When Ignorance Is Not Bliss

There is something that is troubling me.  It’s not the first time I’ve come up against something like this, but this takes the proverbial cake.  I ask your indulgence if you have heard me rant on this topic before.

It all began some weeks ago.  The principal of a start-up school, where I set up a library literally from the ground up last fall, met me outside her office one morning.  She was upset, and refused to allow me to enter the library–which was being used by a teacher working with a small group of students.  It appears that the school administrator did not understand why I worked so many days that were not part of the verbal agreement (which I was not even a party to) while the library and its collection were being made ready for business.  He expressed his displeasure at the amount I was paid during those weeks!  Not always the quickest thinker, especially under duress, I could not sufficiently overcome the shock to properly respond.  I would need to meet with the administrator and discuss the “situation.”

When I was finally allowed to take off my coat, I began to think.  Had I done something wrong or deceitful?  It seemed to me that the administrator had that impression.  At no time during the whirlwind of activity that transformed a room full of boxes of books into a small but viable library did this question arise.  I was only encouraged to complete the task as soon as possible, so class sessions could begin.  After about six weeks, the collection and I were ready for the youngsters.  The beginning was literally stormy, thanks to Hurricane Sandy and an early snowstorm a couple of weeks later.   As the students learned about the library and its treasures, and I became acquainted with the eager young visitors, there began  to be sense of mutual anticipation as library time approached.

Until now.  My careful preparation for the meeting with the administrator seems to be for naught.  I wrote a detailed letter describing the myriad duties of the position, from building a library from scratch, through implementing a circulation system, through planning class sessions, through maintaining the collection, through evaluating all reading materials.  This does not appear to impress the administrator.  He was not aware of this.  Why does a librarian need so much time to fulfill her duties?  So now my pay is reduced to “make up” for the advance preparation time.   On top of that, I am expected to continue to do the preparation, book selection, and everything else I do at home.

Perhaps I will meet with the administrator again.  I have a clearer plan of what to say now.  If he is willing to listen, fine.  If not. . .

Good Clean Fun

The plane barely touched down, bringing my husband and me back from an incredible five days visiting our new granddaughter and her family, when reality encroached on our feelings of warmth and fond memories.  There were the usual issues clamoring for our attention: household, family, and so on.  As each had varying degrees of urgency, we prioritized, and planned to take a breather before jumping into our normal routine.

Yet something about this time of year is not quite normal.  Every winter, I begin a book-selecting frenzy.  This is the time state funds for library materials must be spent, and I anticipate this by beginning my “wish lists” sometime in the autumn.  However, at my new school, the principal informed me that we also receive state funding–and I should put together an order asap.  Do several months of preparation in several weeks?  No problem.  After all, I’ve been doing this for more than twenty years.  I know what types of books are most needed, so this should be easy.

It should be.  However, as I looked for titles of chapter books for the 2nd-to-3rd-grade set (a gap that needs filling), many choices presented themselves.  Some came recommended; others came to my attention through a bit of searching.

Here is where the “however” comes in.  One promising series features a classroom of children in which several students are constantly bickering with each other (and the teacher is compelled to separate them).  If that weren’t enough, when the protagonist is unhappy about a situation, his older sister suggests a solution that would result in physical harm to the little boy.  This may be the reality in some schools and some families, but need it be glorified?  Then there are the stories that employ liberal amounts of humor that borders on the gross.  Okay, many kids like it.  And if we provide what they want, there’s a chance they’ll eventually choose something a bit more uplifting.

Call me old-fashioned or whatever you want, but I don’t entirely agree.  Yes, the point is to get the kids to be enthusiastic about reading.  But why not make a little extra effort and make sure that what they find on our shelves is not only entertaining but also enriching?  Our kids will be the better for it.  I’ve personally seen the rowdiest youngsters borrow some of the most meaningful tales.  (And if that marvelous book we remember so fondly is out of print, that is, thankfully, usually no obstacle.)

So, yes, whatever turns a child on to reading is worthwhile.  But isn’t an affinity for books worthy of the endeavor on the part of librarians–and everyone else who chooses reading material for children–to stock the shelves with titles that are the best we can provide?

Approaching the Finish/Starting Line

When you think of the word marathon, you probably think of a long race involving hundreds of participants.  Boston might come to mind, or New York.  Perhaps you know someone who has run.  Maybe you have yourself.  If so, you have earned my respect.

I’m running in a marathon of sorts.  Since taking on the delightful and challenging job of setting up a new school library catering to preschoolers through second graders, I’ve been moving steadily toward the goal of opening for business and conducting class sessions.  Now that the finish line is in sight–the principal has indicated that she wants me to begin meeting classes next week–the race is becoming even more intense.  In addition to ensuring that the physical space is ready for the little ones, I must be prepared with programs that will engage the kids and turn them onto the magnificent world of books and reading.  As this dedicated and determined librarian huffs and puffs her way to the above-mentioned finish line (which is in reality not the end of the race but the beginning of a year-long endeavor), she is unearthing some gems that beg to be shared.

