2014 Caldecott Medal winner announced!

The 2014 Caldecott Medal winner is Locomotive.

Written and illustrated by Brian Floca, this book follows the story of a family's week-long journey from Omaha to Sacramento in 1869.

The Caldecott Medal is awarded by the Association for Library Service to Children (a division of the American Library Association) and honors the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children.

The 2014 Caldecott Honor books are Journey, written and illustrated by Aaron Becker, Flora and the Flamingo, written and illustrated by Molly Idle, and Mr. Wuffles! written and illustrated by David Wiesner.

For more information about the Caldecott Medal, including a list of previous winners, check out the official Caldecott Medal home page.

Read20 Selection for October: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

The beloved classic The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis is the Read20 Book Club selection for October. What begins as a simple game of hide-and-seek quickly turns into the adventure of a lifetime when four adventurous siblings—Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy Pevensie—step through a wardrobe and into the land of Narnia.

 

Have you joined Read20, the First Lady of Tennessee's Book Club for families? Read20 encourages parents to read with their children for 20 minutes a day. The Read20 club features a different title every month, and each week the club offers a fun, book-related project or a suggestion for a fun family activity. Please visit the First Lady's Read20 page for more information, and have fun reading!

Read20 Selection for September: Tops & Bottoms

Tops and Bottoms, a Caldecott Honor Book by Janet Stevens, is the Read20 Selection for September. Bear has lots of land and lives comfortably, but he is not a hard worker. Hare and Mrs. Hare are hungry, and they come up with a plan: Hare will plant Bear’s crops if Bear agrees to share half of the produce. All Bear has to choose is the half of the crop he wants—tops or bottoms. Bear chooses to take tops, but he discovers that he might have been outsmarted by clever Hare!

Have you joined Read20, the First Lady of Tennessee's Book Club for families? Read20 encourages parents to read with their children for 20 minutes a day. The Read20 club features a different title every month, and each week the club offers a fun, book-related project or a suggestion for a fun family activity. Please visit the First Lady's Read20 page for more information, and have fun reading!

Read20 Selection for August: Toasting Marshmallows

Toasting Marshmallows: Camping Poems by Kristine O'Connell George is the Read20 Book Club selection for August. Luann Toth of School Library Journal says, "George has penned 30 sublimely simple poems that capture the sights, sounds, smells, and sensations of a family's camping trip, from pitching the tent to pulling up stakes and returning home... The poems are varied and inventive, replete with marvelous images and universal truths."

 

Have you joined Read20, the First Lady of Tennessee's Book Club for families? Read20 encourages parents to read with their children for 20 minutes a day. The Read20 club features a different title every month, and each week the club offers a fun, book-related project or a suggestion for a fun family activity. Please visit the First Lady's Read20 page for more information, and have fun reading!

Read20 Book Club Selection for July: George vs. George

George vs. George by Rosalyn Schanzer is the Read20 Book Club selection for July. The book brings to life both sides of the American Revolution, just in time for Independence Day. There are two enemies, both named George: George Washington, the man who freed the American colonies from the British; and George III, the British king who lost them. Who was right? History teaches us that there are two sides to every story.

 

Have you joined Read20, the First Lady of Tennessee's Book Club for families? Read20 encourages parents to read with their children for 20 minutes a day. The Read20 club features a different title every month, and each week the club offers a fun, book-related project or a suggestion for a fun family activity. Please visit the First Lady's Read20 page for more information, and have fun reading!

Read20 Selection for June: The Secret Garden

This classic novel shares the story of Mary Lennox, a lonely, ill-tempered girl orphaned in India by her parents’ death and sent to live at her uncle's estate in England. Neglected once again, she begins exploring the estate and discovers a mysterious, abandoned garden that has been locked and forgotten for many years. Aided by a local boy, Dickon, she begins restoring the garden and finds that she is growing happier and healthier herself. Mary eventually discovers other secrets of the manor, and she learns that miracles take place in the Secret Garden!

 

Have you joined Read20, the First Lady of Tennessee's Book Club for families? Read20 encourages parents to read with their children for 20 minutes a day. The Read20 club features a different title every month, and each week the club offers a fun, book-related project or a suggestion for a fun family activity. Please visit the First Lady's Read20 page for more information, and have fun reading!

