ALA 2017: 1st Blog Post

I just returned from the ALA Annual Conference (in Chicago this year), an experience that is always the highlight of my summer.  Though it can be exhausting (in a wonderful way), it is also exhilarating!

As I do at conferences, I snap pictures of books and moments, taking notes on my phone and even on paper! There is so much I want to remember and take back with me -- and so much I want to carry with me into the library this year. In my first attempt here, I capsulize my learning in two sections:

1.) Books!

One of my main reasons for attending is to hear about and see upcoming children's books for the young readers in our library. They deserve the best, and that is what I want to bring them! I love walking around the booths and browsing through the galleys, although there is always something I miss. (Many thanks to all of the publishers who entertain my questions and always greet me with kindness.)  It would be impossible for me to list all the books here, but this is a gathering of a few of the titles on my to-read list. (There are many more on Goodreads!)

2. Authors

Katherine Paterson talking about My Brigadista Year (Candlewick, 2017) 

Two events at ALA provided me with memories that will remain with me for my lifetime.  At a Candlewick breakfast, I met THE Katherine Paterson for the very first time, and she shared about her upcoming book My Brigradista Year. She spoke of how she came to write this book, and as I listened to her, I thought about how fortunate we are to have Paterson's work. She is truly a treasured icon in children's literature -- and she is so very authentic, kind, and inspirational.

Kate DiCamillo talking about La La La (Candlewick, 2017) 

THE Kate DiCamillo spoke at the same event, and it is ALWAYS a treat to hear her speak. (What a great way to start the day and this was also my first event at ALA 2017!) Make sure to watch out for her upcoming book La La La with talented debut illustrator Jaime Kim. I loved hearing about their collaboration on this book. 

A blurry photo of Allen Say! So sorry! 

At a Scholastic event, I had the opportunity to hear Allen Say (Grandfather's Journey, Caldecott Winner 1994). His upcoming book Silent Days, Silent Dreams (Arthur A. Levine Books, 2017) is a biography of artist James Castle.

Say explained how he came to write this book and his connection with Castle as a fellow artist, sharing technique and process. Castle's life and work are truly fascinating! And it was my first time to hear Allen Say speak at an event. Needless to say, I hung on his every word!

(I also attended the Newbery-Caldecott-Wilder Banquet, but that will be its own blog post!) 

I've learned that when I attend a conference, I can process my learning by organizing my experiences and reflecting upon them individually. In this way, I am sure to apply the knowledge directly towards my work in the library in ways that will benefit both teachers and students in our building.

Three Books I Couldn't Stop Reading

"I couldn't put that book down!"

I rarely say that about a book, but when I find one that makes me exclaim this, I tell others about it. Here are novels that I read recently that made me say just that:

Cartaya, P. The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora. New York: Viking, 2017. Print. 

Arturo has plans for a great summer, but he'll have to do a few things first-- like save his Abuela's restaurant from a greedy land developer! Along the way, he'll reconnect with his family, and appreciate poetry, too. This one is a family story that I could relate to because it made me think of my own abuela and how special she was, too! Don't we love when we can connect with a character? Kids do! Arturo's voice is endearing and you will be rooting for him the entire time. I read the ARC of this book, but need to get the final copy because it has recipes in the back. When I read this book, it made me think about the importance of tradition in families, and how much value they add to our lives. 

Snyder, L. Orphan Island. New York: Walden Pond Press, 2017. Print. 

I really couldn't put this one down. I found myself turning pages as if I were taking breath after being underwater for a long time. Completely mysterious and though-provoking! There is an island, and on it live nine orphans. A green boat appears periodically and takes one orphan away, while delivering another. Sound like an interesting premise? It IS! Though it is a mystery, I never wondered why I enjoyed it. The writing here is authentic and heart-grabbing. And I thought it was the perfect book to read for the summer because Snyder's descriptions of the island made me want to be there to explore it. I am still thinking about Jinny, the main character. Note: I also loved Snyder's Swan: The Life and Dance of Anna Pavlova (Chronicle, 2015). If you haven't read this one, you should! 

Baptiste, T. Rise of the Jumbies. New York: Algonquin Young Readers, 2017. Print.

At some point in the year, I will be asked for folktale books. So I'm always looking for new ones to share because I want to add to my list and also because I enjoy the storytelling. And that is just one of the reasons why I am blogging about this book today. Baptiste is a skilled storyteller and this book is proof. Compelling characters, unexpected humor and page-turning suspense: they are all here in this book. And mixed in, of course, is a coming-of-age story in a tropical setting with glorious descriptions. This is the second book after the series The Jumbies (Algonquin, 2015).

These three novels helped me jumpstart my summer reading and kept my attention. I hope the books that follow these do the same!

GOLDFISH GHOST by Lemony Snicket

Snicket, L. Goldfish Ghost. Illus. by Lisa Brown. New York: Roaring Brook, 2017. Print. 

From the very first time I read this book, I was almost completely mystified by it. A ghost fish? This concept had me asking a lot of questions. But I really enjoy books like this that make me think,  so I have been rereading it throughout the spring and now early summer in an attempt to get a handle on it. (I didn't get a final copy until the end of the school year, so I haven't shared it with young readers as of yet.)

Goldfish Ghost lives in Boy's room in his bowl, but he's been there for awhile, and he's getting lonely. So he floats out the window in search of a friend, taking the reader on a tour of a a quaint little tourist-y town by the sea. And though the town is filled with summer beach-goers, Goldfish Ghost still finds himself friendless. He passes by some other ghosts in the water, but goes right on by, deeming them "not good company". With his search for friends unsuccessful, he returns to his bowl. When he arrives, he finds the bowl already has a new occupant. Though she was "nice enough", the new fish isn't quite what Goldfish Ghost is looking for, so he floats out the window again. Does Goldfish Ghost eventually find a good friend? Does he give up trying? In his latest work (a picture book), Lemony Snicket explores friendship and how we are always looking for people with whom we'd like to connect--- whether we share common interests, ideas, or backgrounds or not.

