Saturday, November 29, 2014

This week at the library; or, Guess whose turn it is to work Thanksgiving weekend?

Paws to Read, ready to go
What's going on: In my head and at the library
  • Not that I'm complaining - we all share the holiday weekends pretty equally. I'm just kind of tired right now. No programs this week - we had a staff meeting and then I had another meeting with Pattie and my director to finalize the schedule for next year. I spent most of the time I was here cleaning off my desk, working on neighborhoods, and working on the schedule.
  • We close at 5:30 on Wednesday (I came in late because I bought a freezer! but then Best Buy's weird insanities made it impossible to get it delivered, so one of the library staff really nicely came over to help me get it home. I left early because I was working Saturday) and are closed Thursday and Friday. Some libraries around here are open Friday, so we're lucky!
  • I did have reader's advisory questions, but I was too busy to remember what they were...

Friday, November 28, 2014

The Princess in Black by Shannon and Dean Hale; Illustrated by LeUyen Pham

I was excited when I heard about Shannon Hale's new series, mostly because I mainly heard it described as a graphic novel. Dear people; please note that a book containing illustrations is not automatically a graphic novel.

However, even though it turned out to be an illustrated beginning chapter book, I fell in love with plump and energetic Princess Magnolia.

The story opens with what appears to be a typical princess setting; dressed in frilly pink, Princess Magnolia is having tea with the Duchess Wigtower. Everything is absolutely perfect. But wait! Princess Magnolia has a secret - when the monster alarm sounds she turns into...the Princess in Black and defends her country from monsters! Can she keep her secret from the nosy Duchess Wigtower and Duff the goat boy?

LeUyen Pham pictures a princess who is perfect - perfectly awesome that is! Whether dressed in her fancy princess gowns or sporting svelte black and a sparkly crown, Magnolia's exuberant personality, smarts, and self-confidence shine through every page. She looks like an adorable and very real little girl with chubby cheeks, and not a hyper-sexualized doll. Pham's bright colors and cute characters are a sweet match for this story; like the text, they just sparkle with personality.

Verdict: This is a delightful new beginning chapter series, from the perfect blend of sparkly princess and action heroine, the dark-skinned goat boy, a personality in his own right (coming soon - the Goat Avenger!) and the silly monsters. I can't recommend this enough; it's got something for everyone and I think it will find immediate fans in your library.

ISBN: 9780763665104; Published 2014 by Candlewick; Review copy provided by LT Early Reviewers; Purchased for the library

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Read, Read, Read said the Baby: One Windy Day by Tammi Salzano, illustrated by Hannah Wood

This review was previously published. I rewrote and edited it.

A brief introductory sentence explains that Fox usually loves the wind but not today. The rest of the story is told through the pictures with the only text being opposites - "far, near", "left, right" etc. At the end, another sentence explains that Fox really does love windy days. The story told through the pictures shows Fox, a mail carrier, and all his letters being blown about by the wind, then collected with help from his friends.

This is a Tiger Tales book, so the art is very cute with lots of fuzzy animals. Some of the leaves are sparkly foil and slightly indented on the page. The cover is padded and the book is about 7x7 inches. The pictures are cute, as I said, but somehow out of focus and blurred, as though they were made with poor image resolution.

Verdict: Cute, but not enough that I feel we really need it. Plus, I always feel that padded board books are not the best choice for libraries - I don't think they're as sturdy. An additional purchase.

ISBN: 9781589258754; Published 2012 by Tiger Tales; Borrowed from another library in my consortium

Monday, November 24, 2014

Nonfiction Monday: Secrets of the Sky Caves by Sandra Athans

This book is a sort of Scientists in the Field for younger readers (and from a different publisher).

This book is about several archaeological expeditions to Mustang, in Nepal, and the investigations into the caves there. The book introduces historical and cultural information about Nepal and the history of the area under investigation, then details several expeditions that first photographed and then excavated the caves and what they found there.

Sidebars and sections detail historical information, legends, religious and cultural facts, and archaeological information. The book is filled with photographs of the mummies, cave paintings, and other artifacts discovered. Back matter includes a Who's Who of people involved in the expedition, a timeline, source notes, glossary, bibliography, and further information. There is also an index.

