Freedom To Read

 

It has been a while since I have blogged.  It seems like blogging has gone out of style, it is much easier and quicker to post on Instagram or other social media sites.   That being said today seemed like a perfect day to write a longer post.  

I started this blog when I was in between jobs so that I could stay connected to the book world.  The thing I loved most about being a bookseller was always putting a book in a customers hand.  Reading has always been a part of my life and I loved introducing that to anyone who would listen.  I am lucky today that my office mate loves books like I do.  We talk about them all the time and learned we have similar tastes.  She has introduced me to some wonderful books and I have shared mine with her.   The head of our department is also a reader, he has even loaned me some of his favorites. My sister is a writer so we talk about books and writing all the time.  My favorite conversations are when she discuss' what she is working on.   It is a privilege to be able to read what I want when I want. 

It has been most disheartening when I hear about book banning.   There are many books I do not agree with or like but I would never tell someone not to read them.   Even books I struggle to read teach me something.   When I worked in the children's department of B&N I would see parents struggle to find a book for their child.  They would come in the store with a required book list only to have the child not want to read any of them.   The parent would be frustrated because their child wanted to read something that seemed trite to them.   This is when I would suggest buying a book from the list and a book the child wanted.  It wasn't just that I wanted to create more sales but I truly wanted the child to read what they enjoyed and I didn't want them to be turned off by reading.  

Getting back to today's Day of Action and the Freedom to Read.....it amazes me that there is a group of people who insist that they know better about what is taught in school and what books a library can have on their shelves.   Books are a way for children and adults to expand their view of the world.  We need to be able to see the world as a whole not a narrow minded perspective.  

History is messy and the world is messy but books can take this messiness and explain it.  Books are magical and thoughtful, they can expose the reader to truths in a way that listing facts cannot.   We as a people have so much to learn, it is in reading we can see all points of view.  If we are only one sided we will never learn to accept each other and our differences.   Banning is not the way to push an agenda.  A child told not to do something will almost always find a way to do it.  Tell a child not to read something and inevitably they will be curious and do it anyway.   

I am not sure what else to say except --thank you to the Librarians and Teachers who are fighting against these bans.  Thank you to the writers who will not stop writing their truths and spreading their knowledge.  We must all stand together to fight against injustice.  Our future depends on it!

United Against Book Bans

Happy 75th Anniversary Good Night Moon!

 Classic books are classic for a reason.  Fads in books is just as prevalent today as they were years ago.  Some fads and books fall out of favor because times change. Then again some are timeless. 

Way back in 1947 a little book was published that has never gone out of favor.   In actuality it's popularity has only grown through the years.  

Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown and illustrated by Clement Hurd is a book that most children have read to them at some point in time.  It truly is a classic.  One of the first words a nephew said was "balloon" while I was reading to him. That is what is so great about this book, it teaches children without even trying. It is one of the first books that mere simplicity and repetitiveness that helped lull children to sleep.  It isn't too long or too short so grown-ups don't mind reading it over and over again.  

Whenever is looking for a new baby gift this is one title that is always on the list.   Apparently Margaret Wise Brown never lived to see her book become a phenomenon.  I wonder what she would think to see her book 75 years old and still going strong.  

Old Pearl written and illustrated by Wendy Wahman

 Memorial Day this past weekend had me thinking of all the losses that the world has suffered.  Yes we are slowly starting to recover but this recovery is tenuous at best.  As much as life is starting to be lived again, there will be moments when we can't help but remember the pain and loss of loved ones.  Children especially have had loss thrust upon them.  There have always been books about how to explain loss to children but it is nice to see a new book that is gentle and understanding.  It shows a child empathy and love along with friendship. 

Old Pearl written and illustrated by Wendy Wahman is such a sweet book.  It doesn't talk down to a child about loss nor does it become too sappy.  I love the smooth rhythm of the words and the soft and beautiful illustrations. As I read the book I could feel the love the child has for the bird come through the page. I would definitely recommend this book for anyone who unfortunately needs to explain to a child about death, whether it be about someone close to them or not.  

Many Points of Me by Caroline Gertler

 

A few months ago I came back into work after a few days off and saw that someone had dropped a galley on my desk.  The author had dropped it off hoping we could place it in the store.  She had worked here ,before my time, and knew the shop and the museum.   

It sat on my desk for a few days until one day during my lunch I picked it up and started reading.  It was interesting to see all the little details about The Met that I could relate to.  I laughed when she mentioned the pallet eraser because we still sell that.  It is a great companion title to From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs Basil E. Frankweiler....the classic children's novel about children running away to The Metropolitan Museum of Art. 

