Is there room for another big biography of John Lennon, just a few years from Philip Norman’s doorstopper, and four years from Bob Spitz’s epic history of the Beatles? Journalist and NPR media critic Tim Riley (the author of previous books on the Beatles, Bob Dylan, and Madonna) proves there is with this insightful, page-turning examination of Lennon’s roots, his Beatle fame, his art, his manic personality and relationship with Yoko Ono, and the peace he finally seemed to find, only to have his life cut tragically short by a crazed gunman. By now, the broad strokes of Lennon’s life have been largely sketched, and Riley doesn’t veer far from that script—a volatile early childhood; the groundbreaking success of the Beatles; the crumbling of the group as personal ties frayed, business soured, and artistic paths diverged; and Lennon’s erratic, activist post-Beatle life with Yoko Ono in America before he settled down to be the father he never had to son Sean. Riley makes his mark in the details. With an impressive array of sources, he soberly explores Lennon’s many contradictions, ably separating myth from reality. The result is a book that at once enriches our appreciation of Lennon’s larger-than-life genius and his mortality.  –Publishers Weekly Reviews

This year’s Newbery and Caldecott winner and honor books are announced today! Check out here

新年快乐

January 23 is also Lunar New Year, also called Chinese New Year, and 2012 is the Year of the Dragon, more specifically the year of the Black Water Dragon.

The Year of the Dragon: Tales From the Chinese Zodiac, written by Oliver Chin, illustrated by Jennifer Wood

“2012 is the year of the dragon! Dominic’s parents advise the kingdom’s Emperor and have high expectations for this high-flying dragon. However, when the boy Bo and the other zodiac animals want to learn paddle boat racing, will Dom sink or swim with them? Find out in the seventh book in the Tales from the Chinese Zodiac series.”                 [JPB CHIN]

Why Rat Comes First: The Story of the Chinese Zodiac by Clara Yen

“Explains why Rat comes first in the Chinese calendar cycle of twelve years.”

[JPB YEN]

Chinese New Year: Count and Celebrate by Frederick L. McKissack, Jr.

“Kids count from one to ten as they learn about the history, symbols, and customs of Chinese New Year.”           [J394.261 MCKISSACK]

Paper Crafts for Chinese New Year by Randel McGee

“Explains the significance of Chinese New Year and provides illustrated instructions for making traditional paper crafts, including shadow puppets, a Chinese lantern, special “lai see” envelopes, and more!”              [J745.5941 MCGEE]

Xin Nian Kuai Le

Roiphe, Anne Richardson, 1935-

Good Daughter : A Memoir of My Mother’s Hidden Life

Darznik, Jasmin, 1973-

We were a world of two, my mother and I, until I started turning into an American girl. That’s when she began telling me about The Good Daughter. It became a taunt, a warning, an omen.

Jasmin Darznik came to America from Iran when she was only three years old, and she grew up knowing very little about her family’s history. When she was in her early twenties, on a day shortly following her father’s death, Jasmin was helping her mother move; a photograph fell from a stack of old letters. The girl pictured was her mother. She was wearing a wedding veil, and at her side stood a man whom Jasmin had never seen before.

Martin Luther King, Jr. by Rebecca Rissman

“This book introduces readers to what it means to celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, and shows them why this holiday is special.”          [JE 394.261 RISSMAN]

Martin Luther King, Jr. by KaaVonia Hinton

“From the Robbie Reader What’s So Great About . . . ? series, this short biography presents the life and work of Martin Luther King, Jr. Telling of his childhood encounters with racial discrimination enables Hinton to introduce topics such as segregation and Jim Crow. After a chapter discussing King’s role in the Montgomery bus boycott, the book concludes with King’s acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize, his continued leadership, his death, and the national holiday created in his honor.” Copyright 2009 Booklist Reviews.                [JB KING]

Martin Luther King, Jr., Day : Count and Celebrate! by Fredrick L. McKissack, Jr. and Lisa Beringer McKissack

“Discusses King’s civil rights work, personal sacrifice, and legacy, including the current-day volunteer movement centered on his holiday.”          [J394.261 McKISSACK]

Martin Luther King, Jr., executive producer, Andrew Schlessinger ; produced and directed by Rhonda Fabian, Jerry Baber ; Library Video Company

Adapted from the book Martin Luther King Jr., civil rights leader, by Robert Jakoubek, published by Chelsea House. “Examines the life of the Baptist minister and civil rights leader who helped American blacks win many battles for equal rights.”                            [DVD JB KING]

In his most personal novel to date, internationally best-selling author Paulo Coelho returns with a remarkable journey of self-discovery. Like the main character in his much-beloved The Alchemist, Paulo is facing a grave crisis of faith. As he seeks a path of spiritual renewal and growth, he decides to begin again: to travel, to experiment, to reconnect with people and the landscapes around him.

Setting off to Africa, and then to Europe and Asia via the Trans-Siberian Railway, he initiates a journey to revitalize his energy and passion. Even so, he never expects to meet Hilal. A gifted young violinist, she is the woman Paulo loved five hundred years before—and the woman he betrayed in an act of cowardice so far-reaching that it prevents him from finding real happiness in this life. Together they will initiate a mystical voyage through time and space, traveling a path that teaches love, forgiveness, and the courage to overcome life’s inevitable challenges. Beautiful and inspiring, Aleph invites us to consider the meaning of our own personal journeys: Are we where we want to be, doing what we want to do?

a regular contributor of the

 Tri Cities Voice Newspaper,

and begin to write your memoir!

This is an informal meeting to support each other and organize your thoughts

 for writing. Sharing is optional.

