Lawrence Public Library » Paul W. http://www.lawrence.lib.ks.us Just another WordPress site Thu, 05 Dec 2013 21:56:16 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.6.1 We Have a List for That http://www.lawrence.lib.ks.us/2013/11/we-have-a-list-for-that/ http://www.lawrence.lib.ks.us/2013/11/we-have-a-list-for-that/#comments Mon, 18 Nov 2013 15:00:53 +0000 bmichener http://www.lawrence.lib.ks.us/?p=25678 You may have noticed the two, small, blue portable file boxes on the floor near the desk in the Children’s area.  In one you will find current and past winners of the Newbery, Caldecott, and William Allen White awards – to name just a few.  Other awards are more specific: the Scott O’Dell Award is for historical fiction, the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award is for books for beginning readers, and the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award is for authors and illustrators who have make over the years, “a lasting contribution to literature for children.”

The other file contains a wide variety of booklists that bring together books of the same subject or genre.  If you need books on adoption, bullying, grief, or going off to school for the first time, we have a list for you.  If your older readers can’t get enough mysteries, historical fiction, fantasy, or science fiction, we have lists that can help you find what you need.

Pirates Fact TrackerNew additions to the Booklists file are designed to help you find the non-fiction selections for two popular children’s series:  The Magic Tree House by Mary Pope Osborne and The Magic School Bus by Joanna Cole.  Mary Pope Osborne has written around 50 Magic Tree House fiction books starring Jack and Annie, but did you know that she has also published nearly 30 non-fiction companion books called Fast Trackers?  This series is widely used in schools and is very often a young student’s first introduction to chapter books.  Mrs. Frizzle and the Magic School Bus gang are well known to elementary aged students as well, and the books and videos are often used to support science curricula in the lower grades.

Since these books are non-fiction, they are shelved by call number throughout the children’s non-fiction section which can make browsing a little difficult.  Our lists, on the other hand, are organized by topic, so even if you are not sure of a title, they can be easily found.

The award and book lists mentioned here represent only a fraction of our total collection.  Come by the Children’s Library desk and browse all of the lists in our little blue files.  If you need a copy of a list, we will make you one – free of charge.

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The Science Guy http://www.lawrence.lib.ks.us/2013/10/the-science-guy/ http://www.lawrence.lib.ks.us/2013/10/the-science-guy/#comments Thu, 31 Oct 2013 15:00:14 +0000 bmichener http://www.lawrence.lib.ks.us/?p=25331 When I was in grade school I would faithfully watch the Mr. Wizard television show every week.  I would gaze in amazement as he mixed beakers of liquid and they miraculously changed colors, or poured substances into a paper cone that would bubble, foam, and then harden into a solid Styrofoam shape.  During that time period my father would often return from trade shows and tell me about latest scientific wonders.  One in particular was a new kitchen appliance that could bake cupcake batter in the paper cup!….in less than a minute!

That was a long time ago, and Mr. Wizard is no longer with us.  Today’s generation of future scientists look to a new guy to explain the science behind ordinary things and perform fascinating experiments – most of which can be done at home with ordinary materials.  Enter William Sanford “Bill” Nye, universally known as Bill Nye the Science Guy.  For more than twenty years Bill Nye has been on a mission to make science and math fun and accessible for elementary aged children.  Sporting his signature light blue lab coat, bow tie and a good sense of humor, this former engineer turned comedian turned educator has delighted young and old alike with his highly entertaining television programs and DVDs.

Bill NyeThough his Disney/PBS children’s science television program (1993-1998) no longer airs regularly, his DVDs are still widely available.  You can find dozens of titles on a broad range of science topics for a variety of ages, on the east side of the shelf directly behind the computers in the Children’s area of the Library.   The numbers on the spines will correspond to the same topics in our non-fiction books, so if you find a book that you like, you can supplement it with a DVD on the same subject, or vice versa.  If you browse the DVD section, look for the picture of Bill Nye affixed to the spine of the cover.

Check out the Science Guy’s website www.billnye.com for articles, projects, printable activity sheets, video archives, and more.

