Actor: Daniel Radcliffe

Educating Alice has links to Daniel Radcliffe's turn on Extras this past week. This along with the photos from Equus, well, the lad has had quite a week.

Babymouse: Rock Star

Babymouse: Rock Star by Jennifer L. Holm & Matthew Holm, 2006

Oh Babymouse, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways. Well, I named my IPod Babymouse and I chose the color pink for my new cell phone.

There is no smarter or cannier look at school life than Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm's Babymouse series. The traumas that plague Babymouse and her classmates are universal. Gym uniforms ARE ugly, lockers DO attack, school meat loaf SHOULD be regarded with suspicion and riding the school bus is ONLY for the very VERY brave.

In Babymouse: Rock Star music is a solace and joy for our heroine but even there, chair tests create yet another pecking order, this time in Band. Hoping to work her way up from last chair for the school concert, Babymouse resolves that she will practice hard for the tryout. Alas, the results of her efforts are, "Screeech!" With the help of a friend, she learns that real music is something you feel in your heart. Band parents will completely identify with this story.

Babymouse's wonderful imagination (she is a reader) carries her daily struggles into the world of the Wizard of Oz and the Pied Piper of Hamelin and her musical dreams into the realm of American Idol-ness.

These graphic novels are rich in humor for young readers but junior highschoolers will also identify. If you have not added this series to your library collection yet then do so asap!

Brava Babymouse!

Miss Erin has an excellent interview with Her Graciousness Jennifer Holm who also just received a Newbery Honor for her book, Penny from Heaven.

Jennifer Holm's Website
A Day in the Life of Jennifer Holm

Boots on the ground (or in the air)

I spent the week subbing at two libraries. Monday through Wednesday I was at a high school librarian helping seniors with their research papers on "social issues." Tuesday morning skies were dreary and full of rain. As I walked across the teacher parking lot towards the building, I reminded myself to watch my footing on the rain slick sidewalks and pavement. I successfully negotiated the puddles and closed my umbrella as I reached the shelter of the school's entrance. As I took my first step onto the large rubber door mat to walk through the door, my left foot slipped away from me as if I had stepped onto a sheet of ice. Crash! There were ONLY hundreds of students and substitutes pouring through the opening at the time. General alarm and exclamations sounded around me and I could only think, "Oh God, have I crushed someone?" Then one boy reached down and grabbed my arm and the next thing I knew I was vertical again. Gadzooks, high school guys are strong. I think I was actually airborne for a few seconds. Amazingly, no harm done except to my dignity.

Thursday-Friday I was at my old library. The kids in 3rd grade and up still remember me, or I should say, remember Dragon. They all ask about him. He was with me and was very pleased to see his old friends. Sadly, his manners have not improved and their happiness to see him only reinforced his cheeky and obnoxious behavior.

The lesson for 5th grade was Bluebonnet Book Jeopardy which was great fun. Each table was a team and each team took turns picking a category, "Settings for $20, Alex" or "Events for $50." Sometimes they knew the answer right away, sometimes there was much pondering and guessing. With 20 books on the list, it is a challenge for the kids to read the minimum 5 required in order to vote, much less all 20.

Then we hit this question, "Three kids set out to restore this missing item that belongs to Zeus in this book." Twenty-four hands shot into the air before I even finished reading the question and twenty-four kids shot to their feet making that "Ooo...ooo...ooo" sound that indicated they knew the answer. I think two chairs fell over as their occupants rocketed upwards. Table 3 got the answer right away, "Zeus's lightning bolt in The Lightning Thief!" I was so moved to see and hear their passion for this book.

Later as the class checked out books, one of the boys told me that his parents had driven him all the way to Austin, Texas to see Rockstar Rick Riordan when he was signing at Book People some months back. "I got both books and he signed them!" he told me. I told him that I get advance copies of books to review sometimes and I had received a preview copy of The Titan's Curse and it was a fantastic action packed thrill ride. At that moment, I realized 48 eyes had just zeroed in on me and 24 voices said, "You have Book 3?" I think the mob was starting to move in my direction when, just in time, their teacher yelled, "Time to line up and go back to class."

I'm telling you, being a librarian can be dangerous.

TV

Meg Cabot and I are watching the all the same TV shows. As a professional writer person, she puts it so perfectly in her Jan. 23 post.

The Office:

And if you are not watching The Office, well, I just don’t know what to say. I guess if I were to say to you, “Jim said yes,” it would mean nothing to you.

If, however, you were watching The Office, and I were to say, “Jim said yes,” to you, you would inhale sharply and squeal, “I KNOW!” in a delighted manner. These words would take on a whole new meaning to you. Because this is seriously the hottest, most romantic show on TV, besides being the funniest, and if you aren’t watching it, well, I kind of feel sorry for you.

Cabot watches the Food Network like I watch the Food Network and her take on 24 is exactly where I am, alas. I am afraid I was cheering "Now that's what I'm talking about!!!" at the plastic bag thing this past week.

Jane Eyre and Lorna Doone, that is why I like her books so much I guess.

Movie: Inkheart

There is almost daily traffic and discussion is on this blog about the casting of the movie, Inkheart. Old posts on the topic attract comments on a regular basis. The most controversial casting choice so far, and the role girls seem to be the most exercised over, is the henchman, "Basta." Apparently, Jamie Foreman is not young/sexy enough. I read the book several years ago and have not taken up Inkspell yet so I confess my memories of some of the peripheral characters are somewhat dimmed.

