This week at the library; or, Last week of summer reading

Staff and volunteers setting up in the gardens

What's Happening at the Library

• Monday
• Paws to Read
• Manager's meeting
• Worked 11:30-8
• Tuesday
• Craft-o-rama
• Worked 8:45-5
• Wednesday
• Library on the Go: Learning Curve
• We Explore Outdoors: Butterflies
• Worked 9-5
• Thursday
• Maker Workshop: Crochet
• Worked 10:45-6:30
• Friday
• Anime Club
• Author visit with Katelyn Mabry
• Worked 1-5:30
• Saturday
• Big Splash
• Worked 10-1:45

Last week of summer reading, working on a major new marketing project for next fall, processing applications for open positions, planning fall outreach, and lots more. I need new tires. My feet hurt. It never ends. Note that when I say "last week of summer reading" as most children's librarians will understand, this means "last week of summer reading" for the rest of the staff, not my department. We still have a backlog of work, set aside during the summer, another huge chunk of work to plan fall, prizes to distribute for another 2-3 weeks, drop-in programs and outreach, clean-up and inventory from the summer programs and heavy traffic, not to mention regular work. Say something nice to your children's librarian. Better yet, write them a good review, specifically mentioning them by name, on their library's facebook page or send it to their supervisor!

The Hyena Scientist by Sy Montgomery, photographs by Nic Bishop

I have been waiting for this book forever! I have always been interested in hyenas, partly because they are just cool and partly from reading Tamora Pierce's Emperor Mage. This book celebrates the weirdness and awesomeness that is hyenas in a way that only Scientists in the Field can.

The main scientist featured in the book is Kay Holekamp, a zoologist from the University of Michigan, who has been studying hyenas for over 30 years. Montgomery plunges right into the story, acknowledging and discrediting the many legends and negative press around hyenas and then using some of Kay's quotes and her own observation to introduce readers to this amazing animal.

Interspersed with an account of the fascinating biology, habits, and behavior of hyenas is the story of Kay Holekamp's studies and the people who are involved. Kay's story follows her from an internship at the Saint Louis zoo, travels around the world with her husband, divorce, a doctorate, and finally taking over the hyena study in Masai Mara. She acknowledges the work done by Laurence Frank, but also is open about the issues with the way field study was done in his time and how she changed the methods used. Kay reflects on the changes she's seen, both in the landscape, the hyenas, and in her own life. She married her assistant and partner, who works in neuroscience in the states, she teaches at the university in the school year and works in the hyena study in the summer; and her new assistant is her old supervisor from the zoo!

Montgomery profiles everyone involved in the camp, from the graduate students to the staff who keep the camp running. One of the most interesting profiles is of a local, Benson Ole Pion, who started working in the camp as an assistant cook but became interested in the hyenas, eventually became an assistant researcher, and is now preparing to move his family to the states to further his education and become more involved in the hyena studies.

The animals themselves are not neglected, with chapters on their complicated behavior, hierarchy, and how they differ from other mammalian species. There are exciting accounts of targeting and testing hyenas, the aftermath of a flood in the camp, and funny accounts of taking a shower in the camp.

The book ends with a series of quick facts about spotted hyenas, bibliography and online resources, and index.

Verdict: A strong addition to the Scientists in the Field series, this is a great book to give kids interested in animals and science. It will inspire them to think about their future careers as well as foster diversity. Strongly recommended.

ISBN: 9780544635111; Published May 2018 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; Purchased for the library

The Zach & Zoe Mysteries: The Missing Baseball; The Half-Court Hero by Mike Lupica, illustrated by Chris Danger

 Zach and Zoe are eight-year-old twins who love sports, especially basketball. This isn't surprising since their father and grandfather were both players in the NBA and their father is now a sports reporter.

In The Missing Baseball, Zach's new, signed baseball goes missing. Some suspect Mateo Salazar, who's new, and Zoe doesn't get what's the big deal. Zach has lots of baseballs after all. But this is signed by Will Hanley, Zach's favorite player! Luckily Zoe loves mysteries and is determined to find the solution; even if she doesn't care about the baseball herself, she wants to support her brother.

