and cameras which have travelled to/near Mars, and invites young readers to imagine their own journey to this planet, complete with protective space suits and oxygen supplies.  Visitors can expect to see a barren landscape of craters, deep valleys, plateaux and jagged mountains on Mars, which is approximately one half of the size of Earth.  The largest volcano in our solar system, Olympus Mons, measuring three times the height of Earth’s Mount Everest, is found on this planet.  No trees, plants or flowers exist, and the soil is thin and stony.  There are no oceans, rivers, ponds or even puddles.  Looking into the atmosphere of Mars, visitors would likely see lots of reddish-coloured dust and possibly one of the two Martian moons.

Still today, however, much more is unknown about Mars than known.

This science book addresses a topic of great interest to children, using clear photos and a wealth of up-to-date information in an easy-to-understand format that draws many comparisons to Earth for young readers.  Further sources of information and reading are listed.

** Recommended for ages 8 to 12 years

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Email Reminders

Members of the Stratford Public Library can sign up for email reminders in the online catalogue.  What this means is that when items are coming due, you will receive an email alert, allowing you ample time to return or renew your items before you get any late charges.   

1. Log into your account in the library catalogue.
2. If you are not already on the Reminders page, click the Account Settings link at the top of the page, and then click the Reminders link.
3. Choose the types of reminders you’d like to receive by checking the check boxes under Send me an e-mail reminder of.
4. For items coming due, use the drop-down menu to select the number of days’ notice you would like to have when receiving reminders.
5. Choose between Daily or Once Only to set how often you would like to receive your reminders. Daily reminders come to you every day until you renew or return the item. Once Only reminders mean that you will get a single reminder per item.
6. Click Save to update your reminder settings

Please remember, that while this service is offered for your convenience, it is your responsibility to monitor due dates and return your materials on time. 

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SPL Shelf Life [adult]

This review appeared in the Stratford Gazette on June 16, 2011
Written by Robyn Godfrey, Librarian 

The Daughter of Siena, by Marina Fiorato

@SPL: FIC Fiora

In Tuscany the city of Siena has for centuries been divided into contrada, or administrative sections, named for various animals, and whose fierce competitions for power are legendary. The most notorious of these competitions is the Palio, a horse race lasting only 72 seconds, around the famous fan-shaped piazza in the middle of old Siena. It is around this event that Marina Fiorato based her latest novel, Daughter of Siena. 

In the early 1700’s the contrada vied for control of the city against the powerful – but dying - Medici dynasty. The Grand Duchess Violante de Medici, the childless, melancholy widow of Ferdinando, is aware of a conspiracy and enlists the aid of a young, unknown horseman, Riccardo Bruni of the Tower contrada. In the previous Palio Riccardo nearly outran the heavy favourite, the cruel Vincenzo Caprimulgo of the Eagle contrada, and is the only one to try to help Vincenzo when he is thrown from his horse mid-race. Riccardo’s futile efforts win him the respect of Faustino, leader of the Eagle contrada, but leaves leaves Pia Tolomei of the Owlet contrada without a betrothed – her relief at Vincenzo’s death lasts less than an hour as she finds herself then betrothed to Vincenzo’s equally malicious brother, Nello. Daily faced with examples of the Eagle’s ruthlessness, Riccardo and Pia become spies for the Medici Duchess as she tries to bring peace back to the city of Siena. In their shared duty they discover a true bond of love, one that harkens back to legends of the Round Table, and to tales from Dante. But they are not the only ones who uncover secrets – the Duchess discovers that the Medici went to pitiless lengths to secure power as well, with one such event having both terrible and wonderful consequences for herself.  

Daughter of Siena is another satisfying, rich read from Marina Fiorato, this one based on the historical figure of Violante Beatrix de Medici, whose laws defining the contrada’s powers and the rules of the Palio are still in use today. This novel should be of interest to anyone with a love of Italy, Italian history, horse-riding and Arthurian romance – the edition found at the Stratford Public Library contains a dialogue with the author as well as a guide for book clubs. Enjoy with a glass of chianti. Salute!  

