Migration

Though I realize my blogging has been sporadic, to say the least, over the past year, I find that I miss it.  In an attempt to keep up with my current tech use I've migrated over to WordPress.  (iPhone has a killer WordPress app.)  

I make no promises.  I blog for myself, but if you're interested I'm now blogging here: http://2ndgenlibrarian.wordpress.com/

I also have my even more rarely updated tech blog: http://kkwebthings.blogspot.com/

Summer Reading Round Up

I read several great "make you think", conversation starter books this summer. My quick reviews are overdue.

Cycler by Lauren Mclaughlin

Think Ramna 1/2, but American, and novel format. I wanted to love this, but the execution just did hold up through the story. The main problem was that I could see the author's end game and not the characters. That said, I did enjoy it and the book left me wanting to find out what happens next.

The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson

I know everyone and their mothers have blogged about this book already. I wasn't able to get my hands on a copy for quite some time, but then my coworker and I both picked up a copy at ALA and read it simultaneously. What an interesting way to read an discuss a book - conversations lasted a couple of days.

Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer

I'm in the camp that liked the last installment. That's it.

Little Brother by Cory Doctrow

I wanted to love this tech filled title, but I just didn't.  However, it was worthy of my vacation time and truly a great conversation starter on the nature of terrorism and privacy and "is that really possible".  

Impossible by Nancy Werlin

I'm waiting for a co-worker to finish this before I really discuss it, but I did love it.  

Patron Saint of Butterflies by Cecilia Galante

At times this novel of young girls in a cult was kind of hit you over the head obvious, but it still left me thinking about the characters and their predicament for days. 

Generation Dead by Daniel Waters

Another slight disappointment.  Again, I don't think the writing held up to the plot.  As others have mentioned, the lack of any kind of explanation for the American teen zombies was sorely missing. Is there a sequel planned?  I'd like to see how the Zombie rights social movement grows.   

Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson

New York City, theater personalities, quirky family, what more could you ask for? Perfect beach read, light and fun.  I'm so glad there is a sequel planned for this.  

Summer Program Wrap Up

I started off the summer with a program for which I had to turn away kids right and left: Fairy Tea. Inspired by the Provo City Library my program was nowhere near that scale. I had a blast and I got to wear my fairy wings.

Some other notable programs from the past three months:

• Reader's Theater - okay, I wasn't involved in our Reader's Theater program. One of our trainees has a theater background and hosted this amazing program with teen volunteers. After seeing that and the Reader's Theater troupe perform at ALA I'm anxious to get in the game.


• Bug Races - We dressed up toy cars to look like bugs and raced them down inclines of foam board. I did this twice. The younger set didn't get the heat structure, and the program was absolute chaos, but still a blast. The older set was much smaller and I let them modify their lanes. It was fun to watch them play with the process.


• Creepy Crawly Games - Another program I split up into two age groups. The buggy versions of hot potato and duck, duck goose were the most popular games with the younger set. Both groups enjoyed Caterpillar (Children's Traditional Games, p. 51) in which kids sit in teams, one behind the other. Then holding on the the ankles of the person behind them they have to race. The best bit of the whole day, though was when the older kids were bored with the games I'd planned and suggested freeze tag instead. I want to know how I can get my adult friends to play freeze tag with me now.


• Japanese Tales - This was the third time I'd offered this program and finally it was a success, because I was finally able to attract the right age kids. Thanks to it being the end of summer and our option to attend programs in place of some of the books.

Books read and stories told:

Little Bunny Foo Foo by Paul Brett Johnson

Rolling Rice Balls

The Hungriest Boy in the World by Lensey Namioka

The End by David LaRochelle

Poof! by John O’Brien

Alice the Fairy by David Shannon

The Seven Silly Eaters by Mary Ann Hoberman

and many, many more.

Summer - It is Almost Over

Summer has gone by at such a clip I can scarce remember any of it. What were those programs I did back in June? Forget June, last week is tricky to remember. It certainly didn't help that I was away for two weeks. Though that did wonders for my sanity.

We had our annual summer reading wrap up Friday evening with the usual make your own sundae bar. This year we had an excellent concert - very interactive. Turn out was lower than expected, probably partly due to rain and partly cause the ice cream part wasn't promoted. Though we've had the wrap up party, we've still got two more weeks of summer programming before the slightly slower pace of fall sets in.

With that slightly slower pace I hope to get back in the habit of blogging. I'd like to reflect on the summer programming and some upcoming events. First up in October is the National Storytelling Festival.

Wall*E

What a great film for visual storytelling. The whole time I was thinking about how we read wordless books and trying to compare that to the processes needed to view the movie. I found myself far more engrossed than I have been for any other recent movie.

Wow, I really have become an awful blogger, in that I started this post more than 2 months ago. 2 months! At any rate, I look forward to seeing the movie again once it is on DVD and finding out how it holds up to a second viewing.

I still clearly remember a little boy about 5 saying he like Wall*E better than some other movie he'd just seen. (No, I don't recall what the other movie was, just that it was some schlock kiddie movie.) And his parents were surprised.

I want to go to the theater and hand out pamphlets "If your child liked [insert movie title], she might like [insert book list]."

Day 1

Six hours on a plane is a long time, but is totally worth it. The weather is gorgeous, the vibe is exciting and I have already met a lot of awesome people. We're very lucky to be staying in the Marriott just across the street from the convention center. (I think there are several authors here as well.)

I have yet to plan out by conference schedule, but went to ALSC 101 this evening and now have way possibilities to fill my time. No Internet in the room yet. I'm having to use my phone, more later.

Conference Prep

Somtime over the past few years I've developed a type A personality. I'm not sure how this happened. At any rate, I've been obsessing and planning for ALA for longer than a sane person would. So, how did it escape my notice that there is a Starbucks in front of my hotel? There will be no avoiding it now.

My chiropractor warned me against carrying heavy bags. What this means for my exhibit visit is not good. Every year I tell myself I'm going to scale back, but it is always a lie. Perhaps the caffiene will make up for either the dissappointment or the back pain.