Book Review: Our Library by Phyllis R. Fenner (1939)

Published in 1939, Our Library is a book-length reflection on the successes of Phyllis Fenner's career as a school librarian in Manhassett, New York. This was one of the first books written about elementary school libraries, and it provides advice on everything from materials selection to the involvement of students in running the library.

I found this book completely fascinating not because of how much has changed in librarianship in 80 years but because of how much has remained exactly the same. Fenner's concerns mirror many that today's librarians still consider: welcoming all races, reaching reluctant readers, developing a diverse collection, etc.  Sometimes I think forward-thinking young librarians have a tendency to only look ahead at what's coming next without regard for the foundations that have been laid by the pioneers of the profession. This leads to professionals who feel as though they have just discovered things (like diversity, for example) that, in truth, have been around for decades. There is a lot to learn from professional texts of the past. Sure, some of the tools Fenner uses are out of date, but her reasons for using them, and the end results of their use, are very much the same as the purposes of today's librarians.

I found this book to be both a charming walk down memory lane (I do love the card catalog!) and a valuable professional tool that helped me renew my understanding of what the field of youth librarianship is all about: connecting kids with books they will love that will help them achieve academically and become lifelong readers. When Kirkus reviewed the book upon its original publication, the reviewer noted, "It should prove very constructive and stimulating to school librarians, to teachers who are uncertain to what extent the school library can meet their needs, to parents who should understand the extent to which library work is of value to their children." Though decades have gone by, I still found this to be an accurate assessment of Our Library.

Hidden Gems of my Home Library

Today's Top Ten Tuesday topic is hidden gems. As we have been reshelving our books since our move, I have been taking note of some of the lesser-known vintage children's titles we have in our home library, and this seemed like the perfect time to share!

• No Boats on Bannermere by Geoffrey Trease (1949)
  This is a British children's novel from 1949 about a group of children who move to a new neighborhood only to learn that one of their neighbors, a wealthy man named Sir Alfred Askew, doesn't allow any boats on the nearby lake. As they set out to learn the reasons behind this rule, they uncover a shocking murder mystery. This is like Swallows and Amazons meets The Boxcar Children meets Minnow on the Say, and it's just great. The sequels are harder to find, but I have managed to read Black Banner Abroad and Under Black Banner, though there is sadly little hope I will ever own them. 
• The Wonderful Farm by Marcel Ayme, illustrated by Maurice Sendak (1951)
  This book has the distinction of being the first children's book ever illustrated by Maurice Sendak! Translated from French, it is the story of two little girls, Delphine and Marinette, who live with their stern parents on a farm which is in every way normal except that the animals can talk. Each chapter follows the girls through a particular adventure involving animals either from the farm or the surrounding forest, and the episodes are funny, sad, suspenseful and everything in between. I read the book aloud to my older two girls this winter, and it was just a joy from beginning to end. 
• The Cottage at Bantry Bay by Hilda van Stockum (1938)
  This is a novel about the O'Sullivan family of Glengarriff, County Cork, Ireland who introduce the reader to Irish culture through their everyday adventures. This book is often overshadowed by van Stockum's semi-autobiographical Mitchells series and by her Newbery honor book, A Day on Skates, but it's a gentle and engaging story in its own right, and I'm still hoping to read the sequels, Francie on the Run and Pegeen. 
• The Secret Language by Ursula Nordstrom (1960)
  Ursula Nordstrom was the children's books editor for Harper & Row for over 30 years, and she mentored many beloved authors  including Maurice Sendak, E.B. White, Margaret Wise Brown, Louise Fitzhugh, and Russell Hoban. She only published this one book herself, but it embodies so much of the advice she gave to the authors she worked with (which I read about in another gem, her collection of letters called Dear Genius) and I was disappointed to learn that she wrote another book and subsequently burned it because she didn't think it was good! 
• The Open Gate by Kate Seredy (1943)
  This wonderful novel is set right near where I grew up, so it has a special place in my heart. It also seems to be the most difficult Seredy novel to find, which is a shame because it's so good! It follows the Preston family as they move from the city to the country on the spur of the moment and try to learn to farm. Set in 1941, it also explores the reaction of average Americans to the bombing of Pearl Harbor and its ramifications.
• Sticks Across the Chimney: A Story of Denmark by Nora Burglon (1938)
  Siri and Erik live with their widowed mother in Denmark, where they live near a Viking burial ground, as it is the only place they can afford. The community ostracizes them for living there and threatens them with ghost stories, but they do their best to remain true to themselves and loyal to their mother while they wait for their luck to change. There are some old-fashioned sensibilities to the story, but overall it's a great novel for building character. 
• (George) by E.L. Konigsburg (1970)
  Konigsburg is a well-known author, but this odd book of hers flies a bit under the radar. It's about a middle school student, Ben, whose best friend is his "concentric twin" George who lives inside of him. The story is well-written and funny, but there is also an underlying A Beautiful Mind vibe that keeps you both questioning Ben and rooting for him through the entire book. I put off reading it for a long time because I thought it would freak me out too much, but now I'm actually glad to have it on my shelf.
• The Far-Distant Oxus by Katharine Hull and Pamela Whitlock (1937)
  The Far-Distant Oxus was written by two teenage girls, Katharine Hull and Pamela Whitlock, as an homage to their favorite author, Arthur Ransome of Swallows and Amazons fame. Ransome enjoyed the book and helped to have it published. Though the writing is unpolished and many plot points are unresolved, this is an interesting read both because the authors are so young and because it's basically vintage fanfiction. 
• Those Miller Girls! by Alberta Wilson Constant, illustrated by Joe and Beth Krush (1965)
  This is the first book in a Penderwicksian trilogy about two sisters, Maddy and Lou Emma Miller and their widower father, Professor Cyrus Miller, who have just moved to Gloriosa, Kansas, where they struggle to settle in among the locals. The story includes great dialogue and lots of fun detail about daily living around the turn of the 20th century. This book is hard to find, and the sequels are even harder. I have a signed copy of book three, Does Anybody Care About Lou Emma Miller?, that was a Christmas present from my husband last year, but I'll probably never even see book two, The Motoring Millers.
• Ellen Grae by Vera and Bill Cleaver, illustrated by Ellen Raskin (1967)
  Vera and Bill Cleaver are better known for Where the Lilies Bloom, which was a 1970 National Book Award finalist, but Ellen Grae, published in 1967, shares a lot of the same vivid language and emotional dilemmas. Ellen has such a strong reputation for telling tall tales that when she is taken into the unlikely confidence of the town recluse she wonders whether she will be believed if she decides to report what she has learned to someone who can help. It's a really challenging novel, just right for the advanced middle schooler. Interestingly, this book is illustrated by Newbery medalist Ellen Raskin. 

