Sturdy for Common Things

Review: Bluebird

Bluebird

by Lindsey Yankey

Find it at: Your library | Your local bookstore

Published: Simply Read Books (January 26, 2014)

Recommended Reading Age: 3 & up

In a nutshell: Boy, do I have a special treat for you my dear reader friend…

Local Lawrence artist Lindsey Yankey has published her first picture book! And it is stunning!

One spring morning, little bluebird woke up to find her dear friend the wind was missing. She had never flown without the wind’s assistance, and so she set off for the day searching high and low for her lost friend. And so the reader joins bluebird on her adventure looking for the wind in the park and throughout the city. Setting off to visit the wind’s regular haunts of tickling the grass with the willow branches, flipping the pages or newspapers, dancing with balloons, or racing boats on the water, bluebird can’t seem to find the wind anywhere. Nonetheless, she remains determined and finds strength in herself along the way.

Whimsical illustrations using various materials of collage, pencil, ink, linoleum block, and paint that play with dimension abound. Each spread could be a stand-alone, but the beauty is in how each one enhances the others in a dreamy compilation brought together by bluebird’s story. A deep richness is emphasized in each illustration and a diversity they collectively create. I’ve been an admirer of Lindsey Yankey’s work since seeing it on display in Downtown Lawrence a few years back, and am so excited to share this book with you. I wanted to feature a couple of pictures of Bluebird with you, but got a little carried away when deciding which ones. I just couldn’t narrow it down.

Take a lingering gander….

Bluebird is a delightful story with luminous art which will send imaginations soaring.

Be sure to check back here in a couple days! I’ll be posting an inspiring interview with the talented Lindsey Yankey!

Extras: Visit Lindsey Yankey on her website.

And her blog.

Flip through a digital preview of the book here.

Source of book reviewed: Review copy from the publisher.

iYouth Conference 2014

Get ready for the [R]Evolution!

iYouth -The University of Washington iSchool student organization dedicated to youth services- is hosting it’s 6th annual iYouth Conference on Saturday, February 8th from 9am-5pm PST at the University of Washington. It is a professional development opportunity with a variety of themes including: Change and innovation in youth librarianship, early literacy, digital badges, app advisory, multicultural programming, teaching gender and sexuality, and much more!

[R]Evolution is this year’s iYouth Conference theme as it “reflects the ways in which the face of librarianship is adapting to meet the evolving needs of our young patrons and to help them develop the tool kits to advocate for themselves.”

Are you a library student, teacher, school librarian, public librarian, youth services professional, children’s literature and/or YA book enthusiast? Or are you interested in any or all of the interests just mentioned? Do you live in the Pacific Northwest?

Join the (R)Evolution!

Continuing education credit is available.

iYouth is currently working on simulcasting the event for UW students.

More information can be found HERE!

And HERE!

Tickets are available to purchase HERE!

[R]Evolution!

Yeah!

(karate air kick)

 

 

Review: Flora & Ulysses

Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures

by Kate DiCamillo

Find it at: Your library | Your local bookstore

Published: Candlewick, September 24, 2013

Recommended reading age: 8 & up

In a nutshell: It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s a half-shaved squirrel who possesses super powers and can fly!

Whaaaaat?

Sometimes after finishing a book I think, “Wow. That was a great book, but who am I going to give this book to? Who is the reader?” That was certainly NOT the case after reading Flora & Ulysses. Far from it! Dozens of library kids popped into my head as I was introduced to Flora Bell Buckman, a self declared cynic who saves a squirrel from a wild vacuum cleaner accident. The squirrel she names Ulysses, and after the accident suddlenly has supernatural powers.

As Flora would exclaim, “Holy Bagumba”!

This book is GOOD!

An avid comic reader, Flora is a sensitive girl struggling with loneliness and her parents’ separation. She regularly refers to her favorite comic “The Illuminated Adventures of the Amazing Incandesto”, which she to idolizes, and the bonus comics inserted in each issue of Incandeso, “Terrible Things Can Happen to You” and “Criminal Element” as her voice of logic. Even if she is a self-assured cynic that refuses to let her emotions get the best of her (and she has a lot of those bottled up), deep down Flora believes in hope. It is Ulysses that shows her she can allow herself to do so.

