Show #499 Airing Sunday, 11/9/09
The calendar says it’s November 1st — but what it’s really saying is that the holidays are just around the corner! Are you making your gift list — and checking it twice? If you have grandchildren on that list, check out these gift ideas from Leslie Molnar. Leslie is the Youth Services Selection Supervisor for Cuyahoga County Public Library.
Question: Books are always a great gift idea! But there are so many to choose from!
Answer: Cuyahoga County Public Library can help! Each year we offer this award-winning publication — “Great Books for Kids.” There are 100 suggestions included and, beginning in just a couple of weeks, you’ll find it online at our web site.
Question: You've paged through the list and picked out a few to show us. And I know this first one - The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
Answer: This has been a favorite for years! Forty years, in fact! And to celebrate its 40th anniversary, they’ve published a pop-up version of the book! It tells the same story of the caterpillar eating its way through the week, spinning its cocoon and then emerging as a beautiful butterfly.
Question: This next one looks interesting. Is it about dinosaurs - or trucks?
Answer: It’s actually about DinoTrucks — which is a combination of the two. Did you know millions of years ago Rollodons and Domeoplatus roamed the earth? This book tells the story of the Dino Trucks — and what happened to them. It’s great for all those kids who love dinosaurs and playing with trucks.
Question: So those first two are for very young children. This one looks like a beginning reader book.
Answer: It is. It’s another one in the very popular Amelia Bedelia series. This book actually has four stories in it — along with recipes, puzzles and brainteasers. This lovely literary lady with the fun wording is back.
Question: I recognize this event - and I remember staying up late when I was a kid to see it. It was man's landing on the moon.
Answer: Right! This book is titled One Small Step, and it is a scrapbook of that day, July 20, 1969 — another 40th anniversary.
This is for kids who are a little bit older — maybe eight to ten years of age — as well as adult enthusiasts. There are photos, letters, memorabilia — and it’s all put together in a scrapbook style.
Question: And finally - a big finish - with a very big book.
Answer: This book — Life Sized Zoo — has full color photos of zoo animals, so you can take a trip to the zoo while staying home!
What’s neat is that they are life sized — so this picture of a zebra head really is the size of a zebra head!
And it also includes a fold-out to show the actual size of a giraffe’s neck and head.
Question: And all these - and more - are on the list that'll be on the web site in just a few weeks.
Answer: That’s right. And the nice thing about the library is, you can take out any of these books and “test drive” them to see if you like them, before you buy them as gifts!
Follow Leslie’s suggestions and those on your gift list will live happily ever after! My thanks to Leslie Molnar wrapping up a great holiday gift guide. And to find out more, visit your local branch of Cuyahoga County Public Library!