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IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING STRATFORD ONTARIO WORKS BENEFITS

Due to the lockout of Canada Post workers please do not mail any correspondence that needs to reach the Ontario Works office at this time.

Drop off locations are as follows:

During regular business hours 8:30 to 4:30

• Town of St Marys Treasury Department, 175 Queen St E, St Marys
• Municipality of North Perth, 330 Wallace Ave N, Listowel
• Municipality of Perth South, 3191 Road 122, St Pauls
• Municipality of Perth East, 25 Mill St E, Milverton
• Municipality of Perth West, 169 St David St, Mitchell
• City of Stratford Social Services, 82 Erie Street, Stratford

24 hours per day at the drop box located at the main office area at 82 Erie Street Stratford

Please call the Interactive Voice Response System (IVR) at 1-800-808-2268 to check for any holds on your file.  (If you have forgotten your PIN or ID number press 0 for an attendant).

TO OBTAIN INFORMATION ABOUT JULY CHEQUE PICKUP, PLEASE LISTEN TO YOUR LOCAL RADIO STATION.

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Don't get the Overdue Blues!

A reminder that printed Library notices cannot be delivered during the Canada Post lockout. Patrons can check their accounts online with My SPL, or better still - come on in and sign up for e-mail notification!
No home Internet access? Check your due dates by calling the Library during our open hours at 519-271-0220, or use the Library's Adult Internet stations at your next visit. 
If you have not used My SPL in the library catalogue before, you will be prompted to register.  By registering you create a username which you can use to log into the catalogue in the future.  The PIN required is generally the last 4 digits of your phone number. 
Any questions? Let us know either in the comments below or by emailing askspl@pcin.on.ca or calling 519-271-0220. 

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downloadLibrary and the Windows Phone

Good news for Windows Phone users! There is now an Overdrive Media Console App for your phone too! This new app will allow users of downloadLibrary to download MP3 auidobooks and eBooks directly to their mobile phone. This free Windows Phone app is available in the Windows Phone Marketplace and can be installed on all Windows Phone devices.

Watch a demo of how it works in this youtube video. 

Now there is a mobile app for every major mobile phone system! Enjoy downloadLibrary on the go!

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Summer Fun!

Do you have any big plans this summer? No? Looking for some fun things to do - that are local? Our WebWatch for the month of April was on local events and it has lots of good sites to check out. Haven't heard of WebWatch? It's our monthly electronic newsletter that reviews websites on a certain topic and also shares that month's upcoming library events.  To subscribe, send a message to webwatch-subscribe@pcin.on.ca. 


Here's the links shared in the Arpil newsletter again (with one addition - oops - missed a good one!)

Welcome to Stratford
Visit the official site for the Stratford Tourism Alliance. This site contains information not only for visitors to Stratford, but also for residents as well. Read about the various things to see and do, the various upcoming festivals and be sure to read up on the Stratford Chocolate Trail... yum!

City of Stratford: Things to Do
Why not explore a new bike trail? A new park? Visit a new church? Or check out the local pool schedule. The City of Stratford's Recreation Division is also now on Facebook, "Like" them to be updated on upcoming events.

SNAP Perth
Have you noticed the new local publication called SNAP Perth? This publication covers local happenings in Perth County from the previous month with lots of pictures (print copies available at the library). I bet you will recognize more than one person in this paper. You can also visit the SNAP Perth website and see what's upcoming this month. You will be amazed with all that is happening in Perth County on a daily basis.

Kids Play Perth
There are lots of great programs and organizations that focus on children and families in Perth County. Kids Play Perth brings them all together in one website. Kids Play Perth is also quite active on Facebook and Twitter so be sure to follow them to keep up to date.

Perth Arts Connect
Stratford and area has a wealth of cultural and historical events happening all the time. 

Stratford Public Library
And of course there are all the events the Stratford Public Library offers! Check our events page, follow us on Twitter and Facebook and you can even add our Google Calendar to your Google Calendar page for easy access. If you are not using these social sites, you can always check the bulletin board at the entrance to the library for upcoming library and community events.

