Most overused word in blogs

If I read the annoying, too trendy, trying-to-sound-clever word snarky in one more blog description or profile I'm going to vomit. When did this become the 'it' word with so many bloggers? I don't know how many times I've seen it in the last month or so while I've been checking out existing blogs. I for one refuse to use it here. I encourage you to do the same.

Webkinz are taking over the world

My kids received Webkinz for Christmas and the whole family, even my husband, is now addicted to playing with them in their virtual homes on the Web. I like to feed them and take them to the doctor. My husband likes playing the games and my son enjoys spending his hard earned kinzcash buying furniture for his monkey's bedroom.

I know we're not the only ones because I see young girls and boys doing the exact same thing on each of our internet computers at my library. These little, furry, beany-baby type animals are invading and I know it won't be long before they're popping up in McDonald's Happy Meals. Don't say I didn't warn you. I'm just trying to figure out how to harness this mania into a program for my library. Any ideas?

Inkheart the Movie

I only read Cornelia Funke's Inkheart because a book group made up of school and public librarians decided to read it last February. I'm glad I was forced to read it because fantasy is not usually my genre of choice. I did enjoy it and am thrilled to see that a movie is in the works as I write. Most importantly - I'd like to let everyone know how thrilled I am with the choice of Paul Bettany as Dustfinger, the fire-eater. I can't wait to see it. He's a perfect choice.

Happy New Year & My Favorite J Books of 2006

This year I resolve to read more J fiction. I tried this year, honestly. I just happened to find more interesting YA titles. In fact, I haven't read one J book that I feel very strongly about to win the Newbery Medal. I read many titles that I liked, but none that gave me that 'special' Newbery vibe. You know what I'm talking about. I'll be looking forward to the announcement on January 22nd. While we're all waiting these are my favorites of 2006 in no particular order:

Weedflower by Cynthia Kadohata
(I was sure that Kira-Kira was a Newbery winner the minute I finished it, no one in my department believed me. Ha!)

Monkey Town: the Summer of the Scopes Trial by Ronald Kidd

Shug by Jenny Han

Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer (Probably more YA than J but I Really liked it)

The Green Glass Sea by Ellen Klages

And finally my award for most intriguing cover for a book that I haven't read but hope to start reading soon ....

A Drowned Maiden's Hair by Laura Amy Schlitz

My Library

In case you're wondering.... this is where I spend my days.

Isn't it beautiful?

Illustrators

I have the artistic ability of a gnat. I can't draw or paint. I can take decent photographs though. However, when I find someone who can draw well I am amazed by their ability to evoke so much with a simple (or not so simple) drawing. I took my boys to see Charlotte's Web today and I was blown away by the opening credits. A little post movie research uncovered the illustrator as Kathryn Rathke. I highly recommend checking out her work. The movie was pretty good too. I wonder is she's interested in doing a picture book. I'd be one of the first to buy.

Another bit of information I discovered about the film is that it was filmed entirely in Australia. So much for moving to that perfect little town here in the States. Bummer.

I've not invisible

Jennifer Armstrong, author of Once Upon a Banana, linked to this blog on her blog. I couldn't believe it. I clicked on the link and I was looking at my very own blog. Check it out.

I just started this blog in December and I guess I'm not as invisible as I thought. Here's to more blogging and the like in 2007.

Day at the Desk

So it is Saturday, the 30th and we've been pretty busy with people coming in for last minute movie selections and kids needing homework help on projects they haven't thought about since school let out 2 weeks ago. This is a sampling of things I've been asked for help with today:

1. I'm looking for a movie that a librarian talked about last summer for the Summer Reading Club that has a cat named Sassy. (Homeward Bound)

2. I need a poem about Home. (This second grader ended up taking a few poetry anthologies)

3. We are looking for a chapter book series about a little bear. (Little Bear by Minarik)

And this one is my favorite:

4. Do you have the book Land of Terinthia? It's a new movie. (Bridge to Terabithia)

Have a happy new year!

Anticipating 2007 titles

Check out Class of 2k7 for titles being released in 2007, written by first time children's and YA lit authors. I stumbled upon this site last week and found lots to look at and a few titles I'm already excited for. Here are a few YA titles that I'm putting on my 'fun' reading list for 2007:

Story of a Girl by Sara Zarr (just got a starred review in SLJ)
The Web site says "When she is caught in the backseat of a car with her older brother’s best friend, Deanna Lambert’s teenage life is changed forever."

Before After and Somebody In Between by Jeannine Garsee
Takes place in Cleveland, Ohio (not too far from me) and involves 14 year old Martha, her alcoholic mother, a school bully and a chance to start over with the 'perfect' family.

Carpe Diem by Autumn Cornwell
16 year-old, overachiever, Vassar Spore is forced to go backpacking in Southeast Asia with her Grandmother. Along the way she sweats alot, falls in love, and discovers a family secret. I just like the backpacking adventure part, but now I'm dying to know what the secret is.

Kadir Nelson rocks!

Is it just me, or does anyone else think Kadir Nelson is overdue for some Caldecott love? I think his latest offering is one of the most stunning books published this year. Go check it out for yourself. You won't be sorry.

Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom
by Carole Boston Weatherford and Kadir Nelson.

Mock Caldecott 2007

My library held it's 3rd Mock Caldecott Election a few weeks ago. I initiated the Mock Election when I began working here - and it is one of my favorite things to put together each year. Our list of candidates was compiled by all of the Children's Librarians in my library and then voted on by staff and the public. Because we have 6 Librarians that put together the final list, I don't necessarily agree with the entire selection. I would have included a few other titles but we keep our list short as to not confuse the general public.

