What was your favorite book of 2010?

The end of the year is such a nice time to cozy up with a book, especially when it's dark all day and best books of the year lists are plentiful.

A perennially anticipated list is the New York Times' 10 Best Books list. Two of these ten are on my shelf awaiting their turn, but I thought I'd share my two personal favorites of the year in case you missed them.



The Lovers by Vendela Vida

A rich story of a widowed woman who returns to Turkey to remember her honeymoon and finds unexpected surprises along the way.

Swan: Poems and Prose Poems by Mary Oliver

Mary Oliver returns in fine form with poems that will melt your heart.

And, in case you missed these hilarious (and thought-provoking) books, here are a few to keep you laughing into the New Year:

Make Me a Woman by Vanessa Davis

A beautifully-illustrated book of comics about the trials and travails of growing up.

Simple Times by Amy Sedaris

You may not even make it to the craft table for crepe-paper moccasins or a macaroni alien mask because you'll be laughing so hard by Sedaris' kitschy humor.

Also a great last-minute gift for crafters and non-crafters alike!




What was your favorite book of 2010?
Kara

Get Ready to Read - How Parents Can Help

As their first and most important teacher, you have the power to help your children be ready to read once they enter school. Here are five easy ways to do it:
1. Read at home - when your kids see you enjoying a book, they will want to read, too.
2. Read to your children every day - research has shown that children who spend 20-30 minutes a day reading and listening to stories develop the skills they need to be ready to read on their own.
3. Take your kids to the library - everyone in your family can have his or her own library card. Make visiting the library a regular event, and be sure to check out a book for yourself, too. It's free!
4. Give books as gifts - your children will treasure them as they begin to build their own library.
5. Make reading a privilege - reward your kids with an extra story when they've been extra helpful.
Play with the stories and pictures, and talk with your child about what is happening in the story. You'll be amazed at how quickly your child will begin to recognize letters and sounds, and to increase his or her vocabulary. Most of all, enjoy reading together. Choose books that you both enjoy, and make reading fun.
Find great read-aloud suggestions at the Sno-Isle Libraries web site, or ask your friendly librarian for a recommendation. If you get tired of reading aloud (or simply want to finish that last chapter in your own book), try Tumblebooks, with a wide variety of animated picture books. Your child can also listen to stories from the Sno-Isle Libraries web site, simply by clicking on the book cover.
Happy reading! Mary

Gift Books for Children

Receiving a book can be a transformative event in a child's life. Here are a few selections to help you ignite a life-long love of reading, learning, and imagination.

A Bedtime for Bear
by Bonnie Becker

Bear has a very particular bedtime routine. When Mouse arrives for a surprise sleep-over visit, Bear is not sure he will ever get to sleep!

The Search for WondLa
by Tony DiTerlizzi

Reminiscent of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz series, with a touch of science fiction quirkiness, this imaginative novel combines old-fashioned storytelling with sumptuous illustrations.

Mirror Mirror: A Book of Reversible Verse
by Marilyn Singer

Favorite fairy tales take on a new twist in this ingenious collection of poems featuring "reversos," poems that can be read from the top to the bottom, or from the bottom up. Fun for everyone!

Stop by the Oak Harbor Library to pick up a copy of the complete list of gift book suggestions for children, teens, and adults. Or, listen to the complete list on KWPA 96.9 on Whidbey Island, or as a podcast here.

Happy Reading,
Kara

Gift Books for Teens

Not sure what to give the hard-to-please teen in your life? Try these selections to either entertain or educate your favorite teens.




Behemoth by Scott Westerfeld


Fantasy meets history in this novel that tells an alternate version of WWI. Continuing the story of Leviathan, this tale is full of fantastic contraptions, creatures, and exciting adventure.





The Disposable Skateboard Bible by Sean Cliver


With over 350 pages of full-color photographs of more than 1,000 skateboard decks, this wonderful gift book includes background information about the artists who designed the boards and the skaters who rode them.

Show Off: How to Do Absolutely Everything. One Step at a Time. by Sarah Hines Stephens

Colorful drawings show you how to do everything from twirling a drumstick to making fortune cookies. Over 200 skills to learn!

Stop by the Oak Harbor Library to pick up a copy of the complete list of gift books for all ages, and listen to your local librarians talk about the books on KWPA 96.9 out of Coupeville!

Happy Holidays!
Kara