Please Feed the Monkeys

Hungry Monkey: A Food-Loving Father's Quest to Raise an Adventurous Eater

by Matthew Amster-Burton

I’m going to break the rules here to tell you about a book that isn’t for kids but is about them. More specifically, it’s about feeding them, and doing so without stocking your pantry with jarred baby foods or other scary processed items.

This is a nonfiction, memoir-ish book ... I think this is a first for Up Past Bedtime!

Summary

In the opening pages of Hungry Monkey, Seattle-based food writer Matthew Amster-Burton openly admits that one of his first thoughts when he learned of his wife’s pregnancy was concern about future years of bland/boring/repetitive foods that would invade his kitchen. But one day, after his daughter had been in the world for a few months, Amster-Burton was leaving a donut shop and a bit of his chocolate donut fell right onto baby Iris’ head - only to be quickly snatched into her open mouth. Nothing bad happened. In fact, she seemed to enjoy it. While he doesn’t begin feeding her everything he enjoys right at that moment, Amster-Burton began to wonder if maybe his fears were misplaced and that the many warnings about feeding solid foods to youngsters were a little over-the-top.

After this amusing introduction, Hungry Monkey dives into the first few years of baby Iris’ foray into food, beginning with milk and quickly expanding to things like Veggie Booty, sushi, and duck. Amster-Burton is eager and inventive in his quest to introduce his daughter to the foods he loves, and he finds great joy in sharing her first tastes with her.

While she is an adventurous eater, Iris also displays the typical qualities of a developing palate. She starts out trying everything and anything that hits her plate, but around age 2 she begins to reject foods she once loved, opting instead for an endless repetition of typical kid-friendly foods such as hot dogs, pizza, or rice. All the while, Amster-Burton gives her opportunities to try new things, and brings her into the kitchen to cook with him. He includes recipes that Iris herself ate and enjoyed, and even gives tips on what steps can be completed by “little fingers.”

Worth staying up past bedtime?

Whether you have a hungry monkey of your own or not, this book is definitely worth your time. Amster-Burton is hilarious, and his ideas and methods for introducing Iris to different foods are great. Where many books about how to feed young or picky eaters rely on sneaking healthy ingredients into loved dishes (beets in chocolate cake, anyone?), Amster-Burton recognizes the intelligence of discerning young palates and instead relies on patience, variety, participation and gentle encouragement.

Recommended for anyone with their own hungry monkey, or those with an interest in food and the feeding of kiddos.

To Put You in the Holiday Spirit ...

Dash and Lily's Book of Dares

by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

Do you remember a few years ago when the movie Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist came out? Well, it was based on a book of the same name by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan. Cohn and Levithan have now written three books together, and Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares is the third story these clever authors have dreamed up for us.

Summary

Dash and Lily are New York City teens who have found themselves on their own for Christmas. Dash (a decidedly non-Christmasy type) is quite happy with his situation. He has told each parent he would be staying with the other for the holiday, thus ensuring each went out of town, leaving him free to do his own thing and avoid the various merriment of the season. Lily, however (who LOVES Christmas to the point of wearing reindeer-adorned skirts and forming neighborhood caroling groups), is feeling a bit abandoned. Her parents are taking a long-overdue honeymoon, leaving her at home with her brother, who is really too busy with his boyfriend to spend time with Lily during her favorite holiday. However, in an effort to spice up Lily's somewhat plain life, her brother and his boyfriend help her devise a little game that will (hopefully) help her meet a guy.

A red moleskine notebook is left on a shelf at the Strand, and inside it are clues for a dare. The instructions are clever, so not just any average book browser would be up for the challenge. When Dash finds the notebook, he is immediately intrigued. The notebook's owner is obviously on his level, and he can't help but begin following the clues, thus taking the bait and beginning what becomes a citywide game of adventures and encounters with various people in each teen’s life. Not only does the notebook continue to lead Dash and Lily to each new destination in the game, it becomes a place where they get to know each other. Questions, memories and observations allow the two to try to piece together what the other is like, and also help them realize some of their own dreams and limitations.

Worth staying up past bedtime?

YES. I absolutely loved this book. It was smart, snarky, fun, whimsical and completely enjoyable from start to finish. While the obvious question that hangs over the reader’s head is “when will they meet?” the time that Dash and Lily spend getting to know each other through the notebook is completely enjoyable. While there was a certain amount of happenstance involved, I appreciated that Cohn and Levithan gave their characters some control over their own destinies. All the New York moments were wonderful as well, and I found myself happily remembering my past trips to the Empire State while I read about Dash and Lily’s adventures. This book is a must anytime of year, but it is especially perfect with the Christmas season upon us.

Recommended for ages 14 and up.

