Children's book reviews, Children's literature

Recently read…

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It’s winter, the wood stove is cranking, and book groups are in full swing – which means that I’ve been doing some reading.  Here are a couple of my recent reads:

Halt’s Peril by John Flanagan 

Though I really love the Ranger’s Apprentice series, of which Halt’s Peril is the ninth book, the series is just very well done bestsellers for kids.   They’re very well done because (unlike Harry Potter and some other series) each book has its own antagonist and its own dilemma, and each ends in a different place.  In other words, the reader isn’t forced to rehash the same plot trajectory in each of the books; unlike the good ol’ Harry series, we don’t start at the same time of year in the same place, then face a battle royale with the same villain, then end up relatively happy in the same place at the same time of year (a formula that I find to be extremely boring).  Instead, the main characters travel around the countryside from one book to the next, not always ending up in their home territory at the end of each installment.  We get to see them face different opponents in almost every book, and the characters do experience a certain amount of growth and change over the course of the series.  But the books are still bestsellers, not fine literature.  Sometimes the writing can be a bit clunky, and sometimes the reader has to really suspend disbelief over certain plot elements in order to move forward with reading.  But I still love ’em, and am very glad that Flanagan continues to push on with new books in the series.  They are great books to recommend to middle grade readers, both boys and girls, and every child that I have steered towards these books has gotten hooked and eagerly read every available book (and then they each gently – or not so gently – remind me of the exact date when the new book will be available in this country).

War Horse by Michael Morpurgo

This book was repeatedly recommended to me by an older library patron who doesn’t often frequent the children’s room (except when her grandchildren are visiting in the summer, when I see her almost every day).  I have the utmost respect for this lady, as she is one of the most well-read people I have ever met, and I decided to heed her advice and add this book to our collection, and then, finally, to read it myself. 

Though War Horse might be seen by some as a mere revisitation of Black Beauty, as I’ve seen from some of the reviews posted on Goodreads, it’s really far more than that.  Yes, there is focus placed on the humane treatment of animals, and that point is driven home in several heartbreaking moments.  But I see this story as a book about war more than a book about animal welfare.  It takes place in World War I, and the War Horse in question, Joey, starts life as a simple English farmhorse with a very caring young master.  The young master’s father must sell Joey to the cavalry in order to pay off debts, and Joey finds himself with a new master, a caring captain, who talks to Joey about the insanity of sending cavalry units into the new technology of machine gun battle.  Sure enough, we witness the brutal destruction of most of Joey’s cavalry unit, both human and equine, as they are either cut down by machine gun fire or impaled on barbed wire.  Joey and his best horse friend then move on to the care of a gentle French girl and her grandfather, and we get to see the effect of war on the civilians before Joey is once again moved on to a  German division.  Morpurgo skillfully moves Joey from one side of the battle to civilian life to the other side of the battle before putting Joey smack dab in the middle of No Man’s Land, which leads to a very poignant scene that empasizes the brutal ridiculousness of wars that pit soldiers of different cultures but similar outlooks on life against each other.  The soldiers are but pawns of their governments, and the horses in WWI were the slaves of the pawns. 

It’s all very, very sad, and I shed many tears as I read the book.  Yes, I did feel more than a bit emotionally manipulated, but I still think War Horse is a worthwhile read.  Some of the Goodreads reviews that I read question whether this is a children’s book, and that makes me sad.  Shouldn’t children learn of the vast expense of war?  What good are we doing for them or for the world if they don’t grow up with a full understanding of how evil war is?  I really do worry about the current generation of children, and the extent to which many of them are overly protected against reading books that are sad or distressing or otherwise challenging.  Books are a very safe place to feel these tough emotions, and then to talk about those emotions with trusted adults or other child readers.  And if a child is never exposed to a sad book, what happens when sadness hits their own lives?  How prepared are they to deal with it?  And, in the case of a book like War Horse, what happens when children grow up without having to consider the gravity of war and destruction?  How long will the world survive if it is led by people who grew up without knowing of those things?

Two good books, not great books, but both worth reading for different reasons.  Read Halt’s Peril some evening when you want some action adventure before bedtime; read War Horse with a box of tissues by your side.  And then let me know how you liked them.

