D.E.A.R. and National School Library Day

It was a busy week at work last week for a lot of the normal mundane reasons. But there was (and is) something special, too. Monday October 27th is School Libraries Day in Canada and we go the extra mile around my place to hoot and holler about it!

I am often tired and only rarely not stressed by working for school libraries in this City but I am always proud. I have worked in all kinds of libraries but K to 12 is fantastic. I work with people who intimately recognize the reading wants and needs of hundreds of people in their school. I live for the passion engendered by the business, and struggles, of maintaining school library service. School libraries are the only libraries every citizen is guaranteed to see. In some ways they reach a broader number of library users than their public counterparts. I hope my kids will have a great school library and that yours will too. I hope that you will support having all manner of information at school. Not just a gesture to route a kid to 'look it up' on a computer somewhere!

For National School Libraries day British Columbia has a special celebration in store. Everyone, it's official now the Premier even said!!! everyone.. is invited to drop-everything-and-read for 20 minutes on Monday the 27th. I am personally grateful to our local newspaper for challenging him about not speaking up before!

The idea is that we take 20 minutes to value AND ENJOY what school libraries stand for and offer, reading, learning to read and liberal access to literature and information. Between 11am and 11:20 everyone I work with will drop everything and take a book break. I invite you to join in. If you do let us know at the blog or on the Facebook page.

Over-excited nerd librarian, out.

Unsolicited Advice to Readers

Of late a certain topic seemed to resonate with me on a number of blogs. Reading and books.

All 5 of you readers know I am a librarian so I don't suppose that my interest getting piqued by such a topic is noteworthy. But you also know that we don't really specialize in noteworthy over here more like huffy and bossy. And it is in that vein that I post today.

I wanted to say a few words about the tension associated with book collections. Working in libraries I have long ago given myself permission to borrow and not buy books. Books, like ideas, are meant to be shared. That's why I so enjoy the book recommendations we make here. Reading is meant to be shared.

I am ashamed I haven't be on the ball enough to get on board with the cool reading goals blogging. I live it vicariously through the ever spot-on Mamacita Tina.

Then there is Mary P's challenge to blog what we adults read? How embarrassing would that be? Uhm, nothing. I have one collegue who will tell you I don't really trust a librarian who doesn't read. Internal dork retort: "Ahem, well I'm in system admin! er do PDFs count?"

In all the banter about how privileged we are to write... fine.. but we write because we can read. urrrch.. Please, take a moment if you can to thank your lucky stars for that privilege among your many others. I noted another reminder in my local library last week for one-on-one reader volunteers. Despite our smugness about education in the Western world we should not underestimate how many have literacy elude them. How many children have parents who linguisically cannot or are economically unavailable to provide a storytime? You know I love my grad school education as much as the next guy.. but when we think of education remember the small college programs that are barely continuing to provide literacy programs for all sorts of folks in the rush to offer 52 kinds of MBA's. Go to your local library and keep it vibrant with a deep community of users and keep them funded! Look to share the reading experience with all you kids and their friends.. not just peers. 100% literacy, not 40%, is what we want. Education has gone far.. but not far enough.. yet.

Now I gotta run Any Which Way You Can is on. Seriously!

ps... A thanks due to Sage for egging me on for this one.

And... HBM, all the men are reading David Mitchell... you might like that.

Recommended title: Click, Clack, Moo

Click, clack, moo : cows that type / by Doreen Cronin ; pictures by Betsy Lewin.
Simon & Schuster, Scholastic, or Childcraft, 2001, c2000.
Subjects
Cows -- Fiction
Domestic animals -- Fiction
Typewriters -- Fiction

ISBN: 9780689832130 (Simon) ; 0689832133 (Simon) ; 0439216486 (Scholastic : pbk.) ; 1586690760 (Childcraft : BB)

Caldecott Honor Book

If you like to type.. and you do... this is the book for you and your kids. Bonus points for railing against the man.

Imagination has its limits

In conversation over role-play of Tintin in Tibet last week.

Baby girl -- You are Captain Haddock, Daddy.
Daddy -- Oh yeah.
Baby girl -- Filip is Snowy.
Daddy -- Who is Baby A?
Baby girl -- He's Chang.
Daddy -- Who are you honey? Are you Tintin?

Baby girl -- That's just in the story, Daddy!

DUH.

I'll add here that my husband does the most amazing Tintin digests imaginable. Knowing the tales from his own youth he boils them down for my two-year old splendidly. I cannot believe how much she loves the stories for such a youngin'.

