Misadventures of the Monster Librarian

Ok, I have low expectations when I read the memoirs or essays written by actors, because though many of them are extremely talented and maybe even good writers, most are not. I started Lena Dunham 's new collection of essays, Not That Kind of Girl , a little hopeful because I enjoyed some of what she was trying to accomplish in the show Girls (though that show got on my nerves after 1 season), but just wound up feeling extremely annoyed the whole time I was reading NTKOG . I kept thinking, "but you are that kind of girl!" Reading her book made me feel like I was sitting in on a bizarre therapy session that went on way too long. It reads unclearly, Dunham bouncing around with not always clear indicators of how things make sense. I used to have a 100 page rule: I would read the first 100 pages of a book even if I hated it. My time has grown more valuable to me and I now have a 40 page rule. I wanted to give up after 40 pages but I wanted to believe that Dunham would fi...

We have 3 Book Groups at Sticks Library; I run the Adult Book Group once/month, Prairie Dawn runs the Teen and Tween Book Groups. I choose the books for our Adult Book Groups, and assist Prairie Dawn in choosing the books for the Teens and Tweens--she's never been a Youth Services Librarian and up until working at Sticks hasn't stayed current on books for those ages, thus my helping. I think we do a pretty good job picking a selection for all three groups, that includes new/popular books, while also working in some classics, and for Teens and Tweens some award winners. I am pleased as punch to mention that our Adult Book Group does one Graphic Novel/year, and starting this year we also added one Young Adult book/year. For the adults I tried to include a few non-fiction titles as well, as that's something I know a few book club members enjoy, myself included. I was doing a good job until December. I hate seasonal books. HATE. I feel like the quality is oft compromised fo...

Anyone who's worked with me long enough has heard my bitter diatribe about how there are no GOOD Thanksgiving picture books to read with the K-2 grade crowd...yeah, there are a bunch out there, but for a variety of reasons--too long, too hokey, too boring--there are few that I actually enjoy sharing with the kids, and my philosophy is if I don't enjoy them the kids won't either, because I won't be putting my full gusto into the reading! So, getting down from my Thanksgiving book soap box, I'll share those books and be THANKFUL that they're out there! The first is obviously silly and geared toward the eating aspect, but the other two share a little more about the Indians and Pilgrims side of things--the best of both worlds! Based on I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly , Alison Jackson The kids LOVE this book. The rhymes are silly, but the pictures are downright RIDICULOUS! I laughed out loud at the picture of the kids bouncing on the old lady like a t...

Story of day dreaming Gabriella trying to navigate her parents separation, a new school, and being an outsider because of her constant daydreaming. The story is told through poems, some insightful and some laughably grandiose, in the way that children can think and dream!  This book is for elementary aged students, it being made of poems makes it easier for younger students to read it, but its themes would make it appropriate for older students as well. Grimes has done it again! I LOVED it.   These were my favorite: "Summer Shift"   We packed our bags in June, I braced for a summer of impossible good-byes, and the dread of living without friends ever again. To chase away the fear, I flipped through a dictionary, plucked out the word hush and thought about the whisper of wind rustling through leaves. come next autumn, and the silence of their falling. Then I jumped onto a soft deep pile of them, grabbed an armful of red, gold, and burnt-o...

I love Halloween. It is absolutely my favorite holiday; no pressure to bring a date to the family meal, no feeling alone and unkissable at midnight. Just dressing up and being whatever you want to be, showing off your costume cleverness, or inner slutty nurse, or your mad zombie make-up skills! Since it's Halloween and I haven't already posted something, thought I'd share a few fun Halloween-worthy books...you still have time for these! For the young crowd: Frankensquare , Kelly Asbury Super cute board book!   And Happy Halloween, Curious George For the Pre-school/Kindergareten crowd: Go Away, Big Green Monster! Ed Emberly A fun story about not being afraid. The kids love that the monster grows and disappears before their eyes--we had a really great flannel board for this at my old library, need to get one for Sticks! For the Younger Elementary crowd:   Berenstain Bears Trick or Treat , Stan & Jan Berenstain This came out ...

