Emma-Jean Lazarus

At the end of last year, the children’s staff at our branch put together a display of our favorite children’s titles of 2007.  I had plenty of picture book titles to put on the display, but I soon discovered that I had not been reading enough middle grade books.  I often choose to read YA novels rather than children’s, but I’m trying to make a more concerted effort to remedy this situation.  So, when consulting other librarians’ Best of 2007 lists, I came up with several books to read.  I just finished reading one of them, and I definitely agree that it was one of the best chapter books from 2007.

That title is Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree by Lauren Tarshis.

This debut novel from the editor of Scholastic’s Storyworks Magazine is absolutely delightful.  Emma-Jean is an odd little girl with very little in common with the other kids at her school.  She thinks they  are strange creatures indeed because they choose to act in the most illogical ways, and logic is something Emma-Jean finds very important.  So Emma-Jean sets out to watch and study her fellow students to discover why they act the way do and better understand them.  However, she has no desire to actually get involved in their lives because that would make life too complicated.  Things change when she finds classmate Colleen Pomerantz in tears in the girls’ bathroom.  Emma-Jean approaches Colleen who soon confides in her about her troubles.  Unable to leave a situation in disorder, Emma-Jean steps in to solve the problem.   That’s when Emma-Jean’s life becomes complicated.  She soon tries to solve the problems of others around her.  However, because people don’t always act the way they should, the situation soon gets out of hand.

I thought this book was wonderful.  This is a truly heartwarming story, but it’s also filled with humor.  I found myself laughing out loud at Emma-Jean’s quirks and blunders.  I’m looking forward to what Tarshis writes next.

Kangaroos, Koalas, and Wiggles, Oh My!

Yesterday morning I had a great time doing our branch’s monthly Saturday storytime.  I decided to take the kids on a little trip Down Under through stories and music.  Of course, being a children’s program about Australia, it was only appropriate to use a little music from The Wiggles.

I started the program as I usually do, with a little “Shake Your Sillies Out.”  This song is good for two reasons: it truly does help the active kids shake their sillies out and get ready to hear some stories, but it also helps shy kids loosen up a bit and feel more comfortable in storytime.  Later in the program I brought the Wiggles back for “Here Comes a Bear” because it mentions a few Australian animals.

While we’re on the subject of the music in the program, I also mixed in the traditional Australian tunes “Waltzing Matilda” and “Kookaburra,” although I did use the Dora the Explorer medley version so it would be kid-friendly.

Then to provide some nostalgia for the parents in the room, I just had to bring out “Down Under” by Men at Work.  Remember that one?

It was fun to watch a couple of the parents singing along and enjoying themselves, too.

Now, on to the most important part of the program – the books, of course!  Each of the books I chose focused on a different Australian animal.

Koala:

Koala Lou by Mem Fox

Kangaroo:

Polly Hopper’s Pouch by Louise Bonnett-Rampersaud

Wombat:

Sometimes I Like to Curl up in a Ball by Vicki Churchill

Platypus:

Platypus and the Lucky Day by Chris Riddell

All great stories (with great illustrations!) that just happen to feature Australian animals.

We finished up the hour with a paper plate koala craft and authentic Australian Arnott’s biscuits.  Yum!

 I had a lot of fun, and more importantly, the kids had fun and even learned a little bit, too.  Do you have any favorite Australian picture books?

Paint the Town Read!

My library system, the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County (PLCMC), just began an exciting new campaign last week called Paint the Town Read.  Yes, that’s spelled correctly – R-E-A-D, not R-E-D.  As part of the campaign, families and individuals in the community come to the library to pick up a painter’s kit.  The kit contains red lollipops, a red pencil, and a paint chip.  Participants mark off five fun reading experiences on the paint chip then bring it back to the library to receive a Paint the Town Read sign for their yard or window.  The sign looks like this:

 

We’ve given out quite a few of the kits so far at our branch, and I can’t wait to see the signs in yards all over Charlotte.  This campaign is both a great way to emphasize the fun of reading as well as create a sense of community throughout Charlotte.

