A Crooked Kind of Perfect by Linda Urban

An irresistible novel, full of warmth and sass, by a remarkable debut author

Carnegie Hall, look out!

Zoe Elias has big musical dreams. As soon as she gets a glossy baby grand piano, she’ll be on her way. Trouble is, what Zoe gets is a wood-grained, vinyl-seated, wheeze-bag organ. The Perfectone D-60.

How will she ever be discovered as a prodigy when her lesson book is The Hits of the Seventies? Not even a cha-cha beat can make the theme song from The Brady Bunch sound like Beethoven. If you add to that problem a mom who’s always at work, a dad who’s afraid to leave the house, and an odd boy who follows her home from school every day, Zoe’s big dreams are looking pretty lopsided.

But when she enters the annual Perform-O-Rama organ competition, Zoe discovers that life is full of surprises–and that maybe a little lopsidedness will help her find what she’s really hoping for.

The Greatest Generation

This month we'll be reading Tom Brokaw's book The Greatest Generation. Andrea F. is this month's host and we'll be meeting on Wednesday the 30th of July. We hope to see you there!

The Greatest Generation by Tom Brokaw
Veteran reporter and NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Brokaw went to France to make a documentary marking the 40th anniversary of D-day in 1984. Although he was thoroughly briefed on the historical background of the invasion, he was totally unprepared for how it would affect him emotionally. Flooded with childhood memories of World War II, Brokaw began asking veterans at the ceremony to revisit their past and talk about what happened, triggering a chain reaction of war-torn confessions and Brokaw's compulsion to capture their experiences in what he terms "the permanence a book would represent." After almost 15 years and hundreds of letters and interviews, Brokaw wrote The Greatest Generation, a representative cross-section of the stories he came across. However, this collection is more than a mere chronicle of a tumultuous time, it's history made personal by a cast of everyday people transformed by extraordinary circumstances: the first women to break the homemaker mold, minorities suffering countless indignities to boldly fight for their country, infantrymen who went on to become some of the most distinguished leaders in the world, small-town kids who became corporate magnates. From the reminiscences of George Bush and Julia Child to the astonishing heroism and moving love stories of everyday people, The Greatest Generation salutes those whose sacrifices changed the course of American history. --Rebekah Warren
Amazon.com

Summer Literacy Fun

Passports, A Cultural Discovery Day
June 23, 2008 from 3:00-8:00pm
Admission FREE
Museum of Peoples & Cultures
700 N 100 E Provo
Bring your family to discover various cultures from around the world through fun, educational games and activities! Refreshments will be provided.

Bean Museum Weekly Live Animal Shows
FREE ADMISSION
Monday: Reptiles at 6:30 and 7:30 PM
Tuesday: Adaptations at 7:30 PM
Wednesday: Utah Plants & Animals at 7:30 PM
Thursday: Ecosystems at 7:30 PM
Friday: Invertebrates at 7:30 PM
Saturday: Reptiles at 1:00 PM

Come listen to the popular LDS Romantic Fiction Author
Anita Stansfield
Wednesday, June 25, 7:00 PM, Provo City Library, Bullock Room, #309

For the Love of Food: Milk and Dairy Foods
7pm July 15 (3rd Tuesday of each month…)
A series of FREE classes in connection with the Utah State Extension Center about health, nutrition and exercise. Get tips for healthier living and learn more about preparing nutritious foods.
Admission is FREE
Provo City Library at Academy Square

Provo City Library Kids' Reading Program
Registration for Summer Reading begins May 31st
You must show your Provo City Library card to register. Children must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian at registration. Registration will continue until July first.
At registration each child receives a reading log and a T-shirt. Some T-shirt sizes run out quickly, so register early. T-shirt availability is on a first-come, first served basis.
The child must mark off all of the spaces by July 26th.
They also receive a pass to the End of Summer Reading Party on July 31st, 8:30-10:00 pm. This is an exclusive pool party held at the Veterans Memorial Pool, 450 West 500 North, Provo, for those who finish the Summer Reading program.


Orem Public Library Activities

REGULAR ONGOING ACTIVITIES: Storytime & Laptime at the Orem Library

Laptime: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 10:00am in Hogwarts’ Corner. A 20 minute program for babies, toddlers & their caregivers with songs, fingerplays & short stories to introduce our youngest patrons to the world of words.

Storytime: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 10:30am in the Storytelling Wing. A 30 minute program for preschoolers & young school age children with stories, puppets & activities to engage youngsters & highlight the joys of books & storytelling.

WEEKLY CALENDAR CHANGES (THIS WEEKS PLANS ARE):

Monday, June 23rd:

Story Camp Performance. Orem's newest and youngest up-and-coming youth storytellers will share their best yarns and stories in this special performance. Enjoy tales that will leave you laughing, crying and wishing for more. Supported in part by the Orem CARE Grant. Storytelling Wing, 7pm.

Tuesday, June 24th:

Afternoon Adventures. Join Storyteller Brenda Holtom as she sets out on a new adventure. Ages 5 and younger. Media Auditorium, 2pm.

Renaissance Kids. Explore the amazing universe with Associate Librarian Kim Bryant. Learn all about galaxies, nebulas, planets, star clusters, comets and asteroids. Storytelling Wing, 2pm.

Japanese Film Festival: Castle in the Sky (1986) - The animated classic about an orphan caught up in an adventure soaring into the night sky and a new life. Pazu and Sheeta must fly above the clouds in order to find the legendary floating city of Laputa and its treasures. Media Auditorium, 6:30pm.

