Author of "The Help" to Appear in Iowa City

The Help is currently one of the most popular books at our library (even though it was released well over a year ago). We have three copies of the book, and not one of them has made it to the regular shelf yet because they are constantly on hold. Well anyone who is a fan of the book should know that the author of The Help, Kathryn Stockett, is going to be at the Iowa City Public Library on Sunday, May 2 from 2-3 p.m. She will read from her novel and there will be a short signing session afterward. They are expecting this to be a very popular program, so if you want to attend, you should plan to be there around 1:00 p.m. when the doors open. Also, books purchased at the event will be given priority during the signing. For more information about this exciting event, go to the ICPL website.

Pajama Time on Wednesday with Kelly!

Put your pajamas on, grab your favorite bear, and come to the children's section of the library to relax and share stories and rhymes. This weekly program is designed for children under 7 and their families. This program will last approximately 30 minutes. It's a great way to get ready for bed (toothbrush optional)!

Jim Aylesworth is Coming to the Library

Through a partnership with the Solon Community Schools, the Solon Public Library is proud to welcome author Jim Aylesworth to the library! On Thursday, April 29 at 6:30, Jim will talk about what it's like to be an author and answer questions from the audience. Bring the whole family for a fun night out. Refreshments will be provided. Jim Aylesworth is a critically acclaimed author of picture books for children. Some of his titles that we own include The Mitten, Naughty Little Monkeys, Our Abe Lincoln, and Old Black Fly.

Tuesday Storytime With Jen

SQUEAK! SQUEAK! On Tuesday, April 27, storytime is all about mice! We will be reading the classic book, If You Give A Mouse A Cookie by Laura Numeroff and coloring our own mouse pictures. Preschool storytime meets at 10:30 a.m. and is geared for ages 2-5, but siblings are always welcome. Each session consists of 20-25 minutes of stories, songs, and action rhymes followed by a craft. No registration is required.

Guest Reviewer Dean

Title: Point Blank: An Alex Rider Adventure Author: Anthony Horowitz Summary: Fourteen-year-old Alex Rider continues his work as a spy for the British MI6, investigating an exclusive school for boys in the French Alps. Dean Says: I love the Alex Rider series and this is definitely another one to remember. He uses real life areas and makes it interesting at the same time.

Guest Reviewer Adam

Title: Pendragon: The Merchant of Death Author: D.M. MacHale Summary: Bobby Pendragon is a seemingly normal fourteen-year-old boy. He has a family, a home, and even Marley, his beloved dog. But there is something very special about Bobby. He is going to save the world. And not just Earth as we know it. Bobby is slowly starting to realize that life in the cosmos isn't quite what he thought it was. Adam Says: It's about a boy who is different than anyone else so I can relate to him. It's a fantasy that you get sucked into.

Pajama Time with Kelly on Wednesday!

Put your pajamas on, grab your favorite bear, and come to the children's section of the library to relax and share stories and rhymes. This weekly program is designed for children under 7 and their families. This program will last approximately 30 minutes. It's a great way to get ready for bed (toothbrush optional)!

National TV Turnoff Week

April 19-25 is National TV Turnoff Week!

Come to the library and stock up on reading materials and puzzles to keep you busy! Pick up a mystery, a thriller, or a tear-jerker to keep you occupied while you try to avoid the television.

Tuesday Storytime With Jen

On Tuesday, April 20, storytime will be all about flowers! We'll be reading several flower and garden books and making our own flower garden to take home. Preschool storytime meets at 10:30 a.m. and is geared for ages 2-5, but siblings are always welcome. Each session consists of 20-25 minutes of stories, songs, and action rhymes followed by a craft. No registration is required.

Mark Your Calendars

The Friends of the Library Book Sale is coming soon! May 29, 30, & 31 at the Solon Library. There will be around 8000 books, movies, audio books, computer games, and music CDs to choose from. Most items will be priced at $.50 or less. Proceeds from the sale will benefit the Solon Public Library AND the Solon School Libraries. For more information, check the library website and watch for ads in the Solon Economist.

Garage Sale Forms Available Now!

The Solon Area Garage Sale will be held on Saturday, June 5. You can pick up a registration form at the library, or print one off from the website. Turn your forms in early because registration is limited and spots are going fast. The registration deadline is May 29. Space is available at the library for apartment dwellers and people who live outside the city limits. This event brings in hundreds of people from all around the area, and it is a great opportunity to get rid of your clutter after spring cleaning. Maps of the garage sales will be available on June 3.

Garden Club Event at the Libary

Tips for Planting and Caring for Trees and Shrubs Presented by Sunday Antrim, Johnson County Master Gardener Saturday, April 17 9:00 am Solon Library Meeting Room This event is sponsored by the Solon Garden Club.

