Books About Books

So, April 4-10 was National Library Week and even though I am a little late there is no better way to celebrate libraries than reading books about books. Here are just a few exceptional stories in which libraries, librarians, and books play a significant role. 

1. Matilda by Roald Dahl 

I know that I have already been quite effusive in my love for Roald Dahl, but I can't seem to stop myself from including at least one of his books in every post. Like Matilda, I was a very precocious reader as a young girl; even though I was not quite reading Dickens at at age four. I can relate to Matilda's weekly sojourns to the library and her use of books as an escape mechanism. 

The books transported her into new worlds and introduced her to amazing people who lived exciting lives. She went olden-day sailing with Joseph Conrad. She went to Africa with Ernest Hemingway and India with Rudyard Kipling. She traveled all over the world while sitting in her little room in an English village.

 

Now that I am a children's librarian I cannot help but admire the kindly Mrs. Phelps who helps Matilda on her road to becoming a prolific reader. One of my absolute favorite lines from any literary librarian is: "And don't worry about the parts you can't understand. Sit back and allow the words to wash around you, like music."

2. Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein

Well, I guess it isn't really surprising that a children's book about the most fantastic library ever imagined was written by an actual children's librarian. You already know that I adore Roald Dahl and Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library is like a zany trip through Wonka's factory if it was filled with books rather than candy. Part mystery, part comedy, part treasure hunt, and all fun. Every kid (and adult) will want Mr. Lemoncello to build a library in their hometown

 

 

3. Bats at the Library by Brian Lies

There are oodles of picture books about libraries, but Bats at the Library really soars above the others. Yep, that was the corniest pun ever! Using brilliantly detailed illustrations and a lively, rhyming text, Brian Lies tells the story of a colony of bats that the library after closing time. Readers young and old will get a kick out of identifying all of the literary references acted out by these bat bibliophiles. I particularly adore the bat as Blind Pew from Treasure Island based on the original illustration painted by N.C. Wyeth.

 

 

 

 

4. Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

What reader has not fantasized about a beloved character stepping off the page and into the real world? The Inkheart trilogy, though, proves that fiction coming to life may not be as wondrous as imagined. When Meggie was just a toddler her father, Mo, read aloud from a fantastical book called Inkheart and miraculously brought several of the characters, including the story's diabolical villain and his henchmen, into their living room. Simultaneously, Meggie's mother was sent into the imaginary world of the book. Nearly ten years later, Meggie learns the truth of her mother's disappearance and also that she has inherited her father's magical gift.  Now it is up to Meggie to banish the villainous Capricorn from the real world and rescue her mother from the pages of Inkheart.

5. Seven-Day Magic by Edward Eager

Seven-Day Magic is actually part of the Tales of Magic series written by Edward Eager during the 1950s and 60s. In this, the seventh and final book of the classic series,  five children discover that the tattered library book they checked out magically brings to life anything that they imagine.

Obviously, I included Seven-Day Magic in this post because the story revolves around a magical library book. However, I highly encourage everyone, young and old, to read the entire Tales of Magic series. First of all, the books in the series are very much intertwined with recurring characters are references to previous adventures (but they do stand alone too). Most importantly, though, Eager's books are delightful and timeless fantasies that you will want to read again and again.

6. The Neverending Story by Michael Ende

Most of us have imagined ourselves as the main character in our favorite stories, but young Bastian learns that he actually is the hero in the book that he is reading. Now if you have only seen the film version of The Neverending Story you are cheating yourself. Don't get me wrong, I love the 80s classic and I had a massive crush on Atreyu as a kid, but the movie only tells half of the story. The movie ends with Bastian riding Falkor, the luck dragon, after saving Fantasia from The Nothing. In the book, this is only the beginning of Bastian's adventures in Fantastic (which is what Fantasia is called in the book) as he uses wishes and imagination to restore the magical land.

7. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

I debated including Fahrenheit 451 in this post because Bradbury's bleak dystopian novel is a librarian's worst nightmare. Fahrenheit 451 was published in 1953 as a direct response to the threat of book burning during the McCarthy Era. In the future Bradbury creates society decided to do away with books because they contained too many dissenting ideas. Since books are outlawed anyone caught with one has their home and all of their possession burned by "firemen". Years of banning books has resulted in a society where the people do not read, write, converse, or even think. Rather, their attention spans have shrunk to the point that they do nothing but watch wall-sized television screens or listen to "seashell radios" that attach directly to their ears. 

There is no denying that the message of Fahrenheit 451 is still relevant. Today we have computers, cell phones, video games, televisions, tablets, etc. all vying for our attention and as Bradbury stated "You do not have to burn books to destroy a culture, just get people to stop reading them." Even though people are spending less and less time reading, I choose to be optimistic that books will always hold a place of reverence in our world.

8. The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak

AAAAHHHH! More book burning! The Book Thief takes place in Germany during World War II when books were harshly censored and, yes, even burned. The story, which is narrated by Death (yeah, you read that right), revolves around a young foster girl name Leisel Meminger who is sent to live with an older couple outside of Munich. Leisel finds herself irresistibly drawn to books, sensing in them a an intrinsic magic that can dispel even the worst of nightmares.

There have been countless books written about World War II and, specifically the Holocaust, but The Book Thief is exceptional. Oh, the story will stomp on your heart harder than a pro wrestler, but don't let that deter you from reading it. There is also hope, beauty, and compassion that will make The Book Thief an enduring classic.

9. The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie

Ok, the library only serves as the location of the corpse, but, who cares, I am a sucker for deviously written whodunnit. Let's be honest, Agatha Christie is the Grand Dame of mystery authors. Personally, I prefer Hercule Poirot to Miss Marple, but The Body in the Library is an ingenious mystery that will have you bamboozled until the big reveal.

 

 

 

10. All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness

Sometimes you just need to indulge in guilty pleasure reading. I must confess that I enjoyed every page of this paranormal romance. When history professor and witch, Diana Bishop, discovers an antiquated alchemical text it attracts the attention of other creatures including a very handsome vampire, Matthew Clairmont. The two fall in love despite relationships between vampires and witches being forbidden by an ancient covenant. Yes, there are parts of the story that are pretty hokey (like when Diana and Matthew go to a yoga class together), but there is plenty of action, steamy romance, and intriguing characters. Not only do the two main characters meet in a library, there are oodles of historical and literary references throughout the entire trilogy. In fact, the second book takes place entirely in Elizabethan England and there are appearances by Christopher Marlowe, William Shakespeare, and Mary Sidney to name just a few.

11. Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury

Another ray Bradbury book. Not really surprising if you know anything about Bradbury and his passion for books and libraries.

"I am a librarian. I discovered me in the library. I went to find me in the library. Before I fell in love with libraries, I was just a six-year-old boy. The library fueled all of my curiosities, from dinosaurs to ancient Egypt. When I graduated from high school in 1938, I began going to the library three nights a week. I did this every week for almost ten years and finally, in 1947, around the time I got married, I figured I was done. So, I graduated from the library when I was 27. I discovered that the library is the real school."

"I spent three days a week for ten years in the library educating myself in the library, and it's better than college. People should educate themselves-you can get a complete education for no money. At the end of ten years, I had read every book in the library and I'd written a thousand stories."

In Something Wicked This Way Comes best friends, Will Halloway and Jim Nightshade, take on an evil carnival that ensnares the souls of  its unsuspecting victims. With the help of Will's father, who is the custodian at the public library, the boys manage to resist the lure of the carnival and thwart its demonic proprietor, Mr. Dark. Bradbury's writing is absolutely bewitching and the story brims with stunning imagery of autumn, the carnival, and also the library which plays a pivotal role in the story of the two young protagonists. 

"It was all so good, these blowing quiet October nights and the library waiting inside now with it green-shaded lamps and papyrus dust."

"Out in the world, not much happened. But here in the special night, a land bricked with paper and leather, anything might happen, always did."