Blog administration

Blog frustrations…

My blog has been down all day, for some reason (my brother’s was as well, so I’m guessing it was a server or host issue)…which really wouldn’t be an issue, except that I had an uncommitted hour tonight between 9 and 10 that I planned to use to write some blog entries that have been sitting in my brain for a couple of weeks.  But when the blog is down, entries don’t get written (it’s so tempting to browse the Fire Mountain jewelry making supplies website instead).  And then the next thing I know, it’s 10:00 and bedtime…and the blog is suddenly up and running again.  I’m glad it’s running, but sad that those great entries have to kick around in my forgetful brain for another day.

Meanwhile, though, please do check out the new link I’ve added – the website for Jim’s band.  It’s kind of cool to be married to a rock star!

Etc.

Interpretations, anyone?

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While we were making dinner last night, Jim said the following (which we have accurately quoted, since I said, “Write that on the white board so we don’t forget it!!”):

…the hairy overtones of a misplaced onion…

That’s it.  I can’t remember the context of our conversation, so I’m opening up the comment field to interpretations…

Book groups, Children's book reviews

Alcatraz versus…

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The 5th and 6th grade book groups are both reading the same book this month, Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson.  I’ve been wanting to read this book, first in a series of four (so far), partly because of its title, and partly because several of the library’s most avid readers have recommended the series to me. 

But – I’m sorry, very sorry to be this blunt – I hate the book.  It’s all a little too cute, too self-conscious, too adult – it’s impossible to get lost in the story, because the narrator keeps butting in with comments about the book or himself.  And the narrator, Alcatraz, is supposed to be a thirteen year old boy, but his rants and complaints sound more like a forty year old cranky grownup.  For instance, when his new-found grandfather pulls into a gas station, Alcatraz observes:  “I didn’t recognize the brand – the sign hanging above the ridiculously high prices simply depicted the image of an upside-down teddy bear” (p. 37).  How many thirteen year olds are going to notice, let alone comment on, the price of gas?

I’ve read several of the reviews that were written about the book when it was published in 2007, and I think that the Horn Book Magazine says it best in this phrase from its review:  “For all its self-aware preciosity…”  Obviously there’s an end to that sentence, an end that doesn’t agree with me, since the Horn Book recommends this book, but “self-aware preciosity” sums up my criticism of this novel.  I’m sure that Alcatraz and his creator would dismiss me as an “evil librarian,” but I just can’t find much to like in the book.

So now it will be doubly interesting to hear what the 5th and 6th graders have to say about it when they meet this week and next week, respectively.  I’ll try to keep my opinions to myself at first, so that the kids get a chance to say what they really think.  If all of the kids really like the book, maybe I won’t even mention my thoughts at all.  Maybe.  Stay tuned to hear how these two book discussions go…and now I’ve got to get back to finishing the book.  Sigh.

Librarianship, Storytime

On puppets

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While watching The Muppet Movie last night, I was reminded of how great an influence Jim Henson and his compatriots have had on me.  I learned all of my puppet skills from them – and from my older brother and sister – and those skills are one of the most important tools in my children’s librarian toolbox.  Not something you’d think to put on a resume (“Puppet skills: Consistently and competently emulate the Muppets when using puppets”), nor ask about when interviewing a candidate for a children’s librarian position (“That’s great that you have an MLS and ten years of experience, but can you use puppets???”), yet those puppet skills are completely and totally essential to the success of any children’s librarian.  If you can’t use puppets well in a storytime, it means that you’re maintaining too much of your adult ego, and you’re not really living in the moment and letting go – letting things flow.

Which is not to say that I’m perfect at it, because I’m definitely not.  But there are those days, or even just moments, when I bring out a puppet in storytime and forget about Abby and simply focus on the puppet, like I would if I were horsing around with my brother and sister and puppets.  In those moments, something magical truly does happen.  I can see out of the corner of my eyes that the adults, as well as the kids, are transfixed and amused and caught up in the puppet performance.  The irony, of course, is that as soon as I am aware of the audience’s reaction – then I lose the moment.  It’s much like meditation:  you’ll be going along great, meditating really well, and then you realize, “Hey, I’m doing this meditation thing great today!  I’ve totally forgotten about everything else!!!”, and guess what?  You’re not meditating anymore.

But I’m hoping that with more practice I’ll reach that perfect level…puppet nirvana, maybe…and that I’ll be able to sustain my puppeteering for longer periods of time, while being truly conscious of the performance.  That would be awesome.  For now, I’m just happy that I’ve been using puppets more in the Mother Goose on the Loose Storytime.  Instead of using only stuffed animals for the song “When the [hen] gets up in the morning, she always says [cluck],” I’ve started using a rotating selection of puppets, too, and it’s been incredibly cool.  The stuffed animals are very cute, but also static.  The puppets, on the other hand, are animated and engaging: the moms who are chatting at the back of the room stop chatting, and the children who are getting wiggly stop wiggling.  Everyone looks at the goat puppet as I sing to him, and everyone maaas along with him, with some happy giggles here and there in the room.  Best of all are the Folkmanis stage puppets, which have truly malleable faces like Muppets; my favorite stage puppet is the horse, which has quarts of personality, but the lion and the sheep are a close second.

And all this thinking about puppets has inspired me to learn a story to tell with puppets for Thursday’s Preschool Storytime.  It’s not often that I have the time available to memorize a story to tell with puppets, but this week I’m going to make the time (at home, I’m afraid – there’s never the time to do this at work) and Thursday’s storytime is going to be fun.  Puppets rule!!

Children, Etc.

Good things

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The fully cranked woodstove, with slightly damp, lightly hissing logs, keeping our house toasty and the cats mellow.

Freshly washed flannel sheets for the bedroom – which doesn’t get the heat benefit of that woodstove.

Meeting my friend Judy at yesterday’s Artisans Fair at my church.  Judy, wonderful friend that she is, gave me an envelope with money in it to spend at the fair, in honor of her mother, who loved to shop.  (Needless to say, I’ll be making some jewelry for Judy for Christmas…see the next good thing.)

Learning how to make wire wrap earrings – and bracelets and necklaces- on Thursday night.  I love community ed classes!! 

Sitting with my dad at church this morning.

Finding a Stanley Mini Plier six-piece set at KMart today for only $13.00 – when the pliers I’d been looking at in jewelry making catalogs cost at least $9.00 each.  Woo-hoo!

And, the best good thing of all:  running into one of my favorite moms and her seven-year-old daughter at KMart right after finding the mini plier set.  Not wanting to be overly pushy, I just smiled, made eye contact, and said “hi” to the pair, they said “hi” back (confusedly), and I walked on down the aisle to the mint section (shortage of Altoids in our house).  As I was searching the mints, I heard the little girl saying, “I think it’s Abby!!”  And, sure enough, they came up to me, and the little girl said, “Hi Abby!!!”  And I said, “Ah, you figured me out!”  To which she replied, ” I didn’t recognize you at first because you didn’t have your glasses on!”  So I said, yes, I usually wear glasses at work and contacts on the weekends.  And then this totally awesome little girl – only seven, mind you, but one of the smartest kids I know – looked over at the display of Christmas trees, and she said, “Why are they showing Christmas things?  We haven’t even had Veteran’s Day or Thanksgiving yet!!”  And I agreed, with a laugh, that I was thinking the exact same thing.

And now for the next good thing:  a nice big glass of Guiness by the woodstove while reading the book for Tuesday’s teen book group:  Treasure at the Heart of the Tanglewood by Meredith Ann Pierce.

Children's literature, Spare time - Culture

David Macaulay

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Last night I dragged Jim to an author event, part of the annual Concord Festival of Authors.  Though I lived in Concord for years and years, I think that this is the first time I’ve attended an event connected with the festival.  (Funny how we take things for granted when those things are easily available, and only fully appreciate those things when they’re a little harder to access.)

As you might have guessed from the title of this post, the author that we heard speak last night was one of my favorites, David Macaulay.  When I was in graduate school at Simmons a decade ago, the departmental head of the Center for the Study of Children’s Literature organized a field trip for a group of us to go down to Rhode Island and visit David Macaulay in his studio.  It was truly one of the highlights of my graduate school career (which is saying something – I loved every minute of grad school), and I have vivid memories of standing in his sunny studio as he pulled out one original drawing after another for us to look at.  It was remarkable to me that he was so willing to yank these drawings out for us to see, and I remember one of my classmates saying something to that end.  To which he replied that the real art, in his opinion, was the finished book, not the drawings made for the finished book.  I love that idea, and I also loved being in the presence of someone so enthusiastic and creative and welcoming.

My one very minor regret about that day ten or so years ago is that I didn’t think to bring my copy of Black and White for him to sign.  Sure, it would have been a little gauche to have brought a book to be signed, but it’s also a cool souvenir and reminder of an exceptional day.  Not that I lost any sleep over not having the book signed, but it would have been nice.

When I saw that Macaulay would be coming to the Concord Free Public Library to give a talk, I almost didn’t bother to sign up, given that life sometimes feels too busy to indulge in things like author talks, but finally I did pre-register, reserving the last two available seats.  And so we went last night, and got to hear David Macualay talk about most (if not all) of his published books in a quick, witty, and engaging talk with accompanying slide show.  I love that he exudes intelligence and creativity, and that’s he’s just a bit kooky, with a dry sense of humor – so dry sometimes that you have to pay excellent attention to everything that he says.  He started by showing us before and after slides from the books that he has recently reworked for publication in the new volume, Built to Last.  I really enjoyed seeing the change from black and white illustrations to color illustrations for Castle and Cathedral (though the woman in line behind me for the book signing didn’t like the change, and Jim isn’t a fan, either), and it was neat to hear his thinking about change of perspective and focus in the new drawings.  At the end of the talk, he gave excellent answers to some rather weak questions – as Jim pointed out, that’s a sign of a good speaker, someone who can take a lousy question and find the nubbin of interesting stuff in there and use that nubbin to formulate an answer. 

And, of course, I did have him sign my two books – Black and White and Building the Book Cathedral.  I told him my story of having visited his studio all those years ago, to which he gave me a tired smile and drew a picture of the robber on the endpaper of Black and White.  As is usually the case when I meet an author, the best part of the evening was hearing him speak; the book signing felt, as book signings often do to me, a little intrusive.  Intrusive meaning, of course, that those of us who wait in line with our books are almost a bit whoreish in our desire to meet the author and have the author sign the book that is going to live in our house.  I do love my signed books, but I’m starting to feel that maybe my signed book collection has reached its maximum level.

It was a fun night though, and I’m really grateful that Jim was willing to be my date for it.  It’s good to get out of our regular life pattern and hear someone speak who lives his life in a creative and intelligent way – very inspiring!

Etc.

Halloween fun with Jim!

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I’m not dressing up for Halloween this year, since Halloween is on a Sunday (library closed), and I’m not working on Saturday.  This is the first time in the last five years that I haven’t dressed up, and I kinda miss it.

Jim, on the other hand, has dressed up twice for Halloween this year, once for the party at his work (he is the activities director at an assisted living facility), and then tonight for a gig his band is playing.  I asked him if the rest of the band is dressing up in costume, and he just chuckled with his best grin and said, “Nope.”  “So you’re the only one who will be in costume?”  Another big grin, “Yup.”

Frustratingly, when I try to insert the photos of these great costumes, something I’ve successfully done many times before, the formatting of my entire blog gets messed up.  With luck, perhaps I’ll be able to add the photos at a later date, but for now I’ll just have to describe those costumes in words…  [Note: obviously, I’ve now added the photos – it seems that adding captions makes the photos upset the formatting of the blog, so I’ve deleted the captions.  But I’ll keep the next paragraph, since it’s already been written….]

Jim bought some black and white face makeup, and used the black cape that we bought him last year or the year before for Halloween.  For the party at his work, he dressed up as a truly scary vampire (and he even woke me up Thursday morning grinning ear to ear with his freshly applied vampire makeup).  No blood, just a big black widow’s peak, black lips, and a white white face.  And then for tonight’s gig, Jim pulled out all the stops and made himself up to look like Gene Simmons, referring to an old album cover for makeup specifics.  He looked pretty darn awesome!

Happy Halloween, everyone!

Etc.

Unsaid

After my dental appointment today in Lexington, I stopped by the supermarket in Concord for a few things – honey mustard, oatmeal, orange juice – that are cheaper at that supermarket than anywhere else.  As I walked from my car to the store, I saw Louise, the mom of one of my former tutoring students, whom I haven’t seen in six or eight months, loading grocery bags into her minivan. 

“Hi, Louise,” I said, and she looked up and smiled. 

“Hi, Abby!  How are you?” 

Silently, and quickly, I reviewed my less-than-wonderful, fairly traumatic summer in my head, and thought about the sore throat that just cropped up this morning.  “Ok,” I said, “Surviving…How ’bout you?”

Louise looked at me for a second, then said, “Good, we’re good.”  A second of silence as she thought, and changed the subject, “Are you still tutoring?”

We talked very briefly about the neutral topic of tutoring, and then said goodbye – Louise continued to load her groceries, and I walked quickly into the store.  And we probably won’t see each other again for another six months, or even a year.

Reflections on children, literature, libraries, and life…and cats.