Librarians' Picks of the Week

Montgomery County librarians pick their favorites and popular selections from the public library system.

Each week, librarians from Montgomery County Public Libraries will pick a few books they think should be added to your summer reading list. Take a look and let us know what you think of the read!   Baby Mammoth Mummy: Frozen in Time! by Christopher Sloan Section: Juvenile Nonfiction Call Number: J 569.67 SLO  Grades: 5-7 A prehistoric animal’s journey into the 21st century, this National Geographic title presents the surprising discovery of a 42,000-year-old, well-preserved mummy of a baby mammoth named Lubya, dislodged from the Siberian ice. High quality photographs and illustrations enhance the story of this “tiny tusker,” as one reviewer called this baby.   The Reformed Vampire Support Group, by Catherine Jinks Section: Young Adult …

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No Training Wheels Required

White Oak Library Keeps Summer Boredom Away

With their summer programs, MoCo libraries offer families more than books.

Like most families, we are on a tight budget. I’m constantly searching for free and low-cost activities for our family to do in the summer. While we pack a lunch and hit the park fairly often, some days it’s too hot to hang out there, or we need a change of pace. Last summer I planned weekly visits to our local library, White Oak Library. Little Miss S would grab some new books and DVDs to borrow while I picked up some new board books for Little J. Sometimes Little Miss S played educational kid-friendly games at the children’s computers. I even packed headphones for her since there aren’t any speakers for those computers. While she played for 30 minutes, I grabbed Little J and we perused the new adult books section. This summer is no …

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Frugal Families: Five Weekly Deals

Stretching the Family Budget

We've scoured the neighborhood for deals, so you don't have to.

Welcome back to our weekly rundown of five local deals to help with your family’s bottom line. Since we do the scouting, we save you time as well as money. This week we scoured our local sources and found saving on dining out--with entertainment--at mystery dinner theatre; deals on kid's shoes and DVDs; paperback books (for all ages); smoothie deals, and a new fragrance special. Remember to check with the merchant for additional conditions, if any: 1. Dinner Theatre:  Blair Mansion Restaurant, 7711 Eastern Avenue, 301-588-1688. Deal: Take 15% off Friday Nights at Blair Mansion Restaurant's Interactive Comedy Mystery Theater, currently presenting "Death and Taxes." Good through: Friday nights, April 8 and 15. 2. Children's Shoes: Stride …

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MomsTalk Q&A: What Are Your Favorite Classic Children's Books?

This week we're talking treasured childhood books.

As parents in Colesville, White Oak, Burtonsville or any of the other East County neighborhoods,  we're presented with special challenges unique to our region. And then there are other parenting questions that are so universal we're convinced mothers and fathers all across the globe face the same issues.  Every Wednesday, MomsTalk will tackle just one of modern parenting's conundrums. (Don't let the name fool you: dads, grandparents, step-parents and just about anyone involved in child-rearing are invited to participate.)  This week we want to know: What were your favorite childhood books? Our kids might love series like Harry Potter, Magic Treehouse or Twilight, but the classics will always have a place in our hearts. Margaret Brown Wise’…

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No Training Wheels Required

Share the Love of Reading With Your Children

Open up a new world to your children by encouraging them to read.

I’m a nerd. I love books: reading them, collecting them, writing about them, even swapping them. I’ve spent countless hours browsing books at Borders. I have distinct memories of hiding under my covers after bedtime, reading by light from my flickering flashlight. That probably explains why my eyesight is bad. Wearing glasses is totally worth the exciting places and worlds I’ve traveled through books. I exposed Little Miss S to books early. As soon as I could, I read to her. We read classics like Good Night Moon. We read the little board books that came in Chick-Fil-A’s kids meals. At first I felt silly, reading all of these books to her. “The lion goes roar!” or “Look a yellow sun!” I pointed out to her. Mostly, she tried to eat the books…

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Thien-Kim Lam

9:24 pm on Monday, February 28, 2011

Your mother gave you such an amazing gift! I'm so glad that you are a teacher and are passing on that gift to another generation. Libraries are always a treat for me too!   more ›

Mystery Writer Thomas Kaufman Talks Shop at White Oak Library

Local novelist joins George Pelicanos and Laura Lippman on library's roster of well-known mystery writers to appear at the branch.

Local author Thomas Kaufman read from his recent novel Drink the Tea and engaged in spirited conversation with a group of about 15 mystery novel fans at White Oak Library on Monday evening. Kaufman is the latest in an impressive line of novelists, which includes George Pelecanos and Laura Lippman, brought to White Oak by the branch's Mystery Book Club and Friends of the Library of Montgomery County. Kaufman also spoke about his career, which began with film directing. After being turned down by a number of editors, he submitted his manuscript to a St. Martin's Press competition on the advice of a friend in the Bethesda Writers' Center. "At the time, I thought, I just wasted six dollars mailing this manuscript in," he told the crowd. While…

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Preschool Story Time at Long Branch Library

Children get into the Fall mood with first of bi-monthly Preschool Story Times at Long Branch Library

The oval shaped rug with different colors of the rainbow, patterns of trains and alphabets excited pre-schoolers who came to enjoy Preschool Story Time.  Eight families brought their kids to the Long Branch Library program, which was not a victim of the last round of County budget cuts. Library Manager Mary Louise Daneri said "Due to the State's Early Literacy Program, events like Preschool and Baby Story Time are not considered for cancellation." Librarian Marco Scappa read two books about leaves, including "Mouse's First Fall" and a Halloween tale to the group of children. Scappa also kept the group mobile with a sing-a-long of "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes." Silver Spring resident Ms. Edward, a caregiver who brought 18 month-old …

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