The Kiddosphere @ Fauquier

Happy 100th, Anne

2008-05-20T08:40:00.007-04:00

"....the dearest, and most lovable child in fiction since the immortal Alice."-Mark Twain

2008 marks the 100th anniversary of the publication of Anne of Green Gables. As you can imagine, Anne fans (who can rival Jane Austen fans in their intense devotion and knowledge of the literature and life of Lucy Maud Montgomery) and Prince Edward Island are celebrating in a big way. Not only is the L.M. Montgomery Institute honoring the occasion at their annual conference, but Prince Edward Island is hosting an enviable array of events and activities.

Like many girls, I read the series. I reread the first two or three books in the series, but until several months ago, I had not reread them since middle school. Upon finding out that this year marked the centennial of the books, I decided to reread the entire series. With the increased attention and respect given in recent decades to scholarly study of children's literature, exemplary biographical and literary analysis of L.M. Montgomery has been published. These books give fantastic insight into Montgomery's life and personality, and enhance the experience of reading her literature. With that in mind, and bringing an adult critique of the books (versus a middle schooler's understanding and appreciation), I made the following observations while reading the series:

1) Sequels are problematic, particularly if the first novel is enormously popular. If the author is personally interested and invested in continuing the series on her/his own volition, the books have a much better chance of succeeding in terms of maturity and depth. Not that J.K. Rowling is the be all to end all of series authors, but she definitely wanted to continue Harry's story beyond the first and second books.

L.M. Montgomery continued Anne's story in subsequent sequels not because she was interested in maturing the character, but because she was under major pressure to do so from fans and publishers. She was also financially strapped, and keeping the Anne story, in addition to creating other series, generated much needed income (her husband, a minister, suffered from mental illness and was not always able to work). Although the first novel, Anne of Green Gables, is a tremendous work, the other books in the series fail to match up to that book's humor, pathos, and humanity.

2) I was disappointed and rather surprised to discover the enormous difference between Anne's childhood friendships and her children's friendships. Anne has a faithful, but occasional rocky (due to outside influences), friendship with Diana. Anne's relationships with other Avonlea children are also mostly positive, save for the spiteful Josie Pye. When Anne leaves Avonlea (and Diana) to go to college, she forms fast and faithful friendships with several classmates.

None of Anne's children, in contrast, form positive and lasting friendships. Their friendships ultimately end in betrayal. Children outside the family are not to be trusted. By the time Montgomery created the books that feature Anne's children, she had suffered the loss of a child, her husband's mental breakdowns, a lengthy lawsuit with a publisher, and her own depression. It's not far-fetched to assume that her personal tragedies affected her later writing.

3) Thankfully, Montgomery tapered off the excessive use of poetry quotations that are very proficient in the first two Anne books. Of course, poetry was much more popular in the Victorian/Edwardian era than it is now. Who knows-perhaps Victorian/Edwardian Canadians were wont to quote poetry at the drop of a hat in normal conversations. It's a bit twee and annoying, and happily taken down a notch in the later novels.

(And by the way, congrats to anyone who continues reading beyond the first sentence of Anne of Green Gables. There's much to love about the book beyond that sentence, but a sentence that runs several paragraphs is enough to deter quite a few readers!)

4) The lack of care and concern during Anne's first eleven years is startling (but not uncommon for orphans at that time). Children may not realize, as I definitely didn't, that Anne was basically an indentured servant during that time, and passed from family to family as someone would pass down unwanted clothing. Anne's arrival at Green Gables was a mistake; the Cuthberts had sent for a boy orphan. They knew someone who was picking up an orphan and asked her to pick out an orphan for them, pretty much in the same way you might ask someone to pick up a sandwich if you find out that they're going to the deli and you don't want to bother going yourself. Anne's future-to either return her to the orphan asylum or to pass her along to a vicious woman with an enormous family-is causally discussed in front of her. Of course, the Cuthberts later can't imagine their lives without Anne, but it's just another cruel instance in Anne's life.

It's disappointing that the later Anne books did not match up to the humanity of the first novel, but they are still, with all their faults, worthwhile reads and insights into turn of the century Canadian life (one aspect of Canadian life, since it is such a huge country). Montgomery's other books, particularly her favorite, The Story Girl, are lovely "comfort" reads, much in the same manner that Louisa May Alcott's fiction beyond Little Women are lovely comfort reads for some (not for me; I cannot abide Alcott's other fiction!).

