Read 'em up!

The Mock Newbery list is here! The Mock Newbery list is here! EarlyWord, a blog I'm trying to follow more closely now that I'm ordering children's fiction, has released their list (one of the earliest to emerge). I'm gonna read everything on it that I can [and let's not get into how few I've read already, please]--guess it's time to start thinking about making a list for y'all for our January discussion, huh?

"I love you, but find someplace else to sit."

http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/08/childrens-books-you-might-hate/?hp


I found this very topical as HMW just forced me to buy more copies of Love You Forever.
: )
-JN

Yay!

http://www.theatlanticwire.com/features/view/feature/Will-Kids-Save-the-Printed-Book-1773

Your future fortold... by picture books

A fun little diversion to forecast your future using your birth year's biggest picture books. I haven't done it yet, but the comments have been fun to read.

http://bibliofreakblog.com/in-the-real-world/library-cooler-library/

could it happen at OPPL....and would we want it to?

Keeping PB & J behind the reference desk?

Wowzers. What do you all think of this article from this weekend's Tribune? Straight out, children's librarians are made out to be heroes... for accommodating, babysitting, feeding, and otherwise paying what seems, to me, as very special and extra attention to children who've been "dumped" at the library for long periods of time. I can't believe that the legality and safety of these children's situation isn't addressed--by the reporter or the librarians being interviewed.

Am I over-reacting? Should we adopt a more lenient/understanding/proactive attitude about under-supervised, "in-residency" kids?

[Here's another article about children's services I also came across this weekend. Not so controversial but pretty interesting, all about libraries opening branches at malls with very focused family services.]

Conference Loot

I had a great time at ALA over the long weekend! A few programs were really inspiring--how to host a summer camp at the Library; a Readers' Theatre program with Christopher Paul Curtis, Jacqueline Woodson and Katherine Patterson; Will Shortz talking about depuzzling people's requests, some suggestions for "next practices," and some interior design winners.

I also brought back a fair amount of loot and literature...please stop by my desk to check it out. I've organized everything and spread it out for you :). If I'm sitting there when you come by, let's chat about whatever catches your fancy!

Behind the Covers

Some neat pictures of the London Library, which has kept every book it has acquired since 1841.

Breadflix

Remember my bike-mobile idea? Well, this cafe in Logan Square delivers bread by bike! They call it "Breadflix", and I'm jealous of Andy and Matt now because I'm not in the delivery area.

Ruby can't wait until tomorrow...

http://www.takeyourdog.com/

Library Read In

1200 protesters met in Brooklyn to read aloud and protest the budget cuts.. Awesome.

Another reason to love NYC

I wish the Ghostbusters would come here...

http://superpunch.blogspot.com/2010/05/improv-everywhere-reenacts-ghostbusters.html

Jealous.

James to the rescue of EPL?

http://jameskennedy.com/2010/05/17/i-am-audrey-niffenegger/

It may be yet another shameless familial promotion, but it is library-related...

Aggle Flarggle Klabble

I know some of you are over Mo Willems. I'm not, quite yet - I would love to see the musical. And I kind of love that Lucy the Slut started out on Sesame Street and ended up playing Trixie. We should all aspire to a career path like that.


Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale

You got pictures in my words!

Cool graphic novel project based in Chicago! (I found this via Unshelved...)

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/915250098/reading-with-pictures-getting-comics-into-schools

Is it something we can get?

New Favorite Friend?

What do you think about moving Olivia over to the Favorite Friends? She has her own show on Nick Jr.

May your rhyme reign supreme!

OK creative types - help me finish off my "Head Shoulders Knees and Toes" knockoff for my Earth Day ST, please!

"Leaves, branches, trunk and roots, trunk and roots"...

AND...?

Birds' nests, acorns, reach up and pick some fruit?
Birds and squirrels and double breasted suits?

Please give me your best lines, as I'm a bit conflicted. ("pick some fruit" is a strong contender, just needs help)

I will go with the consensus for what this should be. :)

Thanks, Gennie

Intriguing Question of the Week

What are you most excited about for the upcoming SRP? I think the stuffed animal sleepovers, reading to Ramona Nibbles, and the game are going to be so much fun!

A Father/Daughter Reading Pact

Oh My Goodness! What an inspiring story. I dare you to read this and not cry. At the very least, your librarian's heart will be warmed.

Obituary: Sid Fleischman

Obituary: Sid Fleischman: "AuthorSid Fleischman died March 17 in his home in Santa Monica, Calif.,at..."

Intriguing Question of the Week

What are your favorite movies to recommend to kids? Here are mine:
1. My Neighbor Totoro
2. The Thief Lord
3. The Princes' Quest
4. The Secret Garden
5. Matilda

I owe how much?

While flipping through a new book "Weird but True!" I ran across this:

The most overdue library book was 288 years late!

Who wants to ask for directions?

I like that they have a map on their website (and catalog!) but I'd like it more if the Children's dept was also mapped and if those cool mouseovers linked directly to the catalog. Especially if they were subject searches in the catalog. Then it'd be a two way street - find out where you're going after you've found your book and browse for books electronically by subject. Nifty.

Frankfort Library Map.

Honeymoon= Over

I like Ramona. Really, I do. I'm just a little weary.

