Celebrating Children's Book Week

Image courtesy of indiefixx

Happy Children's Book Week! In honor of these days dedicated to the celebration of children's literature, we have decided to make it a week of book talk (bear with us :) )- just some thoughts about a few of the amazing books, authors, and illustrators of the genre.

A particularly appropriate selection for kicking off a week about children's literature is 2006's Library Lion by Michelle Knudsen, illustrated by Kevin Hawkes. The tale is not only an impressive union of narrative and picture, it is a storybook tribute to libraries.

Image courtesy of bisforbooks

Miss Merriweather, head librarian and decorum-keeper, first meets Lion when he saunters past his stone counterparts and into the stacks. Scowling circulation assistant Mr. McBee seems intent on having the enormous cat ejected, but his boss declares that as long as he breaks no rules, he is welcome. The beast does misbehave though, roaring loud displeasure when storytime ends. At Miss Merriweather's reprimand, the contrite-looking lion promises to reform. In fact, he becomes something of a fixture in the building, dusting with his tail, licking envelopes, and serving as a stepstool for small patrons. Everyone appreciates him–except Mr. McBee. When Lion lets out another tremendous RAAAHHHRRR!, the man bursts into Miss Merriweather's office to snitch–and there he finds her in distress, having fallen from a stool and broken her arm. Lion, à la Lassie, has saved the day, but he is so chagrined by his own rule-breaking behavior that he doesn't return to the library. People miss him. Even Mr. McBee. A feel-good ending and a reminder that Sometimes, there is a good reason to break the rules bring the story to its most-satisfactory conclusion. - School Library Journal Review

Ms. Knudsen's story is original, humorous and poignant, but in my opinion, it is the illustration of Mr. Hawkes that makes this tale particularly special. His muted palette reflects the quiet, timeless atmosphere of the library, yet the expressive nature of the drawings captures the often lively bustle of the space.

Image courtesy of bisforbooks

Image courtesy of bisforbooks

Image courtesy of goingonabookhunt

Library Lion is one of those ideal picture books, perfect for read- alouds and a beautiful addition to any child's personal collection.

The Fledgling

Book cover courtesy of blog.patrickrothfuss.com

When I turned ten, a family friend (who happened to be a school librarian) gave me The Fledgling by Jane Langton. I had not heard of it, but was definitely drawn in by the dreamy-looking cover (hey, I was ten- the cover mattered!).

Some 25 years later, I still consider this book a favorite. It is an incredible mix of fantasy and coming-of-age story - punctuated with humor and suspense, it also manages to be an essay on Thoreau and the transcendentalists. Now, in fourth grade, I certainly would not have described the book this way. I probably would have said it was about a girl who is taught to fly by a Canadian Goose and how her family feels about it...either way, it is a truly interesting, touching story.

Middle grade fiction is riddled with literary mediocrity and endless series. It is a shame because when I think of the army of voracious readers out there in that age group, I think they deserve more books like this one (and that is the preachy librarian in me :) ).

The Sally Draper Reading List

via Booklicious

Inspired by this 1955 found photograph of an 11 year old girl engrossed in her book despite sitting in the middle of living room amongst her non-reading family members, a blogger for the New York Public Library blog saw a resemblance to "Mad Men's" own Sally Draper and so imagined what the fictional girl may have been reading (aside from Nancy Drew) during 1964 and 1965, the years in which the fourth season of the show is set.

And so here's the NYPL list of books published in 1964 and 1965 that might have been right up Sally's alley:

"Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" - Roald Dahl
"Harriet the Spy" - Louise Fitzhugh
"Over Sea, Under Stone" - Susan Cooper
"Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" - Ian Fleming
"The Phantom of Pine Hill" - Carolyn Keene
"The Long Secret" - Louise Fitzhugh
"The Black Cauldron" - Lloyd Alexander
"The Mouse and the Motorcycle" - Beverly Cleary
"The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds" - Paul Zindel

I love this list and want to read or reread all of these works - don't you? And be sure check out the post's comments section too for great books that Sally would have totally been reading even though they weren't necessarily published in 1964-'65 like "Seventeenth Summer" (1942) by Maureen Daly and "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" (1943) by Betty Smith.

Thursday, a library, and Etsy

Library Card Bookplates courtesy of ModernClassicsKids

If I had the good fortune to have a whole room in my house dedicated to something totally frivolous, but also totally awesome, I would make it into a library for my kids. A space separate from their bedrooms or play space where we could go to read and do schoolwork....wow, this really is kind of a dorky dream, but still I love the idea- for this Thursday and Etsy entry - a children's library.

The concept of a whole wall of shelves for storing and organizing books makes me giddy..... I may even have to employ the dewey decimal system!

Custom Bookcase courtesy of xenasdad

I like a table and chairs for the workspace, just like in a real library with plenty of room to spread out and perfect lighting.

Shabby Painted 1940's Dining Set with 4 Chairs courtesy of royaloakcottage

Oh So Industrial Office Desk Lamp courtesy of happydayvintage

For something a little more comfortable- a couple of beanbags and a cool, cozy chair.

