Oh, Anne..

Penguins v. bombs

I recently came across Unshelved, a fun library-themed web comic (thank you, Librarilly Blonde). This strip struck a chord. I've always thought the fact And Tango Makes Three was on the "banned" list was sad. It's an adorable, wonderfully illstrated picture book based on the true story of two adult male penguins at the Central Park Zoo who take in a parentless baby penguin. It's come under controversy in school districts across the country for supporting same-sex relationships and adoption, and rose to #1 on the American Library Association's list of most-challenged books. I think picture books about animals provide a great, fun way to teach children about ideas and situations they'll encounter in the real world. Unfortunately, much of America seems not to agree.














And Tango Makes Three
ATMT on the ALA Challenge List, 2007
ATMT on the ALA Challenge List, 2009
Some other challenged titles

Dorky literary t-shirts

For your favorite book lover or grammar freak

Support your local library (with ice cream?)

A group of library lovers is campaigning for a book-themed Ben & Jerry's flavor. My favorite suggestion: "Gooey Decimal System." Though one must not ignore "Marian the Librarian Rasberryan"...

While I enjoy this fun idea, it unfortunately comes at a time when many local libraries aren't getting the funding and attention they deserve. I cannot say enough about the importance of public libraries, both for opening minds and offering free reference and recreational reading materials to all. They offer computer training and book clubs, author talks and discussions. They're one of the few municipal offices to truly embrace technology.

If the recession isn't reason enough to start visiting one's local library, I don't know what is. Most libraries are part of larger library systems, which allow visitors to order books, movies, and CDs from a huge collection. iTunes and NetFlix are great for songs and movies you must have immediately, but what about that CD you've always been meaning to listen to, or the television series you're catching up on? Every once in awhile, I go into my online library system and type in 20 things I want to watch or listen to. Every few days, I get an email saying one of my choices has been delivered to my local branch, and I go pick it up.

As far as books... as much as I support the bookstore industry, and realize that library nuts don't do much to support sales, I think it's even more important that everyone support the proliferation of reading in any form. Support your local library!

Borders: a section just for teens

It seems that Borders is extending its YA sections in most stores. Though I don't totally agree with the branding (a place to showcase *more* things Twilight?), I appreciate the general idea. I have so much respect for quality YA novels - many of which are more thoughtful and creative than adult books - and think it's great that they're getting more attention.

Borders Ink

When I started reading YA books, the teen shelf of my local library was shoved into a corner of the adult fiction section. The librarians knew that teenagers wouldn't want to be seen in the children's room, among the picture books and art projects, but realized this wasn't a great solution, either. There was no way to showcase the books, and no person other than the general reference librarian to offer suggestions to browsers.

Over the next few years, the staff was able to secure a much more inviting space for YA. Low shelves were set up, and several great choices were pulled out and propped up top. The children's librarian created a teen book club (TBC, if you thought you were cool), inviting discussion about different issues in these books.

Libraries have gotten the idea with separating YA, but bookstores still have a ways to go. Borders is making a good move, I think.

Harry Potter: respecting the fans

It's been so long! I just completed the second CPC workshop, which took over my life for a bit. I was the Executive Editor of a fictional technology website for teens called Wirefly. Favorite article idea: "How to Erase Your Ex: Why detag when you can Photoshop?"

In other news, I saw Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and was surprised how much I enjoyed it. However (though this situation should never occur), I can't imagine how people could understand the plot and characters without having read the book. I suppose they're banking on the idea that everyone is familiar with the story by this point.

Though I'm more impressed with the adult actors in the movie (Maggie Smith, Alan Rickman... so good), there's something to be said about the professionalism of the three kids. None of them has done anything off set that would mar the Harry Potter experience, even though I'm sure they've had the means to. They take their jobs seriously, and don't complain about the papparazzi and extremely enthusiastic fans, like certain stars of certain other huge book adaptations tend to do.

I just love this article. A little girl with the Scholastic News got the opportunity to interview Daniel Radcliffe, and he went out of his way to talk to her...

http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2009/07/daniel_radcliffe_aces_intervie.html

Book links

How would Jack Kerouac deal with Microsoft Word? Editing on a computer, where one deletes instead of crossing out and going back to different passages, changes the writing process.

Culture snobs and the Kindle - With digital readers, nobody on the subway can see you're reading something smart and pretentious.

Awful Library Books

Borders starts a book-based online dating system
The Guardian things this is a terrible idea

Monkeys taught to recognize bad grammar