"LookMommylookMommylookMommy!"

"Cuuuuuuuute!!!!!"

"Is that a mouse?"

"What is it DOING?"

"Why is it DOING that?"

"Make it go on its wheeeeeeel! I want it go upstaaaaaaiiirs"

"It's eating its HOUSE-- why is it eating its HOUSE, Librarian?!"

etc. etc. etc.

but then of course,

I am a bad person.

Edgy and Updated

Fuse #8's top 100 books has done 100-41 so far and the choices have been great! Some of my favorites (Betsy-Tacy, All of a Kind Family, Little House, HP, etc etc) have already popped up, as well as some I really don't like at all (Pippi Longstocking, ugh). I've read 29/59 so far, though - I need to up my numbers, especially with things published in the 90s and early 00s.

While reading today's entry on Ramona the Pest, I followed her link to a Disturbing Article from April 1, 2008: Ramona faces 21st century topic in latest book. (As you read, keep in mind the blog date and comments.)

So what other books could use a modern and edgy update or sequel? Perhaps Anne Shirley's perpetual optimism is the result of uppers - or those highest highs and lowest lows are a form of manic depression. Maybe Peter Hatcher got so fed up competing for his parents' attention that he turned to drugs as a cry for help.

Meanwhile, I wonder if there's fic on Ramona the Ant. Everyone knows Beezus and Henry were destined for each other at some point...

Intriguing Question of the Week

Should we start a circulating J video game collection? YA is going to be the guinea pig first, but eventually we might be next in line. Problems? Concerns? Cool ideas? Best formats? I think Wii games are still hot right now, but who knows?

Librarianship by Listserv

Jennifer and I were discussing listservs on the desk the other day and I was reminded of this post . I don't subscribe to any listservs and I must admit, this does not make me want to run out and subscribe! If you are in the mood for a good rant or good laugh, check it out.

Design Time!

Some of you may have noticed that we have new fonts! Some of you may never care about them. But I sure do!

If you open up Publisher or Word on any Children's staff computer, you should have a larger selection of typefaces to scroll through if you need to jazz up a poster or newsletter.

Many thanks to Eric who allowed Susan and I to choose 40 new fonts to add to our collection [we do this about every two years or so]. My person faves are Boyz R Gross, Rough Draft , and Tooney Noodle.

Intriguing Question of the Week

Should libraries host overnight sleepovers?

We love Rosie!

The Book Buzz kids took to Rosie like a duck takes to water!

Rebecca Stead

We crashed the party and went to hear Rebecca Stead in Hyde Park. She was there with her editor and a very small audience. It was a question and answer format with book signing at the end. In response to what were some of her favorite books as a child she responded; To Kill a Mockingbird, The Red Planet, The All-of-a-Kind Family books, Harriet the Spy, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and more I just don't remember. We all lamented that there wasn't a bookstore like that in Oak Park.

Best of the Best

Elizabeth Bird, of Fuse #8, asked her readers to send her their top 10 childrens books, ranked in order of preference. From there, she compiled the top 100 books. The first ten, #100-91 came out today.

I love seeing The Egypt Game on there - that was definitely a childhood favorite - and ditto Caddie Woodlawn. And now I want to read The Children of Green Knowe, which I have somehow missed.

Ramona is a Star!

Yes, she is a star. (But I guess we already knew that!)
When Rory tweets, the Pioneer Press jumps.
Thanks, Oak Park 365!

Chomper and Clomper

A Learning Experience

Legos, anyone?

I think this would be an awesome program to copy--http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6666669.html
I bet Danny in particular can rock the blocks....

Give It Up for US!

We did a great job with our Mock Awards - Congrats to Rebecca Stead and Jerry Pinkney! Also congrats to Rory, who voted Homer P. Figg as an Honor book and was right.

I'm also thrilled to see Charles and Emma with a Printz Honor and YALSA Nonfiction Medal and My People with the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Medal - I loved those photographs and am glad to see it got recognized.

The Geisel Medal winner and two of the Honors are from our graphic novel section, which I think is quite interesting. I'll be adding those (and Homer P. Figg) to my reading pile.

What do you all think?

Children of Cyberspace?

I read this NYT article this morning and found it fascinating. I would love to hear what you guys think-- I'm typically not susceptible to "kids nowadays are doomed" (or even particularly different than kids of any era!) arguments. However, the idea of seeing nothing worrisome about never being "off the grid" rang Big Brother alarm bells for me...
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/10/weekinreview/10stone.html

Drop This Book...To Tell Us About It!

I found this article through our old ST intern Julie Jurgen's Twitter feed (yay for 2.0--her blog has some good/fun stuff in it, too) and thought it was really fascinating.

Both the idea (to actually have different book drops for people to casually designate books they're returning into different categories, like "amazing" or "funny" or "great for kids") AND the resulting retraction of the service.

Very telling: "The problem was not that the system was buggy or hard to use, but that it disrupted staff expectations and behavior."

Read this article, please, and let me know what you think!

Poor Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle

Laurel Snyder, who has written a few children's books, shared a fanfiction she wrote, The Last Days of Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle. Dark times, indeed.

Potter Puppet pals video

My thirteen year old nephew showed me this and it's hilarious. Some people have way too much time on their hands