If you're an Anne fan and looking for similar "old fashioned" books, try these on for size:

-read Montgomery's other writings

-read Louisa May Alcott's books beyond Little Women

-Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm

-anything by Maud Hart Lovelace

-anything by Noel Streatfeild

-anything by Sydney Taylor

-anything by Frances Hodgson Burnett

-Heidi by Johanna Spyri (can be a bit tricky to get through)

-Pollyanna by Eleanor Porter (quite different from the Hayley Mills movie, which I love! Don't get me started on those who say it's sickly sweet; it's a beautiful movie featuring one of the best and most natural child actors ever)

-The Secret Language by Ursula Nordstrom

-anything by Dodie Smith

Same Story, Three Versions

2008-05-17T15:25:00.007-04:00

I'm doing a complete read-through of our J 398.2 section, which includes our fairy tale/folktale section. I had a delightful time reading Verna Aardema's African folktales; if you're looking for some fun and unusual folktales, take a look at her folktales.

The next major author/folklorist after Aardema is Andersen. As in, Hans Christian Andersen. Andersen is a fascinating and tragic man; a very different man from Danny Kaye's portrayal (in a lovely movie, but not a biographical one). The storylines of his writings-The Ugly Duckling, The Emperor's New Clothes, The Little Mermaid (whose ending will surprise those only familiar with the Disney movie, which boasts one of my favorite Disney soundtracks), etc-are so familiar to us that we forget that, as an English reading and speaking audience, we are reading his tales through a translator.

It is fascinating to read different translations of Andersen's tales in one sitting. That's exactly what I did with three different translations of The Emperor's New Clothes.

If you're looking for a read aloud version of The Emperor's New Clothes for young children (preschoolers), I recommend Nadine Bernard Westcott's The Emperor's New Clothes. The Emperor's New Clothes is one of the few, in my opinion, Andersen tales that are suitable for very young children; the others are a bit too long (The Ugly Duckling) or nearly overwhelmingly morose (The Little Match Girl). While the underlying theme of the story will probably be lost on them, they'll appreciate the wacky behavior of the emperor and his people.

Riki Levinson's translation is a great read aloud, but slightly older children will appreciate it more than their younger brothers and sisters. Robert Byrd chose to use animals when illustrating the book. The vivid illustrations and comic expressions on the animals' faces will definitely attract everyone's attention.

Although those two translations are fine and worthy editions, Naomi Lewis's translation and Angela Barrett's illustrations take their version to a completely different level. Lewis's poetic translation undoubtedly captures the beauty and elegance for which Andersen is known, making it a treat for patient and sophisticated listeners.

Angela Barrett's illustrations are incredible and ingenious. Barrett chose to illustrate in the style of the early 20th century (a bit later than Andersen's time period). The clothes, the transportation, and the court are very reminiscent of early 20th century European city life and court life prior to World War I. With the underlying political viewpoint of the story, this decision makes a delightful and intriguing enhancement to the tale. Andersen read his tales to European courts; did he read this particular tale to a reigning monarch?

If you're in the mood for a lengthy but engrossing biography of the storyteller, Hans Christian Andersen: The Life of a Storyteller is a must read. And for more insight into his stories, check out The Annotated Hans Christian Andersen.

Doggone Good Reads

2008-05-14T13:51:00.002-04:00

My latest ALSC post features books about dogs.

'Tis a Mystery

2008-05-05T10:08:00.003-04:00

If you've had enough of Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, or Trixie Belden, try these books on for size:

Andrew Clements is a widely popular children's author; his books are centered around realistic school situations, with a great balance of humor and thought-provoking subjects. Room One: A Mystery or Two is not only an entertaining mystery, but it also addresses such issues as the decline of rural towns, including rural homelessness and rural education. Clements doesn't preach, and the issues never overtake the story. If you need a quick read, Room One is an excellent choice.

The Westing Game won the Newbery Medal in 1979. A recent reread proved that, save for a few outdated terms ("Oriental" to describe a Chinese character and "Mongoloid" to describe a mentally challenged character), the book's humor and surprising turn of events should definitely hold the interest of young mystery fans. The storyline involving a group of characters brought together in order to discover the murderer among them creates a fascinating study of characters.

M.T. Anderson is one of modern children's literature's funniest and wackiest authors. The Clue of the Linoleum Lederhosen is funny and fast-paced enough to appeal to most readers, but readers familiar with the old-school formulaic children's mystery series such as Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, the Bobbsey Twins, the Boxcar Children, and Trixie Belden will definitely get the most enjoyment from the book, as this is a spoof on those characters. If you're looking for a purely fun and hilarious read, this is your book.

If you're looking for more ideas, check out the Edgar Awards, which have divisions for juvenile and young adult novels.