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“Messing About in Boats” 2 http://www.lawrence.lib.ks.us/2013/10/messing-about-in-boats-2/ http://www.lawrence.lib.ks.us/2013/10/messing-about-in-boats-2/#comments Thu, 10 Oct 2013 15:00:46 +0000 bmichener http://www.lawrence.lib.ks.us/?p=24544 For over one hundred years Kenneth Grahame’s masterpiece, The Wind in the Willows, has held a special place in the hearts of millions of readers both young and old.  For me, this cherished work of friendship set in a rapidly disappearing natural world has always stood alone – complete and perfect. Wind in the Willows

So when I learned that Jacqueline Kelly had written a sequel titled Return to the Willows, I was somewhat leery.  I had just read her first book The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate (2010 Newberry Honor Book) and was very impressed, so I reluctantly gave it a try.  The slightly oversized format, hefty feel, and gorgeous jacket illustrations by Clint Young were a good start, and after reading the first paragraph, whatever doubts I may have had were melting away, and I settled in for a good long read.  I knew I wasn’t going to be able to put it down.

Any author who writes a sequel to a well-loved work by another author has surely taken on a formidable task.  He or she must pay homage to the original, satisfy the current fans, connect with a new audience, and create something new that will stand alone.  In my opinion Ms. Kelly succeeds on all fronts.

Mole, Rat, Toad, Badger and their pastoral environs are essentially unchanged.  Mercifully, no attempt to update the story was made by including modern-day references, devices or technologies.  In fact, nothing that couldn’t have existed in the time of the original (1908) has been included in the main text of the sequel.

Return to the Willows coverWhat is new that I think young readers will enjoy is the introduction of two younger characters – Humphrey, Toad’s studious nephew, and Sammy, the “small bedraggled weasel” who made a brief appearance at the end of the original.  Kelly also created a love-interest for Rat – Matilda, a strong and resourceful character in her own right.  These new additions are well developed, play important roles, and fit in seamlessly with the original four friends.

Jacqueline Kelly’s sequel is at once charming, thoughtful, and funny – very funny.  Toad’s antics, of course, are the primary source of this hilarity, but another device (usually associated with adult non-fiction) that contributes to the humor is the use of footnotes.[1]  This allows the author to lighten the tone somewhat and communicate directly with the reader, offering “translations from the English language into American”, but also keen observations, little-known facts, and insights that will have great appeal to today’s middle grade readers.

[1] Yes, footnotes!

 

 

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Picture This http://www.lawrence.lib.ks.us/2013/09/picture-this/ http://www.lawrence.lib.ks.us/2013/09/picture-this/#comments Fri, 20 Sep 2013 15:00:00 +0000 bmichener http://www.lawrence.lib.ks.us/?p=23524 If you have visited the picture book section of the Children’s Library lately, you might have noticed that the books there are being reorganized into subject groups or “neighborhoods” such as Arts, Favorites, Growing, and Learning.  This will help the library patron to easily find what they want by category first, then by author or name.  Some titles will have special stickers identifying them as Adventure, Sports, or Fantasy, to name a few, to help refine your search even further.

This is especially true in the Stories category where many of the books will boast the sub-category sticker “Wordless.”  The old saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words,” is often used to suggest that pictures can replace words.  But in the case of picture books without words, I prefer to think it means that a picture can inspire a thousand words.  Kids love to tell stories.  Drawing on their own experiences and the visual clues provided by the illustrations, children can create their own adventures, plots, dialogues, and happy endings.  With a little guidance, wordless picture books can be valuable teaching tools – helping to support the learning of important skills and concepts.  Language practice, vocabulary development, counting, shapes, colors, and much, much more can be reinforced through active use of these deceptively simple children’s books.

Sea of Dreams by NolanWordless picture books come in a broad range of subject matters and artistic complexity.   Some are relatively simple and straight forward like The Red Book by Barbara Lehman and Where’s Walrus? by Stephen Savage.  Others, like the fantasies Sea of Dreams by Dennis Nolan and Time Flies by Eric Rohmann are more elaborately illustrated and detailed.

You can find a list of wordless books in our catalog by searching Keyword stories without words and limiting to Children’s Room.

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Wolves Without and Within http://www.lawrence.lib.ks.us/2013/08/wolves-without-and-within/ http://www.lawrence.lib.ks.us/2013/08/wolves-without-and-within/#comments Tue, 06 Aug 2013 15:00:58 +0000 bmichener http://www.lawrence.lib.ks.us/?p=22679 As much as I enjoy reading children’s literature, I equally enjoy re-reading those select novels that have had an especially profound effect on me.  I’m referring to those rare gems that once discovered are never completely forgotten.  For me they are classics such as The Lord of the Rings, Charlotte’s Web, The Wind in the Willows, and The Secret Garden, as well as many others.  “Old friends” like these linger deep in my memory, gently nagging until I relent and dust them off and enter once again into their very special and timeless world.