Recommended title: Sector 7

Sector 7.
by Wiesner, David
Clarion, 1999.
Subjects
Empire State Building (New York, N.Y.) -- Fiction
Clouds -- Fiction
Stories without words

ISBN: 0395746566

We have been quite remiss not to have yet sung to the high heavens praise for our latest love in the stories without words category. To say Sector 7 is beautifully is illustrated is inadequate. It is awesome in the actual meaning of the word. And, it is a damn entertaining tale. This is a great book. We are certainly not alone in our love of all things Wiesner so don't just take our word for it. And, while these reviews are coming from little girls' mommies (and dads!) I think this is a don't miss for the next little boy gift you seek. I might make it a vitural gift to this little shot with a nod to his artful eye.

Recommended title: My Mama Says

My mama says there aren't any zombies, ghosts, vampires, creatures, demons, monsters, fiends, goblins, or things

Viorst, Judith
Atheneum, or Aladdin 1973
Subjects: Mothers -- Fiction; Monsters -- Fiction
ISBN: 0689301022 (Atheneum); 0689712049 (Aladdin : pbk.)

Sort of a lesser known Viorst gem (after Alexander) this book came to us from p-man's young step-brother's library. My MIL shared it with our Girl Friday and at first I didn't like it. But really this is a great book. I use it strategically when I have one of those days when either me, or the kids, need a reminder about the Mama inside the monster. Really the world needs more books with Mamas that are less than perfect.

But how does she know when she can't even drive me to
Christopher's house without getting lost on the way?
So, sometimes even Mamas make mistakes.

...ps. My Mama don't like this book either don't take her book reviews; trust me.

Recommended Title: Babies R'Us Catalogue

I write this as amanuensis for Mo. The title of note is recommended for the following purposes. A: making up funny stories about the individuals and products represented in the images. B: Good toilet-time reading for the toddler (while lacking in any topical content this glossy "magazine" is nonetheless inspirational, and this correspondent finds a certain parallel between the reading-time efforts of the toddler and the majority of the products shown in the catalogue). The downside of this publication is its utter lack of absorbency.

P-man out.

"I'll add the note that since the age of about 18 mos this was one piece of reading material Miss Fancy could pour over unassisted for some 30 minutes at a stretch. It is a completely unrivalled toddler-time-suck. Don't pass up your opportunity!" -- MoWo

Recommended title: You can't take a balloon into The Metropolitan Museum

You can't take a balloon into The Metropolitan Museum
by Jacqueline Preiss Weitzman ; pictures by Robin Preiss Glasser.
Dial, 1998 or Puffin, 2001

Subjects
Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York, N.Y.) -- Fiction; Balloons -- Fiction ; Stories without words
ISBN: 0803723016

I am currently in the throes of my first post-natal work-at-home deadlines so posting will likely be a bit sporadic in the coming weeks. It is at the moment 3:30 AM and I just submitted my first draft of the online course content I'm writing. Ah, the nostalgia of the collegiate all-nighter.

That done I suppose I can -- in good conscience -- throw up a little post. Here's a title p-man and the girl picked up on their last trip to the library. It is our first real story-without-words book and Miss Fancy loves it. Check it out at your local library. We have been telling this tale of the little girl and her grandma again-and-again (like we have a choice). I recently told it from the perspective of the balloon, fun. A while back I misspoke and called it "You can't take a balloon into The Metropolitan Museum of Art" and now bossy boots corrects anyone who overlooks the 'of Art!!!' part. P-man has spiced up the story for Mom with his patented characterization of 'the man with the large instrument'.

ps.. thanks to the Tompkins County Public Library for the following synopsis of the book on their summer booklist of art in kids lit.

In this wordless story, a young girl and her grandmother view works inside the Metropolitan Museum of Art, while the balloon she has been forced to leave outside floats around New York City causing a series of mishaps that mirror scenes in the museum's artworks.

Recommended title: Baby Brains

Baby Brains.
by James, Simon, 1961-
Candlewick, 2004.
Subjects: Babies -- Fiction
Intellect -- Fiction
ISBN: 0763625078

Simon James's story about the smartest baby in the world was a hit with our girl as one more title in the baby preparation program. As one reviewer attests parents might like it too but do so with a sometimes odd, wry smile of self-recognition. How smart is your baby? Check out this title and see... Find it at a great bookstore or in YOUR local library

But don't just take my recommendation on its own..Over 25,000 UK kids selected this book for the Red House Children's Book Award

This book has me psyched to check out James' first book The Day Jake Vacuumed, too.