Prim and proper Elliot, whose attire of choice is a tuxedo, isn’t exactly looking forward to a trip to the aquarium with his father.  Once there, however, he discovers Magellanic penguins, and decides one would make an ideal pet.  After all, they wear tuxedos just like his!  What happens next makes this very funny story one that kids will adore from the first page to the surprising ending.

Alphabet books will never be the same.  It all starts when “Adelaide annoyed Bailey./Bailey blamed Clyde…” and on through the whole alphabet of cantankerous preschoolers.  But all is not hopeless: the kids learn that being nice also has a ripple effect.  Hilarious.

A mother duck is searching for one of her eight babies.  As she asks various animals if they have seen the youngster, children will have a blast pointing out the duckling, who is hiding on every page.  The beautiful pictures tell the story in this treasure–and the repetition of “Have you seen my duckling?” gives young readers the satisfaction of reading the book themselves.  Although published more than twenty years ago, this timeless treasure is every bit as charming as her more recent Silly Little Goose and Blue Goose.

TV.  If kids are entertained by two letters, imagine the fun they’ll have with twenty-six.  Open your child’s imagination.  Open a book.  ~Author Unknown

Picture Books and More Picture Books!

Those of you who follow my blog will have to excuse me. I was so enthusiastic about some goodies that I’m adding to my new school library collection that I clicked the “Publish” button before I wrote the post!  Here is the post that I intended to write:

As I work at a frenetic pace to make my new library ready for business, many treasures are coming to my attention.  The urgency to be up and running has not lessened the excitement of preparing these books for sharing with youngsters–and hopefully turning the little tykes into eager readers and library users.

Here are a couple gems that are sure to be kid-pleasers.

Meet Scaredy Squirrel.  True to his name, he is afraid of everything: poison ivy, Martians, and sharks, to name a few.  With such a dangerous world, Scaredy is perfectly content to stay in his nice, safe tree–until the sudden appearance of a bee frightens him and he drops his emergency kit.  When the fearful squirrel leaps out of the tree after it, he discovers an ability he didn’t know he had.  This is the first in a humorous series that is a sensation with kids, whether or not they have phobias of their own.  Scaredy reminds me of Alvin Ho, Lenore Look’s phobia-ridden second-grader who has a series and a PDK (Personal Disaster Kit) of his own (perfect for 8-10-year-olds).

Alphabet books will never be the same!  Barbara Bottner, the genius behind one of my favorites, Miss Brooks Loves Books! (and I don’t), works her magic again with this incredibly funny story.  A classroom of kids, beginning with Adelaide,  exhibits less-than-desirable behavior.  What happens when Zelda has had her turn?  You’ll be pleasantly surprised.

More to come…

Picture Book Bonanza

As I work at a feverish pace to make my new library ready for business, many treasures are coming to my attention.  The urgency to be up and running has not lessened the excitement of preparing these books for sharing with youngsters–and hopefully turning them into eager readers

Picture Books Everywhere!

I’m on picture book cloud nine.  When a principal, with whom I worked for many years before she moved to a start-up school in 2011, asked me this summer to join her faculty, I was immediately excited.  And for good reason(s).  The collection consists largely of books I myself recommended on several occasions since last winter.  The students are preschoolers through second graders, so there are endless opportunities for waxing enthusiastic about my favorites.  Everything I ask for is given me, no questions asked.

Even the daunting task of processing and making shelf-ready hundreds of books has only cast a brief shadow on my delight.  As I prepare each volume for borrowing, I have an opportunity to acquaint (or reaquaint) myself with the treasures that will soon inhabit the shelves.  If this isn’t a librarian’s dream, I don’t know what is.

I’ll be sharing gems with you in the days and weeks to come.  Meanwhile, it’s time to recharge my batteries.  School starts tomorrow for some of my kids…

Fantastic Fantasies

Today I finished reading a novel that I think is so magnificent, I can’t wait until I write a complete review to share it with my readers.

This debut by the talented team of Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl is a refreshingly clean–no objectionable language or sex–young adult novel that is a fantasy-supernatural-Gothic mix.  Ethan Wate is a 16-year-old living in Gatlin, South Carolina, a town that prides itself on its Southern heritage.  The teen is counting the days until he can leave this backward place.  Then he meets the girl of his (literal) dreams–a 15-year-old named Lena who has been appearing in his nocturnal visions and recently moved in with her recluse uncle.  Why is she so apprehensive about her sixteenth birthday?  As Ethan grows closer to Lena, questions arise: what is really going on here, and what can he do to help her–and protect her from the close-minded community members (and fellow students) who oppose her presence among them?  The excitement doesn’t stop here–there are three more novels in this series and a movie being released this coming winter.  (My favorite character?  The town librarian!)

I’m breaking one of my rules again: talking about a book that I have not yet finished reading!  This novel is that good.

