ML Reads

Birth of the Cool: How Jazz Great Miles Davis Found His Sound

I love illustrated biographies.  When I saw Birth of The Cool:  How Jazz Great Miles Davis Found His Sound by Kathleen Cornell Berman and illustrated by Keith Henry Brownon the shelf, I had to read it.  It wasn’t until my late twenties before I was properly introduced to the music of Miles Davis.  It was love from the start.  Whenever I think of my years living in Charleston, South Carolina, his…

My last post was March 20th.  Soon after I started teleworking.  Today, I returned to the library to help with the Books to Go service.  There was a stack of picture books waiting for me.  I jumped right in.  Cat Dog Dog written by Nelly Buchet and Andrea Zuill was my favorite.  I laughed out loud at the end.

While teleworking, the dog we rescued last Labor Day came out of her shell.  For the…

What To Do In a Pandemic? – Readers’ Advisory

We’re closed to the public but librarians are working hard to make sure you have access to a variety of resources. With a library card you can access electronic and audio books, complete research using online databases, flip through electronic versions of magazines and more. If you don’t have a library card, now is the perfect time to get one.  It’s easy to do from the comfort of your home. Many…

African American History – Books to Read January – December

February is Black History Month.  Its a time when libraries put books featuring African Americans front and center.  The truth is we should highlight African American authors, characters and historical figures throughout the year.

For years, the amount of books featuring African Americans were sparse.  Most were written about slavery, Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights Movement.  Thankfully,…

The 2019 Mock Caldecott Gold Goes To…

Dreamers by Yuyi Morales

The votes are in.  After the first round, we were left with six titles. Then, my coworkers emailed me their two favorites.

Dreamers won unanimously. Drawn Together was right behind it.  I’ll be disappointed if these titles don’t earn the gold or an honor tomorrow because my coworkers are the best Children’s Librarians in the world.  They know their stuff.

Drawn Together…

Honoring Martin Luther King and Others

It takes a village to raise a child and it takes an army to lead a civil rights movement.  As we honor Martin Luther King Jr., I’m reminded of several books published this year that show it truly was an army of people making a difference.

Have you ever heard of Georgia Gilmore?  I hadn’t either until last November when I read Pies from Nowhere:  How Georgia Gilmore Sustained the Montgomery Bus…

The Hen Who Sailed Around the World: A True Story

This week at the library, I did an Egg Drop Challenge with kindergarten – 2nd graders.  I didn’t realize how loud we were until after the program when my coworkers gave me the look.  The one of fear that somebody might ask what was going on and complain about the noise.  Then, they would have to explain kids were throwing eggs in the library and the loudest one in the group was the librarian.

We…

In years past, I’ve had a Mock Caldecott with my daughter and her friends.  They’re no longer interested in picking the best illustrated books of the year.  That’s ok.  They’ve replaced the interest with other creative endeavors.  But I love picture books; and I love hearing what people think will be the next award winner.  So I invited my coworkers to join me in a Mock Caldecott.  If you’re not…

Best Books for Kids and Teens 2018

I hope to blog more about books for children and young adults in 2019.  Below are favorites I read this year.  I’m sure I’m missing some fabulous titles; but there’s only one me and so many amazing books published each year.

Picture Books

Thank You, Omu! by Oge Mora

Imagine! By Raul Colon

Blue by Laura Vaccaro Seeger

Julian is a Mermaid by Jessica Love

You’re Snug With Me by Chitra Soundar…

The Uphill Climb for Multicultural Characters in Children’s Books

Today a friend posted this on Facebook.

“For this holiday season, and for quite some time, our family is only buying children’s books that focus on non-white main characters for ourselves and as gifts. We are only bringing multi-racial and multi-cultural books into our house, and yours. I encourage you to do the same. Also, take note of how much thought and effort this takes. Then imagine if you…

I took a poll of friends on Facebook.  “Who is the first scientist that pops in your head besides Einstein?”  There were a variety of men named; but only two women.  Marie Curie and Rosalind Franklin.  My friend, Liz, who graduated from MIT response was Rosalind Franklin.  (Liz’s daughter’s name is Rosalind.)  I hadn’t heard of Rosalind Franklin.  Luckily, she was included in the book Women in…

  Not So Different:  What You Really Want to Ask About Having a Disability by Shane Burcaw and photographs by Matt Carr is a must read.  If I was in charge of the world, every third grade teacher would be required to read it to her class. Shane answers questions kids are curious about; but may not ask out of fear of offending someone.  You know . . .  how one eats, poops showers and moves.  The…