Their second mystery is formed around basketball, their favorite sport. The Half-Court Hero features a summer weekend competition, coached by their dad. The twins are excited since they don't usually get to play together. But the court at the rec center is in poor repair; missing nets, splintered benches, and faded paint. After the twins mention the problems, someone starts fixing it up and Zoe is determined to solve the mystery. Meanwhile, they still have a competition to play.

Black and white drawings mostly show Zack and Zoe, with occasional pictures of their father, grandfather, and friends. I am not really a sports fan, so I while I do purchase plenty of sports books I don't often read them myself. However, I was intrigued by the addition of a mystery and the younger audience. Frankly, I was very disappointed. The writing is trite and pedestrian, even if you are the type of reader who likes blow-by-blow descriptions of sports. The mysteries are trivial and seem like an afterthought. In The missing baseball there is at least a theft (or possible theft) but it seems to be there mainly to give Zoe an interest. The Half-Court Hero is even more pointless, since the whole mystery is to find out who is fixing up the ball court - even the characters in the book are confused as to why Zoe has to "solve" this mystery.

Both Zach and Zoe are white, as are most of their friends and teachers. Zoe's interest in sports is frequently brushed aside in favor of her interest in "mysteries" and to feature Zach. Their mother is a complete nonentity, there only to distribute platitudes and meals. There's no conflict in the sports themselves; the kids make every shot they take, even when it's been explicitly said that they're not very good at sports (both Zach and Zoe are, of course, excellent players at all the sports). The frequent exhortations to be a good sport, have fun, and not worry about winning come off as bland platitudes when the kids win constantly anyways. The two are relentlessly upbeat, cheerful, and extremely irritating. A final, minor annoyance is that there's no indication that this is a series to be read in order; however, if you read both books it's clear that the baseball title comes first since it's referred to in the basketball title.

Verdict: Lupica is a popular author for the middle grade crowd; I can only suppose that he was heavily edited or really didn't know how to write for this age group. The lack of diversity is another strike against this series. Purchase only if you have avid sports fans who need more to read, otherwise stick with David Kelly's excellent sports mysteries or the Jake Maddox titles.

The missing baseball
ISBN: 9780425289365

The half-court hero

ISBN: 9780425289396 

Published May 2018 by Philomel/Penguin; Review copies provided by the publisher
 

Small Readers: Fish are not afraid of doctors by J. E. Morris

This is an interesting idea; easy readers that combine both story and a social-emotional lesson. In this story, Maud the koala is waiting to see Dr. Susan. She’s anxious and, looking at the fish in the aquarium, wishes she was a fish who didn’t have to visit the doctor. She tries to hide, but the moment arrives… Dr. Susan checks her out, and Maud is having fun, until it’s time for her vaccination. A shot! After some gentle discussion, Maud imagines herself as a fish, swimming in the ocean, blowing bubbles, and before she knows it the shot is over!

A final note to caregivers explains how to use visualization and blowing bubbles, real or imaginary, to help children deal with anxiety and pain when visiting the doctor.

The book is arranged in comic panels with a clear progression of events and the occasional speech bubbles. Most of the text is enclosed in small white boxes at the top of the panels. The illustrations are bright and cheerful and Maude’s face is expressive while the doctor is friendly and sympathetic. The text is a little advanced for a beginning reader, but would be readable with a fluent reader to help out.

Verdict: This is well-written enough to double as a story as well as a therapy tool. Recommended for general purchase and use as well as recommending to caregivers to handle fears at doctor visits.

ISBN: 9781524784430; Published April 2018 by Penguin Workshop; Review copy provided by the publisher; Donated to the library

My pillow keeps moving! By Laura Gehl, illustrated by Christopher Weyant

Two fun creators - Laura Gehl, author of the Peep and Egg picture books and Weyant, illustrator of Anna Kang’s fun titles - team up to create something new and super silly.