I just couldn't get into it. I finally forced myself to read it because it had to be returned to the library, but I just couldn't get interested. Part of the reason was I felt...uncomfortable with the whole expedition. Only on the third expedition is anyone even remotely local involved in the actual investigation. There are only brief mentions of interactions with the local people and all the experts are from overseas, except one archaeologist in the third expedition. One of the things I like about the Scientists in the Field series is that they give almost equal face time to local interactions, even if the local people aren't "experts" in the field, they talk about their knowledge and how they contribute to the investigation. I didn't see that here. Another reason I had trouble getting into this was it felt like a lot of information crammed into a small space. I think it would have been more interesting if it had focused on just one expedition instead of trying to pack the entire history of Nepal and an series of investigations spanning two decades into a 60 page book.

Verdict: I just couldn't get into this and I have a hard time thinking of any kids who will appreciate it. For a bigger collection, or if you have archeology fans or a Nepalese population, it would probably be useful.

ISBN: 9781467700160; Published 2014 by Milbrook/Lerner; Borrowed from another library in my consortium

Saturday, November 22, 2014

This week at the library; or, My extra week!

I hate taking my picture, but I
needed it for the Paws to Read
staff picks display
What's Happening: In my head and at the library
  • Somehow I thought this week was Thanksgiving. It was nice to discover there was an extra week in here, because I had a ton of work to do!
Programs
What the kids are reading:
  • Beginning chapters for a Captain Awesome fan - I gave them Hooey Higgins, Jo Schmo, and Down Girl and Sit.
  • The dreaded 1000 lexiles strike again - and half of what I looked at was checked out. They went with Blizzard of Glass (which the mom said sounded like an I Survived book and I was like Yes!) and Catherine Called Birdy.
  • And again - went with Savvy and Phantom Tollbooth this time.

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Read, Read, Read, said the Baby: Grumpy Cat by Britta Teckentrup

[This review has been edited and republished]

This is a board book version of the original, oversized picture book. I really liked some of the other things Britta Teckentrup has done, but this one was disappointing.

It's an annoying cliche that I detest - grumpy adult cat, appears to want to be alone but is really lonely alone, meets a friendly kitten who shows him how to be friends.

Because nobody could possibly ever want to be alone and if you're not smiling all the time there's something wrong with you.

Not that I'm biased. At all.

Teckentrup's illustrations are still fun, with broad, bold strokes of color and shapes and delightfully fuzzy details. However, the story has not been cut down much and especially for this small board book (7x5 inches) there is way too much text. Also, the storyline itself is not developmentally appropriate for a toddler.

Verdict: Teckentrup has done some really good board books for the toddler crowd, like My Book of Opposites, and I strongly recommend those. If you absolutely must have this book, purchase it as a picture book. Also, we are no longer friends, you anti-introvert person!

ISBN: 9781907967481; Published 2013 by Boxer Books; Borrowed from another library in my consortium

Monday, November 17, 2014

Nonfiction Monday: Tiny Creatures: The World of Microbes by Nicola Davies, illustrated by Emily Sutton

Nicola Davies is one of my absolute favorite authors of nonfiction for young children (the others are basically all Peachtree authors, in case you're wondering). She doesn't disappoint in this new book tackling a unique subject: microbes!

The book starts out by giving some scales of the size and number of microbes, then talks about how they are everywhere. There are comparative images of large and small microbes, and then my favorite spread which shows lots of different kinds of microbes so you can see all the unique shapes and patterns.

The book then explains how microbes can eat anything and that they transform things into something else, like milk into yoghurt! Davies attempts to explain how rapidly they split and increase with a stunning visual across two pages.

The story finishes with talking about how "the wrong kind of microbes" can make you sick and some simple precautions (like washing your hands) but reassures readers that there are very few microbes that will make you sick. The book ends with two gorgeous spreads showing the amazing BIG things that tiny microbes can do. "They are the invisible transformers of our world."

Sutton's illustrations are the perfect accompaniment to Davies' simple but beautiful text. She draws both cozy, cheerful pictures relating the abstract idea of something so tiny you can't see to the things you can see, and also stunning, delicate illustrations of microbes themselves.

Verdict: This will work in a storytime with an older audience; probably four and up. It will also be a great book for teachers and families to enjoy in smaller groups to pique children's curiosity about the world around them. Highly recommend.

