Hey Boo Books

Lucky me—I got to spend my anniversary weekend at the...

littlespoontravels — Mon, 20 May 2013 07:59:00 -0400

Lucky me—I got to spend my anniversary weekend at the Library Hotel in New York City. My husband and I ended up in room 300.02, which was dedicate to political science and had its own library of political books for us to peruse. If you know my husband, you’ll know that this was the perfect room for us to end up in.

The Library Hotel was extremely cushy and comfortable, and it was within easy walking distance of a lot of the places that we wanted to go during our stay (like the New York Public Library!). I highly recommend it if you want a fabulously geeky weekend away.

How to Further Woo Your Librarian

littlespoontravels — Fri, 17 May 2013 08:32:18 -0400

Take her to the Library Hotel in New York City.

Each floor represents a different section of the Dewey Decimal System, and I’m heading there right now with my sweetheart for our anniversary trip! Pictures to come later, of course.

Resource Thursday: Science Buddies

littlespoontravels — Thu, 16 May 2013 08:00:43 -0400

When science fair season hits, Science Buddies is one of my favorite resources to help students get through the process. Science Buddies is a public charity organization dedicated to helping students of all ages and abilities gain scientific knowledge.

To accomplish that goal, they have created a really great site that provides students with science project ideas (narrowed down by subject, cost of materials, difficulty, and time needed to complete), guides to the scientific method and project design and implementation, information about careers in the sciences, and an Ask an Expert section for kids to get help from somebody in the field.

Lunch Bunch: The Indian in the Cupboard

littlespoontravels — Wed, 15 May 2013 07:28:23 -0400

Lynn Reid Banks’s classic book The Indian in the Cupboard was a big favorite of mine when I was a kid, and I was excited to share it with my students. They loved the premise, and I was happy to see that it has held up pretty well over the years.

Activity: Create Your Own Cupboard

Using Microsoft Publisher and some good old-fashioned scissors and glue sticks, I created paper cabinets for each of my students and tasked them with using art supplies to illustrate what kinds of things they would bring to life if they owned a magical cupboard like Omri does in the book. We ended up with some toy soldiers and dragons, as well as some more unexpected items like a dollar bill (student: “I just want to see a dollar dance, okay?”) and a spoon (student: “That way I’ll never have to feed myself again!”).

Snack: Monkey Bread

This is such a fun snack to eat with a group! For those not in the know, monkey bread is a tasty pull-apart cinnamon bread. It’s very easy to make (see the simple Pillsbury recipe here), and you can usually find it in the frozen food aisle of the grocery store. Either way, you’ve got an interactive dessert that kids will paw all over, and that’s half the fun!

A Book and a Hug - The Evolution of Mara Dyer

littlespoontravels — Tue, 14 May 2013 08:04:26 -0400

A Book and a Hug - The Evolution of Mara Dyer:

Mara Dyer is back in an intense sequel that picks right up where The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer left off.

Mara would love to have a life without supernatural powers, though. She would love to be normal, to not be haunted by nightmares and vision. To be with her boyfriend Noah without worrying that she might kill him. To not be the deadly creature she now knows herself to be. To not have everyone, including her own family, believe her to be crazy.

Mara’s erratic behavior only succeeds in getting her sent to a special facility for mentally disturbed teenagers, and she finds that she is in way over her head and can’t get anybody to believe that she is perfectly sane.

When a frightening and unwelcome figure from her past resurfaces, Mara will have to unravel the secrets of her past—of her very identity—to be able to survive what’s to come.

The Evolution of Mara Dyer lives up to the power of the first installment and then some. Mature readers won’t be able to wait until the last volume in the trilogy comes out.

{Full review originally posted at A Book and a Hug}

A Book and a Hug - The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer

littlespoontravels — Mon, 13 May 2013 07:54:31 -0400

A Book and a Hug - The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer:

Mara Dyer might be crazy. What else could explain how she ended up in the hospital with no memory of the horrific accident that claimed the lives of her three friends? Or the bizarrely realistic hallucinations and dreams that she has been suffering from ever since?

