Christmas by the Book by Stacy

Newspaper tree with book spine bookmarks which are for sale for $3.00 each.

It seems like a perverse thing for librarians to like to do, but we LOVE ripping up books and making things with them.  If you’ve spent any time at all with us in the library, then you know that we are obsessed with finding things to make with deteriorated books.  Couches, bookcases, purses and more.  This holiday is no different.  We’ve just finished our new display filled with brand new book gift ideas, including ornaments, pop-up scenes, trees, more trees, wreaths and more.  

Wreath

This year, we are super excited because one of our very wonderful Friends of the Library has made quirky, adorable, nifty bookmarks made from the spines of old books.  You can see the bookmarks at the front display near the sliding glass doors.  Each of the bookmarks on the paper tree and inside the display is available for purchase for $3.00.  They’ll make super stocking stuffers for your favorite readers.

Bookmarks

If you are interested in creating book craft gifts yourself, then I suggest you come over to visit and check out one of the following books:

745.54 THOM - Playing with Books: the art of upcycling, deconstructing, and reimagining the book.  From vases and mobiles to jewelry and art, this book has a little of everything.  It’s not the most awesome book craft book I’ve seen (that one remains unwritten in my head!), but it will give you several ideas for beautiful, unique gifts.

745.5 OCC – The Repurposed Library: 33 craft projects that give old books new life.  This book’s best asset is its very detailed instructions on the most common book crafts like wreaths, lamps, shelves and ornaments.  It does have a few little unexpected surprise projects that I hadn’t seen, like a lovely book page quilt.

745.593 URE – The Altered Book Scrapbook.  Even though most of us have probably played around with altering books into journals or scrapbooks, this is still one of my very favorite book project books.  There is just no better gift whatsoever than a personal scrapbook made from a book that means something to the recipient.  Scrapbooking techniques change pretty quickly, but this one still gives great inspiration.

Book Scene

So, happy page ripping and creating!  Just remember that the library books are OFF limits for crafting, but we’ve plenty in our year round lobby sale.

Tree

New Juvenile Series by Levonn

When most kids first develop a love of reading, they also develop a love for chapter book series.  In the early sixties, I fell in love with the “Nurse Cherry Ames Adventures,” which have just been released again.  My own children loved "Box Car Children" by Gertrude Warner and “Goosebumps” by R. L. Stine, which is another series that has seen a revival in popularity.  Then of course, there were the “Babysitter Club” books by Ann Martin, “Hank the Cowdog” by John Erikson, “Hardy Boys” by Franklin Dixon and “Nancy Drew” by Carolynn Keene.  Whatever decade we grew up in, we have all had our first experience with a just-can't-get-enough-series.

Are you looking for a great series for your children to love?  Your kids have probably read their way through the “Magic Tree House” books by Mary Pope Osborne, and you might not be able to stand one more “Junie B. Jones” by Barbara Park.  Maybe, your children just aren't quite ready to attack the length of “Harry Potter” by Rowling.  It’s probably time to come by Stillwater Public Library to get help finding a new series to start your child reading.

Some popular new series include “Allie Finkles Rules for Girls” by Meg Cabot and “Sisters Grimm” by Michael Buckley. 

You might try a series by a well-known current author, such as Dan Gutman’s “My Weird School Daze” and “Baseball Card Adventures,” or Debbie Dadey's “Mermaid Tales” or “Keyholder" series. 

 

For some light-hearted fun, try “Dear Dumb Diary” by Jim Benton or “Melvin Beederman: Superhero” by Greg Trine. 

A good scary choice is “Chronicles of Ancient Darkness” by Michelle Paver.

No matter their tastes, interest or reading level, we have a series that will capture each young reader’s heart and imagination.