ISBN: 9780763673154; Published 2014 by Candlewick; Borrowed from another library in my consortium; Added to the library's order list

Saturday, November 15, 2014

This week at the library; or, So much for all my planning time

What's happening: In my head and at the library
  • I turned my goals and program planning in to my director; now I just have to wait for her feedback, put them into the actual calendar, give it to my school colleague, and then meet to discuss and finalize next year. And, of course, actually plan the programs...
  • Still working on NEIGHBORHOODS, piles of stuff on my desk, Cybils, planning the last bits of programs for this year.
  • The homeschool thing went well - I basically just pulled together bits of all my regular school tours and then had some crafts. The kids really loved the scavenger hunts. There were about 25 people - some of them were just random people with toddlers and preschoolers who happened to be there and tagged along.
  • 74 people came to Lego Club. Then the next morning I had to take down all the tables and run back to back tours with my director for 70 four year olds. THIS is why I never have planning time!
  • I am trying desperately to keep my mind off next summer. You are planning WINTER and SPRING mind, not summer! Not yet! But I do have to at least briefly think about it because, if I'm going to step away from the CSLP theme which I definitely plan to do, I have to convince my director now because of the crazy ordering schedule of CSLP promotional material.
  • And then I realized I'd had an error in my formula in my budget spreadsheet and every time our cataloger had ordered teen fiction it had flipped over and back into the budget so I overspent my budget by $600. This was a rather fraught week.
Programs
  • Moms with multiples
  • Tiny Tots
  • Toddlers 'n' Books
  • Homeschool tour/library visit/scavenger hunts
  • November Outreach: Tales and Tails (1 visit)
  • Middle School Madness
  • Books 'n' Babies
  • Lego Club
  • Family Game Night
  • Kohls Wild Theater (including tour)
What the kids are reading
  • I spy/Look inside
  • Books about sentence structure/writing (tutor)
  • Alexander and the no good etc. (was in the back)
  • historical fiction at least 120 pages (school assignment)
  • ocean animals (this turned out to be dolphins and whales of course)
  • 800 lexile books - she wanted Jigsaw Jones, but it wasn't the right lexile. We went through the list and she ended up taking Allie Finkle and an Andrew Clements book.
  • Lego books
  • Dogs of War by Sheila Keenan

Friday, November 14, 2014

Winter is Coming by Tony Johnston, illustrated by Jim LaMarche

I grew up loving Tony Johnston's Amber on the Mountain and of course I love LaMarche's gorgeous, colorful, emotional paintings. Who doesn't? However, I was doubtful about liking this because it seemed too...poetic. Books of poetry don't do well in my library.

I am so glad I gave it a chance. This is a stunning, beautiful book. The story begins with the endpapers; upon opening the book you see clean notebooks, newly sharpened pencils, and binoculars. Moving into the story, a girl carries all these supplies to her observation post in the tree. The first page reads

"It is a cold September day. Fall is still here but ice is in the air. I feel it. Winter is coming."

From there, simple, poetic language accompanies the girl's observation of the wildlife and forest as winter approaches ever nearer. She sees a fox, bears, chipmunks, deer, a lynx. All of them searching for food and preparing for winter. Some of them will not survive, but that is the natural cycle of nature. Finally,

"Today no animals come.
Not one.
The clearing the trees are filled with
silence.
And wildness.
And cold.
They are waiting for something.
Winter is coming."

And then, in a few more brief pages, winter is here. In the final wordless spread the girl walks through the snow back to her warm house and the last set of endpapers show the sketches and notes she's made of the animals she's seen.

LaMarche's paintings always seem to have an inner glow but these are, I think, the best he has ever done. Each spread captures a different hue of autumn, from rich gold to softly fading brown. Each page is a different part of autumn, a different animal preparing. You can feel the silence and chill of the fading season.

Verdict: If you only buy one "literary" picture book for the year, make it this one. I've added it to my personal wishlist, which I don't often do. Highly recommended. A beautiful, beautiful book.

ISBN: 9781442472518; Published 2014 by Paula Wiseman/Simon and Schuster; Purchased for the library; Added to my personal wishlist

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Small Readers: Shampoodle by Joan Holub, illustrated by Tim Bowers

[This review has been previously published. It has not been edited.]

