Reviews Galore!

2012-02-08T08:38:00.000-08:00

The reviews continue to come in from the Voorheesville Middle School. Here are more that will make you want to read these books.

Park, Barbara. The Graduation of Jake Moon. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2000. Print.
In The Graduation of Jake Moon by Barbara Park, Jake’s grandfather, Skelly, has Alzheimer’s and complicates Jakes life in strange ways in a small town. Ever since Skelly was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Jake has had a hard time with school and friends or life in general.
Jake’s 8th grade graduation is another example of how Skelly is always in trouble. During his graduation Skelly goes on the stage and knocks everything over by accident. Then Jake goes and calms down Skelly and takes him off the stage. The age range of kids who would enjoy this book is 8-12 years old. You would also like this book if you wanted a quick read or you like funny books. ~Boden

Spinelli, Jerry. Crash. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2009. Print.
Have you ever known somebody who is really weird and just makes you mad? Well if you do, you can relate to Crash Coogan. Crash is a typical seventh grade football player, big, strong and obnoxious. He and his best friend Mike always bully his neighbor Penn Webb. Penn is a strange skinny Quaker from North Dakota.
Newbery-award-winner Jerry Spinelli nails life as a seventh grader on the head, with excellent descriptions and dialogue. Crash is forced to rethink his actions when a family crisis occurs. Will he tolerate Penn or stick to his old way? How will he react when he is neck and neck with Penn in the biggest race of the year? ~Bryson

Preller, James. Bystander. New York City: Fiewel and Friends, 2009. Print.
Will he stay the bystander or stand up against bullying. Find out when you read Bystander by James Preller. This story takes place on Long Island, New York, where, two boys Griffin and Eric are at a standoff. Eric has to decide: stay loyal or stand up to Griffin.
Bystander’s theme is coming of age. Eric has to come of age by standing up to Griffin. Eric needs to man up and teach Griffin how to treat others. I really liked this book. It made me think of how people treat each other. I think you should read this book if you are a bully, a bystander, or victim because it will inspire you to do the right thing. So, will you stay quiet or be loud and stand up for someone? ~Spencer

Giff, Patricia Rielly. Pictures of Hollis Woods. New York: Dell Yearling, 2002. Print.
Poor Hollis Woods thought she wasn’t going to stay in any foster home very long. That is going to change. When the agency brought Hollis to Miss Josie Cahill, she realized that Josie needed her help. Through flashbacks, Hollis shares what happened on the mountain on a hot summer day.
I recommend this book to ages 12-15 year olds. You will learn how Hollis made it through the life as an orphan in the book Pictures of Hollis Woods. Learn whic family she ends up staying with! ~Cameron

Growing UP

2012-02-02T08:51:00.000-08:00

It is hard to face reality and come to understand consequesnces, especially when one is young. The books that my friends from Voorheesville Middle School have been writing reviews for all have difficult choices facing the protagonists. It has been eye-opening to read their reactions to these wonderful books.
Here are some more reviews:

Park, Barbara. The Graduation of Jake Moon. New York: Antheneum books, 2000.
Do you know someone with Alzheimer’s? If not, then you don’t know how hard it is for Jake Moon to deal with his grandfather’s Alzheimer’s. Read about it in The Graduation of Jake Moon by Barbara Park. Jake is a normal eighth grade boy, except he is the only one that deals with a grandfather with Alzheimer’s disease.
It isn’t that bad for Jake because the challenges he faces help him mature. Although his grandfather has embarrassed him time after time he continues to help him. This book could be enjoyed by anyone, especially people who are ready to laugh and cry at this humorous yet tear-jerking novel. ~Ryan

Woodson, Jacqueline. Locomotion. New York: Penguin, 2003. Print.
In Locomotion by Jacqueline Woodson Lonnie finds himself alone when his parents die in a fire. He is split up from his sister, Lili, and both are put in foster homes. The story takes place by Lonnie’s house in his neighborhood.
Lonnie is the main character and his biggest obstacle to overcome is the fact his parents died and him splitting up with his sister. He finally comes of age when he starts to overcome that by writing all kinds of different poems. But I didn’t like how the book was a poem because it kind of took some information away because the author was trying to make it a poem. But this is a short and easy read recommended for ages 10-16. ~Willie

Weeks, Sarah. So B. It. New York: HarperTrophy, 2004. Print.
Imagine living in an apartment with your mentally ill mother and your neighbor, yet you and everybody else has no idea how you got there. This is true for Heidi in the exciting novel So B. It by Sarah Weeks. In this thriller you will travel with 12-year-old Heidi from Reno, Nevada to New York City to find out who she is, who her mom is, and what is “soof”.
You will meet all sorts of characters: Mama, Bernadette, and Heidi. Mama has a twenty-three word vocabulary and is mentally ill. Bernadette can’t take a step outside without the feeling that she is drowning. And Heidi is a curious girl, but will her curiosity overwhelm her? In this book, Heidi will learn to grow up when she travels independently for the first time and faces a terrible tragedy. This book is a good read for anyone ages 10-15. Pick up this thriller by Sarah Weeks. ~Mia

Hinton, S.E. The Outsiders. New York: Dell Publishing, 1995. Print.
In this area you never walk alone without a blade or a friend. Pony boy Curtis is 14 years old and he lives in this area. His parents died in a car crash, but he has two very hard working brothers that he lives with. They look out for him and love him. They are also in a gang, “The Greasers”, along with Dally, Steve, Jonny, and two bit. They are all very close friends. That’s what makes this book so good, I think, because they all have to look out for each other and help each other out of bad bad situations. Plenty of bad things happen in this gang. Most of it has to do with the social’s, also called the soc’s. They are the rich kids with mustangs and and all the girls. These two groups hate each other. And to make things worse, Jonny and Ponyboy started to hang out with one of the soc’s girlfriends at the drive-in. A few hours later, well, here comes the soc’s in their blue Mustang. After what happens in this event leads to a bad chain of events. Get the book to see what happens. ~Jack

"Coming of Age"

2012-02-01T09:11:00.000-08:00

The reviews you have been reading this past month are all part of an assignment looking at books with a coming-of-age theme. I love this theme and see it in almost all YA (teen) books. It is a point in a young person's life when they look beyond their every day life, and make decisions that will have an impact on their whole life. It can be a decision to stand up for someone who is being bullied, or refusing to listen to jokes that make fun of a group of people; could be ethnic jokes, blond jokes, or any group. Coming-of-age can also be a time when you come to understand someone's (usually a beloved relative) behavior and accept the person for who they are, not for who you want them to be. It can also be a story where the protagonist must make adult decisions. In other words, no matter what age, the character comes of age to accept and truly make decisions that make a difference in their own life or their family's life.

I enjoy reading these stories because I put myself into the specific character and wonder if I could take that adult step. Of course, as an adult I already have had to do that, but adults need to be reminded of those important roles we play, how we must mentor to students and always try to do our best. Fiction helps us see not an individual situation, but a universal situation that we project into our own life. It's an amazing process.

Here are some more guest reviews from Voorheesville Middle School;

Schmidt, Gary. The Wednesday Wars. New York. 2007. Print.
“Mrs. Baker hates me.” The Wednesday Wars is a great fun, and an exciting book. Mostly takes place at a school in the 1960s. The main character in the book is a kid named Holling Hoodhood. He thinks that the English teacher hates him.
But in the end he finds out her life story. And how it is not right to judge until you know what the problem is. Mrs. Baker’s husband has been lost in a special mission in Viet Nam and it almost ruins her. You’ll need to read the book to find out what happens. I like the book because it is interesting and there is always something going on. ~Adam

Connor, Leslie. Waiting for Normal. New York: Harper Collins Publishers, 2008. Print.
Award-winning writer Leslie Connor is the author of the terrific and life changing story, Waiting for Normal. Imagine having to lie to your step-father every time he would call to check in. Eleven years old, Addie, is in this situation. This sweet story takes place in Schenectady, New York, in a trailer across the street from the minimart. It’s an amazing journey that at some parts may make you cry, laugh, or even giggle.
Addie is stuck between choosing which life she wants to live, either with her step-father, Dwight or her “all-or-nothing” mother, Mommers. Over the course of the story Addie grows and matures and begins to realize which life she wants to live. Along the way she makes some friends, Soula and Elliot, who work at the minimart. Later, Addie comes to a conclusion that Soula has cancer. Things then get rough. Read the book, Waiting for Normal, to find out which life she chooses and find out if Soula is going to be okay. The Recommended ages for this book are 10-14.~Jaynie

Hinton S.E. The Outsiders. N.Y.: Del Publishing Co. 1982. Print.
What would you do if you were running away from a murder? And what if the murderer was your best friend? Unfortunately for Ponyboy and his friend Johnny it isn’t an image in his head it is really happening to them. Ponyboy and his friend live in the rural part of Oklahoma in the 1960’s. In the city there are two main gang groups, the Greasers and the Socs. Johnny and Ponyboy are part of the Greasers along with Dallas, Two-Bit, and SodaPop.
The way Ponyboy came of age is when he turned himself in because he helped a murderer escape the hands of the police. Another way he came of age is when he saved a bunch of kids in a church. A lot of people would like this book; maybe people who like suspense, action, and thrills. The book had a good beginning and middle but the end was not so good.~Cameron

What to read? Pay attention to readers!

2012-01-28T12:45:00.000-08:00

I've got more reviews from the 7th graders at Voorheesville Middle School.

Preller, James. Six Innings. New York: Feiwel and Friends, 2008. Print.
Do you enjoy baseball? Well if you do read Six Innings by James Preller. This book takes place in a little league baseball field. Sam Reiser is the main character. Sam has cancer and he can’t play in the championship game so he announces the game.
The coming of age moment for the main character Sam is he is going through a tough time. Sam realizes that he is growing now. The reason that I like this book is because it is not just about baseball. It has stories about a handful of the characters. It has a strong baseball setting throughout the book. ~David

Weeks, Sarah . So B. It. New York: Harper Collins Children Books, 2004. Print.
Imagine a 14-year-old girl traveling across the country by herself. A girl named Heidi is a strong-willed girl determined to find “soof”. Heidi lives in a small apartment with Bernadette and her mama who has a “bummed” brain.
Heidi comes of age when she gets over the fear of not being able know everything; when she leaves the house and travels alone to New York. I think this book is for people who enjoy a little bit of a mystery, a little sadness, and a thrilling adventure.~ Victoria

Connor, Leslie. Waiting for Normal. New York: Harper Collins Publisher, 2008. Print.
Waiting for Normal jumps out and grabs you. In this book by Schneider Family Book Award Winner Leslie Connor, Addie is growing up in her own little world. Addie has found herself in Schenectady, NY living in a bright yellow trailer. Addie is the main character of this story, very musical and plays the flute. She has to miss her concert because she is very scared that someone is going to see something that is hers.
This book is a very good book. She has to make some big decisions about who she wants to live with. It portrays the coming-of-age theme. Addie matures to become a young lady and takes matters into her own hand. People would like this book if they like surprises; because this book has many surprises that jump up and grab your attention.~Julia

Award Announcements

2012-01-24T11:21:00.000-08:00

Throw the confetti; blow your horns; the announcements were made on Monday, in Dallas, of the most distinguished books for young people. I was thrilled by the announcements, although I did not read a lot of these books, so I can't really comment on them until I do. What I can write is that I am positive the committees gave thoughtful deliberation to all the titles that were excellent. It is hard to make a final choice, as I had quite a few titles that I was hoping to see win.

Here are the winners for the big awards:
Newbery Award: Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos
Caldecott Award: A Ball For Daisy by Chris Raschka
Printz Award: Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley
Sibert Award: Balloons Over Broadway by Melissa Sweet

What I can tell you is that I saw original art for Balloons Over Broadway and A Ball for Daisy in New York City. The Society of Illustrator's always has a show in November of the very best children's illustrations. Both of the books were represented and Sweet's collages were incredible. Her collages are hung in a box because they are 3-dimensional with her different materials. I was very impressed with the colors and the size of the different elements. This is a story of the man who made the giant Macy's Thanksgiving parade balloons. Raschka's illustrations are filled with lines and curves, action and joy. How is he able to do this in a wordless book? His art propels the story with emotion and personality.

We'll have more quest reviews tomorrow!

Award Winning Books

2012-01-18T13:32:00.000-08:00

ALA (The American Library Association) is about to announce (Monday, January 23rd) the very best literature for young people. I am always excited by these announcements and have favorites that I want to see honored. I'll be writing about them next week. In the meantime, here are some more guest reviews of the coming-of-age project from Voorheesville Middle School. Many of the titles are award-winning, too.

Schmidt, Gary. The Wednesday Wars. New York :Clarion Books,2007. Print.

Seventh grade is tough but especially for Holling Hoodhood (that is his real name). The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt is about Holling Hoodhood dealing with his teacher, his religion, and father. The book is set in the late 1960’s (1967-1968) during the Vietnam War. The setting is mostly at his school Camillo High School in Long Island New York. The book tells about Hollings relationship with his teacher Mrs. Baker and how they don’t see eye to eye. They do become good friends. This coming of age book is perfect for kid’s grade 4-8. This is a fast read. I was not a fan of the book, but other people might enjoy it. Gary Schmidt is a creative author and puts creative things in the book. ~Connor

Hinton, S.E. The Outsiders. New York: Dell Publishing, 1967. Print.

Greasers and Socs, poor and wealthy, theses are the characters you will find in S.E. Hinton’s book The Outsiders. If you want an action packed and all around good story than this is your book. Growing up in a rural small town is hard when you are a person like Ponyboy. Ponyboy, Sodapop, Darry, and Johnny are the main characters of the book, who are struggling to fit in. They are faced with many difficult obstacles. Their rivals the Socs, who they despise, and the loss of a gang member add to their conflict.
Ponyboy is the youngest greaser in his gang. With his parents dead, and his two brothers looking after him, he realizes that his rivals, the Socs, are real people too. This book is for anyone interested in an action packed, coming of age book. I thought the book was a great book. S.E. Hinton’s book The Outsiders is the book is the book to read if you have to do a book report or any other school assignment. ~Trevor

Giff, Patricia, Reilly. Pictures of Hollis Woods. New York; Random House of Children’s Books, 2002. Print.

Pictures of Hollis Woods was a heart-breaking, tear jerking book this novel is written by Patricia Reilly Giff. This book had the best description about growing up!

The book takes place in the woods and in people’s houses that Hollis might have to spend her whole life with, but she runs away from them. The time that the book takes place in is not in the past of the future, it is most recent. The whole book is mostly about Hollis. You will go for a ride and see how different her life is from yours. Throughout the book Hollis has to realize she probably won’t be normal. She also has to meet new people. When she runs away from the family she might live with, she realizes her life will not ever be normal. She realizes she won’t have a family that is really related too. She starts to know that she needs to take care of herself, but until she sees clearly her heart will be a blur. So are you up for a lesson on how hard someone’s life is without a stable family. Are you ready to cry for Hollis? Then this book is for you. I personally think the book needs to have more action, but it was definitely great to read for a coming of age novel! ~Jessica

More Reviews - More Books!

