Book Fair

The Book Fair is coming to the CMS Library this week! Scheduled to arrive on Tuesday, December 8, 2009, the bookfair will last through Monday, December 14, 2009. Be sure to save your pennies and come do some holiday shopping at the Book Fair. You can stop between 7:45 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. to do your browsing. Go to the Crane Book Sales at http://cranebooksales.com/intermediate.htm to preview just some of the books that are going to be available.

Holiday Season

Thanksgiving kicks off our holiday season every year. We take this time to reflect on all the we have to be greatful for in our lives. Many of us celebrate Christmas on December 25, and will spend the next few weeks decorating our homes and Christmas trees and buying presents for our loved ones. Others might celebrate Hannukah, Kwanzaa, Chinese New Year or a host of other holidays. Take this time to appreciate your own family and traditions and also learn a little more about the traditions of others. You can stop by the library media center to check out a book of holiday traditions or research the traditions of another culture. The CMS Library Media Center wishes you all a safe and happy holiday!

Veteran's Day

Veteran's Day is celebrated on November 11 each year in honor all men and women of our military who have made such sacrifices to ensure that we all have a better life. Veteran's Day was originally known as Armistice Day because it signified the armistice to cease fighting and eventually end World War I. It was changed in 1954 to Veteran's Day to not only celebrate Armistice Day, but to honor all past and present members of the military. Since 1978, Veteran's Day had been celebrated on November 11, no matter what day of the week it fell on. It is done so to preserve the historical signicance of the end of World War I, as well as to honor American Veterans for their patriotism. If you know a Veteran, be sure to thank them for all that they have done for our Nation. Without their committment and bravery, we would not enjoy the many freedoms the we now enjoy in this great nation.

Edgar Allan Poe

Edgar Allan Poe was one of the most famous mystery and suspense writers of the 1800's. His writings mostly consisted of short stories and poetry that were published in literary magazines and newspapers, although later published as collections in books. His best known works dealt with dark, macabre subjects that instantly appealed to the public. Some of these works include, The Raven, The Fall of the House of Usher, The Tell Tale Heart, and The Black Cat.

Edgar Poe was born on October 19, 1809 in Boston, Massachusetts. His mother was an actress who died when he was 2-years-old. He was sent to live with a relative, John Allan, who was a merchant. Poe was treated very well by the Allan's and was educated abroad when the family traveled to Scotland and London. Later the family returned to America. Poe attended college at the University of Virginia, although he did not complete his degree. While serving in the military, he unsuccessfully published several of his writings in a book called Tamerlane and Other Works. After the military, he held several jobs as a writer and publisher, but became famous with the publishing of his macabre poem entitled The Raven in 1845. However, his fame was short lived. Edgar Allan Poe died on October 7, 1849. Just as the stories he wrote, the circumstances of death also remain a mystery. He was forty- years-old when he died.

Kathryn Tucker Windham

Kathryn Tucker Windham is a master storyteller, photographer, and writer from right here in Alabama. She is best known as the author of the Thirteen Alabama Ghosts and Jeffrey series, which first began as a collection of ghost stories from Alabama, and later from various states in the Southeast. Mrs. Windham was born on June 2, 1918 in Selma, Alabama and grew up in nearby Thomasville. She began writing movie reviews for The Thomasville Times at the age of 12, and developed a love of writing and photography. She graduated from Huntingdon College in 1944, and began writing for The Alabama Journal and later The Birmingham News.

In 1966, Mrs. Windham discover Jeffrey the ghost who is said to haunt her house. She first became aware of Jeffrey from an image that was captured in a photograph in her home. Jeffrey has become one of the most popular ghosts in the South, and is the inspiration behind her famous "true" ghost story collections. She has since written 24 books, ranging from ghost stories to cookbooks to photography. Kathryn Tucker Windham still resides in Selma, Alabama and was inducted into the Alabama Academy of Honor in 2003.

Banned Books Week- Sept. 26-October 3

The American Library Association hosts Banned Books Week each year to celebrate our First Amendment Freedoms and our freedom to read. Banned Books Week is held during the last week of September each year to draw attention to the risks of censorship by highlighting books that are most frequently challenged. Lists are compiled from newspaper and media resources, and can be accessed by year, author, or decade.