First of all, just look at that cover. Doesn't it make you want to giggle? I've been chuckling every time I glanced at it, and now that I've read the book my chuckles were not ill-founded.

It's time for a bath and a motley collection of dogs are going to the groomers. Baths, haircuts, and fancy touches are in store! But, uh-oh, something's gone wrong!

This is a level 2 Step Into Reading, which in their system means "reading with help". There are enough familiar simple words that a child can feel confident on their own but plenty of new fun words to sound out with a little help. Even with the limitations of language in an easy reader, Joan Holub has created a fun rhyming story that kids will enjoy working their way through and parents and teachers won't mind listening to for the fiftieth time!

Tim Bowers' illustrations are the perfect touch of hilarity, especially when he matches the dogs' crazy 'dos to their groomers' own haircuts. The pictures enhance the text without offering too many clues to readers.

Verdict: Hand this one to fans of Capucilli's Biscuit series and kids who like funny stories and stories about dogs. It's also going to be a good starter for kids reluctant to try stories on their own, as the fun pictures entice them in to try the chewy words for themselves! Highly recommended.

ISBN: 978-0375855764; Published October 2009 by Random House; Review copy provided by author; Added to the library's wishlist

Sunday, November 9, 2014

Planning next year at the library: Goals and program layout

Since I'm trying to plan many new things, I thought "hey, why not crowd-source?" So, this is my new mission statement, goals, and objectives for the youth services department (not final!) and my layout of programs for January - May. All suggestions, thoughts, criticisms, gratefully received...I'm especially always worried that I'm not underplanning or overplanning - it's hard to know what's a balance of programs, you know?

Mission Statement
The mission of the Youth Services Department of the Matheson Memorial Library is to provide informational, educational, and recreational services, in a friendly and supportive setting, to all families, children, and caregivers of the Elkhorn community. These services are available through quality materials and programs offered by a friendly and knowledgeable staff in a comfortable and welcoming environment. The Youth Services Department serves as a family gathering place focused on educating, enriching, and entertaining the families, children, teens, and caregivers of the public.


Department Goals
  • Serve all age groups with a variety of programs.
  • Serve all families and caregivers with a broad programming schedule
  • Make the Youth Services Department a destination by offering a welcoming, fun, and enriching environment


2014/2015 Objectives
  • Offer programs for each time slot (morning, afternoon, early evening, late evening)
  • Offer a wider variety of programs for early childhood; active/movement programs and programs directed at smaller groups.
  • Offer a wider variety of school-age programs, specifically for smaller groups, which will enable us to build relationships and encourage use of the collection
  • Revive middle school and teen programs, creating simple, sustainable programs that build on school-age program participants
  • Expand outreach to four year olds to build an audience for the preschool programming schedule.
How Will We Get There? Meeting Objectives
  • Alternate programs in time slots so we can offer more variety (monthly/bi-monthly instead of weekly)
  • Alternate programs - storytime/dance program/art program etc. instead of the same program every week
  • Stagger programs - don’t start everything all at once, put in gaps when I know there will be heavy calls for outreach (end of October, end of April)
  • Start with one middle school program (reviving middle school madness) and creating a teen volunteer program

  • Implement a planning schedule to streamline marketing, budgeting and create better long-term evaluation of programming and build word-of-mouth interest in programs
    • November (Thanksgiving) finalize plans for January - May
    • April (after big party) finalize plans for June - August
    • August finalize plans for September - December