Love that Latke

The Latke Who Couldn't Stop Screaming: A Christmas Story

by Lemony Snicket

Many of you probably know Lemony Snicket from his Series of Unfortunate Events books. I happened upon this gem of his completely by accident over the summer, and I have read it several times since. I thought it would be the perfect way to begin Chanukah (it begins tonight!)!

Summary

In a small village on a cold night, a sound was heard.

"Aaaaaaahhhhhhh!"

It was a latke. Also known as a potato pancake. The latke had been dropped into a frying pan of hot oil, and began to scream before jumping out of the pan and running out of the house and into the night. As he makes his way through the village, the latke finds himself in the presence of various symbols of Christmas: twinkly lights, a candy cane, a pine tree. Each of these items wants to know why the latke is screaming. When the latke tries to explain something about himself or about his relation to Chanukah, each Christmas item brings the story back around to itself, trying to show the similarities between them. The latke doesn't think anyone understands him. He eventually finds himself under a pine tree in the woods, and it is there that he finds people who understand him for what he is. A family comes walking along and notices the beautiful, brown latke, noting that it was just right for their Chanukah table. They scoop him up, take him home, and put him on the table for Chanukah dinner.

Worth staying up past bedtime?

You should stay up past bedtime to read this book for all eight nights of Chanukah! I loved it! The illustrations are hilarious and Lemony Snicket's characteristic writing style is perfect for this story. While it is silly through and through, the book teaches some good facts about Chanukah and the need for others to understand certain things about us.

Recommended for any age.

Mmm ... Donuts ....

The Donut Chef

by Bob Staake

I have a confession to make. I'm one of those people who like to children's books to have a lesson embedded in the story. It doesn't have to be overly preachy or obvious or thought-provoking, but just something to make you think, if only a little bit. Even if kids can't always comprehend big meaning and implications, they get the gist of these things.

Now that you know about my lofty ideals (well, one of them), you will understand why I was quite happy to stumble upon The Donut Chef, which is a nod to the overly competitive marketplace of outlandish food items that Americans are so accustomed to.

Summary

One day, a charmingly round donut chef notices a busy street corner that he thinks would be the perfect spot for a donut shop. He cleans up the kitchen, whips together some flour, sugar and lard and begins selling his donuts to happy folks of every age (presumably he leased the space before all this, but that isn’t mentioned ...). His donuts are a huge hit, and it's not long before news of his success spreads and a competing donut shop opens up RIGHT NEXT DOOR.

The donut chef suddenly finds himself battling for customers by making unlimited quantities of artful and outlandish donuts in order to compete with his fancy neighbor. Cherry-frosted lemon bar, peanut-brickle buttermilk, gooey cocoa-mocha silk - nothing is too crazy for these donut chefs! But soon, the customers get bored. The donuts don’t even resemble donuts anymore, what with all the crazy flavors, colors and shapes the chefs have baked! But it isn't until one day when a little girl makes a request for a simple glazed donut that the donut chef realizes the beautiful appeal of a classic. He revamps his shop - Amazing Glazed: Simply Glazed Donuts -, and gains back his loyal customers.

Worth staying up past bedtime?

Yes, although you might need a snack after you finish! I'm not always a fan of rhyming verse in picture books, but Staake did a great job with this whimsical tale. The art is hilarious (the donut chef is a round and jovial man who looks slightly like the Michelan man, and the customers are a charming array of shapes and colors), and the subtle message is a great one in our modern food world where crazy options abound. Definitely recommended ... and some munchies close at hand!

Love and Sex at 17

Forever: A Novel

by Judy Blume

Continuing with my plan to tackle some of the Judy Blume books I missed out on when I was younger, I decided that my third book by this lovely author would be the one I continually see on lists of challenged or banned books. Forever is Blume's story of teenage love (and sex!), and I decided it was high time I found out what all the fuss was about.

Summary

Forever opens at a New Year's Eve party, where high school seniors Katherine and Michael meet through mutual friends. Kathy has dated before, but never very seriously, and she has not had sex. When she and Michael get together, something is different. She is curious about him in ways she hasn't been about other guys, and she feels comfortable with him. She knows she wants her first time to be with someone she loves, and those feelings seem to be surfacing now.

What follows is the teenage love affair of Kathy and Michael, and their seemingly unrelenting desire for one another. As always, Blume is frank and honest in her descriptions of their words and deeds - nothing raunchy or terribly naughty, just straight-forward and true to life. While Kathy and Michael explore their feelings and desires for one another, Kathy learns about her friends sexual experiences as well, which provide a great example of some of the possible outcomes of choosing to have sex.

Though Kathy and Michael promise each other that their love is forever, as they finish their high school careers and begin to look toward the future, Kathy realizes that her feelings can change.

Worth staying up past bedtime?