Recommended title: My mum

My mum / Anthony Browne.
Doubleday or Random House, 2005.
Subjects: Mother and child -- Fiction
ISBN: 0385608217; 0552552348

Summary Note: A child describes the many wonderful things about "my Mum" who can be the boss, make anything grow, roar like a lion, be as comfy as an armchair.. and be my Mum!

Oh my God!.... Just in time for pre-sibling quality Mama and Child week at the Wo house... Miss Fancy selects this recent gift from the book aunties for reading and re-reading? Such a wonderful book, has us a bit drippy eyed around here but I am sure all our readers made of sterner stuff will not have such reactions. The killer is that at the huggy punchline my daughter throws herself at me for a cinematic quality embrace. Lovely. (Also, have to love the real life look of this Mom, no airbrushed, photoshopped Mommy like in all those run of the mill kids books! hee.)

ps... Thanks to everyone for the get well wishes. I am on the mend and regaining my strength in preparation for birth to take it all away from me again.

Recommended title: Daddy Kisses

Daddy kisses by Anne Gutman.
Chronicle Books, 2003 ; ISBN: 0811839141.
Subjects: Fathers -- Fiction ; Kissing -- Fiction

On a last minute Father's Day shopping mission? Check out this title. Comes complete with ACTIONS!

Recommended title

There will be no recommended title this week. At storytime last night Girl Friday responded with, "No, thanks." Bibliophile parents are still recovering.

We hope to resume our regularly featured recommendations shortly. And, we are sure the literary refusals are simply because she loves her new bed so much. Right?

Boo-hoo.

Recommended title: Mysterious Theolonious

Mysterious Thelonious
by Christopher Raschka

Publisher: New York : Orchard Books, ©1997.
ISBN: 0531300579 ; 0531330575

Subjects: Monk, Thelonious -- Juvenile literature


This amazing book matches the tones of the diatonic scale to the values of the color wheel to make a great read in sight and sound. Some of you already know of my pushing of great jazz books for kids, this one is perhaps the best I've found so far. 'Cept of course I didn't actually find it. It was a gift to us from a good friend a dogs age ago. Miss Fancy discovered in on OUR bookshelf last month and loves it. She is a keen mimic of the tones and enjoys playing along to fill in a broken syllable or two. We highly recommend you check out the "stor-y-a-bout-the-love-ly-mu-sic-of-Mis-ter-Monk."

Find it in a library near you with this link!

Recommended title: Over in the Meadow

Over in the meadow / illustrated by Ezra Jack Keats.
Four Winds, or Scholastic, 1971.
Subjects:
Counting-out rhymes
Animals -- Poetry

ISBN: 0590091956 (Scholastic); 0140565086 (Puffin)

Something nice for springtime.. one of the many great Ezra Jack Keats books. Looking over the EJK site I am reminded of the librarian at my elementary school. A lot of the books there brought back the blissful school day moments amassed on the floor of the library .. great stories like this being poured into me. Less and less often do our schools offer times in the library like the ones I had; a dedicated teller of stories and an information provider focussed on kids is too much of a luxury these days. Such is the case in a world that now offers, BabyFirstTV???

Recommended title: A Lovely Day for Amelia Goose

A lovely day for Amelia Goose / Yu Rong.

Candlewick Press, 2004.
Subjects
Day -- Juvenile fiction.
Geese -- Juvenile fiction.
Frogs -- Juvenile fiction.

ISBN: 0763623091

Tells the, oh so good for little ones, tale of Amelia Goose and her friend Frog having a good day playing in the pond. Miss Fancy was completely nuts for this one around age 10 months, but still likes it. We gave it to our previous child care provider in thanks for all the lovely days. Only faux pas there is implying she is Frog like? Yikes.

Though some are critical of the illustrations I like their simple cut out feel, a lot like books I had when I was young I suppose. And, we still use critical sploosh references at bath time. Besides who can dismiss an author with that moniker?

Click to find out more about Yu Rong and the book.

Recommended title: Sport-- players, games & spectacle.

Sport-- players, games & spectacle.
by Barrett, Norman S.
F. Watts, 1993.

Subjects
Sports -- History

ISBN: 0531142809 (lib. bdg.); 0531152626; 0531157075 (pbk.)
Series: Timelines

I suggest this book for really only one reason. To scream to YOOUUU... get your children some non-fiction already?? I notice the kiddie bookshelves are ALWAYS dominated by fiction. Understandable, yes. Ubiquitous... cmon!