Library programsStaffAudienceDayTimeFrequencyAvg. Att.
Pattie's C.A.F.E.Pattie0 to 5M10 to 12Monthly, 1st Monday20
Moms with MultiplesPattie0 to 5M10 to 12Monthly, 2nd Monday15
Playgroup with PattiePattie0 to 5M10 to 12Monthly, 4th Monday20
Tiny TotsPattie, Associate0 to 5M6:30 to 7:30Weekly15
BookaneersJennifer6 to 8M6:30 to 7Monthly, 4th Monday5
Toddlers 'n' BooksPattie0 to 5Tues10 to 122 sessions weekly25
Preschool InteractiveJennifer3 to 5W1:30 to 3Twice monthly20
Winter WigglersJennifer0 to 5W10 to 12Monthly20
We Explore NatureJennifer3 to 5W10 to 12Monthly (no 4K)20
Middle School MadnessAssociate11 to 13W3 to 5Weekly10
Books 'n' BabiesPattie0 to 2Thur10 to 12Weekly20
Lego ClubJenniferAllThur3:30 to 5:30Twice monthly35
Messy Art ClubJenniferAllThur3:30 to 5:30Monthly40
Mad Scientists ClubJenniferAllThur3:30 to 5:30Monthly35
Family game nightPattie0 to 5Thur6:30 to 7:30Monthly10
We Explore SciencePattie0 to 5F10 to 12Monthly40
We Explore Favorite ArtistsJennifer3 to 5F10 to 12Twice monthly20
Special Programs
Saturday kick-offPattie, JenniferSat10:30 to 11:30January
Angry BirdsJenniferAllF4 to 5January25
Paws to Read partyJenniferAllF4 to 5February25
Dr. Seuss partyJenniferAllF4 to 5February35
Annual Spring Break T-Shirt PartyJenniferAllF4 to 5March40
Under the SeaPattie, Jennifer3 to 5W10 to 12April200
Fancy partyJenniferAllF4 to 5May35
Muffins with MomJenniferAllSat10:30 to 11:30May25
Outreach
TLCJennifer3 to 5W1:30/9:30-114 classes monthly45
Step AheadJennifer3 to 5field trip to library in April
Lakelands Little LearnersJennifer3 to 5W/F4-6 monthly visits
TibbetsJennifer5 to 6Tues3 classes monthly
Jackson/West SideJennifer5 to 6F10 to 116-8 kindergarten classes200
Jackson/West Side/TibbetsJennifer8 to 12Tues8 to 12approx. 10 teams100
Jackson/West Side/TibbetsJennifer9 to 12 fifth grade classes250
Jackson/West Side/Tibbets/EAMS sixth gradeJennifer
HomeschoolJennifer
Stealth Programming
Paws to Read (winter)
1,000 books before kindergarten
Take home bags
Activity table
Culver's coloring contest
Birdwatching station

Saturday, November 8, 2014

This Week at the library; or, Settling down to work

This is a lame display. It was supposed to be a tree with
apples and pumpkins along the ground. It was supposed to be
up in September. At least the stuff is laminated. Next year...
What's going on: In my head and at the library
  • This week's projects were planning programs for November/December, updating the last bits of publicity, continuing to work on neighborhoods, and starting to put together a departmental mission, goals, and objects as well as a tentative calendar for next year. I was also training a new aide and beginning a serious battle against the Decay of Order in my department. Spirit Animals after Superheroes?? What were you thinking??
  • And, of course, end of the month reports! They seem to take more and more time...am I turning into....Management? Augh!
Programs
What the kids are reading
  • Wanted a Magic Tree House book, but both copies were checked out. Wanted a book they saw at the book fair, but all they had was "elementary...it had a boy...and stuff" we finally settled on Down Girl and Sit and Scary Tales.
  • Wanted "a book on what to take if you travel to Japan" but settled for books about Japan.
  • Neighborhoods are definitely showing me what's needed - I had a run on tractor books on Tuesday and was completely cleaned out.
  • Amulet (2 requests)
  • Bone (2 requests)
  • Minecraft - I think they wanted the graphic novels, but they're going to have to be satisfied with the many, many handbooks I purchased. I am highly suspicious of those bindings.
  • Stupid lexiles. 11 yr old girl looking for 1000 level lexiles. Lexiles suggests My Most Excellent Year, lots of nonfiction, thick classics, etc. We finally settled on Robinson's The Best School Year Ever.
  • Who was Ferdinand Magellan - I have absolutely nothing on him. I need to fill in this series.
  • Ready Freddy - firehouse fun, I'm missing this one
  • Mickey Mouse books - I'll look for some next time I buy tub books
  • MORE people want tractor books!
  • Talking to the teens about starting an anime collection next year and adding more manga - requests for Black Butler

Friday, November 7, 2014

El Deafo by Cece Bell

Cece Bell tells of her childhood experiences with school, friendship woes, and everyday family life with the added complication of her deafness.

