The Case of the Case of Mistaken Identity by Mac Barnett

The Case of the Case of Mistaken Identity by Mac Barnett, Illustrated by Adam Rex

photo from parnassusbooks.net

The Review...

Steve Brixton is fully prepared to become a real detective, just like his heroes Shawn and Kevin Bailey of the Bailey Brothers Mysteries. The Bailey Brothers Detective Handbook has taught Steve all he needs to know to catch goons and baddies, including how to set traps, find the best hiding spot and, of course, pull off the old “Flex-Your-Muscles-While-You’re-Getting-Tied-Up Trick.” But when Steve is assigned a report on early American needlework, there is no way he’ll be putting all his knowledge to good use… or is there?  Mac Barnett, a.k.a. Mac, has written a hilarious, action packed mystery, full of traps, chases, escapes, window jumping and, of course, badge carrying Librarians with a cause. The Case of the Case of Mistaken Identity is a high energy adventure recommended for ages 8-12.

The Opinion...

So a few weeks ago I attended ALA and had a lovely, albeit brief, encounter with Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen as they were signing Extra Yarn. At my first day back and the Pub, I decided we’d have a Mac Barnett party in the children’s office. We took turns reading his books aloud to each other. And in the midst of my Mac Barnett party, I discovered the Brixton Brothers. How had I missed the fact the Mac Barnett had written a few novels?? Naturally, I immediately checked out the first one.

Clearly, Mac’s goal in this first book was to make every librarian ever immediately love him. It worked. As if he needed this. I mean, have you read any of his picture books? They’re funny, imaginative, chaotic and wonderful.

On the back of the book is a quote from Jon Scieszka calling this book the “craziest, funniest book you will read all year.” He might be right. I laughed out loud and gasped out loud multiple times. And at the point when Steve had solved the case, I laugh-gasped so excitedly I literally scared a few patrons.

Listen, Mac. Can we be friends and you tell me stories every day? K, thanks. 

How To by Julie Morstad

How To, by Julie Morstad. Simply Read Books, 2013.

photo from parnassusbooks.net

The Review...

In this beautifully crafted how-to book, Morstad’s illustrations give vibrant expressions of childlike thought. The text alone is simple, with no capital lettering and limited punctuation: “how to go fast” or “how to watch where you’re going.” But the illustrations allow the text to take on completely new meanings. A page that reads “how to wash your face” shows a little girl standing face up in the rain. The illustrations seem simple, leaving vast amounts of negative space, yet the artwork is lovely, creative, and humorous. How To is recommended for ages 2-6, or anyone who wants to reconnect with their inner child.

The Opinion…

Loved it. Loved. It. 

I may end up buying this as a coffee table book. Because I want everyone I know to take a moment, relax, and flip through. 

The Magic of a Well-Loved Book... Or: Passive Aggressive Is Not My Love Language.

This week I experienced a first at the pub. Now any of you who have worked in a library for a while have probably already experienced this, but I’m still relatively new to the Pub world.

What was this new experience, you may be wondering?? Was it that wonderful moment when a patron thanks you for all your hard work? Or when a child draws a picture of your story time for you to hang at your desk? Or when a teen comes back to tell you that he or she loved that book you recommended?

Oh no.

It was that magical moment when a patron writes a passive aggressive note and tapes it to the cover a book before dropping it off at circ.

This particular note was not addressed to me specifically, but the library as a whole. But since I found it, I'd like to claim it.

It was written by a mom of a young girl who recently came to check out some picture books. She notes that they are “saddened that ½ or 6 of the 12 books needed repairs.” I’d like to first point out that I am aware that ½ of 12 is, in fact, 6.

She also “taped pages and repaired one spine” because she does not want her daughter to see “destroyed books.”

She goes on to tell us how many thrift store books she has repaired and that she brought her daughter to the library because she wants her daughter to “care deeply for your books.”

She has underlined this last line, as if to point out that we need to learn to do so as well.

