The Librarians Suggest

Two words: Sanjay Patel !!! When I first started researching picture books to add to the library collection my first year on the job, I wrote down goals and guidelines I wanted to follow to make sure our library housed the best picture book collection. It may not be extensive, in fact my list consists of no more than five rules.These days, it's hard to get kids to read books! They would rather play their video games or interact with the tablets glued to their hands. With all the amazing graphic design programs there are, it's no wonder why visual story telling has taken the place over text. That is why my first rule revolves around high quality illustration. Finding stories full of rich and powerful illustrations as well as warm inviting colors, this is the first thing I take note of when looking through books when I'm ready to start acquiring material to add to the collection. How well do the depictions tell the story, what stands out in the pictures? These

Five books that every women should read. Full of inspiration, contemplation, self loathing and self love, and gaining perspective from women of all backgrounds. My particular favorite is Mindy Kaling's book,  Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?   Need help finding your voice or motivation to change something in your life, these books offer different perspectives on life and hopefully will encourage you to live a better and happier one.  (images via  amazon )

Jade’s graphic novel read of the week!   For updates on the web comic, check it out  here . What have you been reading? 

If you would have asked me seven years what I expected as far as a career, I would have never guessed I would have ended up in libraries. But leave it to an unemployed history major in the heart of New York at an exhibit featuring the last hundred years in children's literature for me to have that epiphany moment. The home to Patience and Fortitude and being in the right place at the right time, I fell in love with children's literature, art/illustration and early twentieth century New York, circa Bemelmans, de Wolf and Fleur Cowles, when publishing ruled the world. The initial entrance into the grand library was like a welcome home and from that point until now I'm in a constant state of amazement because libraries are a wonderful thing. I can't speak for other librarians but I never tire of research, in fact it invigorates me. My fascination and love for picture books has never waned from childhood. I'm so grateful my parents stayed up just to read

I don't come across many books that I think everyone should read. I read this for one of our book clubs at work and I found The Hate U Give  by Angie Thomas well deserving of all the hype. It's one of the most honest reads I've read in a long time. I mostly read adult fiction/nonfiction but every now and then I like to pick up a YA or children's book and I'm really glad we picked this for book club.  Starr Carter witnesses the death of her childhood best friend Khalil, who was unarmed, at the hands of a white cop. Living in a poor neighborhood but attending a fancy prep school, Starr finds it even harder to navigate both of her worlds with the decision to speak out about what happened weighing heavily on her and her family.  I try to avoid spoilers so I'm going to leave it at that! It's beautifully written, powerful and thought provoking. This book doesn't hold back and it is a great reminder of how powerful your voice can be and that you shou

Five Things to Know About Cynthia Rylant:  1. Graduated from the University of Charleston and went on to pursue graduate work at Marshall University in English Literature in 1975. 2. Winner of both a  Newbery Honor Award  and   two  Caldecott Honors,  Rylant is celebrated as a master of writing Children's Literature. ( Newbery: Missing May  and Caldecott:  When I was Young in the Mountains  and  The Relatives Came ) 3.   Before getting her start in writing children's books, she started working as a waitress and eventually became a librarian at the public library in Huntington, West Virginia. 4. In the late seventies, she started teaching English Literature part time at her alma mater, Marshall University when she wrote her first book,  When I Was Young in the Mountains- her very first published work won a Caldecott, pretty impressive!!) 5. Rylant has written over a hundred books during her career including picture books, poetry, fiction and nonfiction. 

While working on curating book lists for monthly orders, I was researching the relevancy of Little Gold Books , and it turns out there just as popular as they were twenty years ago. I couldn't tell you how many my mom collected when we were kids, they were a big part of our reading. I'm glad to say my mother has kept all our kids books and our stash of those little gold spines. If you want to watch and learn more about Little Golden Books , this will brighten your day. 

