Dispatch from the Hidey Hole

Scholastic Book fair has arrived at Marshall Lane.  The kids have been visiting the library to preview the book fair and make their wish lists.  I'm very excited about this fair because there are so many wonderful new books!  I've already filled three boxes with books for the library.  Some highlights include Tommysaurus Rex by Doug TenNapel, the Harry Potter boxed set with new illustrations by Kazu Kibuishi, the new Diary of a Wimpy Kid book Hard Luck by Jeff Kinney, and my new favorite picture book A is for Musk Ox by Erin Cabatingan with illustrations by Matthew Myers, who was the illustrator of Battle Bunny.

Here's me in my hidey hole in which I will be cataloging all of these fabulous new books next week:

Don't forget that Wednesday evening is family night at the Scholastic Book fair at Marshall Lane.  I will be a guest reader that evening along with some of your favorite teachers and the principal.  I'll be reading A is for Musk Ox so be sure to come out and say 'Hi!'

I have a library again!

Book Fair is gone and the library has returned to normal.

It's so funny to watch the kids walk in to the library during book fair.  It's like they are walking in to Willy Wonka's chocolate factory.  Then when it's gone, they comment on how empty the library looks. Then they see my stacks and boxes of new books.

And why can't they check them out NOW?  Oh, so much cataloging and processing!  It's one of my favorite things, though.  I really get to know the books through the process of getting them into the computer, putting on their labels, and wrapping their dust jackets.  Every book is a gift.  And there are well over 200 new ones between my regular orders and book fair books!

So many books, so many labels to affix!  Come down to the library and check out the new books!  Or, go to the online catalog and put a hold on books that are still in processing.  I promise I'll get them done as soon as I can.  

Tales from behind the bookcase, episode 2

Well, I'm not really behind the bookcase right now, but I grabbed a book from the bookcase to read today and that book was Cardboard by Doug TenNapel.  I was excited to see this book at the book fair because I enjoyed TenNapel's previous 2 graphic novels for young people -Ghostopolis and Bad Island - so much.  I was not disappointed with Cardboard.
The beginning of the story has a Gremlins feel to it - a down-on-his-luck father buys a cardboard box for his son from an odd and mysterious merchant who explains that there are two rules for the cardboard that, naturally, the man breaks.
The cardboard, it turns out, has magic properties that allow things made from the cardboard to come to life, a la Frosty the Snowman and his magic silk hat.  The trouble begins when the boy's wretched neighbor steals the cardboard and begins to create monsters.
As with TenNapel's previous works, themes of the importance of family, friendship, and being a good person are woven throughout the story.
The artwork is familiar from TenNapel's previous works, and one character bears a slight resemblance to the cartoon character Earthworm Jim, which is another of TenNapels creations.
I'd recommend this book for kids age 10 and up.

Life Outside the Lair

The Book Fair is over. If you didn't get chance to stop by last week, you've missed it. Luckily for you I got a lot of books from the Book Fair for the library. Lots of good stuff, it's pretty exciting! All these books you see in this picture will be in circulation as soon as I finish cataloging and processing them. I really enjoy getting the books ready for the shelves. I get my hands on each book and get a little bit intimate with them, typing their ISBN numbers into the computer, reading their summaries, printing their AR labels, checking their page numbers, looking at their illustrations. You may be wondering how distracting it is having all these awesome books sitting around begging to be read and the answer is very. Occupational hazard. I often lose a quarter of an hour reading the first chapter of a book or a picture book. Shh, don't tell!