The RAHM Report for 9/10/18

What I Finished Reading

This was a really slow reading week, but I did get through two middle grade novels:

• The Vanderbeekers and the Hidden Garden (ARC) by Karina Yan Glaser ⭐⭐⭐⭐
  I know gentle family stories like this aren't trendy right now, but I'm still thankful someone is writing them. 
• You Go First by Erin Entrada Kelly ⭐⭐⭐⭐
  I have been curious about this book just based on the cover. Though I expected there to be more interaction between the two alternating narrators, I thought the author really captured how excruciating middle school can be.

What I'm Currently Reading

• Bury Your Dead by Louise Penny 77%
  I am really close to done with this and I'm hoping it will be the first book I finish this week. 
• Come Back to Me by Sharon Sala 53%
  I was listening to the audiobook, but I wound up downloading the ebook too because I haven't had many occasions to listen to audio this week and I want to get it done before I forget what happened in the early part of the story.
• Montana Sky by Nora Roberts 49%
  I had this from Open Library, but just could not read fast enough to get it done before it went to the next person on the waiting list. There are 2 people ahead of me now so I figure I'll get back to the book in about a month and finish it then. 
• The House with a Clock in its Walls by John Bellairs 11%
  I'm doing a buddy read of this book with some people on Instagram. I'm trying to read it slowly so I can discuss as we go. (I have a library copy with the movie cover, but I hate that, so I'm posting a different cover here.)
• Charm City by Laura Lippman 0%
  This library ebook expires in three days and there are 4 holds. I'm going to see if I can power through it. 

I'll be linking up today with Unleashing Readers/Teach Mentor Texts and Book Date for It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

Homeschool Highlights: Teaching Toddlers and Preschoolers About Our Catholic Faith

One of the many reasons we will homeschool our children is that we want to incorporate our Catholic faith into every aspect of their lives, including their academic studies. Unlike other homeschool subjects, only a few of which we have even begun to explore with Little Miss Muffet (age 4.5), Catechism is something we have introduced almost from birth. In the Catholic communities I belong to on Facebook, I see a fair number of questions from new moms about how to start introducing the faith to their very young children. Today I want to share what's working for us so far with our three daughters under five.

