Showing posts with label holiday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label holiday. Show all posts

Thursday, October 27, 2016

Día de los Muertos Children's Books at Warren Township Library

These picture books can all be shared with kids in preparation for el Día de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead), celebrated at the beginning of November. They are available at the Warren Township Library and other branches of the Somerset County Library System.


The Dead Family Diaz
by P.J. Bracegirdle; illustrated by Poly Bernatene

The elevator from the Land of the Dead is rising fast, and little skeleton Angelito is nervous. It's his first time joining has family on their annual trip to the Land of the Living for el Día de los Muertos, and though Angelito knows it's meant to be a festive occasion, he's freaked out at the thought of squishy, bulgy-eyed live people. Once they arrive, however, he spots a boy with a skeleton face just like his…or so it seems. Saturated colors and a cartoony style keep the mood light in this charming tale of understanding, friendship, and celebration.
 
Clatter Bash! A Day of the Dead Celebration
by Richard Keep

It's a starry night in autumn, and the spirits of the dead get ready to party. After their families leave them marigolds and other gifts, the spirits emerge in the form of skeletons, and the quiet evening is transformed into a lively bash complete with music, dancing, food, and games. The story doesn't provide many facts about el Día de los Muertos (there's an afterword for that), but the punchy rhymes (in Spanish and English) and colorful collage art create an upbeat tone that's just right for little listeners. Those looking for a spookier, Halloween-themed story about skeletons may appreciate Robert Heibreder's Black and Bittern Was Night.
The Remembering Day
by Pat Mora; illustrated by Robert Casilla

In this soothing bilingual picture book, beloved storyteller Pat Mora weaves an imagined origin story for Día de los Muertos that will resonate with children and adults alike. In a long-ago village in the country now called Mexico, a girl named Bella shares a close relationship with her grandmother, Mamá Alma.  Mamá Alma knows that her body can't live forever, and so she asks Bella to plan a special day that will honor her (and other loved ones) after she's gone. Though it will have special meaning for readers who have lost a loved one, anyone can enjoy the gentle warmth of The Remembering Day.
Just in Case: A Trickster Tale and Spanish Alphabet Book
by Yuyi Morales

Skeleton-man Señor Calavera is excited about attending Grandma Beetle's birthday party, but just as he's setting out on his bicycle, Zelmiro the Ghost appears, reminding him that he needs a present, one that Grandma Beetle "would love the most." Señor Calavera begins an alphabetical search for precious gifts, with each one introducing readers to a new Spanish word. But are his A-to-Y gifts really what Grandma would love the most, or has the best been saved for last? Featuring whimsical illustrations in brilliant, riotous colors, Just in Case won the Pura Belpré Illustrator Award for its celebration of Latino culture.
Día de los Muertos
by Roseanne Thong; illustrated by Carles Ballesteros

Joy and remembrance are in the air as a village prepares for el Día de los Muertos: from lovingly curated memorial altars to tasty pan de muertos all the way to an exciting costume parade, there's so much to do and see! Spanish words are folded into the English text of this inviting story, which also boasts readaloud-friendly rhymes and a backdrop of cheery, chunky illustrations, making Día de los Muertos "a jovial primer" for newcomers and "a fiesta for those who already partake" (School Library Journal). Fans of this author's style should also see her earlier titles, Green is a Chile Pepper and Round is a Tortilla.

Friday, January 16, 2015

Warren Township Library Closed for Martin Luther King Day

The Warren Township Library will be closed on Monday, January 19, 2015 in observance of Martin Luther King Day. In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., here are some books available at the library:

Max Celebrates Martin Luther King Jr. Day (by Adria F Worsham)- Simple sentences tell the reader how Max and his parents are going to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Suggested for Preschool to Grade 1.

We March (by Shane W. Evans) - Brief, blunt sentences propel the narrative and place readers on the scene of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. The day unfolds through the perspective of a family of four. Suggested for Preschool to Grade 3.

Who Was Martin Luther King Jr. (by Bonnie Bader) - Clearly written text that explains this tumultuous time in history and 80 black-and-white illustrations, this Who Was?? celebrates the vision and the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. Suggested for Grades 3-7.

The Autobiography of Martin Luther King Jr. (Clayborne Carson) - The author pieced together an incomplete study of King's life by supplementing his extant autobiographies (e.g., Stride Toward Freedom and Where Do We Go from Here) with previously unpublished and published writings, interviews and speechesThe book offers glimpses of King's family life as well a view of famous Americans such as Stokely Carmichael, Malcolm X and JFK.

King: A Critical Biography (David Lewis) - A portrait of Martin Luther King Jr.

To see more books on Martin Luther King Jr., please go here.