If there's one thing Sarah hordes, it's coffee table books. From Princess Di (because she grew up idolizing her) to travel books, interior design and fashion, Sarah loves to swoon over glossy photographs and dream...dream of wearing overpriced shoes and haute couture gowns or to fall into serious wanderlust with all the travel books she owns. Some of these she's had for a awhile and others are more recent purchases but these five she revisits often whether for inspiration or just to let her mind wander. Are you a serious book collector? What type of books do you like to keep? How do you organize your oversized books? ( images )

Jade’s graphic novel of the week! #snowpiercer #jacqueslob #jeanmarcrochette #graphicnovels #whatareyoureading #scifi #translated #fiction #thingswelove #books #booksinbed #bookcover #bookstagram #readoftheweek #bookoftheday #readersadvisory via Instagram http://ift.tt/2BYsPbC

One of the most asked questions I get as a children's librarian revolves around book lists. From award winning and appropriate reading level lists, I have to say I have a love/hate relationship with them. I understand the titles on those lists are important books that kids should be reading but these days it's hard to get kids to read. I know Harry Potter and the Percy Jackson series are all the rage (don't get me wrong, I'm the biggest Harry Potter fan you'll ever meet!) but I love suggesting books I grew up with and many of them don't have award stickers on the front cover. Growing up in my house, my siblings and I were fortunate that our parents let us read whatever we wanted, there was little restriction. Except for the few times my sister and I would sneak into my brother's room to read Stephen King books or thumb through pages in Jurassic Park, looking for the horrific and graphic description of someone being eaten by a dinosaur. My mom's re

In an effort to discuss books widely, (and the fact there are three of us contributing to the blog) we will try our best to stick to the monthly schedule of topics we would like to dive deeper into, starting off with TV Tuesday. This will include television shows that are loosely based on books or shows we just really like but we'll try keeping it bookish related. I became infatuated with Damon  from The Vampire Diaries (the show) and the twisted teen hit, Pretty Little Liars . Both of which are based on popular young adult series. My sister is trying to get me started on Riverdale (from the Archie Comics ) , but I can't binge twelve different shows at one time. Side Note: how does The WB capture teen life so well ?! They've been doing it for twenty years and every single show nails it! Which leads us to our first heroine on this Tuesday, do you have a favorite television character that is actually based on a character from a book?  A few weeks ago I came acro

The Vogue goddess and Queen Bee herself,  Majorie Hillis  wrote two books that defined her writing career, an etiquette/how-to/guide to life for the single woman in  Live Alone and Like It   and Orchids On Your Budget .  While giggling in bed as I was reading this, I found myself rushing through my nightly routine so I could get back in bed and finish where I had left off the night before. I found myself  seriously taking notes on how to live my life to the fullest and how to embrace my life as it is. Majorie became an icon and guru of sorts to single women all over American and I for one, a thirty-something in 2018 am one of those woman who holds her words to be sacred. The newest book by Joanna Scutts, The Extra Woman , dives deeper into the culture of single ladies of the 20 and beyond.  Her follow up,  Orchids on Your Budget by Majorie Hillis :  Majorie Hillis , also became an instant success. Sarah discovered her first book,  Live Alone and Like It  randomly last year. I re

On Wednesday we read books with pink covers. 

About that feminist book club we'd like to start, I say this should be the first pick? If you could start your very own book club, would you make it specific or broad and general? What's your favorite subject when it comes to reading? A non-fiction book club, a book club that focuses on just female authors? We'd love to know! 

If there's one thing Sarah loves - it's picture books, nonfiction works and good old fashion picture books. Nevermind the stacks and piles of adult literature living in her house, you should see her collection of kid's books. Madeline, Angelina Ballerina, Corduroy and Charlie the Caterpillar are just a few of her favorites. What story did you make your parents read to you over and over as a child?  

Hello! So our discussion of Kate Chopin's "The Awakening" fell through and is lost in the digital world. Technically our discussion of "3 Strange Tales" by Ryunosuke Akutagawa is Episode 11 but for posting reasons and because we can't stand a skipped number, it's labeled as Episode 10. Overall we really enjoyed reading these stories. We won't say too much as we of course want you to listen to the episode. The stories are indeed strange but there are actually 4 (bonus!). They are atmospheric and thought provoking. So give Episode 10 a listen, read the book if you get a chance and let us know what you think of these strange tales. See you in the stacks, Gina, Sarah & Jade