She Touched the World

2008-05-02T10:02:00.005-04:00

I have been fascinated with Helen Keller since the third grade. I did a social studies fair project on her and won first place. I taught myself fingerspelling and several signs in American Sign Language (long forgotten by now, for the most part), watched The Miracle Worker, and read everything I could find about her.

In every book I read about Helen Keller, Laura Bridgman was mentioned. The authors usually only bothered to write a few sentences about Laura, and I always wanted to know more about her. How I would have welcomed She Touched the World: Laura Bridgman, Deaf-Blind Pioneer!

A devastating childhood illness left Laura blind and deaf. Initially thought to be uneducable and hopeless, Laura's story caught the attention of Dr. Howe, head of a New England blind school. Laura was sent to the residential school, where she learned knitting, geography, writing, and other subjects. Her astonishing success made her an international celebrity at the age of twelve and admired by such personalities as Charles Dickens.

Although Laura is forever overshadowed by Helen Keller, Laura's achievements paved the way for Helen Keller's astonishing achievements (Keller also benefitted from an earlier start in her education, a long-term teacher, an outgoing personality, and more real-life adventures and situations). This is an intriguing biography of a fascinating woman.

When the Black Girl Sings

2008-04-30T13:48:00.005-04:00

Adolescence is difficult for most teens, but Lahni Schuler is in a unique situation. Lahni, who is African American, was adopted in infancy by a Caucasian couple. Lahni is the only African-American girl in her exclusive prep school. Gifted with a singing voice, but shy and self-conscious, Lahni is roped into a vocal competition at her school.

Her parents' separation throws another whirl into her life; looking for comfort and for a multicultural environment, Lahni and her mother seek out a welcoming congregation. Lahni is bedazzled by the impressive gospel choir and wins the approval of the choir director and the lead soprano. Lahni's choir debut is sensational; with her love of singing and performing growing, Lahni finds new enthusiasm (and dread) in the school competition.

When the Black Girl Sings is an engrossing read of a determined yet confused teenager who finds comfort and confidence in a positive outlet. The relationships between Lahni and the adults in her life are drawn in a realistic and positive light (save for some differences with her father, which are completely understandable given the context). While the outcome is predictable, it's a welcome and satisfying conclusion to an excellent read.

I've Got the Sun in the Morning and the Moon at Night

2008-04-30T13:42:00.002-04:00

My latest ALSC post is about sun/moon books.

The Seer of Shadows

2008-04-23T16:00:00.002-04:00

Authors with prolific and celebrated careers such as Avi definitely face higher stakes when their latest book is published. It's disappointing when a favorite author's latest book doesn't seem to live up to his/her earlier works. Thankfully, this is not the case with Avi's latest, The Seer of Shadows.

Brilliantly evoking late 19th century New York, Avi deftly combines the romance of early photography, the spiritualism craze of the time, the hardship of an apprenticeship, the lingering servitude faced by African Americans in post civil war America, and an eerie ghost story to create a startling and suspenseful crackling good read. This is a complex novel, and I don't want to discuss the plot at length for fear of ruining the surprise and suspense contained within this excellent read. If you're looking for a well-crafted ghost story, look no further.

Baaaaby Animals

2008-04-23T15:48:00.001-04:00

My latest ALSC post is about baby animal books. Books that make you go "Awwww!"

Food, Glorious Food, Part Deux

2008-04-19T11:48:00.001-04:00

I realized that the post for the latest ALSC post didn't include a link! Ooops!

National Library Week

2008-04-17T13:22:00.004-04:00

It's National Library Week! All across this country, libraries are celebrating this week with special programs and activities (check out Fauquier County's activities here). It's a time to celebrate libraries and to think about the importance of them in our lives.

It's easy for some to take libraries for granted; many people make weekly trips to the library. However, this is an unheard of luxury for many people around the world, as you can see in My Librarian is a Camel: How Books Are Brought to Children Around the World. While the camel bookmobiles have received much attention as of late, they are just one of the various ways books are brought to isolated communities around the world. We read about truck mobiles in rural Australia, mobiles that serve refugee communities in Azerbaijan, a books-by-mail program in Canada's Nunavut region, a British bookmobile that caters to vacationers at Blackpool Beach, boat libraries in Finland and Indonesia, and mobile libraries in Mongolia, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea (which, in addition to books, also brings medicine to the jungle hamlets it serves), Peru, Thailand (including a library that does outreach with street children in Bangkok), Zimbabwe, and Kenya. No matter the location or ethnicity of the people, the enormous excitement and happiness that the mobile libraries bring is evident on every page. Just consider what 12 year old Tabbassum from Pakistan feels about the Dastangou ("Storyteller") bus:

"The first time the Storyteller came, I ran to it and picked up a book of poetry. I started copying verses from it because I didn't know if it would ever come again. But then Miss Nosheen, who travels with the bus, told me not to worry. It would visit every Tuesday. That really made me happy!