2012-01-13T11:33:00.000-08:00

I hope you are enjoying and reading our guest reviews. It is exciting to see the enthusiasm for titles that some of these students would never have read.

Giff, Patricia Reilly. Pictures of Hollis Woods. New York: Dell Yearling, 2002. Print.

Imagine being a twelve-year-old foster child who was left in the woods at two days old with no evidence of your identity, except for a tag pinned to your blanket that read, “Please name her Hollis Woods”. Patricia Reilly Giff, a Newberry Award winner, takes you into the unforgettable story of a young girl in Pictures of Hollis Woods. Pictures of Hollis Woods takes place in a modern-day time period at multiple different places including: a car, present foster homes, past foster homes, and more. The main character is a twelve-year-old girl, Hollis Woods, who has a great imagination, memory, and artistic skill. She has been placed in multiple foster homes and eventually runs away from these families as she gets tired of them.

In this story, Hollis has to help out her current foster parent, Josie, as Josie gradually gets older. Hollis never experienced something like this before, and she realizes that she can’t keep running away from her problems. This experience causes her to mature and become more responsible. If you think you’d like a realistic fiction story about a young girl and her relationships with past and present foster families, then you should read this book. Overall, it’s a good story about life and feelings; however, the book’s ending was to be expected and lacked interest. ~Karly

Weeks, Sarah. So B. It. New York: Scholastic, 2004. Print.

Some things in life a person just can’t know. Sarah Weeks creates a wonderful story, called So B. It, around this very sentence. This story takes place in a small apartment in the city of Reno. The most important characters in the book are Heidi and her Mama. Mama is mentally disabled and Heidi is trying to understand her even though she says the strangest things, like “soof”.

Heidi is at Hilltop Home when she realizes the true meaning of knowledge. She hears the word “soof” wherever she goes. It is the one word in Mama’s vocabulary that Heidi can’t figure out. In the end, Heidi realizes that some things in life a person just can’t know. Anyone between ages eleven and fourteen will love this book about a nice girl with the quest to know everything. I love this book because it combines a world a world falling apart around a little girl and a mystery almost impossible to solve. Happy reading. ~Spencer

Leslie Connor. Waiting for Normal. New York, NY: Harper Collins: 2008. Print

In this Schneider Family Award winning book, Leslie Connor creates a twelve-year-old girl that has to deal with family problems. Waiting for Normal is about a girl that lives with a crazy irresponsible mother that keeps leaving Addie home alone. Addie is a smart, responsible, and mature girl and not at all like her mother. This story takes place in present day Schenectady, New York.

Addie comes of ages by maturing and becoming a young woman. Addie learns how to take care of herself when her mom leaves her alone at home. However when Addie needs help she can always go to Dwight, her stepfather, or Soula and Elliot, her neighbors and close friends.
This book has many happy and sad moments. If you like reading books that have unexpected endings, fiction, or overcoming family problems, then I highly suggest this book for you. ~Annie

More Guest Reviews from Voorheesville Middle School

2012-01-09T08:06:00.000-08:00

Park, Barbara. The Graduation of Jake Moon. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2000. Print.

If you know anything about Alzheimer’s, Alzheimer’s is a bad thing. The Graduation of Jake Moon by Barbara Park is set in New York with a young boy named Jake Moon. His grandfather, Skelly, has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and Jake must cope with the fact that his grandfather has a terrible disease. All-the-while, Jake must maintain a normal life. But, as he tries to make friends and maintain his, “normal” life, Skelly can destroy it in seconds.

Jake feels angry with Skelly for how he acts even though he knows he has Alzheimer’s. Jake
will soon realize how much he does truly love Skelly when he wanders off and gets lost in a city. If you like depressing, funny, or heart-warming books, this is the perfect book for you. This book truly shows the problems of theaverage boy; plus, an Alzheimer’s diseased grandfather. ~Alex

Woodson, Jacqueline. Locomotion. New York: G.P, 2003. Print.

The day Lonnie Motions parents died his whole life changed. He was separated from his sister and moved into a foster home in New York. He has a new teacher, Miss M, and a foster mom, Miss Edna. Lonnie lives in a foster home near his old home where all the memories come flooding back.

Lonnie’s challenge in the book is to mature and move on with his life after his parents’ death. His sister moves away to a friendly home but doesn’t take Lonnie with her. His relationship with his sister starts to get distant; soon the parents decide they don’t want him to come around her anymore. He finally realizes that his life is never going to be the same and accepts it. He uses poetry to get out of his head and find happiness. I think this book would
be good for kids around 10-13 years old because you can understand the pain of Lonnie and relate to it. ~Brianna

Prellar, James. Six Innings. New York: Feiwal and Friends, 2008. Print.

The title of the book is Six Innings by James Preller. Imagine that you are playing in a
championship game of baseball tied at 3 going into the bottom of the 5th inning. The main characters are Sam Reister, Nick Clemente, and Tyler Weinberg. Tyler and Nick are players. Nick plays for Northeast Gas & Electric. Tyler plays for Earl Grubb’s Pool Supplies. Sam is the announcer of the game. The coming of age moment is that Tyler’s parents are never there. It makes him feel upset and abandoned.

If you like a book about hard work in sports and not giving up, this is the book for you. The game was tied 3 to 3 going into the bottom of the 5th inning and well I guess you will just have to read the book to see who wins the game. ~John

New Year - Guest Reviewers

2012-01-06T08:27:00.000-08:00

I've been doing a lot of reading in anticipation of the Newbery, Caldecott, Sibert, and Printz awards from the American Library Association. I have favorites and many that I want to share with you. However, I'd like to start with some older titles that were recently read and reviewed at the Voorheesville Middle School with Ms. Kathleen Gaspary's 7th grade English class.

Gantos, Jack. Joey Pigza Loses Control. New York City: HarperCollins, 2000. Print.

What could possibly happen to a hyperactive 11-year-old boy when his medicine patches get flushed down a toilet? Joey Pigza Loses Control, by Jack Gantos, tells a funny but serious story of a preteen and his dad who both try to overcome their ADHD. The story takes place in Pittsburgh in the early 1990s. The main characters are Joey and his father,Carter Pigza. The main conflict in the story is between Joey and himself. Joey wants to please his dad by not wearing his patches, but he knows that if he does not wear his patches, the old wired Joey will catch up to him. The “coming of age” moment for Joey happens one morning when he is preparing for a semifinal baseball game. He notices some of his old behaviors, like pulling out his hair. He knows he needs his meds, or else bad things will happen.

The protagonist of this book puts himself in many hilarious situations, such as when he covers himself in shaving cream, making him look like the abominable snowman. Those who enjoy comedy would LOVE this book, but it also has a serious side to it. The story provides an understanding of the challenges faced by an adolescent with ADHD. ~Ryan

Preller, James. Bystander. New York: Macmillan Company, 2009. Print.

Thirteen-year-old Eric Hayes moves to Bellport, Long Island ready to face the new school year andgets off to an interesting start. Griffin, the popular kid in his grade seems nice. But is he trustworthy? Eric becomes friends with Griffin and comes totrust him. (More than he should.), When Griffin takes one of Eric’s most cherished possessions, it is Eric’s “coming of age” moment and Eric takes matters into his own hands. Eric fights back, physically and verbally. He also becomes aware of who to trust. And then he finds out just the kind of person Griffin Connelly really is and that he won’t give up this fight. He also encourages others to stand up for
themselves. I think anyone between the age of 10-14 who has dealt with bullies, had trouble standing up for themselves or moved to a new place would like this book. ~Maya

Bauer Joan. Stand Tall. New York: G.P Putnum & Sons, 2002. Print.

Who could believe a flood and a new girl and a divorcecould change a kid’s life? This book takes
place during spring in a city in 2002. Tree is the most important character in the book. He is trying to get people to stop thinking he is good at basketball just because he is tall. Tree grows up by learning how to take care of himself and others. The other way he grows up is he learns to be morerespectful and responsible.
People who are younger than the age recommendation wouldn’t like this book because they
wouldn’t understand it. I didn’t like how the book started. ~Ian

Presents, presents, presents!

2011-12-08T08:11:00.000-08:00

The holidays will be here soon and the snow last night helped me realize how little time I have. I always look forward to shopping and picking out books for family and friends. If you are looking for suggestions, I'm ready!

Board books for the youngest children can be found from TV characters (please don't) to classic books that have big chunky pages (but the board book is not always the best format for some of these titles). My favorite board books have bright colors, little text, and lots of noises or pictures that help babies and toddlers learn vocabulary from animals to toys. Babies love to look at babies, so choose some that have real babies in the pictures. I also love board books that can be sung. From nursery rhymes to lullabies, to silly songs with crazy rhymes, all will be read and re-read by babies, toddlers, and you.

Picture books are next. I've got some new titles and some favorites. My favorite book this year is easily Meadowlands: a Wetland Survival Story by Thomas Yezerski. Every border around each two-spread page has animals, birds, and more that are part of what has been lost and found in the meadowlands. It's an "I Spy" book and a science story. The illustrations are lovely.
Another new book I love this year is Grandpa Green by Lane Smith. It, too, has an ecological message but fun and playful. An older book, and Caldecott medal winner, that is a lovely addition to "good night" books is The House in the Night by Susan Marie Swanson. It is dark, with striking white and gold light on every page. And another old favorite for kids of all ages is Steve Jenkins' Actual Size. Parts of animals on each page is the actual size of that animal - from a hand, to a head, to a tooth or the whole animal. At the end of the book are all the animals and information about their size and habitat. Another one for kids to read and re-read.

Chapter books for independent readers are popular. There are many series which are perfect for these readers. At our library we are very fond of the "Ready Freddy" series by Abby Klein, "Pony Tales" by Bernadette Kelly and "The Buddy Files" by Doris Hillestad Butler.
For young people who enjoy a longer book, you might want to give Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick. This book is really two stories, one wordless with no text and the other with text and no pictures. The two stories eventually converge and it is a book to view over and over again. Richard Peck has a new animal fantasy called Secrets at Sea that is a delight! For your mythology fans don't forget Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series or his newer series. And George O'Connor is the comic artist behind "The Olympians" - 12 graphic novels. Right now there are 4 finished in the series.

As I write out these titles, I'm thinking of so many other books. Come in and ask us for favorites, or visit your local independent book store. Happy reading!

School Daze

2011-09-12T11:17:00.000-07:00

We can tell in the library that young people have started school. We've been seeing students come in with homework; others asking for books for new assignments. But the biggest difference is not seeing kids during the day. It feels quite lonely, if you must know!
Mrs. Brown and I had a little time off at the end of the summer. Most of my vacation was rainy - can you guess when that was? Oh well, I had a couple of nice days between Irene and Lee (hurricanes/tropical storms). There was a power outage when neighboring trees took down lines and a major transformer blew up! It was like a fireworks demonstration.
But it is time to begin storytimes again - we start next week; book discussions are coming up at the end of the month and into October. Don't forget the little ones with our Babygarten programs.
Lastly, kids still need to read for pleasure. Just because school has started, there should always be time for reading for enjoyment. We have a couple of different displays in the children's area. One is school stories, with all your favorites and some new books. The other display is picture book biographies. These are great for reading aloud, a little longer than most picture books, and filled with fascinating information. Check them out this week! ~Joyce Laiosa

Anya's Ghost

2011-08-26T11:28:00.000-07:00

Here's a graphic novel that is for any teen - middle or high school - that feels left out. I read it yesterday and I have to agree with reviewers that it is a first rate story. The art work contributes to the story, but it isn't distracting either.

Anya is a Russian immigrant. Her mother still lives as she would back in Russia, while Anya wants to assimilate into the American life. At school she has only one friend, another outcast, and would do almost anything to be noticed by the cool kids. One day, as she skips classes, she falls down a hole and finds a ghost. The ghost's bones are in this hole, too. When Anya is rescued, the ghost tags along. At first she becomes a friend to Anya, but then the ghost becomes more demanding of Anya's time and attention. What will Anya do to get rid of her, or can she?

Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol reminds me of American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang, a Printz medal winner. It is about the immigrant experience, trying to fit in, and renouncing your own heritage. These two books aren't the same, but if you like realistic fiction (OK, I know there is a ghost in one of these books), I think you would enjoy both titles.

Lastly, for another middle school-high school experience you might try Smile by Raina Telgemier. A young girl must wear braces for most of middle and high school and learn to cope with her own self image.

I've enjoyed all these books, all in graphic format. I hope you'll check them out! ~Joyce Laiosa

Family Stories

2011-08-25T09:12:00.000-07:00

If you have been following the Penderwick family, you are in for a treat with the latest installment. The Penderwicks at Point Mouette is a summer story that takes place in Maine. Jeanne Birdsall, the author, lets you feel the ocean spray up against the rocks, hear the gulls calling, and enjoy summer as children are meant to; time to think, walk, explore, write, read, and imagine.

I fell in love with the very first Penderwicks book because of the love that is shared among the four sisters. There are typical sibling problems but first and foremost they look out for each other, care about each other, and try to be interested in each other. Into the four sisters lives enters a boy who is "adopted" by the girls as a brother. He fits into their adventures, and they truly care about his unfortunate life with his mother and stepfather.
The Penderwicks at Point Mouette has the three younger sisters visiting an aunt in Maine while their father is on his honeymoon with his new wife. The oldest daughter is on her own vacation in New Jersey, while Jeffrey, their "adopted" brother is forced to stay home. Eventually his mother relents and he comes to Maine, meets the very musical next door neighbor and finds that the youngest Penderwick may have some musical talent. (The rest of the family does not!) Their aunt is a great, patient friend to each member of the Penderwick family.

I highly recommend this book! If you like family stories, don't forget Saffy's Angel and all of the sequels (4) by Hilary McKay. Each book highlights a particular sibling, but the whole family is involved in all their escapades. These are contemporary stories set in England. I love the Casson family, especially the youngest child, Rose. Another interesting piece of information is the fact that each child is named for a color as the parents are artists. It may sound batty, but they are delightful.

Lastly, there are some older but wonderful family stories that shouldn't be missed! There are The Moffats by Eleanor Estes and sequels; The Saturdays about the Melendy family (and the sequels) by Elizabeth Enright; and The All-of-a-Kind Family by Sydney Taylor.

Try some special family stories today! ~Joyce Laiosa

Puppet People and The Firebird

2011-08-24T13:04:00.000-07:00

The Puppet People will be here on Monday evening at 6:30 p.m. with a performance of The Firebird. It is one of my favorite pieces of music! Now, some of you may be thinking that you are reading this wrong. The Firebird is a Russian folktale. Igor Stravinsky composed the music for a ballet of the folktale, and I know you will hear some of the music in the background of the puppet show.

