A Visit to the Carle

Just returned from the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, wherein Mr. Madley and I enjoyed a discussion/lecture ("Eight Things You Cannot Do For Your Children") with Michael Thompson, clinical psychologist, took in the three wonderful art exhibits, and did a little shopping.

I can never recommend the ECMoPBA highly enough or frequently enough.  I have been an avid fan of Eric Carle and picture books since early in my youth, but the museum adds dimension to that and allows my love for children's books to expand.  Currently on exhibit at the Carle is an enrapturing display of Iconic Images -- a sampling from the 10,000 illustrations in the Carle's permanent collection, featuring Arnold Lobel, Eric Carle, William Steig, Mo Willems, Jules Feiffer, Trina Schart Hyman, and many other classic children's book illustrators.  I walked the exhibit twice and was just enamoured of it.
In the middle gallery, showing until mid-April, is an exhibit of Garth Williams' illustrations from E. B. White's beloved Charlotte's Web.  (As an aside, I am grateful that Charlotte's Web has not been "updated & improved" and "revisioned" with illustrations from modern illustrators.  Not that I don't love modern illustrators -- I do! -- but some books just belong with their original illustrations.)  Works include preliminary sketches and finished drawings.
In the third gallery, which I call the Carle Gallery, is a display (until Feb 24) of Eric Carle's independent art -- things he has worked on outside of his picture books.

The presentation by Michael Thompson is over, but you can still make good use of the museum and enjoy the fantastic exhibits currently being shown.  If you're worried about cost, the Goodwin Memorial Library has free-entry passes, and there are other ways to save, too.  The museum also shows movies, has a picture book library (and storytime!), provides art programs for children, presents plays and music, and has a wonderful gift shop (I can never go in without coming out with something).  Do yourself a favour a make a visit to the Carle.  If you've ever enjoyed an illustration in a book, creative word play, or learning, you'll be glad you did.

Summer Reading Extravaganza!

If you didn't get to stop by the Summer Reading Kickoff Party at the Library on Wednesday night, here is some of the fun you missed -- it was quite a circus!

Fortune telling and face painting.

Balloons & water sprinkler (it was hot!).

The library's resident clown...

Hot dogs -- yummy.

Candy.

UMass Amherst Juggling Club

Popcorn and cotton candy.

Mmmm.  Tasty!

Hula hoops and hula hooping.

The balloon lady.

And a good time was had by all!
The library summer reading program promises fun all summer long -- the kickoff was just the beginning.  Kids and teens and families are invited to participate in a variety of activities at the library this summer, including a Desert Island Party, Build Your Dreams Cardboard Mania, and a guest Illusionist.  Plus, kids can earn prizes for reading this summer -- just get to the library and sign up. 
The library is a great place for anyone to go during the summer -- books, movies, magazines, computers, activities, book groups, and even air conditioning!  And, of course, it's free.

Emily Recommends This Book

When a month or so ago I saw that John Green was publishing a new novel, I got excited.  Ever since reading his first book, Looking for Alaska, I have not missed a single solo book of his.  (Not that that's been too difficult, as this is only his fourth solo book; but I also read Will Grayson, Will Grayson, which he wrote with David Levithan.)
I immediately put it on my library wish list and shortly thereafter picked it up  (yes, at the Hadley Library, in the teen section in the basement).  And what a fantastic book.  A can't-put-it-down-even-though-my-eyelids-weigh-sixty-pounds book.  A laugh-out-loud, shed-a-tear, laugh-out-loud-again book.  An even-though-I-usually-prefer-fantasy-and-science-fiction, I-am-in-love-with-this-book book.  About a girl with terminal thyroid cancer and the boy that sweeps into her life and the happy, sad, funny, sincere relationship they have while they live up being alive and in love.  Hazel and Augustus -- after meeting each other, their lives will never be the same.
The Fault in Our Stars
I know that cancer stories about kids and teens are an open invitation to sap (not the maple syrup kind) and painful introspection, but this story is a delight to read and definitely one not to be missed.  You can find a copy at the library (as soon as I return it).

If you're feeling brave, take a look at the video the author made the day before the book hit shelves.