Read20 Selection for May: The Library Card by Jerry Spinelli

Mongoose, Brenda, Sonseray, and April have nothing in common... until a mysterious blue card appears as if by magic and begins to change each of their lives. None of them guesses it at first, but that strange blue card will be their ticket to the past—and to a future that they never imagined. In stories that range from humorous to heartbreaking, Newbery-award-winner Jerry Spinelli reveals the amazing possibilities lurking behind library doors.

Have you joined Read20, the First Lady of Tennessee's Book Club for families? Read20 encourages parents to read with their children for 20 minutes a day. The Read20 club features a different title every month, and each week the club offers a fun, book-related project or a suggestion for a fun family activity. Please visit the First Lady's Read20 page for more information, and have fun reading!

Read20 Selection for April: Rabbit Hill

Has your family joined the Read20 Book Club yet? The purpose of the First Lady’s READ20 Book Club is to give Tennessee families a fun goal of reading together with their children for 20 minutes every day. One book is selected each month as the featured “Book of the Month,” and the club provides fun family activities related to each selected title. This month's special selection is Rabbit Hill by Robert Lawson.

Check out a copy of Rabbit Hill, take a look at the fun related activities on the First Lady's Read20 Book Club website, and help your children develop a lifelong love of reading!

Read20 Book Club Selection for March

Did you know? If families read together for 20 minutes a day, 7 days a week, they get more than 121 hours of bonding time every year! That's a great reason to join Read20, the First Lady of Tennessee's book club for children and families.

Get ready now for the March selection! It's Independent Dames: What You Never Knew About the Women and Girls of the American Revolution by Laurie Halse Anderson. You've all heard about the great men who led and fought during the American Revolution. But did you know that the guys only make up part of the story? The ladies played a part, too! Read this book with your children, and learn together about the heroines of the American Revolution.

Want to know more about Read 20? Read20 encourages parents to read with their children for 20 minutes a day. The Read20 book club features a different title every month, and each week the club offers a fun, book-related project or a suggestion for a family activity. Please visit the First Lady's Read20 page for more information, and have fun reading! Or, if you'd like to receive book club updates on your phone, text Follow Read20TN to 40404.

Read20 Children's Book Club Selection for February

Promises to Keep: How Jackie Robinson Changed America by Sharon Robinson is the Read20 Selection for February. This book is a warm, intimate portrait of Jackie Robinson, the man who broke the color barrier in baseball, told from a unique perspective: his only daughter. With family photos and mementos, reproduced newspaper headlines, magazines and letters, Sharon Robinson illustrates her dad’s story from childhood to that historic moment in baseball, including his role as a civil rights activist.

Have you joined Read20, the First Lady of Tennessee's Book Club for families? Read20 encourages parents to read with their children for 20 minutes a day. The Read20 club features a different title every month, and each week the club offers a fun, book-related project or a suggestion for a fun family activity. Please visit the First Lady's Read20 page for more information, and have fun reading!

Read20 Children's Book Club Selection for January

Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater is the Read20 selection for January. It was hard enough for Mr. Popper to support himself, Mrs. Popper, Bill and Janie Popper. The addition of twelve penguins to the family made it impossible to make both ends meet. Then Mr. Popper had a splendid idea: The penguins might support the Poppers! And so they did.

Have you joined Read20, the First Lady of Tennessee's Book Club for families? Read20 encourages parents to read with their children for 20 minutes a day. The Read20 club features a different title every month, and each week the club offers a fun, book-related project or a suggestion for a fun family activity. Please visit the First Lady's Read20 page for more information,and have fun reading!

Read20 Book Club Selection for November

Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne is the Read20 Book Club selection for November. Has your family joined Read20, the First Lady of Tennessee's Book Club for families? Read20 encourages parents to read with their children for 20 minutes a day. Every month, the club features a different title and recommends four fun, book-related projects or a suggestions for a family activity. Please visit the First Lady's Read20 page for more information, and have fun reading!

Read20 Children's Book Club Selection for September

Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown is the Read20 Book Club selection for September. Stanley Longchamp is a nice, ordinary boy until he suddenly becomes "flat" one day when his bulletin board falls on him. Stanley takes off on all kinds of adventures and travels around the world. Your family can read about Stanley’s adventures in the Flat Stanley book series. In addition, Tennessee's First Lady Chrissy Haslam will be taking Stanley on a world-wide adventure this month, as she and Governor Haslam travel to Japan on a trip that will hopefully bring more business to Tennessee. Follow Flat Stanley's adventures on the First Lady's Facebook page.