My Librarian is a Camel is a fascinating and inspiring look at the inventive ways librarians serve communities not traditionally served by libraries.

The Great Depression was a difficult time for almost everyone, but for the rural poor in Kentucky (then the poorest state in the States), it made an already hard life much more difficult. Out of the social programs that were created under the Roosevelt administration, the Pack Horse Library Project of Eastern Kentucky strikes me as one of the most admirable, thoughtful, and treacherous projects.

The Pack Horse librarians delivered magazines, newsletters, children's books, manuals on homemaking and farming, childbirth and childcare, and other popular materials to families living on and around the Cumberland Mountains. It was an extremely popular and well-received project, for several reasons.

The genius behind the program was that the librarians were not do-gooders from big cities who were coming to save (and patronize) the "ignorant" people of Eastern Kentucky. Had that been so, the project would probably...definitely? have failed. No one likes being told how to improve himself/herself when it wasn't asked for, and isolated communities tend to be suspicious of outsiders, particularly when they smack of condescension.

Instead, the pack horse librarians were recruited from the very communities in which they served. These women (the vast majority were women) knew these folks as neighbors, knew the culture of the community, and knew the terrain. This last was particularly important when traversing the rocky terrain in wintry conditions.

Pictures of solemn children with tattered clothing and broken men haunt the pages of Down Cut Shin Creek: The Pack Horse Librarians of Kentucky. However, gentler scenes do accompany the text from time to time: a miner reading to his children before his night shift, a pack horse librarian sharing information on childbirth, hygiene, and childcare with a pregnant woman, and a pack horse librarian reading to an attentive family. The beginning of the book also includes pictures of other mobile libraries that were sponsored by the WPA, including the boat (the Cajuns call it a pirogue) libraries that served the Cajuns in Louisiana.

Down Shin Cut Creek is an inspiring book about a very special group of determined and hardy librarians serving a unique community.

The Inside Outside Book of Libraries is an excellent look at the many different types of libraries, with an emphasis on their many unique services. We learn about New York Public Library's Chatham Square library, which serve Manhattan's Chinatown; the tiny Ocracoke Library on Ocracoke Island, North Carolina, whose one-room library is busiest during the summer season. We also read about New York Public Library's Andrew Heiskell Library for the Blind and Print Handicapped (including an example of braille), a Navy ship library, a prison library, the Library of Congress, a school library, and Berkeley Public Library's tool lending library, at which patrons may borrow ladders, wheelbarrows, a cement mixer, and other tools for three days. Cozy illustrations of patrons using and enjoying library materials add to the charm of this lovely book (the Inside Outside series by Ruth Munro is pretty cool!).

Want to know what's going on at your local Fauquier County Public Library branch? Check out our Library News and Events blog!

Yum

2008-04-16T12:44:00.000-04:00

My latest ALSC post is all about food.

April is National Poetry Month

2008-04-09T13:09:00.004-04:00

To celebrate National Poetry Month, I'll dedicate a few posts to children's poetry books. Children's poetry is such a rich and diverse niche that it will be difficult to narrow it down to just a few books per post!

If your child needs to memorize a poem for school, have him/her browse through Poetry Speaks to Children. From classics like "Casey at the Bat" and "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening," to selections from popular children's authors such as Margaret Wise Brown and Naomi Shihab Nye, Poetry Speaks to Children is a fabulous collection of funny, silly, fanciful, and lovely poems. A CD is included, which includes poets reading their own poems (when possible).

If you are owned by a dog, you'll likely laugh with recognition at the poems in Good Dog. Breeds are represented by individual poems, including a bold little Chihuahua, an embarrassed Pomeranian with a poufy new style, and a tough looking bulldog with a gentle heart. Fans of mutts, do not worry: the honor of the last poem is reserved for them. Whether it's the imperial attitude of a King Charles Spaniel, to a hyper Boston Terrier, a pug that's simply starving, or the devotion of a Collie, these poems (and dogs) will win your heart.

When I was a child in New Orleans, my dad, sister, and I would watch a local television celebrity called Morgus the Magnificent. Morgus was a "mad scientist" who conducted ill-fated experiments with the "help" of his assistant, Chopsley, in between segments of classic horror movies. I would have loved Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich. While most will chuckle over the poems, those familiar with the classic monsters (Frankenstein, Dracula, etc) will get the biggest kick out of the poems, especially a running gag with The Phantom of the Opera.

