Across the Alley

As previously mentioned, I am currently suffering not only from children's book withdrawals, but also from a temporary budget freeze stopping newly selected titles from being ordered. I have carts sitting in Baker and Taylor waiting for processing and desparately hope they will be released in a few weeks. In the meantime, I am going through the books chosen for the spring semester Mock Caldecott award session in a children's literature class. Today, I started looking more closely at my selections. Even though they were hastily grabbed as the new book shelf was cleared before the holiday break, I am finding several really lovely titles (both art and story) to review for the resource center book review blog. Today's installment is Across the Alley by Richard Michelson, illustrated by E.B. Lewis. I am not familiar with Michelson's work, but have purchased several of Lewis's books for the library juvenile collection including The Bat Boy and his Violin, Night Boat to Freedom, and Coming on Home Soon.

Across the Alley is a poignant story of friendship between two young boys, one Jewish and white, the other African American, highlights this tale set during a time when racial discrimination is prevalent. Willie and Abe live across the alley from each other. Unable to be friends during the day, they talk nightly through their windows, sharing secrets, hopes, and dreams. Willie, whose father once played Negro League baseball, knows how to pitch, teaches Abe to throw a splitter. Abe, who’s Grandpa was a premier violinist, shares the violin with Willie. The boy’s individual talents shine, revealing it is Willie who has an aptitude for the violin and Abe who shows promise with pitching. Soon Willie is invited to play his violin at Synagogue and Abe pitches in a baseball game. Beautifully rendered watercolor illustrations highlight a touching story of friendship without racial boundaries. Grades 1 - 4

Tags: Richard Michelson, E. B. Lewis, Across the Alley, Juvenile books, Juvenile Fiction

Two new reads

A quick trip to the local snotty wal-mart (sorry, just a quick editorial comment from me because I did not have time to drive to Kmart or Target in neighboring towns and I sincerely dislike the place) and bagged two new fabulous reads. The first, a "Between-the-Numbers" Stephanie Plum book by Janet Evanovich titled Plum Lovin. And the second title is one I've been waiting for, the latest installment by Julie Garwood called Shadow Dance.

Update: 1/10/07

I read Plum Lovin' last evening and, as anticipated, thoroughly enjoyed the madcap adventure featuring the return of Diesel from Evanovich's last "between-the-numbers' book Visions of Sugar Plums. Both Ranger and Morelli are suspiciously absent (out of town and on a police stake out), this Valentine's Day Caper, but Lulu and Tank, Albert and Valerie, Grandma and Bob, and a few romantically challenged patron's of Stephanie's latest bond jumper Annie, make this a holiday to remember in the 'burg.

I bought Shadow Dance without checking to see who was featured, as is often the case when I buy favorite authors, and was pleased to see this is Jordan's book and perennial ladies man Noah Clayborne will make an appearance. Even better, it will include Dylan and Kate's wedding, both featured in Slow Burn, Garwood's previous novel. A definite end of the book reader, I am torturing myself by not checking to see if Noah has met his match in Jordan, or if he is simply joining in the fracas. Time will tell.

Update: 1/15/07

I'm trying to decide if updating a post is better than creating a new one because, hey, it keeps like things together. Or if it is simply laziness on my part. Either way, this update concerns Shadow Dance. I finished reading on Friday evening and was not disappointed because it fulfilled my expectations of what a new Julie Garwood book should be. The book opens at Kate and Dylan's wedding where both Jordan and Noah are in attendance. When Jordan and Noah converse, hidden sparks begin to fly. Jordan meets professor MacKenna (far-flung relation) who has been conversing via email with Kate's youngest sister Isabel regarding a family history he has been compiling. Jordan offers to copy the professor's notes for Isabel and finds herself following a mystery regarding MacKenna and Buchanan family history that places her in the middle of small town scandle, deception, and murder. As with all of the Garwood novels featuring the Buchannan family (praise be there are so many of them), for me the mystery pales in comparison to the relationship between her characters. Though I would like to see her leading men call her women something more substantial than "sugar" on occasion, Jordan and Noah were delightful. In fact, I have already read it twice.

Tags: Janet Evanovich, Plum Lovin', Julie Garwood, Shadow Dance, Fiction, Recreational reading

Playing favorites

I know it is probably wrong to admit I have favorite professors, but it is the unvarnished truth. I have mentioned before how great it is to have a viable working relationship with faculty in the College of Education and my most enduring relationships continue to be with children's literature professors. From the semester annual Mock Caldecott sessions (coming soon - the Mock session and the actual announcement) to simple resource center visits, anything that gets students into the library works in my favor. I do, however, have a soft spot for a particular faculty member. When I was hired he was department chair and the best faculty resource I could hope to have. Now, he's back in the classroom working his magic.

