We Know Books, ETC.

The We Know Books, ETC. Blog Has Moved

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 22:49:00 +0000

In order to serve you better, this blog has moved to our website http://homewoodpubliclibrary.org. You now have four options. There is a Children's, Teen, and Adult blog, OR, you can access the Library Blog, which is a combination of those three. Let us explain...

To access the Homewood Public Library Blogs click here http://homewoodpubliclibrary.org/blog. This is where the Children's, Teen, and Adult Dept. Blogs all flow together to form a single blog for the entire library. Here you'll find current news, reviews and information for ALL ages.

But, if you are interested in a particular age group:

For the Children's Blog click here http://homewoodpubliclibrary.org/children to get all the latest Children's News, Reviews & Information.

For the Teen Blog click here http://homewoodpubliclibrary.org/teens to find all the latest Teen News, Reviews & Information.

For the Adult Dept. Blog click here http://homewoodpubliclibrary.org/adults to access all the latest Adult News, Reviews & Information.

If you like to receive new posts in your RSS reader, be sure to subscribe while you're there.

Also, new posts automatically go to Facebook and Twitter.

Thanks and we'll see you over on the new site!

Happy Birthday Julia!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 21:13:00 +0000

Julia Child would have celebrated her 100th birthday today if she was still with us, and if she were I am sure she would celebrate with good food and friends.

This month you should also savor all that Julia Child brought to the table of the culinary arts by indulging in these delectable books, e-books, audiobooks, biographies and yes, even a movie about America's first and most beloved celebrity chef.

Happy 100th Julia!

 Mastering the Art of French Cooking.

Click here to check out the book that begin Julia Child's career in the big old hardback version. 

 As Always Julia, the letters of Julia Child and Avis DeVoto.

Click here to check out this book about a friendship that begin as the result of a column by DeVoto's husband written in Harper Publications' Easy Chair decrying the ubiquitous, dull, stainless steel American paring knife .

My Life In France.

Click here to check out the E-Book version of this books about Julia's experience in France.

Dearie: the remarkable life of Julia Child 

Click here to check the audiobook format of this newest publication. 

Bon Appetit: the delicious life of Julia Child

Click here to check out this well written Juvenial Biography.

Julie & Julia  

Click here to check out the DVD if the 2009 movie based on Julie Powell's blog and book.

I will end with one of my favorite Julia quotes 

“Everything in moderation... including moderation.”

Huff & Puff by Claudia Rueda

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 17:24:00 +0000

Everyone knows the story of the three little pigs and the big bad wolf. In Claudia Rueda’s new picture book, Huff & Puff: Can You Blow Down the Houses of the Three Little Pigs, this classic childhood story gets a new twist. With simple texts and sketch illustrations, Huff & Puff is a great way to introduce your toddlers to this classic tale. Rueda does add her own spin though. The reader is the wolf! That’s right. After each pig is introduced there is a cut out in the book with the text “Huff and Puff”. But don’t worry, there is a delightful surprise at the end of this story.

The Star of the XXX Olympiad

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 16:58:00 +0000

For two weeks every four years, athletes from around the world come together to compete in the Olympics. Every four years, new stars emerge from the competition. One star will be remembered for generations because during the XXX Olympiad in London he accomplished what no other human has done before: win nineteen Olympic Gold Medals.

How to train with a T.Rex and win eight Gold Medals., by Micheal Phelps and Ward Jenkins is a autobiography by the unquestionable star of the London Games. This is his story of what it takes to accomplish what he has done in his sport. Over the next few months I am certain new publications about his accomplishments during these games will be written.

Last night as I watched the Closing Ceremonies, I found myself thinking about this. For the athletes who train their whole lives to participate in the Olympic games, having the chance must seem a bit like Christmas. The Games take forever to finally arrive, you have to be very good to get what you want, and then just like that they are over and all that is left is memories. In reality it took Micheal Phelps three Olympics to accomplish this historical feat of twenty two Medals, eighteen of them Gold. However his last Olympic swim was over in 3:03.30. Like the best Christmas memories, I am sure Micheal Phelps will remember his last Olympic competition and many accomplishments for a long long time, I know I will.