Mass Attendance

Our kids attend Mass pretty much from birth, and unless they are horrendously loud, we keep them in the pew for the duration. (No cry room, no children's liturgy, etc.) I really feel that the best way for kids to learn how to sit through Mass quietly and attentively, is to sit in the congregation, observe others, and practice doing it. (This is how I was raised, and it worked for me!) We do take screaming children to the vestibule to calm down, and we take potty training toddlers to the restroom, but we typically come back to the pew in time for Communion. We also don't allow toys or food during Mass. The girls are allowed to look at the hymnals and missalettes, but we don't bring anything to entertain them, as we want to send the message that the Mass is exciting and interesting all by itself.

Prayer

Praying is a part of our daily routine, mainly at mealtimes and bedtime. (I plan to become more organized about morning prayer now that we are getting into more of a homeschool routine.) At meals, we pray the Sign of the Cross in English, say the Grace Before Meals, and then pray the Sign of the Cross again in Latin. For a few years, at bedtime, we said a variety of prayers, repeating them again and again so they would become familiar. To date, my oldest has memorized Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, Memorare, Hail Holy Queen, the St. Michael prayer, and a good portion of the Apostle's Creed. (Our second daughter has mostly memorized these just by imitating her sister.) We have also used a set of board books by Maite Roche to model more spontaneous types of prayer that reflect on the events of the day. Lately, we have started lighting a candle and praying Night Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours using the iBreviary app, which we follow up with a sung "Salve Regina," and a few other prayers. Sometimes we give each of the girls a chance to ask God to bless five people of her choosing and we ask our patron saints, or the saint of the day, to pray for us. During Lent, I also try to have the girls join me in praying the Rosary (using their Chews Life mini decades) and/or the Stations of the Cross (either at home or in the church).

Gregorian Chant

We have been attending Mass in the extraordinary form several times a year for several years now, and it has really made me want to learn more chant. Currently, I am working on learning the Marian antiphons for each season of the Liturgical Year, and the girls are picking it up as I go. We mastered Regina Caeli during Easter, and now we're working on Salve Regina for ordinary time. Next, I plan to learn the Credo and the Pater Noster that is sung at the Latin Mass.

Liturgical Year Activities

A great thing about homeschooling is how easily you can conform your school year to the rhythm of the liturgical year. With help from the wonderful monthly saints coloring books created by Angie from Real Life at Home, we are able to keep track of saint days easily. We also encourage the girls to pay attention to vestment colors on Sundays, and even if we don't do anything in particular to celebrate, we try to point out different important feast days as they occur. During Advent we have a Jesse tree, we "bury" (really hide in a bookcase) the Alleluia during Lent, pray for the dead on All Souls Day, and put treats in shoes on St. Nicholas day. When I have the time and inclination to be more crafty, we also occasionally do some projects from Catholic Icing. I do keep a calendar that lists all of the occasions I want to remember, but we don't always get to them all, and that's okay. Even celebrating one or two things a month helps the girls start to understand how the church year flows.

Shining Light Dolls

We received our first Shining Light Doll - Our Lady of Fatima - from my second daughter's godparents on her first Easter. Now, my non-Catholic mom has started collecting these dolls for us and we receive them as birthday and Christmas gifts. In addition to Our Lady of Fatima, our current collection includes: St. Nicholas, St. Patrick, Our Lady of Knock, Our Lady of Lourdes,  St. Michael the Archangel, St. Gabriel the Archangel, and St. Raphael the Archangel. The girls absolutely love these, and they enjoy lining them up, pretending to fight Satan, and in the case of the baby, chewing on their heads. I was taught as a kid that it was sacrilegious to "play" anything church-related, but I find that playing with these toys makes the girls feel comfortable with the idea of Heaven and with the concept of Jesus as someone they can love and trust.

Catechism Memorization

My oldest child has always been very advanced verbally. She talked early, read early (at 3.5) and has a great memory for facts, poems, etc. Because of her oddly advanced abilities in this area, we started having her memorize the The New St. Joseph Baltimore Catechism. After a little less than two years of working on this on and off, she is about 8 lessons into the book, but she can answer all the questions in those lessons with probably 95% accuracy. She also recognizes many words and phrases from the Catechism when they come up in the readings at Mass. We do plan to have all three girls memorize this version of the catechism before First Communion, but when the next two will start will depend on their own verbal capabilities. In general, though, it seems to be wise to start young because their little brains just soak it all up and then they can make more and more connections as they grow older.