Flora’s adventure of keeping her superhero squirrel from her romance novel writing mother, who wishes to hit the squirrel over the head and bury him, motivates the duo to attempt to defy her mother’s evil plan, sparking their adventure. Along the way they meet quirky characters, and more of Ulysses’ supernatural powers are revealed (flying! writing poetry!). The trade off between text and comic panels by K.G.Campbell is blended perfectly in this endearing story of a girl, her squirrel, and how love and hope are what it takes to fight battles of the heart.

Another grand slam, feel good read by Kate DiCamillo, who was recently named the National Ambassador of Young People’s Literature for 2014-15. Well done, Library of Congress! Flora and Ulysses is another book to add to the expanding shelf of books by Kate DiCamillo that kids will treasure.

Trailer:

Don’t take my word for it: “Holy bagumba, Kate DiCamillo, superheroine, you have done it again—created a book that is a joy for adults and children alike. It is perfect as a family read-aloud or for an adult/child reading group.” – review from Anita Silvey’s Children’s Book-a-Day Almanac

Extras: The official Flora & Ulysses website.

Teacher guide for Flora & Ulysses.

Teacher resources and discussion guides for other Kate DiCamillo books.

The story behind Flora & Ulysses.

Visit Kate DiCamillo’s website.

Visit K.G. Campbell’s website.

Source of book reviewed: Review copy provided by the publisher.

image source: inside flora & ulysess, kate dicamillo

Found in a Library Book: A Tumblr of Lost Treasures

So…

The other day I was going through old photos and found a few images of items I had found in library books.

So…

I thought it might be fun to create a public exhibit of these forgotten mementos as well as items found by others.

So…

I made a tumblr!

http://foundinalibrarybook.tumblr.com/

Shazam!!

My hope is Found in a Library Book becomes a community archive of lost treasures, brief messages, and underlined passages found between the pages of library books.

Have a finding you’d like to submit?

I hope you consider contributing to the collection!

 

 

Year in Review

I’ve been seeing a few “Top 5 Posts of 2013” recaps and I thought I’d join in on the fun and do a little run-through of my own most popular posts from this year.

Ready?

Here we go…

5. Summer of STEM

Each session of my 5-6 year-old weekly summer club was entirely STEM based and were conducted through community partnerships. This post recaps those sessions.

4. Chinese New Year Storytime

To celebrate the Chinese New Year my Sunday storytime crew read a few stories, and I had special help from a storytime mother reading We’re Going on a Bear Hunt in Chinese. Afterward we made lucky lanterns.

3. Tournament of Kids’ Books 2013

A popular program from the year before returned! You can read about the winning title HERE.

2. Stuffed Animal Storytime & Sleepover

My Sunday storytimers brought their stuffed animal friends for storytime and left them in my care for an overnight stay. Both kids and their caregivers LOVED this program. Pictures and videos of the animal’s late night mischief are documented in this post.

1. Mocking It Up

This came as a surprise! The most popular post of the year! I sorted through 19 mock Newbery lists across the country and complied an infograph of the top 5 book nominations. The real-deal winner will be revealed at the Youth Media Awards on January 27th, 2014 @ 8am EST.

Wooowee! When I started SFCT three years ago it was strictly musings of a new mom and recent NYC transplant living in small town Michigan with nothing better to do.  What it has evolved into is something entirely different and unexpected. How the times change. While family still account for a good deal of appearances, books, education, storytelling, community, and the library dominate. As I type this, the sun is setting on a grey, windy day here on the last day of 2013 in Lawrence, Kansas. Baby #2 naps next to me as I reflect on the person I was when I started blogging and how that was a time of extreme uncertainty. How I was fortunate to stumble upon a profession that I have immense passion for, a passion which continues to grow each day. Now that it’s a part of me, it’s hard to imagine life before I became part of a library. For those of you who are old friends here, THANK YOU for reading and following along through it all. And for those who are new, WELCOME and thank you for reading. I hope we become fast friends.

Looking forward to spending time with you all in 2014!

HAPPY NEW YEAR

and All The Best!!

Rebecca