Click here to check out this great book!

52 Reasons To Hate My Father by Jessica Brody

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 14:56:00 +0000

Lexington Larrabee has everything. Fabulous clothes, an expensive car, a mansion, a jet at her disposal and a check for $25 million dollars waiting for her….that is until her dad spoils everything. After causing one too many scandals Lexi’s father decides she has to earn her inheritance… all $25 million. Now she must complete 52 weeks of 52 dead end minimum wage jobs before she can cash in on her fortune. Add in the fact that her father has stuck her with a babysitter, granted a very cute babysitter who is quite ripped, and Lexi’s world pretty much sucks. But there is more to meets the eye with this rich girl. Underneath her fabulous lifestyle, Lexi’s lives in a world without love. Will her 52 jobs be able to solve her problems or will Lexi be drawn back into her old life of scandal?

52 Reasons To Hate My Father is a great summer novel. We have all seen the socialites scattered on the tabloids, but in Jessica Brody’s new novel she adds a certain twist to the out of control rich girl that we usually see. 52 Reasons to Hate My Father will keep you entertained and smiling as Lexi struggles to adjust to her new lifestyle.

"Da da da da da da da da da da da"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 22:05:00 +0000

This week the XXX Olympiad Games has featured some outstanding performances in Track & Field. None more impressive than that of Kirani James, a 19-year-old former standout at the University of Alabama. Coached by Harvey Glance, former Auburn University athlete and 1976 Olympic Gold Medal winner, James crushed the finish line all alone in 43.94 seconds. Upsetting the favored USA 400 meter athletes, he won the first Olympic Gold Medal for his native Grenada.

Watching James win I could not help but think of Chariots of Fire, the winner of Best Picture at the 1981 Academy Awards. This is the fact-based story of two British athletes preparing and participating in the 1924 Paris Olympic Games. Eric Lidden, a devout Christian running for the glory of his God and Harold Abrahams, a Jew, running to overcome prejudice. Unlikely to win against the heavily favored USA athletes, against all odds they return home triumphant.

Don't get me wrong, I am ways rooting for Team USA, but each time I watch this movie I was find myself cheering for these two Brits. This is arguable the best 'Olympic' movie ever made. Check it out. Watch it.

After the games of course.

Click here to check this DVD

'GOLD MEDAL SUMMER'

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 17:26:00 +0000

Well now that Gabby has taken the Gold in the Olympic Gymnastics All Round a lot of young girls are wondering what a Gold Medal Summer would be like. In the Juvenile Fiction novel GOLD MEDAL SUMMER by Donna Freitas, that is just what the main character Joey Jordan hopes to experience.

The book draws from the authors real-life experience as a competitive gymnast. It is about gymnasts, but is also it is a young girl stretching perceived limits, bending the rules and finding balance. A perfect fiction read for this Olympic summer!

Oh and Go Team USA!

Click here to check out a copy of this book.

'Jackie Joyner Kersee Superwoman'

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 17:11:00 +0000

Well folks, tonight is the Opening Ceremonies of the XXX Olympiad Games in London.
I will be watching them at Homewood's Olympic Training Site at Lakeshore Foundation with some of the USA top Paralympic athletes. My love for the Olympics begin as a child and over the years I have had the good future to meet and know so many Olympic heroes. A few include Alice Coachman, Willma Rudolph, Billy Mills, Bob Beamor, Charlies Barkley, Jennifer Chandler, Rowdy Gaines, Michael Johnson, Florance (FoJo) Griffin, Carl Lewis, but one of my favorites is Jackie Joyner Kersee.

Homewood Public Library Children's Department has several biographies on Jackie Joyner Kersee, because she is one of my favorite Olympians and people. A product of title IX , she is a shining example of what young women, given a chance to compete in high school and college sports, can hope to achieve. She is also a shining example of an accomplished athlete who gives back to her sport.

