Boston is for readers.

Check out this nifty little link to a literary tour of Boston! And then come visit me so we can hobknob around to each destination before getting a bowl of chowda.

My Security Blanket (and I'm not talking about my real Winnie the Pooh security Blanket)

Aaaah! February break is upon us. I always look forward to time off or away as a chance to get some serious reading done. And what I mean by that is not the half an hour you get in as you fall asleep every night but the kind you can do for a few hours a day...maybe not a habit you could sustain but one you can indulge on vacation. I can genuinely say knowing that some good, quality reading time is around the corner helps me plug and chug and ask students for hall passes all the live long day! Everyone has that something.

In some ways, I consider this hobby of mine a sort of security blanket. Whatever kind of annoyance or radar blip occurs, just remembering that I can get back to that book (provided I am actually involved with a good read at the time) at the end of the day helps me relax. And, when getting out of town, having something on hand to get into gives me my own separate reality. The past few trips I've taken, whether for a week or a weekend, I have packed at least 3 books. And more often than not, one or maybe two get read. But I wholeheartedly mean this: knowing that they are there really provides some sort of comfort in a way that I haven't found with my other distractions (i.e. trashy tv...another habit I tend to overindulge). I think you can really claim a book as your own. Even if you're reading the latest Harry Potter and every person, adult or kid, on the street is carrying their own copy, your experience with the story feels personal.

And now that I think of it, I've been relying on the consistency of the printed word for a long time now. A few summers ago when I led trips in the woods for a week to 10 days at a time, cramming reading material into the old pack was always a must. Many a fellow guide would probably balk at my maximal habit, but on most trips, I would take at least one book (2 if I was halfway through a book to avoid the catastrophe of running out of something to read in the middle of nowhere), a journal, and a magazine. And I don't regret the extra weight one bit. I read many a book, good and bad, on those trips including Travels with Charley, some Kundera, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, and the mighty Moby Dick (which I unwisely thought would be a great read for those long nights reading by flashlight in a tent).

Anyway, on my list for next week is (drumroll, please):

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou, 1969

February is Black History Month, and it feels like every high schooler around is reading A Raisin in the Sun, Beloved, or I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. Having never read ANY of these picks, I opted for Maya Angelou. I'm only about 50 pages in, but so far, so good. The autobiographical book tells of Angelou's childhood beginning with her move to Arkansas from California to live with her grandmother.

The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson

This book has haunted me for the past 3 years. I feel like everywhere I go it appears on book displays either at the airport or on popular nonfiction tables. And many a fellow reader has recommended it. It tells the stories of 2 men, an architect and a serial killer, whose lives intertwine at the World's Fair in Chicago at the end of the 19th century.  What's not to like? Chicago, serial killers, and the turn of the century? I'll let you know how it is.

The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane

Just like my Maya Angelou choice, The Red Badge of Courage is a reflection of my insecurities as a new high school librarian. Students are required to do research papers on American or British "classics", and I'm beginning to see how few of these I have read. So here goes!

Leviathan by Scott Westerfield

This is book 1 of a popular, new young adult series by Westerfield (the author of another popular YA series: The Uglies).  I really don't know too much about it EXCEPT it is a new steampunk title, a genre with which I have very little experience. So let's dive in to this World War I imaginative tale!

BONUS! Watch this Leviathan "book trailer."


And there are really more, but I am traveling so I have limited space. Of course, of course, of course, I know I'll probably only get through 2 books, and that would be fine with me. I certainly don't believe in rushing through a book just to check it off some sort of list. Take as long as you need! Never rush a book or force yourself to read one you just aren't digging (ahem...Moby Dick). But knowing I have options no matter where I am? It helps me sleep at night.

*Images from BarnesandNoble.com.

Expand your Childrens' Book Mind!

I am writing in reaction to a recent shopping experience for a 5 year old child's birthday present. As a librarian, every time a gift-giving occasion arises, I feel responsible to produce some sort of book. Browsing around for the perfect selection is too much fun for me, probably as much fun as others may have finding a great pair of shoes, and I use any occasion (birthday, Christmas, 4th of July!, etc.) as an excuse to indulge my selfish book addiction.