Wolves of Willoughby ChaseOne such “friend” is The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken.  Ms. Aiken (1924-2004) wrote over one hundred books for adults and children, but is best known for this gripping adventure published in 1962.  The first of the Wolves Chronicles, it is set in an alternate history where a fictitious King James III rules England, but has the familiar feel of nineteenth century England.  Willoughby Chase is a sprawling estate in the English countryside that boasts a huge mansion, with dozens of servants, scores of rooms, dungeons, and even a secret passage – all for one small family – sturdy and impulsive Bonnie Green and her adoring parents Sir Willoughby and Lady Green.

The story opens in the dead of winter.  Hungry wolves roam the countryside terrifying the locals and menacing the trains and carriages.  Bonnie’s gentler and more ladylike cousin Sylvia has come to live with her on the estate because their Aunt Jane, Sylvia’s guardian, is too poor to properly care for her and too proud to ask for financial assistance.  Bonnie’s parents are about to embark on a restorative trip abroad and will not return for several months.  They have retained a distant relative, Miss Slighcarp to be the girls’ governess while they are gone.  But Slighcarp (and her accomplices) have other plans, and the girls soon discover that their relatively sheltered lives are about to change – for the worst.

Nightbirds on NantucketBlack Hearts in BatterseaThe adventures continue with a slightly different cast of characters in Black Hearts in Battersea and Nightbirds on Nantucket.

 

 

 

 

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A Modern Classic? http://www.lawrence.lib.ks.us/2013/07/a-modern-classic/ http://www.lawrence.lib.ks.us/2013/07/a-modern-classic/#comments Fri, 19 Jul 2013 15:00:16 +0000 bmichener http://www.lawrence.lib.ks.us/?p=21273 Not too long ago a friend of mine approached me at the Children’s desk and asked if we had the book Tumtum and Nutmeg: Adventures Beyond Nutmouse Hall.  Who and who, I inquired.  Tumtum and Nutmeg Nutmouse, he explained are proper, married mice that live in a thirty-six room mansion hidden in the broom cupboard behind a dresser in a tiny ramshackle cottage in the English countryside.  It sounded like a British children’s classic from the early twentieth century.  How did I miss that?  I made a mental note to look into it, and about a month later when it became available, I held in my hand a rather hefty five-hundred plus page volume by Emily Bearn.  It had a very cute and inviting cover illustration, with equally charming and old-fashioned pen and ink drawings by Nick Price gracing the interior.  When I checked the publication date I found that my “early children’s classic” was written in 2009.

Tumtum and Nutmeg Nutmouse HallMs. Bearn’s award-winning debut novel for children ages 7 – 10 is actually a collection of three novellas published separately in Great Britain.  The first, simply titled Tumtum and Nutmeg, lays the groundwork and sets the tone for the entire series and is followed by The Great Escape and The Pirates’ Treasure.

The Nutmouses lead a comfortable, leisurely existence punctuated by tea and toast, homemade meals, good books, and cozy fires; but the human inhabitants of the little cottage don’t fare nearly as well.  Lucy and Arthur Mildew live in cramped and cluttered Rose Cottage with their father, an absentminded inventor.  He is kind and good-natured, but oblivious to the fact that his children are scruffy and poorly fed and that his little house is falling apart around him.  The siblings must share a tiny room in the attic with a leaky ceiling.  Even worse, it is the middle of winter and their heater has long since broken down.  It is so cold the children can see their breath inside and the butter freezes on the kitchen table.

Tumtum and Nutmeg Rose Cottage

Tumtum and Nutmeg have been worried about the Mildew children for some time; and their concern only grows as winter progresses.  Finally, they can wait no longer.  Armed with toolbox, sewing kit, and mop and pail the Nutmouses head for the attic while everyone is asleep – just to tidy up a bit and make a few repairs.  Lucy and Arthur think they are being visited by a “Fairy of Sorts,” and all goes well for a while – that is until the evil mouse-hating Aunt Ivy shows up at their door – and the adventures really begin.

The adventures continue in Tumtum & Nutmeg: the Rose Cottage Tales, and check out the delightful British Tumtum & Nutmeg website.