Who says poetry is boring?

Choo Choo

2008-04-09T12:59:00.000-04:00

Here's my latest ALSC post-this one is about train picture books.

Schuyler's Monster

2008-04-08T16:17:00.005-04:00

When I was in high school, I knew I wanted to work in some capacity with children and families. I volunteered every summer at New Orleans's Children's Hospital with the Child Life Department. I took children well enough to leave their beds to the group music/play therapy sessions in the playrooms and assisted the Child Life Specialist with the sessions. I also cuddled/rocked babies and visited with children too sick/incapacitated to leave their beds.

When I was studying Family, Child, and Consumer Sciences at Louisiana State University, I thought about earning a masters degree in social work. However, fate intervened with a part time job with the East Baton Rouge Parish Library, and instead of earning a MSW, I went for a MLIS. And here I am.

However, much of my nonfiction (adult) reading centers around issues involving families, children, human development, education, etc. Therefore, when I heard about Schuyler's Monster, I immediately knew it was something I wanted to read.

Although the onset of verbal communication varies from child to child, it is expected that an 18 month old will make attempts at communication, even though the words might not be clear. Schuyler, at 18 months, was making no attempt. A battery of tests, from hearing to cognitive, were administrated, but a vague diagnosis of PDD-NOS (Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified-this is a diagnosis commonly given to someone who doesn't meet the full criteria of an autism diagnosis, but exhibits enough symptoms as to not be NT, or neurotypical) was not satisfactory.

Finally, an MRI confirmed a diagnosis of bilateral perislyvian polymicrogyria, an extremely rare neurological condition that affects a person's speech, motor control, and can lead to grand mal seizures serious enough to cause permanent brain damage or even death. 60% of Schuyler's brain was affected. She would not be able to verbally communicate (although she was not silent).

Schuyler's Monster is the heartbreaking, inspirational, and at times, witty account of a family struggling to help Schuyler overcome her obstacles. Schuyler is a bright, determined, and amazing little girl; I know this will already be one of my top reads for 2008.

Robert Rummel-Hudson continues to write about Schuyler's progress on his blog. Click here for a post about an article that ran in the Dallas Morning News. The link to the article includes a video of Schuyler in action.

Did you know that books have trailers? Yes indeedy, and some of them are quite nice. This is a lovely one for Schuyler's Monster:

Nick Abadzis website

2008-03-31T22:02:00.008-04:00

I neglected to include Nick Abadzis's website in my Laika post. You can read his well-deserved positive reviews and read interviews in which he describes his work on Laika. Fascinating reading. Abadzis is a terrific interviewee. I cannot recommend the website-and Laika-highly enough! As one review said (I'm paraphrasing)....dog lovers, have tissues handy. The more I think about it, the more amazed and touched I am by the book. It's an absolutely heartbreaking book, but truly one that gifts the reader....one of those books that doesn't leave you when you close the last page. The last two books that did that for me were The Wednesday Wars and Revolution is Not a Dinner Party.

LaikaLaikaLaikaLaika

Dogs in Space

2008-03-31T11:07:00.007-04:00

Remember Laika? 2007 was the 50th anniversary of her ill-fated space flight. Laika was a homeless mutt who eventually ended up in the Soviets' space flight program. Not wanting to risk the life of a human in the early days of space exploration, the Soviets tested the effects of space flight on dogs (other animals, such as mice and monkeys, were also used in space experiments by the Soviets and Americans).

Sputnik I had already been launched, to the jubilation of the Soviets (and the consternation of the Americans). Khrushchev placed enormous pressure upon the scientists to immediately launch Sputnik II. With a four week deadline, there wasn't enough time to create a way to bring Laika back from space. Laika was given a week's worth of food and oxygen.

On November 5, 1957, Laika was launched into space. Due to malfunctions in the launch, Laika died a few hours after launch. The fact that Laika was destined to die in space was not revealed until after the launch.

For many years, the timing and nature of Laika's death was unclear. At a 2002 space conference in Houston, it was revealed that Laika died 5-7 hours after liftoff, due to stress and overheating.

Nick Abadzis's graphic novel is a fictionalized but research-grounded account of Laika's training and fate. While some characters were invented (Yelena, the lab technician in charge of the dogs' care, is based upon an actual worker at the time), Abadzis does an incredible job of conveying the totalitarianism of the Soviet space program, the enormous pressure under which the scientists were placed, and the tragedy of Laika's fate. Althought Abadzis does anthropomorphize Laika's thoughts, this is done very briefly and rarely.