Last spring he called and asked my opinion of a new assignment he was proposing to use with his students (I know I have discussed this before, but it is worth repeating). I looked through his syllabus, added a few comments, and offered to put together pathfinders for his students to use. I incorporated the information into his beginning of the term semester tour and often worked individually with his students when they came into to library. One of the reasons this faculty member stands out is easily illustrated with his visit today. He brought to me three portfolio's of completed assignments to view, apologized for not bringing more because he did not feel they were up to par with work they could accomplish, and asked me to look them over and tell him what I thought.

Quite exceptional.

It is not all that unusual to have an instructor solicit your assistance, even expertise, for a class project. It is unusual to have them share the results. This afternoon, acutaly momentarily, I have three completed assignments to view. One of them was written by a student who works for me in the resource center.

Tags: Academic library, Instructional resource centers, Curriculum materials centers, childrens literature

Crisis averted ... wireless access points

During the last two days a technician from IT has been working on the resource center computers, general updates, installation of missing drivers that enable color printing from Excel, and re-establishing the ghost image to include Print Shop on all of our Gateway computers (I do not have enough licenses for the newer Dells). It is a relief to have these things done during winter break and have everything bright and shiny for the new term beginning after the MLK holiday. I was particularly grateful to have her here yesterday when a student technician installed a new wireless access point on the second floor.

I spoke to the young man before leaving for lunch and he told me he was installing the hardware and we would see a significant increase in our wireless capability. I had no complaints about the current access, but a new/stronger access point on this floor will be nice for students working on this floor. When I returned from lunch, fully sated and caffeine in hand, "my" technician asked me if I realized the access point had rendered one of the computer useless. Hello! I don't think so. That is something I would have remembered and definitely questioned. At the very least, I would have suggested using one of two inaccessible (the floor leaks by one and the other is in a doorway) ports inside the resource center. I have fifteen computers on this floor used constantly, without fail, day in and day out. The last thing I want is to lose one of them.

I was advised to call IT and question placement of the access point and request a change be made. When I got a help desk employee, who did his best to understand, the technician in the resource center took over and asked to speak to the lead client support specialist who immediately (really, it was only minutes) came over to look at the situation. Within a half an hour I was assured the problem would be dealt with today.

Happy, happy, joy, joy .... it was.

Talk about service; before lunch the same young man came over and installed what appears to be a splicer/splitter of some sort. The access point and computer in question are now sharing an available port. I have all of my computers updated, running with new ghost images, hooked to the university network, and a new access point allowing students using laptops to have better wireless network connections. It would have been several days until I turned on that system and noted the problem. After climbing under the table and investigating the problem, I would have been seriously unhappy and sending out help tickets. Thank heavens my technician (she is assigned to the resource center and does fabulous work for us) noticed what was going on and utilized definite trouble-shooting steps. Heaving a big sigh of relief.

Tags: Libraries & wireless,Wireless access, Resource center computers, University IT departments

Wake up, Henry Rooster!

Alas, I have not taken a book to lunch in many a day and hope to change that practice in just a few minutes. This morning has been spent cleaning off the various stacks from my work area, deleting email, reading email, and completing the most hated task of the new year, scheduling graduate assistants and student workers for the upcoming semester. It is always a challenge to make their availability correspond to adequate coverage for the resource center. Unfortunately, we are currently in a bit of a purchasing funk at work. Though I have several carts prepared, they will not be submitted until the end of the month. That makes finding books to read and review a bit difficult. Luckily, there are always a few titles trickling into the library. That said, today's entry is Wake up, Henry Rooster written by Margriet Ruurs and illustrated by Sean Cassidy.

Henry Rooster has a problem, he likes to stay up all night and sleep during the day. His father bemoans Henry’s odd sleeping habit, but his mother explains, “Henry’s just not a morning rooster.” One morning Henry’s father leaves for a Roosters’ Union Convention and assigns Henry the task of waking up the farmer while he is gone. Mayhem follows soon after as Henry struggles to find his own way of waking the farm at dawn without giving up late night fun. A wise old goat’s advice presents an unusual twist to the final resolution of Henry’s problem. Lively illustrations of Henry’s messy room, his gray shadowed gloomy demeanor trying to raise the sun after a particularly long night, and his fun blue sneakers worn to skateboard with the horses, are among the many humorous details that highlight this book. A fun read aloud, children will relate to Henry’s antics.