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Scary Movies and Halloween Movies for Kids

The Warren Township Library has lots of books and e-books for Halloween lovers but there are plenty of movies from classics to cult favorites for patrons to borrow.

Movies/Shows for Kids
(some may be more appropriate for older kids; also see our spoof/comedies below)
The Addams Family (1991) - Con artists plan to fleece the eccentric family using an accomplice who claims to be their long lost Uncle Fester.
Beetle Juice (1998) - A couple of recently deceased ghosts contract the services of a "bio-exorcist" in order to remove the obnoxious new owners of their house.
Casper (1995) - A paranormal expert and his daughter bunk in an abandoned house populated by 3 mischievous ghosts and one friendly one. (great for all ages)
The Haunted Mansion (2003) - Workaholic realtor Jim Evers, his wife/business partner Sara and their two children are summoned to a mansion. When they discover that the place is haunted, Jim discovers an important lesson about the family he's neglected as they attempt to escape.
Hocus Pocus (1993) - After 300 years, three sister witches are resurrected in Salem Massachusetts on Halloween night, and it us up to two teenagers, a young girl, and an immortal cat to put an end to the witches reign of terror once and for all.
Hotel Transylvania (2012) - Dracula, who operates a high-end resort away from the human world,
goes into overprotective mode when a boy discovers the resort and falls for the count's teen-aged daughter.
It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown (1966) - The Peanuts gang celebrates Halloween while Linus waits for the Great Pumpkin. (all ages)
The Monster Squad (1987) - Dracula is alive. In fact, he plans to rule the world and that is why he seeks the help of other legendary monsters. However, a bunch of kids regarded by their peers as losers uncover the devious plan and prepare for a counter strike.
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) - Jack Skellington, king of Halloweentown, discovers Christmas Town, but doesn't quite understand the concept.
ParaNorman (2012) - A misunderstood boy takes on ghosts, zombies and grown-ups to save his town from a centuries-old curse.
Scared Shrekless (2010) - Shrek gets in the Halloween spirit by challenging his fairytale friends to come up with scary stories for a contest. But the gang learn that they'll have to spend the night in Lord Farquaad's haunted castle before the winner is named. (great for all ages)
Scooby-Doo: 13 Spooky Tales, Run for your Life - This two-disc set contains a cornucopia of frightfully fun Scooby-Doo adventures as Scooby-Doo and the gang are stalked through thirteen episodes by famous monsters, ghastly ghouls and other creatures of the night determined to stop the 'meddling kids' at every turn.

Movies for Adults (Parental discretion advised for many of these)
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (2012) - Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, discovers vampires are planning to take over the United States. He makes it his mission to eliminate them.
The Amityville Horror (1979) - Newlyweds move into a house where a murder was committed, and experience strange manifestations which drive them away.  (We also have the 2005 remake).
Carrie (1976) -  (the original)  A young, abused and timid 17-year-old girl discovers she has telekinesis, and gets pushed to the limit on the night of her school's prom by a humiliating prank.
The Conjuring (2013) - Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren work to help a family terrorized by a dark presence in their farmhouse. 
The Descent (2005) - A caving expedition with six women goes horribly wrong, as the explorers become trapped and ultimately pursued by a strange breed of predators.
The Exorcist (1973) - When a teenage girl is possessed by a mysterious entity, her mother seeks the help of two priests to save her daughter.(considered one of the scariest movies when it came out)
Ghost Ship (2002) - A salvage crew that discovers a long-lost 1962 passenger ship floating lifeless in a remote region of the Bering Sea soon notices, as they prepare to tow it back to land, that "strange things" happen...  
Ghost Story (1981) - Four successful elderly gentlemen, members of the Chowder Society, share a gruesome, 50-year old secret. When one of Edward Wanderley's twin sons dies in a bizarre accident, the group begins to see a pattern of frightening events developing.
The Grudge (2004) - An American nurse living and working in Tokyo is exposed to a mysterious supernatural curse, one that locks a person in a powerful rage before claiming their life and spreading to another victim.
Halloween (1978) - A psychotic murderer institutionalized since childhood for the murder of his sister, escapes and stalks a bookish teenage girl and her friends while his doctor chases him through the streets. 
House on Haunted Hill (1999) - A millionaire offers a group of diverse people $1,000,000 to spend the night in a haunted house with a horrifying past. (If the classics are more your thing, we also have the original 1958 version)
The Innkeepers (2011 ) - During the final days at the Yankee Pedlar Inn, two employees determined to reveal the hotel's haunted past begin to experience disturbing events as old guests check in for a stay.
Insidious (2010) - A family looks to prevent evil spirits from trapping their comatose child in a realm called The Further.
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) - In the dreams of his victims, a spectral child murderer stalks the children of the members of the lynch mob that killed him.
The Omen (1976) - An American ambassador learns to his horror that his son is actually the literal Antichrist. 
The Others (2001) - A woman who lives in a darkened old house with her two photosensitive children becomes convinced that her family home is haunted.
Paranormal Activity (2007) - After moving into a suburban home, a couple becomes increasingly disturbed by a nightly demonic presence. (The library has Paranormal Activity 1-4)
Psycho (1960) - A Phoenix secretary steals $40,000 from her employer's client, goes on the run and checks into a remote motel run by a young man under the domination of his mother.