To get away from the scene of her trauma, Mara and her family relocate to Florida to start over and rebuild their lives. Life at her new school is okay to begin with, especially since Mara is able to make some friends and capture the attentions of drool-worthy crush Noah, but she soon learns that you can’t always leave your past behind.

This becomes especially apparent when the nightmares begin, followed closely by a series of frightening events involving dead bodies and break-ins and a very unwelcome visitor from her past. Mara unravels—she has no idea what to believe any more. Worst of all: she is beginning to remember what really happened to her the night of the accident.

What happened to Mara Dyer? And how can she come to terms with it once she finds out the terrible secrets that her mind has locked away?

Michelle Hodkin’s debut novel is completely gripping and will leave mature readers staying up late into the night to finish it. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is a book that will grab you by the throat and refuse to let go. Fans of paranormal romance, suspense, and psychological dramas will be thrilled.

Highly recommended.

{Full review originally posted on A Book and a Hug}

Scenes from the MLA/DLA Joint Library Conference: 1. Me geeking...

littlespoontravels — Fri, 10 May 2013 08:13:15 -0400

Scenes from the MLA/DLA Joint Library Conference:

1. Me geeking out over my special Speaker nametag

2. Presenting on a panel about new methods of library outreach

3. Author Karen Hesse speaking at the conference luncheon

4. The view from my hotel room

Presentation Time!

littlespoontravels — Wed, 08 May 2013 07:26:40 -0400

I’m off to Ocean City for the Maryland and Delaware Library Association Joint Conference. Think nice thoughts for me at 3:45 pm tomorrow as I give my conference presentation. If you happen to be at the conference too, come say hello!

I got this book in the mail for my birthday! As a huge fan of...

littlespoontravels — Tue, 07 May 2013 09:45:26 -0400

I got this book in the mail for my birthday! As a huge fan of Gilmore Girls…and, y’know…books, I’m really excited to read this. Thanks for the gift, Grammy!

On Display: May Day! May is here, so bust out the maypole and...

littlespoontravels — Mon, 06 May 2013 10:02:14 -0400

On Display: May Day!

May is here, so bust out the maypole and celebrate with some books. Try books with the word “May” in their titles, or authors with “May” in their names.

Suggested titles:

May There Be a Road, by Louis L’Amour
May, by Kathryn Lasky
May the Road Rise Up to Meet You, by Peter Troy
The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott, by Kelly McNees
The Mayday, by Bill Eidson

Visiting the lions at the New York Public Library on our first...

littlespoontravels — Fri, 03 May 2013 08:04:19 -0400

Visiting the lions at the New York Public Library on our first anniversary trip. {5/24/2009}

Reblogged from my travel photo blog, littlespoontravels.tumblr.com.

Resource Thursday: The Adventures of Herman the Worm

littlespoontravels — Thu, 02 May 2013 14:12:00 -0400

Last week when I was monitoring the virtual reference desk, I was helping a young student who needed to find out some facts about worm anatomy to prep for a dissection. Lo and behold, the University of Illinois has created this gem, The Adventures of Herman the Worm, which answered all of the questions that my student had on the subject.

Squirmin’ Herman is a friendly cartoon worm fellow who will help educate you about the many intricacies of the earthworm’s life. Through a series of interactive links, you can discover worm anatomy, history, eating habits, behavior, and habitats. The site is colorful and very easy to use, and the illustrations and simple facts will be good for students of many ages.

Booktalk: At Home

littlespoontravels — Wed, 01 May 2013 10:56:08 -0400

At Home: A Short History of Private Life, by Bill Bryson. Nonfiction.

Have you ever wondered why we design houses the way we do? Or how flush toilets came to be? Or where the phrase “room and board” originated? How about the architectural designs behind Mount Vernon and Monticello? Or the bathing and grooming habits of the 18th century aristocracy? How we used to manage the pests and vermin that tried to share our spaces with us?