Our Candidates:

Adele & Simon by Barbara McClintock
Beach by Elisha Cooper
Below by Nina Crews
Dear Fish by Chris Gall
An Egg is Quiet by Dianna Aston (Sylvia Long)
Five For A Little One by Chris Raschka
Follow the Line by Linda Ljungkvist
Hippo, No Rhino! by Jeff Newman
Mammoths on the Move by Lisa Wheeler (Kurt Cyrus)
Move! by Steve Jenkins
Play, Mozart, Play! by Peter Sis
So Sleepy Story by Uri Shulevitz
Ten-gallon Bart by Susan Stevens-Crummel (Dorothy Donohue)
Thelonius Monster’s Sky-High Fly Pie by Judy Sierra (Edward Koren)
Walk On: A Guide For Babies of All Ages by Marla Frazee

Our Winner:

Mammoths on the Move

Honor Books:

Adele & Simon and Dear Fish

So there you have it. Here's to hoping that we got one of the future winners on our list.

What I'm Reading Now

All of the books I currently have in my reading pile are Teen books. Why is that? I can't seem to find anything on our J fiction shelf that is keeping me interested. Maybe it's because we haven't received any new books lately (despite recommending plenty of titles to my department head). Anyway here's what I'm currently reading, just finished, or have waiting at home to read while on vacation.

Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer
I can't tell you how paranoid this book is making me. I've been having weird dreams at night. I check CNN every few hours for possible enviromental disasters. I've even been cautious of what I'm eating and wearing for no apparent reason. Other than these phobias I'm really enjoying the book and can't wait to get back to reading it. I've tried reading it while I'm at the desk, but I just can't concentrate fully on the book.

The Rules of Survival by Nancy Werlin
I finished this book in only 3 days, whick is a miracle since I've had children. I was really interested in it and I still find myself thinking about the characters since I've finished it. It's been on lots of lists this year and now I know why.

Sold by Patricia McCormick
Haven't started it yet, but looking forward to it next week. It has been getting a lot of attention this year too and I hope it lives up to the hype.

I'm leaving on a Jet Plane

Ok, so I'm not really leaving on a jet plane, but I officially start my holiday vacation in 2 hours and 48 minutes. No work for 11 days. Yeah! I'm looking forward to spending time with my two adorable boys. We are planning on making cookies, going to see Charlotte's Web and finishing our Christmas shopping.

Speaking of Christmas shopping, today is the last day to order books from Amazon that qualify for super savings with no shipping charges. This is the order I placed today:

For my two year old - Tools by Taro Muira and I'm Dirty by Kate McMullan because he's really into tools and backhoes this one was a no-brainer.

For my five year old - Adele & Simon by Barbara McClintock and Pancakes for Supper by Anne Isaacs. We both loved reading Adele & Simon together, because having been a French major long ago, I loved the Paris connection and Pancakes are our favorite breakfast!

For my eleven year old niece - Each Little Bird that Sings by Deborah Wiles and Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli. She had a difficult year fitting into middle school and she lost 2 family pets this year. Ouch. Hope these books will help.

What is wrong with people?

So my library had the unfortunate experience last night with a lewd act in the Children's Library. It involved a man in his twenties - and he was going solo. An adult patron witnessed this and alerted a staff member. Thank goodness there weren't any children in the area at the time. Seriously, what is wrong with people? More specifically what is wrong with men? Why don't we ever hear about this happening by a woman? It's always men.

At school with Avery

Today I had the wonderful pleasure of spending the morning in my son Avery's kindergarten class. I knew that I had wanted to become more of a presence in his school life, but up until I actually visited his classroom, talked with his peers, and assisted in class projects did I know how much I really would love being there for him in that way. I new that he felt the same way when he offered me the following statement later on in the day, "Mom, you know what was the best thing that happened to me today?" "When you came to my school." Such sweet little words that mean so much. Turns out it was the favorite part of my day too.

In many ways I wish that I could go back to school and major in early childhood education. My professional life as a Children's Librarian is close, but I imagine not as rewarding as spending 9 months of the year with young children in a classroom setting. The teacher/student relationship is so strong in those early years. My experience in the classroom this morning affirmed that helping them with something as simple as rhyming and watching them learn to write words is one of the most gratifying events I have been a part of.

I should have listened to my mother, a retired first grade teacher, who tried to tell me all those years that I should be a teacher. How little we listen to our parents as we grow up - when in fact they hold the keys to our future.

New Books in 2007

A friend at work just downloaded a list of YA books to be published during 2007. After looking at the list for some time I'd like to share with you the books that I am most looking forward to reading in the coming year. I hope that my wait of almost 3 to 6 months to read each of them will be worth it. (I am not one of the librarians fortunate enough to recieve ARCs. Nor am I financially capable of attending ALA - therefore I have to wait for wide release like the rest of the general population). Anyway, here they are:


Sara Ryan's sequel to Empress of the World, has been a long time coming... I can't wait.
This list will be continued at a later date...

Snow has finally arrived

Well, after many long weeks without snow, it has finally started to fall in northeast Ohio. Just a sprinkle of the white stuff, but enough to make me wish for more. Especially since it is now officially December. To celebrate I'd like to include a shout out for one of my favorite new seasonal books Snow Sounds: an onomatopoeic story by David A. Johnson.

Snow Sounds is a quiet little book, ironically quiet since it has the word sounds in the title. However, the artwork and the feeling of the book are reminiscent of quiet nights by the fireplace watching snow falling all around outside. Snow blankets everything with white and the air is crisp and cool, but soothing. I liked this book - and think you should check it out if you haven't done so already.