While I appreciate anyone who cares deeply for books, I do not appreciate someone assuming that just because there are worn out books on my shelves then I must not actually care about books. If I didn’t care about books, I would not be a librarian. 

Period.

When books are worn out, that is typically a sign that a book has been checked out by many patrons. In fact, I daresay it is a sign that a book has been deeply cared for and well loved by many, many other children and families.

Sure, there are books on our shelves that are falling apart. That happens. Unfortunately, we cannot inspect every book as it is reshelved. Most likely, if we are not told it is damaged, we don’t know to fix it. Nor can we afford to replace every book with a torn page. Your public library, as in any other business, has a (likely very limited) budget. And believe me, we are open to any and all donations. Feel free to buy us some new copies of your favorites!

So, dear patrons, if you come across a damaged book from your local Pub, tell a librarian. We will be glad to do our best to repair or replace it if at all possible. As our head of tech services put it “Please don’t put scotch tape in my book. Just tell me!” 

Understand that when a book appears to be falling apart that it has likely been read over and over and over. Rather than assuming that books are not being cared for, perhaps you could teach your children that when a book looks like that it means lots of children have held and read and loved that very book. 

If that isn’t magical, then what is?! 

Navigating Early by Clare Vanderpool

Navigating Early, by Clare Vanderpool,

photo from parnassusbooks.net

Delacorte Books, 2013.

The Review…

Shortly after his mother’s death, Jack Baker is sent to an all-boys boarding in Maine. Faced with unfamiliar people, climate, sports, and terrain, Jack finds himself in a sudden friendship with Early Auden. Early, “that strangest of boys,” who has rules about which records can play on which day of the week and counts jelly beans to calm himself, is obsessed with the number pi and a certain black bear that has been stalking the Appalachian Mountains. When Early sets off on his own journey into the Appalachian wilderness to find pi, Jack has no choice but to follow. Vanderpool successfully weaves mystery, suspense, grief and fantasy into a poignant tale of two boys desperately searching for something to hold on to. The wistful journey leaves both the boys and the reader with a sense of friendship and hope. Recommended for ages 10-13, Navigating Early is an excellent piece of storytelling.

The Opinion…

I really enjoyed this book. Clare Vanderpool is a deep and detailed storyteller. Her debut novel, Moon Over Manifest, won the Newbery Medal in 2011. Any time a debut novel wins such an award, I get nervous that it was just a one-time thing, a one hit wonder. But Vanderpool has proved herself here with another great novel. Definitely worth checking it out of the pub and giving it a try.

I audio’ed it (because I love.love.love audiobooks) and I’d recommend picking up the audio if you have a roadtrip coming up soon. Or, if you’re like me and you’ve found that you also like listening to audiobooks while making dinner or doing laundry or cleaning your room.

Who am I kidding, I don’t clean my room…

The Watsons Go To Birmingham... The Movie!

So excited about this. If you have never read The Watsons Go To Birmingham-1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis, then you need to go pick it up from the pub. And if they don’t have it at the pub (because it tends to be on a lot of summer reading lists) then swing by your local bookstore and grab a copy. Its well worth the $7 you’ll pay for it.

And then after you’re finished reading it, set your dvr for the hallmark channel. That’s right. I said the Hallmark Channel. I honestly think a book/film like this could easily go to the big screen, but it was made for tv. Nonetheless, you should watch it.

You may be thinking “she didn’t tell me anything about the book!” Of course I didn’t! All you need to know is that I recommend it. 

And also you could watch this and find out for yourself…

And yes, that is Julius from Remember the Titans as the dad. And the mom is the voice of Tiana in Disney's The Princess and the Frog. 