This show will be our finale to the Summer Reading Program. Our prizes will be distributed and our programs will officially be over. We have one more program on Wednesday, August 31st at 10:15 a.m. That will be our "Camping" program with some boys from Boy Scout Troop 73. It is for Club 1-2-3 (children going into grades 1, 2, or 3).

What a summer we have had! "One World, Many Stories" has taken us around the world exploring stories, art, food, and games. The best part of the summer, is the reading so many kids do. Mrs. Brown and I are so proud of the children that are reading or listening to books by themselves or with other family members.

School will be starting soon and we have books on display about going to school - most of them funny! Check out those titles as you prepare the little ones for all their new experiences about taking a bus, meeting new teachers, and making new friends. Read about it all from the library.~Joyce Laiosa

Read-alouds

2011-08-03T09:10:00.000-07:00

Summer vacation is the perfect time to read aloud to the whole family. Choose an old classic or a short story collection. We have suggestions in either category.

Classics: If I had to choose one or two glorious books, I would choose The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahme or Charlotte's Web by E.B White. Both feature animals and are well written. These will please all ages, but probably elementary school-aged children into adulthood. If you want to entice younger children, please read Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne. By the way, if you aren't up to the task of reading aloud, you can always get out an audio book for when you are driving. Listening together will make the trip fly by.

Short story collections are numerous. Are you up to scary stories, perfect around a campfire, or backyard fire? You can find humerous stories, sports stories, or famous tall tales. Here are a few from our library: The Random House Book of Ghost Stories, Ribbiting Tales, The Kingfisher Book of Great Girl Stories and From Sea to Shining Sea: A Treasure of American Folklore and Folk Songs. You'll find short story collections in the nonfiction and fiction collections. Don't hesitate to ask your librarian for help.

Lastly, what is your favorite book from childhood? I bet it will make a great read-aloud to your own children! ~Joyce Laiosa

Thumbprint, Funprint

2011-02-07T07:54:00.000-08:00

I'm a big fan of Ed Emberley books. These are drawing books for those looking for directions (if you are not the most imaginative person) and ideas. My favorite of his books are the ones that show you what you can draw when you start with your thumbprint.

Start with a washable ink pad, a couple of fine point sharpies and paper. If you have a couple of colors of ink pads, that's even more fun. The books are Ed Emberley's Great Thumbprint Drawing Book, and Ed Emberley's Fingerprint Drawing Book. Both of those books are combined into a third book.

After you have made some drawings, think about bookmarks, or funny cards. After all, Valentine's Day is next week. This would make a fun craft idea, or special cards for classmates. The books are on the shelf this week at J741.2 EMB - check them out today!

Downloadable books for Teens

2011-02-04T10:44:00.000-08:00

How many people have purchased a Kindle, Nook, Sony e-reader, or an itouch? These and other devices are hot, hot, hot! If you purchased a Kindle, then you must use Amazon to download books to your device. If you have other devices, and I am a Nook owner, then you can purchase titles from Barnes and Noble, or you can download free books from the library's website with Overdrive.

The system is a little clunky, but once it is running, it is very easy to use. The hard part may be finding something to read, though. When I first went online, I could barely find a title to download immediately. If it was available, it was an older title that I'd already read. I solved that quick enough by immediately ordering more titles. Here are my recent purchases for Overdrive. I hope you will find some to suit your fancy.

For those who enjoy realistic fiction I chose A Brief Chapter in My Impossible Life, The Cardturner by Louis Sachar, Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green or Lockdown by Walter Dean Myers. If you enjoy the paranormal, vampires, etc. you might try ghostgirl or The Forest of Hands and Teeth. Historical fiction fans will enjoy The Luxe, Moon Over Manifest (this year's Newbery winner), One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia (one of this year's Newbery Honor awards), and Gary Paulsen's Woods Runner. Also, I am a huge fan of Sally Gardner's The Red Necklace (about the French Revolution) and I'm going to read the sequel The Silver Blade. Both are now on Overdrive.

When you download your titles to the compatible free software you are able to read the books, or listen to them, on your computer. If you want to move them to your mobile device, they stay there until you decide to delete them. So, on my Nook, I've got quite a few titles that I might not get to for weeks. They stay there for as long as I like. That is not the case of those same files on my computer. They stay for only 21 days or less. I can choose which loan date I want. At the end of 21 days, they disappear! And there are no fines.

Check out your books online and start reading or listening through Overdrive. You won't be disappointed.

Smile

2011-02-03T08:13:00.000-08:00

A 2010 graphic novel for upper elemenatry kids into middle school is called Smile by Raina Telgemeier. There isn't a kid wearing braces that can't relate to the story, which is autobiographical. There is an added complication for our main character, Raina, in that she has an accident right before the braces go on and has to have teeth replaced. Even if you aren't a big reader of comics, this is very accessible. The reader is able to follow the cartoon in a linear manner, the story is the trials and tribulations of adolescence, but Raina is able to grow and learn from her experiences with friends, bullies, family and her Smile. I think you will enjoy this book.

Long, Cold Days of Winter

2011-01-31T06:32:00.000-08:00

Winter days are not long, except when you feel cooped up inside. This is a great time to visit the library and stock up on read alouds for all ages, craft books for boredom, and cookbooks for children. All of this means involvement, but that is the best part of family.

I've been trying to display books, especially ones with Readers' Advisory cards, telling you how much Mrs. Brown or I enjoyed a specific book. I just pulled Julie Andrews Collection of Poems, Songs, and Lullabies to display. This is a beautiful book, great for read alouds, plus there is a CD with Julie Andrews reciting selections from the book. Check this out, put this on your CD player, and start baking with the kids. You'll find the book at J808.81 JUL; and cook books for kids at J641.5.

As for craft fun, don't go out and buy any supplies. Cut up some fruits and vegetables. Use an apple cut in half (so you see a "star"), peppers, mushrooms, whatever looks interesting in the refrigerator. Pull out some paint, and newspapers, computer paper, or wrapping paper, and check out the possibilities of stenciling. If you are having fun, make stationary from the computer paper and have the children write notes to friends and relatives. Don't forget to take pictures of these special times. The library starts the fun!

Historical Fiction - American History

2011-01-28T06:23:00.000-08:00

This week I was travelling and chose to read a book that I've had on my "to-read" list, but had never tried. It is The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation: Volume 1, The Pox Party by M.T. Anderson. Quite a mouthful of a title. This book won a Printz Honor Award in 2007,and the National Book Award for Young People. The second volume also won a Printz Honor in 2009.

First, let me say that it was wonderful. It was also a book that took time. I read it on my new Nook, which has the capability of looking up words in a dictionary by placing your finger on a word that you want to check. I love this feature! I can see students using this technology and looking up words. It wasn't that I didn't understand the sentences, but Iwanted to check, to make sure I was correct. The Nook also gave me the derivation of the words, too. (Most were from Latin.)

This book is set in the pre-revolutionary Massachusetts colony. A group of subsidized scientists study an African-American slave in all ways to see what he is capble of learning, thinking, and accomplishing.

Octavian was born on a slave ship and purchased with his mother. He is the ultimate experiment. He and his mother are treated like guests or members of the household until funding for the scientists is changed and the revolutionary war looms closer. Octavian and his mother are then treated and worked as slaves. When Octavian's mother dies from small pox (given to her and all attending a "pox party"), Octavian is determined to have freedom.

Anderson has done a masterful job of writing in the style of the 18th C. It is high school level, but certainly not a problem for good readers of any age interested in American history. I can't wait to start volume 2!

Young Adult Literature - The Printz Award

2011-01-14T09:02:00.000-08:00

It seems that I was wrong about every book that should/would win an award, including the Printz award. However, I have read Paolo Bacigalupi's Ship Breaker, the Printz medal winner. Do you want a rip-roaring, page turning, nail-biter of a book? Well, this book is certainly for you. I do have a caveat. It is another violent dystopia! If you thought Hunger Games was violent, Ship Breaker takes it up a notch.

In the near future, with global warming, coastal cities will be underwater. There will be money to be made and industries thriving as companies search the world for fossil fuels, and any metal that can be found. There will also be the scavenger crews that will search for any metal they can get their hands on. It's a hard life to be part of these crews. Nailer, a teenager, works "light crew" because of his small size, with his friend, Pima. They find a wreck filled with great materials to scavenge, but also a girl, barely alive. They decide to keep her for the reward, or a ransom. Nita does not give them much information before she is kidnapped by others for a much bigger payment.

The book was very intense and I had to put it down at times. Nailer's father is a horrible character: a brutal, lying, angry, drunken crystal-meth scavenger. Every time he came into the story, I had a hard time handling the violence. That said, I bet both guys and girls will want to read Ship Breaker for the roller-coaster ride!

Awards! Awards! Awards!

2011-01-08T12:27:00.000-08:00

The American Library Association will be announcing the major youth book and media awards Monday morning. I've been thinking about my favorite books read this past year. I've met some wonderful characters and been to places I never imagined, all in the pages of books.

The awards are fun; it's a guessing game to see if I can predict what will win or if I'm disappointed by a committee's choice. In truth, I am in awe of the work that these committees undertake. They must read almost a book a day, if not more. They must evaluate, appraise, thoughtfully consider, and try to think of young people who will read the book with a golden or silver sticker on the cover. What a large responsibility.

There have been years where it was an easy prediction. There have been years where the buzz in "library world" has been all over the place.

If you are wondering, here are my predictions:

Caldecott (for illustrations): City Dog, Country Frog. Story by Mo Willems; Illustrations by Jon Muth
Newbery (for the writing): Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine or One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia
Printz (for Young Adults): Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan or Half Brother by Kenneth Oppel
Sibert (nonfiction): Ballet for Martha: Making Appalachian Spring by Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan; Illustrated by Brian Floca

Check back this week to see how I did!

New Beginnings

2010-12-01T08:40:00.000-08:00

Today is a new start to this blog. I don't have to wait until January 1st to start a new tradition, I'll begin today. Holiday time is a place for traditions, but I like to experiment and tweak traditions as I grow older. There is always room for improvement.

This blog is about children's books, teen books, the Voorheesville library, and other book-related thoughts. However, if you are a teen, you don't want to read this blog every day. New parents aren't interested in teen books, movies or music. So, every day you can depend on the information pertaining to what you need or want to know.

Wednesdays will be devoted to parents. I'll share ideas for parents, new books (or classic old ones) from our Parenting collection, websites I come across, and interesting articles to help parents do the best job they can.

Gail Brown and I have just completed a list of books that are filled with gift ideas from babies to teens. A trip to the bookstore can be delightful, but if you want a quality book choice, check out our list first. You can even ask grandparents, aunts and uncles to buy from the list. We have classic books that every child should own to some of our favorite reads this year. When you are shopping with your children, pick up a gift from them for our giving tree. We'll have the tree up until December 13th. There is a list of things you can donate to Parsons Family and Child Center. Your children need to be part of giving as well as receiving. That is the best gift you can give them.

Why Do Libraries Matter?

2010-02-08T09:08:00.000-08:00

I grew up in a small town (OK, Altamont) and the three most important places in shaping the adult I became were the library, my church (St. Lucy’s) and my elementary school. The fourth place was the Altamont Fairgrounds. If you are wondering, there was more to Altamont than just those lovely institutions and I could name them all, but that is not the point.

Both the public library and the elementary school library were very well used by me. I can still remember certain books that I came across and read, over and over again. When ever I smell old books I immediately conjure up the old Altamont Library on Maple Ave. I always thought that the wooden floors creaked from the weight of all those books. There was a threadbare rug in the children’s area surrounded by low shelves of books. By the time I was in junior high I looked on every shelf for books. I was in adult fiction, nonfiction, children’s and even teen books which were quite tame in comparison to today’s novels.

I watch our busy library (Voorheesville Public Library) and wonder why libraries are thought to be a place to help ease our budget crisis in New York State. We are busier than ever; our small budgets are squeezing out as much as we can buy for our patrons; people need our services; and I think of the library as the great equalizer in our democracy. Everyone is welcome, there is no fee (yes, we are tax supported) and we’ll even help you find whatever you need – from medical information to a tax form. Many people think that books will be gone in a few years. People will read on many different devices, but that doesn’t mean books will stop being published, too. Children learning to read can take out as many books as they want. They love stories and they want to learn how to find their stories. Parents need books to read to their children in a special time together. They also need books to help them be the best parents they can be. Teens love books, but they don’t always have time to read for pleasure. When an exciting movie comes out, though, teens want to participate in the books that preceded the movie.

What a waste to only “buy” books. I have a large library of my own at home, but I couldn’t ever have purchased all the books that I’ve ever read. Information can’t be found only on “the internet.” We need gatekeepers to help us find good, useful, and reliable information. Oh, that would be the librarian! Entertainment that patrons may never have an opportunity to see or hear on their own, is also part of library programs.

I would like to see growth in funds for libraries, not cuts, as in the governor’s budget proposals. I would like every legislator to think about the important places in their lives and remember influential books that shaped their thinking. Somewhere along their busy lives, I would bet a library was there to serve them. Their knowledge grew because of a library. And they all take it for granted now. I think today’s young people should have the same opportunity to know the importance of information, stories and service all found under one roof – a local library.

Claudette Colvin, Newbery Honor Award 2010

2010-02-02T11:44:00.000-08:00

Award-winning books are fun for librarians. We love to predict winners, promote those books, and of course, be right! On Monday, January 18th, the winners of the Newbery, Caldecott and many other awards were announced in Boston, MA at the ALA Midwinter conference. Committees had spent the last year reading books appropriate for each award and that weekend they decided on the winners. I’ve never served on a book committee, but I have friends that have served. It is not a task taken lightly. Everyone I know that has served on any committee has worked hard and deliberated thoughtfully. When I disagree with a specific choice I am reminded to give that book a second look to try to find what the committee found.

One of the Newbery Honor winners this year was one of my favorite books of the year! Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice by Philip Hoose was also named the winner of the National Book Award for Young People in November. This nonfiction book tells the story of a young girl who lived in Montgomery Alabama and refused to give up her seat on a bus for a white person. This happened months before Rosa Parks did the same thing. Colvin was young, impetuous and didn’t quite fit the profile of someone to follow – someone to get the boycott started. Although she did not become famous, as Rosa Parks did, she was very important in the lawsuit that finally ended segregation of the Montgomery buses. She and four other plaintiffs won their suit.

Her story is one of a young girl influenced by inspiring teachers, an important cause, and a community that supported the boycott through weekly meetings to keep morale strong while students and workers had to walk to work for a year because of the boycott. Although she was not on the forefront of this issue, her story is important. Hoose takes us Alabama where we meet Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., lawyer Fred Gay from Montgomery, the beginning of the Civil Rights movement, and the NAACP’s famous secretary, Rosa Parks. Spend some time with these people as you read this marvelous book!

