Dear reader, I.....

by Paper Relics (Hope W. Karney)

*Also, I seriously covet this costume* 

Friday finishes

www.wallchan.com

Chapter 23. The Bridge to the Stars

"And we've got the alethiometer," she said. "Yeah. I reckon we've got to do it, Pan. We'll go up there and we'll search for Dust, and when we've found it we'll know what to do."

Roger's body lay still in her arms. She let him down gently.

"And we'll do it," she said.

She turned away. Behind them lay pain and death and fear; ahead of them lay doubt, and danger, and fathomless mysteries. But they weren't alone. 

So Lyra and her daemon turned away from the world they were born in, and looked toward the sun, and walked into the sky. 

The Golden Compass. Philip Pullman

October is Bullying Prevention Awareness Month

October days are winding down but it's never too late to focus on bullying.

Sadly, bullies abound and they aren't  restricted to just children and school yards. Young bullies grow into adult bullies and bossy know-it-all's. At some point, most of us will face one. There are many resources online, especially with cyber bullying so rampant, but here's a nice title to check out of the library.

Stand up for yourself. It's tough and not fun, but there really is a better way.

Happy 100th Birthday Mary Blair!

Disney illustrator Mary Blair is one of my ALL TIME FAVORITE artists. October 21st would have been her 100th birthday and I love that Google displayed this great tribute video for her.

We have some terrific books in the library featuring her superb art and style. Check one out and have a little birthday cupcake in honor of lovely Mary Blair.

Walt Disney's Alice in Wonderland
Walt Disney's Cinderella
Walt Disney's Peter Pan

Monday begins

http://awalkintheshire.blogspot.com

Chapter 1. An Unexpected Party

In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort.

The Hobbit. J.R.R. Tolkien

For Fran

We'll miss our colleague, our friend. We love you Franny. Golden slumbers fill your eyes.

Get cozy, Cat in the Hat style

yarn photo courtesy of Magnolia Handspun

As cold weather approaches, here's some cool yarn from Magnolia Handspun on ETSY. This color combination is called Cat in the Hat. All the handspun yarns in her shop are so delicious. Pick up a skein or two from Magnolia Handspun, hop on your bike and peddle through the leaves to the library, check out a cool knitting book, peddle home, knit purl knit purl and ta da! - your very own cat hat to wear whilst reciting Cat in the Hat to an adoring crowd.

Halloween at Hogwarts!

photo from Tumblr.com

Wouldn't that be fun!

Happy Fall dear readers

Almost time for the Great Pumpkin!

Regarding the Lexile reading system

photo from weheartit.com

One of my regular library families is reading the fun Regarding series by Kate Klise. When the girls come into the library they laugh and begin their request to me with, "Hello Miss Kitty! Yes, regarding the......<hold I placed yesterday> <the upcoming teen workshop> <the next book in this series>" I always laugh too.

Thusly, regarding the large number of families coming in with  Lexile recommended reading lists handed out at school, I say check with me before you spend too much time hunting down the exact titles.  Often series books are listed and if the exact title is checked out, an equally appropriate title is on the shelf. Many of the suggested titles are fine but some are not a good fit.  Often recommended titles on the same list will vary wildly in age appropriateness and reading complexity.  Lexile is a respected reading-ranking system and a fine place to start,  but I can help you fine-tune the list for books for your child that are a more suitable match, will appeal to your child interests,  and satisfy their teacher's concern for reading level correctness. See my post on September 12, 2011 for more information about Lexile.

Regarding the fountain?  A perfect choice for 4th to 6th grade readers and especially *"reluctant readers."

* a term Miss Kitty really doesn't like. Ask me why. 

What librarians and Google are for

Librarians are there:To help, aid, assist. To teach, collate, enthuse. To catalogue, index, arrange, organise. To find, discover, promote, display. To interest, intrigue, amuse and amaze. To instill wonder. To help children, adults, old people, the underprivileged, the rich, the poor, those with voices and those without. To protect resources, to archive them, to store them, to save them for the future. To provide differing viewpoints, to engender thought, conversation, research, fun. To provide the best answer possible, to match the answer to the enquirer, to provide just enough information without overwhelming the user, but enough to always help. To better a local community, a company, a school, a college, an organisation, a country, the world.

Google is there:To make money.

 From UK librarian Phil Bradley's blog.

To be sure, librarians are an endangered species and I fervently agree with Mr. Bradley's position on libraries and librarians. It's true that Google is there to make money, but Google is pretty terrific too. I think we can coexist in harmony if we teach our young readers to start with a real live librarian, and I do mean a professional librarian, and then further explore with Google. So come see me at my library, give me a hug, and ask me a question. I'm here for YOU.

Librarians looking at display of early English Children’s books by Christchurch City Libraries on Flickr.
I love Kekabette's comment, "The eternal allure of the besmocked librarian." Check out her Tumblr blog, Manifesto.

Puss in Boots

Before Dreamworks' movie Puss in Boots hits  theaters this month, be sure you check out the book.There are many versions available in the library but my very favorite is illustrated by Fred Marcellino. Look at those colors and Puss' expression!  I also love Phillip Pullman's version. I covet Puss' awesome hip boots; so chic!  Alas, I don't think I have the bravado to pull them off. 

Gallery Nucleus

I'm not fond of southern California's freeways, but I would make an exception and brave LA's scary freeways for a trip to Gallery Nucleus in Alhambra, California. Gallery Nucleus features an impressive line-up of talented artists and often children's illustrations are featured. I adore this giclee print by Caroline Hadilaksono.

Currently available on ETSY at CarolineHPArt. Click through. 

I treated myself to  Hogwarts as Night because Harry meant so much to me ( to all of us!)  The print is very nicely executed on high quality rag paper.

Currently available on ETSY at CarolineHPArt. Click through. 

I think many of the prints offered  would make fabulous gifts for the kids in your life and library.

Lucky for us we can subscribe to Gallery Nucleus' newsletter and oogle their art online.
All images originally from Gallery Nucleus 

Humbug

Witch!

And the real Humbug Witch....

Halloween with Harry

I love to see how other libraries decorate their children's room. I thought you might enjoy seeing some of the latest designs I made for my library!