Friday, June 27:

Drawing from the Imagination: Julie Olson. Learn about drawing from the acclaimed illustrator Julie Olson. This BYU graduate has illustrated several books, including the lively picture book Hip, Hop Hooray for Annie McCrae written by Brad Wilcox and the exciting novel There's Always a Way, Annie McCrae, soon to be published. Storytelling Wing, 7pm.

Freedom Festival: Colonial Days July 2-5, 2008
10:00am Daily Crandall Historical Printing Museum, 275 East Center
Celebrate the Fourth of July with the Founders in downtown Provo at the Crandall Historical Printing Museum, July 2-5, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Colonial Days is a FREE four-day event for the whole family. From University Avenue to 400 East on Center Street, you will enter Provo’s flag-and-bunting-lined Colonial Avenue. You will see men and women in Colonial period clothing celebrating the holiday at Colonial Square.

Freedom Festival: Fine Art Exhibit 7:30 pm June 20-July 29
Mon-Fri 9-5--Exhibit Covey Center for the Atrs, 351 W Center St, Provo

25th Annual Payson Scottish Festival and Highland Games
July 10-12, 2008 at Memorial Park 250 S Main St, Payson
The Payson Scottish Festival is a free, community sponsored event for the whole family. The events begin on Thursday night as we hold a special ceilidh in celebration of our 25th anniversary. Friday night there will be food and entertainment at the park. The events continue on Saturday when there will be Highland Athletics, Bagpipe and Drum Competitions, and Highland Dancing.
Come and bring your whole family as we celebrate and share our Scottish heritage! Be sure to check out the schedule of events so that you don't miss your favorite activities.

Blue Sky Concert Series Every Monday night in June and July (except July 4). Join the Provo Arts Council and the Downtown Alliance for free family concerts in Pioneer Park 500 West Center. A trumpet fanfare will announce the beginning of the program. Bring blankets and chairs as well. 7:00 – 8:15 p.m.

Movies Done Right- Provo’s Movies in the Park For the fourth year in a row Provo Parks and Recreation and the Downtown Business Alliance are teaming to bring the community a fun filled free event! Movies in the Park will take place again this year at Pioneer Park, located on Center Street and 500 West. Every Monday night in August you can bring your blankets, your kids, or a date and come out to watch all your favorite classic musicals. Every year a theme is picked to keep the films interesting and friendly to all ages, and this year is no exception! All films will start at 8:30 PM and go until around 11:00 PM for a unique movie watching experience under the stars. Nothing quite compares to classic movies on the big screen with a warm summer breeze and the company of your neighbors. Come watch movies the way they were meant to be experienced!

Book Review Update- Here comes Frindle

Thanks Katie and Vicky for a great Book Review Evening with delicious perfect looking chocolate chip cookies and yummy strawberry shortcake. Vicky is going to share her cookie recipe on the blog, so look for it shortly. We had plenty to discuss about that interesting Stargirl and her unique activities. It brought us all back to that awkward HS time in our lives as we evaluated how we would have treated Stargirl had she come to our school. Thanks Jerry Spinelli for such a great, thought provoking read about popularity and daring to be different.

Next up for June 25th Nikki G. will host Frindle by Andrew Clements, winner of 21 National and State awards including the Utah Children's Choice Award in 2000.

About Frindle from www.frindle.com

Nicholas Allen has plenty of ideas. Who can forget the time he turned his third-grade classroom into a tropical island, or the times he fooled his teacher by chirping like a blackbird? But now Nick's in fifth grade, and it looks like his days as a troublemaker are over.

Everyone knows that Mrs. Granger, the language arts teacher, has X-ray vision, and nobody gets away with anything in her classroom. To make matters worse, she's also a fanatic about the dictionary, which is hopelessly boring to Nick. But when Nick learns an interesting tidbit about words and where they come from, it inspires his greatest plan yet: to invent a new word. From now on, a pen is no longer a pen -- it's a frindle.

It doesn't take long for frindle to take root, and soon the excitement spreads well beyond his school and town. His parents and Mrs. Granger would like Nick to put an end to all this nonsense. But frindle doesn't belong to Nick anymore. All he can do now is sit back and watch what happens.

This quirky, imaginative tale about creative thought and the power of words will have readers inventing their own words. Brian Selznick's black-and-white illustrations enhance the humor in this unforgettable story.

More Places to Find Stargirl

Brooke has a copy she's willing to lend out and my library book came in, so I have a copy you can borrow as well. Now that I've read it I can agree with Vicky. Stargirl is book is a quick, enjoyable, and thought provoking read. ENJOY!
Robin

Book Review is Back for May!

The Book: Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

Host: The wonderful and lovely Vicky will be hosting this evening. So we don't have to walk all the way to Wyview:) she's been nice enough to host it in Wymount.

When and Where: May 21st 7 pm at Katie's Apt. #791.

About the Book: From the day she arrives at quiet Mica High in a burst of color and sound, the hallways hum with the murmur of "Stargirl, Stargirl." She captures Leo Borlock's heart with just one smile. . .The students of Mica High are enchanged. At first. Then they turn on her.
In this celebration of nonconformity, Newbery Medalist Jerry Spinelli weaves an emotional tale about the perils of popularity--and the thrill and inpiration of first love. Note: It's sequel is called Love, Stargirl, you can read that one too if you'd like!

Where to Find: Provo, Orem, and BYU library all have a few copies available.

Up and coming!

We're working on making this site to help enhance our Relief Society's literacy! Come visit us soon!