Are cats completely self-centered? I couldn’t possibly say.
But if you know a cat, and that cat seems to interpret everything as organized to suit them, you might just understand this cat.
And “rectangle time?” Just another way to say “book party!” So hooray!
Rectangle Time by Pamela Paul and Becky Cameron
This is not as happy as you’d expect, although the ending is happy, and there’s a nice reminder that even an old book can be a great friend for the right reader. It’s sweet in a way, and it makes me feel happier about the much-loved, withdrawn-from-the-library books I pass on to others.
Book’s Big Adventure by Adam Lehrhaupt and Rahele Jomepour Bell
I’ve been off work a few weeks due to the local government’s COVID-19 furlough, and I’ll be off at least a few more. Theoretically, this would give me more time to read and write, but I find that focusing on anything for too long is tough. I’ve sewed a lot of masks for friends, family and random strangers, too, and I found an awesome soft pretzel recipe which is now a family favorite. Otherwise, I might not have a lot to show for this time, but I’m realizing as it marches on that I’m ok with that. It’s a weird time, but it’s life as we know it now, and all we can hope is that we do the best we can.
Here’s hoping all of you are happy, healthy, well-fed, safe, and able to do the things you love at least part of your day! I’ll be back when I’m back.
Because of the way vacation fell and the stay-safe/stay-home order from our local officials, I haven’t been to work in quite a stretch. You might think this would be ideal for reading, but it hasn’t been. Like a lot of other people, I’ve had a hard time focusing on anything long enough to really settle into a good reading groove.
These three books brought me back, however, although on the surface they have absolutely nothing to do with each other: arranged marriage, ponzi scheme, time travel. I just finished Oona Out of Order today, and it struck me that one thing that’s hard about reading now is that you just might not have access to all the exciting new books you’ve been waiting for. (It’s been on my list for a while, and it’s a treat!) I’m going to have a giant stack of things that have come out since the library was closed once I get back there, and while I’ve still got quite a few here… not everything fits what I want and can handle reading today.
So for the next few weeks, I’m going to post ideas for older books to read. Many could be in your library’s e-book holdings, and since more people are doing the digital thing right now, they might not be in as much demand as the new ones. They’ll also remind me of all the really great stuff out there that I can re-read one day. I’m dreaming already…
Stop trying so hard, Moose. Just sit down. Read.
All will be well.
The Perfect Seat by Minh Le and Gus Gordon
Have a fondness for books, movies, classic tv, trivia? This.
The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman
Butterflies, purple moons, exploding orange, magic words – read, read, read!
How to Read a Book by Kwame Alexander and Melissa Sweet
The year is winding down on my visits to Mrs. B’s room, and it’s both sad and exciting. These are GREAT kids, and they have come so far. This week, one of my buddies read me 47 pages of Go, Dog, Go! which is some kind of awesome. “Hello. Hello. Do you like my hat? I do not like your hat. Good-by! Good-by!” may be one of my top three favorite literary conversations.
What’s especially fun about this class is their sense of humor and the way they make connections. I’ll read a book, and one of them will say, “I noticed that book was like the book we read last week when….” So I couldn’t have been more happy to have Mrs. B mention Harold and Hog Pretend for Real, a new take on Mo Willems’ Elephant and Piggie books. The discussion that followed was the kindergarten version of waiting for the last Harry Potter book to come out.
And Dan Santat and Harold & Hog do not disappoint. I read it yesterday with two of my library buddies (adults) who laughed and cackled, just as I expect the 6 year olds will next week. There’s drama and laughter and, as with Elephant and Piggie, a few moments of “OH NO!” and then you are left with a big smile on your face. Sooooo perfect.
As a group, we’ve read SO many books –looking at details, laughing at jokes, comparing authors and illustrators, paying attention to colors and new words and cool ideas! I wish that our legislators and leaders spent more time in classrooms; I think it would change policy for the better. Most people just do not have a clue what happens every day in a public school classroom and how very, very important teachers and school staff are to the success of our future workers, artists & dreamers.
Where does this culture and love of reading come from? Mrs. B, of course! She and her co-workers are education superheroes every day. And as time goes on, the kids join in. It’s a community, this wide-ranging love of reading. The kids know I will be super excited about Go, Dog, Go! or Elephant and Piggie or even Going to the Store (or whatever book is their reading group book for the week), too, and the enthusiasm spreads.
Finding something you share and love together is the beauty of kindergarten. For part of the year, I’m the reader. Then, they become the reader and the leader in what we share. Something amazing is happening every day in that classroom. I wish more people could see it and appreciate it, and also know what a difference it makes to have great books for kids out there. So, thanks, Dan Santat, for helping us out with that!
Off the soapbox. Enjoy your day!
Harold and Hog Pretend for Real by Dan Santat (an Elephant & Piggie Like Reading book)
Your imagination can change the world, Neil Gaiman says.
Because of the conversations I have every day a public library, I know this is true. Sure, the world is full of distractions and screens (some of which have stories on them) and ugliness.