Tags: Margriet Ruurs, Sean Cassidy, Wake Up, Henry Rooster, Juvenile books, Juvenile fiction

A happier new year

I was lucky enough to get good, actually wonderful, news yesterday regarding my mother's health. Though still in intensive care (week six) she is taking small steps towards recovery and New Year's Day marked her removal from the ventilator. Definite reason to celebrate.

There are a few books on my shelf muttering my name and a recent buget issue has put spending for new books on hold for the next few weeks. Selections have been made and I have the newest issues of Booklist and School Library Journal to peruse this afternoon as I continue to plow through work looming in a towering pile on my work surface.

Book talk to come in the next few days.

Happy New Year!

That kind of day

I don't know where this penguin gif originated, but it arrived in my mail box this morning from a friend. After spending days trying to get information from people, and becoming increasingly frustrated by the task, it really made me laugh.

That said, it is not all that hard to determine which penguin I am.

Break in blogging

Due to a family health emergency, and the upcoming busy holiday season, I will be taking a blog posting break until after the New Year.

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and Peace to all.

Max's Words

Today's picture book review is Max's Words, written by Kate Banks and illustrated by Boris Kulikov. This particular title has been on my shelf for most of the term. I enjoyed the story and loved the almost fanciful illustrations, but was not sure I could do the book justice with a short review for the resource center review blog. I do know that I needed to clean off my shelf since I was beginning to get library overdue notices via email. No one is exempt from over due books!

Max is part of a collecting family, his brother Benjamin collects stamps and his other brother Karl collects coins. Neither brother wants to share, so Max decides to begin his own hobby; he is going to collect words. As the collection takes form and substance, the words soon overflow Max’s desk to the floor and beyond, becoming a story. Text of each word chosen is highlighted with a bold, dark font, and the matching cutouts strewn gleefully across the page with the word baseball in the shape of a baseball bat, ice cream beginning with an ice cream cone, and hungry shown with a strategically placed bite. Illustrations enhance the developing story; at the beginning a forlorn Max is separated from the richly colored scenes of his brother’s collections. On subsequent pages, Max is a focal point, cleverly placed with his scissors and small words around him. Individual words become sentences and each sentence part of the story; illustrations are more vibrant, filling the page. A story about collecting becomes a story in itself, something children will thoroughly enjoy. This book would be a great introduction to creative writing in the classroom. Grades K-3.

Tags: Kate Banks, Boris Kulikov, Max's Words, Juvenile fiction, Picture books, Juvenile books

A first time for everything

The difference between Friday and today is bigger than the passing of a weekend. Friday was the last day of classes and my floor of the library was abuzz with students finishing projects, papers, articles, and the final portfolio for the lab class facilitated by the resource center. Lines for Ellison machines (all 6 0f them) were five or more deep, surpassed only by the line at the printer as people waited "patiently" for print jobs. There was a lot of commiserating chatter amongst the patrons as the hours counted down on our fall term.

This morning you could have heard the proverbial pin drop in the library. Every computer, with the exception of one dead one, was taken. The printer was busy as students were spread out on every available surface working diligently on final papers and projects. But the quiet was almost surreal. No cell phones were ringing, no music was playing, and there was no chatter. None. Zip. Zilch. Nada. In fact, the only "noise" came from those of us working in the resource center.

A student came up and asked if he could shut the door. Wow! The resource center door has not been shut once in the six years I've worked. He was too polite to ask us to be quiet, but made his point none the less. It freaked my student workers. They looked at me, puzzled by the request. I told him to go ahead (he did). Then told the girls to open it again after the two chatterboxes (myself and another worker) left for the afternoon. Guess there's a first time for everything after all.

It was kind of humbling to realize the noisiest person in the library was me.

Tags: Academic Libraries, Resource centers, Finals week, Library noise

Get Real

Get Real, by Betty Hicks, is a charming coming-of-age story narrated by thirteen (almost fourteen) year old Destiny Carter. Better known as “Dez,” Destiny has a best friend, parents who do not understand her, a younger brother Denny, and a yen to play the piano. Her avant-garde parents, a scientist mother who incessantly views the weather channel and a poet father who speaks in verse, are noisy, messy, and polar opposites of neatnik Dez. Best friend Jil is adopted and Dez perceives her family, the neat and proper Lewis’s, as picture perfect.