#getexcited 

Super Hair-O and the Barber of Doom by John Rocco

Super Hair-O and the Barber of Doom, by John Rocco. Disney-Hyperion, 2013.

photo from parnassusbooks.net

The Review…

“Every super hero gets his powers from somewhere.” The hero of our story gets his from, where else? His hair. That is, until he is captured (by his parents) and taken to the “villain’s lair” (barber shop). Back at headquarters (the playground), our hero discovers that his superfriends’ powers have also been stolen. They are all sure their powers will never return until an onlooker devises a plan of her own to help the superfriends become heroes once more. Hair-O is a humorous story of children playing superheroes, from tearing down towers of blocks to saving stuffed animals on the playground. With illustrations reminiscent of classic comic books and his use of both black and white and color illustrations, Rocco brilliantly uses the art to bring out another layer of the story. Recommended for ages 3-6.

The Opinion…

Well done, Rocco. Very funny. The use of a child’s voice over the illustrations really was perfect. Anyone reading this blog should definitely swing by your pub and check this book out. If not for the story, for the picture of John Rocco in the back… #hair 

Count the Monkeys by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Kevin Cornell

Count the Monkeys by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Kevin Cornell. Disney-Hyperion, 2013.

The Review...

photo from parnassusbooks.net

All right, kids! Are you ready to count the monkeys? Or… at least, count? In this hilarious counting adventure, Barnett introduces us to quite an array of characters. With the reader’s help, you may be able to get rid of all those pesky creatures and actually count the monkeys… or you may run out of pages! Reminiscent of his sneaky work in Guess Again!, Barnett leaves you thinking you know what’s next, only to be surprised by the another zany twist. Inviting the audience to “cover your eyes while you turn the page” or “tell these guys to ‘scram’” in order to move the story along is sure to excite any story time. Cornell’s detailed illustrations add just the right touch to this rowdy counting quest. Count the Monkeys is recommended for ages 3-6, or anyone with a sense of humor.

The Opinion...

Mac Barnett can do no wrong.

On a Beam of Light: A Story of Albert Einstein by Jennifer Berne, illustrated by Vladimir Radunsky

On a Beam of Light: A Story of Albert Einstein. By Jennifer Berne. Illustrated by Vladimir Radunsky. Chronicle Books, 2013

photo from parnassusbooks.net

The Review

On a Beam of Light chronicles the life of Albert Einstein, beginning with his birth, his curious childhood and his even curiouser adulthood. Berne includes interesting details about this historical figure’s life, from his fascination with a compass as a child to his love of “saggy-baggy sweaters and pants” as an adult. Radunsky’s abstract, whimsical illustrations provide another layer to this simple telling of the eccentric Albert Einstein. An excellent picture book to introduce young, curious minds to one of the most famous curious minds of all time, On a Beam of Light is an asset to any children’s collection. This book is recommended for ages 3-7.

The Opinion

Let’s face it: Chronicle Books are just pretty. It’s almost guaranteed that if Chronicle creates a new journal, it will be purchased and added to my shelf of journals waiting to be filled. Chronicle just doesn’t aesthetically disappoint.

I really loved this book. The art is fantastic and the telling of Einstein’s life is just as lovely. I’d hoped that some of the illustrations were based on actual photos, so I did a little librarian research… Alas, google image came up short. I found no photos of three-year-old Einstein in a sailor suit. I did, however, find some of him riding a bicycle, playing violin, studying in a plaid suit, in his sailboat and, of course, smoking a pipe.

On the page describing his “saggy-baggy” fashion, a quote bubble over Einstein’s head reads, “My feet are happier without socks!” I don’t know if Einstein ever actually said this, but I certainly hope so. It’s a philosophy I, too, subscribe to. 