Jackie Joyner Kersee Superwoman follows Jackie's athletic career from Lincoln High School in East St. Louis through 1994, a period in time when Jackie was breaking world records and ground for female athletes in Olympic sports. This book is co-authored by Margaret Goldstein and Jennifer Larson. Larson, a seven-time All-American in track and cross country from St. Olaf College, provides a unique insight into the hard work and determination required to be successful in a sport on the Olympic level.

The London Games are here, and new stars will certainly emerge. I am excited and also feel so lucky I am now meeting some of my Paralympic heroes like Aimee Bruder and Aliison Milford. That said, Jackie Joyner Kersee will always be one of my favorites. She will also always be recognized as one of the top USA Olympians of all times. I hope you will read about her accomplishments and now let the games begin!

To reserve a copy of this book click here.

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 19:53:00 +0000

Meet Ivan, a silverback gorilla who is the main attraction at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade. Ivan has a pretty nice life. He has his TV, his art, and his friends (including Stella the Elephant and Bob the stray dog). Ivan doesn’t really think about his old life with his gorilla family. Ivan is content in his domain. Soon, a new arrival shakes things up at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade. When Ivan meets Ruby, a baby elephant who joins them to boost business, Ivan realizes that there is more to life than what he knows.

The One and Only Ivan is a lovely story about friendship that you cannot help but love. The characters are endearing and the story of Ivan and Ruby is quite powerful. Based on the true story of a gorilla at the Atlanta Zoo, The One and Only Ivan will utterly charm you.

An English Summer

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 19:15:00 +0000

With the start of the XXX Olympiad Games in London, in less than two days, all eyes will soon be on England. But the truth is between the marriage of Prince William to Kate Middleton a little over a year ago and this magnificent production by PBS there are already a lot Anglophiles here in the good old USA.

Downton Abbey, is a beautiful 'period' production shot on location. In 2011 it entered the Guinness Book of World Records as the "most critically acclaimed English language television show" for the year", becoming the first British show to be recognized as such by the Guinness Book of Records. So what are you waiting for?

This August, between watching the outstanding athletic events going on at the London Olympics, I highly suggest you find time to make yourself a spot of tea, relax and enjoy Downton Abbey.

To check out Downton Abbey Session One click here.

Click here to learn more about PBS Masterpiece Theater's Downton Abbey

The Gift of Fire / On the Head of a Pin: two short novels from Crosstown to Oblivion

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 00:25:00 +0000

Walter Mosley's latest work, "The Gift of Fire / On the Head of a Pin: two short novels from Crosstown to Oblivion" is another foray into the world of science fiction.The two novels require the mind to try and comprehend two tales of the past, present, and future.They are as much alike as they are different.One novel delves into the gift of internal fire and how a former god must decide who is worthy of carrying the flame.This flame is the flame that makes one decide to get off the sidelines and do something.The other novel is the meshing of an alien being who looks prehistoric but actually is years more advanced than modern man.Somewhere along the way the more man went forward, the more he went backward. ~L. Jones

Jump!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 14:33:00 +0000

Michael Jordan was not always a household name. Once upon a time he was just an ordinary boy living in North Carolina with his family. Jump! From the life of Michael Jordan by Floyd Cooper is the story of how that ordinary Michael became 'Air' Jordan, one of the most outstanding athletes of the century.

Michael Jordan is a two time Olympic Gold Medalist. He earned Gold Medals on the USA 1984 Olympics team, while he was a Junior at the University of North Carolina, and also as a member of the infamous 1992 USA Olympic 'Dream Team' that won Gold in Barcelona, Spain.

To check out this book click here.

Taste of Home Cookbooks

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 21:17:00 +0000

We have all been there. We open up our cabinets after spending all day at work and we see nothing to eat. Yes, there are usually plenty of ingredients, but what to make? The last time I want to do is spending hours cooking and prepping something, especially after work.