Illustrated Children's Bibles

Finally, what has been great for our girls is having access to children's Bibles with good pictures. They especially love to study the New Testament, looking for Mary and Jesus, but they also enjoy picking out Old Testament figures like Jeremiah, Noah, Moses, and Job, to ask their names and learn a little bit about them. Inevitably, when they hear the names in the readings at Mass, their faces light up. The Bible we like best for pictures (but not for the text, because there are some strange spellings and such) is The Catholic Children's Bible by Mary Theola, with illustrations by J. Verleye. We also have a Baptism bible that retells some of the more kid-friendly Bible stories in a simple way that is good for really little kids, as well as The Golden Children's Bible, which is the one I plan to read aloud in our homeschool starting this fall.

Book Review: Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren (1945)

Pippi Longstocking, a spirited young girl, lives alone in a house in Sweden called Villa Villekulla with only her monkey and her horse for company. When she meets her neighbors Tommy and Annika, some attempts are made to get Pippi into school or a children's home, but it soon becomes clear to everyone that this unusual child, who fights off robbers and jumps into circus acts is probably better off on her own.

I didn't have a lot of patience for misbehavior and over-the-top silliness as a kid, so I never wanted to read this book. My kids, however, have a much greater tolerance for characters who are not completely serious and realistic, so I decided to bite the bullet and read this book aloud to them. (My main audience was my oldest daughter, age 4.5, but my middle daughter, age 2.5, also listened in.) Alas, even though my kids adored this book and now pretend to be Pippi on a fairly regular basis, I found the reading experience excruciating.

I guess I can understand the appeal of a child who defies authority and lives life on her own terms if you're the kind of person who is uncomfortable with rules and who dreams of greater freedom. (My four-year-old is such a person.) I, on the other hand, thrive on rules and order and mostly just wished that some adult would pin Pippi down and get her to start living more conventionally. And I think what frustrated me most is that Annika and Tommy, who basically represent the point of view of the child reader in the story, weren't more troubled by her, or at least more skeptical about her way of life. As a mom, I also wasn't sure my own kids needed anymore incentive to disobey rules, though I haven't seen any changes in their behavior (or levels of misbehavior) since we read the book.

We have an omnibus collection of three Pippi books, but I don't think I can stomach anymore of them as read-alouds. I have decided that, if the girls are interested, they can read them independently when they're ready, or listen to them as audiobooks. Generally, when it comes to picture books, I'll read even the ones I'm sick of, because the time investment is so minimal, but with a book this long, I just can't put myself through it. In most cases, the books I refused as a kid turn out to be great reads I wish I hadn't missed. Pippi Longstocking, however, is just not on that list.

TV Shows I Use for Background Noise

I do a little bit of freelance proofreading for a crossword puzzle publisher. The work is pretty tedious at times, so while I would like to listen to audiobooks while I test-solve puzzles, sometimes I just can't focus enough on the book to make it worthwhile. Therefore, proofreading time is often when I watch shows on Hulu and Netflix. Since we don't have cable (or a TV), I often save up episodes of shows I want to keep up with so that I have them when a proofreading set arrives, or I watch older shows that I missed when they aired. For Top Ten Tuesday's Bingeworthy TV Shows topic, here's a sampling of what I typically watch.

• Catfish: The TV Show (Hulu)
  I got into this show recently, just before Max Joseph announced he was leaving. I have to admit that the repetition from episode to episode is getting old now that I've watched 5 seasons, but the formulaic nature of it makes it very easy to follow even when I'm not fully paying attention. And I enjoy the friendship between Nev and Max, and will be sad to see that end. 
• Frasier (Netflix)
  I am almost done with this show. I like it because it's set in the 90s and makes me nostalgic. The humor is also really smart, and most of the jokes are wordplay so I don't have to be looking at the screen constantly to appreciate them. I also love the romance between Niles and Daphne. I wish there were newer sitcoms that were as good as this one. 
• Law and Order: SVU (Hulu)
  I have seen every episode of this show and though I miss Chris Meloni as Stabler, I think the show has done a great job of reinventing itself since his departure. I am not so devoted to this show that I watch every episode as it airs, but I do tend to catch up once a month or so. (And if Alex Cabot is ever on, or Robert Sean Leonard guest stars, I drop everything and watch that episode!) This is another one where dialogue often carries the plot so I can listen without having to see every scene. 
• Chicago Med (Hulu)
  In theory, I like the concept of "One Chicago," but this is the only show from the franchise I've gotten into and been able to stick with. I especially love Dr. Charles and Dr. Reese. 
• E.R. (Hulu)
  This past winter, I watched the first two seasons of E.R. in about two months' time. Then I got burned out and took a break. The writing and characterization are so great, though, that I plan to pick it back up again soon.
  