Laika is definitely a YA novel; not for the brief instances of swearing, but for its subject matter. I made the mistake of reading this last night, and it took me some time to get to sleep! Abadzis is unsentimental about Laika, but the book is still quite powerful. The book ends with a somber quotation from Oleg Georgivitch Gazenko, an afterword, and a bibliography for further reading.

Having a working understanding of the Soviet regime (including the Gulag and labor camps) and the obsession of space exploration by the Soviets and the Americans is definitely helpful, but not necessary, when reading Laika. Laika could be an excellent conversation starter on the space race, the Soviet regime, and on animal experimentation...lots of things to think about and discuss for mature teens.

Although it's been 51 years since her flight, Laika continues to fascinate many people. Youtube has several interesting videos about Laika (quite a few are animations):

This is a short animated feature:

This is a sweet video set to a Spanish song by Mercano (released 1987). It includes many pictures (including color) of Laika (I love her ears!):

Someone in the comments section kindly posted a rough translation of the lyrics (the other translations in the comments are similar):

She was Russian and her name was Laika/ She was a normal dog, and went from being an ordinary dog to being an world-wide star/ They put her within a spaceship to observe the reaction/ She was the first astronaut in outer space/ The spaceship is ready to be launched/the control center on Earth is saying to Laika/goodbye

In the base there was only silence/ everyone waiting for some signal/ All of them with headphones heard the dog bark/On Earth it was a celebration/shouts, laughter, weeping and champagne/

She was a normal dog, and went from being an ordinary dog to being an world-wide star/They put her within a spaceship to observe the reaction/ She was the first astronaut in outer space/ The spaceship is ready to be launched/ the control center on Earth is saying to Laika/goodbye

Laika watched out the window wondering what that ball of color was/and what am I doing going aound it/ The spaceship is ready to be launched/the control center on Earth is saying to Laika/goodbye

One night through the telescope a new light appeared/Nobody could give an explanation of the new sun/ And if we listen to the legend then we will have to believe that there is one less dog on Earth/and one more star in the sky

She was a normal dog, and went from being an ordinary dog to being an world-wide star/They put her within a spaceship to observe the reaction/She was the first astronaut in outer space/ The spaceship is ready to be launched/ the control center on Earth is saying to Laika/goodbye.

How Does Your Garden Grow?

2008-03-26T12:04:00.001-04:00

My latest ALSC post features picture books about gardens.

Viva Italia!

2008-03-18T15:44:00.005-04:00

While everybody is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day, there’s another celebration in New Orleans that follows the saint’s feast day (this year, St. Joseph’s feast day was moved to March 15 in order to not coincide with Holy Week).

When you think of New Orleans’s history, do you think about its French history? Can’t blame you. Perhaps, if you know a little bit more about the city’s history, you think about its Spanish history (there’s a great deal of Spanish architecture in the city).

However, those in the know will also think about the city’s Italian-or rather, Sicilian, culture (muffalettas at Central Grocery, anyone? Oh, yum.). After the unification of Italy, thousands of Sicilians immigrated to New Orleans and southeastern Louisiana. In fact, between 150-1879, New Orleans had the largest Italian-born population of any city in the US. Although the Sicilians, like many Italian immigrants at that time, faced prejudice and discrimination, they soon incorporated themselves into New Orleans’s restaurant and food store/supply culture, as well as other business ventures.

While French speaking French Quarter residents are long a thing of the past, Italian-American family culture remains strong in New Orleans. One of the enduring traditions of the Sicilian immigrant community that is still in existence is the celebration of the feast day of St. Joseph. The classified section of the city’s Times-Picayune runs dozens of ads inviting the public to St. Joseph altars.

What is a St. Joseph altar? Families and church members spend weeks preparing food and decorations. There’s a variety of food on the table, but it is a meatless table. This could be because the day falls during Lent, or because the Sicilian peasants in Italy could not afford meat on a regular basis. Elaborate altars groan with a variety of breads and cookies, with some having religious significance.

While many churches have their own altar open to the public, many families host altars in their private home. Anyone is allowed to attend; after admiring the altar (there is often a children’s tableaux of the journey to Bethlehem before the consecration of the altar), guests are often (but not always; classified ads will indicate if food is being served or not) served a spaghetti or other traditional Italian-American supper and are handed a small bag containing cookies and/or bread, plus some religious items or cultural items of significance (such as a fava bean).

