Into the Stacks

I love the weight of a book

in my hands.

Sometimes it grows heavier

when I realize

how much life

@emmajanereading

Yeah, it's definitely not ideal.

Our hyper-conservative government (I live in the province known as "the Texas of Canada") hasn't been funding new schools in our area despite the massive and steady population growth for years, so schools are filled to the brim. Our school technically can't even handle the students we already have; we have 3 or 4 portable classrooms so everyone can fit.

Next year, the CTF room (a room previously used by everyone), the Learning Support room, and the library will all become classrooms.

Mine isn't the only school in the district whose learning commons is going in the hallway due to overcrowding. I've been lucky to have a physical space this long, tbh. At this point, I'm just happy they're keeping a library at all, as some schools have done away with theirs and separated the library books into classroom libraries.

Other librarians who work in their school's foyer have said it's hard to have storytime due to all the distractions, things get dusty due to all the foot traffic, and it's hard to control who has what book 'cause kids can just take books when no one's looking or around.

It'll also be "interesting" because the foyer is where they have the breakfast program and the entrance to the gym. And it's often where kids go to have meltdowns or run around to burn off energy, so there's that too.

@emmajanereading I find that conservative governments tend to fear an educated populace, while the more leftwing a government is, the more they embrace education. The previous government we had, run by a progressive party in Canada, was very enthusiastic about funding education and social programs.

I think part of what conservatives tend to not like about education is that pretty much all the research proves that their views are factually wrong:

helping the homeless is cheaper than doing nothing

universal healthcare is cheaper and more effective than privatized healthcare

accepting queer people brings down suicide numbers

abortion numbers and maternity death go down when abortion is legalized

libraries have amazing returns on investment for their community

the better funded a school library is, the higher the academic achievement of students

hitting your kids makes them more violent

...Which leads to educated people tending to be more left-leaning. Although, based on a recent study my mom was telling me about, if you're well-educated and poor/middle class you tend to be more leftwing, while well-educated and rich people veer right in their political leanings. Which is... interesting.

I don't know that I'd have the time to do a program (the kids just grab the food and go back to class for the most part) but that'd be nice.

Maybe, depending on my schedule next year, I might see if the literacy support staff would like to collaborate (I could do one-on-one visits with reluctant readers to find some series they might enjoy, for example).

@emmajanereading

Yeah, it's definitely not ideal.

Our hyper-conservative government (I live in the province known as "the Texas of Canada") hasn't been funding new schools in our area despite the massive and steady population growth for years, so schools are filled to the brim. Our school technically can't even handle the students we already have; we have 3 or 4 portable classrooms so everyone can fit.

Next year, the CTF room (a room previously used by everyone), the Learning Support room, and the library will all become classrooms.

Mine isn't the only school in the district whose learning commons is going in the hallway due to overcrowding. I've been lucky to have a physical space this long, tbh. At this point, I'm just happy they're keeping a library at all, as some schools have done away with theirs and separated the library books into classroom libraries.

Other librarians who work in their school's foyer have said it's hard to have storytime due to all the distractions, things get dusty due to all the foot traffic, and it's hard to control who has what book 'cause kids can just take books when no one's looking or around.

It'll also be "interesting" because the foyer is where they have the breakfast program and the entrance to the gym. And it's often where kids go to have meltdowns or run around to burn off energy, so there's that too.

So I got them cute little pins based on their personalities and interests:

Oh, the things we do for kiddos.

"Aaaaw, you're so sweet, thank you!" *goes in for a hug*

*immediately puts on the pin* "I'm gonna wear this every day!"

"You're the best, you know that?"

"Haha! A dragon [pin]! You know me so well!"

*reads card* Yes, "lit" is still a thing.

"Oh my god, thank you! You are so sweet! I'm so lucky! I'm gonna brag to all my friends!"

"Haha, cheesy card, I get it!" *notices the pin and immediately stops everything to put it on* "Cats are my favourite!"

"Aaah! Axolotl with a donut! Cool!"

"Ohmygod, you just made my day! Like, for real!"