As I read the story I realized it was more than just a book about kids roaming The Met. It was a story of love, loss, family and friendship.  Yes it is a story of a girl who wants to find out if her father, a famous painter, was thinking of her before he died but it is much more than that.  During this past year and a half we have all had to deal with loss and the feeling of helplessness that brings. For kids they have had to deal with issues most usually wouldn't see until they are adults.  

In this way Many Points of Me  by Caroline Gertler is a book for our times....children today have lived and are living through changes in friendships, families and sadly loss. They have had to grow up faster than most parents want them to, but children are resilient and I have faith they will persevere.   This books story brings this home, it doesn't talk down to the reader or give them situations they can't understand. 

Besides the universal story of friendship,  it gives a great behind the scenes look at how a museum works.  The fact that putting together an art exhibition is not something that is done overnight but takes time and thought.  As much as it takes place in the one of the most famous museums it could take place in any museum.  There are so many lesson plans that can surround this book that it would be great for classrooms too.  

The Couch Potato by Jory John illus by Pete Oswald



This has been a long strange year.  Back in March my work shut down and I didn’t go to work for over 5 months. I was able to do some small stuff at home but not much. I thought this would have been a perfect time to work on my blog.  Sadly I didn’t do much of anything all the time I was off except eat too much and watch a lot of bad TV. One of the reasons I loved today’s book is because I was pretty much a “couch potato” the whole time I wasn’t working. It wasn’t until I was about to go back to work that I started going out for walks and do things around my house. This is why The Couch Potato resonated with me so well.  

 

 

The Couch Potato by Jory John and Illustrated by Pete Oswald is the perfect book for these uncertain times.  This duo of Jory John and Pete Oswald has totally touched a nerve with a book that is so current and fresh. 

 

 

I love the illustrations, which are charming and expressive. The book is about a potato that loves sitting on his couch watching shows and playing video games. He actually reminds me of my little nephew who loves his games. But as always there is an ulterior motive in this duo’s stories. This story reminds children (and possibly some adults) that while it is ok to spend time relaxing and sitting on the couch it is good to go out and experience the natural world from time to time.  I don’t know if this book was in the works before so many were forced to stay home but their timing is perfect.  This is a great book to read to little ones to encourage them to go outside and have fun.  

Flooded: Requiem for Johnstown by Ann E. Burg

Today is the publication day for my sister’s new book Flooded: Requiem for Johnstown. Normally when one of her books is released I have read it a number of times. Her previous titles: All the Broken Pieces, Serafina’s Promise and Unbound were books that I read a few times before they were officially published. Ann would send me drafts or poems and finally a galley to read. This time was different. While I was there when she did research I never got to read a finished product until I got the completed book in the mail. I immediately sat down to read Flooded as soon as I got it. I know she is my sister and I know she is a beautiful writer but I sometimes forget that her writing can be so powerful. By the middle of the book I couldn’t breathe waiting to see what happens. The book starts softly then crescendos into an action packed thriller before settling into a serious and thought provoking humanistic story. I couldn’t help but think how this story based on true events could have been about our current time. It speaks of everyday people whose lives are upended by a disaster that could have been avoided. How ordinary people become heroes and how the movers and shakers of the time shirk their responsibilities. I know this is meant to be a book for young readers or young adults but I truly feel that it is meant for all readers to savor and enjoy. Thank you Ann for sharing your words with the world!

World Make Way: New Poems Inspired by Art from The Metropolitan Museum edited by Lee Bennett Hopkins

                     During this unprecedented time in history it is easy to forget what day it is or in my case what month. I totally forgot that it is April, which means it is National Poetry Month.  At this point in time I am missing The Met Bookshop even more, it is my little corner of a great institution where I get to talk about things I love. While I enjoy talking about the museum itself, I love talking about books even more.  I especially love to talk about children's books.  I miss making book displays and introducing visitors and staff to all the wonderful titles we have to offer.  When visitors come into the store asking for a book that can introduce The Met to a child, it makes my day.  We have so many books to choose from that I take them to look at each and every one of them.

World Make Way: New Poems Inspired by Art from The Metropolitan Museum of Art   and edited by acclaimed poet Lee Bennett Hopkins is one of my favorite books to recommend.  It was one of the first books published after I started working at The Met which makes it very special in my memory.  More importantly, it is a wonderful book for the whole family.  It's the ideal gift for a family that has children of different ages.  Poetry is perfect....it is neither too young nor too old.

I also love this book because the poets involved really did write about actual art from The Met.  When the book was first released we celebrated by inviting a few poets to speak about the source of their inspiration.  Hearing the joy each poet had in writing their poetry was truly special.  Though Mr Hopkins has sadly passed away,  I am grateful that one of his last anthologies was for The Met. World Make Way is a beautiful legacy.