I did indeed stay up to find out if Kathy and Michael's love would last forever, and I found myself reliving my own high school relationships as I made my way through the book. Some of the slang terms are slightly dated, as it was written in 1975, but the feelings, questions, and emotions are timeless. As always, Blume does a fantastic job representing the inner workings of the teenage brain, and I appreciated that she provided a range of situations and useful information regarding the pleasures, responsibilities, and consequences that come with the decision to have sex.

Regarding the appropriate audience for this book, I would wholeheartedly recommend this for ages 16 and up. Maybe 15. I do not believe the content is offensive or inappropriate, and it is in fact informative and thought-provoking, which is what teenagers need in order to figure out all the confusions of growing up. As I was reading it, I found myself wishing someone had given it to me to read in high school! Here's hoping that teenage girls keep on discovering this classic!

Fourth Grade was Weird for Me, Too

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing

by Judy Blume

Don’t ask me how it happened, but somehow I managed to get through childhood without reading a single Judy Blume book. Seriously. It wasn’t until last year when I was getting ready to start library school that I finally got around to reading Are You There God, It’s Me, Margaret. I’d like to attribute this strange occurrence to the fact that I would always read above my grade level. I was the kid who read The Pelican Brief in sixth grade.

Whatever the case may be, I’ve decided to start making my way through Blume’s works, because she is lovely. Superfudge has always caught my eye (awesome title, how can you not be curious?), so I decided I had better start with its predecessor, Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing.

Summary

Peter Hatcher seems to have a pretty good life. He lives in New York City, has his own room, and has a pet turtle named Dribble. The only thing not-so-great about Peter’s life is his little brother, Fudge. Fudge thinks he’s just the greatest thing ever, and a lot of the time, other people think so, too. No matter how much trouble he makes, how stubbornly he behaves, or goofy he looks (we’re talking self-inflicted haircuts and missing teeth here!), Fudge just always seems to get the attention.

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing captures a series of events in Peter’s life, all of which involve some sort of mishap with Fudge. However, despite the frustration that he often feels with his younger brother, Peter is wise enough to realize that Fudge will not always be this way, and that even though he may be a magnet for attention and affection right now, there are things he doesn’t know that Peter himself has already figured out.

Worth staying up past bedtime?

Anyone with a younger sibling who has caused trouble in his or her life will definitely want to stay up for this book. I enjoyed reading about Peter’s daily struggles with Fudge, and I appreciated his realizations and decisions that helped him deal with his frustrations. Fudge’s behavior is hilarious, and I laughed out loud at several of the situations he got himself into. Blume is a great writer - she can really bring characters to life and paint a relatable scene for her reader. A great read for any youngster (or 20-something who might have missed out on it the first time around!).

Sit! Stay! Read!

Chowder

by Peter Brown

When it comes to children’s books, only animal lovers need apply. Or so it seems if one is to browse the shelves of picture books at the local library or bookstore. Animals of all kinds are great protagonists for children’s stories, and when I saw the cover of Chowder I knew I had to meet him.

Summary

Chowder is a handsome bulldog who lives with the Wubbingtons. Unlike other dogs, Chowder seems to have a taste for more stimulating activities - reading the newspaper, smelling the flowers, listening to music. He even uses the toilet. However, his human-esque qualities set him apart from other animals. In fact, he has been told by other dogs that he belongs in a zoo. Poor Chowder is a bit lonely, really.

When Chowder notices a billboard for a petting zoo at the local superstore, he thinks this might be just the place to find some friends. He eagerly devises a way to get the Wubbingtons to the store. Upon his arrival, the zoo animals roll a ball to Chowder, who kicks it so hard it lands in a tree. Before he can so much as apologize, Chowder is swept up by his owners and taken into the store to shop (he usually likes to do these kinds of activities, after all). But Chowder is distressed by the lost ball, and decides he has to get it back to the animals - maybe then they’ll play with him. What ensues is a minor drama that ends in happy friendship.

Worth staying up past bedtime?

As a person with a weakness for dogs who have squashed faces, wrinkled faces, or underbites, I was immediately intrigued by this book. The illustrations were my favorite part. Chowder portrays many emotions so clearly, and I completely loved seeing him laying in a shopping cart, smelling a flower, and dancing to music. I love that Chowder didn’t try to change in order to make friends, and that he found ones who were accepting of his differences. I definitely recommend staying up late with this clever guy!

The Lure of Immortality

Series Review

The Secrets of the Immortal Nicolas Flamel, incorporating The Alchemyst, The Magician, The Sorceress, and The Necromancer

by Michael Scott

I also wanted to title this post, “Why the heck haven’t more people heard of this series, it’s amazing and everyone should read it!!” because I am baffled that there aren’t more people who are aware of it. Especially considering the fact that these books continually rank on the New York Times bestseller list.

Moving on.

It is so hard to summarize the plot in this series because it is so chock full of details and interesting tidbits, but I’ll do my best.