What keeps bringing me back to this story is the artwork -- illustrations with much worth noticing. Employing every hue of blue I love (sea blue, night blue, teal, and powder blue), Brown's watercolor images are both mysterious and delightful. Goldfish is round and curved, so the visual is comforting. The art bleeds into every page corner (no frames here), and so Goldfish Ghost's world is ours as well for all 40 pages. The two-page spread at the beach gives the reader a perfect vantage point: we ourselves are beachgoers, too, and we are people-watching: the couple enjoying ice cream cones with their daughter, the boy walking out of the pet store with a goldfish himself (Could this be a clue?), the family headed down to the water with a canoe on the roof of their car, etc, etc.

The flying seagulls peering down in one spread on the right corner as well as the left, with text smartly placed on one wing.

Endpapers imply before and after, morning and night, beginning and end, providing context.

The passage of time is expressed in dimming blue and setting sun, making the reader feel empathy for a fish who has waiting all day long for companionship. (See the double page spread where Goldfish Ghost waits patiently, atop a beach umbrella.)

And the book titles! In the Boy's room, children's literature fans will see fish-themed books they know and love, one of them being, of course, Swimmy by Leo Lionni. An ode to other picture books before it.

This book is much like Lemony Snicket: we cannot quite figure him out (and maybe this is as it should be!), but that is what brings us back to his books again and again.

Little Fox in the Forest by Stephanie Graegin

When you find a picture book that makes you think, you've found a treasure. Yes, as much as I love a good story that lulls me or entertains me or comforts me, I also love when that good story makes me wonder and think!

To be clear, I'm talking about the kind of book that has you turning the pages not just to find out what happens next, but also because what you are reading is unexpected. And causes you to dig around more with your eyes to make sure you haven't missed something.

Graegin, Stephanie. Little Fox in the Forest. New York: Random House Children's, 2017. Print. 

There's a lot to this book, and a lot to ponder. The size and shape of the book are suited for young happy arms to carry it about, first of all. The green leaves of the trees catch your attention next, and then our eye turns to the fox, running off the cover with a blue stuffed fox in his clutches. The trees have shadows, and small figures are hidden about (a snail, a raccoon, a bird). 

After you read the story, you will come back to the cover, and more will make sense. (Note the cover is "wrap-around art", too.) 

And before I tell you anymore, I should say it is a wordless book. Librarians and users of Destiny: add this to your Resource List of wordless books! 

The endpapers are clue-givers, both front and back. Again, enjoy them after you have read the whole book. The titles of the books on the shelf make sense, and there is a big change once you get to the endpapers in the back. 

Like a graphic novel, panels help direct the narrative, although not every page contains them. Some are stunning double page spreads, with the brilliant use of a gutter in one particular section (separating main characters, and dividng a tree in just the right spot (not in the center). 

Without telling you too much of the story, I would classify it as magical -- and it brings to mind Aaron Becker's trilogy of Journey, Quest and Return: children navigating the world they live in, being  drawn to the possibility of other places. Somehow, Graegin also me had me hearing the words spoken by the animal characters --- her depiction of them filled with energy. 

Graegin also employs color skillfully -- with a nighttime blue predominant at the beginning, shifting to full, vibrant color as the story builds -- but also (brilliantly) used to identify two different worlds. 

This book will require multiple rereads, but you will be rewarded. And if you own a copy, slip off the dust jacket and enjoy the case cover.  

Little Fox in the Forest is a story of imagination, empathy, and friendship.

And it indeed made me wonder! With joy! 

How I Wrap Up the Year in the Library

At the end of the year, school librarians are busy helping teachers and students, collecting books, promoting summer reading, and saying goodbye until fall. We are also getting the library ready for summer and whatever that means for us! With the flurry of tasks, I find it sometimes hard to focus on one thing. But I've reflected on this a bit, and here is how I usually wrap up the year:


Inventory:
This year I am taking a full inventory of the library. Nonfiction was particularly daunting, but I took it one section at a time. I am still in the middle of it. I'm finding that It helps me really know my collection even better. When it's as close to 100% as possible, I will complete a Titlewave Analysis in Destiny, and make collection decisions based on the results.


Clean-up:
Second, I am getting to much-needed book repairs! I find books that need new labels or covers, etc. I usually place those in a cart that I work on throughout the summer. I feel really accomplished when I get several done!


Book Order List:
Third, I start my fall book order. By now I know which books I didn't get in my last order, as well as books that need replacing. And I will have an idea of what ARCs I have loved that are set for publication in the summer or early fall. Having a book order ready for fall really helps me meet student needs for books!

Summer To-Do's:
I come up with an ongoing summer to-do list. I enjoy coming to the library throughout the summer and completing little projects here and there. One of the items on my list this year is shuffling the books in my biography section. I have an empty spot and some sections are tight. Also, my graphic novel section is really overflowing! I emptied a book truck, and want to move the overflow into that cart. But I'l have to find a place for the cart, too.

Yesterday, I told someone that I tend to my library as if it were a garden -- caring for it, nurturing it, and making sure it has the best conditions to grow! (Although I do not have a green thumb when it comes to plants, I do when it comes to books!) When I tell someone this, I always think of Ranganathan and his Fifth Law of Library Science: "The library is a living organism".


I hope you have found more ideas here on how to wrap up your year in the library! And I hope you library "garden" grows and grows each day!