While I'm waiting for my hold request on Crispin: the End of Time to be fulfilled, I thought I'd go ahead and listen to something else by Avi, so I picked up The Seer of Shadows from the public library. This was a wonderful ghost story, smart and spooky and well-told. The story takes place in 1870's New York and spirit photography is all the rage amongst the society folk. However, Horace Carpetine, a photographer's apprentice and a skeptic, knows first hand how the 'spirit images' are made. But, as it turns out Horace has a special gift that allows him to actually photograph ghosts and, in so doing, bring them back to the world of the living. Horace is a thoughtful character. When his master employs him to help create a fraudulent spirit image in hopes of financially benefiting from a grieving woman's loss, he is torn between doing what's right and losing his position or doing what his employer demands. The story has a satisfying resolution and the end is touching. I'd recommend this for grades 5 and up.

While listening, I finished a pair of fingerless mitts. They ended up too small for me so Katie nabbed them. Now here hands will always be warm while playing Monsters.

Book Fair, Secret Lair, New Hair!

I got my hair done yesterday so here is a picture of me in my secret lair behind the book fair with my new hair breathing air and with another picture to share.  Ha!

The great thing about the book fair, in addition to raising money for the PTA, is that it allows me to get new books for the library. I get to select books from the fair to add to my collection. Here is a picture of two boxes of books that I have selected for our library. So you have that to look forward to when the library opens again.

If you haven't yet come down to the book fair, you have until Friday after school to shop for some terrific books. I picked up School of Fear by Gitty Daneshvari yesterday and was immediately hooked after reading the first chapter.  I must finish this book!  

There are lots of other great titles as well, such as The Adventures of Ook and Gluk: Kung-fu Cavemen From the Future, a new George and Harold book from Dav Pilkey; The Search for Wondla by Tony DiTerlizzi of The Spiderwick Chronicles fame; Thelonius Monster's Sky High Fly Pie, Duck, Pete & Pickles, and a Visitor for Bear, all CYRM nominees for 2010-11; and in graphic novels you can find Ghostopolis and Rapunzel's Revenge, both highly acclaimed graphic novels for young people. Or you could come and buy the last copy of The Graveyard Book because you've been putting off reading this book for way too long!

Books make great gifts and the Book Fair directly benefits the library, it's a win-win scenario.  Come on down and pay us a visit and buy some books!

Book Fair and My Secret Lair

The Scholastic Book Fair is in full swing! Here is a picture of me in my secret office behind the book cases. In between sale times, this is a great opportunity for me to catch up on cataloging, ordering, document updating, and other things that are hard to do when the library is open.

But getting back to Book Fair, come and visit the Book Fair before and after school and during lunch recess this week and buy some books. Books make great gifts! Especially for teachers so be sure to look for your teacher's wish list. Also, tonight (Monday) is Family Night at the Book Fair. There will be special guest readers including Dr. Andrews and a real live fireman from the Santa Clara County Fire Department! Come down and get your copy of Diary of a Wimpy Kid: the Ugly Truth, they are selling fast! Also, we have lots more copies of Duck! Rabbit!, a Marshall Lane Library favorite.

Library Transformation!

Okay, Thanksgiving is over, and Scholastic Book Fair has moved in to the library, so we are now a book store. Classes started previews today and will continue tomorrow and kids are making their wishlists. We have lots of copies of Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth (the fifth book in the series) so be sure grab one of those! Lot's of other Marshall Lane favorites such as Judy Moody, Geronimo Stilton, Fancy Nancy, Star Wars, and Fly Guy. This is a great opportunity to buy some terrific books for holiday gifts. Plus, the proceeds of the book fair directly benefit the library so be sure to drop in and say 'hi' and buy some books for your favorite readers or for yourself! Also, the Book Fair Committee (Saskia Choudry) could use some volunteer help next week so please come down and give us a hand. It's easy and fun!

Now I've noticed - and you probably have, too - that I haven't reviewed many books or audio books recently. This is because the material I've been consuming lately has been more on the adult side and involving things like zombies, dream lords, and the dystopian future. However, I have some audiobooks cued up on my ipod ready for listening as soon as I finish one more thing. So, if you've read something recently that you think is worth sharing, post a comment about it here so the blog won't be totally devoid of reviews.