But take a moment and remember how powerful words can be – that time you almost couldn’t put a book down and get to class or work, the writer whose characters made you feel so strongly that you wept or laughed out loud or raged at your roommate about something, the quiet moments you spent with a child talking about characters’ problems or some great illustrations. And if you are a creator of stories yourself, it’s a reminder that what you do is special and much needed in this world.
Also, Neil Gaiman loves libraries. So we love him. Happy New Year!
Art Matters by Neil Gaiman and Chris Riddell
All of these things do just belong. Funny how Sesame Street lyrics pop into your head in the odd moment, isn’t it? There are connections everywhere.
These three books might not seem to have anything stringing them together, but I’m here to tell you today that they do.
First, Kate DiCamillo, author of Louisiana’s Way Home. I suggest her books to all kinds of readers–even adults who are looking for something different–because she does such a beautiful job of giving life to characters and relationships and whole communities. At a recent event, she talked about how books don’t become all that they are until they have readers, that what an author writes only becomes something meaningful in the hands of a reader – the right reader, any reader. (Apologies to KD for mis-paraphrasing any of her words, of course.) So much of what she said that day was inspiring to young writers, old writers, lovers of reading.
Shortly afterwards, I read Becoming by Michelle Obama. No one needs me to say how great it is, because obviously, everyone already knows it. One of the things I have always liked about her, from the first time I heard her speak during the run-up to the Iowa caucuses oh-so-many years ago, is that she seems like a regular person, someone who would fit right in on my rather quirky block. She’s got her opinions, sure, but she isn’t just yammering on; she’s trying to do something to make the world a better place.
Then I read Louise Penny’s latest, Kingdom of the Blind. I have been looking forward to this for months. I am such a fan of this series that when I read a blog which called it a “cozy” series, I was offended for her, since I’m not thinking many “cozy” series have an ongoing thread which involves opioids, violence, and corruption. Then, of course, I was annoyed, because I feel like “cozy” is code for lightweight, like “chick lit” and “romance,” — mostly books written by women by the way –and if people like a type of book, why does anyone have to throw down judgment on them? (I say this, knowing that I am guilty of judging books myself.)
One of the ongoing themes in Penny’s books is community, the way the neighbors in Three Pines support each other even when they don’t agree, the way they become a family, even to you as a reader. Maybe that’s the “cozy” they were going for. I don’t know. It still bugs me.
And then I woke up this morning thinking about tornadoes – long story – but it led me thinking about all three of these authors and how they are putting something out into the world which speaks to hope, not hopey—changey hope, but something deep and universal within us. We are imperfect. We make mistakes. And when we wake up, sometimes all we can do is hope that the new day will be better. Amen.
Oddly enough, I think I first came across this book by way of some awesome note cards I found while looking for something else on line. So when I saw the book, I was all “Um, ok, of course I’m reading this.” While my tone here might seem very bored-cynical-sarcastic-difficult-to-impress-and-young, do not be fooled. It’s a whimsical day here in Iowa, people. We’re all a little goofy from the weather and using inappropriate tones and all that.
I mostly read this book while also watching TV. And that’s not a criticism in this very specific instance. It’s the perfect book for dipping in and out or chatting with someone about what you think the author missed or got 100% right. The illustrations are, of course, superb, and the many book-related spreads about bookmobiles, bookstores, Little Free Libraries and the like are exceptionally groovy.
Fun! We need some fun, right? Also, you can find the note cards on Amazon or Target.com. AND if you want to see more of her work, check out https://www.idealbookshelf.com/
Bibliophile by Jane Mount
Reading was like lighting candles, each book a flame that lit up the world around me.
No library worker or lifelong reader could come across this book and not like it. Really.
Sonia Sotomayor’s story is one any immigrant can relate to – the power of becoming a part of your new home, the pull of what you loved in your previous home, the power of knowledge and working hard and overcoming – whether an illness or a new language or poverty or whatever.
What holds this book together is her inspirational story of reading, how it added to her young life, and then supported her life as a judge, too.
The art draws you in and adds to the story’s arc. Wonderful.
Turning Pages: My Life Story by Sonia Sotomayor, illustrated by Lulu Delacre
I’m not the biggest fan of all the special months. Theoretically, they help highlight authors and issues affecting different groups (African-Americans, women, Latinx, LGBT folks, Asians, etc.), and I have no problem with that. But shouldn’t we really be looking for more diverse books ALL year? Of course.
Anyway, it’s February, so this year, I’ve decided that I’m looking at this as an EXTRA reason to highlight great African-American and African authors and characters. Below are some of my favorites of the past few years:
Consider the lemming and its stereotypes. This could come in handy if you are a fox working on a fish trawler called the S.S. Cliff with a bear captain and three very impressionable lemmings. Being illiterate and team players, the lemmings seem incapable of hearing anything but the word “jump.” After several challenging water rescues, Foxy realizes that his lemming friends are not dim; they just don’t know how to read. Whew! Now there’s a problem we can solve, right? Literacy for lemmings! Go team!