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The Lives of Toys http://www.lawrence.lib.ks.us/2013/06/the-lives-of-toys/ http://www.lawrence.lib.ks.us/2013/06/the-lives-of-toys/#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:33:34 +0000 bmichener http://www.lawrence.lib.ks.us/?p=20821 Emily Jenkins’ timeless and endearing early chapter book Toys Go Out details the small adventures of three beloved playthings that belong to the Little Girl who sleeps on the high bed with the fluffy pillows.  They are Lumphy, a tough little night-owl buffalo; StingRay, a know-it-all plush stingray; and Plastic, who is not sure what she is.  In six related stories about identity, friendship, and belonging, each toy struggles in its own way to overcome its fears and to find its place in their shared small corner of the world.

When no one is about, the toys venture to other parts of the house.  Plastic searches in books and watches TV for a clue to her identity until TukTuk the yellow towel kindly puts her mind at ease.  Lumphy gets peanut butter on himself and would hide forever to avoid the dark, scary basement with the great big washing machine, except his disappearance has made the Little Girl so sad.  And StingRay, upset that she has to stay home while Plastic gets to go to the beach, tries floating in the bathtub even though her tag clearly says “dry clean only.”  Their separate adventures ultimately bring them together and culminate in what has to be the best birthday party ever.

This perfect little volume, beautifully illustrated by Caldecott medalist Paul O. Zelinsky, will delight children from ages 6 to 10.  Parents will love the gentle lessons and the simple, kid-friendly language which is warm and funny and true to life.  Toys Go Out and the other books in the series, Toy Dance Party and Toys Come Home, make excellent read-alouds for the whole family that parents will enjoy as much as their kids.

Look for this series on the Young Fiction shelf or in the Audiobook section of the Children’s area.

toys 3 books for web

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Marooned! http://www.lawrence.lib.ks.us/2013/05/marooned/ http://www.lawrence.lib.ks.us/2013/05/marooned/#comments Thu, 30 May 2013 15:00:41 +0000 bmichener http://www.lawrence.lib.ks.us/?p=20118 Three hundred years ago a Scottish sailor named Alexander Selkirk was abandoned on a small, uninhabited South Pacific island off the coast of Chile.  There he stayed for more than four years surviving on the local flora and fauna and keeping a watch out for friendly (British) ships.  Once back home his story aroused great interest.   Some even think that Selkirk was the inspiration for Daniel Defoe’s classic novel Robinson Crusoe.

Whether that is true or not is unknown, but what is certain is the enduring popularity of novels that pit the protagonist against Mother Nature in a struggle for survival.  Through these novels we are transported to exotic places and face desperate challenges without leaving the safety of our favorite chair or suffering the consequences of our mistakes and miscalculations.  Could we stay alive until we were rescued or found a way home?  Could we find fresh water?  What would we eat?  What about shelter?  Fire?  Predators?  Tools?  Weapons?  The dangers seem endless.

Clearly, to survive under these challenging conditions and return safely home one would have to summon all the courage, inner strength, and determination that one could muster.  Those are just the qualities needed for another important aspect of this type of adventure – personal transformation.  The main characters in these riveting adventures may have, in the end,  left the wilderness behind, but retain a confidence and inner strength that will serve them well once back home.

In Abel’s Island by William Steig, Abel (an affluent mouse who leads a life free of work and worry) discovers in the end what is truly important.  For Sam Gribley in Jean Craighead George’s My Side of the Mountain surviving in the wilderness was a choice that helped him discover the true meaning of family and friendship.  In Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell Karana learns important lessons on trust and the value of animals in her world.  Brian in Hatchet by Gary Paulsen returns home an accomplished outdoorsman and better equipped to handle his parent’s divorce.  Even Alexander Selkirk, who by most accounts was a very disagreeable sort before his ordeal, returned to civilization a changed man, at peace with himself and others – at least for a while.

Many of the books mentioned are also available as audiobooks.  And in our non-fiction section you can also find books on survival skills (j 613.69) and rescue stories (j 363.3481).

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Enola On Her Own http://www.lawrence.lib.ks.us/2013/04/enola-on-her-own/ http://www.lawrence.lib.ks.us/2013/04/enola-on-her-own/#comments Mon, 22 Apr 2013 17:00:58 +0000 bmichener http://www.lawrence.lib.ks.us/?p=19104 Enola Holmes (the much younger sister of Sherlock Holmes) wakes on her fourteenth birthday to find that her mother, the unconventional Lady Eudoria Holmes, has gone missing.  She has left Enola some intriguing gifts, though, including a book of ciphers and a volume on the meaning of flowers. In The Case of the Missing Marquess, the first novel in the fascinating six-part mystery series by Nancy Springer, her older brothers Sherlock and Mycroft arrive  to take charge, and it soon becomes clear that the freedom Enola has enjoyed under her mother’s permissive tutelage will soon be a thing of the past.  Facing a future of boarding schools, bustles, and the endless preparation for matrimony typical of the Victorian era, Enola dons the dress and veil of a widow.  Remembering her mother’s words, “You will do very well on your own Enola,” she  makes her escape to London. There, the brave Enola (“alone” spelled backwards) will begin her search for her mother, elude capture by her determined brothers, minister to the poor, and of course, solve mysteries with an intelligence and insight that rivals even the famous Sherlock.