Click on the links to the learn more about Banned and Challenged Books and Banned Books Week. You can also click on the links to view the most frequently challenged books by decade, and the most frequently challenged classics. You might be surprised!

Library News

Guess what, Cougars? We had 1300 check-outs during the month of August. And we were just getting started! How awesome is that? In addition, we also have two new members of the Cougar Club. Come check our Wall-of-Fame to see who they are. Readers are Leaders-Keep up the good work!

Our most asked-for books so far this year would be The Graveyard Book, by Neil Gaiman and The Twilight Series, by Stephanie Meyer. It sounds like CMS students really enjoy books about the supernatural, which is great because Halloween is right around the corner. Send me a post of your favorite scary book or author!

New Series Books at the Library

The Shadow Children Series

Margaret Peterson Haddix

The Shadow Children are illegals in a society where families are only allowed two children. These are the children who are the third born to their families. They live in secret, unknown to the world around them. They spend their lives hiding from the Population Police and fighting for their right to be alive. Shadow Children have committed the ultimate crime: they have been born.

Learn more about the series and the books at: http://www.haddixbooks.com/.

Percy Jackson & The Olympians
Rick Riordan

Percy Jackson is just a typical twelve-year-old--or so he thought. When he starts getting in trouble at his New York boarding school, his mother decides to tell him the truth-that he is a Half-Blood. She decideds to send him to Camp Half-Blood, a summer camp for demi-gods. There, Percy learns all about his father, and about himself.

Find out more at: http://www.percyjacksonbooks.com/

The Icemark Chronicles
Stuart Hill

The Icemark Chronicles tell the story of Thirrin, the fourteen-year-old Princess of Icemark. Her father, King Redrought, ensures that she is both a skilled fighter and scholar for her future role as leaderof Icemark. She befriends Oskan Witch's Son, a fifteen-year-old magician and healer, who later becomes Royal Adviser to the throne. Thirrin and Oskan embark on many adventures, including various battles to save the people and the Land of Icemark.

For more information, check out: http://www.freewebs.com/theicemarkchronicles/index.htm

Pendragon Series

D.J. MacHale

Bobby Pendrago was an average 15-year-old boy until he discovers he is a traveler. As a traveler, he has the ability to travel through both time and space. When his uncle enlists his help in defending the territories of Halla from the demon named Saint Dane, Bobby finds himself embarking on a series of dangerous adventures. It is left to the travelers to prevent Saint Dane from destroying all humanity. Bobby and other travelers must often combine forces to defeat the demon.

Find out more about the series at: http://www.thependragonadventure.com/

Sammy Keyes Series

Wendelin Van Draanen

Sammy Keyes is a homeless 7th grader who finds herself secretly living with her grandmother in a retirement home--a home that doesn't allow children. Meanwhile, adventures, mishap, and mystery finds her at every turn. Sammy finds herself in solving mysteries, fighting crime, and bumping into the law enforcement.

Learn more about Sammy Keyes at: http://www.randomhouse.com/kids/vandraanen/sammykeyes/

2009 Newbery Medal Books

Newbery Winner

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Having escaped the aweful fate of his family, a young boy finds himself living in a graveyard, and being raised by ghosts. While living in a graveyard is full of perils of its own, the real danger lies in leaving the graveyard and facing the man Jack, who has taken the lives of Bod's family.



AR Level: 5.1
Points: 10


Newbery Honor Books

Savvy by Ingrid Law

Mibs Beaumont is an unusual girl with an unusual family. Each family member receives is a unique magical power, called savvy, on their 13th birthday. Mibs birthday is right around the corner when her father is injured in an accident. Mibs must discover her savvy and deal with her father's accident, which leads to many adventures along the way.

AR Level: 6.0
Points: 9



After Tupac & D Foster by Jacqueline Woodson

11 year-old Neeka and her best friend meet D Foster, a young girl with a great deal of independence. All three form a bond over their love of Tupac Shakur. They use the music of Tupac to help discover their Big Purpose, and cope with life's challenges and disappointments.



AR Level: 4.7
Points: 4