One afternoon Jil overhears her adoptive mother talking to her birth mother Jane, a single woman with another daughter who has decided she would like to get to know the daughter she gave up. As best friends are wont to do, Dez accompanies Jil to meet Jane. Instead of the ideal parent each girl thinks they want, both learn to accept and appreciate the honest parents they currently have. Neither set is perfect, but the girls cleverly differentiate between what consititues a mom or dad - and parents. Their reasoning is both simplistic and profound, "Parents make up stupid rules and worry about insane stuff - because they love you."(p. 167).

This could have been one among many best friend books stands out as Hicks gives teenage Dez a realistic and fresh voice. Consequently, as both girls struggle to find their own identity, each learns what constitutes friendship and family. The ending is sensibly satisfying without being sappy.

Tags: Get Real, Betty Hicks, Children's literature, Juvenile Books, YA literature, Young Adult literature

Fudge, and well ... fudge

Ideally I don't mean fudge as an epithet, but actual homemade candy. Each year before winter break, I make several batches of fudge for my GA's and student workers in the resource center. It's a treat they look forward to and I enjoy providing. In fact, I have overheard students discussing with new hires that even though the library pay scale is not stellar, the fringe benefits of treats, and the all-important opportunity to do homework while at work make it worthwhile. Last week I found festive holiday tins and this evening I filled them with fudge before the meaningless football game started (it’s half time right now and sure looks cold in the ‘burgh). Tomorrow is the last day of classes and students soon depart, enjoying a month with family and friends. My holiday offering will be presented, complete with lovely little Ellison die nametags adding a festive touch! Chocolate during finals week; it’s a definite plan.

On to the other fudge, this time having a possible meaning related another less palatable word. Yesterday afternoon, for the first time in several semesters, the roll top laminator suffered a mishap and is out of order. A bit of background information, instead of turning it off and on we unplug it after finishing laminating jobs. Yes this is overkill, but it insures I sleep at night without wondering if it is going to burn down the library. The resource center is a help-yourself area and this pertains to the machinery as well. Many students are well versed in the use of the laminator and choose to complete their own projects with little or no assistance from IRC staff. In fact, most of them know to unplug it when they have finished without any prompting. Yesterday afternoon someone pulled the plug a bit off kilter and one of the prongs broke off in the outlet.

Yikes!

Yes, it was killing me not to just yank that sucker out of the outlet. I didn't, mostly because I did not know which of the breakers turned off that outlet (I'm not a complete idiot). I called the physical plant and they sent someone right over to remove the piece from the outlet. Unfortunately that means the laminator, used for larger jobs, is out of order until a new plug can be installed. A work order was processessed and labeled "urgent." The speed with which it is repaired all depends on who's definition of "urgent" is used. These things happen and it was definitely an accident.

Maybe I'll just eat some fudge and forget about it. Right now, the third quarter is about to begin, the Steelers are winning, and tomorrow is Friday.

Bad Boy's Get Cookie! and Nightmare on Joe's Street

Two titles posted today as I added them to my book review blog at work. The first is Bad Boys Get Cookie by Margie Palatini and the second title a graphic novel based on the Time Warp trio television series, Nightmare on Joe's Street. I am a fan of previous titles by Palatini, specifically Oink!, Zoom Broom, and Piggie Pie, so I was looking forward to this new title. It is as clever as the others, but I was not as impressed with the illustrations (yes, I know, different artists rendered the images).

Bad boys Willy and Wally Wolf are back for another adventure and this time they want cookies! To satisfy their sweet tooth cravings the boys pose as private eyes, from the firm Dewey-Ketchum and Howe, to help Mr. Baker locate his recently escaped gingerbread cookie. Cole’s colorful illustrations highlight the ensuing mayhem as Willy and Wally track down the cookie in true Gingerbread Man fashion. Children will enjoy the cookie’s repetitive refrain, “Na-na-ni-na-na! Lookee! Lookee! You can’t get me I’m one smart cookie!” Eagle-eyed readers will recognize the boy’s Hansel and Gretel-like disguise as the cookie, the story, and maybe Willy and Wally, come to an end.

Nightmare on Joe’s Street is a graphic novel adaptation of the popular Time Warp Trio cartoon series. The story begins with a series character introduction along with a description and synopsis of the time warp device, a book, and a listing of “special guest stars” for the episode. In this episode, the monster appears in Joe’s house looking for his creator. Sam and Joe decide to warp back to the nineteenth century and return Frankenstein to Mary Shelley. Along the way the boys meet Mary Shelley, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and Lord Byron as they use music to sooth the savage monster, prevent history from changing, and locate their lost book to return home successfully. Color illustrations appear to be screen shots of the television series and perform well in graphic novel format. Fans of Scieszka’s Time Warp book series may prefer the originals; this offering may appeal to a new group of readers as well as fans of the television show.