Season of Giving

2009-11-30T10:12:00.000-08:00

The Thanksgiving feast is over, Black Friday has gone, and happy family stories (can you believe I made a pumpkin pie that looked green?) will be replayed in our collective memory. It is time to move on to the next holiday.

While children may be thinking of presents, new toys, Santa or special foods, many families are suffering. It’s not a new story. We’ve been living with the recession, unemployment, and difficult circumstances for many area families for over a year now. This holiday season I hope you can find different ways to help. No matter what your own circumstances, there is always some small service you can perform. It is a great lesson for your children to take them along and participate in this season of giving.

Here at the library we have our “mitten tree.” We are helping Parsons Child and Family Center with a drive of donated winter mittens, hats, scarves and gloves. The Voorheesville Middle School Builders Club is helping with this drive in the schools and throughout the town. Parsons calls their campaign “Holiday Heroes: Compassion in Action.” I love that name. You don’t have to spend a lot of money on an item, but it will be very helpful to the families that Parsons serves. Check out their website to see all the work that is done at Parsons: www.ParsonsCenter.org. The mitten tree in our library will be up through December 10th. On Friday, December 11th I will be taking everything over to Parsons for their distribution to children and families.

Today’s Times Union had a piece about a diaper drive for food pantries throughout the Capital District. The Times Union is hosting the drive at their office: Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. through December 14th. You can read the full story here: http://blog.timesunion.com/parenting/5562/518-moms-diaper-drive-kicks-off-monday/. This grandma has some leftover diapers that grandchildren have outgrown and I’ll buy some more packages. They aren’t covered by food stamps.

If you don’t want to buy diapers, or mittens, or gloves, you can always drop off an extra can of food, box of pasta, etc. at local food pantries. We have baskets in the library for the New Scotland Food Pantry. If you want to help your children understand the giving part of holiday traditions, let them choose something for the food pantries with you at the grocery store; take them to a department store and let them help choose a scarf, mittens or a hat; or remind them that a dry baby is a happy baby and buy one bag of diapers for a family.
~Joyce Laiosa

Whatever Happened to the World of Tomorrow? by Brian Fies

2009-11-11T09:24:00.000-08:00

Whatever Happened to the World of Tomorrow? That’s a great question and an extraordinary graphic novel. Brian Fies recreates most of the Twentieth Century with many creative minds and inspirations that explored the future.

We meet our two main characters in 1939 on their way to the New York City World’s Fair. They are a father and son filled with high expectations for what the future holds. The fair was dedicated to communication, transportation, production and food. The author takes real photos of the fair and places his comic characters into the pictures. Father and son are awestruck by the possibilities of the future and filled with excitement.

Of course, 1939 was the beginning of World War II and the future is put on hold while the home front and the military, including the bomb, take over the narrative. As with any comic series, time marches on but our main characters do not seem to age at all. We move up to the 1950s and see how the Cold War effects the family. Father is building a cement block fallout shelter in the basement and the world of tomorrow seems to have brought supersonic planes, super-smart computers (but they are huge), atomic power, and plans for travel in outer space. Included are actual pictures that were run in Collier’s magazine at the time by an artist that envisioned what the world of tomorrow would look like.

As we move through the decades Fies also includes small comic books (with the newsprint paper and typical super heroes fighting from space to earth and back again) that remind the reader what a typical boy might be reading that was part of the “world of tomorrow.” We continue through spaceflight (when the boy finally goes off to college – I told you it was comic book time) into the future one last time. Then we see a new family: the man with his own daughter, and his father by his side, living on the moon in their world of tomorrow.

I highly recommend this book for kids in sixth grade and up, plus adults! I think of it as history, science, science fiction, and a unique graphic design. The author even pays homage to veteran comics creators in the Space Age Adventures that are the four comic books throughout the story. If you are looking for a book that both fathers and son would enjoy, look no further than Whatever Happened to the Worl d of Tomorrow.

~Joyce Laiosa

"A Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and Aaron Burr

2009-10-26T07:43:00.001-07:00

I was in Troy Saturday night for a performance of A Legend of Sleepy Hollow with the New York State Theatre Institute (NYSTI). My son is an intern there and is learning about building, welding, and making theatre sets. He is also painting. If anyone saw the production he is responsible for the Dutch tiles around the stage. (Yes, I am proud!)

I have recently read The Duel: The Parallel Lives of Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr by Judith St. George. I am very interested in NYS history, and Alexander Hamilton because of his connection to the Schuyler family here in Albany. Hamilton was married to Eliza Schuyler and lived for a short time in Schuyler Mansion. What does this have to do with A Legend of Sleepy Hollow? The Duel was an eye opener not only about Alexander Hamilton, but Aaron Burr. And Aaron Burr was a major "character" in the new NYSTI production. If I hadn't read The Duel I would have been completely lost watching the play! I was very surprised that there were no background historical notes for this play.

What I learned from The Duel was how vilified Burr was after the duel that ended Hamilton's life; Burr was Thomas Jefferson's first Vice President (this is the election that ended with a tie between Burr and Jefferson and sent the election to the House of Representatives to break the tie); while Vice President, Burr ran for New York Governor as an Independent, which was an insult to his own Republican party. After he lost that election, he finished his term as vice president, but his political life was over. He continued making mischief. After the duel (1804) he was indicted for the murder of Alexander Hamilton in New Jersey. To avoid arrest he fled. Eventually he concocted a scheme to organize an expedition to conquer Louisiana and form a new empire that would include all of the western states. Eventually he was tried for treason, but the guidelines in the Constitution could not be met for a treasonous act, therefore he was acquitted and set free. He died in 1836.

I think Aaron Burr's story, especially how intertwined he and Hamilton were throughout the course of history and their lives, is more interesting than the character (Burr) that was inserted in A Legend of Sleepy Hollow. It is important to get history right, especially when young people have such a poor grasp of their own country's history. I hope that NYSTI will add notes to their programs to explain the background stories.

Lastly, I highly recommend The Duel as well as a picture book on the same subject, Duel!: Burr and Hamilton's Deadly War of Words by Dennis Brindell Fradin. I can't get enough of it!

~Joyce Laiosa

The United States Constitution: A Graphic Adaptation

2009-10-16T13:46:00.000-07:00

As a lover of history, historic landmarks, and tours of houses ("not another dead person's house" is the cry of my youngest) I was surprised that I had forgotten how flexible and unique a document our constitution is. One would think a graphic adaptation might be a silly book, or have a point of view. I don't believe that this applies to author Jonathan Hennessey or illustrator Aaron McConnell. I was very impressed with their knowledge and how they interpreted this document in pictoral form.

The very beginning of the preamble, "We the People" is a broad picture of our fellow citizens. This is followed by a brief history of how our country fought for independence, then the explanation of the preamble into the Articles explaining how the government works. The artwork is wonderful, especially the representations of the three branches of government: legislative (a man in a suit with the Capitol for a head), executive (a man in a suit with the White House for a head), and judicial (a person in a judicial robe with the Supreme Court building for a head).

This book brought new understandings of why articles were written; specifically how population was counted in order to appeal to southern states in order to pass the document and make our federal government. The book explains the Bill of Rights and the amendments that have been passed. The reasons that the Supreme Court still struggles with decisions is easier to understand now that I've "re-read" this U.S. Constitution.

If you have someone taking American History in 8th or 11th grade, do them a favor and make sure they see this book. It will help young people understand their rights and responsibilities. It will be a refresher course for grown-ups !

Afghanistan

2009-10-07T10:32:00.000-07:00

War is scary for everyone, children and adults. Listening to news reports about Afghanistan is difficult. I can't comprehend what our soldiers are going through. It is also difficult to understand how people can even live in this country. As much as we want to shelter our children from the news, perhaps we should embrace the good that happens in terrible places.

Adults have been reading Greg Mortenson's Three Cups of Tea since 2006, when the book was first published. He tells the story of his failed attempt to climb K2. On his way back down he became lost in the mountains of Pakistan. He ended up staying in a poor village where he was overwhelmed by their kindness and vowed to come back and build schools. This happened in 1993, and as of now, he has built over 60 schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan. His book has been adapted by Sarah Thomson for young adults (same title) and in a picture book edition with Susan L. Roth. That edition is called Listen to the Wind: The Story of Dr. Greg and Three Cups of Tea. Roth's collages capture the people of Baltistan and their way of life in the mountains. It is a beautiful story that will shed light on people we know so little about. Learn about Dr. Greg and the great work he is doing.

Another author that will shed light on this area of the world is Deborah Ellis. She is Canadian and has traveled all over the world. I love her book The Breadwinner, and the sequel Parvana's Journey. This is the story of a family living under the tyranny of the Taliban, after the Soviet's have left Afghanistan. Parvana and her family live in Kabul. After her father dies, she must dress like a boy to try and earn money for her family. It is a sad story, a hard story. Ellis has visited Afghan refugee camps and heard many stories like Parvana's. These books can be read by fifth graders and older, more likely middle school students.

Check out these books to learn more about Afghanistan and Pakistan. It will give you and your children a different point of view than one of only war.

You Never Heard of Sandy Koufax?!

2009-03-27T09:12:00.000-07:00

Baseball pitchers are special. The good ones are treated like gods. They do not play every day, and yet, fans can’t wait to see them do their “stuff.” Sandy Koufax played for the Dodgers: first, in Brooklyn and then in L.A. Jonah Winter, with illustrator Andre Carrilho has done a superb job of explaining the qualities of Koufax: athlete, graceful, strong, and determined in the new picture book biography, You Never Heard of Sandy Koufax?! The cover seems to move, as if you are watching Koufax pitch. It is explained as a lenticular cover. It has three images, digitally sliced into strips and printed on a plastic sheet creating the illusion of movement as you turn the cover. Brilliant! The rest of the illustrations are graphite on paper, with color and texture added using Adobe Photoshop. The stylized drawings do look like Koufax, and I love the little statistic boxes throughout the book. It helps to understand Koufax’s place in baseball history to compare him to other pitchers. Every child knows that baseball is more than just hitting the ball, catching the ball or throwing the ball. It is also how well you do those things, in other words, the statistics. Check this out before opening day!

Spring is Here!

2009-03-23T09:23:00.000-07:00

The weather may be frightful, but picture books can put you in a new frame of mind. If you are thinking Easter basket gifts, I’ve got two that I MUST purchase for my grandchildren. (I can’t be stopped!)

First is The Odd Egg by Emily Gravett. Each of the birds has an egg, except Duck. So when Duck finds a beautiful egg of his own he’s delighted-even though the other birds make fun of it. When it hatches, everyone is in for a BIG surprise! The playful illustrations are part of the charm, along with cleverly designed cut pages that allow the visual joke to unfold. Spring? Eggs? You won’t want to miss this book! Emily Gravett has become a favorite of mine for young pre-schoolers. Check out her other books, Orange Pear Apple Bear and Monkey and Me. Every book is a perfect illustration of an early literacy skill. The Odd Egg is perfect for print motivation. Everyone will want to turn the page to find out what happens. Print Motivation is how we demonstrate to children the joy of reading, the fun of books.

The second picture book is from the inimitable Kevin Henkes. He has won a Caldecott Medal, a Caldecott Honor, a Newbery Honor, and he has another winner with his latest, Birds. This time he has written the book (the words), but his wife is the illustrator. She has captured the simplicity of enjoying birds and noticing the many details a young child would discuss with a parent or an adult. The simple story ends with a satisfying declaration that is also a surprise. A lovely spring walk must be taken after reading this! Laura Dronzek’s illustrations are so colorful, especially for a young child. They have a child-like appearance with a sense of movement on every page.

2009-03-13T08:09:00.000-07:00

Print Motivation with Twelve Terrible Things!

2009-03-13T07:02:00.000-07:00

Print Motivation is an Early Literacy Skill that simply means that the book is so much fun, or exciting, or inviting a child will be ready to turn every page to continue the story. Twelve Terrible Things by Marty Kelley is a perfect example of ‘Print Motivation.’ Inside the book, on the endpapers the reader is warned that turning the page will bring about some terrible things. Well, you have to turn the page now!

There really are twelve terrible things in the book, such as: things that are sad (empty ice cream cone with the scoop of ice cream on the ground); things that are scary (dentist? monster under the bed?); old relative pinching chubby cheeks; to a smelly sock (with the smelly foot still in it). It is funny, well drawn, with funny perspective on each spread. Have a good laugh, a good read with this book.~Joyce Laiosa

What Color is a Bully?

2009-03-13T06:56:00.000-07:00

One by Kathryn Otoshi is an extremely simple book of colors and numbers and a story about a bully. I think it would be very useful in a classroom setting, as well as an excellent book for preschoolers. It is a hard lesson to see kids being bullied as well as being the object of the bully. This book shows that a group can work together to thwart the bully and positive remarks can change the focus of the bully. Will it work? I can’t say that one reading of the book will change a bully. But I think it will help children learn to work together to help each other out of difficult situations.

After reading this book, I can see a child making their own book with finger paints. A fun project for everyone and while the child’s fingers are busy, you can have a very relaxed conversation. Check out this title the next time you visit the library. Make it count!~Joyce Laiosa

Wordless Books

2009-02-25T12:26:00.000-08:00

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a firm believer in wordless books. I like them because they allow a child to “read” the book; a child who may not be able to read at all. It helps children “tell” a story using the narrative skills, an early literacy skill. The child uses the picture clues to tell the story they want. The story can change every time it is told, the vocabulary can increase by who tells the story, and the book has a timeless appeal that evolves with deepening comprehension of life situations. Lastly, for the child working on writing skills, it helps to have the pictures as a prompt for an essay.

Suzy Lee has taken three simple elements to create a visual tour de force with Wave. We have a sunny day, a curious little girl, and a playful wave. The book is black and white (and shades of gray) with blue. The color blue is, of course, the wave, the water, and the action. There is one other piece of action and that is the “gutter” of the book. Oh, to have a child on my lap talking about this book! Check it out. If you spend any time at the seashore, you must purchase it! ~Joyce Laiosa

The Gates

2009-02-24T12:12:00.000-08:00

Have you ever tried to explain a piece of art to someone? It depends upon the work, itself, what you would say, or how you might explain it. I know a little about art, but not enough to explain one of the most beautiful works of art I ever saw. It was called The Gates by Christo and Jeanne-Claude, and it was displayed for 16 days in February 2005.

A new book by Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan does a wonderful job of shedding light on the work of Christo and his wife, Jeanne-Claude. We learn of their European background and how World War II shaped their young lives; his in Bulgaria, hers in Paris. The art developed over time from wrapping up small objects all the way to encasing islands in Biscayne Bay, Florida.

Every project begins with drawings by Christo. The Gates began in 1979, but New York City had to approve the project because it was going to be outdoors in Central Park. It took 26 years for the project to be approved and it transformed Central Park. I remember taking the train to NYC to see it. My husband and I walked up to the park from Grand Central Station. Crowds filled the sidewalks. Before we knew it, we were swept up into the park with the crowd, our eyes drawn to the bright orange (salmon) color and flapping fabric over our head. We were part of the art experience as we walked through the park, around the lake, and over the rocks.