"So when they talked again, it was still in whispers. Deep forests, dark caves, dim churches, half-lit libraries were all the same, they tuned you down, they dampened your ardor, they brought you to murmurs and soft cries for fear of raising up phantom twins of your voice which might haunt corridors long after your passage."

 

There you have it. Eleven books about libraries, librarians, books, and/or reading to make you realize how important libraries are. I know that I could add more, but this post is already pretty long-winded. Keep reading and don't forget to support your local library!

 

A poem is a poem is a poem, except when it's a novel in verse!

 The average person on the street is probably not aware that April is National Poetry Month.  Let's be honest, the average person on the street (or anywhere for that matter) probably does not really care that April is National Poetry Month.  I am not going to lie; poetry is not usually my first choice of reading material (except for Shel Silverstein, whom I will never tire or outgrow reading).

I don't know how other people feel, but poetry always makes me feel obtuse. Seriously, I cannot be the only that has horrific nightmares of analyzing Wordsworth in high school (if you are a huge Wordsworth fan I apologize). 

Poetry does not have to be difficult or picked apart line by line, though. It can be silly and fun.

For this post I want to write specifically about a form of poetry that I have come to appreciate since becoming a youth library. 

If you are familiar at all with juvenile or young adult fiction you may have noticed that novels written in verse have become more and more common.  For those who have no idea what I am talking about, a novel in verse is exactly what it sounds like; a novel length story told through poetry rather than prose. Unfortunately, even when these books are beautifully written and get rave reviews, they are slow to check out.

In my experience boys especially seem to dismiss novels in verse because they have this mistaken belief that poetry is not a "boy" thing. Well, obviously this is complete nonsense, but I think that just the word poetry calls to mind sappy love sonnets written in Shakespearean English that is impossible to decipher. Of course, men and women can be poets and poems and novels in verse can be about any subject from and music to history and current events.

I have also seen parents deter their children from checking out a novel in verse because it is "not a real chapter book." Don't get me wrong, I totally understand wanting your child challenged when it comes to reading and all of that empty white space in a novel in verse makes it look "too easy". Also, novels in verse tend to have low AR levels and points because they tend to be shorter and have unusual sentence structure compared to traditional chapter books. I am not going to get into AR (Accelerated Reader) right now other than to say that these numbers are only meant to be a GUIDING TOOL and (in my opinion) should never be used to discourage a kid from picking up a book.

So, I have explained why novels in verse don't always get the love that they deserve, now let me tell why you should try one. First and foremost, many are just fantastic stories with amazing characters, settings, etc. (even though they are not written in traditional prose). Secondly, all that white space on the page (which makes some parents say no) is a huge bonus for reluctant and/or less confident readers. Even if you are an avid reader, sometimes you want a book that is just not going to be a huge time commitment. Especially, if you are a student with homework, and after school job, lessons, or practices. Finally, we all get into reading ruts. I have seen kids who will read nothing but Goosebumps and teens who won't touch a book unless there is a attractive werewolf or vampire smoldering on the cover. I myself prefer science fiction or fantasy. Trying something new isn't always easy, but you may discover something incredible and at least with a novel in verse it won't take as long to  read.

Let me hop down from my soapbox now and share a few novels in verse that I have particularly enjoyed. 

For middle grade readers I highly recommend Love That Dog by Sharon Creech (even though they will probably end up wallowing in a puddle of tears). The poem is told in free verse by a boy named Jack who does not want to write a poem for his teacher, Mrs. Stretchberry, "because boys don't write poetry. Girls do." Gee, I have never heard that sentiment before. Anyways, as you may be able to guess, Jack learns that poetry is not just for girls and it ends up being a wonderful medium for expressing his feelings. The back of the book contains several well-known poems that Mrs. Stretchberry introduces to the class as well as a sneak peek of Hate That Cat, the sequel to Love That Dog. Even struggling readers will be able to finish these sweet stories in less than a day, but they are sure to think about them much longer.