That’s why I love the Taste of Home cookbooks. My two favorites are Taste of Home: The BusyFamily Cookbook and Taste of Home: Simple and Delicious.

The recipes are simple, quick, and incorporate items that most kitchens already have (none of those fancy shmancy ingredients you’ve never heard of and cost an arm and a leg), and Taste of Home provides beautiful pictures. I love cookbooks with photos that way I know what it is suppose to look like. If you are looking for some simple and great cookbooks with recipes that your whole family will enjoy then Taste of Home books are definitely what you are looking for.

Be sure to check out some of the other great Taste of Home cookbooks that are in the system! Click here for more choices.

Here is a recipe for Bacon-Wrapped Chicken that is a favorite of my family!It is beyond yummy! Enjoy :)

Charles Barkley

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 21 Jul 2012 15:27:00 +0000

Charles Barkley by Jamie Fedorko is the biography of the Leeds, Alabama native and member of two USA Olympic teams.

The book is one of the Overcoming Adversity:Sharing the American Dream series. It tells how Charlies, a kid raised by his Mother and Grandmother, dreamed of playing in the NBA and accomplished that and much more.

It has been said that Charles Barkley's best and worst qualities are that he "tells things just like he sees them." Fedorko seems to have adopted that same philosophy when he wrote this book. It is a simple sixty- four page, interesting and easy to read account of Charles' youth, his college years at Auburn University, his incredible career in the NBA, and his experience as a member of the USA Olympic Basketball Dream Team. Also, and maybe more importantly, it tells the story of how Charles found success after his professional basketball career ended, doing that thing he does so well (or poorly...depending on who you ask) as a television personality.

To reserve a copy of this book for check out click here.

Bollywood Film: Jodhaa Akbar

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 16:32:00 +0000

On gloomy days, like today, it is best to curl up on the couch with a great book…or a great movie! Sometimes you just want to watch an epic movie that captures your heart and leaves you on the edge of your seat. Well the Homewood Public Library has just the movie for you!

New to our collection is the 2008 epic Bollywood saga, Jodhaa Akbar. Already a classic, this powerful love story of a marriage for alliance will sweep you into a foreign world of a whole different realm. Set in the sixteenth century, this sweeping story takes place in the Mughal Empire. Muslim Emperor Akbar enters into an arranged marriage with Hindu princess Jodhaa. As their love grows, they spread a message of religious tolerance throughout their empire. This Bollywood movie is a clean family film that the whole family will enjoy with the beautiful scenery and dazzling costume designs.

SWIFTER, HIGHER, STRONGER

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 21:15:00 +0000

I am so excited! We are only days away from the start of the London Summer Olympic and Paralympic games. Here's a Olympic book to put you in the Olympic spirit!

Swifter, Higher, Stronger written by Sue Macy and published by National Geographic. This book features stunning photographs that capture the Olympic spirit and chronicle the history of the modern Olympic games alongside a concise documentation of important events.

To check out a copy of this book click here.

Classic Hollywood Movies!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 19:40:00 +0000

We have recently added a slew of classic movies to our collection. With legendary Hollywood icons such as Cary Grant, Elizabeth Taylor, Clark Cable, Joan Crawford, and Marlon Brando how could you possibly go wrong with any of these titles? Click on the image below to place your hold on one of these new additions today! Enjoy!

'Jesse Owens Fastest Man Alive' a great Olympic book and hero

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 23:12:00 +0000

Adolf Hitler planned to use the 1936 Olympic games in Berlin to showcase the cultural and physical superiority of the German Aryan race to the world. The modern city, stadiums, venue sites, and pageantry had never been matched in former Olympic games, but a black American athlete by the name of Jesse Owens would prove to be the superior athlete.

The children's book, JESSE OWENS Fastest Man Alive by Carole Boston Weatherford, is the story of Jesse Owens. Born in segregated Alabama, he was considered a second class citizen by many, even in the USA. During the 1936 Olympic games he demonstrated he was capable of running through social barriers, winning four gold medals and the hearts of millions, while setting two world records and proving the Nazi dictator theory of racial superiority unmistakably wrong.