Outside of a scant few DK photo books I didn't have any non-fic for Miss Fancy until she was about 10 mos. Why not? And this book .. Sport... well it is all different kinds of balls to learn about, how great is that?? She loves it. Maybe more than her Stars and Planets book, or the Book of Oceans. Some of the relatives are really happy she already with familiar with all manner of sport, including hockey, of course.

My Dad is an atlas collector and his interest got me thinking non-ficttion for my 'if I wrote a children's book' it would be... Has anyone ever seen an atlas for the under 5 set? I would want to do it with downloadable city maps for kids in many major centres. You know how you can get those 3D tourist maps, those guys could likely adapt content for the project. At 16 mos. e. started learning some of the street names around here and she loves knowing where she is.. I think a book like this would be a hit. What do you think?

ps... So Sweet Juniper's Wood put out the challenge to find kids books with NO ANIMALS... this book qualifies but it is not entirely in the "infant's book" category I think the contest rules imply. I am working on the bibliography for anti-earthling kiddie lit, chime in on any of your favorites. So far I have this and this.. but there are strong arguments against #2 because it is really about how living with boys is like living in a ZOO!

Recommended title: Alison's Zinnia

Alison's zinnia.
by Lobel, Anita
Greenwillow, or Mulberry, 1996, c1990.

Subjects
Flowers -- Fiction
Alphabet

ISBN: 068808866X (lib. bdg.) ; 0688147372 (pbk.)

Miss Fancy likes to ask for this great alphabet book by author; "Anita’s book!", she’ll say. We sure can recommend this beautifully illustrated arrangement of flowers to contemplate just in time for spring. For us it is a very important work that ensured little girl learned to say Auntie Olga for her Auntie Olgas very early! Since not every family is as knee deep in Olgas as us... maybe you’ll just be pleased to hear your own kid take to the word begonia, daffodil or urtica?

Recommended title: My very first Mother Goose

My very first Mother Goose / edited by Iona Opie ; illustrated by Rosemary Wells.

Candlewick, 1996.
ISBN: 1564026205

Subjects: Nursery rhymes

This is our recommendation for a great nursery rhyme collection. 60 selections by Iona Opie some less-known interesting ones (If I had a donkey and Dance to your daddy..) along side the top 20 hits (Hey Diddle, Baa Baa Black Sheep, etc.). What is the real seller for us with this one though are the Rosemary Wells illustrations and the graphics layouts. Fun and smart.

Remember this book, or one like it that you use, when it comes time for that next baby shower. All those books that tell you to talk to your baby are right, but what do you say??? A nice nursery rhyme book can help move the conversation ahead for any newborn and new parent. Besides doesn't matter what gender and these books are guaranteed to fit for years!

Recommended title: If not for the cat

If not for the cat : haiku / by Jack Prelutsky ; paintings by Ted Rand.
New York : Greenwillow Books, c2004.

Subjects
Animals -- Juvenile poetry.
Haiku, American -- Juvenile literature.

ISBN: 0060596775

Exciting watercolours for a change in a kids' book. A haiku for all the fashion show animals your kids love to learn about. Eagel, kang-ah-roo, odders and ants.. all haiku'ed up by a guy called Prelutsky! Took our girl some time to take to this book but now the short verses seem to be pretty desirable ear-openers on a regular basis. The deserving attribution of title comes from the following:

Recommended titles to jazz up every nursery

1. Charlie Parker played be bop / by Christopher Raschka.
Orchard, 1992.
Subject: Parker, Charlie, 1920-1955

ISBN: 0531059995

Miss Fancy really took to this book; I am sure because we really took to this. Selecting kid's lit is very often about what it teaches Mom and Dad about storytelling. This rhythmic arrangement will bring out the performer in even the shyest reader. Boppity, bippity, bop, bang! indeed.

For some sometimes different opinions you can find this title has also been reviewed on daddytypes.




2.Jazz A-B-Z / by Wynton Marsalis; Paul Rogers; Phil Schaap.
Candlewick Press, 2005.
Subjects: Jazz musicians -- Juvenile poetry.
Children's poetry, American.
Jazz -- Juvenile poetry.

ISBN: 0763621358

On the outside edge of the pukefest of last month I really had a lot of phone messages to return at work. While I made a half dozen calls baby girl mastered the pronunciation of Sidney Bechet, Art Blakey and Dizzie Gillespie. She already had Charlie Parker down, of course. I don't have the first clue why she loves it so much but this book is a real hit for our very young cat. What kid doesn't love the word Dizzie, anyway?

Don't take my word for it check out this review at monstersandcritics.