 

Karen Hesse is another juvenile/young adult author who has written several novels in verse including the 1998 Newbery Medal winner, Out of the Dust. The novel is set in Oklahoma during the Great Depression. I know what you are thinking. History and poetry, together? No way! However, Out of the Dust is a spectacular novel and a great way for kids to learn about the Depression and the Dust Bowl. Rather than just listing dates and other dry facts like a text book, Out of the Dust, is about people, and their emotions and experiences. I cannot imagine a reader not being moved by Billie Jo's tragic, yet ultimately hopeful story

The Crossover is one of my absolutely favorite novels in verse, which really surprises me since I do not even like basketball. Twelve year old twins, Josh and Jordan excel at basketball, but life off the court is not as easy. Sports fanatics will appreciate the basketball theme, but The Crossover is so much more than a basketball book. It is a story about growing up, choices, change, and consequences. Even my daughter, who normally only reads fantasy, loved The Crossover.

Kwame Alexander has also written three books related The Crossover: Booked, Rebound, and The Playbook. In addition to his juvenile fiction novels, Alexander has written two novels in verse for Teens,  Solo and Swing which are equally awesome. Alexander's books are such a multisensory reading experience. In The Crossover you feel and hear the basketball bouncing and I felt like I was sitting next to Blade listening to him play the guitar in Solo.      
         

Speaking of Novels in verse for teens, Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds is PHENOMENAL!!!!!! Have I mentioned before that I think that Jason Reynolds is just a fantastic author, activist, inspiration, role model, and all around human being? I really cannot say any of those things enough, but back to Long Way Down. Will is a inner city teen determined to avenge the murder of his older brother. With a gun in his waste band, Will boards the elevator in his apartment building ready to find his brother's killer. Instead of going straight to the lobby, though, the car stops at every floor and a new passenger gets in the elevator. Each of these passengers is someone from Will's past that was a victim of gun violence. Are they ghosts or just figments of Will's imagination and will they be able to convince of the cyclical futility of vengeance and violence? Long Way Down is an incredibly powerful story made more so by it's unique format! It was also recently released as a beautiful graphic novel, but I confess to preferring the original version.

Jason Reynolds has also published another novel in verse that is almost more of a letter. It was first performed live at the Kennedy Center at the unveiling of the Martin Luther King Jr. monument (how awesome is that)! For Every One is just that; something that everyone, young or old, brown, black, or white, should read and I am so happy that it was published in book form. The poem is all about the importance of dreams, and not just big dreams like being a rock star or an award winning author. Your dream may be to become a parent or a teacher (or a librarian) and those dreams are just as beautiful and significant. Honestly, I plan on buying copies for all of the graduates that I know because I cannot imagine more inspiring words to carry them through the next stage of their lives. You may also recognize the distinctive striped cover of For Every One as the new official American Library Association for National Poetry Month.  

Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo was such a compelling story that I ended up reading it in one sitting. That's one of the great things about novels in verse, though. They are easy to read all at once. I loved how sassy and strong the protagonist, Xiomara, was and I also appreciated being introduced to the Dominican Culture which I had no previous knowledge of.   Through Poet X Acevedo stresses the importance of creative writing and specifically poetry as an outlet for kids who do not feel heard or seen and want to express themselves. You should definitely watch a video of Acevedo performing slam poetry and I sincerely that she inspires young people to give poetry a try.

Ok, one more book and than I will stop. Bull by David Elliot is definitely unique. I have heard it described as Hamilton meets Greek mythology (and if that doesn't make you curious I don't know what will). This ingenious retelling of the myth of Asterion, the minotaur, is hilarious, tender, and  heartrending.  The story is told in verse (of course) with each of the characters being given their own individual poetic form.  It makes my head spin to imagine how difficult it must have been for Elliott to write the story in seven different meters but the effect is extraordinary. When you read Bull you can clearly hear the sarcastic wit of Poseidon and the desperation and loneliness of Asterion.

I know that I rambled for quite a while in this post, but if you have stuck with me I hope that your encouraged to give a novel in a verse a whirl. Here are a few more outstanding selections if you discover that you enjoy them.