Summary

Do you know about Nicolas Flamel? I, perhaps like most people, first learned about him from Albus Dumbledore in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (or, Harry Potter and the Alchemist’s Stone for those readers in the UK). Nicolas Flamel (who was a real person, by the way, but I’ll be discussing the literary figure from here out) is the only known maker of the sorcerer’s/alchemist’s stone, which allows the creator to make the elixir of life and turn any metal into solid gold. That much is similar between the two books, but get all thoughts of the Nicolas Flamel in HP out of your head now, because we are about to dive into a completely different character and story line.

In Michael Scott’s first book of the series, The Alchemyst, we meet Nicolas Flamel, introduced as Nick Fleming, in modern-day San Francisco. He runs a bookstore with his wife, Perenelle, introduced as Perry. He has a young employee, Josh, whose twin 15-year-old sister, Sophie, works at a coffee shop across the street. On the day we meet these four, Sophie notices some odd-looking men entering the bookstore from her vantage point at the coffee shop. Across the street, Josh is processing a new shipment of books in the basement, and as he climbs the stairs into the store, he comes across Nick in battle with the well-dressed man Sophie had been watching. The two are calmly but swiftly fighting each other, throwing what look like balls of light back and forth. The air reeks of sulfur and mint. The man, whom Nick refers to as Dee, steals a book that Nick has been holding and heads for the door. Josh lunges at Dee, and manages to rip two pages out of the book before Dee flees the scene.

I hope you don’t feel like I spoiled anything yet. This all happens in the first few pages.

It turns out that the book Dee stole is the Codex, an ancient tome that holds the secrets of the world, including instructions on how to make the sorcerer’s stone. Nicolas and Perry have been keeping this book safe for centuries, because, in the wrong hands, it could be deadly. Josh and Sophie are quickly drawn into Nick and Perry’s world, and learn that nothing in their lives is as it seemed. There is magic, immortality, legend and myth all around, and the twins are a fated part of the drama and adventure that is about to ensue.

What follows this insanely informative beginning is a whirlwind adventure so magnificent and imaginative I cannot even begin to do it justice. As of this writing, I have read the four books listed above (The Alchemyst, The Magician, The Sorceress, and The Necromancer). There is a fifth book coming, The Warlock, but it won't be out until next year.

Worth staying up past bedtime?

Do I even have to tell you that I lost sleep in my eagerness to read these books? They are like a sophisticated version of the Percy Jackson series. There are numerous references to classical and even ancient literature, history, myth, and legend. The story is smart and thought-provoking, yet not so much that it will evade younger readers. Part of me is frustrated that it is taking Scott so long to wrap it all up. I want to know what happens! However, none of the books have felt unnecessary. The characters are so well-developed, and the story is enmeshed with so many mesmerizing details that I find myself turning page after page after page, although I will admit to throwing down The Necromancer in frustration when I learned that things hadn’t been resolved by the end it.

Go out and get these books. You won’t be sorry.

V is for ...

Vegan Virgin Valentine

by Carolyn Mackler

I needed no further incentive to read this book after noticing two things about it: 1. The title (how can you not be intrigued by this title?); 2. The author, Carolyn Mackler, who wrote the fabulous The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things.

Summary

Mara Valentine is nearing the end of her senior year of high school, and she is on the fast-track to success. A straight-A student in the running for valedictorian, accepted into Yale, already has a few college credits under her belt ... basically, she’s got it all worked out. But then her niece, V, who is one year younger than Mara, comes to live with her family and throws a big wrench into Mara’s life. Where Mara is focused and determined, V is go-with-the-flow casual; Mara makes decisions with regard to how they will affect her, while V does what she wants, when she wants. Needless to say, Mara doesn’t understand V, nor does she particularly like her. This isn’t helped by the fact that, within 24 hours of her arrival, V has managed to make out with Mara’s ex-boyfriend, and the story quickly spreads around school.

However, as Mara seeks time away from home and V in order to maintain her own sanity and focus on her future, she finds herself wondering about how all of good decisions have affected her life. One thing that brings these questions to mind? Her adorable, smart, funny boss at the coffee shop, a 22-year-old entrepreneur who has yet to attend college yet can hold his own with Mara’s intellectual conversations. And as much as V makes her crazy, Mara can’t help but wonder if she would benefit from a little less structure as well.

Worth staying up past bedtime?

Definitely. Mackler did a great job shaping these characters, and as with The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big, Round Things, she gives an honest and realistic portrayal of the average teenager. I really enjoyed this book and was quite happy to keep the light on late to find out what Mara would decide to do about her life.

I cannot go to school today ...

I've had that opening line from Shel Silverstein's poem Sick in my head frequently these days:

"I cannot go to school today," said little Peggy Ann McKay. "I have the measles and the mumps ..."

