Check It Out
Find a listing of the latest arrivals of books, audio and video items at the Wauwatosa Library, as well as information on upcoming events and staff suggestions for timely information you can use every day on the library's blog.
Spring Fever
Congratulations. You’ve survived another Wisconsin winter! It’s nice to be outside again – but where to go when you’ve got spring fever? You’ve got some great choices here in Milwaukee County for enjoying the great outdoors. Here are some suggestions for the next time it’s just too nice out to stay inside. Wehr Nature Center in Franklin
You and your whole family can explore the natural environment of the Wehr Nature Center. The Center offers self-guided tours, as well as programs led by staff naturalists. Walk through forest, wetland, prairie and savannah habitats, or check out the Visitor Center and Nature Store.
Wehr Nature Center
9701 W. College Ave., Franklin, WI 53132
(414) 425-8550 http://www.county.milwaukee.gov/WehrNatureCenter10115.htm
Boerner Botanical Gardens in Hales Corners
Walk through gardens of annuals, perennials, roses and herbs. There's a rock garden and even a bog garden! On their main web page, the Botanical Gardens features a link to “What’s Blooming” so you can see what will be in bloom when you start your tour of the gardens.
Boerner Botanical Gardens
9400 Boerner Drive
Hales Corners, WI 53130
(414) 525-5600 http://www.county.milwaukee.gov/BoernerBotanicalGard10113.htm
For more information about Milwaukee County parks, check out their website: http://www.county.milwaukee.gov/ParksandPublicInfras7720.htm.
And, don’t forget the Milwaukee County Zoo! The animals will be out enjoying the spring sunshine. Come out and see what’s new. On May 10th, Moms get in for free!
Milwaukee County Zoological Gardens
10001 West Blue Mound Road, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53226
Information: (414) 256-5412 | Main Office: (414) 771-3040 http://www.milwaukeezoo.org/
New Releases
Books
Always Looking Up: the Adventures of an Incurable Optimist by Michael J. Fox Complete Poems of Sappho by Sappho
Enough Already!: Clearing Mental Clutter to Become the Best You by Peter Walsh
First Family by David Baldacci
Home Safe by Elizabeth Berg
Jane Brody’s Guide to the Great Beyond: a Practical Primer to Help You and Your Loved Ones
Prepare Medically, Legally, and Emotionally for the End of Life by Jane E. Brody
Loitering with Intent by Stuart Woods Martha Stewart’s Encyclopedia of Crafts by Martha Stewart
Selma of the North: Civil Rights Insurgency in Milwaukee by Patrick D. Jones
Suze Orman’s 2009 Action Plan by Suze Orman
Audiobooks
Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything by Ken Robinson
Handle with Care by Jodi Picoult
Long Lost by Harlan Coben Plum Spooky by Janet Evanovich
Safe Money in Tough Times: Everything You Need to Know to Survive the Financial Crisis by Jonathan D. Pond
DVDs
City of Ember
Day the Earth Stood Still Madagascar. Escape 2 Africa
Make ‘Em Laugh: the Funny Business of America
March Madness: the Greatest Moments of the NCAA Tournament
Music on CD
Hazards of Love/Decemberists
Metamorphosen/Branford Marsalis Quartet
Quiet Nights/Diana Krall
Roll On/J.J. Cale
Willie and the Wheel/Willie Nelson and Asleep at the Wheel
Reading Fun
Is learning to read easy? That depends on a number of factors that certainly include access to age-appropriate materials and read-aloud experiences at an early age. Charlemagne, also known as Charles the Great, was a medieval emperor and soldier who did not learn to read until he was almost 40 years old. Little is known about his childhood, but it is probable that he did not have age appropriate reading materials. He did have a desire to read and an appreciation of language, which is documented by his court biographer, Einhard. The Wauwatosa Public Library summer reading program for children seeks to instill an appreciation of language, the desire to read, and a love of books in children. The first step for parents and adults who work with children is to make an association between reading and pleasure. Sitting in a parent’s lap and listening to a picture book is pleasurable. Going to story time at the library to hear stories and participate in related activities is fun. Receiving prizes for a completed summer reading card is gratifying. Summer program schedules are available in the Children’s Library beginning May 1, 2009.