J.L. Bell at Oz and Ends had a thoughtful post about the movie's casting last year. I have always thought it was interesting that Cornelia Funke herself had Brendan Fraser in her mind as she wrote the character Mo. Since they spend so much time with characters as they create them, is is common for authors to "cast" a book with familiar faces in their mind's eye? I wonder.

My own interest in the book/movie brought this report and interview from the Inkheart movie set to my attention.

Fun facts: Mirren is using Edith Sitwell as her inspiration for Elinor. Paul Bettany is kind to ferrets.

Brendan Fraser (Mo), Eliza Bennett (Meggie), Paul Bettany (Dustfinger) and Andy Serkis (Capricorn)

UPDATE: There is a real PR press going on right now making the actors and director available for interviews.
Brendan Fraser, Paul Bettany, Eliza Bennett and Andy Serkis Discuss "Inkheart"
Interview with Iain Softley & Helen Mirren

Can I get fries with that?

A kindred spirit and soul sister librarian sent this to me:

Literature inspiring research

I have been enjoying a few days at a local high school library doing research with 12 graders on "social issues." The kids are so nice and the library has a terrific collection. No matter how obscure the topic, the collection has material to match every query, it seems. It makes me feel like such a reference librarian again.

One funny moment today: As the kids filed in to the library, one girl stopped to grab the book Pretties by Scott Westerfeld from a book display. She was so happy to have the book that she hugged it; she had been waiting a long time for the book to come in she told me.

The kids had to clear their research topic with their teacher before starting work. Coming up with a topic was the focus of the day's library visit. My Westerfeld fan told the teacher that she wanted to do a research paper about parasites.

Hmmm...this is not a science class.
Her teacher, looking puzzled, asked her what kind of social issue involved parasites.

On a hunch, having just witnessed her enthusiasm for all things Westerfeld, I asked her, "Have you been reading Peeps?"

"YESSSSSSS, she exclaimed, digging a copy of the book out of her backpack.
”Now I want to study parasites."

The teacher was completely befuddled so I explained the premise of the story (parasites cause the myth/idea of vampires.) The teacher was giving us both the oddest look.

I think the student is going to do something about clean water resources (and no doubt, how bad water with PARASITES can cause health issues.)

Card Catalog

Thanks to Mental Multivitamin for the link.
Catalog Card Generator

Thank Heaven for Second Grade!

Each grade level has its charms and challenges for those teaching/working/toiling in schools. There is a wonderfulness about second graders that I find hard to resist as a librarian. Most of them have developed some solid reading skills and they are also savvy enough to catch subtle nuances in storylines. They have not acquired that hormonal chemical veneer that just begins to show in 2nd semester third graders and are still malleable enough (for the most part) to shush when shushed and sit when told to sit.

I had the pleasure of reading some chapters of a boffo book to second grade this week. They laughed in all the right places and got the joke of the narrative.

I HIGHLY recommend Lucy Nolan's Down Girl and Sit: Smarter than Squirrels, 2004. If you live with a dog or dogs, you will appreciate Nolan's understanding of all things canine.

Down Girl narrates the story of her daily life. Along with her best friend, Sit, who lives next door, she protects the backyard from birds and squirrels by chasing the invaders up into the trees. She saves her master, Ruff, from the paperboy by barking at him through the window. This is important because she knows that newspapers are for spankings and she wants to save her master from a spanking.

The book is written in short chapters and Mike Reed's illustrations underline the humor. A sharp eyed boy sitting near me, pointed out that the names on the dog houses said "Happy" and "Dot." The dogs think their names are "Down Girl" and "Sit." They have another dog friend named "Hush." When the dogs describe their efforts to guard their masters' hiding place for treasure, Reed's drawings help the reader see that the hiding place is really the trash can. The kids understood we are hearing these hilarious stories from the dog's point of view.

We have a new phrase at our house now, "We are smarter than squirrels."

I see there is a sequel, On the Road. I have to read it.

Book Discussion Groups

I joined a book group this fall. I worry sometimes that I am not reading "grown-up" books very much anymore. The theme of the reading list is "Faith in Literature." Overall I have enjoyed the selections. It was terrific to re-read To Kill a Mockingbird. I might have never read The Kite Runner (actually, I listened to it- excellent!) without this motivation. I thought two of the selections perfectly mediocre (The Memory Keeper's Daughter and Blessings) but I thought Pope Joan was a terrific piece of historical fiction.

Last fall I was fortunate to meet author Phil Bildner while subbing at a school library. Talking to him about "good books" he commented that The Kite Runner works as a YA books in many ways. His comment has made me reflect on this list and having just finished Pope Joan, it occurred to me that it has YA aspects too. Of course, To Kill a Mockingbird is a classic on all levels but is also on high school reading lists. I don't think it is a coincidence that the reads I have found the most rewarding from the list also work in the YA category.

It is a real pleasure to discuss books. It has been a great experience to meet new people who, like my childlitosphere friends, share a love of reading. Like most book lists, I find my mind has been stretched and strengthened by trying new titles I would not ordinarily read. Even the books that did not hit a homerun with me have made me reflect on what I think a good book is.

So I have to say I am looking forward to the book discussion group being formed by Michele at Scholar's Blog Spoiler Zone. The discussion of Susan Cooper's King of Shadows will commence February 6.