Resident Evil (2002) - A special military unit fights a powerful, out-of-control supercomputer and hundreds of scientists who have mutated into flesh-eating creatures after a laboratory accident. (the library has all the movies in this series)
The Ring (2002) - A young journalist must investigate a mysterious videotape which seems to cause the death of anyone in a week of viewing it.
Saw (2004) - With a dead body lying between them, two men wake up in the secure lair of a serial killer who's been nicknamed "Jigsaw". The men must follow various rules and objectives if they wish to survive and win the deadly game set for them.
Scream (1996) - A killer known as Ghostface begins killing off teenagers, and as the body count begins rising, one girl and her friends find themselves contemplating the "Rules" of horror films as they find themselves living in a real-life one. (the library has Scream 1-4)
Storage 24 (2012) - In London, a military plane crashes leaving its highly classified contents strewn across the city. Completely unaware that the city is in lockdown, a group of people become trapped inside a storage facility with a highly unwelcome guest.
The Woman in Black (2012) - A young lawyer travels to a remote village where he discovers the vengeful ghost of a scorned woman is terrorizing the locals. 
World War Z (2013) - United Nations employee Gerry Lane traverses the world in a race against time to stop the Zombie pandemic that is toppling armies and governments, and threatening to destroy humanity itself.

Halloween/Horror Movie Spoofs or Comedies
The Evil Dead (1981) - Five friends travel to a cabin in the woods, where they unknowingly release flesh-possessing demons.
Ghostbusters (2009) - You play the newest employee of the paranormal investigations and eliminations business as a new wave of Gozer related hauntings plagues New York City.
Gremlins (1984) - A boy inadvertantly breaks 3 important rules concerning his new pet and unleashes a horde of malevolently mischievous monsters on a small town.
Scary Movie  (2000)  - A year after disposing the body of a man they accidently killed, a group of dumb teenagers are stalked by a bumbling serial killer. Spoofs Scream among other movies. (We have Scary Movie 1-5)
Shaun of the Dead (2004) - A man decides to turn his moribund life around by winning back his ex-girlfriend, reconciling his relationship with his mother, and dealing with an entire community that has returned from the dead to eat the living.
Young Frankenstein (1974) - Dr. Frankenstein's grandson, after years of living down the family reputation, inherits granddad's castle and repeats the experiments.

For great Halloween reads:

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Halloween Books for Children of All Ages

Get into the "spirit" of Halloween with some great books with this list from the Warren Township Library. These books are available in the Somerset County Library System.

For Younger Kids
(Perfect for little ones; elementary school kids also will enjoy these) Skeleton for Dinner by Margery Cuyler 
Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson
Bone Soup by Cambria Evans
Halloween Hustle by Charlotte Gunnufson
Welcome to Monster Town (Christy Ottaviano Books) by Ryan Heshka
Monsters Don't Eat Broccoli  by Barbara Jean Hicks
Ghosts in the House!  by Kazuno Kohara
AlphaOops: H is for Halloween by Alethea Kontis
Porkenstein  by Kathryn Lasky
Moonstore by Tara Lazar (The author be at Warren Library on Oct. 22)
Runaway Pumpkin by Kevin Lewis
Fright Night Flight by Laura Krauss Melmed
Goodnight Goon and Runaway Mummy by Michael Rex
Vunce Upon a Time by J. Otto Seibold & Siobhan Vivian
Sheep Trick or Treat by Nancy E. Shaw
One Hallooween Night by Mark Teague
Can You Make a Scary Face?  by Jan Thomas 
Whooo's Haunting the Teeny Tiny Ghost? by Kay Winters 
Two Little Witches: A Halloween Counting Story by Harriet Ziefert

School-Age Kids
Ghosthunters and The Totally Moldy Baroness! by Cornelia Funke (Ages 6-9) (part of a series)
Bed, Bats, & Beyond (Darby Creek Exceptional Titles)  by Joan Holub 
Magic Tree House #42: A Good Night for Ghosts (A Stepping Stone Book)  by Mary Pope Osborne (ages 6-9) (part of a series)
This Book Is Haunted (An I Can Read Book, Level 1) by Joanne Rocklin

