"A library book, I imagine, is a happy book." Cornelia Funke

"Everything puts me in mind of a story." Ben Franklin

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Let's Eat! Family Storytime

  1. Vintage dollhouse food from Juliet Pain


    Let's Eat!



    As always, I like to have a big pile of titles to choose from, but I usually only get in 3 or 4 at my evening storytime.



    I will definitely highlight Monster's Don't Eat Broccoli, which contains this charming refrain: "Fum, foe. fie, fee, monsters don't eat broccoli!". I think that the kids will love it!




    The Runaway Dinner by Allan Ahlberg & Bruce Ingham
    Mean Soup by Betsy Everitt
    Monsters Don't Eat Broccoli by Barbara Jean Hicks, Illus. by Sue Hendra
    Badger's Fancy Meal by Keiko Kasza
    All For Pie, Pie for All by David Martin, Illus. by Valeri Gorbachev
    Stone Soup told by Tony Ross
    Sheep Out to Eat by Nancy Shaw, Illus. by Margot Apple
    Fast Food! Gulp! Gulp! by Bernard Waber
    Two Eggs, Please by Sarah Weeks and Betsy Lewin

    "Vegetable Soup Song", courtesy of Preschool Education

    Sung to: "Farmer in the Dell"

    The soup is boiling up
    The soup is boiling up
    Stir slow-around we go
    The soup is boiling up.

    First we add the broth

    First we add the broth

    Stir slow-around we go

    The soup is boiling up.


    Now we add some carrots

    Now we add some carrots

    Stir slow-around we go

    The soup is boiling up.


    Continue with whichever vegetables you children want. Have the children stand around a large imaginary pot pretending to stir the soup.

Friday, November 6, 2009

National Book Award Finalists: Young People's Literature



Deborah Heiligman, Charles and Emma: The Darwins’ Leap of Faith

Phillip Hoose, Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice

David Small, Stitches

Laini Taylor, Lips Touch: Three Times



Young People's Literature Judges: Kathi Appelt, Coe Booth, Carolyn Coman, Nancy Werlin, Gene Luen Yang

Click the names above for book descriptions.

I have only read Stitches so far, and I think that it is very interesting. I have mentioned before that I'm not generally a graphic novel fan, but this one bowled me over. I am familiar with David Small through his children's book illustrations, and even met him and his lovely and sweet wife Sarah Stewart back in the early 1990s. So, I might be slightly biased, but I think that his story of childhood trauma and recovery is tops.

I also have (have had prior to this finalist announcement) a request in for Laini Taylor's new book. I read her fantasy novel Blackbringer from the Faeries of Dreamdark series and I thought it was original and memorable, so I want to see what else she's cooked up.


I plan to read the other finalists. Have you read any?

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Unshelved's Pimp My Bookcart Contest Entries

Click to enlarge strip

Are you familiar with Unshelved, the comic strip about libraries? It is done by Bill Barnes and Gene Ambaum and for the last four years running, they have sponsored a Pimp My Bookcart contest. Contestants find a crummy old cart, pick a theme and pretty it up.

Here are a few of my favorites, but don't forget to go to Unshelved and find your own!








Where are the Wild Things? by Beaumont Branch of the Lexington Public Library


Horton Hears a Who by Monroe County Public Library (Bloomington, IN): Collection Services



Wild About Reading by Mount Laurel Library