It's hot

so I'm going to post some Halloween and Christmas posts I've been saving. Then maybe I'll feel cooler...

Read Snap

Curious Garden by Peter Brown. An urban, more fanciful version of Henry Cole's On Meadowview Street, which remains my favorite. Brown's version is very attractive too and will appeal to city-dwellers. But how does one pronounce Liam?

Faster than a....school bus?

It's back to school for Joey....and a few things have changed. Over the summer, some kids grew...and some kids didn't. And time seems to have slooooowwwweeed down. Will his boring classes ever end? But maybe it's not time that's slowed down; Joey's speeeded up! Joey discovers he has super fast abilities, but he's not the only one who thinks they could be useful!

This is a fast-paced comic adventure with plenty of funny bits. Joey's new super abilities interact hilariously with the real world and there's a side-splitting twist at the end. No angst, world crises, or tortured relationships, just a kid who has discovered he can do something really cool...and, of course, it lands him in trouble.

Title: Hyperactive
Author: Scott Sava
Art by Joseph Bergin III
Checked out from my library system.

Our Biggest Summer Reading Program!

This Tuesday program was our biggest yet, and probably the highlight of the summer. It was our turn for David Stokes, educator, naturalist, and humorist. He was here last year (and in the past) and we had a good turnout - 100. This year, helped along by 40+ kids from a local daycare, we had 200 attendees! More people signed up for summer reading! We were over 450 last time I counted and I think we might make 500 before the summer is over! Plus, our circulation in general hit record numbers today. So, very busy, very tiring. I leave myself with two notes...

Next year, put David Stokes in the middle of the room, instead of at the end. It got very crowded (and hot, despite me squeezing past everybody to turn down the a/c). Also, make sure the new aide I'll be hiring in August can take pictures. Mine are awful, but my current aide took great David Stokes pictures! Check them out at our library's blog! (click on them to see the details of the frogs and spiders and such. our favorite is the excited kid with his hands in the air!)

Note from last Friday's fingerpainting: put newspaper on the tables next time.

And that's all. I collapse in peace.

Chasing Science at sea by Ellen Prager

This was my latest nonfiction lunch reading. It's a solidly written collection of anecdotes and information about scientists who study various aspects of the ocean. It's a quick read, the stories are exciting and various aspects of ocean research fit together well. Although I personally would never dream of going undersea in a submersible (I don't even like wading!) it's fascinating to read about. A good book for anyone interested in how modern scientists work, oceanic research, or just a good story.

Title: Chasing science at sea: Racing hurricanes, stalking sharks and living undersea with ocean experts
Author: Ellen Prager
Checked out from my library

Reading Miscellanea

When I recently enthused about discovering Nicolas Rhea's Constable series, and bewailed the fact that there was only one at my library, Charlotte at Charlotte's Library suggested D. E. Stevenson as good "English comfort reading." I found a few at my library and started off with Miss Buncle's Book. I love it! A mixture of P. G. Wodehouse, Miss Read, and Mary Roberts Rinehart's Miss Tish books. Happily, my library system has a few more to feed my new obsession. Thanks Charlotte!

Read Snap

What will fat cat sit on? by Jan Thomas. I loved this - but so does everybody else and they've already said so. What is there left to say?

Tigers! They creep up on you in the dark!

I don't know why it took me so long to read this book, considering that I am the WORLD'S BIGGEST FAN of There Are Cats In This Book. I think I looked at it once and it just didn't grab me. Every reader knows that there are reading moods, and I just wasn't in a shark reading mood.

Anyhow, I finally read it. And loved it! Not as much as the cats, of course (Don't worry, guys, I still like you best!) but very much. It's slightly maniacal and menacing humor would appeal to both adults and children. Shark and his friend lobster are just chatting one day when suddenly...they realize that tigers are SCARY. Tigers could be creeping up on them right now! They have to prepare! And so begins an insane building project culminating in a journey to the deep, dark, depths of the sea to bring back...well, you'll have to read the book yourself. If Alice ever fell into the ocean, she'd undoubtably meet Shark and Lobster and feel right at home. Only one quibble, because this book reads vertically instead of horizontally, it's kinda hard to use in storytime. At least for me, possibly some of you more coordinated librarians out there can manage it.

Title: Shark and Lobster's Amazing Undersea Adventure

Author: Viviane Schwarz

Colored by Joel Stewart.

Checked out from my library (no, I didn't buy it, some discerning librarian before my time did)

Over in the Ocean in a Coral Reef by Marianne Berkes

I bought a boardbook version of the companion book, Over in the Jungle, for our library but never had time to examine it thoroughly. Well! The text is a version of "Over in the Meadow" using a variety of different sea creatures, from stingrays to needlefish. The rhymes are steady readable. I've never managed to get kids to listen to Over in the Meadow in book or song form, but I think I might have a chance with this intriguing book, because....

The art is gorgeous. Created out of polymer clay by Jeanette Canyon, there are exquisite patterns and designs included in every different creature and background. From a distance, the pictures blend into colorful and cheering art, while a closer examination shows the intricate detail. I particularly like the millefiori-type work on the seahorses.

There is additional material explaining more about the different sea creatures pictured in the book and coral reefs in general. The author has included a section on using the book in storytimes, with specific actions for the rhymes, and the artist talks about how she creates her clay art.

An excellent book for ocean storytimes or a clay craft program. Children who like to trace details in illustrations will also enjoy this.

Title: Over in the ocean in a coral reef

Author: Marianne Berkes

Illustrator: Jeanette Canyon

Review copy supplied by publisher; added to my professional collection for use in programs, specifically in a clay art program I hope to do this fall.

Read Snap

Murder on a Midsummer Night by Kerry Greenwood. Satisfying from first to last, as are all Greenwood's mysteries. Perfect for fans of history, happy endings, elegant heroines, good food, and aphorisms.