Although in my case, it was just a mean cold ... which turned into a really mean sinus infection. So between the end of the summer semester (two weeks to sleep in!), catching said cold, a visit from mom, moving, the start of the fall semester, and then getting sick AGAIN, I just haven’t thought about posting anything new. I’m back though, fully recovered and with a list of books that I’m just bursting to tell you about. Meanwhile, I thought I’d share with you some of my favorite books to read when I’m sick. Because for me, nothing says comfort like a good book that you can lose yourself in for several hours while waiting for medicine to kill those nasty germs ...

The Girls Guide to Hunting and Fishing, by Melissa Bank

Any of the Harry Potter books, by J.K. Rowling

Lighthearted “chick lit” books by authors such as Jane Green or Jennifer Weiner

Any of the Bunnicula books, by James Howe

Cookbooks (seriously), so I can think about food that I’ll make once my appetite returns

Here's hoping none of us will need to use this list anytime soon. I'm stocking up on vitamins now in anticipation of all those germy, err, lovely kiddos who will be frequenting the library during the cold and flu season.

Vegetable Sucker

Bunnicula

by James Howe

Since vampire stories are all the rage right now, I thought it was high time I revisited one of MY favorite vampires of literature. This little guy sneaked into my world many, many summers ago, by way of a summer reading program prize, and I was immediately captivated by him. However, the kind of prey he’s after isn’t of the human kind.

Summary

It is a dark and stormy night (seriously) when we meet Bunnicula. Harold, our narrator and family dog to the X’s (he has changed their names in order to protect their identities), describes a chaotic scene that occurs when his family returns home from the movies with a little package in tow. That package is a small bunny - soon named Bunnicula because he was found at a Dracula movie - who is white with black markings on his back and around his neck, and has a note tied to him written in a foreign language. Harold, having bloodlines that include Russian wolfhound, recognizes an ancient dialect that translates to say “take care of my baby.”

Following the arrival of Bunnicula, Chester, the family cat, begins to notice some strange things about the newest member of the X family. Among these is the fact that it appears Bunnicula can get out of his cage without assistance at night. He also has funny little pointed teeth, and spends all day sleeping. And to top it all off, vegetables are turning up in the kitchen that are completely white, seemingly drained of their juices ...

That’s right, folks. Vampire bunny on the loose!

Harold isn’t worried, but Chester, who is quite the educated cat and has been studying vampires, does everything he can think of to warn the X’s that their newest furry friend is out for blood ... or V8. Poor Harold is left to figure out who's more of a threat - the cute little bunny or his well-meaning friend.

Worth staying up past bedtime?
I probably did every time I read this book! Bunnicula is fun and mysterious. James Howe has a goofy sense of humor, and it translates well to his animal characters. There is a whole Bunnicula series, too! A great read for elementary-aged kiddos who enjoy mysteries and animals.

Saintly Aspirations

The Possibilities of Sainthood

by Donna Freitas

At my library, we have a display shelf of books that are part of the Lonestar Reading List. These books are nominated by readers and selected by a committee in the Texas Library Association. The titles are for readers in grades six through eight (possibly my favorite section at the moment). I like seeing what Texans are reading and recommending, and that shelf is exactly where I found Donna Freitas charming book, The Possibilities of Sainthood.

Summary

Antonia Lucia Labella is a unique 15-year-old. The daughter of “the most famous pasta maker in Rhode Island,” she has a somewhat unusual goal in life: to become the first living saint in the history of the Catholic church. Every month for eight years, Antonia has petitioned the Vatican with a proposal for a new saint when she finds something that is not represented. Her proposals run the gamut from innocently sincere (Patron Saint of my Daddy’s Heart) to somewhat silly and charming (Patron Saint of Pasta Makers). She always offers herself as the person for the position. In addition to her monthly petitions to the Vatican, Antonia is constantly immersing herself in knowledge of the saints. She keeps a saint diary where she writes petitions to individual saints; she reads about the lives of the saints; and she mentions them frequently in everyday conversation. While this could get annoying to read about, Freitas has infused Antonia with an endearing sort of innocence and sincerity that makes her obsession rather sweet.

Another focus of Antonia’s is her impeccably chaste state. She has yet to receive her first kiss, and many of her saint petitions revolve around changing this. Her requests are adorable and hilarious, and Antonia manages to walk the line between normal teenage desires and an honest devotion to her faith and her own standards.

Worth staying up past bedtime?

Indeed. Antonia is such an endearing character that I couldn’t help but stay up to find out how things would work out for her. In addition to her struggles with boys and first kisses, she deals with some mother-daughter issues that will hit home with many young readers. A great read for young girls, particularly seventh to eighth grade and up.