Have you joined Read20, the First Lady of Tennessee's Book Club for families? Read20 encourages parents to read with their children for 20 minutes a day. The Read20 club features a different title every month, and each week the club offers a fun, book-related project or a suggestion for a fun family activity. Please visit the First Lady's Read20 page for more information, and have fun reading!

Charlotte's Web Dress-Up Day at the Library

“It is not often that someone comes along who is a true friend and a good writer.”
--E.B. White, Charlotte's Web
The Brentwood Library staff had so much fun yesterday doing a Charlotte's Web themed dress-up day. Remember, Charlotte's Web is the Read20 Family Book Club's selection this month. Chrissy Haslam, the First Lady of Tennessee, sponsors Read20. The purpose of the club is simple: Read with your children for just 20 minutes a day, and instill a love of reading that will last a lifetime! For more information, please visit the Read20 website.

Dress-Up Day at the Library on August 15

The Read20 Book Club's selection for the month is Charlotte's Web. In honor of this book, we invite kids (and kids at heart!) to come to the library dressed for the County Fair on Wednesday, August 15. Wear your overalls, a plaid shirt, or a cute gingham dress... Whatever makes you think of the County Fair!

The purpose of the First Lady of Tennessee’s Read20 Book Club is to give Tennessee families a fun goal of reading together with their children for 20 minutes every day. It's free to join--just click here!

Read20 Children's Book Club Selection for August

It's not too late to join Read20, the First Lady of Tennessee's Book Club for families. Read20 encourages parents to read with their children for 20 minutes a day. The Read20 club features a different title every month. Each week the club offers a fun, book-related project or a suggestion for a family activity. This month's Read20 selection is Charlotte's Web by E.B. White.

In the book, Wilbur wins his owner Mr. Zuckerman a special prize for being a radiant, terrific and humble pig. You and your family can take a trip to the fair, too! There are many county fairs taking place in Tennessee this month. Visit this website to find the county fair closest to you.

If you haven't yet joined Read20, consider this: Many states use 3rd grade reading scores to predict the number of jail cells they might need in the future. Good readers are good citizens!

Read20 Book Club Selection for July

Has your family joined Read20, the First Lady of Tennessee's Book Club for families yet? This month's Read20 selection is Judy Moody Declares Independence by Megan McDonald. It's the perfect book to read while celebrating Independence Day, and Read20 suggests four great family-friendly activities associated with the book. Here is the first activity:

On Independence Day, we commemorate the adoption of our Declaration of Independence, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. Judy Moody writes her own declaration of independence – you and your family can write one, too! What things would you declare yourself independent of if you could? What freedoms do you already have that you are most grateful for? Submit your declaration of independence to Crissy.Haslam@tn.gov. Mrs. Haslam will feature the most creative entries on her Facebook page!

If you haven't yet joined Read20, consider this: If families read together for 20 minutes a day, 7 days a week, they get more than 121 hours of bonding time every year!

The First Lady of Tennessee Launches the Read20 Book Club

Did you know? Research demonstrates that reading with a child during the preschool years has a ripple effect which positively impacts the child, the family, the schools, and society as a whole through increased economic development, reduced special education, and reduced criminal justice costs. So Crissy Haslam, the First Lady of Tennessee, is launching the Read20 Book Club. The club encourages families to read together for just 20 minutes a day. Each month, one book will be featured as "Book of the Month" and accompanied by family-friendly activities. For more information, or to sign up, visit the Read20 Book Club webpage.

Heather Vogel Frederick's Virtual Visit

Mother-Daughter Book Club

Girls ages 9-12 and their moms are welcome to join our fun book discussion!

We will meet 1:00-2:00 p.m. at the Children’s Library.

Friday, June 15 – Once Upon a Toad by Heather Vogel Frederick. The author will be visiting our book club via Skype!

Click on the date to register. For more information about the author and the book, click on the the author's name.

Summer Reading Prizes

It's time! Turn in your summer reading log by August 21st to receive your prize for meeting your reading goal.

Thanks for your participation - we hope you had a great summer!