The Grand Reading Card 2009 expands on the idea of associating reading with pleasure. The children may choose seven ways of enjoying a book or the library for additional prizes. The 29 suggestions on the card range from applying for one’s own library card to reading a book in the park. The Grand Reading Card 2009 will be available June 1st.
Nadia Wheatley expresses the joy of reading well in her picture book, The Greatest Treasure of Charlemagne the King. In her book, Alcuin of York, the scholar who helped Charlemagne establish his court school, explains why it is worth the effort to learn to read. “If you learn to read and love books, I can promise that you will never again be bored or lonely.”
Children's Book Week
Celebrate Children’s Book Week (May 11-17, 2009) by reading one of the 2008 Children’s Choice Book Award winners or 2009 Children’s Choice Book Award finalists. The awards celebrate the books that kids chose online in six categories: Kindergarten to 2nd Grade Book of the Year, 3rd to 4th Grade Book of the Year, 5th to 6th Grade Book of the Year, Teen Choice Book of the Year, Author of the Year and Illustrator of the Year. Go to BookWeekOnline.com for information about Children’s Book Week or to obtain a list of last year’s winners and finalists and this year’s finalists. The 2008 Children’s Choice Book Award winners are:
Kindergarten - 2nd Grade
Frankie Stein by Lola M Schaefer; illustrated by Kevan Atteberry
3rd – 4th grade
Big Cats by Elaine Landau
5th – 6th grade
Encyclopedia Horrifica by Joshua Gee
Author of the Year
J.K. Rowling for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Illustrator of the Year
Ian Falconer for Olivia Helps with Christmas (written by Ian Falconer)
What Defines a Leader?
Courage, vision, determination, confidence, the ability to inspire-these are qualities that define a leader. The Wauwatosa Public Library Foundation will be recognizing and honoring individuals who have shown these qualities in work, school and community service in Wauwatosa at the Spring Leadership Luncheon.This year’s leadership awards will be given to six outstanding area high school students and the Arthur B. Kohasky Leadership Award will be presented to Jon Vice, Past President and CEO of Children’s Hospital. The keynote speaker at the luncheon will be Bob Woodward, award-winning journalist and best-selling author.
Jon Vice provided nearly three decades of leadership to Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, creating one of the country’s leading medical facilities for pediatric care. Since becoming President and CEO in 1984, he has overseen the growth of 14 entities, including hospitals, clinics, a research center and a foundation. Outreach efforts under his direction included school-based health care for Milwaukee’s most disadvantaged children, the Children’s Health Education Center and integration of the Children’s Service Society of Wisconsin. Recently “retired,” Mr. Vice serves on several boards, including Children’s Miracle Network here and in the U.K., and has served on the Children’s Research Institute and Children’s Community Health Plan boards. He has also joined the faculty of his alma mater, the University of Alabama-Birmingham.
Bob Woodward’s name has been synonymous with investigative journalism since winning the 1973 Pulitzer Prize for his reporting with Carl Bernstein on the Watergate scandal. His articles for the Washington Post on the aftermath of the 9-11 terrorist attacks won the National Affairs Pulitzer Prize in 2002. He has been called “the most celebrated journalist of our age.” In addition to reporting, Woodward has authored or coauthored 14 bestselling books. He has more #1 nonfiction bestsellers that any contemporary American author and three of his books have been made into movies. His latest book, The War Within: A Secret White House History 2006-2008, is the last in his series about the Bush administration.
The Wauwatosa Public Library Foundation invites you to join us for the Spring Leadership Luncheon, May 12th at 12:00 noon at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 10499 Innovation Dr., in Wauwatosa. Tickets are $40.00 and are available at the Library Information Desk. All proceeds go to benefit the Wauwatosa Public Library Foundation.