Spooning

Spoon

by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

When I saw the cover of Spoon I quickly realized I was in for a treat. Amy Krouse Rosenthal is the author of an adorable book called Little Pea that I love. I knew I had no choice but to stop right where I was (straightening the shelves of children's picture books) and see what kind of adventures this cute little guy would be getting into.

Summary
Spoon is a young utensil with a lovely family. However, he's begun feeling down when he thinks of the things his friends get to do that he cannot. Knife gets to cut and spread, Fork spears all manner of foods, and Chopsticks are "cool and exotic." Little does Spoon know, his friends are just as envious of his duties! He's not sharp or dangerous; he gets to measure ingredients; and he is independent and can do things by himself. As she tucks him into bed, Spoon's mom reminds him of the fabulous things he can do, such as dive into a bowl of ice cream, or relax in a mug of hot tea. Spoon realizes he really is a lucky utensil!

Worth staying up past bedtime?

Totally! Spoon was adorable. From the family portrait (members include a set of measuring spoons, a ladle, a strainer, and an ice cream scoop) to the images of Spoon's utensil friends taking part in the various activities they do best, the whole book was a treat. The illustrations were simple yet imaginative, and I found myself recalling my own use of each of the utensils as I read about their adventures. A great treat for all ages!

Summer Reading

When I was in elementary school, I participated in a summer reading program at a bookstore in my neighborhood. While I don’t remember actually signing up or logging my reading time, what does stand out in my memory is getting a call that I had won a prize in the drawing for people who had completed a certain amount of reading time. I can still remember walking into the store one afternoon and telling a person at the counter who I was, and watching as she reached down to a shelf and then handed me a boxed set of books. I had won a whole series! I was so flabbergasted to be given such a treasure, and I went home and immediately became engrossed in the Bunnicula books, which I would read on several other occasions, and still remember fondly to this day.

My library’s summer reading program is officially in motion, and I think it’s a great activity for kids to get involved in. Yes, the lure of prizes is probably a motivating factor for some, but I think that the simple practice of reading daily can create a great long-term habit for many. When I did the summer reading program, I was already a reader. I didn’t need incentives to make me pick up a book. But because I participated and was fortunate enough to win something, I was given even more motivation to read. And I even discovered a set of books that I might not have found on my own. Talk about a great prize.

There's probably a summer reading program near you. Go sign up! I promise that on those languid, hot summer days (especially for those of us in Texas), there is sometimes no better way to beat the heat than to lay under a fan with a cold drink and a good book.

In a Jam

The Giant Jam Sandwich
Story and pictures by John Vernon Lord
with verses by Janet Burroway

Don't be put off by the slightly out-of-date illustrations in The Giant Jam Sandwich. This book (published in 1972) was a treat to read, especially upon my second reading, out loud, to a group of storytime attendees seeking a break from the summer heat at the library.

Summary
Summer has arrived in the town of Itching Down, and with it, four million wasps. The townspeople, having been quickly terrorized by the bugs, decide that the best way to get rid of them would be to catch them in their favorite sticky treat: strawberry jam. So they set about making a giant jam sandwich that will trap the wasps. The whole town pitches in, making bread dough, baking the loaf, spreading it with butter and jam, and laying it out for the pesky wasps.

Worth staying up past bedtime?
This silly rhyming book is definitely worth it! The lilting, rhyming verse is fun without being too goofy, and the story itself is adorable. A lesson could easily be tied in regarding the power of teamwork and helping one another out. I would recommend it for youngsters up to age 8.

A visit with some creepy button-eyed people

Coraline

by Neil Gaiman

I’m guessing I’m not alone in stating that I first heard of Coraline when the movie of the same name came out. However, the film is actually based on a book of the same title, written by the wonderful Neil Gaiman, who I met last fall when I read The Graveyard Book.

Summary

Coraline isn’t quite satisfied with her life. She has just moved into a new apartment with her mom and dad, and neither of them seem to have any time for her. They make her eat yucky foods, and when she wants to do anything, they give her boring games to play, such as counting all the windows in the apartment. While dutifully attempting to have some fun with this particular task, Coraline discovers a door in the living room that has a brick wall behind it. “They probably boarded it up when the house was divided,” her mother explains. However, Coraline soon discovers that the wall isn’t always behind the door, and one night, following the mice that belong to one of her crazy neighbors, she enters the door and walks down a long hallway that takes her into ... her own home. Only this home is much better. Her “other” mother and father are there, and, aside from their somewhat creepy button eyes, they are fantastic! They pay attention to Coraline’s stories, they cook her favorite foods, and generally want to do anything to make her happy.

After a few more nighttime visits to her “other” home, Coraline wants to stay forever. But as we all know, nothing is ever perfect, and Coraline soon discovers that having a perfect life with her “other” parents isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, and she may even be in danger if she can’t get back to her real home soon.

Worth staying up past bedtime?