When she was four, she had Meningitis and it left her severely deaf. She spends kindergarten at a school for the deaf, learning to lip-read and adjust to her hearing aid, but then her family moves and she has to go to a regular school. She also gets a "Phonic Ear" a bulky, heavy hearing aid that connects to a microphone worn by the teacher. It's great that she can hear so clearly, but the Phonic Ear makes her feel self-conscious and isolated. She struggles with friendships, first with a girl who doesn't make a big deal out of her deafness, but is pushy and possessive, then with a girl who is fun to be with but makes a big deal out of her deafness. Finally, she discovers a younger girl in her neighborhood who is her perfect friend, but disaster strikes and their friendship is broken.

Throughout her trials and tribulations, she has her fantasies to sustain her, especially once she realizes she can hear her teacher anywhere in the school - even the bathroom! The story ends with her reconciling with her friend, possibly connecting with her crush, and becoming El Deafo, the superhero, not just to herself but to her widening circle of friends.

Bell's art has the strong lines and colorful palette that kids picking up this type of graphic novel look for, but she skilfully shows her isolation and confusion with the blank expressions on people's faces and the spurt of nonsense syllables filling the backgrounds as she tries to adjust to her different hearing aids.

A lot of people, librarians included, are comparing this to Raina Telgemeier and touting it as a read-alike. Telgemeier herself blurbed the book as well. I disagree with this for several reasons:

  • El Deafo covers preschool through fifth grade - Smile goes from fifth grade to middle school
  • Younger kids won't think anything of the choice to portray all the characters as rabbits, but the majority of older elementary and middle school readers won't pick up a book with anthropomorphic animals, because it looks "babyish"
  • Telgemeier's art, like Bell's, is very clean-cut and easy to follow, lots of clear lines, expressive faces, etc. However, Bell's rabbit faces have much more limited expressiveness than human faces and she has a much more subdued palette, with lots of earth tones and lighter colors.
While I'm game to recommend anything that will get kids reading, and I'll certainly have a shot at suggesting this to younger fans of Telgemeier, they're apt to be disappointed. This is more likely to resonate with younger readers navigating elementary school, than those who are looking towards middle school.

Verdict: While I don't think this is a good fit for the way it's being publicized, I do think it's a really good portrayal not only of how one person dealt with being deaf but also with the everyday joys and despairs of elementary school. Recommend this to kids not quite ready to tackle Telgemeier or Myracle and to those who want stories about "real kids". If you can get them to look past the rabbits, they'll really enjoy it! Recommended.

ISBN: 9781419710209; Published 2014 by Amulet/Abrams; Purchased for the library

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Read, Read, Read, said the Baby: Up Close by Gay Wegerif


[This review has been edited and republished]

This is a cute idea, but too abstract for a really successful board book.

The first page says "Up close I see your [shape, body part, such as "round snout"]. You are a..." The next page shows several shapes, as on the cover, to create an abstract of an animal. The final page of the triad says the animal's name. Kids would enjoy identifying the shapes and colors, but the images are far too abstract to really identify the animals, especially for the babies and toddlers who are the audience for board books.

It's not a bad book - it's a clever idea and little ones enjoy shapes and colors and a good reader could make this a fun interactive experience, but it's not really developmentally appropriate and one of my pet hobby horses for board books is that they're created for a much older and more sophisticated audience - if the concept is too difficult or abstract for the average toddler, it should be a picture book, not a board book.

Verdict: An additional purchase, if you need more board books.

ISBN: 9781419703911; Published 2013 by Harry N. Abrams; Borrowed from another library in my consortium

Monday, November 3, 2014

Nonfiction Monday: Park Scientists by Mary Kay Carson, photographs by Tom Uhlman

Park Scientists is another entry in the award-winning Scientists in the Field. This book visits three different national parks and examines two scientific studies of natural phenomena and wild animals in each park.

The book opens with a map of all the national parks in the United States (and now I want to go up north to the only one near Wisconsin - Isle Royale!) and a brief introduction to how scientists use national parks.