A stray cat and dog are shivering sadly outside of The Pillow Place when a man walks in to get a pillow… and comes home with a very unusual pillow! It keeps wiggling around! But it IS soft and fluffy, so he can’t return it. The man tries to purchase a footstool and a warm jacket, but each time there’s something wrong. Finally, he realizes that this odd thing makes a better pet dog than a piece of furniture. And that gives the stray cat an idea… especially since the man needs a new hat!

Weyant’s cheerful colors and humorous faces evoke feelings of classic funny illustrators, especially Jack Kent and Syd Hoff, but his art has a charm all its own. The dog looks just enough like the pieces of furniture for kids to get the joke, but not so much that they can’t enjoy a laugh on a grown-up.

Verdict: A sweet, funny story with enough repetition to make it a favorite for toddler storytime and humor that’s just right for the preschool set. Recommended.

ISBN: 9780425288245; Published 2018 by Viking; Borrowed from another library in my consortium

Revolutionary Friends: General George Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette by Selene Castrovilla, illustrated by Drazen Kozjan

Selene Castrovilla has written several picture books and short chapter books on the American Revolution. I've used them in book clubs and recommended them to teachers and, after several years with no new titles, was pleased to see that she had come out with some new books. Somehow, I discovered at this time that I'd missed some of her earlier works, including this one which features the friendship between George Washington and Marquis de Lafayette.

The story begins with the arrival of Lafayette in American in 1777. He met Washington and was quickly impressed by him. Washington wasn't very interested in the little Frenchman - their previous experience with the French had not been good. But they needed allies and so he was polite. It was the beginning of a close friendship. Washington eventually came to be close friends, almost a father figure to the young Frenchman. Lafayette, given a chance, fought valiantly for the Americans, cementing both his worth to the cause and his close friendship with Washington.

An extensive back note gives the rest of the story; Lafayette's involvement in the rest of the war, the eventual separation of the two friends, divided by wars, imprisonment, and tensions between the two countries. Lafayette's last visit to American came too late for him to meet his hero, but he was given a great welcome by the American people.

Further resources include a timeline of both men, places of interest to visit in the US and France, a bibliography, and several other resources. There are also quotes from Lafayette included in each segment of the story.

This didn't quite click for me as much as Castrovilla's other works. It's laid out very definitely as a picture book, which is a very difficult sell in my library; both parents and kids consider anything in picture book format to be a "baby book" and some of our schools' reading programs count by page number. Gah. I preferred Castrovilla's books that are more chapter book style. Although this was lengthy and had some great dialogue and a look at what is now a little-known episode of the American Revolution, I felt that for the audience it lacked a lot of context. Most of the 3rd and 4th graders I work with don't know the basics of the American Revolution, let alone the more complex history behind the involvement with France and England. I felt like more context would have made this more accessible to the kids.

Verdict: While I don't feel this stands alone well, it is a good supplementary text for students learning about the American Revolution. I will be recommending it to teachers and especially to my homeschool students. I purchased it as part of my work on updating our 900s section with a wider selection of titles.

ISBN: 9781590788806; Published 2013 by Calkins Creek; Borrowed from another library in my consortium; Purchased for the library

This week at the library; or, And now it is August

I baked a ton of stuff for the bake sale. But not as much
dough as I made. So now I'm baking it for teen programs later.
I hate baking. Why do I do this?

What's Happening

• Monday
• Paws to Read
• Worked 12-8
• Tuesday
• Craft-o-Rama
• Worked 8:40-5:40
• Wednesday
• Library on the Go: TLC
• We Explore Outdoors: Water Cycle
• Worked 8:45-5
• Thursday
• Maker Workshop: Sculpting (oven-bake clay)
• Worked 11-7
• Friday
• Knit-in
• Worked 3ish to 10ish

Still have programs, but also winding things up. Working on fall schedules, booking outreach, etc. Sorting through Library on the Go books - I hope some more come back soon, b/c I'm worried I won't have enough for outreach through August!