*makes and delivers a thank you card the same day*

Lesbian

A Princesa e a costureira (The Princess and the Seamstress) by Janaína Leslão

Before she was born, Princess Cíntia was promised in marriage to Febo, a prince from a neighboring kingdom. Close to the ceremony, Cíntia meets the seamstress Isthar, with whom she falls in love. When she announces to her parents that she will no longer marry Febo, the king decides to imprison the princess in a tower, because according to the kingdom's tradition, she should marry a young man. To ensure a happy ending, the princess and the seamstress will receive help from the princess's sister, the prince himself, a Fairy Godmother, and a magic needle.

Maya: bebê arco-íris (Maya: Rainbow Baby) by Xuxa Meneghel

Inspired by her goddaughter, Xuxa tells the story of a little angel who has lived in heaven for some time and who receives the difficult task of choosing who will be responsible for her when she lives on Earth. With the mission of coming to this world to spread love, the baby had to find the perfect family. Thus, the little angel chooses to have two mothers and receives the name Maya.

Note for Brazilians: Yes, that Xuxa wrote this. (For non-Brazilians: Xuxa was a huge celebrity in children’s entertainment in the 90s).

Trans

Meu maninho é uma menina (My Bro Is a Girl) by João Paulo Hergesel

Tom's younger sister notices that he doesn't seem completely happy. Then Tom, in his teens, begins to identify as Tina. In a poetic way, the book tells how Tina's sister sees her transition.

Joana princesa (Princess Joana) by Janaína Leslão

When Princess Joana was born, her parents thought she was a boy because she had a red mark on her forehead instead of the brown marks on her palms, as was customary for women in the kingdom. Her parents named her João, but on her birthday, the princess asked her parents to call her by her real name: Joana. To fulfill her dream of being a girl, she embarks on an adventure with witches and magical rainbows. (In Brazil, it's said that if you walk under a rainbow you switch genders).

Fausto, o dragão que queria ser dragão (Fausto, the Dragon Who Wanted to Be a Dragon) by André Romano

@vilevampire

It's a common legend. There are several Turma da Mônica stories about it!

Lesbian

A Princesa e a costureira (The Princess and the Seamstress) by Janaína Leslão

Before she was born, Princess Cíntia was promised in marriage to Febo, a prince from a neighboring kingdom. Close to the ceremony, Cíntia meets the seamstress Isthar, with whom she falls in love. When she announces to her parents that she will no longer marry Febo, the king decides to imprison the princess in a tower, because according to the kingdom's tradition, she should marry a young man. To ensure a happy ending, the princess and the seamstress will receive help from the princess's sister, the prince himself, a Fairy Godmother, and a magic needle.

Maya: bebê arco-íris (Maya: Rainbow Baby) by Xuxa Meneghel

Inspired by her goddaughter, Xuxa tells the story of a little angel who has lived in heaven for some time and who receives the difficult task of choosing who will be responsible for her when she lives on Earth. With the mission of coming to this world to spread love, the baby had to find the perfect family. Thus, the little angel chooses to have two mothers and receives the name Maya.

Note for Brazilians: Yes, that Xuxa wrote this. (For non-Brazilians: Xuxa was a huge celebrity in children’s entertainment in the 90s).

Trans

Meu maninho é uma menina (My Bro Is a Girl) by João Paulo Hergesel

Tom's younger sister notices that he doesn't seem completely happy. Then Tom, in his teens, begins to identify as Tina. In a poetic way, the book tells how Tina's sister sees her transition.

Joana princesa (Princess Joana) by Janaína Leslão

When Princess Joana was born, her parents thought she was a boy because she had a red mark on her forehead instead of the brown marks on her palms, as was customary for women in the kingdom. Her parents named her João, but on her birthday, the princess asked her parents to call her by her real name: Joana. To fulfill her dream of being a girl, she embarks on an adventure with witches and magical rainbows. (In Brazil, it's said that if you walk under a rainbow you switch genders).

Fausto, o dragão que queria ser dragão (Fausto, the Dragon Who Wanted to Be a Dragon) by André Romano

@vilevampire

It's a common legend. There are several Turma da Mônica stories about it!

Grade 1s: *gasp excitedly*

Teacher: Ooooh! Let's see... [Grade 1] why don't you go up?

Me: *reads from The Book That Can Read Your Mind by Susannah Lloyd until the prompt where the person needs to pick a character*

Grade 1: *answers 2 questions about the character they picked*

Me: *correctly guesses the character*

Grade 1s: Whaaaat!!

Other Grade 1: How did you do that?!