Kid's Beanbag Cover courtesy of mookah

Mid Century Marvelous courtesy of thevintagelaundry

On the walls - cheerful, useful, and colorful.....

Best Day Ever (Gold) courtesy of erinjaneshop

Large Cork Bulletin Board- Wood Scallop Frame courtesy of LaffyDaffy

World Map Recycled Collage Poster courtesy of artandphilanthropy

Some decorative touches....

1960's Vintage 10 Inch Replogle Globe

Large- Moon and Stars Paper Chandelier/Mobile courtesy of kismetsunday

The space will also have all the supplies they could need....

Set of 3 Ecological color pencil case courtesy of memegalarce

Let's Play Fabric Covered Journal courtesy of rabbitandtheduck

Pretty Flowers and Monsters glass marble push pins courtesy of MostlyMagnets

Finally, just because it makes me smile every time I look at it...how often do you see a funny clock? This is one great library....

Nancy Drew Book Clock courtesy of SackReligious

Art Show

Something different for tonight....I'm going to an art show in a nearby library. You have to love libraries, not only can you find the various types of literature, music, and film your heart desires- they also support the local artists (and give me something fun to do on a random Tuesday night!).

In the spirit of the New Year, I am making an effort to appreciate the art around me and check out the area's library galleries once a season. I will always have something beautiful on the calendar!

catalog of (card) catalogs

via JanelleGrace

There are not too many pieces of furniture that are musts for me. I like a lot of different things, but I've long desired two specific pieces of furniture. First, I've always wanted a worn, brown leather old man chair. The boyfriend, it turns out, had been keeping his grandfather's old leather chair hidden in his junk room - completely unaware of its perfection nor my lust for it. It is now "visiting" my apartment and gives me yet another reason to hold on to the bf.

The second piece of furniture that I've always wanted is a card catalog. The beat-up quality of the wood, the little drawers perfect for compulsive organizers - yes, I know it is considered hipster decor and not entirely practical (how many drawers do you need for buttons?), but, boy, do I love the look.

via bitsandbobbins

via ooh food

via urbanroutine

via squiggle

via adorevintage

via tumblr

via portlandmonthlymag.com

via Abbey Goes Design Scouting

via Bliss

via Home Sweet Home

via seesawdesigns

via the city sage

Libraries and Art

Image of P.S. 47 library courtesy of The New York Times

I have never met a library I did not love, even the musty, overcrowded ones and the too cold, too quiet varieties, but my true favorites have real character and very often that comes from their art. I do not mean simply what hangs on the wall, although that certainly is part of it, I mean how everything is laid out to welcome, inspire, support...and much more.

My friend forwarded me a slideshow from The New York Times that included the new library in P.S. 47, complete with an art installation by illustrator Maira Kalman. The image shown above, and this one from a detail of Kalman's work, really demonstrate how art and design bring personality to these towers and rows of books.

Image courtesy of The New York Times

As I clicked through the slideshow and read about this library and the others featured, I learned about the Robin Hood Foundation L!brary Initiative. I became intrigued by the collaboration of the Robin Hood Foundation and New York City's Board of Education to revitalize and maintain the school libraries in many of the impoverished communities of the city.

Individuals saw the need to re-invent the forgotten libraries- these spiritless rooms were certainly not the vibrant centers of learning the schools and students needed - so the initiative was born. Nine years and sixty-two schools later, the program continues to marry libraries and art and their union brings happiness to countless children.

The following are just some examples of the new spaces.

Image of P.S. 96 courtesy of The New York Times
Image of P.S. 192 courtesy of Architectural Record

Images of P.s. 36 and P.S. 186 courtesy of Pentagram

There are two great articles about the initiative at Architectural Record and Pentagram. They introduce you to some of the people whose designs and art have breathed new life into the school libraries.

kitten season

image via FFFFOUND!

My boyfriend and I found a kitten outside of his house a few days ago. It is either a stray or a throw away, but either way it is in tough shape - a few singed whiskers, a couple of cuts, a nicked ear, and very skinny. I would prefer to think that these are the marks of being a stray because I don't want to imagine anyone treating an animal so unkindly (even though I know people do). Though initially skittish, turns out that July (as we've named her) is incredibly sweet and affectionate. We've also had her checked out by a vet friend and she's doing okay, we just have to feed her little belly slowly and with lots of rich kitten food.

It also looks like we've found her a home (neither of us can keep her since we both already have felines). Two people have expressed interested in her and will be visiting her this week. Both are also library students (who don't know each other) and both made fun of the librarians + cats stereotype. Which is such a silly thing to apologize for when loving cats is such a wonderful thing (says this cat lady).

image via Books Rule

Anyway, it is kitten season and lots of cats (grown-up and little) are needing homes so if you've been thinking about it... now is the time (if you are in NC - "The Goathouse Refuge" is an amazing no-kill shelter run by a wonderful artist, Siglinda Scarpa). And please don't these sweet and adorable pictures sway you.... that is totally not my agenda. :)

image by Geninne's Art blog

image via FFFFOUND!

image via dainty doll

image via aL-baum