In an act of uncharacteristic forethought, I started considering what book(s) this particular pre-Ker would really get a kick out of far before her birthday. No matter what the age of the recipient and what type of gift you're giving, you must always keep the receiver in mind. For example, I thought about buying a set of Spanish bingo cards to support the skills she is picking up in a Spanish immersion program. My boyfriend politely pointed out that this gift would make her parents far happier than it would make her. She'd probably toss it to the side along with the cards and envelopes as she opened presents and unintentionally break my heart. So I decided to channel my inner 5 year old.

A few selections came to mind from my days student teaching in an elementary school library. I decided to get her the following books that not only did I enjoy reading, but the youngest students went crazy over:

 

I Ain't Gonna Paint No More by Karen Beaumont, Illustrated by David Catrow, 2005

Kids will love lending their voice to the sing-songy text of this book while they enjoy the creative illustrations. Catrow uses bright splashes of paint to accompany the feelings of the story. Also, there is an element of rhyme which gets early readers involved as they shout out the obvious words.

Dogzilla by Dav Pilkey (author and illustrator), 2003

Love, love, love Dogzilla! And who wouldn't? Illustrated with a mixture of photographs and paint, this book tells the story of the terrifying Dogzilla and the terror he unleashes on the citizens of Mousopolis. Clever word choice make this a funny read for all ages.

Good Boy, Fergus! by David Shannon, 2006

Kids love books about any animal, but they especially love dogs. Good Boy, Fergus! really doesn't have much of a story line, but in my experience, readers will laugh and watch charming Fergus the whole way through. And they'll try to tell you every tiny piece of information about any dog they have ever seen. The very little bit of text leaves time for comments and enjoyment of the soft and vibrant illustrations.

Now back to my shopping adventure. Everything was fine and dandy until I actually went to find these books! I figured the Beaumont book may be a bit tough to locate in your average, chain bookstore, but I had hope for the other two titles seeing as they are by Dav Pilkey, the author of the wildly popular Captain Underpants series AND winner of the 1997 Caldecott for The Paperboy, and David Shannon, a very successful picture book writer and illustrator well known for his No, David! books. Boy, was I wrong. I scoured the shelves at 3 separate book sellers, 2 large chains and one neighborhood children's bookstore, to no avail. And what I did find there was a big disappointment. 

Now don't get me wrong. I too have many wonderful memories of the classics like Goodnight Moon and The Very Hungry Caterpillar, but if I have to choose between Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see?  and Where the Wild Things Are one more time (which pains me to say because I do love Maurice Sendak), I might lose it. Unfortunately, children's book selection at most stores is so limited to these classics and a few other very popular series. Everything else seems to get lost in the shuffle. If you want something a little different, you have to know what you're looking for and order it online. Where can we go to browse? Luckily, a library is a great place to start. Librarians develop their collections based on not only popularity as a store would but on reviews, educational strengths, and suggestions from other book nerds. Also, do not buy a book just because it boasts the distinction of a New York Times Bestseller. This is no indication of quality...it just means a lot of people bought it. A lot of people also watch Jersey Shore (...ahem). Read reviews from other places like School Library Journal. Check out their blogs (like this one) as well. You might also want to join an online reading community like Shelfari or GoodReads.

My final selections are what some may call early readers and (BONUS) are even funny for kids' grown up reading companions! Early readers can help kiddos transition from being read to into reading themselves. Extra bonus: they are both parts of series you can read out of order. So if you fall in love with the characters, you can join them on many more adventures.

I Spy Fly Guy! by Ted Arnold, 2009

This early reader book may give kids that big kid feeling as they flip from chapter to chapter. Lovable Buzz and his Fly Guy play hide-and-seek in this funny and colorful tale.

My Friend Is Sad by Mo Willems, 2007

Willems seems to get to the heart of what kids really want to read (i.e. pigeons driving buses in Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, 2003). In My Friend is Sad, an Elephant and Piggie book, Willems uses muted colors and simple dialogue to tell a short story about cheering up. Early readers will be able to follow along and work their way into beginner reading skills.




*Images from BarnesandNoble.com