This experience is vividly remembered because of the book Christo and Jeanne-Claude: Through the Gates and Beyond. The photographs are stunning and reminds me of the wonderful day when I saw The Gates. What is art? I couldn’t explain it, but this book will help young people understand this beautiful piece of art! ~Joyce Laiosa

Sibert Medal Winner

2009-02-20T10:32:00.000-08:00

Do you love baseball? Spring training is about to begin in warmer climates than here in the northeast. But if you are thinking green grass, breezes blowing the sweat off a brow, and the crack of a bat, have I got a book for you!

This year’s best work of nonfiction (which was awarded the Sibert Medal) is We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball by Kadir Nelson. Nelson’s artistry has been recognized with his past Caldecott honor awards and Coretta Scott King Illustrator awards. This is the first time he has been honored for both words and pictures. First and foremost, the illustrations are rich, beautiful oil paintings. The colors resonate right off the page while you dream of sitting on the grass yourself. There is a double spread of a night game that takes you back to a simpler time. The night sky has a few stars, the lights barely shine on the outfield, yet you can’t take your eyes off the page. You are there, in that game, trying to follow the pitch that has just been thrown. In other paintings you notice that the players stand tall with absolute dignity. These men were left out of major league baseball, yet the endured hardships are history.

Each chapter is an inning, and each starts off with a quote. Nelson writes the book from the point of view of an “everyman” player. The title of the book is from a quote by the founder of the Negro National League, Rube Foster. “We are the ship; all else the sea.” The book is well researched with a bibliography, endnotes, and an index. All baseball lovers will want to read this, but for the youngest T-ball players, please read it to them! ~Joyce Laiosa

Best Books of the Year

2009-01-14T10:40:00.000-08:00

I’ve been reading a lot recently. For every three books I read, only one has been a standout. Here are some recent picture books that I absolutely love:

In a Blue Room by Jim Averbeck; Illustrated by Tricia Tusa.
I can only say that I found this to be a perfect book. It is a good-night book, with a charming little girl talking about her blue room, yet we can see from the pictures that she does not have a blue room. As she is tucked into bed, and the pictures give us the wide view, we see that she does, indeed, have a blue room. It is earth. This is an excellent book for the Early Literacy Skill of Print Motivation as a child will want to turn the page to see the blue room. Where is it? Delightful!

Bear’s Picture by Daniel Pinkwater; Illustrated by D.B. Johnson.
First, you must understand that I’m a huge fan of D.B. Johnson. He has written and illustrated three books based on Walden and Henry Thoreau (done as a bear). The books are Henry Hikes to Fitchburg, Henry Builds a Cabin, and Henry Climbs a Mountain. It is a known fact that Daniel Pinkwater is a champion of these books from his commentary on NPR. Together they have teamed up to present a bear who paints. It is wonderful to watch bear’s painting come together while two very skeptical grown-ups fail to see what bear sees. They are NOT art critics! Again, this presents a wonderful book for Print Motivation as a child watches bear create.

The House in the Night by Susan Marie Swanson; Illustrated by Beth Krommes.
I find black and white illustrations extremely imaginative. This book is done in black and white with gold/yellow accents throughout. The story is a reworked Mother Goose rhyme. It is a very striking book that I can see a child looking for clues on every page. It is an excellent book for the Early Literacy Skill of Dialogic Reading. The parent/adult can ask “what” questions of the child to help with comprehension and Narrative Skills to retell the story. The design is lovely. I can see a child asking to have this read every night and never tire of it. There is so much to see, to think and to dream about in this book.

Season's Readings

2008-12-08T12:28:00.000-08:00

Looking for gift ideas? Well, look no further than Voorheesville Public Library’s famous “Season’s Readings.” Each year our librarians come up with recommendations in and out of their specialties. I try not to make my list too long, but I believe that my recommendations need to be tailored to each reader: child, teen or parent. Take a look at the list online or stop by the library for a copy. While at the library you can purchase (at the Amazon.com price) a copy of what you want. If we are out-of-stock you can purchase these recommendations at your local bookstore, or from Amazon.com. If you are wondering why we mention Amazon so often, it is because a portion of the sale comes back to us and our Friends of the Library group. How can you order through Amazon and help the Friends? Good question. Just click on the Amazon icon from the Season’s Readings page at our website. Then start shopping. If you are a regular Amazon shopper you can still be at “your” account, but Voorheesville Public Library will be credited. So, let’s go shopping at http://vplgiftguide.blogspot.com/.

The Underneath

2008-12-03T10:33:00.000-08:00

I just finished The Underneath by Kathi Appelt. Beautiful, lyrical prose tells the story of an old hound dog, Ranger, chained to the house of his evil, evil master. Along comes a pregnant cat that gives birth to two kittens. It is a survival story interwoven with a Caddo legend (Caddo are the ancient people of the bayou and East Texas). The legend is similar to the selkie/seal/turtle/ etc. that is seen throughout the world: an animal takes the form of a human, but can not return to the animal form unless it is forever. Gar Face, the evil master reminded me of the hard-drinking pirates from Treasure Island, while the poetic language was reminiscent of The Wind in the Willows.

I highly recommend this book, but it is one for upper level elementary into middle school. I think it would work well as a read aloud so that difficult passages from the Caddo legend to the evil Gar Face can be discussed.

Kathi Appelt has written many picture books, poetry and nonfiction. I’m going to check out her other books. I know I’ve read some of her picture books, but they didn’t really stick with me. I loved her book, Down Cut Shin Creek: The Pack Horse Librarians of Kentucky. It is about the librarians who delivered books to patrons during the depression in Appalachia. Yes, I loved it because it is about librarians!

Music Weekend

2008-12-02T09:58:00.000-08:00

Christmas countdown continues with music! This weekend will be a busy one throughout the Capital District. First and foremost is the FREE celebration at the plaza through New York State’s Office of General Services. There will be the lighting of the state tree, holiday sing, arts and crafts for kids, and fireworks. To view the complete schedule take a look at the OGS press release here: http://readme.readmedia.com/news/show/OGS-Kicks-Off-Holiday-Season-With-Annual-Tree-Lighting-Ceremony/17051.

The Albany Symphony has three performances this weekend. Take a look at the schedule here: http://www.albanysymphony.com/index-main.html. I’ll be at the concert on Saturday night to see my friend Kerry Anne O’Neill with the Campbell Dancers. It should be a great holiday event.

Another big concert this weekend is the Trans Siberian Orchestra. I’ll also be at that with a big group of my family, all TSO fans. (This will be my first concert with TSO. I’m a little nervous. Everyone tells me they are very loud!)

Don’t forget the Victorian Stroll in Troy, a performance of Sleeping Beauty (kabuki style) at the New York State Theatre Institute (http://www.nysti.org/beauty.htm) and First Friday activities (http://www.1stfridayalbany.org/) that are free! So, music, shopping, art, and friendship are all here for one busy splendid weekend. Gee, I wish there was a little snow!

Christmas Countdown

2008-12-01T11:49:00.000-08:00

It is exactly 25 days until Christmas. I’m feeling overwhelmed by what I did not finish this year, as most years. I don’t get too upset by the shopping, wrapping, baking or planning. I tend to dwell on the pile of books I still haven’t read! One way that I deal with this yearly dilemma is to take out my special stack of Christmas books and place them around the house.

I’ve been collecting Christmas books for many years. I have pop-ups, many different illustrators for The Night Before Christmas, A Christmas Carol by Dickens, and some absolute classics that I delight in every year. I still remember the first time I read Chris Van Allsburg’s Polar Express. There I stood with my son next to me, tearing up in the store, as I read the book. We went home with it that very day.

Start your own memories of the holiday with a special book collection. Come to the library and look over old and new books. You could read a new book every night. Along with the reading tradition, start a paper chain in red, green, gold, silver or white paper. The chain can represent the days until Christmas or the number of books you read.

This month we have a family storytime on December 10th to celebrate many different holiday customs. Come prepared to enjoy latkes with applesauce, Lucia buns, and a few other delicious items. The stories will feed your imagination; the food will enhance the experience!

School bells are ringing!

2008-09-03T09:00:00.000-07:00

A new beginning, a new school year, a fresh start; these are my thoughts every September. I have some favorite school stories that I think everyone should read or reread every year. Start off with Officer Buckle and Gloria. Here is a story about safety (very important) and a story about friendship. It won the Caldecott Medal in 1996. John Lithgow narrates the film by Weston Woods which is so much fun to watch.

Check out another Peggy Rathmann title: Ruby the Copycat. Every child wants to succeed in school and Ruby is no exception. Unfortunately she takes it too far and almost loses her way. Ruby is so imaginative you will empathize with her creative solutions to being ‘just like Angela.’

Kevin Henkes is another author to check out. His titles range from Owen to Wemberly Worried to Chrysanthemum and his favorite mouse, Lily. Lily stars in a number of books. These titles all deal with children wanting the security of home, feeling unsure, coping with school and making friends. These books will help children understand the universality of their feelings and let parents open up a dialogue with children.

Come by the library for other school stories, all out on display. Reading every day is a great way to start off a new school year. ~Joyce Laiosa

Catch the Reading Bug

2008-06-13T09:58:00.000-07:00

The summer reading program is about to start. There is so much going on, here at the library, that it is hard to make up one single document that tells everybody (all ages) about everything. This year we are advertising to the elementary school kids with a flyer, but the main program calendar is the “program calendar.” It can be printed off the SRP web page and posted on the refrigerator: every home’s bulletin board!

First and foremost is that registration is online for everyone. Just go to our web page at http://www.voorheesvillelibrary.org/. It can be done from home or the library beginning Monday, June 16th and no email address is necessary. The fun part of the registration is to keep track of the books and print off their list to bring to school in September. It’s a good way for everyone to keep track of their reading. So, as we say this year, “Catch the Reading Bug!”
Don’t forget to check out the major display table with easy picture books, readers, fiction and especially nonfiction books about bugs. From Charlotte’s Web to Diary of a Spider we hope you will bee sure to read.!

Middle School Writing Club

2008-06-11T11:25:00.000-07:00

School is almost finished; kids are studying for finals; and I’m getting ready for my marathon visits to the elementary school to promote the summer program. One of the happiest moments is this Thursday. The Middle School Writing Club (mostly 8th graders) has been meeting regularly, twice a month, to work on poetry, fiction and nonfiction pieces, and even a picture book submission to Scholastic Publishers. This was an entry for a contest on the theme of environmental awareness. A group of eight girls wrote the text and drew the pictures for their book, The Boy Who Saved the World from His Own Backyard.
This Thursday is the unveiling of the final work product. All the students contributed to a "zine." Mrs. Susan Podgorski and I were the editors. It has been so much fun to work with these kids, see their enthusiasm, and to encourage their writing. ~Joyce Laiosa

Newbery Honor Books

2008-01-31T07:13:00.000-08:00

The second tier of books or honor books, are usually wonderful books that just didn’t make it into the top spot. Reading this year’s honor books I can see wonderful stories. I am pleased by these choices, proud of the committee work, and happy to recommend all three titles without reservation.

In Elijah of Buxton, by Christopher Paul Curtis, Elijah is the first free-born child in Buxton, a Canadian community of escaped slaves, in 1860. With grand storytelling, humor, and poignant insight into the realities of slavery and the meaning of freedom, Curtis takes readers on a journey that transforms an 11-year-old boy into a courageous hero.

In The Wednesday Wars, by Gary D. Schmidt, seventh-grader, Holling is convinced his teacher hates him. Through their Wednesday afternoon Shakespeare sessions she helps him cope with events both wildly funny and deadly serious. “To thine own self be true” is just one of the life lessons he learns. This, too, is historical fiction that takes place in 1968 on Long Island.

Feathers, by Jacqueline Woodson, tells the story of how a new boy's arrival in a sixth-grade classroom helps Frannie recognize the barriers that separate people, and the importance of hope as a bridge. Transcendent imagery and lyrical prose deftly capture a girl learning to navigate the world through words.

Each one of these authors has won Newbery Honors before, as well as the Newbery Medal for Curtis. They write characters that stay with the reader long after the book is finished. Check out Jacqueline Woodson’s web site to learn more about this author and her other books. It’s a great site! http://www.jacquelinewoodson.com/

Newbery and Caldecott Announcements

2008-01-15T07:07:00.000-08:00

It was the like Golden Globes - only better!! ALA held their press conference to announce the winners of all Youth Media awards. That includes picture books through middle grade readers to young adults, plus film and audio books. There was a webcast of the event, which I had trouble getting, but I did get some of the slides and felt a part of the proceedings.

I'll be giving you my feedback on the awards for the next couple of days. I'll start with the two top awards. The Newbery and Caldecott medal winners were both bold and excellent choices. GoodMasters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village is a fabulous book, so different in style from most winners. I read it a couple of months ago and have been mentioning it to everyone as a potential winner. What makes it so unique is "the voice." You can picture a real medieval town. Imagine Voorheesville residents telling us about their jobs and their life. Through the monologues you observe a town, the adults, the peasants, the children, and the upper class. The design of the book is beautiful,too. The illustrations help define the times, and there are definitions and explanations of words and phrases. It does not need to be performed. Reading it was a delight!

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick is a book to carefully read the text and the pictures. You can't have one without the other. The book begins with many illustrations as Selznick brings you into the book, into the story, into Paris, into the world of a young boy. The black and white illustrations have a softness about them that gives the characters a vulnerability. And there is wonder in the broken down machines we discover. It is a very different type of Caldecott medal winner. I think young people from third grade and up will enjoy this book, and look at it over and over again. Joyce Laiosa

So Many Books, A New Year to Read

2008-01-03T07:49:00.001-08:00

I haven't made any new resolutions for this new year. I tried very hard in 2007 to create routines/habits that should stay with me forever. I have been swimming fairly diligently at the Y. I'm up to a half-mile swim, now. I am reading more than ever. This isn't hard to keep because I love to read, but sometimes I sit in front of the TV and forget to actually turn it off, even when there isn't a single thing I am interested in watching!

I finally finished Sharon Draper's new historical fiction, Fire From the Rock. It is about the integration of Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1957. I think Draper captured the time period very well. I liked Sylvia Patterson, the protagonist in the book. She is a good student, a typical eighth grader, and a girl who has the opportunity to be one of the first African-Americans to integrate Central. Will she do it? Or will pressures from her family and friends make her choose to stay in her own high school? Check out the book, and look for other books by Sharon Draper. Her web site is http://sharondraper.com/home.asp where you can check out her other books, and the area (under homework help) where she answers lots of questions about herself, writing and her books. Draper is considered a YA writer. I consider her appropriate for middle school students and up.