 This group will meet the first and third

 Tuesday of the Month starting Jan. 17,

 February 7 & 21 and March 6 and 20.

1 — 3 p.m.

Hound Dog True by Linda Urban

“Mattie, a shy fifth-grader, wants to hide at her new school by acting as an apprentice to her Uncle Potluck, the custodian, but only when her plan falls apart does she begin to see how one small, brave act can lead to finding a friend who is “hound dog true.” From the author of A Crooked Kind of Perfect.               [J URBAN, L.]

How Tia Lola Ended Up Starting Over by Julia Alvarez

A final installment in the Tia Lola series. “Welcome to Tia Lola’s bed and breakfast! With the help of her niece and nephew and the three Sword Sisters, Tía Lola is opening the doors of Colonel Charlebois’ grand old Vermont house to visitors from all over. But Tía Lola and the children soon realize that running a B & B isn’t as easy they had initially thought–especially when it appears that someone is out to sabotage them! Will Tía Lola and the kids discover who’s behind the plot to make their B & B fail? And will Tía Lola’s family and friends be able to plan her a surprise birthday party in her own B & B without her finding out?”         [J ALVAREZ]

Mousenet by Prudence Breitrose

“When ten-year-old Megan helps her uncle invent the Thumbtop, the world’s smallest computer, mice are overjoyed, and they want one for every mouse hole.

“The Big Cheese, leader of the Mouse Nation, has orders: follow that girl — even if it means high-tailing it to Megan’s new home on the other side of the country. While Megan struggles as the new girl, the mice watch, waiting for their chance. But when they tell Megan the biggest secret in the history of the world – -mice have evolved, and they need her help — she isn’t sure anyone will believe her. With all of Mouse Nation behind her, Megan could become the most powerful girl alive, but just how will she create a Thumptop for every mouse?”                     [J BREITROSE]

Secrets at Sea by Richard Peck

“In the beloved tradition of The Borrowers, The Tale of Desperaux, and The Cricket in Times Square, here is an irresistible adventure story of the tiny individuals who secretly live among us humans.

“Helena is the oldest of four mouse siblings who live in the walls of the Cranston estate. It is 1887 when the nouveau riche Cranstons decide to take a cruise ship to England in search of a husband for their awkward older daughter. The Cranston mice stow away in the luggage . . . and so begins the time of their lives, as they meet intriguing, cosmopolitan mice onboard and take it upon themselves to help the human Cranston daughters find love. They might just find perfect futures for themselves as well!”                 [J PECK]

The ultimate sartorial and etiquette guide, from the ultimate life and style guru. By turns witty, sardonic, and always insightful, Glenn O’Brien’s advice column has been a must-read for several generations of men (and their spouses and girlfriends). Having cut his teeth as a contributor at Andy Warhol’s Interview in its heyday, O’Brien sharpened them as the creative director of advertising at the hip department store Barneys New York for ten years before starting his advice column at Details magazine in 1996. Eventually his column, “The Style Guy,” migrated to its permanent home at GQ magazine, where O’Brien dispenses well-honed knowledge on matters ranging from how to throw a cocktail party (a diverse guest list is a must), putting together a wardrobe for a trip to Bermuda (pack more clothes for less dressing), or when it is appropriate to wear flip-flops in public (never). How To Be a Man is the culmination of O’Brien’s thirty years of accumulated style and etiquette wisdom, distilled through his gimlet eye and droll prose. With over forty chapters on style and fashion (and the difference), on dandies and dudes, grooming and decorating, on how to dress age-appropriately and how to age gracefully, this guide is the new essential read for men of all ages.

The modern girl’s guide to sticky situations / Jane Buckingham

This is the book to grab when . . . you’re pulling your hair out, screaming like a banshee, blubbering with frustration, or hyperventilating because you just don’t know what to do!Jane Buckingham, author of The Modern Girl’s Guide to Life, is back with a collection of helpful quick fixes for the deserving gal with the best intentions who gets caught in sticky situations. Here are warm, witty, and eminently wise solutions to those everyday problems that pop up as a result of impulsive actions or just plain bad luck—helpful hints on what to do if you: Send an e-mail you instantly regret Botch your self-tan Discover your best friend’s husband is cheating on her Break your corkscrew while opening your only bottle of wine Run into your ex and need to look hot, fast! Are expected to name your baby after a family member with an awful name And that’s just a small sampling of the scenarios for which Jane Buckingham offers solutions in The Modern Girl’s Guide to Sticky Situations. So if you find yourself in a pickle . . . just leave it to Jane!

All Alameda County Library branches are closed today, the day after New Years Day, but you can still find all kinds of wonderful things on the Library’s website

Click on the KIDS link at the top of the page. Did you get an eReader as a gift? You can find ebooks to download through the Library website. You will also find links to many interesting and fun websites. At CELEBRATE HANUKKAH, read about Jewish traditions and play a game of dreidel. Follow the CELEBRATE KWANZAA link and find out about one of the newest celebrations, the history, symbols, and traditions. And you can click on SEUSSVILLE  where you can “Visit Whoville and play games with Mr. Grinch!”

On the Children’s Place page, click on the Reading Rocks link and you will find a wealth of exciting things! On the left side of the page, under TELL ME A STORY, are places to download an ebook or listen to books and stories on line. BOOKFLIX pairs a story with a true, non-fiction book, and you can listen and read along!

Cheetah from GRZIMEK'S ANIMAL LIFE database

If you’re starting to remember that assignment you have to complete and turn in when you go back to school — or you just want some great pictures of cheetahs – you will also find great information at the Children’s Place.

We hope you are enjoying your Winter Break. Come visit us here at the Library, and even when you can’t come physically you can still visit virtually!