Visit Perth County
So many great day trip adventures are available to be had in Perth County. Follow the Epicurean Trek, Ride the Counties Motorcycle Route map, or follow the Shakespeare to the Shoreline driving tour - and that's just the tip of the iceberg!

Ontario, Yours to Discover Festivals & Events

Celebrate the seasonal activities around Ontario! Find out what, where and when from this site.

Southern Ontario Tourism
The natural beauty of Southern Ontario comes to life at popular tourist destinations like Point Pelee National Park, Wasaga Beach and Niagara Falls. We have a wealth of attractions within a couple of hours drive within Southern Ontario - Explore!

Ontario Culinary Tourism Alliance
Stratford and area has an ever growing reputation as a culinary destination. Visit the OCTA site to find out not only what is happening in Stratford, but also in the rest of Ontario. There are dinners, farmer's markets, festivals and tastings to explore.

Ontario Parks
Are you planning on going camping this summer? Be sure to book your campsite early as campgrounds can fill up quickly. Besides camping, explore the trails, rivers, fishing sites, and wildlife viewing in Ontario's parks.

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It's as simple as 1, 2, 3

The Stratford Public Library's free downloadable audiobook service is now over 4500 titles strong. In downloadLibrary there is an audiobook for everyone - we have titles for kids, teens, and adults - on every topic imaginable! There is fantasy, romance, mystery, biography, business, new age... the list goes on and on. They are perfect for road trips, walks along the river, mowing the grass, painting, or just relaxing. 


To get access to these book you need to complete the following steps:

1. Download and Install the free software called Overdrive Media Console (once this is on your computer, you don't have to download it again)
2. Browse for a book you want to listen to and check it out. 
3. Download and enjoy!

Once your audiobook is downloaded, you can enjoy it for the loan period duration on your computer or on your portable device (mp3 player, ipod etc).  For complete printable directions, click here.  

(p.s. we also have free ebooks!)

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SPL Shelf Life [adult]

This review appeared in the Stratford Gazette on June 9, 2011
Written by Shauna Thomas, Librarian 

 

The Rose Garden by Susanna Kearley

@SPL: FIC Kears

 

Fans of Ontario author Susanna Kearsley will be pleased to hear she is back; and her new novel, The Rose Garden, is built from the same elements that made Marianna and The Winter Sea impossible to put down. For those unfamiliar with her work, Kearsley's made a name for herself penning tales of romantic suspense featuring appeal factors like time travel, flawlessly researched Celtic culture and landscapes, and warm, likeable characters. She has a knack for building steamy, suspenseful tension into book you can lend your grandmother without blushing, and as far as I'm concerned that is a serious skill. Indeed, most of Kearsley's books could be considered a slightly cleaned-up, faster-paced readalike for Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series, and make an excellent next read when you've run out of books featuring the masculinely divine Jamie Fraser. Her latest outing, The Rose Garden, is no exception.

 

After the death of her film star sister, Hollywood PR agent Eva finds herself making the journey from California to the home of Mark and Susan, close family friends in Cornwall. At a loss for what to do without her sister, she decides to end her Hollywood career and put her skills to work saving Trelowarth - the manor that is home to Mark and Susan - from financial ruin. Throughout the novel, Kearsley sustains an atmosphere of the lush, natural mystery of the Cornish landscape, to the degree that Trelowarth becomes a full presence and character within the story. With the aid of friends from the neighbouring village, Susan plans to open a tea room at Trelowarth, and Eva will build the website and look after drawing in the crowds.

 

In the meantime, however, Eva begins suffering what appear to be hallucinations. Initially, she blames her sleeping pills and grief for the excursions back in time to when Trelowarth was smuggling hub during the Jacobite Rebellions. But when one hallucination abates, leaving her standing in the 21st century wearing clothes she's been loaned in the 1700s by an intense, handsome (and ostensibly imaginary) smuggler named Daniel, she's forced to re-evaluate.