Joyce Laiosa

Lapsits for Babies

2007-12-03T10:28:00.000-08:00

This Thursday (December 6) is our last Lapsit for the year. That is for 2007. Next year we are going to start offering the lapsits twice a month, the first and third Thursdays of the month. Lapsits are different than storytimes because babies (ages 0-24 months) do not always have long attention spans. That doesn't mean we aren't using our 'Early Literacy Skill Building' techniques. We want children to start learning the joy of books but with the intimacy of holding the child in your lap and introducing board books. We especially want parents and caregivers to talk to their child, use rhymes, and nonsense words that rhyme, songs and chants. All of this helps a child's brain develop.

Play is another important part of the lapsit. Our rhymes, songs, chants, and bounces take up only a small part of our program. The rest of the time is for parents to play with their child with our toys, board books, puppets, and rolling balls. It is also a time for adults to enjoy meeting other parents and perhaps making new friends.

Books for babies are important. Even though they may want to 'eat' the book, they listen to the adult voice as you are reading to them. They start to learn that you turn page after page and that there is a beginning and an end to a book. Babies love to look at babies. Many board books use photos of babies. These are so much fun to have around. You should always have a good Mother Goose book in your home library. This is a good parent reference and will be used over and over again.

My favorite Mother Goose books are Sylvia Long's Mother Goose, Here Comes Mother Goose (illustrated by Rosemary Wells), and Nina Crew's The Neighborhood Mother Goose. There is a new Mother Goose illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon called Mother Goose Numbers on the Loose that I also recommend.

Come to the library for our lapsits. Sign up for December 6 or call for our dates in 2008!
Joyce Laiosa

Found My Desk

2007-09-06T09:34:00.000-07:00

Buried under all the work of the summer, booklists to review, and plans for the coming months was my desk. What a mess! I've been tossing paper, summer reading logs, and anything that looks old and tired (except me!) in the bin. Wonderful weather has made me pine for an outdoor job, but it is time to chase away the summer dust and begin a new creative plan. I love fall, warm sunny days, cool nights for sleeping and moon watching.

Back to work...I had a great bunch of babies and their mothers this morning for a lapsit. They were such a great group. Watching the babies made me miss my grandchildren, so I had to call and check up on them as soon as I had finished the stories/songs part of the program. I love singing to children and having them move to a beat, jump, wiggle, or clap and tap. I used a couple of new books: How Do you Make a Baby Smile? by Philomon Sturges and You and Me, Baby by Lynn Reiser. Wonderful books for babies! The best part of lapsits are the rhythm and rhymes to get kids moving. From "5 little monkeys," to "The Noble Duke of York," there was a rhyme for everyone. Of course, I had to do my favorite nursery rhyme, "Hey Diddle, Diddle." If you don't have a nursery rhyme book in the house, check out a whole bunch from the library and choose your favorite. Buy one, or better yet, let it be known to grandmas and grandpas that this would be a great gift! (And they always want to buy something, trust me.) Joyce Laiosa

Two More Days

2007-07-19T06:51:00.000-07:00

The wait is almost over and I'm getting very excited. It looks like the library's Harry Potter Birthday Party is filled with a waiting list. It's hard to not be overwhelmed with publicity about the final installment of this series. Kids, adults, parents, teachers and librarians are filled with wonder. It's a wonder that this series caught on with the public - driven by children clamoring for the book. It's a wonder that our interests haven't waned as we waited. It's a wonder how rich J.K. Rowling is. It's a wonder if we'll all keep reading and looking for books about wizards, magic, war, love, death and life. As you are wondering - here are my thoughts. It is actually quite brilliant that this story caught the public's interest, children's interest and never left us. The movies kept nonreaders just as interested. Even if a young person outgrew the series, new readers found it. We all can find out how rich J.K. Rowling is almost anywhere you find information. (A librarian can find this very quickly!) The amazing thing isn't HOW rich, it is that she is richer than the Queen of England. That fact staggers me! And lastly, I am not worried that kids won't keep on reading. They will find books, or ask for recommendations, that will take them to the same places they've been with Harry Potter. No, they won't be at Hogwarts, but they will find it. After all, we found it. We found justice, cruelty and morality with Atticus Finch. Doesn't he remind you of Dumbledore? You can find wisdom, life, love and death with a spider named Charlotte and a friendship with a pig named Wilbur. You can find wonder with a boy named Peter and a place called Neverland. I could go on, and I might....but think of your favorite books and remember how it felt to close the book on the last page. If it was a great book, you were still thinking/crying, /laughing and thinking. Harry will live forever between the covers of his books, and in the hearts of readers.

Graphic Novels and Center for Cartoon Studies

2007-07-17T07:35:00.000-07:00

My son is at cartoon camp. OK, not really. But he is having such a wonderful time and learning so much that it could be a camp. He is actually at the Center for Cartoon Studies in White River Junction, Vermont. (Check out their website at http://www.catoonstudies.org/. ) In this picturesque town, there is a school offering one- and two-year courses of study and summer workshops. He is taking both summer courses. He has been wowed by Steve Bissette, a cartoonist for 20 years and a collaborator of Alan Moore.

I met James Strum (founder of CCS) at the recent ALA conference, along with illustrator/cartoonist Nick Bertozzi. CCS has recently published Houdini: The Handcuff King, written by Jason Lutes and illustrated by Nick Bertozzi. I highly recommend this book to anyone that like comics, graphic novels, and comic strips. It is a short story, but well done and if a person is interested in Houdini there is a lot of information in the back of the book, including a bibliography for further reading. Check out the book and budding cartoonists should check out CCS!

Joyce Laiosa

Summer Reads! Summer Fun!

2007-07-16T08:13:00.000-07:00

Is your reading still fun this summer? Have you bogged down with books you aren't really loving? Are you just waiting for H.P. #7? If you have answered 'yes' to any of these questions then let's revive the old reading lists - the bibliography! And get yourself over to the library to be inspired by displays.

For a quick read, try Brian Selznick's The Invention of Hugo Cabret. It is brilliant storytelling that is a fast read because the storyline includes wonderful drawings. So you feel that you are reading a graphic novel and a regular book. I highly recommend this book.

"Get a Clue @ Your Library" is the theme for the summer reading program here. We had a first great week that followed an amazing (in attendance) kick-off program with ventriloquist Sylvia Markson and a fun ice cream social. The kids seem very excited about their reading and books are flying off the shelves. But I'm not worried about the kids that come to the library in the summer. I worry about the kids that don't get to the libray. I worry about kids who go to the mall and pick out books because they like the covers. I worry about the kids that get these books home and then don't like the stories. They get discouraged about reading because it seems pretty boring. Good books really are a great way to escape. But every book isn't a "good" book. Check out the library lists, check out more books than you have time to read and maybe in that group you'll find the one that makes a difference. Joyce Laiosa

ALA

2007-06-28T07:17:00.000-07:00

I've just returned from the American Library Association's annual conference in Washington, D.C. What a wonderful opportunity to meet librarians from across the country, listen to award-winning authors, and see the latest, newest books. The weather was most unusual for D.C. It was perfect with absolutely no humidity for the first three days I was there. It was a perfect for sightseeing and walking.

I was impressed by the many award ceremonies I attended. The Newbery-Caldecott banquet is always a highlight at the conference. David Wiesner won the Caldecott Medal for Flotsam, his third medal. The only other person to win three times is Marcia Brown. Looking at Flotsam one would never guess that the gem of an idea for this book came from Wiesner's childhood which he related to us in an eloquent speech. Susan Patron, a librarian, won the Newbery Medal for her book, The Higher Power of Lucky. Her speech was funny and revealing. I must reread the book now that I have new insight into the author.

My favorite moment in the conference was the speech given by Gene Luen Yang, who won the Michael L. Printz Medal for American Born Chinese. This is a graphic novel for teens made up of three plotlines: the determined efforts of the Chinese folk hero Monkey King to shed his humble roots and be revered as a god; the struggles faced by Jin Wang, a lonely Asian American middle school student who would do anything to fit in with his white classmates; and the plight of Danny, an All-American teen so shamed by his Chinese cousin Chin-Kee (a purposefully painful ethnic stereotype) that he is forced to change schools. Each story works well on its own, but Yang weaves these parallel tales into a powerful climax that destroys the hateful stereotype of Chin-Kee, while leaving both Jin Wang and the Monkey King satisfied and happy to be who they are. The speech was also powerful in Yang's high regard for librarians.

These are only my first impressions from ALA. Let me know what you think of these books, from the gorgeous illustrations of Flotsam to the power of bigotry in American Born Chinese.
~Joyce Laiosa

Nonfiction Fan!

2007-03-15T12:07:00.000-07:00

I absolutely love nonfiction books. ALA/ALSC (that's the American Library Assocaition/Association of Library Service to Children) has an award for the best nonfiction books of the year. The award is called the Robert F. Sibert Award (named after the president of Bound to Stay Bound Books, Inc.) and has only been around since 2001.

This past weekend I gave a presentation about the great books that were winners this year. The medal went to a book I've written about in these pages: Team Moon: How 400,000 People Landed Apollo 11 on the Moon by Catherine Thimmesh. I loved the book when it came out, and frankly I was sure this book would win something this year. The pictures are incredible as is the story. I am a child of the sixties, so I grew up with the space program. I remember where I was when Apollo 11 lifted off (the Campus Center of UAlbany) and I remember where I was when Neil Armstrong took his first step on the moon(my living room floor). But my children are not interested or invested in this "history" story. I see this as an American ingenuity story, and a scientific phenomenon. There were many challenges to get Apollo 11 on the moon and this book tells the story of the challenges and the men and women that dared to experiment and dream.

I was unfamiliar with the three honor titles, but I have since read all three and am impressed with every single one. The common thread of all these titles is great writing and a spirit of accountability to every life. I think a lot of people do not read nonfiction because of the many books written specifically to help students write reports. How boring!

Freedom Riders: John Lewis and Jim Zwerg on the Front Lines of the Civil Rights Movement by Ann Bausum. This book tells the story of the Freedom Rides of May 1961; about a band of courageous Americans who rode the interstate buses in order to bring about the end of segregation. Bausum begins the book by explaining the background of the two protagonists, how they met, and then why they chose to put their lives on the line for the civil rights movement. John Lewis is currently serving Georgia in the U.S. House of Representatives and he plainly states that today's young people should find their passion and make a difference in our world. One does not need to get your head bashed in (as these two young men did) to make a difference. But committment and passion can bring about change. If someone had watched me read this book, I wonder if my mouth would have been opened in awe and shame. This is a very important book that I hope teachers discover and use in their classes. Reading some passages would certainly spark major discussions.

Quest for the Tree Kangaroo: An Expedition to the Cloud Forest of New Guinea by Sy Montgomery, photographs by Nic Bishop. This book is part of Houghton Mifflin's "Scientists in the Field" series, one of the best group of science books I have ever seen. Each book follows a scientist in their job, explaining what the scientist does, what influenced their choice of work, and the importance of what they are doing to all of us. Another important part of each book is the photographs that accompany the text. You stare in wonder at creatures, landscapes, and laboratories. I had never heard of a tree kangaroo until reading this book. We follow Lisa Dabek to Papua New Guinea (and we know where it is because there are maps in the front of the book) with a group of scientists and support staff into the cloud forest to trap and place radio transmitters on the few tree kangaroos that can be found. It is a difficult trek, three weeks of hard work under rainy, drizzly conditions, high above sea level (where it is hard to breathe). We learn that there are so many species of plants and animals that are still waiting to be discovered in places like this. This book gives hope to young people that there are fascinating jobs working with animals and careers besides vet and zoo keeper for those that want to travel and work with animals in the field. The author captures Lisa's passion for her work, and encourages children with their passions.

To Dance: A Ballerina's Graphic Novel by Siena Cherson Siegel, drawn by Mark Siegel. I do not love graphic novels, but I admire them (especially since my son wants to illustrate them). This book is charming, beautiful to look at, and a perfect medium for this story. Siena Cherson was born in Puerto Rico and knows that she loves to dance. When the family moves to Boston, she begins formal lessons in the ballet. She adores the dance. The family moves back to Puerto Rico and Siena has an opportunity to try out at the most prestigious ballet school in the country. She is accepted, but must move to NYC. She and her mother leave Puerto Rico, but her father remains there for work. She describes the hard work of ballet, school, and more ballet. She misses her father very much, and her family is torn apart by the separation. The drawings are spectacular and artful. You feel the grace in the dance, in the line of the bodies, even the movement in the arms. The colors are lovely. And the story moves from panel to panel with ribbons connecting the memories. One may not think of reading graphic novels out loud, but this should be shared with children who love ballet. It does not give false hopes to dancers, and it is honest about the hard work. SPOILER ALERT: DO NOT READ THE NEXT LINE IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW THE END! I was so crushed when I reached the last two pages. She wraps up the story very fast as we learn of an injury to her ankle, and her decision not to continue with ballet. She goes to college and gets a job. Eventually she goes back to the barre and we realize that music and dance will always be a part of her life, just not her career.

I highly recommend all four of these books. You will find inspiring stories of passion and activism that should be shared with our children. Joyce Laiosa

The Animals Have It!

2007-02-05T10:51:00.000-08:00

For young animal lovers, here are some suggestions for you.....

I have a deep love and appreciation for animals, both domestic and wild. As an animal lover, I enjoy reading books that highlight the animal-human bond, have animals themselves as integral characters, and/or showcase the remarkable lives of animals who have overcome incredible obstacles to survive. January was a frigid month and it looks like February is following in that path, so curl up under a blanket next to a cozy fire with a cup of cocoa and enjoy these reads.

A Dog's Life: The Autobiography of a Stray by: Ann M. Martin

This is a well-crafted, nicely paced story told through the voice of Squirrel, the stray dog. The reader gets a clear sense of what it is like to be immersed in the sights, sounds, smells, and dangers of a dog's world (reminiscent of Black Beauty). Life is hard for a stray dog who eventually finds himself a loving home. The novel centers on the themes of love, loyalty, perserverance, and overcoming obstacles. A great read for dog lovers ages 8-12.

Sheep by: Valerie Hobbs

A delightful story (for ages 8-12) about the trials and tribulations of a young border collie who narrates his adventurous tale. After a fire destroys the farm where he is born, the young border collie must venture out on his own. He quickly learns about the harshness and beauty of life as he acquires a series of good and not so good owners. The border collie's dream is to fulfill his purpose of living on a farm and herding the sheep. Like a human, the dog learns that life can either make or break you and, no matter what, you should never give up on your dreams.

Welcome to the Bed and Biscuit by: Joan Carris

A charming, humorous, and fun book (for ages 7-11) about an old vet who opens up a bed and breakfast for animals only. Dr. Bender cares deeply for the pets he considers a part of his family (a mini-pig, a mynnah bird, and a cat). When he comes home carrying a "mystery box" after a neighbor's barn fire, the pets go to great lengths to discover what is in the box. The pets become disgruntled with the amount of time and effort Dr. Bender devotes to this new creature in the box. Will the pets be able to accept a new animal member for their family? Great characterization and funny situations!