Young Adult

The World's Most Haunted Places: From The Secret Files of Ghostvillage.com by Jeff Belanger
The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury
Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
Revenge of the Witch by Joseph Delaney (Book One of the Last Apprentice series)
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Wait Till Helen Comes: A Ghost Story Mary Downing Hahn
The Enemy Charlie Higson (
Book One of the Enemy series)

The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving
The Collected Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe by Edgar Allan Poe

The Intruders by E.E. Richardson
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark  Alvin Schwartz
Frankenstein by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley
Nightwood by Patricia Windsor
The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror  (Graphic Novels, various titles)
 


Get into the crafty spirit of Halloween with these books:
Spooky Things (Making Pictures) by Penny King
Crafts to Make in the Fall by Kathy Ross
Halloween Fun for Everyone by Ferida Wolff and Dolores Kozielski
 
Adults can get their Halloween fix with truly spooky stories and haunting fiction. The Warren Library also is offering spooktacular events for kids and adults.
 


Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Truly Spooky Tales for Halloween Available at the Warren Library

Warren Township Library's selection of Halloween books shows that truth is often stranger than fiction, especially when it comes to ghosts and spooky places. Here are some great non-fiction books (some also available as audiobooks) to send chills down your spine.


Ghosthunting New Jersey by L'Aura Hladik - Hladik writes about her personal visits to 34 legendary haunted places, all of which are open to the public, and shares her experiences as well as other firsthand accounts. Locations include: The Spy House, one of the most haunted sites on the Eastern Seaboard and home to several ghosts and The Proprietary House, haunted by the ghost of a little boy, a Revolutionary War soldier, and others who occupy the ladies’ room. 

Ghosts of central New Jersey : Bizarre, Strange and Deadly by Richard J. Kimmel - Tour Central New Jersey's myths, legends, and happenings including the haunted Circle Player's Theater, the Burlington County Prison Museum and the infamous Marlboro Psychiatric Hospital where shadow people and screams of the dead are common. 

Pine Barrens Legends, Lore and Lies by William McMahon -The New Jersey Pine Barrens is a legendary place with a fascinating history, rich in mystery, adventure, and romance.This book is a mix of local lore, history and fantastic yarns. Historic Haunted America by Michael Norman and Beth Scott - Here is a comprehensive investigation into North American ghost legends from the ghost-ridden forts in Old Tucson to the "Inn of the 17 Ghosts" near Philadelphia - and many more. These stories of the past and present sound so terrifyingly real that even the most skeptical reader would believe. 

A Spirited War: George Washington and the Ghosts of the Revolution in CentralNew Jersey by Donald Johnstone Peck - New Jersey has recently been hailed as the "Crossroads of the American Revolution." Peck and his companion, psychic Jane Doherty, visit many historic sites that still do exist, and they provide a fresh analysis of events that took place in the area, along with explanations of the personalities involved in them. 

Legendary Pine Barrens: New Tales From Old Haunts by Paul Evans Pedersen Jr. -Pedersen’s 21 stories and three songs are inspired by South Jersey’s rich folkloreand includes everything from offbeat explanations of natural phenomena to unconventional takes on popular legends. Pedersen will be at the Warren Township Library on October 23 to share some stories and songs from his book. 

Weird NJ: Your Travel Guide to New Jersey's Local Legends and Best Kept Secrets by Mark Sceurman and Mark Moran - You probably know of the infamous Jersey Devil, but have you heard of the Matawan Man Eater or the Hoboken Monkey-Man? These are just some of the odd, mysterious and unexplainable in this book. 
Spooky New Jersey : Tales of Hauntings, Strange Happenings, and Other Local Lore retold by S. E. Schlosser - Set deep in the Pinelands and Ramapo Mountains, along the Atlantic coast, and in historic towns like Burlington and Springfield, the stories in this entertaining and compelling collection will have you looking over your shoulder again and again. You'll  meet ghosts and witches, hear things that go bump in the night.

The Case of the Unknown Woman: A 19th Century Murder Mystery by Alexander Shipley -
This is a fascinating tale based on an actual event that began on March 26, 1887, when a young woman was found murdered in a field on the outskirts of Rahway, New Jersey. Some have speculated there is a possible link between this dastardly deed and the crimes of Jack the Ripper. Shipley will discuss his book at the Warren Township Library on October 26. 


Trucker Ghost stories: and Other True Tales of Haunted Highways, Weird Encounters, and Legends of the Road edited by Annie Wilder - These are true stories from the highways and byways of America. These firsthand accounts are as varied as the storytellers themselves—some are detailed and filled with the terror and suspense that made people feel they had to share what happened to them with others; others are brief and straightforward re-tellings of truly chilling events.

Go here for our top pics for haunting fictional e-books, books and audiobooks. Some great Halloween books for kids of all ages.

And you might want to sign up for one of our Halloween events at the library.