Here at our branch we’re looking forward to doing some special programming for the campaign, including a monthly Family Book Party.  Our first book party is in March.  We’ll be reading, talking about books, playing games, and eating snacks all centered around the “Charlie and Lola” series by Lauren Child.  I think it’s going to be a lot of fun.  I’ll let you know how it goes!

If you’re in the Charlotte area, be sure to stop by the library and pick up your painter’s kit and help us Paint the Town Read!

Baby Love

Well, our beloved Ms. Sue was called for jury duty today.  So I had the opportunity to fill in for her “Books and Babies” program this morning.  Those babies are so adorable, but I will readily admit that baby programs are not my forte.  I’ve very rarely done them, and I’m just not as familiar with all the rhymes and fingerplays as I should be.  So, in order to make up for that I tend to use a lot of music in my baby programs.  Today was no exception.

 I set the mood for the program by starting out with a few tunes from Elizabeth Mitchell’s You Are My Little Bird.

I just love Elizabeth Mitchell’s music.  She chooses great songs and really makes them her own with her gentle, soothing voice.  Unlike many children’s artists, she appeals to adults as well as children.  One of the mothers this morning mentioned that Mitchell is one of the only children’s musicians she can stand to listen to over and over again with her son.  We all know how grating on the ears some children’s music can be after repeated listenings.  I use the Wiggles all the time in programs, but I don’t choose to listen to them during my free time.

Following the musical intro I began the Valentine’s Day-inspired portion of the program, beginning with The Cuddle Book by Guido van Genechten.

I think the mommies especially loved the last page which proclaims that Mommy’s cuddles are the best cuddles.  We then had a Valentine flannel and sang “Tony Chestnut” (Toe Knee Chest Nut Nose Eye Love You).  After that the cuddly theme continued with John Butler’s Can You Cuddle Like a Koala?

I think Butler’s illustrations are just beautiful.  Children really seem to be drawn to his adorable animals.  Finally, we rounded out the storytime with Dan Zanes’ version of “Bushel and a Peck” from Rocket Ship Beach.

I think Zanes is awesome, and he puts on a great live show – he has kids and parents alike dancing in the aisles.  And the idea of using a board book instead of a traditional jewel case to hold some of his cds, including Rocket Ship Beach, is a really cool idea.  However, in practice, it may not be the best storage method.  The library copy of the cd I used this morning was in great condition, but the board book cover – not so much.  It was grimy and stained with goodness knows what, and I could hardly bear to touch it.  Luckily, the music is so good I was willing to look past the nastiness and play it anyway.

So, overall, I think “Books and Babies” went pretty well this morning, but I really hope Sue isn’t assigned to a case, especially not a lengthy one, because I think the babies really need her!

Lost in Austen

So, is everyone enjoying the Austen series on Masterpiece (not Masterpiece Theatre anymore)?  I’ve been a little disappointed with the new productions, honestly.  Trying to condense Austen’s novels into 90 minute episodes just isn’t feasible.  All the interesting details have to be left out.  Thank goodness they knew better than to mess with Pride and Prejudice.  They really should have used it as a model for these new adaptations – they made it a miniseries for a reason, and we all know how wonderful it is.  There’s really no comparison.

I did enjoy last week’s Miss Austen Regrets.  A little on the sad side, but enjoyable.  Great cast, too.  Seeing Hugh Bonneville as Rev. Bridges reminded me of how much I loved him as the Young John Bayley opposite Kate Winslet’s Young Iris Murdoch in Iris. 

So I looked him up on IMDb, and lo and behold, he is no stranger to the world of Austen.  It had completely slipped my mind that he played Mr. Rushworth in the 1999 production of Mansfield Park.  However, what I found really interesting was a reference to a miniseries he recently filmed called Lost in Austen.  According to the plot outline, it’s about a young Jane Austen fan in modern-day London who somehow switches places with Elizabeth Bennet (Bonneville plays Mr. Bennet).  Sounds fun.  I hope it comes to the States!

Incidentally there is also a Choose Your Own Adventure-style book for adults called Lost in Austen, where the reader journeys through the fictional worlds of Austen’s novels trying to make the best matches.  Sounds intriguing…