Fun read.
Read the Book, Lemmings! by Ame Dyckman and Zachariah OHora
Turtle loves a book and must read it now. Just that one book. Why are our favorites never where we left them? What happens? Do we lend them? Do they move off on their own? Seriously, what’s the deal here?
The search begins, and along the way friends will mention their own favorites. And somehow we’ll all end up reading together. Always a good thing.
Hooray for Books by Brian Won
Any book that combines the love of reading with silly, imaginary book titles, clever rhyming, and underpants will always be loved by me. I know I can speak for a small, not statistically significant group of kindergartners when I add that kids will love that book, too. Here is that book. Read it and smile.
For two more stories about stories, read this one.
You Can Read by Helaine Becker and Mark Hoffmann
Our Super 64 was whittled down to two the week before spring break – The Lightning Thief vs. Circus Mirandus. It was a long road for both, past favorites like The One and Only Ivan, The Terrible Two, Smile, Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Calvin & Hobbes.
The winner, finally, was Circus Mirandus, by four votes. New pencils and a fun bookmark marked the occasion, and I talked with the kids about a brief email exchange I had with the author, Cassie Beasley, the day before. They had talked about loving her book because of the depth of the characters and the great story, although I’m sure they also loved that it was something their teacher read aloud, so they experienced it together. Without that added boost, it might not have made it to the finals. As their teacher noted, classmates might have voted for or against books they’d never read. Everyone knew and loved Circus Mirandus. I mentioned some of this to the author, who commented on the great list of books and being excited about winning. She promised there were books on the way from her. Yay for all of us!
I wasn’t much of a fangirl when I was a kid, but as an adult, I’ve occasionally written authors to let them know how much their work means to me. Authors spend a lot of time alone with their work before editors, agents, critics, and regular people ever get access to it. I wonder sometimes how it feels to have your words picked apart, even when reviews are good. Does the work even feel like your own at that point?
I look at things I wrote years ago, and it can sometimes be strange to imagine that I was the person who wrote it! Hmm, I’ll think, that really was pretty good, even if it doesn’t seem like I could have come up with it. I have to think that most writers appreciate the feedback when it comes from people who truly love their work, and if they don’t, well, they just won’t respond, will they? Enough said.
Well done, Cassie Beasley. Thank you for Micah, Grandpa Ephraim, Jenny, the Lightbender and even Aunt Gertrudis.
So, I’m a little behind in reporting on our 5th graders’ book bracket…
Like I mentioned in the last post on our book bracket, I was sick. Then Mrs. B was sick. Throw in a field trip or maybe a family emergency to mess up the schedule and you’d have a typical month of Thursdays during the school year, right?
But here we are. After a second vote between Circus Mirandus and The Terrible Two because of a tie, Circus Mirandus won, with several kids apparently switching their votes. The Lightning Thief was the big winner against Holes. So for our final two, we’ve got:
Circus Mirandus vs. The Lightning Thief
A newcomer against an old favorite? A stand alone versus a series? Magic versus myths? What could be better? I can’t wait to hear the kids try to convince each other to choose their favorite. Ah, the joy of reading!
Sometimes getting a really nasty virus is a good thing. Well, sort of. I spent the better part of a week fighting something awful, so by the time I made it to Mrs. B’s room yesterday, I felt physically better, however, my brain was mush.
After telling the kids about the new match-ups, I encouraged them to come up and give their favorites in the Excellent/Elite 8 a boost. The verbal battles began. The Lightning Thief was ok, even good, but it didn’t match the fun factor of Big Nate, which was kind of similar to Diary of a Wimpy Kid, a book which had narrowly missed moving on. Big Nate was fun, but really didn’t have the great characters and action of The Lightning Thief. Choosing between The One and Only Ivan and Circus Mirandus was tough, but Ivan created such strong characters that it had to win out. I want these kids on my side when I run for office!
Oh, the fun! And when the votes were counted, here’s the Final Four we ended up with:
Holes
The Lightning Thief
The Terrible Two
Circus Mirandus
We’ve come a long way…
Where to begin? My shelves hold 43 books from the public library right now. Another five are on my iPad — checked out through Overdrive. I recently picked up two free advanced reader copies I’d really like to read, too. My library request list is at the maximum of 99. I’ve even got a back-up list going to use once my request list has dropped back to 80 or so. It would almost be funny if it didn’t happen every month or two. Sometimes the pressure of so many possibly great books is a little much, and I have a hard time choosing what I should read next.
But do I dare complain? It’s a problem which comes from privilege, really, having so many options and so many good options in front of me. I can’t possibly read everything I’d like to. Patrons I talk with at the library often suggest books they think I should or would like to read, but do I get to most of them? No. I stick with my middle grade, teen and picture books, although a good mystery can pull me away on occasion.
What to do? I guess I’ll have to hold off on catching up on my TV shows and read during family movie night and use my early waking hours and lunches to catch up. Work, work, work. Joy, joy, joy.
liowabrary 