Reviews

Bing! Bang! Chugga! Beep! by Bill Martin Jr. & Michael Sampson and illustrated by Nathalie Beauvois (Picture Book)

Cute cute cute! I was about three words into reading this book when the melody materialized and I realized it was a singing book. A book to sing AND read - one of my favorite things! The language is smooth with zero hiccups. You will sing it like you've been singing it your whole life. The illustrations are also dazzling and joyful, and there's a teeny twist at the end, but the good kind of twist and gives the book a bit of narrative.

Together We Swim by Valerie Bolling and illustrated by Kaylani Juanita (Picture Book)

Simple, rhyming text describing one family's pool visit and the adventures of a little boy who is learning how to swim. It begins with "toe dip," and "side grip" as the little boy enters the pool and ends with a family group hug with towels. The illustrations are just as wonderful as the text. You will feel like you are learning to swim for the first time surrounded by those who love and support you.

Save the Cake! by Molly Coxe (Early Reader - Phonics)

Kate and Nate have quite the adventure as they make the perilous journey to deliver Grandpa Jake his birthday cake. First there's a snake! Then they miss the train! And we can't forget the sudden rain! You will have so much fun practicing your long A sound while reading this sweet and delicious book.

Pond Circle by Betsy Franco and illustrated by Stefano Vitale (Picture Book)

A beautifully written, meditative, and deliciously terrifying small slice of the circle of life. You won't be able to resist reading aloud phrases like, "skunks shuffle" and "raccoons rummage."

Leo on a Hike by Anna McQuinn and illustrated by Ruth Hearson (Board Book)

A hiking adventure that explores all the senses, especially touch. Leo and his Dad spend a perfect day outside exploring the woods together. The text is bold and easy to read, the pictures are lovely, especially the picture where the trees tower above them, and there's a lot to explore in the illustrations.

Choo Choo

When I'm off desk at work, I sometimes like to sit in the youth services office with the door open so I can see and hear patrons.  I was sitting in the office a few days ago with the door open and lights off.  I was fully immersed in emails, but I distinctly heard a child say, "choo choo."

I looked up and there was one of my storytime regulars, an 18-24-month old who often regards with me with serious contemplation.  With that same serious look, she pointed at me and said those magical words again.  "Choo choo."  Her grandma was just steps behind her, and said, "yes that's the choo choo lady."  We exchanged smiles and then said our hellos.

I asked my little storytime regular if she wanted to sing the Goodbye Train song that day at storytime, and she gave a serious nod and toddled away.

That Goodbye Train song may get stuck in my head and become especially loud as I'm trying to fall asleep, but what my brain interprets as an unholy racket, another brain interprets as pure magic.

comfort

This recent gratitude journal entry is too lovely to hide away in the pages of a journal.  

• Oh Gopey. Suffocating me with her long night of cuddles. But so dang cute and such a comfort. 

• First cool morning of the season. 

• Storytimes went pretty well. The Oge Mora book is hanging on by a thread (Saturday). It’s a bit too long but too good not to keep trying.  All the breathing exercises and zoooooms helped some. Grumpy Pants has been such a winner all week it’s just ridiculous. When I read the words, “hot chocolate” a little boy screeched, “CHOCOLATE” with such delight and enthusiasm a coworker, who was in the office next to the storytime room mentioned it later. This was also the same book that inspired a little girl from the Montessori outreach storytimes to tell me she pooped her pants and had to take a shower. Who knew a penguin could evoke so much emotion from children?

After storytime today, a patron approached me and told me how much her family loved my storytime. 

She asked me if I had a masters in library science. I said not yet. She then asked me if I had an education background. I said no. 

She said, "So it’s music then?" She didn’t give me a chance to respond. She flashed another smile and scooped up her child.

I was standing in a pile of foam letters from one of our storytime games, but I was speechless.  I have been thinking about our short conversation constantly.

I don't have any kind of official degree relating to my work.  Instead, my life is constant learning.  I think that's one of the greatest pleasures of my job.  The learning never ends.  

I major in enthusiasm, delight in the antics of children, and have a firm and unshakeable passion for being a part of a place where children can flourish and grow into themselves in a safe and nurturing environment.

One of my brothers shared a Mister Rogers snippet with me, and Mister Rogers says it best.

"I give an expression of care every day to each child."  

This is what we do at the library.  

Here I am going on and on again, giving all my thoughts to the white space like kids tossing foam letters onto the parachute.  😆

• I was a total zombie during lunch but glad I had my cozy car to hide away in until I became human again.  So thrilled to have my nap bag with my blanket and pillow.  

• A really easy and peaceful afternoon just getting my sh@# together. 

• Took four tries to find a free court with a backboard, but it was (undisclosed park) for the win today. Never had to work so hard to work so hard. I started to play tennis in the chilly air and my body was confused. It thought the hard work (finding a court) was over and it was time for hot chocolate. Thank goodness for new sneaks and socks. They gave me just enough juice to zombie sloth my way through some drills (the joy of experiencing tread again). All the while James Herriot was pattering on about cows and diseases and good ol’ hypocritical Siegfried.   I'm in the middle of his second book, and it's such a comforting place to hide while I pretend to be fierce and create white space for the next day.