New (to me) Web Comic

I've indicated previously how horrible I am at Bloglines upkeep, but I have definitely been enjoying my subscription to Shelf Check. A post from 17 days ago is too good not to share. It's all tiny and junk, so if you want to check out the original (and I've checked your brainwaves, you definitely do) please don't hesitate!

Throwback Review: Regarding the Fountain

Author: Kate Klise
Publication Date: 1998

One of the reasons I enjoy being a librarian (trainee) is that I get to peddle books I heart onto kids as if they were crack. My library makes it all that much easier to push Regarding the Fountain onto children because we have about a gagillion of copies. No seriously, there are at least ten paperbacks and two or three hardcovers. It is glorious. I found this title by randomly browsing Novelist K-8 and I am so glad that I took that time to slack off from Summer Reading to do so, because this book is amazing.

After slipping in the persistent puddle located at the base of the leaky drinking fountain, principal Walter Russ seeks the creative assistance of fountain designer Florence Waters to upgrade the old model. He strictly indicates that he is only interested in a boring, run-of-the-mill fountain; yet Ms. Waters has other notions in mind, especially after consulting the fifth grade class that resides closest to the dripping fountain. Through the course of various memos, news clippings, and letters, the reader finds that there is more going on to the fountain than just a pesky puddle. Especially once the fifth grade unearths tremendous findings during their town history project revealing the real reason Spring Creek is now referred to as Dry Creek.

Because of the format, there are many delightful surprises as the plot progresses. One of my favorite aspects of this book is the inclusion of everything (and I mean everything) that might enhance the experience of this unique drinking contraption. Such as the page of text supplemented by water ballet instructions, to further illustrate the point of the text:
Genius. While there was an overabundance of illustrations, they were all splendidly executed, further evoking a whimsical atmosphere. My only real complaint with this text is that the word "principal" is used in place of "principle." That's just sloppy copy editing that taints an otherwise enjoyable book.

Throwback Review: The Westing Game

The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin (1978)

Ellen Raskin opens the book with one of my favorite beginning paragraphs ever:

"The sun sets in the west (just about everyone knows that), but Sunset Towers faced east. Strange!"

All the sentences that follow are also very well written and fuse into an enjoyable adventure. The mysterious Mr. Westing, of Westing Paper Company fortune, passes on and names all but two of the Sunset Towers residents as the heirs and heiresses of his estate. That is to say, they are slated to win thousands, should they figure out who among the proposed inheritors murdered Mr. Westing.

In order to sniff out the murderer, Mr. Westing left behind a series of odd words to act as clues. The sixteen residents are paired off and each couple has a different set of words, which take them down many interesting paths, including right down Wall Street. As tensions rise between the heirs and heiresses, things start to go missing, several small-scale bombings litter the complex and a few end up in the nearby hospital. Yet, despite the suspenseful plot, it maintains an air of playfulness and provides several points to laugh boisterously.

Unfortunate news

A recent tragedy in the community has left me unsure if I am absolutely behind certain library procedures. One of our patrons that often rabble roused the children's room met his untimely death yesterday. While many details are still unknown, it is known that he drowned and the paramedics arrived on the scene too late to revive him.

While it is doubtful that this would not have occurred if he had permission to be in the library (due to said rabble rousing, he was banned until a parent conference or September 2008, whichever came first), it still makes one wonder. Of course certain behaviors are not and should not be tolerated in the library, but in an urban setting, it is understandable that not all children will be able to follow the rules as they are laid out. Not to make excuses for them, but for a few, upbringing and living situations do outweigh the restrictive behaviors anticipated in a library setting. Should we really push these kids out of the library, even if they are troublesome? The fact that they keep coming back indicates they feel this is a safe place. Who are we to deny them that safety, even if they are constantly causing problems? Where else do they have to go?

Summer Reading Review (SRR): Summer Reading is Killing Me! (Time Warp Trio)

Oh NB schools, you know your students well. Of course they'll read a book from the summer reading list entitled, Summer Reading is Killing Me! For those of you unfamiliar with The Time Warp Trio book series, lemme sum it up for you. For his tenth birthday, Joe's uncle gives him a very special book (which, any uncle of a ten year old should know better than to give him a book, but that's another story entirely). Unlike all the other books Joe has ever encountered, this book takes him and his two closest friends, Sam and Fred, on dangerous adventures throughout history. In order to make it home, they have to locate the book and get absorbed in an odd, green mist to get back home. Oh, yeah, and the most dastardly beings are usually in possession of The Book, making it that much harder to get home alive.

Jon Scieszka doesn't disappoint in this high-low volume. We find our heroes discussing all the things they want to do over the summer, and while they disagree about whether they should skateboard or read from the summer reading list, all three kids are in agreement that they want a break from The Book's historical vacations. Unfortunately, when the argument between Fred and Sam over boards vs. books heats up, Fred shoves the summer reading list into a random book from Joe's bookcase to put summer reading out of sight once and for all. Only trouble is, he didn't put the list in any old book. Before Joe, Fred and Sam can wonder what happens when The Book gets a hold of the summer reading list, they are sucked into the fictional Hoboken, NJ from The Hoboken Chicken Emergency courtesy of the aforementioned odd, green mist. Duhn, duhn DUHN... How will they ever get home when they are on the run from such classic bad guys like Mrs. Trunchbull and Dracula?

Partial Retirement

To keep things fresh, now that the books are done and the trial is over, Pottertastic Tuesdays are done and over. While I will still provide Pottertastic Tidbits (it's still me, after all), they will not come on a weekly basis.

In it's stead will come Themed reviews. For the entire summer, I'm going to read books on the New Brunswick summer reading list and review them. If I run out (doubtful), or I get bored, I'll mix it up with bug-themed books to catch the reading bug myself.

Yet more things I never thought I'd say in the library...

Three of our regulars--regular trouble makers that is--were perusing the scrap paper bin. While that is quite usual of them, the fact that I had to say, "Stop pointing that musket at me," as a result of their newest creation is quite odd. Really guys? Paper guns? Okay, that I understand coming from sixth grade boys, but muskets? For reals?