Reading in the New Year

Being a book enthusiast and an ardent reader, I have long wanted to start a "recommended reads" column on the blog and have given much thought to the various ways it could be done; in order to speed things up, I've decided to go with one of my simpler options.
Five books I read in 2011 (though one I actually just finished today) that I recommend for 2012:

Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer Holm: a wonderful family read-aloud about a young girl who goes to live with her cousins in Key West during the Depression, and all of the adventures they have together

Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater: a young adult novel of mythical water horses, the strength of family bonds, the power of competition, and first love; thoroughly absorbing and compelling

Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick: by the author of The Invention of Hugo Cabret comes another novel in words and pictures for all ages, telling the intersecting stories of Rose, a deaf girl of 1927 who longs be part of world outside her window, and of Ben, a deaf boy of 1977 who runs away to New York City to find the father he never knew

Icefall by Matthew Kirby: war has broken out in the north countries and the kings has sent his household to a secret fortress hidden amidst mountains and fjords, but even the soldier guards can't halt the treachery of a traitor; a middle-grade fantasy novel

My Most Excellent Year by Steve Kluger: a novel of love, baseball, family, high school, Mary Poppins, and friendship told in IM chats, school writing assignments, memos, emails, newspaper editorials, journal entries, and theatrical posters

These books are all available through the Hadley public library (and therefore through C/WMARS); check the Hadley library catalog here.

Happy reading and happy New Year!

Edible Books -- Yum!

This may be almost late notice, but tomorrow is the Edible Books program at the library!  The flier from the library says:

Wednesday, July 27 – 6:30

You are invited to submit an entry in this year’s Edible Books Contest.  Use your love of literature and the culinary arts to create an Edible Book. 

Your creation can look like a book, allude to a book’s title, refer to a book’s content, or even involve a witty book pun.  It can be baked from scratch or assembled from purchased items.  Your imagination sets the limits!

Schedule:
6:30 p.m.  Edible Books drop off and showing
6:45 p.m.  Judging / Stories & crafts for youngsters

This sounds like lots of fun, and I know it's a program that the library has done in years past.  Check out some creative examples from the Duke Library's Edible Book Festival and the Goodwin Library's program from last year (see below), and start putting together your edible book!

Get those creative thinking caps on -- the challenge has been issued!
Check out the catalog or visit the library for book ideas.

Library: Things You Should Know

1. New A/C -- Yes, the library is now a very pleasant place to visit during these long super-hot days of summer, because it has a brand new air conditioning unit.  Stop in to the library, pull up a chair, and chill out.

2. eBooks -- The library has access to all the materials available through the C/WMARS digital catalog. These include ebooks, audiobooks, and videos that can be downloaded and played on a variety of electronic devices, including computers, iPods, Nooks, and more.  It's easy to use (though there is an occasional glitch with setting up the Nook with Adobe Digital Editions -- troubleshoot here) and best of all, just like library books, these books are free to use!

3. Museum passes -- According to the library website, the library has museum passes available on a first-come, first-served basis.  Museums include MassMoCA, Norman Rockwell Museum, Eric Carle Museum, and more, and most of them are worth free admission for 2 adults and 2 children (though not all).  Check them out!

Books @ the East Street Studios

A few weeks ago Mr. Madley and I finally made our way to the East Street Studios one afternoon to check out the used bookstore Grey Matter Books.  What we discovered while we were there was much more than just a store with used books.
Two bookstores inhabit adjoining space at the back of the East Street Studios buildings; their names don't show up on the main signs for the space (we'll explore those later), but they do have their own signs pointing the way.
An unassuming sign for a wonderful little used book & record store.

Mountains and hills and valleys of books (and records), waiting to be picked up, paged through, and possibly even read on one of those chairs or couches just begging to be sat in.

In the space adjoining, through a naturally open doorway, is Troubadour Books.  (I hear tell that there is another Troubadour Books in Hatfield -- a branch or the main -- but I have not gone out of my way to verify its current existence.)

Two bookstores, one basement, about a million books -- fiction, classic, science fiction, first edition, children's, academic, foreign language, vintage, philosophic, bestseller, obscure, art, comic, and more.  One who likes books, or any subject written of in the pages of books, could easily wile away an afternoon (or even a day) roaming the stacks and getting lost in the pages.