Since it is more challenging finding graphic novel titles specifically for a juvenile collection, I was very interested in Nightmare because of it's correlation with/to the original Time Warp Trio series by Sceiezka. I enjoyed the book, the illustrations were in color, and I could envision it being used as a starter lesson for lessons on historical authors. Several reviews mentioned the illustrations were indeed screen shots from the television series, but I was unable to verify that fact online or on the series website. I imagine if the first several volumes are popular, we can look forward to more of the same.

Tags: Margie Palatini, Henry Cole, Bad Boys Get Cookie, Jon Scieszka, Zachary Rau, Nightmare on Joe's Street, Juvenile literature, Graphic novels

Who's Who? Who am I? What?

I received a letter from Cambridge Who's Who in late October informing me I was "being considered for inclusion into the 2006/2007 Cambridge Who's Who Among Executive and Professional Women in Education 'honors Edition' of the Registry." The letter further explained:

The 2006/2007 edition of the Registry will include biographies of our country's most accomplished women. Recognition of this kind is an honor shared by thousands of executive and professional women throughout America each year.

Inclusion is considered by many as the single highest mark of achievement. Upon final confirmation, you will be listed among thousands of accomplished women in the Cambridge Who's Who Registry.

For accuracy and publication deadlines please return to us your application form within five business days from the receipt of this letter. There is no cost to be included. (Letter, October 25, 2006)

It sat on my desk for several days and on a whim, I sent it back and did not think anything more about it. Until today. This afternoon I got a phone call from Cambridge Who's Who and after a short question and answer period I was congratulated and told my biography was accepted.

Great, but it was at that point the sales pitch commenced.

The price for being included in this edition ranged from $189 - $700 depending on the level of sponsorship (for want of a better word) I was prepared to purchase. I had no desire to make this decision spur of the moment and the longer I "waffled," the harder the sales push. She moved from the highest price to the lowest telling me that she did not want me to miss out on this opportunity. As the conversation contionued, at one point I was asked, "Don't you know who we are?" That was when my patience expired. I replied, "Yes, but I have no intention of making a purchase of this magnitude over the phone without any consideration." She relented and gave me until 5:30 pm this afternoon to decide.

Naturally, I began my research on this company after lunch. I started with my boss, who had never heard of them, and finished with a quick Google search. Findings ranged from a few happy consumers to seriously snarky reports of outright scam. I also found several mentions of this letter in other blogs from other librarians and professionals.

Negative research results:

• Scam.com
• Better Business Bureau
• Rip Off Report

Positive customer results:

• Susquehanna Central Valley School District
• C.D. Hylton High School

Blogging about the directory:

• The Annoyed Librarian
• Creative Arts

An interesting discovery:

• Yahoo hot jobs: Account Executive Position
  Job opening at Cambridge Who's Who

I was less than thrilled with the sales pitch, mostly because the representative was pushy and rude. (It is now 5:30 pm and I have missed her deadline.) The crux of the matter for me? If, as per the letter, it costs nothing to be included, why do I pay for a subscription and/or membership to join? My overall opinion is a negative one at this point. I do not know if I will get a second phone call tomorrow. But I will be sure to ask why there is such a push for subscription benefits when it clearly states there is not cost for inclusion.

Update: 12/12/06

Last Friday afternoon I received a second call from Rebecca at Cambridge Who's Who. I freely admit I did not expect to hear from the company after missing my deadline earlier in the week. However, when she started the entire sales pitch a second time, including wanting to ask me additional questions to further assess my qualifications for inclusion, I politely interrupted and told her we had this conversation last week. I also reminded her I had answered all of the secondary questions and that she already welcomed me to the "family" (so to speak).

I questioned why I was being asked to make a purchase when the invitation letter specifically noted "There is no cost to be included." The clearest part of her circular answer detailed benefits only offered subscribing customers. I declined the opportunity to make a purchase and admit to some curiosity regarding my inclusion in the upcoming edition of their registry. It is obvious I should have researched before sending in the application, but I was flattered, somewhat naive, and did not see the harm. Quite honestly, no harm no foul for the entire process because I have learned something.

Tags: Cambridge Who's Who, Cambridge Who's Who Among Executive and Professional Women in Education, Cambridge Registry, Academic Librarians