Walter: The Story of a Rat by: Barbara Wersba

This is a delightful, old-fashioned tale of an unlikely friendship between a rat and an old woman, who writes children's books. This is a pure pleasure to read alone or aloud and has a deeply satisfying ending. The lovely illustrations are a nice complement to the story. (for ages 7-12)

Whittington by: Alan Armstrong

A delightful interwoven tale of Whittington the cat and his exciting ancestral history and of Ben, a young boy who's struggling to learn how to read. This is a beautiful story filled with wonderful human and animal characters . The power of storytelling, both written and spoken, is dramatically evoked. This book offers suspense, history, terrific characters and compelling situations. (for ages 9-13)

I hope you enjoy these animal-inspired stories!

~ Gail Brown

Ring In The New Year With Poetry

2007-01-04T11:12:00.000-08:00

The new year may be snowless, but have you seen the gorgeous full moons at night? They remind me of the wonderful poetry book Thirteen Moons on Turtle's Back by Joseph Bruchac and Jonathan London. And with that thought, I wanted to remind all readers to check out poetry books every time you come to the library. They are a wonderful way to examine life with new words, with clever thoughts, condensed ideas, rhyme and rhythm!

Poetry can be very special to a child. Magical moments can be expressed in a few words. Caroline Kennedy recently published A Family of Poems: My Favorite Poetry for Children. In her introduction she writes, "In our family, we were encouraged to write or choose a favorite poem for each holiday or birthday as a gift for my mother and grandparents instead of buying a card or present. My brother and I would copy over and illustrate our choices, and my mother pasted them in a special scrapbook.....My children have continued the tradition for me, including the complaining!"

If you have never read aloud poems, start the year out now with a few. There is no need to read a poetry book from cover to cover. Take out a few and browse. If you or your children fall in love with a poem, copy it. They can illustrate the poem and you can put it in a scrapbook. What a lovely memory for you and for them.

Here are a few titles to enjoy besides Caroline Kennedy's book. Take out a Shel Silverstein collection. His first is Where the Sidewalk Ends. I still remember when two of my boys recited "Boa Constrictor" together and acted it out! Oh, the giggles! Shel Silverstein also illustrates his poems with line drawings. Another large collection of poetry is The Random House Book of Poetry for Children selected by Jack Prelutsky (another poet to know). John Updike wrote 12 poems called A Child's Calendar. This is one you could take out every month to think about the seasons and chores of a year. Two poems that look wonderful as picture books are The Camel's Lament by Charles Edward Carryl and illustrated by Charles Santore. Great looking camel on the cover. The other book is Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost and illustrated by Susan Jeffers. The poem is so quiet, and the illustrations are perfect. I could mention book after book but I'll finish with two because I want you to know the authors. The first is a Newbery Medal winner, Joyful Noise by Paul Fleischman and the other is Naomi Shihab Nye's A Maze Me: Poems for Girls. Both poets are wonderful and have a good number of books or collections out. Fleischman's book is unique in that it needs two voices for the readings. If you feel you can't do justice to them, take out the audio versions. You won't be disappointed!

Where's the snow?

2006-12-16T10:15:00.000-08:00

I can't tell you how miserable I am without snow for Christmas. Of course we don't always have a white Christmas, but I like to think that is a rare occurrence. It wouldn't be so bad if we at least had cold weather! I can't believe how warm and truly balmy the weather has been.

Well, it has led to a new tradition in our family. My husband and I are walking every night we can! We visit different neighborhoods to admire the lights on the houses. We have just about finished all the local walks, and now we are ready to drive the car to another area and get out and walk. He thinks I'm nuts, but it isn't too cold, so we are feeling very righteous (which means he gets to have ice cream afterwards) and I think I may have lost a couple of pounds.

My point is that it is great exercise and time together. When the weather lets you down, enjoy what you can. Take an evening walk with your family and don't forget the flashlights! When you return home you can get the kids ready for bed, a snack, a book or two, and a good sleep. If this winter continues without snow, take the children to indoor ice rinks. We have quite a few in the capital district. There is no reason not to enjoy the outdoors - even if we wish it was sledding weather!

Holiday Spirit

2006-11-28T07:39:00.000-08:00

This is such an exciting time of year for children. How do you temper their excitement without making yourself crazy? After all, you will not have time to get things done as early as TV commercials suggest. So, I have some suggestions for keeping your holidays spirit-filled.

Make time for children to be involved with your holiday planning. An Advent calendar is very helpful for counting off the days. Another fun way to count with young children is a paper chain. You can make one out of colored paper, or have the children decorate paper with rubber stamps, crayons and markers and then cut the paper into strips. You can glue a chain together as each day begins, or make the chain as long as you want and subtract a link every day. Hang the chain in the child's room and count it often, out loud.

Pick out holiday books from the library. Every night read one holiday book before bed. You will be amazed at the sheer number of books and stories that you have never heard of. Save the best for last. What would that be? Tradition in our family is The Polar Express and The Night Before Christmas are the last books read on Christmas Eve. Even the grown-up children expect that! Include books from different traditions. During Hanukkah, even if you don't celebrate that holiday, read a couple of books that children will begin to understand this holiday about light and hope.

Let children help. They can help with cooking and baking even if they only pour in the ingredients that you will mix. If you participate in projects to help others make sure children go with you and help pick out presents that will be going somewhere else.

TURN OFF THE TV! Children are being overexposed to commercials and products. Put on video tapes and DVDs that you control and do not have commercial interruptions.

Put on music. Borrow CDs from the library and enjoy the many artists that have recorded holiday music. If your child wants one over and over again, try and purchase it for a gift. Let your children play near you as you work on cards and letters to loved ones. If you are inserting pictures, let the children decorate paper with rubber stamps and fingerprints. Family members will love it, and so will the kids.

Looking for book ideas? Here are some of my favorites!
Dream Snow by Eric Carle
Merry Christmas Strega Nona by Tomie dePaola
Nutcracker Noel by Kate McMullen
How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss
Counting to Christmas by Nancy Tafuri

Check back here for more book suggestions and ideas for enjoying your holidays. If you have favorite books, please share them.
Joyce Laiosa

Full Moon

2006-11-08T09:06:00.000-08:00

Every time I see a full moon, I think of moon stories, moon landings and moon songs. I love looking at the moon and stars, especially on a clear night. Well, that means I should know something about the moon. I know some things and you should, too.

A brand new book will help you with moon landings. It's called Team Moon: How 400,000 People Landed Apollo 11 on the Moon by Catherine Thimmesh. It is a book to linger over with great photographs and a fascinating plus well written text. I still remember where I was when Apollo 11 lifted off, and about the night they walked on the moon. You have to check out this book. It is a wonderful intergenerational book for the whole family to share. (Although my children are a bit tired of my memories of this great event!)

If your family is interested in the space program there are other books to read, most notably an award winning book from Sweden that has been translated into English. It is The Man Who Went to the Far Side of the Moon: The Story of Apollo 11 Astronaut Michael Collins by Bea Uusma Schyffert. It is a book that will keep younsters interested because of the mixture of photographs, technical line drawings, interesting text, plus quotes from Collins' own diaries and notes. It is very clever, and Michael Collins is ignored in many other books because de did NOT walk on the moon.

Alexandra Siy's Footprints on the Moon is filled with stunning photographs of the moon and from the moon. Lastly, I recommend Faith McNulty's If You Decide to Go to the Moon. The illustrations are by Steve Kellogg and bring the reader into the story of preparing for a trip to the moon. The information is all accurate about the moon and what you would need, and how you would get around on the moon.

There are many other books about flight, the history of the space program and books about the space station. Don't forget to look at biographies of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, too. I would also recommend one of my favorite movies - although my children tell me it is only OK and even a little boring. It is 'The Dish' starring Sam Neill. It is an Australian film, made in 2000, and very funny. It is about the huge satelite 'dish' (Parkes Radio Telescope) that played an important part of the moon landing. This dish was responsible for the television pictures the world watched. (There is a chapter on the dish in Team Moon.) Anyone who remembers the moon landing will enjoy the movie.

So whenever you look at the moon, remember the lucky astronauts who actually walked on it and check out some of these books. You won't be disappointed!

Fall, Apples, and Great Reads!

2006-10-02T11:32:00.000-07:00

I hope you all take the time to visit a local apple orchard and pick some apples. It is time for raking leaves, jumping into a big leaf pile, and finishing a busy day with a good book.

I want to recommend one old book and two new ones. A great read-aloud for the whole family is Patricia MacLachlan's Newbery Award winning, Sarah, Plain and Tall. This is a short, sweet story of a widowed father and his two children. He puts an advertisement into a newspaper to find a wife (mail-order bride) to come live with him and his children on the prairie. The book is one that children will enjoy listening to as much as parents will enjoy reading. This is the first book in a series that just recently concluded. The other titles in their order to the series are Skylark, More Perfect Than the Moon, Caleb's Story, and Grandfather's Dance. This series is heartwarming and tender. They are written from the child's point of view. Anna narrates the first, second and third book while Caleb "writes" the fourth and fifth. Children will enjoy the films made from the first two books starring Glenn Close and Christopher Walken. Many children love the "Little House" stories which would be wonderful to read after this series. Laura Ingalls Wilder was a real person and her books tell more details of the hard life on the prairie.

Another historical fiction book that the whole family will enjoy is by Richard Peck: Here Lies the Librarian. This gem from Peck, with his signature combination of quirky characters, poignancy, and outrageous farce stars orphans Peewee, 14, and Jake, the big brother she idolizes living in rural Indiana in 1914. They run a small garage, but face nasty sabotaging from their rival. The novel opens with a twister that tears up Buelahland Cemetery, turning up coffins, and strews laundry around the county. The tornado doesn't dare to touch the stern former librarian's grave. The board of trustees closed the library after her death, but that situation is about to change. A library science student from Butler University arrives with her three equally pretty and wealthy sorority sisters, all of whom drive fabulous cars, sparking Jake's interest (not just in their cars). After many pranks and hijinks, Peewee ends up being the only finisher in a rough-and-ready auto race, an event recounted in the closing chapter when she is an elderly, although still spunky, old lady. Peck aptly conveys the nuances of rural life in the early years of the last century while weaving in early feminism, the history of the automobile, and the message to be oneself. I loved the library puns and plan to use the epitaph in this book on my own grave! "SHH, Here lies the librarian, After years of Service, Tried and True, Heaven stamped her ---Overdue! Joyce Laiosa

Summer Reading

2006-06-22T11:24:00.000-07:00

Here in Voorheesville the official last day of school is tomorrow. Kids are already signing up for the summer programs, taking out stacks of books and looking forward to free time. My wish for all young people is to enjoy free time in the summer. Kids need a little structure, some plans to look forward to, and plenty of free time. That doesn't and shouldn't mean sitting in front of a TV.

Free time (in my mind) means the opportunity to create. Try a new craft, enjoy painting or something else creative. Perhaps a child might want to try their hand at sewing or knitting. Check out the library for some of these creative projects. If you have your child going to a sports camp, or day camp, they need the time at home to be less busy. These activities can be exhausting. Let them choose a special film to watch at night, and take home a stack of books that will entice them into reading.

If you have a reluctant reader, now is the time to bring out the comic books. Let them laugh over "Calvin and Hobbes," "Foxtrot," "Peanuts," "Zits," "Garfield," or even "Tintin." The kids will be thrilled to have them around, and then you can introduce them to some newer titles. Check out Jennifer Holm's "Babymouse: Queen of the World." Babymouse is truly a girl character. She wants to go to a slumber party and yet doesn't want to disppoint her best friend. It is a typical dilemma in a child's life where bullies rule, kids want to be liked, and where friends are so important. This is a comic for all ages, but aimed towards grades 4-6. Another new comic is "Spiral-Bound" by Aaron Renier. It is also written for the same kids as "Babymouse," and again kids older and younger will love it. It has animal characters that react to the world as children. It would appeal to kids who like Roald Dahl's Matilda and Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh. One last comic to try is Rod Espinosa's quest The Courageous Princess. The artwork is in color and very lush which fits the story well for a fairy tale.

So, give the kids books, and take them to the library. But let them savor the fun of comics or graphic novels. They can take their time with the visual storytelling and enjoy reading words and pictures. It might inspire them to try their hand at their own comics.

For a novel about making and selling comic books, check out Andrew Clements Lunch Money. He truly captures young people in his books, which are all set in schools. He is most famous for Frindle, one of my favorites, as well as, A Week in the Woods. Joyce Laiosa

The Ugly Duckling

2006-05-09T12:55:00.000-07:00

Springtime down by the pond brings a parade of baby ducks and geese. It's a great time to take out the old classic by Hans Christian Andersen, The Ugly Duckling. I love the picture book version illustrated and adapted by Jerry Pinkney which won a Caldecott Honor award in 2000. The illustrations are rich and detailed. I think my favorites are the end papers. The beginning of the book, the first set of "endpapers" starts the tale off with the picture of a mother duck swimming with her babies right behind her. The final set of "endpapers" show the beautiful swan swimming in the pond.

Donna Jo Napoli has adapted this story into a "chapter" book, called Ugly. She has set the tale in Tasmania and made it very funny. It would be a wonderful read aloud for younger children, or an appropriate read for children in fourth and fifth grade. Tasmania is near New Zealand and Australia, just in case you are wondering why there is a kangaroo on the cover of this book. I highly recommend it!

Another book with a duckling is Jacquelyn Mitchard's Rosalie, My Rosalie: The Tale of a Duckling. Mrs. Brown read this one and thought it perfect for young people in grades 2-4. She loved the story of a nine-year-old girl yearning for a pet that she finally has when her father rescues a duckling. A story of love, attachment, and learning to let go. A book for animal lovers.
Joyce Laiosa

Enjoying classical music

2006-05-04T14:57:00.000-07:00

Do you feel intimidated by classical music?

Some people love it, some don't even think to listen to it. I'm of the generation that heard classical music with my cartoons. I also had a parent who loved it. She grew up with music on the radio. She rarely went to live concerts or the opera, but seemed to love it all. And so I grew up enjoying classical music on records, the radio, and at live concerts.

Voorheesville Public Library has a very extensive classical music collection, with many CDs for children. There are the recordings of Peter and the Wolf, Carnival of the Animals, and Benjamin Britten's Young Persons's Guide to the Orchestra. There is also a lovely CD called The Classical Child at the Ballet that is filled with well-loved music from the dance. For quick snippets of famous pieces (many from those cartoons I grew up with) check out Baby Dance: A Toddler's Jump on the Classics.