As I was reading Eating from the Ground Up's post about summer , I had to stop and take a deep breath; the big breath before the plunge. Stick's kiddos have already been out of school for over a week now--a thought that stresses me out, "what are we going to do ALL SUMMER!!!?" until I remember, "Oh yeah, Summer Reading!" This is our last minute of making our lists and making sure everything's done and ready for our kick-off event on Saturday and Summer Reading, which tec hnically begins in a week ! A week! As I 'm sure lots of l ibrarians feel a round this time of year, I'm really excited and also nervo us, ready for it to begin and be over at the same time. :)   S o, as we begin our final Summer Reading '13 plans and family's every where plan their summer vacation, think about unplugging the kids (and yourself) from your individual iPhones, iPods, iPads, and tuning into a great book together ; take turns reading aloud , or better ...

Every time I hear that a Mo Willems book is coming out I get super excited, I think even more than the kids. And lovers of Mo Willems won't be disappointed with his latest, That is Not a Good Idea! Kids will love this interactive, funny book, which starts out like a traditional fairy tale, but ends a fractured tale with a Mo Willems-worthy surprise ending that made me smile (and I needed that this morning!) The artwork is all Willems--see if you can find one of his signature marks: the Pigeon (of the Pigeon series) hidden in the book. Great book for a young reader, not only because of its' repetition of certain words, but also because there are short sentences that can be easily digested. I LOVED IT!

This is the story of a robot boy named Doug whose parents hook him up to a machine everyday so he can download lots of facts about the city...until one day when Doug unplugs himself to get a first hand experience of the city. A fun story that kids can enjoy; how can you not be amused by Doug as he moves from absorbing so many facts to actually living them? "Doug knew that cities were teeming with people. He discovered that crowded sidewalks made it hard to see where you were going..." to all kinds of new adventures: "Doug learned many more things about the city, like Wet cement feels squishy under your feet. Fire engine sirens are loud. Some garbage cans are smelly. Manholes are dark. Pretty flowers grow out cracks in the sidewalks. Taxis stop if you raise your hand. And the cool water in a park fountain feels good on a hot day..." Kids will enjoy Doug's adventures, and also his return home to be with his family. Yaccarino's artwork is fun and sil...

The magic lady 's: High School Book Suggestions: 13 Little Blue Envelopes, by Maureen Johnson The Beekeeper’s Apprentice, by Laurie R. King Big Mouth and Ugly Girl, by Joyce Carol Oates The Body of Christopher Creed, by Carol Plum-Ucci The Book Thief, by Marcus Zusak Breaking Rank, by Kristen Downey Randle The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, by Mark Haddon Dairy Queen, by Catherine Gilbert Murdock Ender’s Game, by Orson Scott Card Fat Kid Rules the World, by K.L. Going Feed, by M.T. Anderson The Gospel According to Larry, by Janet Tashjian Hard Love, by Ellen Wittlinger Life of Pi, by Yann Martel If You Come Softly, by Jacqueline Woodson Luna, by Julie Ann Peters Rats Saw God, by Rob Thomas Scrambled Eggs at Midnight, by Brad Barker & Heather Hepler The Secret Life of Bees, by Sue Kidd Monk The Sparrow, by Mary Doria Russell Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes, by Chris Crutcher – all of his books are worthwhi...

More great books to reads from the magic lady , this time: MIDDLE SCHOOL BOOKS Al Capone Does My Shirts, by Gennifer Choldenko All Alone in the Universe, by Lynne Rae Perkins Among the Hidden, by Margaret Haddix Bone from a Dry Sea, by Peter Dickinson Catherine Called Birdy, by Karen Cushman City of Ember, by Jeanne DuPrau and its sequels Crash, by Jerry Spinelli Devil’s Arithmetic, by Jane Yolen Dovey Coe, by Frances O’Roark Dowell East by Edith Pattou Fever 1793, by Laurie Halse Anderson The Giver, by Lois Lowry The Goose Girl, by Shannon Hale Hattie Big Sky, by Kirby Larson Holes, by Louis Sachar Homecoming, by Cynthia Voigt Hoot, by Carl Hiaasen Hope Was Here, by Joan Bauer- and other novels House of the Scorpions, by Nancy Farmer Inkheart, by Cornelia Funke and its sequel Island of the Blue Dolphins, by Scott O’Dell Long Way from Chicago, by Richard Peck and its sequel The Loon Feather, by Iola Fuller Lord of the Rings trilogy, by J.R.R. Tolkien Love tha...