50th Anniversary of the Henry & Delia Meyers Library with Alan Zweibel

The Anniversary of the Henry & Delia Meyers Library with Alan Zweibel was amazing! A DVD was shown of the history of the library from it's creation to the present and Alan brought a DVD of his close friends congratulating him on his Thurber Prize for Humor for his award winning novel "The Other Shulman". His friends included Larry David, Rob Reiner, Garry Shandling, Billy Crystal and Buck Henry. Besides being a comedy writer, Alan has published books including the popular children's book, "Our Tree Named Steve" which I read to our JCC nursery school children every year and his newest book "Clothing Optional" a collection of short stories. Alan's talk included his early years at "Saturday Night Live" and his 35 year career as a comedy writer. Alan signed books and guests walked down to the library: standing room only for delicious desserts! A truely great evening!

50th Anniversary Celebration of the Meyers Library with Alan Zweibel

Come join us on Sunday, September 13 at 7 p.m. as we celebrate our 50th Anniversary of the Henry & Delia Meyers Library with guest speaker Alan Zweibel. Alan Zweibel has received numerous awards and emmys for his writing on television programs including "Saturday Night Live", "Monk", "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and created "It's Garry Shandling's Show". He also co-wrote Billy Crystal's Tony Award winning play '700 Sundays". Also a best selling author, his book "The Other Shulman" won the Thurber Prize as best comic novel of 2006. He is also the author of the popular children's book "Our Tree Named Steve". His latest book is "Clothing Optional" a collection of short stories.

This event is free and open to the community. Refreshments and book signing following the program, where Alan Zweibel's books will be available for purchase.

www.alanzweibel.com

Association of Jewish Libraries National Convention 2009

I just came back from the AJL National Convention in Chicago. A great city and a great conference! I met authors and librarians from around the world and attended workshops with my colleagues. Here are some of the pictures of the people that I met and their books that are available in the Meyers Library!

The first photo is Ruth Spiro with "Lester Fizz, Bubble-Gum Artist" and April Wayland with her award winning book "New Year at the Pier". The second photo is Anna Levine with "Free Fall" (Sydney Taylor Honor Award Winner for Teen Readers) and "Jodie's Hanukah Dig". ( Notable Books for Younger Readers)

Eva Etzioni-Halevy and "Triumph of Deborah"

Last month, Eva Etzioni-Halevy spoke to our lunch and literature series book club group via phone from Israel about her recent book "Triumph of Deborah". This novel explores the issue of justice, power and feminism through Deborah in ancient times. You can read more at Eva's website at http://www.evaetzionihalevy.com/

"SPRING INTO SUMMER USED BOOK SALE"

Come visit the Meyers Library: Sunday, May 31 - ongoing through June. The selection includes cookbooks, romance novels, fiction, non-fiction, bibliographies, children's, Judaica and secular materials. Stop by there are great bargains!

Interesting authors who stopped by the Meyers Library!

Lucette Lagnado, author of "Man in the White Sharkskin Suit."

Elie Wiesel speaking to the Frankel Jewish Academy Students in the library.

Peter Greenberg, travel editor - frequent guest -Today Show.

New Children's Passover Books

New Children’s Books for Passover in the Meyers Library

The Yankee at the Seder, by Elka Weber
* starred review

As a Confederate family prepares for Passover the day after the Civil War has ended, a Yankee arrives on their Virginia doorstep and is invited to share their meal, to the dismay of ten-year-old Jacob. Includes historical notes about Corporal Myer Levy, on whom the story is based, and his prominent Philadelphia family.

Nachson, Who Was Afraid to Swim: a Passover Story, by Deborah Bodin Cohen

When the Israelites flee Egypt, Nachshon exhibits great courage by being the first to step into the Red Sea, even though he cannot swim.

Let My People Go, by Tilda Balsley

A retelling of the story of Moses and the ten plagues sent by God to convince the Pharaoh to let the Israelites leave Egypt, in a book with color-coded text that may be used as a script for Readers Theater.

Barnes and Noble Author Event/ Jill Gregory & Karen Tintori

On Sunday, March 22 at 2 p.m. authors, Karen Tintori and Jill Gregory spoke about their new book Illumination, answered questions and signed copies for us.

A summary of their intriguing novel: Having received a mysterious necklace with an evil eye pendant from her sister, museum curator Natalie is shocked by her sister's subsequent murder and pursues a suspicion that the necklace is somehow involved, in a case that draws her into an international battle between powerful religious factions.

Barnes and Noble Dr. Seuss Storytime March 2009

On Sunday afternoon, March 22, guest readers Adina Applebaum and Yitzhak Applebaum read the Cat and the Hat in Hebrew and in English in honor of Dr. Seuss Month in the Children's area at Barnes & Noble. This was part of our Book Fair Event. You can see from the pictures how much fun the kids had.

Barnes and Noble Music Cafe Event - David Nefesh singer/songwriter

On Saturday, March 21 David Nefesh, singer/songwriter performed in the cafe at Barnes & Noble. Everyone enjoyed his original music.

Barnes and Noble Book Fair / Think Fun Event March 2009

Our Think Fun Game Event on Thursday evening, March 19 at Barnes & Noble on Orchard Lake Rd. in West Bloomfield was a blast. Some of the games we played were Rush Hour, River Crossing, Zingo, and Toot and Otto. The kids entered a contest to win a free game.

New Books

New Books Ready to Check Out!

Jewish Pirates of the Caribbean: How a Generation of Swashbuckling Jews Carved Out an Empire in the New World in Their Quest for Treasure, Religious Freedom--and Revenge.

by Edward Kritzler

http://www.jewishpiratesofthecaribbean.com/

"In ships bearing names such as the Prophet Samuel, Queen Esther, and Shield of Abraham, Sephardic Jewish pirates plundered Spanish and Portuguese possessions for riches and revenge. The seventeenth century began with Jews outlawed in the New World and most of Europe, and it ended in their freedom." (from book jacket front cover)

http://tracingthetribe.blogspot.com/2008/10/jewish-pirates-of-caribbean.html

Check out the Book of Life Podcast at http://www.jewishbooks.blogspot.com/ Many author interviews about their latest works and more!

Have you Read any Good Books or Seen any Good Films Lately?

The movie "Defiance" is playing in the theaters and there are 2 books in the library that you can check out related to the film.

The Bielski Brothers: the True Story of Three Men Who Defied the Nazis, Saved 1,200 Jews, and Built a Village in the Forest by Peter Duffy.

Defiance: the Bielski Partisans by Nechama Tec

Check out the library's webpage at www.jccdet.org and click on library at the top!

The JCC's Meyers Library & Jewish Family Education

host a

Book Fair at Barnes & Noble

(Orchard Lake in W. Bloomfield)

March 19 - 22
Think Fun Games on Thursday night from 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. for elementary students (win prizes)

Music Cafe on Saturday night from 8:30 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Singer/Songwriter David Nefesh. http://www.davidnefesh.com/

Local authors appearance and booksigning Sunday - 2 p.m. with Jill Gregory & Karen Tintori http://www.jillgregory.net/ http://www.karentintori.com/
Read their latest book, llumination

Dr. Seuss storytime and activity event on Sunday - 3:30 pm.

for information: http://www.jccdet.org/Library/index.shtml