Yes, but be sure to leave a light on once you do go to bed! Coraline creeped me out, but in a good way. Gaiman has created a wonderfully imaginative world that any child will be able to relate to on some level. Who hasn’t felt ignored by his or her parents before, or wished that every meal could feature favorite foods and endless attention from mom and dad? The descriptions of Coraline’s adventures had my imagination working overtime, and I found myself anxiously turning pages to find out what would happen to the “other” mother and whether her disturbing wish to keep Coraline forever would come true.

Who should read this book?

My library shelves Coraline with the children’s fiction titles (under 12-years-old), but I would recommend it for any readers age 10 and up. Younger ones will delight in the spooky goings-on, while older ones will enjoy the twists and turns of imagination present on every page.

Not a Book Review

No book review at this moment. Don’t worry, I have some in the works, I just can’t seem to find the words for them yet. Or rather, I can’t pare down the words I have. Anyhow, they’ll be along shortly ... in the meantime, I thought I'd share some other thoughts with you.

As I was walking into the library today I had a random memory from childhood. I’m always surprised and pleased at the things that trigger these remembrances. Today it was a sidewalk grate. You know, one of those big ones that you can’t see to the bottom of, and sometimes you can hear air rushing around inside of. There are a few of these along one side of the building, and in that second when my foot was in the air above the grate, about to take me across, I wondered if a rush of air would meet me once I was standing over it (I was wearing a dress, and one has to be mindful of these things you know). There was no air, but this thought catapulted me back a good 18 years at least, when I would visit my dad for a week or two at a time in the middle of summer. On Sundays we usually went church, and ours had these skinny little air conditioning vents along the walls next to the pews. I remember just how it felt to walk over these vents after coming inside from the sweltering Texas heat. A rush of cold air on bare legs, the flutter of a dress or skirt against my knees as we walked through the hushed sanctuary looking for my grandma, aunt and uncle. Refrigerated air was so exotic to me in those days because my full-time home with mom had a swamp cooler ... much more efficient for the desert air, but not nearly as satisfying as the chilled air that the Texans produced.

All that from a random air vent/grate in the sidewalk. I hadn’t thought about that in years. I think that being around kids and children’s books has helped opened up the memory bank, although I often find myself stumbling on memories from childhood. Many of them are triggered by sensory things. Smells, tastes and sounds have a particularly strong hold on my the thoughts of past years, and I always love what gets dredged up without warning.

Rising Above Hard Times

Esperanza Rising

by Pam Munoz Ryan

I was fortunate enough to hear author Pam Munoz Ryan speak to a group of middle school students at the Fort Worth Public library this spring. I was familiar with the author prior to this event, but hadn’t read her works. Esperanza Rising is actually based on the experiences of Ryan’s grandmother, who emigrated to California from Mexico during the Dust Bowl years. Knowing this as I picked up the book made it all the more fascinating to read.

Summary

Esperanza Ortega leads a life of privilege in 1930s Mexico. Her father owns acres and acres of land on which grapes are harvested for wine. However, when bandits kill her father and then burn her home to the ground, Esperanza and her mother are forced to flee to California. They do so with the help and guidance of the friends who used to work their land, friends and workers who are now their equals. The group ends up in the San Joaquin valley, where they live at a labor camp and go work in the fields.

Even before they arrive in California, Esperanza is seeing the ways in which her life is morphing into something she has never known. She no longer can expect someone to wash her hair when she bathes, or prepare meals for her and her mother. Everyone is on the same level, and she must learn to work, especially since work means earning the money to bring her grandmother, who stayed behind in Mexico, to California. Esperanza learns to cook, clean, help in the fields, and take care of others. She also plays witness to the labor issues of 1930s California, and finds herself in the middle of the debates that arrive in Depression-era politics. Esperanza grows wise beyond her years during her struggles to help her family, and the smart, hardened girl at the end of the story shows a maturity that far exceeds who she would have been without these experiences.

Worth Staying Up Past Bedtime?

I definitely gave up some good sleeping hours to read a few more pages of this book. Esperanza is a wonderfully inspiring character, and the pain and suffering she experiences, along with the fierce sense of love for her family and motivation to help them, are tangible throughout. Even during the moments of snobbery she portrays during her adjustment to life without excess privileges, she is endearing. This book will resonate with young girls in particular, as well as anyone who has experienced hardships in life.

Reviews and Recognition

-Winner of the 2002 Pura Belpre Award, which recognizes a Latino/Latina writer whose work best portrays, affirms and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth.

Set during the Great Depression, the story weaves cultural, economic, and political unrest into Esperanza's poignant tale of growing up: she witnesses strikes, government sweeps, and deep injustice while finding strength and love in her family and romance with a childhood friend. The symbolism is heavy-handed, as when Esperanza ominously pricks her finger on a rose thorne just before her father is killed. But Ryan writes movingly in clear, poetic language that children will sink into, and the books offers excellent opportunities for discussion and curriculum support. - Gillian Engberg, Booklist

Eat Your Veggies ... Err, Garbage.