Hero on a Bicycle by Shirley Hughes

Hero on a Bicycle. By Shirley Hughes. Candlewick Press, 2013

photo from barnesandnoble.com

The Review…

In her first novel, picture book author Shirley Hughes presents a World War II tale of a simple family trying to remain unnoticed by both the Gestapo and the Italian resistance. When Mrs. Crivelli agrees to house a prisoner of war for just one night, each member of the family must play a part in protecting their secret. Thirteen-year-old Paolo dreams of becoming a hero for the Partisans, but quickly learns that his ideals of war are not accurate. Set in Nazi-occupied Italy, Hughes’ story gives the reader an exciting portrayal of the average family’s struggle during wartime. Don’t be fooled by the less than intriguing title. Hero on a Bicycle has depth, tension, action and hope. It is recommended for readers ages 10-14, especially those who love historical fiction, specifically that which is based in the WWII era.

The Opinion…

Fact: I am a sucker for WWII novels. Dating back to Number the Stars and the American Girl Molly, as a nine-year-old I was already infatuated with the era. In recent years, Mal Peet’s Tamar, as well as last year’s Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein and Bomb: The Race to Build and Steal the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinkin, have continuously wrapped me up in fascinating storyline after fascinating storyline. The fact that Bomb is non-fiction is just that much more exciting. I just can’t seem to get enough WWII story.

Hero on a Bicycle caught my attention only because I really dislike the title. I stared at the cover for a good week before I even picked it up because I had no interest in reading it. Discovering that it was a WWII novel, I grabbed the audiobook for a roadtrip. And I’m glad I did. This novel was an interesting to me because, unlike the ones I’m used to, it is set in not just a Nazi-occupied country, but a Nazi-friendly country. I really enjoyed seeing this new perspective of a family trying to help the anti-Nazi movement, while many of their close friends and neighbors were Nazi sympathizers.

Overall, I’d give it a high five. 

Everybody Blogs… (to be read to the tune of “Everybody Hurts…”) Sometimes.

So I’ve said for years now that I wanted to blog. I literally journal everyday, so how hard could it be to do that online? Apparently, all kindsa hard. I’ve made several attempts to try.

Last summer, I studied abroad in London and part of the assignment was to blog about my experience. I thought “Great! This will kick start my bloglife. I’ll definitely keep going after this!”

I didn’t.

Don’t get me wrong, I loved blogging last summer and still enjoy the occasional browse through the ol’ girl. (which you can also enjoy by clicking here.)

But do you know what I enjoy more? Picking up my journal from last summer and thumbing through that girl, seeing the excitement or exhaustion through my own handwriting, flipping through ticket stubs, receipts, tube maps.

Something about the online format just doesn’t always do it for me.

But lately, I’ve wanted to give it another shot.

Not long ago, I started a job in the children’s department of a public library. And let me just go ahead and say that it is the greatest job in the world. I don’t care what you say, it is. I love it beyond words.

I am so blessed to be able to connect kids with books all day long, to have story time each week, to get paid to read children’s books, to never have overdue fines… you get the point.

I have loved children’s literature for as long as I can remember. I remember loving the sound of that mylar crinkling as I opened Charlotte's Web in elementary school. I love the smell of the decades-old pages just as much as the ones fresh from the printer. And to be able to surround myself with these stories, these lives, these old friends everyday AND GET PAID FOR IT!!!

Seriously, folks. Dreams do come true.

Why it took me so long to figure out that I am made to be a librarian? I can’t tell you. Honestly, in fifth grade I ran a library out of my cubbie. I am still a little pist at whoever spilled kool-aid on my best copy of Meet Molly. You better be glad I had another copy at home. But whatever…

The point is, as I read old favorites and discover new ones, I’ve found myself wanting to share these with more than just the patrons in my library. I want a platform from which I can review and recommend new and old titles alike. I want a way to share the many lessons I am learning every day. But most importantly, I want a venue from which I can share the ridiculous things that go on every day in your average pub.

And if you haven’t started calling your own local public library the “pub” yet, THEN WHY NOT??

So here it is. Here is my blog.

I invite you to meet me at the pub and hear the stories I have to tell. Read about the books I’m reading and the stories I am sharing. Hopefully you will discover something new or at least be entertained. If not, then why are you still reading this?

Geez.