Liesl has been confined to an attic room by her stepmother (for her own protection, she says) since her father passed away.  However, a visit from a ghost named Po (and his pet, Bundle) begins to open the girl’s eyes to reality–and makes her realize there is a very important duty she must perform.  So, with the help of her new friends, Liesl escapes from the attic.  Their adventurous trek brings them into contact with a number of fascinating people, each with their own tale.  How their stories intertwine make this a can’t-put-it-down book kids will enjoy.

It’s August Already?

I’ve been caught unaware.  Just when I thought there was a lot of summer left, I started seeing signs that the season is about to change that have nothing to do with the weather or animal behavior.  Back-to-school commercials.  Advertisements for fall clothes.  I know merchandisers have to make a living, and people need to plan ahead, but it’s too early for me to acknowledge that summer is nearing its end.  School does not start in the Big Apple for another four weeks!  (My apologies to those living in places where this annual event is just around the corner.)

Yet, I’m preparing too.  I’ve already set up my class schedule for the coming academic year and am continuing my reading marathon to get as many of the recently arrived books completed as possible.  I’ll be working on lesson plans and activities in the weeks ahead.  And there is the library at my new school to organize, set up, and have ready to conduct business when the little children arrive.

When Labor Day has come and gone, I’ll be ready for the new school year.  But until then, I only want to enjoy what remains of this favorite season of mine…

Here are a few books to help youngsters (and the young at heart) enjoy summer even more.

Meet Deza.  The bright, lovable character from Christopher Paul Curtis’ wonderful Bud, Not Buddy is back.  She’s 12 years old, and knows life is not easy in Depression-era Gary, Indiana.  It might even be harder for Black people.  When Deza’s father loses his job and heads to Flint, Michigan, to find work, the Malones will do what they have to to survive and be reunited.  Powerful stuff.

Grandma Tillie is babysitting, and Sophie and Chloe know what that means.  When their parents leave, their grandma also disappears!  In her place arrives Tillie Vanilly, star of her own show, who entertains with juggling, jokes, and a dance through the house.  She’s followed by Chef Silly Tillie, who cooks up a storm, and Madame Frilly Tillie, a beauty expert with a knack for spicing up bath time.  There’s only one question: who will come to put the girls to bed?

Dogs are commonly thought of as protectors of sheep, but burros?  Yet, these animals, with an instinct to protect, are naturals for the job.  Read how Rena, a dog who was born a runt, and Roo, a burro, learn to work together as a sheep-herding team on a Wyoming ranch.  A fascinating true story.

 

A New Beginning

It’s like a dream.  A new school, headed by a principal with whom I worked for many years, has space for a library.  And they need a part-time librarian.  So who does the principal think of?  Yes, none other than little old me, who has been pondering the future now that my current position has been drastically cut.

But it gets better.  Last winter, this principal asked me to compile a list of 400 titles good for kindergarten through second grade–so the core collection is composed of books of my choosing!  And not only that, but the furnishings are being chosen, as much as possible, according to what I envision a young children’s library should be.

Yes, it will be a challenge, starting anew in a different school with different types of kids.  But the opportunity to share my enthusiasm for books and reading with a new group of youngsters excites me.  And little tykes are so receptive to listening to and reading great stories, and taking part in literary games and activities, my job might seem more like pleasure than work.  I can hardly wait.

Ray Bradbury, Booklover Extraordinaire

Ray Bradbury
1920-2012

We’ve lost another giant.  Ray Bradbury, science fiction writer extraordinaire, has passed away at the age of 91.  But I’m not doing him justice.  Even though sci-fi and futuristic writings were (and are) his hallmark, out of his pen flowed the heartwarming, semi-autobiographical Dandelion Wine, not to mention dramatic works, poetry, essays, television and movie scripts…

However, there is another side to the great writer that bibliophiles like myself appreciate most.  For Ray Bradbury was one of us.  (Anyone who has read Fahrenheit 451 knows this.)  He was an outspoken advocate of reading and libraries, and often protested the budget-induced cutbacks and closings many faced.  The best way I can think of to describe Mr. Bradbury’s stance is to let him speak for himself:

Without libraries what have we?  We have no past and no future.

You don’t have to burn books to destroy a culture.  Just get people to stop reading them.

I spent three days a week for 10 years educating myself in the public library, and it’s better than college.  People should educate themselves – you can get a complete education for no money.  At the end of 10 years, I had read every book in the library and I’d written a thousand stories.

Teachers are to inspire.  Librarians are to fulfill.

I don’t try to describe the future.  I try to prevent it.

And one future Ray Bradbury wanted to prevent was one without books and the treasure-houses of libraries.  Now the torch has been passed to us.

If you have not yet had the experience of reading a Bradbury novel or story, now is a good time to begin.  Enjoy.

One more quote: If you enjoy living, it is not difficult to keep the sense of wonder.

Visit http://bookandagarden.com for reading gems to share with those you love.