The newest, funniest, and even a little wacky play on classical music is Richard Perlmutter's Beethoven's Wig: Sing Along Symphonies. He has set very famous symphonies with zany stick-in-your-head lyrics. Ok, I know that Beethoven didn't wear a wig, but you will never forget Symphony #5 after hearing the "song" Beethoven's Wig. You and your children will laugh and learn/enjoy the music. There is Beethoven's Wig 2: More Sing Along Symphonies and the book and CD Beethoven's Wig. My favorite piece from all three of these is on the CD that accompanies the picture book. Included is Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata." Perlmutter has made it a song about a car stuck at a stoplight at night, with a line of traffic behind him. I kid you not!! The musical lines are so easy to hear as each "vehicle" has a new line of melody.

The best part of all these CDs are that a child can listen to the music with the funny words and then hear the music played with an orchestra. They will learn these famous and wonderful melodies and appreciate music. Give them the opportunity to listen to music and make up their own words! Joyce Laiosa

Four Recommended "Ready-for-Chapters" Books

2006-04-10T10:01:00.000-07:00

I have had the pleasure of conducting the 2nd-3rd grade book discussions for the past two years. It is always an exciting time in a child's life when he or she progresses to reading chapter books independently. It is also a thrill to be able to participate in a real book discussion, an activity often reserved for older readers and adults! Our book discussions are always a lot of fun and the children enjoy sharing their feelings and reactions to the book they've just read. I am always amazed at how insightful a child of this age can be and how he or she connects the experiences of life to those in the book. Isn't this one of the pleasures of reading?

Here are four "Ready-for-Chapters" series that I have successfully used in the book discussions. These are tried and true titles that children ages 6-8 particularly enjoy:

1.) "Barkley's School for Dogs" series by Marcia Thornton Jones and Debbie Dadey - The dogs tell the story as they navigate their lives at the School for Dogs. Real issues that children may be dealing with - such as bullying, kindness, friendship, hardwork, fear - are placed within a readable narrative told from the dogs' points of view. Most children this age adore dogs and enjoy reading books with dogs in them. Furthermore, the themes in these series explore issues that the children themselves experience at school. This series is sure to please!

2.)"Lighthouse Family" series by Cynthia Rylant - From the acclaimed author of the "Henry and Mudge" series comes another collection of books sure to become favorites of the beginning chapter reading crowd! The stories contain animal characters who experience trials and tribulations, yet by working together and learning along the way, they realize that any problem seems less difficult. Themes of friendship, family, and belongingness permeat these lovely tales. Like the narrative, the illustrations are particularly lovely!

3.) "Ready, Freddy!" series by John McKinley - These hilarious tales center on Freddy, a first grader whose antics, thoughts, and feelings mirror those of any first grader. Young readers will relate to the realistic situations concerning school, family, friendship, and milestones of growing up. These are nicely paced books with realistic characters.

4.) "The Adventures of Hector Fuller" series by Elizabeth Shreeve - Hector Fuller is a wumblebug, a fictional bug who goes on many adventures and experiences many misadventures along the way. This series is particularly well-written with a lot of humor, fantastic dialog, and well-conceived situations. I absolutely loved the first book in the series, Hector Springs Loose. Age appropriate themes of home, friendship, betrayal, and learning from one's mistakes make this series appealing to the beginning chapter reader audience. The illustrations are fantastic, too!

I strongly encourage you to check out some of these books in these series....you won't be disappointed!

~Gail Brown

Edward Tulane

2006-04-02T12:06:00.000-07:00

Looking for a great read-aloud? How about a gift book for someone's Easter basket? Look no further than The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo. What a winner!!! Edward Tulane is a china rabbit with an extensive wardrobe. He belongs to 10-year-old Abilene, who thinks almost as highly of Edward as Edward does of himself. After mean boys rip him from Abilene's hands during an ocean voyage, he falls into the ocean. Thus begins Edward's journey from watery grave to the gentle embrace of a fisherman's wife, to the care of a hobo and his dog, and into the hands of a dying girl. With every person who touches him, Edward's heart grows a little bit softer and a little bit bigger. The book is beautiful to look at, the illustrations are perfect for the story, and it will become a cherished read aloud for the entire family. Kate DiCamillo is the Newbery Award-winning author of The Tale of Despereaux, and an honor winner for Because of Winn-Dixie.

Vacation Car Trips

2006-03-30T09:30:00.000-08:00

Heading down south for a spring break? How will you entertain the children for all those hours? Many people will be looking at portable DVD players. There is nothing wrong with that, but it isn't the only way to entertain children. Take a couple hours to coordinate many different experiences for kids. First, there is the curiosity factor. What's in the box?
What's in the box is a great way to sort through some forgotten small toys that are at the bottom of the toy box. Pull them out and put them into a shoe box. Also, buy some new markers, a pad of paper, and other craft supplies. Cheap lap boards can be found in lots of stores to serve as a flat surface for arts and crafts. The library has a lot of craft books - but choose some for the simplest and easiest ideas. Children can make masks with paper plates. Cut the plate in half, indenting for the nose, cut out eye holes, and punch a place for ribbon or yarn to hold the mask on the face. Children will spend hours (if this is something they like to do) decorating animal faces, glitzy princess masks, or bird faces with gorgeous craft feathers.
How about legos? Using small ziploc bags, toss in a couple of handfuls of different lego pieces and let the children build. There are books in the library for building simple items that could be brought along on the trip to inspire kids.
Don't forget music and book cassettes or CDs or the children. If you get tired of listening to their music or stories, let them have a walkman or discman in the back seat. Beware of too high volume, though!!! Voorheesville library just put on the shelf a lot of new items. Check them out. Remember that the DVDs are fun and will give you some needed quiet, but it shouldn't be hours of movies. A little crafting, some small toys, puppets, coloring, snacks, music and car games will all make the trip as enjoyable as the vacation destination.
Last, but not least, stretch those little legs every time you make a stop. Car seats protect our children, but they are so very confining. Walk around the outskirts of a parking lot, do a few exercises and stretches, and also some hopping and jumping. Enjoy your trip!
Joyce Laiosa

Printz Awards

2006-02-21T13:23:00.000-08:00

I've been reading many award-winning books this past month. I recently finished
Looking for Alaska by John Green which won the Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in young adult literature. This award has not been around for as many years as the Newbery and Caldecott awards. One of the wonderful consequences is that every year there is more young adult literature being published. Looking for Alaska was a good book, but not my favorite of the year, or my favorite YA book. It is the story of a high school student who goes off to an Alabama boarding school. He finds freedom, guilty pleasures, and the enigmatic Alaska. She is literate, beautiful, sexual, adventurous and self-destructive. The language and sexual situations are aptly and realistically drawn, but sophisticated in nature. Miles's narration is naive with self-deprecating humor, and he has an obvious struggle to tell the story truthfully, which adds to the believability. This book is for older teens, eighth grade and up.
I've also read one of the Printz honor books, Elizabeth Partridge's John Lennon: All I Want is the Truth. This I loved! I truly love nonfiction and Elizabeth Partridge is one of the best writers of nonfiction for young people. I do like the Beatles, but I'm not a huge fan. This book is about John Lennon, but also the Beatles, and the times. I was impressed with the story of how the Beatles began. The background of the musicians was fascinating, too. This book can be blunt because John Lennon did use the language of the 60's and he lived the rough life of a musician from that time. This is for young people in eighth grade and up.

ALA Award Winners

2006-01-23T07:31:00.000-08:00

The winners are announced! Here in San Antonio, Texas, (a cool, crisp, sunny morning) the Association for Library Service to Children has brought the award winning book and film titles to the attention of the world. The Newbery Award goes to Criss Cross by Lynne Rae Perkins. There were four Honor books: Whittington by Alan Armstrong, Hitler Youth by Susan Campbell Bartoletti, Princess Academy by Shannon Hale, and Show Way by Jacqueline Woodson. The Caldecott Award goes to The Hello, Good-bye Window by Chris Raschka. There were also four Honor books: Rosa, illustrated by Bryan Collier and written by Nikki Giovanni, Zen Shorts written and illustrated by Jon Muth, Hot Air: The (Mostly) True Story of the First Hot-Air Balloon Ride written and illustrated by Marjorie Priceman, and Song of the Water Boatman and Other Pond Poems illustrated by Beckie Prange and written by Joyce Sidman.
I haven't read or seen all of these books, but I am delighted by most of the choices. My favorite book this year has been Hitler Youth which also won a Sibert Honor award for nonfiction. It was a gripping story of the children brought up in Germany during 1933-1945. Bartoletti makes you care about these young people and see the world through their eyes. She follows up with interviews and tells us what happened to the young people in the book.
I loved Zen Shorts, Rosa, and The Hello, Good-bye Window. All were excellent choices and wonderful books to share with children. Let me know what you think and come into the library to check these titles and other award winners! I'll be back in the library on Wednesday ready to talk about San Antonio and great books! Joyce Laiosa

Award-winning books

2006-01-17T11:06:00.000-08:00

Every year since 1922 the American Library Association, and specifically the Children's Librarians' Section, (now ALSC, the Association for Library Service to Children) has awarded the Newbery Medal to the best book written for children from the past year. The Newbery Medal was the first award. It was followed by the Caldecott medal for best illustrations, in 1938. Recently there have been other awards: the Sibert Award for works of nonfiction, the Seuss award for beginning readers, and the Printz award for Young Adult Literature. It is very exciting to be a youth librarian and be at the news conference when the award-winning books are announced. Some people cheer, others scream with delight, while others look around in astonishment. It is a room filled with energy and enthusiasm for books and reading. I usually know some of the winners, but I rarely have read all the award-winners. During the year I try to read them all, and decide for myself if the committees chose wisely.
This past year I kept putting off reading Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy by Gary D. Schmidt. It not only was a Newbery Honor book, but a Printz honor, too. How can a book appeal to both children and young adults? Well, there is a crossover age to the medals, and when that happens one can say that the book appeals to older elementary kids right through middle school to high school. I hesitated reading this book because I didn't care for the cover. It didn't interest me. But I was so wrong. I finished this book over a month ago, and it has stayed in my thoughts long after it was back on the library shelf. It is historical fiction that takes place in the community of Phippsburg, Maine, in 1912. A new minister arrives from Boston with his wife and son, Turner. Turner knows almost immediately that he is going to be friendless and lonely simply because he is the "preacher's" son. He finally makes a friend of Lizzie Bright, the first African American he has ever met, who lives on Malaga Island, an impoverished community settled by freed or possibly escaped slaves. Lizzie shares her love of the Maine coast with Turner even though he incurs the town's disapproval. The town elders want to attract tourists to their town and destroy the shacks on Malaga island and remove the community. Although the story is hauntingly sad, there is quite a bit of humor, but more than that is the humanity of Turner's character. It is a beautiful book. And now I appreciate the cover art, too. It truly fits the book and the story.
This week I am off to San Antonio, Texas for the ALA midwinter conference. On Monday, January 23rd, the awards will be announced and I will be one of those librarians screaming, cheering, or looking around in bewilderment. I can't wait. Check out the blog on Monday to see the winners and my reactions. Let me know what you've read and if you agree with the committees that chose the books. Joyce Laiosa

Book Reviews-One for Children & One for Teens

2006-01-10T11:09:00.000-08:00

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a stray dog? Squirrel, a stray dog and narrator of Ann Martin's A Dog's Life, recounts her life, a daily existence of loss, fear, hunger, uncertainty, and eventual hope. Squirrel desperately wants the chance to bond with a human in a mutually loving companionship. If only someone would give her the chance! Like Anna Sewell's Black Beauty, A Dog's Life delves into the heart of the animal as the reader hears the story through the animal's voice. Will Squirrel ever find someone to love her? If you are a dog lover, this is the book for you!

Recommended for ages 8-12

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Sandpiper is a "bad" girl with a reputation to match! Sometimes she doesn't even know why she does the things she does. Oftentimes, she hates herself for the person she has created and doesn't know how to wipe the slate clean. Sandpiper finds herself in a precarious situation that she feels powerless to contain. Should she tell someone? Is she to blame? With the help of a mysterious new friend, Sandpiper learns to love and respect herself and to stand up for her personal rights. Furthermore, she learns to embrace the young woman she truly is and create herself anew. This book contains a true narrative voice and contemporary teenage issues.

Recommended for ages 14 and up

Some mild sexual content

Books and movies

2006-01-10T07:32:00.000-08:00

This holiday season was a bonanza for librarians serving youth as we filled requests for The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. Hollywood may or may not do a great service to a book, but it causes interest in the book and new readers come to appreciate the written word. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is only one part of The Chronicles of Narnia, a seven part series. Lewis, a noted Christian thinker, author and lecturer, as well as an English literature professor at Oxford, wrote the first Narnia book in 1950. The movie was a fantastic spectacle with great battles, wonderful special effects, and a delightful cast. My favorite was Georgie Henley as Lucy Pevensie. The White Witch, played by Tilda Swinton was also very good. (I especially loved the frost on her eyelashes!) Our library has another version of this book on DVD. It is a production from 1988 done for the "Wonderworks" series for PBS. It was a magnificent production then, but with all of today's special effects, it seems a little tired. If children can't get enough of the story, you might check it out and do a compare and contrast discussion of the two movies and the book.
Want to add even more to the discussion? Look at The Dictionary of Imaginary Places by Alberto Manguel. There is a copy in Juvenile Reference and a circulating copy in the Oversize books. The Narnia entry tells all about the land of Narnia, the creation of it, the laws, the history of Narnia and even a map. Children who enjoy The Chronicles of Narnia may also enjoy the sweet fantasy of Edward Eager's Half Magic. It also deals with a family and some special magic. Other fantasies to check out are J. R. R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, Lloyd Alexander's Prydain Cycle which begins with The Book of Three and, of course, Harry Potter!
The other book-related movie this holiday season is Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. This latest version is wonderful, although I still love the BBC mini-series with Colin Firth better. For teens who love romance this may be the perfect time to encourage reading Jane Austen and viewing her other novels to movies. Emma can be viewed with Gwyneth Paltrow or Alicia Silverstone in Clueless. And don't forget Sense and Sensibility with Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet, Hugh Grant, and Alan Rickman. Movies and reading go hand in hand for the most satisfactory experience. Enjoy both mediums!

2006-01-04T07:20:00.000-08:00

A new year brings thoughts of new beginnings, fresh starts, and organizing ourselves. What about keeping a journal of what you read this year? Don't make it long, just a simple list. Write down the title, author, nonfiction or fiction, and make a code of how well you liked it. I use a code of stars for really great books (I usually only give the very best books two stars), an "OK" if that is the best I can say about it, and a minus sign or "Ugh!" if I really didn't like it. My list helps me remeber all the books that I read, especially if someone asks me what I've read lately. I can never remember, unless the books are outstanding. Also, if I haven't read a book lately, I will notice that I haven't opened my list and that makes me pick out some good books to read, and to actually make the time to read.
A reading list is great for parents to encourage their children's reading and to offer praise in the form of special rewards. It might be a lunch out with a friend, or a museum pick with the family, a family game night (first pick) or something funny like a coupon for leaving a bed unmade. The list will be something to discuss with family and friends and something to save and look over at the end of the year. Start a new tradition today!