These relatively short and fast-paced novels for middle-grade readers cover a time period of one year from Enola’s fourteenth to fifteenth birthday.  And what a year it was!  During that time we follow Enola, always in disguise, through the streets, back alleys, sewers, and even on roof-tops of nineteenth century London.  The first person narrative with abundant historical detail allows one to experience this unique time and place from the perspective of one of the most remarkable and likeable heroines that I have ever encountered.  In each novel the author has been careful to bring the reader up to date so that they can be enjoyed independently.  However, for the full effect of the tension and suspense of the subplots, I would recommend reading them in order if possible.

Enola’s adventures continue in the following Enola Holmes Mysteries listed in order of publication.  You can enjoy them as books or audiobooks.

The Case of the Left-Handed Lady:  Posing as the secretary for the world’s first scientific perditorian (one who uses logic and scientific method to find missing persons), Enola sets out to find Lady Cecily who disappeared under mysterious circumstances.

The Case of the Bizarre Bouquets:  Using her ample wits and knowledge of the language of flowers, Enola seeks to save Dr. Watson from a fate worse than death at the hands of a deranged former patient.

The Case of the Peculiar Pink Fan:   An odd and out-of-place pink fan is the first clue in another sinister plot involving the tormented Lady Cecily.

The Case of the Cryptic Crinoline:  As if searching for her mother and eluding her brothers wasn’t enough, Enola returns to her rooms one day to find that the closest thing she has to family – her dear, sweet landlady, Mrs. Tupper,  has been kidnapped.

The Case of the Gypsy Good-bye:  While Enola pursues the trail of the missing Lady Blanchefleur del Campo, Sherlock and Mycroft follow close behind with a message from their mother that only Enola can decipher.

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Spring is Here! http://www.lawrence.lib.ks.us/2013/03/spring-is-here/ http://www.lawrence.lib.ks.us/2013/03/spring-is-here/#comments Mon, 25 Mar 2013 17:00:41 +0000 bmichener http://www.lawrence.lib.ks.us/?p=18126 True, it may be snowy and windy, but soon the drab shades of winter will be replaced with the vibrant colors of spring.  The crocus are already beginning to bloom, followed shortly by quince, forsythia, redbuds and others.  It’s time to get outside and get dirty – in the garden. Whether you have a large yard, a small balcony, or just a narrow window sill, there’s a garden in your future this spring.  Gardening has it all – nature, science, exercise, and the old-fashioned satisfaction of seeing your hard work bear fruit – it’s no wonder that so many schools are becoming involved.

Gardening is a great way for the whole family to work and learn together, and the Children’s Library can help you get started.  We have many helpful books (j 635 in the non-fiction section) with topics ranging from preparing soil and composting to growing fruits and vegetables.  Special projects for every season are also featured.   Learn how to build a bird house, make a rain gauge, attract butterflies, and much, much more.

Below are just a few of the titles that can help you get started:

Rocks, Dirt, Worms & Weeds by Jeff Hutton is a clear and well-organized book divided into sections that correspond to the four seasons.  Each section includes gardening activities appropriate for that season, plus creative projects related to gardening, such as finding north, pressing flowers, roasting pumpkin seeds, and making paper embedded with seeds that can be planted directly into the soil.

101 Kid-Friendly Plants by Cindy Krezel features 101 common plants that are safe to eat and simple to grow plus more seasonal activities and science projects.

Jack’s Garden by Henry Cole is a beautifully illustrated book for younger readers that shows the evolution of a garden from early spring to late summer.

The Kids Can Press Jumbo Book of Gardening by Karyn Morris includes many great gardening activities plus sections devoted to native plants, wildlife gardens, and community and school gardens.

Garbage Helps Our Garden Grow: a Compost Story by Linda Glaser uses photographs to show how one family works together to turn their table and yard scraps into rich, dark soil for the garden.

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