To reserve a copy of this book click here.

Crazy, Stupid, Love

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 18:31:00 +0000

Recently, I have been in a movie slump. I haven’t watched anything absolutely wonderful, so when I ran across Crazy, Stupid, Love I didn’t think much about it. I have seen this movie check out like crazy so I thought I would give it a try. This romantic comedy stars Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Julianne Moore, and Kevin Bacon. The movie opens with Cal (Carell) and Emily (Moore) at dinner, when Emily decides to drop the bomb that she has had an affair and wants a divorce. Cal, who is completely devastated, is thrown back into the single life and he is pretty much sinking when playboy Jacob (Gosling) saves him. Jacob teaches Cal the wicked ways of manipulating women into getting what he wants from them. But soon, heartthrob Jacob has meets his match in the enchanting Hannah (played by a delightful Stone). If you think this is going to turn out to be a predictable romance comedy, well think again. There are other stories thrown in that make the movie wonderful. There are also lots of connections and twists that will keep you on your toes. The main message of this movie is love and it is definitely the starring character. So if you are looking for a great movie that will leave you with a positive feeling and lots of laughs, then I cannot recommend Crazy, Stupid, Love enough to you.

Count down to the Olympics with books about Olympians!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 14 Jul 2012 22:49:00 +0000

To check out a copy of this book click here

The Games of the XXX Olympiad in London begins in just 12 days! I love the Olympics so the next two weeks I will share some good books about great former Olympians and the Olympic games.

Ready, set, go... read!

Wilma Unlimited

How Wilma Rudolph Became the World's Fastest Woman

by Kathleen Krull

Wilma Rudolph, born in Clarksville, Tennessee was the last of nineteen children. As a toddler she contracted infantile polio and wore leg braces most of her childhood. This is the story of how Wilma Rudolph never allowed physical or social obstacles to slow her down.

Hurry! Check out this beautiful picture book and discovery how Wilma Rudolph became the fastest woman in the world!

Beep and Bah by James Burks

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 15:38:00 +0000

Beep and Bah by James Burks

Meet Beep and Bah. Bah is a laid back goat that lives inside a trashcan. Beep is an adventure seeking robot who will let nothing stand in the way of a good quest. Together these two set out to find a missing sock. They journey through mountains, dangerous terrains, face fierce animals, and a couple of oddball characters in their search for the missing sock. This peculiar duo will have you smiling from ear to ear as they try to solve this puzzling mystery. Illustrator and writer James Burks, who also works in TV animation, has created an epically delightful and quirky story that is a definite must read for your child.

A book to enjoy before the Summer Olympics

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 22:45:00 +0000

The first Olympic Games I remember is the 1960 Summer Games. I was about six and watched them on the Wide World of Sports. The Olympics were so special they interrupted regular television programming each evening for two weeks with highlights of the day's events. I fell in love with all things Olympic: the opening ceremony with the teams all marching in with their countries' flags, the medal stand, and how each time the USA won our national anthem was played. That may explain why, as a kid who did not particularly love to read, I loved reading about Olympic heroes--especially the unlikely heroes.

If you are not familiar with Alice Coachman, you should be. In the new children's biography, Queen of the Track: Alice Coachman Olympic High-Jump Champion, Heather Lang tells the story of an unlikely Olympic hero. I love how Floyd Cooper's illustrations capture the essence of poor rural Georgia in the 1920's simply with his use of color. Lang has written a simple yet accurate story of Coachman, a young girl who loves to run and jump although it is not encouraged. Not only is it considered unladylike, but it is also not a useful activity on a poor struggling black farm. The story tells of how she gets the opportunity of a lifetime to attend high school and participate in the sports she loves, but it also means she must leave her family and move to Tuskegee, Alabama, alone.