With help from local folktales, Eva begins to reason out what is happening to her on her journeys back in time. Reason, however, doesn't help her stay detached on these journeys - her undeniable connection with Daniel has drawn her into the intrigue of his smuggling and activities within the Jacobite uprisings. Worse, local law enforcement have noted Daniel's attachment to Eva, and want to make her a pawn in their plans. Kearsley skillfully builds tension between the two times, and the reader is hard pressed to put down the book before discovering whether Eva can master her time shifting before someone gets caught or killed.

 

Perfect for the beach or cottage, The Rose Garden is an enchanting journey you'll want to share.

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SPL Shelf Life [kids]

These reviews appeared in the Stratford Gazette on June 9, 2011 

Written by Sally Hengeveld, Librarian

The Trouble with Chickens: a J.J. Tully Mystery, by Doreen Cronin, 119 pages.

@ SPL:  J FIC Croni

J.J. Tully, now retired, once performed courageous and daring missions as a search-and-rescue dog. He scaled steep mountains to rescue lost climbers, pulled people out of rubble piles after earthquakes, entered dark canyons to rescue lost hikers, located disoriented people during terrible blizzards, and more. However, none of these feats have prepared him for the challenging mystery that confronts him on the farm to which he has retired, where two small chicks have disappeared.

Their mother is frantic and won’t let J.J. rest until he finds her two darling balls of fluff – but where are they? Have they been chick-napped? Can J.J. count on his nose to find their trail, or is he about to be outsmarted by two doubly-mischievous little chicks, a mysterious ransom note and the devious “Vince the Funnell”? In the end, perhaps only J.J.’s highly-developed sense of smell can sniff out the evidence for the answer!

The Trouble with Chickens is Doreen Cronin’s first chapter book for children, but with its dead-pan humour, it’s just as hilarious as her popular picture books (such as Click Clack Moo: Cows that Type). Kevin Cornell’s expressive illustrations add to this terrific story – the first in the J.J.Tully Mystery Series, written for children who are beginning to read chapter books.

** Recommended for ages 7 to 10 years.

Tough Chicks, by Cece Meng, 28 pages.

@ SPL:  JP Meng

Mama Hen’s three chicks – Penny, Polly and Molly – were three independent, energetic, tough little chicks. They wrestled worms, raced bugs and dove off the fence after pesky farm flies. They grabbed the end of the cow’s tail to hitch a ride, and roped roosters.

The three chicks were inquisitive too - they explored the henhouse, the barn, the barnyard and even the engine under the hood of the tractor. “Were chicks supposed to be so curious?” Farmer Fred wondered to himself.

Mama Hen worried just a little about her chicks. Were they perhaps a little too inquisitive, independent and rambunctious? They didn’t peck grain quietly from the henhouse floor, or preen their feathers in the sun, as did the other chicks on the farm. Nor did they scramble to hide under their mama’s wing, afraid to come out, when something noisy or big appeared in the barnyard. Why, her little chicks weren’t afraid of anything!

But Mama Hen realized that she didn’t need to worry at all about her chicks on the day when Farmer’s Fred’s runaway tractor, headed straight for the henhouse and a catastrophe, was headed off by none other than Penny, Polly and Molly. (And later, they were able to fix the tractor too!) She realized that indeed, she had three very smart, very brave, “tough” chicks! And that was a good thing.

Cece Meng’s amusing story, with its expressive illustrations and its relevant message about appreciating others’ differences and abilities will be a definite “hit” with young children and their parents.

** Recommended for ages 3 to 7 years. 

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So long statutes & regs!

In an attempt to make a little more room on the shelves, we are weeding the Federal and Provincial Statutes and Regulations from our collection. But don't worry - you can still find this valuable information. The information is available online and is searchable making the sources much easier to use and more up-to-date.  
You can find the Ontario Statutes and Regulations at Ontario e-Laws and the Canadian Statutes and Regulations  at Justice Laws. 

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Stratford is Different...