My family is not Italian, we did not attend a church with a significant Italian-American congregation, and my Catholic school had a French tradition; I can remember only one time visiting a St. Joseph’s altar as a child. However, as with other New Orleans traditions, St. Joseph’s Day traditions fascinate me. When I moved to Houston after graduate school, I searched the Houston Chronicle and the Internet in vain for St. Joseph’s Day altars (I was feeling homesick!).

There’s one part of the year that makes me homesick for New Orleans, and that’s Mardi Gras through Easter. Whether it’s parades, the Friday night tradition of eating seafood at a church or at one of the many crowded seafood restaurants (although meatless Fridays are no longer an obligation, many southeastern Louisianians continue the practice), or gorging on boiled crawfish, there are several traditions about this season that make me nostalgic for southeastern Louisiana.

Since I missed Italian American Heritage month in October (who knew?), here are some terrific books that center on famous Italians and Italian/Italian American heritage in general.

Leonardo: Beautiful Dreamer is a gorgeously illustrated biography of the master artist and inventor. It’s almost too much to look at, from the timeline to captions under the photos, there’s an abundance of things to read and examine. The book does an admirable job of revealing the genius and obsession of Da Vinci.

For fans of thick novels brimming with fantasy and adventure, check out Cornelia Funke’s Inkheart, Inkspell (the sequel), and The Thief Lord. Sharon Creech’s The Castle Corona is also a fun read.

The American Family Album series is an engrossing and enlightening series of first-hand accounts of immigrants. Dorothy Hoobler’s The Italian American Family Album is a humbling and fascinating read of the long history of Italian immigration to the United States. From perilous sea passages to cramped tenement buildings, to stories of family traditions (and, of course, food), achievement, and more, this book is a remarkable collection of memories and stories.

I haven’t started it yet, but I am very eager to read Scott O’Dell fictional account of the life of St. Francis of Assisi (The Road to Damietta). The tumultuous life of the Italian saint is told from the viewpoint of a noblewoman and acquaintance of Francis. I am looking forward to reading this book by a great historical fiction author.

I’ve already mentioned it in a previous post, but Jennifer Holm’s Penny From Heaven is not to be missed. It’s a heartwarming and heartbreaking look at an Italian American family living in post World War II New Jersey. The internment of Italian Americans during World War II is not something that is commonly known; Penny From Heaven explores this and also the lingering prejudice felt by some toward Italian Americans after the war, as well a realistic look at a family trying to move past a deep loss.

Here's a short but expanded article on St. Joseph's Day traditions in New Orleans.

St. Joseph's Day is also an important day for the "Mardi Gras Indians" in New Orleans.

New Kid on the Blogroll: The Mash Up

2008-03-17T13:18:00.002-04:00

I haven't added new blogs to the blogroll for quite some time. I think the last one was the Newbery Project. Anyway-take a look at The Mash Up at AdLit.org: All About Adolescent Literacy. Not only does Jamie Watson review YA books, but she shares her expertise on reaching reluctant readers, technology, and recommendations of several books on specific topics.

If you're a youth services librarian, middle school/high school teacher, or parent of a tween/teen, you should also keep Adlit.org in your bookmarks-lots of great information there.

March is Irish American Heritage Month

2008-03-14T16:21:00.002-04:00

For some people, the history of Ireland's potato famine might go like this, "The potatoes were bad. People starved. A lot of them moved to the United States." Ireland is now one of the wealthiest countries in Europe and has a healthy tourism trade. Irish pubs, Irish music, and Irish dance are popular worldwide. It's simply amazing, in this light, to read Susan Campbell Bartoletti's Black Potatoes: The Story of the Great Irish Famine, 1845-1850. If you're familiar with her recent Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow or her earlier Kids on Strike! or Growing Up in Coal Country, you know that Bartoletti brings an immediacy to difficult subjects that makes her one of our most gifted writers of juvenile nonfiction. She writes movingly of the anguish and utter hopelessness felt by the starving Irish, the prejudice that they faced from overseas, the despair felt over yet another failed potato crop and the humiliation of eviction, the misery as entire villages suffered and struggled to bury their dead, and the hope that immigration to North America and Australia brought. Black Potatoes is a mesmerizing read of a very painful part of Irish history by a stellar author.

Wild, Wild West

2008-03-12T14:38:00.000-04:00

Buffalo gals, won't you come out tonight
Come out tonight, come out tonight
Buffalo gals, won't you come out tonight
And dance by the light of the moon

If you're a Laura Ingalls Wilder fan, you'll recognize that as one of the many snippets of lyrics that are sprinkled throughout her novels. (If you're a Springsteen fan, you'll recognize it from his 2006 We Shall Overcome CD.) While the reference to "buffalo" makes it sound like a western song, it's not; it's actually in reference to Buffalo, NY (which makes it a bit more prosaic, don't you think?).