There is more but I can't tell you--I want you to read the book, especially if you do not know what an amazing athlete and woman Alice Coachman is. She participated in the Games of the XIV Olympiad in London and this summer I will be watching the Games of the XXX Olympiad in London, so this is a fitting time for her story to be retold in this book. I fell in love with the Olympics, the pageantry and competition along long time ago. I still get excited when I see the opening ceremonies, watch the Medal ceremony and hear the USA national anthem play and and I still love a great story about an unlikely Olympic hero.

Click here to reserve this book today!

Vote for Me by Ben Clanton

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 19:30:00 +0000

Sometimes politics can get a little heated. Name calling, exaggerations, and food fights are all part of the game. Food fights? Yeah, even food fights. In Ben Clanton’s new picture book, Vote for Me, an elephant and a donkey try to sway young readers to vote for them.

Things get pretty intense as these two candidates vie for votes. Filled with satirical humor Vote for Me is a fun way to teach children about political elections and how sometimes candidates forget what is really important about running. But who will end of the winner of this race?

You need to checkout Vote for Me to find out!

Has all this talk about voting and politics reminded you about registering to vote? Don't worry, the Homewood Library can help you! Just come to the Circulation Desk and we will provide you with a Voter Registration form that either you can submit or we will mail it in for you. It's that easy!

Join the Oxmoor Page Turners on Tuesday, July 10th

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 14:17:00 +0000

Join the Oxmoor Page Turners on Tuesday, July 10th as we discuss Birmingham's very own Gin Phillips and her new novel, Come In and Cover Me.

Light refreshments will be served.

For more information please call 205-332-6601 or email Judith Wright.

Here is a little more information about Come In and Cover Me from the publisher.

When Ren was only twelve years old, she lost her older brother, Scott, to a car crash. Since then, Scott has been a presence in her life, appearing as a snatch of song or a reflection in the moonlight. Now, twenty-five years later, her talent for connecting with the ghosts around her has made her especially sensitive as an archaeologist. More than just understanding the bare outline of how our ancestors lived, Ren is dedicated to re-creating lives and stories, to breathing life into those who occupied this world long before us. Now she is on the cusp of the most important discovery of her career, and it is ghosts who are guiding her way. But what do two long-dead Mimbres women have to tell Ren about herself? And what message do they have about her developing relationship with a fellow archaeologist, the first man to really know her since her brother's death? Come In and Cover Me is the moving story of a woman learning to let go of the past in order to move forward with her own future.
Written with the same warmth and depth of feeling that drew readers to The Well and the Mine, Phillips's debut, Come In and Cover Me is a haunting and engrossing new novel.

Jeneration X by Jen Lancaster

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 19:32:00 +0000

Who doesn’t love staying up till 4 AM watching your favorite reality show? Or maybe your guilty vice is rifling through your neighbors’ trash looking for details on their sordid life. Not your cup of tea? What about froot loops for dinner?

No one wants to grow up, but we all have to. Even Jen Lancaster. The hilarious writer and blogger came to the conclusion that it was finally time to face facts and realize what she had become: an adult. In her new memoir, Jeneration X; One Reluctant Adult's Attempt to Unarrest Her Arrested Development; Or, Why It's Never Too Late for Her Dumb Ass to Learn Why Froot Loops Are Not for Dinner, Lancaster embraces adulthood and tackles tough life lessons no one wants to learn. Each chapter will have you laughing your pants off, especially when you realizes you have been guilty of the same situations (well, maybe not digging through your neighbors’ trash.)

If you haven’t ever read anything by Jen Lancaster you might want to start out with her first memoir, Bitter is the New Black: Confessions of a Condescending, Egomanical, Self-Centered, Smartass, or Why You Should Never Carry a Prada Bag to the Unemployment Office. In Bitter is the New Black, Lancaster sets the stage for how she thought her life was going to be and how it turned out after being laid off from her high paying corporate job.

You can also check out her blog where she sometimes posts chapters from her upcoming books, giveaways, and any other comical situations involving her husband or three misfit rescue dogs that will crack you up