Fall Movies for the Kids

Yesterday we ran through a list of soon-to-be released movies that were adapted from books. Today we are going to tell you about several upcoming movies just for the kids:

September 18th: Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs

This movie is based on the children's book of the same name written by Judi Barrett and illustrated by Ron Barrett. The book describes Chewandswallow, just an average town where the weather comes three times a day - at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. But, the unique thing about the town is that the weather is always food and drinks. It snows mashed potatoes!

October 16th: Where the Wild Things Are

The Caldecott award-winning book written and illlustrated by Maurice Sendak is a classic childen's book. It tells the story of the wild adventure of a boy named Max who is sent to his room without supper by his mother as punishment for talking back. The book was adapted into a screenplay by Dave Eggers and Spike Jonze. Jonze also directed the film, with much of it shot on a hand-held camera to give it a "wild" feel :)

November 6th: Christmas Carol

Get your glasses ready because this is a 3-D version of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. The film is written and directed by Robert Zemeckis (Polar Express). Jim Carrey plays many characters, including Ebenezer Scrooge.

November 13th: Fantastic Mr. Fox

Roald Dahl's book of the same title tells the story of animal versus farmer. This will be a stop motion animated film directed by Wes Anderson, with George Clooney as the voice of Mr. Fox.

November 20th: New Moon

If you have a tween or teen, this is THE movie of the fall season. This is the second film adaptation of Stephenie Meyer's mega-popular Twilight series. The drama continues for Bella as she is torn between the two worlds of vampires and werewolves.

November 25th: Princess & the Frog

This Brothers Grimm fairy tale classic gets a 21st century update. The movie is set in New Orleans and is the first animated Disney film to feature an African-American princess.

Looks like there are plenty of fun movies to keep the kids entertained this fall!!!

Upcoming books-turned-movies

There are so many great books that have been turned into movies that coming out this fall! Here are a few:

September 11th: The Other Man - starring Liam Neeson & Laura Linney

Adapted from the book of short stories Flights of Love by Bernhard Schlink, who you may know from the book and movie The Reader.

September 18th: Bright Star - Abbie Cornish & Paul Schneider

A drama that tells the story of the romance between John Keats, the 19th century poet and Fanny Brawne.

September 25th: Brief Interviews with Hideous Men - starring John Krasinski & Julianne Nicholson

This movie, based on a collection of short stories by David Foster Wallace by the same name, is also written and directed by John Krasinski.

The Boys Are Back - starring Clive Owen

The movie script was based on Simon Carr's memoir that tells the story of sports journalist widower who is raising 2 sons.

Surrogates - starring Bruce Willis

Sci-fi thriller based on the graphic novel of the same name.

October 9th: Whip-It - starring Juliette Lewis & Ellen Page

This film is culled from the YA novel Derby Girl by Shauna Cross and is all about girls and roller derby! Drew Barrymore stars and directs.

November 6th: Precious - Mo'Nique & Mariah Carey
Based on the novel Push by Sapphire, this is a heart-wrenching story of an illiterate, unloved and abused teenager, who is struggling through life.

December 11th: The Lovely Bones - Rachel Weisz & Susan Sarandon

The long-anticipated big screen adaption of Alice Sebold's tragic tale about a teenager who is brutally murdered and watches her family from heaven.

So many good choices to look forward to! If you are like me, you prefer reading the book first, then seeing the movie. If so, there is plenty of time to check out the book to read before the movie's opening night! Come visit us at the library today :)

And check back tomorrow - we will be highlighting upcoming children's movies that are based on books!

Help out the library by donating your old books!

The library is gearing up for our Second Annual Whistlestop Book Sale. But we need your help - we need your old books for our sale!!! If you have any donations we would greatly appreciate them. We will be accepting gently used books, magazines, DVDs and CDs.

The Book Sale will start on Saturday, September 26th, 2009 during the Whistlestop Festival. Mark your calendars :)

An Evening with Pat Conroy

Attention all Pat Conroy fans! He will be in town on Tuesday, August 18 at 6:30 at The Doubletree Hotel Ballroom. WBHM and The Alabama Booksmith are both sponsoring "An Evening with Pat Conroy." Mr. Conroy, author of The Great Santini and Prince of Tides, will speak about his latest book. He will also be joined by authors Rick Bragg and Cassandra King.

This event is a benefit for Birmingham's local public radio station WBHM. Tickets are $39 and include a signed copy of South of Broad. There is more information about the evening at Alabama Booksmith's website or by calling 870-4242.

Do you have all of your back-to-school supplies?

Unfortunately, summer is coming to a close and school is looming ahead. We have come up with a list of necessary supplies to get the new school year started off right:

JCLC library card - If you don't have a card, come in today and apply today! A library card is your ticket to using the library's computers and databases and checking out books and movies.

Kids Catalog - If you haven't checked out our new catalog, do that ASAP! The Kids Catalog is easy to use and has colorful graphics to help you in your search for the perfect book.

Homework Help - If Mom or Dad cannot answer your homework question, don't worry - just log on and ask a real, live tutor your question about Math, Science, Social Studies or English. Be sure to bookmark it on your computer for future use.

And last, but not least, come visit us here at the library! You can check out a book or a magazine or DVD - there is still time to get one more book or movie in before it is time to hit the books :)