The first park is Yellowstone. We start with the facts - "How big? How old? How Busy?" as well as "Reasons to go" and websites to find out more about the park and its attractions. The chapter on Yellowstone examines two facets of the park - the famous geysers and the grizzly bears. The reader follows two geologists, who are also park rangers, as they keep a close eye on the geysers and the volcano that fuels them. Additional information about geysers is included in inset boxes and in a full spread. The second chapter on Yellowstone features grizzly bears and a wildlife biologist who does research in Yellowstone. This chapter includes information about the history of bears in Yellowstone and how contemporary scientists are studying them as well as the challenges they - and the bears - face.

The second park is Saguaro. After the initial facts, there is a chapter on Gila monsters, the largest indigenous reptile in the US. Herpetologists are studying the Gila monster not only to gather information on this elusive animal, but also to track their well-being in the park. The chapter includes information on citizen scientists, helping to track the Gila monster, which ties into the next chapter on the saguaro cactus, which is also being tracked by citizen scientists. This chapter includes a lot of historical information, as the study of a section of these cacti (Section 17) is "one of the longest-running annual monitoring programs for any species in the U.S. national parks.

The third park featured is the Great Smoky Mountains national park. We first meet a biologist studying salamanders, specifically red-cheeked salamanders, with attention to projections as to whether their population will survive the rapidly changing temperatures in their small habitat. The second chapter features fireflies and scientist Lynn Faust who first reported the unique phenomena of synchronized flashing, previously thought to exist only in Asian fireflies.

The book ends with a glossary of "words to know", a brief bibliography, and an index.

Verdict: I didn't feel as though I got to know the scientists as well in this volume, since there were so many different groups of them, but I definitely learned interesting things about the three national parks. This will not only appeal to kids interested in science and animals, but also to parents planning family trips to national parks. A great entry in the series that's a definite must for your library.
ISBN: 9780547792682; Published 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; Purchased for the library

Saturday, November 1, 2014

This week at the library; or, This is winter? Oh, there it is.

What's going on, in my head and at the library
  • I finished my class on youth services management this week. It was really helpful - I learned a lot of useful things, both theoretical and practical, and I am going to be working on creating a general mission and goals as well as some concrete objectives for my department now.
  • I really need to remember to just block out the end of October for outreach. I tried contacting all the teachers at the beginning of the school year, but I guess their schedules are too iffy and it seems like they all show up at the end of October at once!
  • Our school district is working on an initiative called Project R.E.A.D. They had Dr. Navsaria this Tuesday as part of the program and I set up a table to promote the library as a resource. I had orange butterfly masks to decorate and lots of orange pumpkins and orange and black circles. I mostly reconnected with a lot of families I hadn't seen in a while, so that was good.
  • We are lucky to have a staff work day and even luckier that it usually lands on October 31 or thereabouts so I don't have to decide whether or not to do anything for Halloween! Our big project this year was getting started on RFID. Well, it's better than the year we cleaned the basement...I was working on neighborhoods anyways. I conquered the Cs and several miscellaneous stacks! We work from 9-3, which gives us an early day. 
  • Unless you're working Saturday, like me, in which case you work a 40+ hour week. I went in early after breakfast with my friend. She got breakfast, but then she had to help move tables and computers. I'm still trying for a good layout of the teen area. I also put out table tents trying to tactfully steer teens out of the children's area and adults out of the teen area.
  • We also had a special...thingy...for donors on Sunday. I volunteered to give behind-the-scenes tours, as long as I wasn't expected to get dressed up and mingle with the fancy people or anything (this is why I'm not the head of a department in a larger library system. I have no social graces)
  • BLOG NEWS: I've decided to simultaneously start a new feature but also cut back a little. Read, Read, Read said the Baby (my board book reviews) will now be posted on Wednesdays and alternate with Small Readers (my new easy reader series) which is a nod to some of my favorite childhood easy readers like Small Pig and Little Bear. So, my review schedule will look like this:
    • Monday: Nonfiction (easy to middle grade)
    • Wednesday: Read, Read, Read, Said the Baby (board books) OR Small Readers (easy readers)
    • Friday: fiction (picture books, beginning chapter books, middle grade)
    • Saturday: This week at the library
    • Sunday: RA RA READ or other features (irregular)
Programs
What the kids are reading
  • Animal books for a kindergartener - yay neighborhoods!
  • Uh....I know I was asked for other stuff but this week was a little exhausting, so I don't really remember...