Nevertheless, Buffalo Gals is the title of Brandon Marie Miller's immensely satisfying look on the rough, exciting, and life-changing lives of women in the Old West. We learn about the arduous journey made by covered wagon and read of some women's despair over their new home. We also discover the ways in which women fought against isolation, such as quilting bees.

Women worked as schoolteachers, ranchers, seamstresses, missionaries milliners, and in other work. In mining towns, women also worked in less respected occupations; some, such as immigrant Chinese, not always by choice. With an abundance of first person accounts, Buffalo Gals is a marvelous read.

Annie Oakley is one of the great Americana legends. The young woman who taught herself how to shoot in order to keep her family from going hungry has been celebrated in books, television, movies, and on the stage. As with many American legends, it's occasionally difficult to separate fiction from fact (since many, such as Annie Oakley, reinvented their biography). Bull's Eye: A Photobiography of Annie Oakley is an engrossing read in National Geographic's excellent series of photobiographies. From her humble childhood to her steady and lifelong marriage to Frank Butler, her advocacy of women's shooting classes, her generous philanthropy, and her amazing shooting precision and expertise, Annie Oakley is a captivating and noteworthy character in American history. With the same stimulating text and remarkable photographs that have made National Geographic one of my favorite publishers of juvenile nonfiction, Bull's Eye is definitely a keeper.

Rabbit Reads

2008-03-12T14:37:00.000-04:00

My new ALSC post on rabbit-themed books is up.

Yankee Doodle Gals

2008-03-10T10:51:00.004-04:00

We are Yankee Doodle Pilots
Yankee Doodle, do or die!
Real life nieces of our Uncle Sam
Born with a yearning to fly
Keep in step to all our classes
March to flight line with our pals
Yankee Doodle came to Texas
Just to fly the PTs!
We are those Yankee Doodle Gals.

Although it's been nearly 63 years since the end of World War II, this enormous war continues to fascinate and intrigue us; witness the popularity of Ken Burns's The War (if you missed its original airing on PBS, you can check out one of our copies). Every year brings scores of new World War II books, be they Holocaust memoirs, battle accounts, or other aspects of life during World War II (memoirs and books about German life during World War II have recently been published).

Although American women have served in a variety of capacities since the Revolutionary War, women's military roles dramatically increased during World War II. Yankee Doodle Gals: Women Pilots of World War II is a fantastic book about the WASPS(Women Airforce Service Pilots)of World War II. Although there was initial resistance to an increased military role for women, the reality of World War II meant that an expansion of their roles was necessary. Of course, quite a few of the young men in uniform did not object to their presence ("emergency" landings near their training base were not uncommon; one remarkable day brought nearly 40 such landings).

Not only did the WASPS fly planes to military bases, but they also flew planes during practice target shootings, playing the role of enemy aircraft. All in all, 1, 102 women were WASPS during the war (350,000 women joined other women's branches of the armed forces).

They taught us how to fly
Now they send us home to cry
'Cause they don't want us anymore

On December 20, 1944, the WASP program ended. The WASPS were not considered full-fledged members of the military (38 WASPS died while in service; however, their families did not receive military benefits). Earlier that year, Congress considered a bill that would make the WASP program an official part of the Army (the Air Force was not in existence at this time; military pilots were under the wing of the Army). Unfortunately, a small but vocal group spread falsehoods and fear in the media about the WASPS, and the bill was defeated.

When the United States entered the Vietnam War, women once again served as pilots. Although the WASPS were pleased that women pilots were allowed to serve, they were unhappy with incorrect media reports that these women were the first women to fly military aircraft. Attitudes toward women in the military had changed, including among members of Congress; Senator Barry Goldwater (R-CA) co-sponsored a bill that recognized WASPS as giving true military service and being full veterans. Although a few veterans objected, President Carter signed the WASP bill into law, which recognized that the WASPS served on "active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States."

Yankee Doodle Gals is an inspiring and intriguing look at an adventurous, patriotic, and industrious group of women from different walks of life. Highly recommended!

If you're looking for a broad overview of American military women, check out Count on Us: American Women in the Military, also by Amy Nathan. Beginning with the Revolutionary War, Nathan explores the work and sacrifice of female military nurses, pilots, office workers, mechanics, and other ways in which women served their country.

Rain, Rain, Go Away

2008-03-05T18:35:00.002-05:00

My latest ALSC blog post is on rainy-day themed books.

(I'm working on a post for Women's History Month...hoping to have it by Friday.)