Even though Stratford did not win the Top 1 Intelligent Community last week, it was a huge honour to make it to the Smart 21 and then in the Top 7.   As part of the presentation to the Intelligent Community Forum in New York in June, the City of Stratford presented this video which highlights Stratford and it's achievements. 
Congratulations to everyone in Stratford for working together and working so hard to make it as far as we did! 

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Voices Against Violence Against Women

Come forward and let your voice be heard on June 16 and 17 at a Airing Our Laundry, workshop.  

On June 16 and 17, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m, join us for a free workshop in the SPL auditorium as we create t-shirts that will be used for an art display at the Library.  The shirts will be on display June 20 - 30.  Call 519-273-7350 to register or just show up. 


Speak out against violence against women! 


These workshops have been organized by the Emily Murphy Centre, Stratford Public Library and the Stop Violence Against Women Coordinating Committee of Perth County 

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SPL Shelf Life [kids]

These reviews appeared in the Stratford Gazette on June 2, 2011 

Written by Sally Hengeveld, Librarian

Unsinkable, by Gordon Korman, 170 pages.

@ SPL:  J FIC Korma

As the “unsinkable” ship, the Titanic, steams across the Atlantic Ocean en route to New York City, it carries hundreds of passengers who are excited and delighted to be on the world’s largest and most luxurious liner, a veritable “floating city”.

Four young people, however, are not enjoying the voyage.

The first is Paddy, a stowaway, who had hoped to escape the clutches of a ruthless gang by crossing the Atlantic. Unfortunately, he has discovered that two of the gangsters are on the ship. Alfie, a steward on the Titanic, has lied about his age to get his job, which he needs. He fears the truth may be discovered at any time. Sophie is constantly embarrassed by her mother’s loud, aggressive speeches about women’s rights, and Juliana is trying to keep secret her aristocratic father’s too-frequent gambling and drinking.

The four young people, from very different backgrounds, come together through circumstance. Then they make a fearsome discovery:  Jack the Ripper could be on the Titanic!

Gordon Korman has written about 55 books, mostly for boys, and has a large number of fans who have thoroughly enjoyed his captivating adventure novels and humorous stories.  

Unsinkable – the first title in a trilogy about the Titanic and its passengers – is Korman’s first work of historical fiction. Books # 2 and 3, which will continue the exciting story of Paddy, Alfie, Sophie and Juliana, will be published later this year.

** Recommended for ages 9 to 13 years.

The Eagle of the Ninth, by Rosemary Sutcliff, 210 pages.

@ SPL:  J FIC Sutcl

Released earlier this year as a motion picture entitled The Eagle, Rosemary Sutcliff’s historical novel, The Eagle of the Ninth,was first published in 1954. Since then, it has never been out of print.

In 117 A.D., the Roman Commander Flavius Aquila led 5000 soldiers of the Ninth Legion on a mission to the north of Britain – a region then unknown to Rome. They were never heard from again, and their treasured Eagle standard never surfaced. Twenty years later, the commander’s son, Marcus, retraces the Ninth’s march to learn its fate, retrieve the Eagle standard, and restore his father’s honour. It is an infinitely dangerous quest.

Taking only a friend, Esca, with him, Marcus disguises himself as an eye doctor and travels far beyond Hadrian’s Wall into the wilds of Scotland, where he encounters the same northern tribes which had annihilated his father’s legion in battle. At last, he is able to find some answers – and the Eagle. At the same time, he finds himself in terrible danger. Escape seems impossible.

Two sequels, The Silver Branch and The Lantern Bearers, continue the story of Marcus in a suspenseful trilogy which is made remarkably realistic by the wealth of detail about second-century military and religious customs, clothing, food and medical practices.

Author Rosemary Sutcliff (1920 – 1992) composed stories which transport the reader back in time. Her incredibly detailed fiction, set against the backdrop of the Roman occupation of Britain, the Dark Ages, or the time of King Arthur, has enthralled readers of ages 9 to 90 years for many years.

In this reviewer’s opinion, Sutcliff, who did not learn to read until she was 9 years of age and spent most of her life in a wheelchair, was one of the most accomplished children’s authors of all time.

** Recommended for ages 10 to 13 years.

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