Bill Bryson takes readers on a sprawling history of the development of domestic life, leading us through one room at a time. The basis of his work is his own home, a former English rectory, and he merrily jumps into British and American history to show what goes into houses as we now know them. What results is a fascinating hodge podge of social and architectural history that jumps all over the place at a lickety-split pace. You’ll never look at your house the same way again!

I’ve been on a big Bill Bryson kick this year, and At Home has been a really enjoyable read (or listen, I should say, since I enjoyed the audiobook on my commute).

Okay, April is nearly over now, but I love this anyway!

littlespoontravels — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 15:10:09 -0400

Okay, April is nearly over now, but I love this anyway!

A visual representation of all of the different books that my...

littlespoontravels — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 10:21:55 -0400

A visual representation of all of the different books that my coworkers and I have brought to discuss with our 5th grade Lunch Bunch Book Clubbers over the past two school years. Not a bad selection!

Resource Thursday: American Academy of Poets

littlespoontravels — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 14:20:18 -0400

Since April is National Poetry Month, today’s resource celebrates that! I was just introduced to the American Academy of Poets website at a literary criticism training workshop, and I was smitten at once.

This website is a great big smorgasbord of information about poets and their works, and you can navigate around in a number of different ways, searching by poem, poet, line, and more. Some of the resources available on the site include lesson plans, interviews, and audio and video files. Better still—it has a section specifically for teens that has a lot of poems that teen readers have rated and recommended.

You really can’t go wrong here, and it’s a very well designed site with tons of great info and lovely poems. Just remember that you likely won’t find much information about poetry that is not American in origin!

How to Woo Your Librarian

littlespoontravels — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 09:58:00 -0400

So it’s not quite my birthday yet, but my husband gave me my gift a little bit early since I’ll be out of town for a library conference during the big day.

I may or may not have hugged it when I got it out of the packaging. Because, hello, card catalog! Of my very own! I also may or may not have rearranged my entire living room to give The Precious a proper place of prominence.

As if that weren’t enough to knock the socks off of his librarian ladylove, my husband then filled each drawer with a hand-written birthday card. Upon discovering this, I may or may not have burst into tears because how on earth did I find someone who just understands and loves me so well? And who has the patience to write and draw in literally 26 cards?

That, my friends, is how you woo your librarian. Because I’m pretty sure that nothing will ever top this.

Booktalk: Drama

littlespoontravels — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 15:36:48 -0400

Drama, by Raina Telgemeier. Children’s Graphic Novel.

Middle schooler Callie lives and breathes theatre, and she’s super stoked to be the set designer for her school’s production of the Civil War-era musical Moon Over Mississippi. Her big shiny ambition: create a cannon that can really explode onstage!

Raina Telgemeier brings the sweet and funny in this middle grade graphic novel, and it does not disappoint. As the title suggests, of course, there will be drama afoot. Lots and lots of drama revolving around friendships and crushes and homework and ticket sales and lead performers. Callie and her pals Jesse and Justin (twins extraordinaire) certainly have their hands full in the midst of the big production! How will they pull it all off in time to take their final bows?

This book made the drama geek in me giggle with glee—so much of it reminded me of my own backstage days! Telgemeier’s illustration style is really colorful and appealing, and those who liked her debut Smile will probably eat this one up too.

Preach it, Sally!

littlespoontravels — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 07:59:15 -0400

Preach it, Sally!

MLA Presentation

littlespoontravels — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 12:37:25 -0400

Now that’s official, I’m very excited to announce that I have been asked to present at this year’s Maryland Library Association and Delaware Library Association Joint Conference in Ocean City, MD at 3:45 pm on May 9th.

I will be talking about my library’s Lunch Bunch Book Club program in a presentation called “New Roads for Outreach.” Joining me will be three other librarians who also do non-traditional outreach for their communities.

If you’re at the conference, come check it out and say hello!