Ruby and Olivia by Rachel Hawkins

Olivia can’t understand why she and her twin Emma have grown apart so quickly. But more and more it seemed like it was Emma and her friend Ruby, with Olivia tagging along, until Emma and Ruby had an argument. Now all three are alone. So why does Olivia take the blame for Emma and get stuck with community service? She’s not really sure. Now she has to spend three days a week at Camp Chrysalis and is horrified to discover that she’s stuck with Ruby - and, as she later discovers, Ruby and Emma’s rival crush Garrett. At first they are relieved that they won’t be picking up trash, but cleaning out the old Live Oak Mansion. They’re not so pleased when they start clashing - and discover that there’s something alive in the house. Something evil.

A ghost story, a friendship story, a story about growing and changing, this has a little something for everybody.

The story is told in text exchanges between Olivia and Ruby and in alternating viewpoints. Readers will get swept up in the spooky mystery of the house, but also become invested in the stories of the individual girls, so different and yet slowly growing into a better friendship than Ruby and Emma ever had, for all their similarities. This book definitely reminded me that middle school girls go through a lot of drama (boys aren’t immune to it either, but the girls seem to have more of it) but Ruby and Emma, with the support of their families, do a good job weathering the storm and giving great promise of the people they will become.

Verdict: Hand this one to readers who like spooky adventure stories but also those who enjoy more introspective slice-of-life, realistic fiction.

ISBN: 9780399169618; Published October 24, 2017 by Putnam; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library

Gordon: Bark to the future! by Ashley Spires

It feels like forever since we've had a book about the brave space pets of P.U.R.S.T. After the saga of Binky and his struggles to protect his family from the space aliens (bugs) who live in space (outside), the story expanded to include the wider universe of space pets. We heard the story of Sergeant Fluffy and his brave defense of P.U.R.S.T. headquarters. Now, for the first time ever, we'll hear the story of a non-feline pet - Gordon the dog!

The story begins dramatically; the aliens have invaded, Binky is captured, and only Gordon can save the day. Luckily, he's good with technology and has built a time machine to go back in time and fix things.... or will he make things worse?

To Gordon's shock, he messes up time and now he's in a time period when he doesn't exist - and when the organization only allowed felines! Then things get worse and Binky never gets to become a space cat! Luckily, friends are friends no matter where you are - or when you are. With some past and future help, Gordon manages to save the day!

Spires' distinctive art style may make it hard to tell the different between Binky, with his triangular markings and ears, and Gordon's pale tan triangles. However, readers who have met the characters previously will be delighted to see their old friends again and even new readers can pick up enough of the story along the way to follow along.

Verdict: If you don't have the Binky series, you absolutely must go back and purchase them, and then of course you'll need the P.U.R.S.T. titles. Delightfully fun, these are solid additions to any beginning chapter book section.

ISBN: 9781771384094; Published May 2018 by Kids Can Press; Purchased for the library

Small Readers: Dance, Dance, Dance! by Ethan Long

It’s funny how many funny easy readers feature dancing animals - Ballet Cat, Elephants Cannot Dance, and now Ethan Long’s quirky addition, Dance, Dance, Dance! Horse is really putting down the moves, when Buggy shows up and asks what she’s doing. How can Horse be dancing if there’s no music? The music is in her head! Buggy decides she wants to dance too - and she can be just as good as Horse - but she is having trouble getting going. Fortunately, Horse has a solution!

Long’s cheerful cartoons show a long-legged horse and a fluffy fly with long eyelashes. The two dance across brightly-colored pages, their text in square speech bubbles.

Verdict: Hopefully this new series will continue; it’s sure to be popular with emergent readers, although the characters don’t have quite the unique pull of more long-running pairs like Elephant and Piggie. At least not yet!

ISBN: 9780823438594; Published 2018 by Holiday House; Purchased for the library