  
  
  
• The Staircase (Netflix)
  This is a true crime documentary about an author who is accused of killing his wife by pushing her down the stairs. It's one of those stories with twists and turns where you're never quite sure if he is innocent or not. I checked it out on a whim one day and immediately binge-watched the whole thing. 
• A Crime to Remember (Hulu)
  This show, which airs on Investigation Discovery, is a documentary series with dramatic reenactments of scenes from real-life crimes. I have watched almost every available episode, but I have lost interest as other shows have appealed to me more. 
• Criminal Minds (Netflix)
  I am currently caught up on all the episodes that are available on Netflix, but I suspect season 13 will be available soon, at which point I will start watching again. This show can be scary, so I like only half-focusing on the details of what is going on. 
• Stranger Things (Netflix)
  I started out watching this in the background, but got so sucked into it that I wound up starting it over and watching it with my husband. We are caught up and will definitely jump back in when the next season comes out. 
• This is Us (Hulu)
  Finally, I'm including this show because it's the only new show I watch every week. I can't watch it when it airs, but to avoid being spoiled by postings on social media, I try to get to it the next day at lunch time before spending much time on Facebook. I typically don't proofread while I'm watching this one because I want to give it my full attention, and often I need to cry at least once an episode. 

Do you watch any of these shows? What other shows should I watch when I'm done with these?

The RAHM Report for 9/3/18

What I Finished Reading

• Read and Gone (ARC) by Allison Brook ⭐⭐⭐
  This was a decent cozy mystery, on par with the first book of the series, Death Overdue. I'm still not sure of the purpose of the ghost character, but I did enjoy gaining more insight into Carrie's relationship with her jewel thief dad.
• Reading Together by Diane W. Frankenstein ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
  This is a book everyone who reads with kids should find immediately! The author succinctly summarizes everything you could possibly need to know about reading aloud in a few short sections and then provides dozens of recommendations for books to read with kids of all ages, along with great questions, quotes, and ideas to spark discussion. 
• Reading in the Wild by Donalyn Miller and Susan Kelley ⭐⭐⭐⭐
  I liked this companion to The Book Whisperer even more than the first book. It made me think a lot about my own reading habits and the habits of lifelong readers that my young daughters already exhibit.

Did Not Finish

• Ignore It!: How Selectively Looking the Other Way Can Decrease Behavioral Problems and Increase Parenting Satisfaction by Catherine Pearlman, audiobook read by Christine Williams
  I wanted to read this, but my library only has the audiobook and I just don't like listening to parenting books. If I can find an ebook or a physical copy, I might revisit it in the future. 

What I'm Currently Reading

• Bury Your Dead by Louise Penny 46% 
  I started out listening to the audio book but my mind kept wandering and I had a hard time following the changes in scene and time period without seeing character names in print. So I downloaded the ebook from the library and things are going much faster. I am especially enjoying how the story revisits the murder from the previous book.  
• Montana Sky by Nora Roberts 2%
  Two people are waiting for this book after me on Open Library and it's due back in 4 or 5 days. I've been wanting to read it for a while, so I think I might just try to power through it tomorrow. I have a cold and have mostly just been resting so I should be able to do it. 
• Come Back to Me by Sharon Sala, audiobook read by Amy Rubinate 44%
  I wanted a quick, light audiobook and this was was a new featured audiobook on Hoopla. It's been much easier to listen to than Bury Your Dead and so far, and I'll probably finish it in another day or two. 
• The Vanderbeekers and the Hidden Garden by Karina Yan Glaser 5%
  I realized I didn't read any children's novels this week and quickly got this one going. I'm just starting out, but so far it seems very much like the first book (which I enjoyed so that's good!) 

I'll be linking up today with Unleashing Readers/Teach Mentor Texts and Book Date for It's Monday! What Are You Reading?