Saturday, May 30, 2015

This week at the library

What's going on; in my head and at the library
  • This is a shortened week because we're closed on Monday. I'm really trying not to be stressed this year. I've made a simpler summer reading program, I'm "only" doing 3 programs a week, and I've gotten two volunteers lined up to take care of summer reading on Thursday and Friday mornings so I don't have to work 10-12 hour days or simultaneously run srp and a program. Some days I feel confident and energized and Ready For Summer. Some days I can't breathe for the anxiety. Baby steps...I've been telling kids for the past 7 years that the only "rule" for summer reading is to HAVE FUN. So why am I not having fun?
  • This is the first year I've let people sign up early for summer reading. I'm hoping this gets a better turnout, means we don't lose those folks who go on vacation as soon as school ends, and cuts down on the crazy first day of summer reading registration. I also used class lists to sign up the 180 kids who visited the library this week. We signed up about 20 kids on Tuesday, so that was a good start!
  • This week is also when my school visits start in earnest. All the titles I booktalk (my school visits are basically orgies of booktalking) can be found here on the library's Pinterest page.
  • Apart from the school visits, this week's big project was cleaning out the storyroom storage closet. I worked on it basically all week! I still need some more shelves - will wait to see what the circulation staff don't want after their workroom is reorganized in the near future. I also took out two old wooden shelves and repurposed them for the juvenile video games.
  • The weather kind of made the school visits weird. I rarely have kids come to see me, but I had two big groups who wanted to. We had to reschedule the third graders twice and the second graders ended up coming for two hours because their tour of town got rained out. I added summer reading and the first grade scavenger hunt to stretch things out.
  • The third graders finally made it on Thursday. This was a group effort - one of our staff covered the information desk and Jess supervised butterfly mask decorating and scavenger hunts. Meanwhile, I booktalked, promoted summer reading, and held my own against the flood of kids desperate to touch the shiny books. We figured out we need a scavenger hunt for 3rd graders - I had a mix of the 1st grade and my 5th/6th ones, and neither was quite what we needed. Anyways, even if I am overly perfectionist, the kids and teachers had a great time and are already planning to come back next year.
  • Even if not all the sixth graders listen (or come back and do summer reading) I am still reaching people - even if it's just the teachers! Some were very excited to find out about class cards, so they don't rack up fines during the school year.
Some Projects Completed/In Progress This Week
  • Cleaned out storyroom closet
Programs
Ongoing and New Stealth Programs and Displays
What the kids are reading; A Selection
  • Haven't seen these two in a while, but they wanted WWII books that they hadn't read and mysteries/Harry Potter read-alikes for a long trip. Fortunately, since they hadn't been in in a while, I had some new WWII books - the young reader's edition of Atkinson's D-Day, Pure Grit, and The Boys Who Challenged Hitler. We looked at a lot of other things for mysteries/Harry Potter read-alikes and she ended up with about 10 books.
  • Heroes of Olympus
  • One of my sixth graders came back with his mom after I visited today - a high lexile reader and we spent a lot of time figuring out what he could/should read and whether or not his lexile was going to get so high there was nothing he COULD read. I showed him some teen books he might like and then he hung out with another middle schooler, who helps me out after school a lot, while his mom and I talked.
  • Booktalking notes
    • As I expected, Roller Girl and the new colorized Babysitter's Club are going to be HUGE. I should have bought more than one copy.
    • Also lots of excitement for the true I Survived backstories
    • Unexpected, but very welcome, teacher interest for Castle Hangnail. That always ramps up the kids' interest
    • One class had just read Frindle and so was very interested in Map Trap
    • Lots of 3rd graders knew Ellie McDoodle - both boys and girls! and are absolutely thrilled that the author is coming to visit!
The glory that is my reorganized storyroom.
I used to have a shelf against the wall and a bunch of stuff crammed back here. Alas, no more. The tape of NO has been administered.

But I'm still allowed to keep my kleenex box stash behind the roof access ladder

Top shelf - Pattie's toys and birthday bags
1st shelf - aprons, tubs, containers for messy programs, bubbles, glue, and water (because I have no sink)
2nd shelf - the red totes hold staplers, tape, hole punches, big scissors, and duct tape. The large container has mixed sand
3rd shelf - the blue tub holds chalk, the green pots hold paint brushes, then comes colored masking tape, glue, and colored sand
4th shelf - paint
5th shelf - paper goods (plates etc.), snacks, and a box of a gazillion little paper pads donated by an insurance company

The giant tubs hold the balls for the baby ball pit
The drawers hold our puppets

The bags hold bells, shakers, a parachute, and bubble wands.
I would like to have another shelf here, so this space isn't wasted, but Pattie's giant water toy does take up a lot of space

Yes, we need a stool to reach the top of this, even me
the tubs on the very top have all our fabric paint and markers, because they're used rarely, then a lot of misc. stuff, beads, then markers and crayons and other stuff.

The tubs and dishpans include various things from craft supplies, glitter, bleeding art tissue paper, stickers, and popsicle sticks to misc. supplies (stencils, iron) down to Pattie's small toys and our tablecloths (i.e. old sheets)

The complete view

These are the two shelves that were in the storage room - one where the yellow tape is, one in the cleared space. I put them under the bulletin board and moved our games onto them so now the kids can reach the games and we have a new display space.

Friday, May 29, 2015

Sprout Street Neighbors: Five Stories by Anna Alter

I'm usually a little leary of these slice of life beginning chapter books, but this one was oddly comforting and very sweet. I have a lot of parents right now looking for read-alouds for preschool-aged children and this fills that need very well.

Five short chapters introduce five friends and their daily lives on Sprout Street. In the first chapter, The Acorn Problem, Henry the mouse tries to think of a tactful way to tell his upstairs neighbor, Emma the squirrel, that her thunking acorns are disturbing his Saturday morning nap. The next chapter, The Best Birthday, features Emma and her efforts to have the best birthday party ever. Fernando's Wish features Fernando's longing to do something in the annual parade and his fears of performing in public. With the help of his neighbors, especially Violet who plays the flute, he fulfills his longing to dance. Violet is featured in the next chapter, The Surprise, as she learns that sometimes you do need help from your neighbors. She finally accepts help from her neighbor Wilbur. The last chapter is about Wilbur and The Secret Garden, when all the neighbors come together to save Wilbur's beloved garden in an abandoned lot.

Alter's soft black and white illustrations are strongly reminiscent of Peter McCarty. Honestly, I had to look twice to make sure he wasn't the illustrator. Her artwork is a strong fit for the story though, simple and attractive, with each character having a clear personality and recognizable characteristics, both physical and personality-wise. I liked the little accents scattered throughout the book as well.

Verdict: This won't be a hugely popular title with most beginning readers; it's much more in the vein of the classic Frog and Toad easy reader, which isn't really that popular anymore, at least at my library, but that makes it a good choice as a read-aloud to younger children or for those kids who like more peaceful, everyday stories.

ISBN: 9780385755580; Published April 2015 by Alfred A. Knopf/Random House; ARC provided by publisher at ALA Midwinter 2015; Purchased for the library

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Read, Read, Read said the Baby: Butterfly Colors and Counting by Jerry Pallotta, illustrated by Shennen Bersani

[This review was previously published. It has been edited.]

The text has the numbers (both  numeral and text) and the color shown in the picture. A key on the back cover lists the butterflies shown.

The illustrations in this little board book (only ten pages!) are very realistic, so much so that I had to look twice to see if they were photos or drawings. Readers can both count and identify the colors of ten brilliantly drawn butterflies. The pages are a little thinner than a normal board book.

Verdict: This is a pretty but light offering. I keep taking it on and off my order list because I'm afraid the thin pages won't hold up to extensive checkouts though.

ISBN: 9781570918995; Published 2013 by Charlesbridge; Borrowed from another library in my consortium

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Little Baby Buttercup by Linda Ashman, illustrated by You Byun

Although I normally don't like yellow/orange/pink color schemes, I did love Byun's Dream Friends. I've also liked Linda Ashman's stories, especially as it looks, from her latest books, as though she is getting a really nice range of diversity in her illustrators. So I was delighted to get a review copy of this sweet and joyful picture book.

A pudgy little child, complete with Shirley Temple sun dress and lacy white shorts, celebrates a lovely summer day. She builds with blocks, explores outside with her mother, helps in the garden, visits the park, and has a treat while they wait for the rain to end. After a happy, busy day, they walk home in the golden glow of the sunset and settle down for a bedtime story and bed.

The toddler's day is not without incident; she has a fall and several messy incidents necessitate a new outfit. However, the overall flavor of this book is sunny, even when it's raining. A sunny smile, happy playing with a diverse group of friends in the park, lots of animal friends, lots of outdoor enjoyment and simple pleasures.

I love Byun's sunny art, even though the color scheme isn't normally my favorite, it just really works with her style. Everything is golden, pink and sunny, especially the walk home in the evening where everything, shiny from the recent rain, seems to glow from the page. The friendly dogs and bright splashes of color will catch the attention of toddlers while harried parents will appreciate a reminder of some of the joys of small children, even if they're not feeling them at the moment!

Verdict: This is just a really strong feel-good story. A diverse cast of children, including the protagonist, a joyful appreciation of everyday treats and trials, and a warm understanding of a toddler's joys. Highly recommended.

ISBN: 9780399167638; Published 2015 by Nancy Paulsen/Penguin; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library

Monday, May 25, 2015

Nonfiction Monday: Animal Stories: Heartwarming true tales from the animal kingdom by Jane Yolen, Heidi Stemple, Adam Stemple, and Jason Stemple, illustrated by Jui Ishida

I'm generally not one for "heartwarming true tales" about animals, but this one drew me in and I actually enjoyed reading it.

The collection starts with a brief introduction talking about how important animals are in our lives and then the stories begin.

"The sled dog who helped save the children of Nome" is a really thoughtful, nuanced look at the story of Balto, explaining how many different teams were involved in the dangerous journey to bring medicine to Nome.

"Balanchine's Elephants" tells the story of a special ballet, created by a great choreographer, but danced by elephants! I really appreciated that the text explained the characters involved simply and clearly, without assuming prior knowledge.

"Simon: Ship's Cat First Class" was a new story to me, about a cat in World War II. He died before receiving the many commendations and medals he was to be awarded, but was well-known in England during and after the war.

"Keiko, the orca movie star" was the one that I felt the most doubtful about. It's about movement to free Keiko, original star of the Free Willy movements. Although it talks about Keiko's captivity not being beneficial, it's mostly in terms of how his pool was too small. He's illustrated with the drooping fin, but it's never mentioned. Although this is a historical story and the debate over keeping killer whales captive is a more contemporary issue, I felt it should have at least been mentioned.

"Daughter of Sunshine" jumps forward to a more contemporary story. In 1996 a little boy fell into the gorilla enclosure at Brookfield Zoo and a gorilla picked him up, protected him from the other gorillas, and got him to a keeper. I had heard this story before, but somehow had never realized exactly where it had happened. I've been to Brookfield and those enclosures are high.

"Owen and Mzee: An Unlikely Pair" rehashes the now-famous story of an orphaned baby hippo and the tortoise he bonded with. The book then jumps way, way back into history with the story of "The Capitoline Geese", sacred geese who reputedly warned the Roman soldiers of attack during a siege. Then we're back to the present day with the story of "Hoover, the Talking Seal" an orphaned seal who could reputedly make human sounds.

A classic story, "Greyfriars Bobby" comes next, with a discussion of how much of the legend is true and how much is speculation. A modern story comes next, the story of conservation efforts by Lawrence Anthony, also known as "The Elephant Whisperer" and his bond with the elephants he saved. Back to another classic story, "Cher Ami, the pigeon hero" set in World War I.

A more scientific approach is used in the story of "Washoe, the hand-signing chimp" which discusses the different scientific theories about the extent to which animals can communicate with humans. Then back to the heartwarming in the viral story of "Christian the lion". A community comes together in "Saving the whales" a story of a pod of whales trapped under the ice in Alaska.

A series of famous animals show up in in the stories of "Seabiscuit, the people's horse", "Smokey, the firefighting bear", "Pale Male, Big-City Hawk", and "The Last of Lonesome George." The last story is an odd choice - it's a random story from 1998 about two pigs who escaped from a slaughterhouse in Britain, "The Tamworth Two."

Each story includes not just the basic facts but also a discussion of the historical context, broader perspectives on the story, and additional facts and similar stories. A map of the world, showing the different stories, a timeline, and a "cast of characters" briefly reviewing all the stories with thumbnail photographs are also included. Back matter concludes with an author's note about the family connections behind the writers, resources and further reading, index, and photo credits. While the bulk of the stories are set in the west, there are tales from around the world and they include local people in most of those - discussing the locals who saved Owen and Mzee despite their own tragedies, etc. However, of the few people pictured with the animals only a few, indistinct pictures show people of color. Part of this is that the stories with more close human involvement all feature white people, but there were several illustrations that could have featured more distinctly the non-white people and crowd scenes that could have been more diverse.

This is being promoted to an older audience, but I'd actually consider it a picture book collection. The book is formatted like a picture book with bold, attractive artwork. Each story is only about 6-10 pages long, with several of those being illustrations. While the stories are honest and present some controversial and sad stories, they don't emphasize the darker side of the stories and there's nothing inappropriate here.

Verdict: While I don't currently need any more animal stories for older readers, this would be an excellent collection to promote to parents who enjoy reading aloud longer stories to their kids, or for smaller kids to page through and pick out their favorites. There's a nice variety of stories and they are all told well with interesting details and age-appropriate information. Recommended.

ISBN: 9781426317255; Published 2014 by National Geographic; Borrowed from another library in my consortium

Saturday, May 23, 2015

This week at the library; or, The panic sets in

Finally, after the ill-fated magnets, I laminated labels
for the juvenile series shelf.
What's going on; in my head and at the library
  • I keep telling myself that this year, summer will be so much simpler. No big projects, no stress. HA. Apparently I can panic and stress with no reason. I am very talented.
  • Garden day was supposed to be when the homeschoolers got summer info and for people to come help out with planting the gardens. Well, it was freezing cold, I didn't have the dirt or plants, and only about 3 families showed up. We did get a lot of weeding done, with me and two other staff members, and talked about the future of the gardens and outdoor programming.
Some Projects Completed/In Progress This Week
  • Working on cleaning out storyroom closet
  • Shifting teen area
  • Working on finishing up summer planning and preparing for school visits
  • Signage for juvenile series
Programs
Ongoing and New Stealth Programs and Displays
What the kids are reading; A Selection
  • Minecraft
  • Train books for a four year old
  • Classics likely to be on high school AP English Literature
  • Appropriate movies for a three year old
  • "clean" reads for a middle grade student. I helped them find some of the titles they had on a list and then recommended Patricia Wrede's Enchanted Forest Chronicles and Lois Lenski's historical novels.
  • Books for a child going into 2nd grade - recommended Branches and several other beginning chapter series.
  • Books for a preschooler with high language abilities, but who gets bored with readers and just wants to be read to. We went through a lot of possibilities, including the We Both Read series, Toon Books, and some other graphic novels.
  • Pixie sticks? I think? It's not a series we have. I went through pretty much every beginning fairy chapter book until she agreed to take Emily Rodda's Enter the Fairy Realm omnibus.
I moved the Maker Kits (more on that later) and then shifted
teen comics and graphic novels around the corner into
the empty space. More signage to come (I put up temporary strips
of paper saying "teen comics teen graphic novels)

I shifted all the manga down to fill in the one shelf range that
had held comics, shifted ALL the shelves to have more space
(forgetting to put the back bits in most of them but whatever)
moved the anime over and then had the space to shelve all the
teen audiobooks

I shifted all the nonfiction so it was more accessible and uniform,
then used the audiobook space to move over the magazines.
There's now an empty range at the end, to the right, next to the wall,
where we will be doing stealth programs/activities.

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Read, Read, Read said the Baby: Counting in the garden by Emily and Patrick Hruby

[This review has been edited and republished]

I saw the cover of this board book at ALA and it really grabbed my eye, but the book itself was disappointing. The idea of bright colors and geometric shapes was good, but the execution of the design is too complicated for a board book for small children. It gets very crowded and some of the more abstract shapes are hard to identify as the various plants and other garden things.

The book is a thick square, 9x9 inches, and has a lot of thick pages - it weighs almost a pound! I am a little doubtful about the binding of such a thick book holding up as well. It's from a small publisher and is more spendy than the average board book - about $10.

Verdict: I would have been more likely to purchase this as a concept book for preschool age kids, and when I did a little searching it looks like it is actually available as a hardcover, but as a board book it misses the mark. Toddlers and babies might enjoy the bright colors and geometrical shapes, but they are likely to have trouble identifying the objects and the weight of the board book is an issue, while the cost is more than most libraries will spend on a board book.

ISBN: 9781623260057; Published 2013 by Ammo; Borrowed from another library in my consortium

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Look! by Jeff Mack

I had reservations about this book when I read the description; I always think books that encourage reading vs. screens are sort of...well....silly. I mean, if you're not reading, you're not going to get the message and if you're reading it you're already reading so...but Jeff Mack is so funny and my library has loved everything he's done, so I gave it a chance and he came through for me!

With only two words, "look" and "out" you wouldn't expect much of a story but drama, friendship, action, hilarity and silliness ensue when a friendly gorilla tries to get a little boy to LOOK when the little boy just wants the gorilla OUT.

The gorilla isn't sure what these strange square things are, but they seem perfect for getting the little boy's attention. But the boy is glued to his screen. The gorilla's antics escalate until tragedy strikes and the boy sends the gorilla OUT! and looks sadly at his broken tv...but there is a book right there and it's open and...a friendship develops and together they LOOK.

The two characters are delightfully expressive throughout their interactions, but there's so much more to the art than just the characters. Each page has a different "bookish" background, from the classic library date stamp in the front of the book to faux leather bindings, crumpled pages, and those classic library bindings. The text changes fonts on every page, from collage letters to scribbled crayon, matching the mood of the scenes.

Verdict: This is a perfect book for storytime, but also for beginning readers to practice their visual as well as textual literacy. This is definitely going on the list I'm making of picture books for beginning readers. Highly recommended.

ISBN: 9780399162053; Published 2015 by Philomel/Penguin; Review copy provided by the publisher; Donated to the library

Monday, May 18, 2015

Nonfiction Monday: I, Fly: The Buzz about flies and how awesome they are by Bridget Heos, illustrated by Jennifer Plecas

I'm a big fan of nonfiction picture books that can be easily adapted to read aloud and that tackle unique animals or subjects, especially if they're gross. Kids love this stuff, even if it makes teachers and parents groan! This one hits all my requirements and although at first glance it might seem a little bit of a knock-off of Diary of a Fly, it's really its own unique book.

The titular fly zips into a classroom and is discouraged to find that all the kids are studying, yet again, butterflies. But flies are pretty cool too and he is going to tell his audience exactly why. Like butterflies, flies metamorphose. They have cool body parts that butterflies don't have, like halteres and a unique flight pattern and setae. Ok, yes, it is true that they throw up on their food, but only some of it! And yes, they do carry diseases, but they're not mosquitoes! In a humorous about face, Fly convinces the kids to study him instead of a butterfly...only to find out that this "being studied" thing isn't quite what he expected! Fly finishes up with talking about how flies fit into life all over the world and are used in scientific study.

Back matter includes a child-friendly glossary, bibliography that includes multiple websites, and acknowledgement of three experts. The illustrations are cheerful cartoons, mainly focusing on the fly and children in different settings, but they also do a good job of clearly setting out the fly's habitat and habits. The text is a little long to work as a straight read-aloud, but it would be fine if you pick and choose sections as you go through the book.

Verdict: This was a very funny and informative look at a fly, a creature that usually doesn't get much attention. It will get plenty of laughs and "that's so gross!" exclamations from your audience, while informing them about flies. Recommended.

ISBN: 9780805094695; Published 2015 by Henry Holt; Borrowed from another library in my consortium; Purchased for the library

Saturday, May 16, 2015

This week at the library

What's going on; in my head and at the library
  • Phew. Programs are over. Now it's time for outreach, planning, and vast amounts of organization.
  • We have chicks!
  • Well, that was premature. Was just congratulating myself on the week nearly being done and nothing much more happening in the last few hours of Friday when I:
    • Remembered that there was a program in the storyroom on Saturday and EVERYTHING would have to be cleaned out.
    • Found out I would have no shelvers until Tuesday.
    • Found a new book on the shelf with ICKY MOLD.
    • Teacher emailed me to bring lots of kids (which is good, but crazy!)
    • Volunteer I was depending on to help me in the last-minute panic haul to the basement didn't show.
    • HOLY POTATO-EATING WOMBATS!
Some Projects Completed/In Progress This Week
  • Last donation requests followed up (unsuccessfully)
  • Cleaned off desk
  • Organized school visits and Pinterest board of school booktalks
  • All the prize books organized in the basement
  • Recyclables and stuff organization in basement pretty much finished!
  • Putting together teen prizes
Programs
Ongoing and New Stealth Programs and Displays
What the kids are reading; A Selection
  • The preschooler who wanted books about farting is back - this time he's interested in weather, especially clouds and tornadoes and they also needed books on bullying.
  • Some movie reader's advisory - the child was with the grandparents, but I know him and his parents and I helped him find something that wouldn't be too scary.


Prize books on one side

Craft supplies on the other. The BWI boxes hold our cardboard
blocks.

Recyclables at the back. I'm doing a toddler drive-in and
mad scientists club featuring building this summer. There's bags
of paper towel tubes and decorative paper stars under the table.
The white table is a door (donated by me) sitting on top of
extra shelves.

Egg supplies under the table - styrofoam eggs and drying boxes
Crates donated by me for the furthering of organization
The big box is our supply of butterfly wings. The white table is falling
apart and is my prep table from upstairs. At least here it can't fall
on a kid. And my stash of water bottles. I drink a lot of water.

The long view. The boxes/paper mess in the foreground went out
to recycling and the long shelves leaning up are going
to be put together and put there at the end as soon as
I find the rest of the pieces (another donation from home)

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Small Readers: Clara and Clem Under the Sea by Ethan Long

Clara and Clem have starred in several easy readers from Penguin. This Cybils finalist is fun, easy, and attractive to emergent readers.

Clara and Clem, two bulbous-headed pink siblings (who look rather like pink goldfish) are setting up blocks when their play morphs into a real ocean! They dive in and experience the wonders of the ocean, from dolphins to rays, in simple one or two-word rhymes. The words are presented in speech bubbles, green for Clara and red for Clem. "Gold! Bubble. I see trouble." Eventually they return to the real world, but they won't stay there for long as Clem demands "Again!"

Long's illustrations, outlined with white borders, are drawn in cheerful pastels, with Clara and Clem and their speech bubbles standing out strongly from the soft backgrounds. Little details, Clem's hat, Clara's clothes, are collaged photos. There are a few two-syllable words, but most are simple and there are only a couple three or four word sentences. The font is large and readable and the simple, cheerful illustrations add a light touch of humor but keep the focus on the words.

Verdict: It's not surprising this was a Cybils finalist. It's simple but funny and perfectly captures the right level of imagination, humor, and interest for a beginning reader. Highly recommended for your easy reader section.

ISBN: 9780448478128; Published 2014 by Penguin; Borrowed from another library in my consortium

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

When the Wind Blows by Linda Booth Sweeney, illustrated by Jana Christy

The cover picture here does not do justice to Christy's glowing, soft colors, so you'll just have to trust me - they're gorgeous.

Rhyming couplets in a small, white type are set unobtrusively at the corners of the page. The language is pleasant, but not memorable. Every few pages the refrain of the title is repeated, followed by several pages of couplets. "When the wind blows...Trees dance./Spiders curl./Mice shiver./Leaves swirl."

The real draw of this book, and what made me fall in love with what wouldn't normally be my cup of tea, is Jana Christy's art. It not only glows, it perfectly captures the swirl and dash of the wind. The art was created with pencil sketches and mixed media, then assembled and painted digitally. It gives the illusion of watercolors, but with richer colors and intriguing lines and textures in the background. The pictures follow a family; grandmother clad in bright pink, little boy in a green jacket, mom and the baby in a stroller, as they excitedly venture forth on a windy day. First they fly a kite in a windy field, with the grass swirling with colors. Then it's down to the seaside, where the boats are bobbing along. They walk along the beach and up into town. It's begun to rain and there are puddles to splash in. They visit the park, hats and leaves flying through the air around them. The storm is building and they hurry home, wet and tired but happy, to watch the rain through the window. A warm bath and it's time for one last cuddle before bed.

Verdict: Perfect for toddlers at a rain-themed storytime, or looking at with older kids and talking about what's happening in the weather in each picture. Or just cuddle up and read before bed on a windy, rainy day. Recommended.

ISBN: 9780399160158; Published February 2015 by G. P. Putnam's Songs/Penguin; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library

Monday, May 11, 2015

Nonfiction Monday: Dogs and Cats by Nolon Stacey

I'm still working on updating my activities/crafts nonfiction section and we always need new drawing books, so I decided to check out this title, which is a little different than the usual drawing books I purchase.

The book starts with a discussion of drawing tools. Although it says you can just use a pencil and paper, it goes into a lot of detail about special pencils, erasers, blending tools, paper, and other items as well as a drawing space. The next sections focus on basic drawing skills, shading, features like eyes, noses, etc. and drawing different types of fur. The actual drawing instructions all start with a lightly penciled outline and then demonstrate how to add details and shading to create the finished art. The pictures start out simple, with just animal faces, and get more complicated with different poses.

I was doubtful about this one at first, as it's much more advanced than any of the other drawing books I have for kids, and I can't exactly test whether it works or not because I have absolutely no artistic ability (as witness my aide's hysterical laughter when I sketched out a bulletin board design for her to create). However, I do have older kids that I think would enjoy trying out more complicated techniques and, more likely, I often get adults looking in the children's section for easy drawing books. This is available in paperback, so I think I'll take a chance on it.

Verdict: If you're looking to add drawing books for an older audience, I think this is a good selection, but I'm not an expert in this field.

ISBN: 9781939581402; Reprint edition published 2014 by Walter Foster/Lerner; Borrowed from another library in my consortium

Saturday, May 9, 2015

This week at the library; or, ending and beginning

What's going on; in my head and at the library
The first photo, as I try to grasp what is happening.
There are unseen masses of stuff to the left and right.
Then I decided to clean from the back outwards.
But all that stuff had to go SOMEWHERE
  • What a week. Meetings all afternoon Monday, then a scheduling snafu that ended up canceling Tiny Tots Monday night, then on Tuesday I dealt with building code and fire inspections and the aftermath; I've now got half the contents of my storage closet piled behind my desk because whoever designed the building didn't think to give us any storage space sans electrical panels. I'm going to be spending the next couple weeks juggling summer preparations, cleaning out the basement, and hauling stuff down to the basement. And a mess up with the donor letters, although hopefully I think that will be easily fixed. Then another schedule complication. OY.
  • I spent a lot of Wednesday dealing with a string of stuff - I moved stuff around in the workroom (putting things on top of things) so we can at least see what needs to be reorganized, then I was able to get to some of the stuff on my desk. A few people came to storytime and I spent a while venting to my associate. We're trying middle school madness as a passive program because there really has been no turnout. It's just that kind of week.
  • I started work on the basement Thursday morning, wishing I'd brought shorts or something as the weather has randomly turned hot and muggy and the basement is not air-conditioned of course.
  • My coworkers are TAUNTING ME WITH SINKS.
  • Hardly anyone came to our last Messy Art Club - probably due to the hot and steamy weather (which some people think qualifies as "gorgeous" but I call "disgusting")
  • Friday morning - I moved a lot of stuff around in my office, thus my rather sweaty and disheveled appearance in the videos filmed this morning...finished a bunch of little projects, then left at 12:30 for a 2 hour trip to Walmart. Hopefully the last!
  • Saturday - I went in around 9:30 to finish setting up. I also took all the crap from yesterday's 2 hour shopping trip out of my car. It took forever and I was miserably sweaty and now there is more stuff even than you see in the pictures. Despite all the little things indicative of this week - there was a baby shower in the community room, I had to move things around, the dancers had things go wrong and were late, in the end everything went fine and about 60 people came! The local ballet studio came and did some dances in the lobby, including stuff from their upcoming Cinderella show, then the kids could take pictures with Cinderella and Prince Charming and Cinderella read them her story. The best part was when one of my two special needs boys was so inspired by a dancer he got up and started leaping and twirling along with her! Also, I had craft materials to make cards and muffins and doughnuts out in the Storyroom all Saturday. I didn't stay though - I left around noon.
Some Projects Completed/In Progress This Week
More tidying, to soothe my nerves
  • Staff meeting, summer planning meetings, staff evaluation
  • Basement and desk, cleaning and reorganization
Programs
Ongoing and New Stealth Programs and Displays
Reorganized this section, with much crawling under to
re-plug things and squashing my fingers in the drawers
of the hitherto unused file cabinet.
What the kids are reading; A Selection
Lots of mess still left.
  • A lot of requests for the Pigeon books.
  • After book club the girls wanted Flat Stanley and Dog Diaries and Stink
  • Read-alikes for Who's Hiding? by Satoru Onishi. I've worked with this patron before and horned in on her discussion with my associate to bring out the newest Britta Teckentrup - Where the Pair? and there was a Masayuki Sebe she hadn't seen yet.




However, there is still lots of work to do.
Lots of work




Donations are wonderful, but NOW?

Friday, May 8, 2015

Ranger in Time: Rescue on the Oregon Trail by Kate Messner

When I first starting seeing blurbs for this, I thought "that sounds like an awesome idea for a beginning chapter book." And it absolutely is.

Sam Abbot and his family are getting ready to set out on the Oregon Trail, but Sam isn't very excited, since they've had to leave their old dog, Scout behind. Little does he know he will soon find a new friend...fast-forward to the present and Ranger, a friendly golden retriever, is digging in the yard. He's smart and obedient, but failed out of search-and-rescue training because of his lack of focus. But when Ranger digs up a mysterious tin box and gets transported back to the Oregon Trail, his training will come in useful. He misses his family and is confused by the strange place he finds himself, but he quickly becomes part of Sam's wagon train and helps them travel the Oregon trail through dangerous rivers, illness, and many other adventures until they reach their destination and Ranger finds his way back home.

At 144 pages, this is the perfect length for kids who are ready to start moving on from beginning chapters. The story doesn't gloss over the dangers and tragedies of the trail and there is death, disease, and other perils, but they're presented in a way that focuses on the families and their courage, rather than the horrors they endure. The story is interesting and exciting without being sensationalized and Ranger makes a good narrator of events, as well as adding his own perspective.

An author's note at the end fills in more about the historical context and includes lots of information, quotes, sources, and suggestions for further reading.

Verdict: I'm really pleased with this new series - it's a perfect choice for kids who are interested in history and animals and will be an easy sell to fans of the I Survived series. I'm using it in my book club and I think the kids will really love it. Highly recommended.

ISBN: 9780545639156; Published January 2015 by Scholastic; ARC provided by publisher at ALA Midwinter 2015; Purchased for the library

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Small Readers: Baby Dolphin's First Day by Peter and Connie Roop

Nonfiction easy readers are a trend that I absolutely get behind. They're super popular with both kids and parents and introduce beginning readers to a wider range of books, rather than just the typical odd couple friendship fiction of traditional easy readers.

Peter and Connie Roop, who have been authoring beginning chapters and easy readers for years, have adapted quite well to the new, photograph-illustrated model of easy readers.

Each page is arranged in two horizontal blocks. The top shows a dolphin photograph, matched by the simple text against a white background on the bottom half of the spread. Each side of the page has 1-2 short sentences. There is a lot of unused white space around the text and I felt the font could have been larger, especially since this is supposed to be the easiest reader level (although it's not aimed at emergent readers). I did appreciate that the photographs were laid out in conjunction with the text, so when it says "The pod swims fast. The dolphins jump into the air." the reader sees a photo of leaping dolphins.

The only thing that gave me pause was that in some of the pictures it appeared to me that it was a different baby dolphin, almost as big as the mother, although it's supposed to be a story of a baby dolphin's first day. However, some of the photos were unclear due to the poor binding, which gobbled up a lot of the gutter of the images. There's a "meet the expert" section at the back, which must be meant to be read aloud or by the parents. It's not really clear exactly what part the "expert" plays in the book, but I think these readers from the American Museum of Natural History have various museum staff vet them for accuracy.

Verdict: This isn't as eye-catching as, say, National Geographic Readers, but they can be quite busy for a beginning reader who needs less distraction. Dolphins are a popular topic and this is a serviceable selection that's reasonably well-written and has nice photographs. Recommended if you are purchasing additional nonfiction easy readers.

ISBN: 9781402777844; Published 2011 by Sterling/Prebound by Penworthy; Borrowed from another library in my consortium

Monday, May 4, 2015

Nonfiction Monday: Sleepover Girls Crafts: Colorful Creations you can make and share by Mari Bolte, illustrated by Paula Franco

[Update and warning!! I purchased these in paperback - and, although there was no mention of it made in the record on Baker and Taylor, the paperbacks are 50% consumable and I had to return them. So it's the $25 library bound editions or nothing apparently]

This craft book is one of a set of four including fashion, spa projects, and recipes. They are intended to accompany a set of four books called The Sleepover Girls which each features a different girl of four friends who have weekly sleepovers.

I haven't read the original novels, which appear to be typical girl fiction fare - each one of the four friends has a different interest (fashion, boys, etc.) and they have friendship glitches, deal with crushes and so on.

This book features crafts, introduced by different members of the group. The book starts by introducing the girls and their backstories, then moves on to the projects. The projects include scrapbooking, decorating a box, creating a bulletin board, mini bottle cap pictures and several other things. There is a total of eleven projects. They vary in difficulty; some, like paper quilling or the bulletin board need additional tools and materials, while some could be done with a few simple, inexpensive items.

Of the four girls, two have darker skin and a different girl is featured on the cover of each book. They each present 2-3 projects. The instructions seem clear and simple and the illustrations, if a little overly slick and glossy to my taste, aren't completely unrealistic. This is available in both paperback and library bound.

Verdict: I'm looking for more craft books, but I don't really want to purchase the fiction titles that go with these as they don't stand out to me at all. However, I really think this could stand quite well on its own as a fun collection of crafts and projects. I will try it and the other craft books in paperback and see if anyone asks for the books to go with them.

ISBN: 9781491417348; Published 2015 by Capstone; Borrowed from another library in my consortium;

Saturday, May 2, 2015

This week at the library; or, The countdown begins

What's going on; in my head and at the library
  • It's preschool visit week and the second to last week of programs. I also took Monday and Wednesday off. I had to use or lose my last couple PTO days. I should just stop taking Mondays off - I always seem to have bad Monday vacations. I spent most of this one cleaning out my basement, hauling stuff to work, and buying vast numbers of pots and other supplies at Walmart. Wednesday I went to the zoo.
  • Thursday was rather exhausting. I came in at 8ish for two kindergarten field trips, plunged a toilet, and then had 42 people at Lego Club. Jess helped me since my aide was gone and I left shortly before 6.
  • I worked a half day Friday because I was working Saturday - this week felt like not much got done, but I was gone several days and then had all those programs! Not to mention gardening.
Some Projects Completed/In Progress This Week
Programs
Ongoing and New Stealth Programs and Displays
What the kids are reading; A Selection
  • Request for a book about gas for a four year old. Total blank after I realized that no libraries in our system own "The Gas We Pass" so I gave them Walter the Farting Dog.
  • Books about turkeys
  • Fan of Map to Everywhere - gave them Magic Marks the Spot
  • Reluctant, or more appropriately, picky reader - I suggested nonfiction, Jeremy Bender, and a couple other things.

Friday, May 1, 2015

My life in dioramas by Tara Altebrando, illustrated by T. L. Bonaddio

Dear Ms. Altebrando, I really don't like you right now. Gentle readers, cast your minds back to when you were twelve. Who enjoys being twelve? I mean, really, anybody? For the past twenty years, I have successfully put out of my mind that period in my life. With one book, Ms. Altebrando brought it all back to me. I am not grateful.

Just kidding. Well, kind of. Is there such a thing as too well-written?

Kate is devastated when her parents tell her that they're putting Big Red, the huge old house they live in, up for sale. It's the only home she's ever known and she can't imagine living somewhere else, especially when they don't know where they're moving and it might mean leaving her best friends Naveen and Stella and having to drop out of her dance troupe. She starts creating dioramas of her memories in Big Red as well as a campaign to sabotage the sale of the house. But things get more and more complicated and Kate feels like everything is falling apart; is she losing her family and friends as well as her house?

Like Tara Altebrando's first book, The Battle of Darcy Lane, this perfectly captures the growing pains of a pre-teen as she becomes aware of her parents as people, with their own pasts and struggles, faces her own changing friendships and circumstances and starts defining herself. As an adult (with my own issues) I can't say this was an enjoyable read, remembering those miserable growing pains, but as a pre-teen I can see kids absolutely relating to this story and taking comfort from the hopeful ending. It's not all sunshine and flowers, but everything works out more or less. The descriptions of not just Kate's feelings and confusion but also of the house and land she loves and her poignant sadness at moving on to a different part of her life are absolutely pitch-perfect. The fight between Kate and her mom at one point seems to me the best way to describe the book:

"...when you're my age, you'll have maybe a handful of vague memories of what it was like to be twelve."
"That doesn't mean it's not real to me right now!" I was almost screaming. "That it doesn't matter!"

Altebrando's story makes those feelings and growing pains real and shows kids that they do matter and that, while change may be painful and difficult, they will get through it.

The cover doesn't have the glossy appeal of a lot of contemporary realistic fiction, but it does capture the quieter, reflective tone of the book. Most of the interior illustrations were unfinished, but I'm looking forward to seeing the final art, which I think will be a great addition to the book which often focuses on Kate's struggle to capture specific moments and memories as she deals with change.

Verdict: This is the kind of book that I'd recommend to my more thoughtful students, those who enjoy contemporary, realistic fiction and want a character they can relate to. While it may not have the wild circulation of Wimpy Kid and friends, when I'm building a balanced collection and looking for these quieter books Altebrando is becoming my new go-to author. Highly recommended.

ISBN: 9780762456819; Published May 2015 by Running Press; ARC provided by publisher