Guest Reviewer Zach

Title: Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief Author: Rick Riordan Summary: After learning that he is the son of a mortal woman and Poseidon, god of the sea, twelve-year-old Percy is sent to a summer camp for demigods like himself, and joins his new friends on a quest to prevent a war between the gods. Zach Says: What I liked about the book was it was really action packed and it was the best book I've ever read. My favorite part in the book was when Percy was fighting Ares the god of war for Hades helmet.

Happy Birthday Beverly Cleary!

Children's author Beverly Cleary is turning 94 today! She has written over thirty books including the classic Henry Huggins series and the Ramona books. She also wrote the Newbery Award winner Dear Mr. Henshaw. Here are just a few of the wonderful books the library has by Beverly Cleary: Dear Mr. Henshaw Ellen Tebbits Henry Huggins series Ramona series Mitch and Amy Muggie Maggie The Mouse and the Motorcycle Socks

Tuesday Storytime With Jen

On Tuesday, April 13, storytime is going to be all about books and libraries. We will be reading the great new book Read It, Don't Eat It by Ian Schoenherr and making books to take home. Preschool storytime meets at 10:30 a.m. and is geared for ages 2-5, but siblings are always welcome. Each session consists of 20-25 minutes of stories, songs, and action rhymes followed by a craft. No registration is required.

National Library Week

April 11-17 is National Library Week!

In honor of National Library Week the staff here at the library challenges you to do something new and different this week when you visit the library. Do you usually check out fiction books? You could venture over to the nonfiction shelves and try something different. Maybe a memoir, or a collection of essays, or a true crime book. You could also check out a cookbook or a guide to gardening. If you usually only read mysteries, you could try something from our science fiction or western collections. If you only use the library for books, why not try an audiobook? We have both fiction and nonfiction audiobooks for adults and children. You could also pick up a puzzle or a magazine. If you've never been to storytime before, here is your chance to give it a try. We have Preschool Storytime on Tuesday morning at 10:30 and Pajama Time on Wednesday night at 7:00. So come on down to the library this week and say hi to the librarians!

Pajama Time Wednesday, April 14th with Kelly!

Put your pajamas on, grab your favorite bear, and come to the children's section of the library to relax and share stories and rhymes. This weekly program is designed for children under 7 and their families. This program will last approximately 30 minutes. It's a great way to get ready for bed (toothbrush optional)!

National Poetry Month

April is National Poetry Month and what better way to celebrate than going to the library! Come and find a book by your favorite poet or discover someone new. We have children's poetry books displayed on top of the juvenile nonfiction shelves and the adult poetry books are on the shelves right across from that section under the call number 811. Celebrate this month by curling up with Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost, Maya Angelou, Shel Silverstein, or Jack Prelutsky.

Last Early Out Program a Success!

On Friday we had our last early out library program of the school year. We did underwater watercolor painting with the first and second graders. They got to color or draw a sea creature and then we painted blue and green watercolors over the paper. Before the paint dried, we covered the paper with plastic wrap and scrunched it up to make a lot of wrinkles. Then we let the paint dry with the plastic wrap still attached and Voila! Here is the finished product: We all had a great time getting very messy (there were a lot of kids with green hands!) and many of the kids donated their pictures to the library to use as decorations for this summer. To see more pictures of the program, you can visit our Flickr page.

Tuesday Storytime With Jen

On Tuesday, April 6, get ready to be silly! We are going to have a very silly storytime where we sing songs and read one of my favorites, Sheep in a Jeep by Nancy Shaw. We will also be making fluffy sheep to take home. Preschool storytime meets at 10:30 a.m. and is geared for ages 2-5, but siblings are always welcome. Each session consists of 20-25 minutes of stories, songs, and action rhymes followed by a craft. No registration is required.

Gardening Events at the Solon Library

Gardening 101

Presented by Zora Ronan, Linn County Master Gardener Saturday, April 10 9:00 am Solon Library Meeting Room Tips for Planting and Caring for Trees and Shrubs Presented by Sunday Antrim, Johnson County Master Gardener Saturday, April 17 9:00 am Solon Library Meeting Room Both events are sponsored by the Solon Garden Club.

Pajama Time Wednesday, April 7th with Kelly!

Put your pajamas on, grab your favorite bear, and come to the children's section of the library to relax and share stories and rhymes. This weekly program is designed for children under 7 and their families. This program will last approximately 30 minutes. It's a great way to get ready for bed (toothbrush optional)!

Welcome to Mr. McGregor's Garden!

Our amazing volunteer, Toni Russo has once again created a gorgeous display in our library case. Her newest creation is "Mr. McGregor's Garden" a display dedicated to Beatrix Potter. It is filled with references to many of Miss Potter's classic tales as well as glimpses into her life. The display will be up until May 14, so feel free to come back again and again to catch all of the minute details. Here is just a taste of what you will see: