Author Archives: Judi

Get Your Fingers Dirty at the Library this Summer

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Jennifer Adams, Children’s Services Manager

Get ready to Dig Into Reading all summer at the library for our summer reading theme.  Storytimes and clubs will be focusing on underground animals, dinosaur fossils, gardens and worms, construction trucks and more.  June 29 is International Mud Day, so this year our Saturday storytime that day will be all about glorious mud, with a mud pie-making contest at the end (outside).  But there’s lots more going on, so be sure to add the library to your summer schedule.

Our summer reading kick-off party is June 1 from 10:00-12:00, and all ages are invited pirateto visit the library to sign up for summer reading and find treasure!  We will provide a treasure map for anyone interested in seeking out various desks and locations within the library, playing fun games for prizes and learning to talk like a pirate.  Kids can create pirate costume pieces for themselves and watch Pirate Pete’s Puppet Show in the auditorium.

The library’s summer reading program is a fun way to motivate kids to read during the break from school.  Continuing to read on a regular basis is critical for kids to maintain and improve their reading skills so they are prepared to enter the next grade in the fall.  Summer reading also motivates parents to read aloud to their younger children, and teens to read books, magazines or graphic novels that interest them and that don’t come with any assignments or reports attached.  Adults can also join in and have some extra incentive to tackle some titles from their “Too many books, too little time” list.

ice-cream-coneParticipating is easy.  You can register at the library or online, and then just keep track of your reading time to earn prizes like free books, restaurant or store gift certificates, toys, mugs, etc.  Our sponsors are amazingly generous, with Vista Drive-In donating 1000 free ice cream cone coupons, as they have done for more than 10 years, and many other fabulous donations.

Storytimes begin June 3rd with options for babies, toddlers and preschoolers throughout the week, including Saturdays.  Baby Rhyme Time for ages 0-18 months meets Mondays at 11 and Thursdays at 10.  In addition to bouncy rhymes, songs and music, each parent/baby pair gets to read a “choral reader” book together during each session. One week will focus on construction vehicles with our new choral reader board book Dinosaur Dig, which has lots of fun language and colorful pictures.

The “Move & Groove” storytimes for toddlers and preschoolers will feature lots of great story books, flannelboards, action rhymes and dancing to music, parachute play, and digging for treasures or crawling through our cloth tunnel to go along with the “dig” theme.  Our goal is for kids to emerge excited about books and reading every day.

Summer clubs for kids going into kindergarten through 6th grade will be busy with lots of cool stories, games and crafts.  The youngest set will join the Precocious Prairie Dogs Club and will feature some funny and strange underground animals, and one week will include a wiggly-jiggly worm relay outside.  The Digging Detectives Club for 2nd-3rd graders will focus on dinosaurs one week, and they will make their own mini dinosaur island using play dough, sticks, grass, and other natural materials.

Ms. Rachel fossilslikes to come up with fascinating and “very grown up” activities for the 4th-6th graders, who can attend the Archaeo-Paleo-Anthro-Pologists club on Wednesdays or Thursdays.  Each week will cover a different ancient culture, plus one week on dinosaur fossils. When they learn about ancient China, Rachel will show the terracotta warriors and then allow kids to try to piece together pottery shards.

We’re showing free kids’ movies every Friday afternoon at 2:00, including several titles based on popular children’s books that involve digging, living underground, saving burrowing animals or traveling inside a giant fruit.

A couple of special treats for animal lovers include the Milford Nature Center program on June 14, and the monthly ZOOfari programs on June 28 and July 26.  Staff from Milford will present “Can You Dig It? Life in a Dog Town,” with amazing faprairiedogcts about prairie dogs and all the animals that depend on them.  Did you know prairie dogs have kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms in their homes? Learn about burrowing owls, turtles and salamanders that call these tunnels home, too, and meet a black-footed ferret.  The June ZOOfari Tails will focus on animal dads, and in July the stories will be about pond animals with a visit from a live salamander or toad.

We will also be continuing our Sunday afternoon “R.E.A.D. With Dogs” program during which kids can sign up to read to a Reading Education Assistance Dog (certified therapy dog) for 15 minutes or so.  The dogs are beautiful, kind and nonjudgmental, creating the perfect environment for reading practice. Of course, this time can be included on the summer reading logs as kids work toward earning their prizes.

You can already get a little taste of the summer theme this Saturday at our “Holey Moley” Stories on the Lawn at 11:00.  Just meet on the Poyntz side lawn, bring a blanket or chair or maybe a picnic lunch, and be entertained with funny stories and a cute craft to take home.

The Hidden Lives of Wolves by Jim and Jamie Dutcher

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For centuries, wolves have been demonized in legend and fiction, despite being so closely related to our belovedHidden Life of Wolves cover-thumb-500x353-9554 dogs. Amidst the controversies surrounding releasing wolves back into the wild in the west, the Dutchers set out to document the social lives of wolves, living closely and for several years with a pack in the Sawtooth Mountains of Idaho. In The Hidden Life of Wolves, they reveal the wolf as an intelligent, highly social animal capable of displaying emotion much like our own pets. Wolf packs in nature have a social order of dominance, from the alpha male and female down to the omega, or lowest wolf on the social scale. The alphas are the only ones to mate, and the entire pack is involved in feeding and babysitting the indulged pups, allowing them to climb, nip and wrestle. Although the omega is the least dominant, his role is to initiate play and alleviate tension in the pack. In the Sawtooth pack, a mid-level wolf often came to the aid of the omega, protecting him from the others and playing with him. The pack demonstrated a sense of mourning when one of their members was killed by a mountain lion–the wolves revisited the site of the killing and quietly roamed the area for many weeks. The authors discuss many instances of social behavior among the pack that discount the stories of the vicious killing machine described in fairy tales.

This book is filled with spectacular photos and gives us a new understanding of the complex lives of these amazing animals. The authors also discuss the controversies around hunting and ranching in the areas where wolves are present, and discuss the benefits of the presence of wolves to the environment. The wolf is an amazing animal that deserves our respect and protection, and the insights offered into their lives by this book will hopefully inspire more protection of these spectacular animals.

Hit the Road: Roadtripping at the Library

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let's go roadtrippingBy John Pecoraro     Assistant Director

With summer just around the corner, our thoughts naturally turn to that vacation ritual, the road trip. Load the car, load the map, then forget the map, but don’t forget the kids, for the gleaming highway awaits you. North, south, east, or west, all directions lead to adventure, new sights, new experiences, or homecomings. Manhattan Public Library has a large travel section on the second floor that includes hundreds of titles about venturing onto the open road in search of new and exciting places.

What was perhaps the first road trip was taken by Horatio Nelson Jackson who, to win a 50 dollar bet, claimed he could cross the country by automobile in 90 days. Jackson left San Francisco on May 23, 1903 and drove into New York City 63 days later. You won’t need quite as much time to drive coast to coast, but a good guide could come in handy. “Let’s Go: Roadtripping USA: The Complete Coast-to-Coast Guide to America” features eight classic cross-country road trip routes, along with hundreds of suggestions for places to eat, drink, and sleep along the way. For more about that first road trip, read “Horatio’s Drive,” by Dayton Duncan and Ken Burns.

If you want to get your kicks on Route 66, check out Tom Snyder’s “Route 66: Traveler’s Guide and Roadside Companion.” Manageable sections are highlighted for the entire 2,448 mile length of the Neon Road from Chicago to Los Angeles. The second half of the book features facts and trivia about places and people along the route.

The Interstate Highway System is the envy of the world, but sometimes those old narrow state and U.S. highways offer a truer picture of America. Try “Road Trip USA: Cross-Country Adventures on America’s Two-Lane Highways” by Jamie Jensen. The guide covers 35,000 miles of blacktop through the heart and soul of America.

Feel like rambling? Then “Ramble: A Field Guide to the U.S.A.,” by Eric Peterson is ramblethe book for you. Celebrating 250 American attractions and six mythic road trips, this travelogue describes each regional chapter using maps, out-of-the-ordinary statistics, and listings of not-so-run-of-the-mill tourist destinations. Chapters are divided into sections including Big Things and Other Road Art (unique sights), R.I.P. (famous graves), Vice (something naughty going on), Sleeps (where to stay), Grub (where to eat), and Huh (the unusual).

     “USA 101: A Guide to America’s Iconic Places, Events, and Festivals,” by Gary McKechnie, is a reverential yet lighthearted look at America in all its quirky diversity. From the Grand Ole Opry to Mount Rushmore, from polka festivals to monster truck rallies, this guide showcases legendary places and hometown events that identify America.

If you’re looking for something out of the ordinary, “Weird U.S.: A Freaky Field Trip through the 50 States,” will take you there. Author Matthew Lake shows you where to find the world’s biggest ball of twine, among other weird, freaky, and unbelievable creatures and places.

Summer crowds can be unbearable, so a guide to uncrowded spots is just what the doctor ordered. ”Off the Beaten Path: A Travel Guide to More than 1,000 Scenic and Interesting Places Still Uncrowded and Inviting,” fills the prescription for an enjoyable road trip. The guide features quick day outings as well as longer vacation trips.

For the more historically inclined, there are several excellent guides from which to choose. “Progressive Nation,” by Jerome Pohlen, for example, is a travel guide to over 400 inspiring landmarks and left turns highlighting the Progressive Movement in the U.S. “America’s Best Historic Sites,” by B.J. Welborn lists 101 places to see, spanning more than 1,000 years of history.

civil war road  Civil War enthusiasts will be interested in “The Complete Civil War Road Trip Guide,” by Michael Weeks. The book outlines ten suggested itineraries for short road trips that cover every major battle of the war and contains complete information on and reviews of almost 450 historical sites across the United States related to the Civil War.

Remember to visit the library before you leave, and be careful on the road. Just in case you’re wondering: That big ball of twine could be in Cawker City, Kansas or Darwin, Minnesota or even Branson, Missouri. It all depends on who you ask.

A Glimpse of New Documentaries at MPL

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Marcia Allen
Technical Services & Collections Manager

Judging by the circulation of films from Manhattan Public Library, most library customers are well aware of our holdings.  We’ve got multiple copies of “Lincoln,” Life of Pi,” “Les Miserables,” and “Wreck-it Ralph,” to name but a few of the many available films. Most folks who hear that the library owns some 8,600+ films are reluctant to believe it, as the shelving would not seem to have that capacity, but so many titles are always checked out at any one time.
In addition to features films, the library has an extensive collection of documentaries.  Those do not circulate as much as some of the other offerings, but there are treasures to be found among them.  Just recently added are the following which have received excellent reviews:

joffrey  “Joffrey”:  A favorite of the San Francisco Film Festival as well as the Dance on Camera Film Festival, this lovely piece of work follows the historical dance company’s founding in 1956 by creators Robert Joffrey and Gerald Arpino.  Dogged by financial woes, the dance company managed to re-create itself several times to become one of the premier organizations of the world.  Of special note is the wealth of historical footage of glorious performances.  Testimonials by some of the dancers, choreographers, and the founders themselves allow viewers to trace the growth and tradition-breaking techniques of this highly esteemed company.

 “Deadliest Tornadoes”:  Though we don’t want to think about it, our region is already immersed in one of our most dangerous seasons of the year.  This NOVA PBS presentation recounts the incredibly high occurrences of tornadoes that took place in April of 2011.   Extended footage of Joplin’s horrific storm is a quick reminder of the potency of such winds.  Interviews with scientists and with weather forecasters demonstrate how wind rotation begins, and victim testimonials highlight an informative program.deadliest tornadoes

 “How to Survive a Plague”:  This historical documentary follows the path of AIDS activists in the early 1990s who demonstrated in the streets and who demanded that the Food and Drug Administration take immediate action to approve AIDS-fighting drugs.  They worked to help identify new treatments and move them through safety trials in record time.  Their determination reduced the numbers of AIDS-related deaths and offered new hope to sufferers.  This drama earned both the New York Film Critics Circle Award and the Gotham Award and was nominated for an Academy Award as well.

 planet ocean   “Planet Ocean”:  This beautiful film has a two-fold purpose.    Stunning footage of ocean currents taken from well above the Earth and shots of the feeding mouths of a coral reef are particularly striking.  But this film is also a plea for the protection of the ocean’s vast resources.  Researchers cite the drifting of crucial fish populations toward more temperate waters to the north as an alarming trend.  They also describe populations, like that of the Bluefin tuna, which are nearing extinction because of over-fishing.  This environmental gem was the 2012 Official Cinematography Winner at the Blue Ocean Film Festival.

“You’re Looking at Me Like I Live Here and I Don’t”:  This film has not yet arrived at MPL, but will be available shortly.  A documentary by Scott Kirschenbaum, this touching film recounts the life Of Lee Gorewitz  in the Traditions Alzheimer’s & Other Dementia Care Unit in Danville, California. This in-depth character study reveals that many of our perceptions of Alzheimer’s disease are misguided. The film premiered on PBS and has received much praise from physicians and university instructors for its content.

“Secrets of Highclere Castle”:  For the many fans of “Downton Abbey,” this PBS special is a rare treat.  Highclere Castle is the opulent location for the filming of the Masterpiece classic.  Interested viewers can learn about the current owners, Lord and Lady Carnavon, they can listen to the actual butler’s philosophy of service, and they can explore the beautiful rooms and grounds of one of England’s more famous estates.  They can also learn about Lady Almina’s huge investment in upkeep and restoration during the 19th century.  A visual delight.

   “The Abolitionists”:  This PBS drama follows the interactions of abolitionists like Frederick Douglass, William Garrison, Harriet Beecher Stowe and Angelina Grimke.  At a time when the country was fast approaching the Civil War, those individuals struggled to expose the horrors of slavery.  Their selflessness laid the groundwork for civil rights at a time when violence was a given.  This historic piece generates a lasting respect for those courageous few.

For these titles and a wide selection of others, take a look at the many fine documentaries your library has to offer.

Whiskey Beach by Nora Roberts

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whiskey beachIn her latest romantic suspense, Nora Roberts takes us to Whiskey Beach, an idyllic village on the ocean, outside of Boston. Attorney Eli Landon has been accused of murdering his wife, but without enough evidence, prosecutors are unable to charge him with the crime. Harassed by police and the media,  fired from his job and depressed, Eli heads to Whiskey Beach and his family home Bluff House. The most recent resident was his grandmother, who is recovering from serious injuries from a fall in the house, but Landons have lived in the huge old house since the 1700′s. Eli meets the quirky and beautiful Abra–a local woman who teaches yoga, is a housekeeper and cook and a jack-of-all-trades in the village. Abra and Eli slowly develop a relationship and Abra encourages Eli to fight back–to regain his confidence, believe in himself and his new writing career and to try to prove his innocence. On the hunt for his wife’s murderer, they discover the stories of hidden treasure and try to solve the mysteries of an unknown attacker and the murder of a private investigator. Likeable characters, a plot with twists and turns, an intriguing mystery and a sweet romance combine to make this another winning story by Nora Roberts.

Suspect by Robert Crais

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robert-crais-suspectIn his new crime thriller, Suspect, Robert Crais introduces two characters who are traumatized and in need of a partner. Scott James is a police detective who was involved in a shoot out that left him severely wounded and his partner dead. Maggie is a German Shepherd and a marine bomb dog who was injured in the line of duty when her handler was killed by a bomber in Afghanistan. They become partners when Scott is accepted into the canine unit of the LAPD. Each comes to rely on the other as they cope with nagging injuries and PTSD and have to learn to trust each other. As Scott goes through the canine unit training, he also is investigating his own shooting and trying to determine who killed his partner. He encounters corruption, greed and murder and he and Maggie must learn to protect each other in order to survive. This is a gripping, fast-paced mystery with well-drawn characters and a complex plot. The connection between Scott and Maggie is touching and their eventual dependence on each other provides a poignant aspect to the story–a tale that grips the reader from the first page!  Hopefully there will be more stories about Scott and Maggie as they work together.

National Hamburger Month

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bobby flayKeri Mills, Young Adult Librarian
I had to laugh when I found out that May is National Hamburger Month. But, when you think about the role the hamburger has played in American culture and cuisine, maybe it should be recognized on the calendar.  If you are interested in knowing more about the hamburger and its humble beginnings, the library has a couple of books on burger history.

“Hamburger Heaven” by Jeffrey Tennyson is a good one to get you started. This book details the beginnings of the hamburger steak from the Tartars of the 13th century, its immigration to the United States via Hamburg, Germany, and the Americans who claim to be the first to put the steak between two pieces of bread. Then, there is a fascinating look at the rise of burger restaurants and the famous burger battles that ensued. What also makes the book so enjoyable, is its numerous photographs of early restaurants, advertisements and burger memorabilia (yes, there really is burger memorabilia).

If you are not that into burger history, and would just like to eat some hamburgers, the library has plenty of cookbooks to choose from. One of my recent favorites is “Bobby Flay’s Burgers, Fries, and Shakes.” Flay has created a cookbook that is great for beginners and burger experts alike. The first chapter offers advice for choosing the right meats, cheeses, buns, cookware, and the best way to cook your burgers. Subsequent chapters offer burger recipes galore, many illustrated with full-page color photographs. After you’ve mastered the burger, try one of Flay’s recipes for fries, condiments, or milkshakes.  What washes down a burger better than a lemon meringue pie milkshake or a dark chocolate milkshake with coconut cream?

You could also try “The Book of Burger” by Rachel Ray.  With over 200 recipes, there are plenty of burgers to choose from. And, as usual, Ray makes her recipes very accessible for the average home cook. Her book includes recipes for beef, lamb, pork, veggie, chicken, turkey, and seafood burgers, not to mention fries and dipping sauces. There is also a selection of favorite burger recipes from other celebrity chefs. Many of the recipes are kid friendly, as well. If macaroni is a staple at your house, try the Chili Mac ‘N’ Cheese Burgers.rachel ray

 “Raichlen’s Indoor! Grilling” by Steven Raichlen is the cookbook for those who do not have an outdoor grill or for those who crave a burger in any kind of weather. Although this book does not contain a huge assortment of burger recipes, each recipe it does contain is fairly detailed. And, every burger recipe contains specific instructions for cooking on five different types of indoor grills: contact grills, grill pans, built-in grills, freestanding grills, and even fireplace grills. There are also chapters on sides, veggies, and desserts. Pound Cake S’mores,  anyone?

If you are an experienced cook and not easily intimidated in the kitchen, try “Burgers: from Barbecue Ranch Burger to Miso Salmon Burger” by Paul Gayler. This one is definitely not for the average cook. All recipe measurements are in metric, and the majority of the burgers take extensive prep and/or have difficult to find ingredients. Take, for instance, the Lamb Burger Briks, which are wrapped in spring roll pastry dough and then deep fried. If you are up for a challenge, you can even try pheasant, ostrich, or swordfish burgers.

 “Grilling Vegan Style” by John Schlimm is perfect for the vegetarians or vegans in your life.  The first couple chapters go over the basics of grilling and the different types of vegan foods and products that are available. There is one chapter devoted to burgers, plus several others on appetizers, marinades, sides, and various grilled dishes. There is even an entire chapter devoted to the perfect drinks to go with your burgers or other grilling masterpieces.

If this has gotten you in the mood for a good burger, come check out one of these or our many other cookbooks from the library today!

The One Good Thing by Kevin Milne

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the-one-good-thing1

For much of his life, Nathan Steen has carried 6 small red stones in his pocket each day, transferring them one at a time from one pocket to the other as he does a good deed and hoping that at the end of the day he has moved all 6 stones. When he stops to help a stranded motorist, Nathan is killed in a tragic accident. As his family copes with grief and heartbreak, Nathan’s wife Halley discovers emails in  her husband’s work email sent by a woman from his past. As Halley and her son Ty struggle with their anger and disappointment, daughter Alice maintains her faith in the goodness of her father. As each character tells their story from their perspective, secrets and lies are discovered and Nathan’s motivations are revealed. Many topics are touched upon by the characters, including bullying and abuse. The One Good Thing is a story that illustrates the strength of families, of providing a good example to our children and of the repercussions of the choices that we all make every day–a touching and inspirational portrait of the lasting effects of kindness.

 

Ghostman by Roger Hobbs

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GhostmanGhostman is the first novel for author Roger Hobbs, and he is off to an amazing start! This riveting crime novel takes place in the shadowy underworld of Atlantic City. The main character–sometimes called Jack–is a criminal who lives off the grid, hiding behind disguises, with no one who knows his real identity and with only a few people able to contact him. One of those is Marcus, a man who orchestrates robberies involving millions of dollars. Jack is indebted to Marcus for a bungled robbery several years before, and Marcus asks Jack to go to Atlantic City and recover millions of dollars stolen in another botched robbery of a casino. Jack must contend with a FBI investigation and a local drug lord, and must rely on all of his abilities to survive this case. The Atlantic City story alternates with Jack’s memory of the robbery in Kuala Lumpur that went awry. This is a riveting, fast-paced, gritty novel with a unique, complex main character and a plot filled with twists and turns.

The Last Chance to See

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last chanceThe Last Chance to See is a thought-provoking, interesting and at times disheartening series that investigates the condition of several species of endangered animals. Traveling around the globe, Stephen Fry and zoologist and photographer Mark Carwardine search for some of the rarest creatures on the planet in an attempt to learn how species are faring in a world where humans are impacting the environment in many ways. Learn if Amazon manatees, white rhinos, Komodo dragons and others are able to adapt and survive or if they are of the edge of extinction. Not only do we see the animals, but the park rangers, biologists, citizens and volunteers who are dedicated to saving these animals and their habitats. This is an informative and fascinating series with entertaining and enthusiastic hosts, willing to travel in uncomfortable and sometimes dangerous circumstances to bring us the extraordinary stories of these animals and the humans committed to saving them.

Thriving in the Happiest Places on Earth

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Susan Withee, Adult Services Department Manager

A while back I wrote about “The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer from the People Who’ve Lived the Longest” a bestselling book by Dan Buettner, an explorer, scientist, and National Geographic Fellow. The book grew out of a cover story he wrote for National Geographic and from studies on health and longevity done in collaboration with the National Institute on Aging. Traveling to several places around the world where groups of people had been documented to live the longest, Buettner attempted to discover and distill down the essential elements of the path to vigor, long life, and health.

Recently, I read Buettner’s follow-up book, “Thrive: Finding Happiness the Blue Zones Way,” and, like his previous book, I found it engaging, thought-provoking, and very enjoyable – part travelogue, part sociological study, part self-help guide..  Using as his guide the King of Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness Index and the World Database of Happiness from the Netherlands’ Erasmus University, Buettner traveled to some of the happiest places on earth – countries, regions, cities, and villages – and tried to discover the secrets of their success.  The following, according to Buettner, are some of the building blocks for happier individuals and communities.

More than any other factor, where people live affects their level of happiness. Places with economic freedom, high employment, tolerance of diversity, greater status equality, a fair legal system, and a strong democratic process provide people with security and purpose. People are happiest in neighborhoods that provide quiet and safe surroundings, that offer proximity to services, churches, shops, and culture, and that are walkable and bikeable, and they are happiest in communities that have plenty of parks and natural spaces, vibrant city centers, good public transportation, and lots of opportunities for social interaction. Limiting retail shopping hours and limiting the work week afford people time and energy for more beneficial pursuits and more social interaction, both big happiness factors in their own right. Support for the arts, opportunities for personal growth and learning at all ages, and plenty of nearby locations for contact with nature also increase emotional well-being.

In addition to living in a place with economic freedom and high employment, it’s fundamental to personal happiness to find a job that is optimally challenging, draws on one’s natural talents, feeds their passions, and provides for contact with friendly co-workers, while still leaving time away from work to spend on personal interests and family relationships. The happiest people limit their work week to 40 hours (or even work part-time), avoid long commutes, take their vacations, and socialize with colleagues.

The happiest communities are the most connected and those which offer plenty of opportunities for social interaction, whether formally in organizations or clubs or informally in common spaces like parks and public gathering places. The happiest people seek out positive, trustworthy, and supportive friends, are connected to a faith or spiritual practice and, no surprise, have a long-term legally-committed relationship with a spouse or partner.

The happiest people have sufficient money to meet their basic needs and feel secure, but they don’t overly aspire to great wealth and don’t dedicate most of their energy and time to acquiring it. They spend carefully and save automatically, and have less debt. They shop less, have less stuff, and have little preoccupation with the latest consumer products. They invest instead in experiences, by spending money on travel, activities with family or friends, hobbies or lessons.

Most of the world’s happiest people don’t generally have large or luxurious homes.  Instead, most of them live in houses that range anywhere from modest to minimal, but their homes are places that foster a sense of well-being and contentment, that create space to engage in activities and interests and to gather with family and friends.  They serve as a refuge and often have areas, however small, set aside for spiritual practice and meditation.

There were a lot of takeaways in “Thrive,” just as I found there were in “The Blue Zones,” and much to inspire and instruct.  And food for thought at a national, community, and personal level.

 

Eighty Days: Nellie Bly and Elizabeth Bisland’s History Making Race Around the World by Matthew Goodman

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eighty.daysIn the 1890′s, Nellie Bly was a reporter for the New York World. An ambitious reporter, Bly covered sensational news stories, even having herself admitted to a mental hospital in order to report on the conditions inside.  Determined to find a story to capture the imagination of the city, Bly proposed a trip around the world, planned in order to beat the Eighty Days journey by the Jules Verne character Phileas Fogg. With the approval of her editor, Joseph Pulitzer, Bly set out from New York to England on November 14, 1889. The editor of the Cosmopolitan was not to be outdone and set their literary reporter Elizbeth Brisland off on her own journey around the world, but heading in the opposite direction, across the American west and the Pacific. This is a fascinating look into the journeys of the two women who are both defying gender stereotypes, the adventures they experienced and their reactions to their travels. Each woman’s travel was planned to exact hours and minutes in order for them to race around the globe, and the entire nation became riveted by their competition. They viewed the world very differently and the insights into their personalities are fascinating, as are the countries and cities that they travel through. Author Goodman has filled the book with extensive research about the women and the times they live in. This story provides an absorbing, in-depth and compelling view of two amazing women and of the world at the turn of the century

Six by Six: Six Skills Kids Should Learn by Age Six

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kids.readingSix by Six: Six Skills Kids Should Learn by Age Six

By Jennifer Adams, Children’s Services Manager

Everyone knows that libraries have storytimes so young children can hear good stories read aloud.  People who have attended storytimes know that, in addition to stories, children will learn action rhymes, songs and even dance moves.  It is all great fun and leads to enjoyment of books and the library.  That alone may be reason enough to present ten storytimes or more each week at our library, but there is actually more to it than that.

Public libraries have a strong connection to early childhood education and “early literacy,” a term that does not mean learning to read early, but instead refers to the skills children master in preparation for learning to read when they are older.  It begins with babies – hearing language spoken and sung, touching our mouths as we speak, and beginning to recognize shapes and images.  Babies love books. They love to look at them, hear the words, chew on them, rip their pages. Books are full of wonderment!  A father in the library recently told me he got a kick out of his daughter, who is just a few months old, because she is such a book critic. He can open the page of a new board book to her laughter or her cries – she shares her opinions openly. But we know we need to be reading to our young children, and talking to them and playing with them.  How do these simple exercises translate into reading success?

The American Library Association (ALA) did extensive research into this topic several years ago and launched a nationwide program for librarians called “Every Child Ready to Read.” The research showed six early literacy skills that were key to children’s ability to learn to read when they got to school.  Not surprisingly, many of these skills have been a part of storytimes for ages.  Knowing the research, terminology and results associated with specific skills has helped us hone in on the activities that are best for early literacy. Additionally, we can easily pass this knowledge on to parents who attend our programs so their efforts at home are reinforced and encouraged.

Johnson County Public Library took ALA’s somewhat wordy program and transformed it into a fun, user-friendly version they called “6 By 6” – six skills kids need to know by the time they are ready to read around the age of six.  The State Library of Kansas adopted the 6 By 6 program, making it accessible to every library in the state (http://6by6.mykansaslibrary.org).

The six skills are:
1. Have Fun with Books (print motivation)

2. Notice Print All Around You (print awareness)

3. Talk, Talk, Talk (vocabulary)

4. Look for Letters Everywhere (letter knowledge)

5. Tell Stories about Everything (narrative skills)

6. Take Time to Rhyme, Sing & Play Word Games (phonological awareness)

In addition to weekly storytimes, we have been incorporating early literacy skills into fun 6 By 6 activity stations available in the children’s room all the time.  Our 6 By 6 stations include games, puzzles, felt boards and dress-up items that revolve around a picture book.

This month features “The Gruffalo” by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler.  In the rhyming text, we follow a brave mouse who outsmarts all the animals in the forest who would like to eat him by telling them he is off to have dinner with his friend, the gruffalo, a terrifying monster the mouse makes up as he goes. Much to his surprise, the mouse does indeed meet a strange beast that matches all his frightening descriptions.  But once again, the tiny mouse is able to outwit the gruffalo and all the other critters.  Although this book is more than 10 years old, it has remained popular with a sequel, “The Gruffalo’s Child,” and a short, award-winning animated film.

Now you can visit the library with your child or grandchild to have some fun with this entertaining story.  Read the book together on one of our cozy chairs, then use the stuffed gruffalo and other puppets to retell it to each other.  Put together a funny Mr. Potato Head monster version with extra eyes, horns and other silly body parts.  Use a big magnet board to match words and letters, and pretend to mix up some interesting recipes.

These engaging activities will be available in the children’s room through May.  Librarians change the book and activities every two months, coming up with new and creative ways for children to explore language and stories.

Vanity Fare: a Novel of Latte, Literature and Love by Megan Caldwell

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vanity.fareMolly Hagan is a 40 year old mother with a 6 year old son and a husband–soon to be ex-husband, who dumped her for a younger woman. He has lost his job and has fallen behind in his child support payments, forcing Molly to look for work after being a stay-at-home Mom for several years. Feeling insecure about her abilities, her age, her skills and her body, Megan takes a job offered by a friend as a copy writer, designing the menu and name for a new bakery near the New York Public Library. The owners want a tie in with books, and Molly uses her ability to create puns as a source for the name of the bakery–Vanity Fare. Molly is a wonderfully written character and we see her change and grow through the book, becoming more confident in who she is and what she wants out of life. Molly’s circle of friends and supporters are likeable characters and are well-drawn. There is romance and humor, and the names for the baked goods at the bakery–”Tart of Darkness”, “Of Mousse and Men” for example, are tied to literary references. This is a delightful story, filled with fun, descriptions of wonderful desserts and starring a woman who struggles to turn into the person she aspires to be.

Classic Western Films

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John Pecoraro
Assistant Director
Manhattan Public Library

true grit

What are the ten best Western films of all time? Well, that depends on who you ask. You can find many lists of top Western films on the Web, but Classic Western Films no two lists will include the same films. Gayot.com, Reelz.com, Amctv.com, IGN.com, the American Film Institute, the Internet Movie Database, Rotten Tomatoes, and many other websites have their own opinions on which are the best Westerns. Since there doesn’t seem to be any consensus among the experts, I’ve come up with my own list of favorite Westerns. My own top ten, in no particular order, are:

“The Magnificent Seven,” 1960, directed by John Sturges. In this western remake of Akira Kurosawa’s “Seven Samurai,” seven American gunmen take on the job of defending a Mexican village against marauding bandits. Elmer Bernstein composed the film’s iconic theme music, later used in commercials for Marlboro cigarettes. The film stars Steve McQueen, Yul Brynner, Charles Bronson, James Coburn, and Eli Wallach to name a few.

“The Searchers,” 1956, directed by John Ford. Based on the novel by Alan Le May, the film stars John Wayne as a middle-aged Civil War veteran who spends years looking for his niece (Natalie Wood), who has been abducted by Comanches. Major themes running through the film are the issues of racism and genocide towards Native Americans.

“Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” 1969, directed by George Roy Hill. Loosely based on actual events, the film tells the story of outlaws Robert Leroy Parker, aka Butch Cassidy (Paul Newman), and the Henry Longabaugh, the Sundance Kid (Robert Redford).

“The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly,” 1966, directed by Sergio Leone. One of the “Spaghetti Westerns,” filmed in Italy and Spain, the plot revolves around three gunslingers competing to find a fortune in buried Confederate gold: Blondie, The Good (Clint Eastwood); Angel Eyes, The Bad (Lee Van Cleef); and Tuco, The Ugly (Eli Wallach). Ennio Morricone composed the recognizable and haunting film score.

“The Oxbow Incident,” 1943, directed by William Wellman, and starring Henry Fonda. Based on the novel of the same name by Walter Van Tilburg Clark, the film explores the theme of mob justice and vigilante law as two drifters are drawn into a lynch mob to find and hang three men presumed to be rustlers and the killers of a local man.

“Shane,” 1953, directed by George Stevens. Based on the novel by Jack Shaefer, with a screenplay by Western author A.B. Guthrie, the film tells the story of Shane, a drifter and reluctant gunslinger. Shane (Alan Ladd) stumbles into an isolated valley in Wyoming and becomes embroiled in a land conflict between a homesteader and a ruthless cattle boss.

“True Grit,” 2010, directed by Joel and Ethan Coen. A remake of another classic Western from 1969, “True Grit” directed by Henry Hathaway, and based on the novel by Charles Portis. Fourteen-year-old Mattie Ross hires Deputy U.S. Marshal Rooster Cogburn (John Wayne in the original; Jeff Bridges in the remake) to bring her father’s murderer to justice.

“Unforgiven,”1992, directed by and starring Clint Eastwood. A dark Western that deals frankly with the uglier aspects of violence and the myth of the Old West. The film tells the story of William Munny, an aging outlaw and killer who takes on one more job years after he had hung up his guns and turned to farming.

“Little Big Man,” 1970, directed by Arthur Penn, and based on the novel by Thomas Berger. At age 121, Jack Crabb (played by Dustin Hoffman) recounts the story of his life, including capture by the Cheyennes and participation in the Little Bighorn fight against George Armstrong Custer.

blazing saddlesAnd last but not least, “Blazing Saddles,” 1974, directed by Mel Brooks, because it’s always fun to spoof the things you love. The campfire scene alone qualifies this film as “classic.” This film satirizes the racism obscured by myth-making Hollywood accounts of the American West, with the hero being a black sheriff in an all-white town.

All of my top ten appear on one or more lists of best Westerns. Most of these titles are available in DVD format at Manhattan Public Library.