Looking for even more in used books?  If you're willing to take a little drive, you can also visit The Bookmill.

Library Joy

I discovered the greatest thing last week -- great, because I am a librarian and an avid library user and supporter, and because I've been waiting for this since we moved to Hadley.  Last week I discovered that the Hadley library, the Goodwin Memorial Library, has finally started circulating materials within the C/WMARS lending network.

I'm not even sure I can begin to explain how utterly wonderful this is.

I ashamedly admit that before last week I had not quite found the motivation to visit the library since moving to town.  I was keeping myself somewhat occupied and nearly content with using the Jones Library in Amherst, the Clapp Memorial Library in Belchertown, and the South Hadley Public Library.  However, what I really wanted was to take advantage of and support the Hadley library, my local public library, but I request so many books online that it just didn't seem entirely worthwhile, since they weren't completely networked yet.

Then last week, on a whim, I checked the system catalog to see if I could find and order a particular book.  And there it was, in the drop-down menu listing the options of library pickup locations -- Hadley!  I just about shouted for joy (and probably would have, had I not been in a library at the time).  Instead of shouting, I tried it with another book, just to make sure I wasn't hallucinating, and then I sent Mr Madley a highly enthusiastic email with my discovery.  Afterwards I searched around online to find out if there was any further information.  I found this on the library page:

Q. Is Hadley's library a member of the Central/Western Massachusetts Automated Resource Sharing network (C/WMARS)?

A. Yes. Hadley has been a member for many years. As of January 25, 2011, Hadley began officially circulating within the system. This major accomplishment allows patrons with C/WMARS cards to order items from the comfort of their homes and have them delivered to Hadley or other convenient libraries.

I got very very VERY excited.
That same afternoon, Mr Madley and I made our first outing to the Goodwin Memorial Library to scope the place out and meet the librarians -- and hopefully leave with a few books.

What a beautiful little library, stuffed full of books and magazines, videos, and computers.  The children's area upstairs had a great collection, as did the young adult area downstairs (those were the only two areas I really paid attention to -- I was having WAY too much fun -- but I did hear very positive comments about the video collection and today I enjoyed perusing the new books table).  The downstairs/basement reminded me of the library I used to visit when I was a kid, so I felt right at home and very comfortable.

Fireplace reading room.

Young adult collection/basement.

It's very exciting to have Hadley as part of the C/WMARS lending network -- it means you can order any book within the Western Mass Regional System from any computer with internet access and have it delivered to the Hadley library for you to pick up -- just think how much that virtually expands the size of the library!  All those books, right at your fingertips!
Don't forget the programs the library has, too -- chess and knitting and poetry and story hour and more.  They have fliers at the library and programs are also listed online.  Plus there is parking and it's conveniently located.

So without further ado, get thee to the library!
But not on Sunday or Monday -- that's when it's closed.



(If you live in Hadley, you probably received a page with your motor vehicle excise bill about how to become a friend of the library.  Becoming a friend is a great way to support the library, and it doesn't even have to cost very much.  Plus, it's a phenomenal value for the money.)

My Recipe for a Happy Holiday

For me, the holiday begins today, with a vacation that stretches into the New Year.  I am very thankful for a little downtime during this season. 
I have a standard recipe for happy holiday vacations.  As the years pass it gets refined, and I don't always have access to all the ingredients every year.  Nevertheless, here it is:

My Recipe for a Happy Holiday

1 Gingerbread with Hot Orange Sauce
4 dozen Grandma's Norwegian Krumkaker
1 Box G&G's Homemade Flatbread
1 Fireplace for Multiple Fires
1 Collection of Classic Movies
1 Large Pot Clam Chowder (sometimes replaced with Beef Stew)

1 Large Stack of Books; holiday reading must include one or more of the following:

• Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman
• East by Edith Pattou
• Snow-Walker by Catherine Fisher

1 Frosting of Snow to cover the ground
Blankets & slippers & wool socks (as needed)
1 or more Dear Ones (these may include but are not limited to spouse, parents, siblings, nieces, nephews, cats, dogs)
3-7 Days Away from Work
Birds at Outdoor Bird Feeders

There are, of course, other little things that help make the holidays special and relaxing -- all those little decorations and traditions.  What is your happy holiday recipe?