Gregory the Terrible Eater

by Mitchell Sharmat

I met Gregory many years ago. Had we actually been friends, I’m pretty sure we would have gotten along. You see, Gregory does not like to eat foods that are considered "normal" for him, and as young child, my eating habits may have been seen as a little odd, too (at least to other children, especially in our current world of sugary snacks and prepackaged everything). As I toddled about in my preschool world, I happily snacked on carrot sticks, raisins, crackers and peanut butter. Candy wasn't on my radar, just as garbage and other “typical” goat foods are not on Gregory’s.

Summary

Gregory's parents are worried about their son. Try as they might to tempt him with all sorts of yummy foods fit for a goat - tin cans, boxes, coats, pants - he has no desire to eat these "normal" foods. Instead, he asks for cereal, toast, orange juice, vegetables, eggs, fish, bread, and all manner of foods that his parents just don't understand. In desperation, they take him to the doctor, who says that picky eaters like Gregory must slowly learn to appreciate proper foods. So his parents add a shoelace to his spaghetti, some chopped up rubber heel in his string beans. He begins to enjoy the new foods, and progresses to eating things like his soup AND the soup can, and his ice cream AND the carton it came in. Gregory’s parents are pleased, and Gregory happily announces that he is “learning to like everything.”

Unfortunately, Gregory goes a little wild with his new array of food choices, and a binge follows. After a fitful night when he has agonizing dreams and stomachaches from the abundance of food he just ate - eight flat tires, a three-foot piece of barber pole, a broken violin, and half a car - he realizes that he must take his foods in moderation. His parents see the sense in this as well, and they all enjoy a balanced breakfast of scrambled eggs, two pieces of waxed paper, and orange juice.

Worth Staying Up Past Bedtime?

Yes, oh yes. Gregory’s tale is hilarious and a great lesson in learning moderation. Just as Gregory learned to not overindulge in any one food, kids will see that they should not do so either. If you will allow me to get on my soapbox for a moment, I will also say that I think stories like this are particularly relevant today, given the fact that so many children are subsisting on prepackaged, sugary foods that have little nutritional value. The illustrations are fun and colorful, and the story moves along at a comfortable pace. I would love to see this story used in preschool storytimes and as a way to open discussion about trying new things.

Reviews

This delicious book turns on its head what is healthy and what is junk food. It will not only delight young readers, but will hopefully have the intended consequence of teaching children and parents a lesson about improving children's' eating habits. - Children’s Literature

A Modern Day Heroine ... from 1899

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate

by Jacqueline Kelly

Calpurnia Tate came to me by way of a great friend who managed to get hold of an advance copy at an ALA conference earlier in 2009. By the time I got to it, there was buzz building about it in the talk about this year’s award winners, and rightfully so.

Summary

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate is the story of a young girl living in west Texas in 1899. She is the only girl amongst several brothers, and unlike most girls of the time, she is more interested in science than sewing. Calpurnia’s interests in science and exploring are encouraged by her grandfather, a quiet, somewhat intimidating man who built the family pecan business and now spends his days tinkering in his lab and collecting specimens for observation.

Upon entering his personal library and getting glimpse of the books he reads and specimens he studies, Calpurnia is quickly enamored with science and making observations about the plant and animal life taking place around her. While her brothers consider their grandfather a somewhat unapproachable man, Calpurnia quickly becomes fast friends with the family patriarch, assisting him, asking questions, and learning. It is only when Calpurnia’s mother begins to take notice of her lack of interest in more feminine activities such as sewing and playing the piano, that Calpurnia begins to realize that science isn’t what she is “supposed” to do.

Worth Staying Up Past Bedtime?

Like I said in my introduction, there’s good reason this book has been getting some buzz. The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate manages the great feat of taking young readers to an early time, yet never feels slow or dull. It also highlights the challenges young women of Calpurnia’s time were up against - those with ambitions toward higher education or careers were not always well-received or supported. Calpurnia is a great heroine for young girls, and I loved reading about her scientific ambitions and discoveries.

Reviews

“Interwoven with the scientific theme are threads of daily life in a large family—the bonds with siblings, the conversations overheard, the unspoken understandings and misunderstandings—all told with wry humor and a sharp eye for details that bring the characters and the setting to life.” - Booklist

“The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate” is the most delightful historical novel for tweens in many, many years. …Callie’s struggles to find a place in the world where she’ll be encouraged in the gawky joys of intellectual curiosity are fresh, funny, and poignant today.”— The New Yorker, “Book Bench” section

“Kelly, without anachronism, has created a memorable, warm, spirited young woman who’s refreshingly ahead of her time.”—The Horn Book Review