Review – The Comeback Season

Once again the Chicago Cubs have broken hearts and seemingly handed a winning season away to the wind.  Oh, the disappointment; oh, the hurt; oh, the pain.  For what all true fans know is more than just a game.

So very much like the game of life as related by Jennifer E. Smith in her first novel, The Comeback Season.

The Comeback Season author Jennifer E. Smith is interviewed on The First Book.

The story of Ryan and Nick as they struggle to learn about life and loss is forever aligned when they both skip school to catch the Cubbies game.  Not just any game but the magical opening day in April at Wrigley Field.  Their trials, much like those of the historical Cubs baseball story, hold tight to bargains, curses, and hope.

But what if the one you loved wasn’t around to disappoint you any more?  What if Ryan didn’t have the bargains to blame?  What if Nick didn’t believe in some curses?  What if we, what if they, had no hope, no reason to remember, no way to hold on?

As the current Cubs hopeful season ends on a strike three and they’re out, The Comeback Season proves to us that the game of life is all about how you play it.  There is always next year, hopefully.

Ryan and Nick get my most valuable player award for knowing that there may not always be a “next year”.  They would rather cherish the deja vu than to risk never loving the magic that comes from both baseball and life.

They hope; they learn; they love for their Cubs and themselves. For just a game.  The game of life they play most beautifully.

The Comeback Season, published in 2008 by Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, has been nominated as a YALSA 2009 Best Book for Young Adults.

Corduroy Jump Starts Read for the Record

Jumpstart’s Read for the Record

Help bring national attention to the importance of early childhood education by making Jumpstart’s Read for the Record the largest shared reading experience ever.  You can make a difference just by reading with one child in your life.

Jumpstart is asking adults and children to support early education opportunities for all children by reading the official campaign book, Corduroy, together on October 2, 2008 to break the record for the largest shared reading experience ever, which was set by 258,000 people on September 20, 2007 during the 2nd year of Jumpstart’s Read for the Record campaign.

Corduroy by Don Freeman

Learn more about the value of quality early education and acquire new tips on how to make the most of reading time with a young child.

Reading Resources – a variety of great early reading tools and links for parents and professionals.

Best Books – Jumpstart’s list of favorite books to spark a conversation with a young reader!

Corduroy Lesson Plan – Courtesy of Pearson and the Pearson Foundation

Do You Sleeveface at Your Library?

Michael Jackson – Thriller, originally uploaded by sweetbabyboy.

Looking for the hottest family program ever for teens at your library…?? Try this neat sleeveface project!  Defined by the original Sleeveface site as “one or more persons obscuring or augmenting any part of their body or bodies with record sleeve(s) causing an illusion”.

Invite teens to search through their parents’ and grandparents’ old LP vinyl album collections for favorite covers of popular recording artists. They need to bring any props they want to use like matching clothes and accessories. Then you provide the digital camera and upload them to your flickr account (your library has one of course…) right there on the spot…!!

Sleevefacing works best when you have several people involved so all family members can work together. You need someone to stage the shot, adjust the angle of the album or clothing, or even help hold the cover. Believe me it is a lot of fun. It took our whole family to organize these Michael Jackson and John Denver shots last weekend…!!

When you try it, link them here in the comments so we can all enjoy your show…

Try AskWhyKY.org!

Tired of wasting time searching the web? Try http://AskWhyKy.org now! It’s fast, it’s FREE, and it’s easy!

from youtube.com posted with vodpod

This is Your Lucky Day…!!

Harry Potter 027

Originally uploaded by Canton Public Library (MI).

Imagine walking in to find a brand new popular title just ready and waiting for you. What a lucky day that would be and what a great idea for the customers of Canton Public Library…!!

We have tossed this idea around at McCracken County Public Library and this is an solution we might just try.

Imagine Lovely Levynn’s Library in 2028

It is time to reflect, I suppose. Most anniversaries cause one to do that, I know. Happy one year wordpress.com anniversary to me! checking out and checking in began a year ago this week after an exciting trip to New Orleans for ALA 2006. You can learn all kinds of things there, you know?

I will not bore you with links to what I deem to be previous blog highlights. You can find those that might intrigue your own sensibilities in these archives. The most surprising aspect of my posts has been the response to book reviews. If comments on Stephenie Meyer’s New Moon are any indication, Eclipse, will have an amazing release.

Or I could reflect at this time as well upon my past 21 years at McCracken County Public Library. What a wild ride it has been and, I am sure, will continue to be. Believe me, I can feel it!

But what I had rather do is to contemplate where our libraries and technologies might be 21 years from now. Your library in 2028. Can you even imagine? Technology in 2028. Can you begin to dream it?

Lift your hand into the air. Pause and point your finger. Drag open your virtual window and consciously transfer any question. What answers will you receive? What possibly will Levynn’s and our access to education, entertainment, and delight be?

Thoughts, comments, opinions do matter. Please share your own if you care to celebrate with me!

Get a Clue @ your library!

best faces for Get a Clue @ your library

Originally uploaded by circulating.

This week has been a great kickoff for our summer Youth Services programs…!!

Over 250 free lunches were served at the library during the Summer Feeding Program by the Lunch Ladies at St. Mary Schools.

25 “Tweens and Teens joined the You Never Know @ your library program with special programs on Extra Sensory Perception and the initial meeting of the Book Pass Club. This is our first year to offer Summer Reading programs for these age groups.

More than 600 kids and caregivers enjoyed the kickoff of Get a Clue @ your library during three programs by guest performer Mike Hemmelgarn, Comedian and Ventriliquist.

Very Special thanks go to Youth Services team members Cathy Edwards for coordinating the Get a Clue programs and Michelle Batcher for coordinating the YNK programs!

We wont even begin to list all the names of everyone who really helped pull this off but extreme thanks go to ALL library team members for cutting out, stamping, copying, stuffing, printing, announcing, crowd-controlling, bathroom-helping, lost-parent finding, filling in, helping out, checking in and out, and generally being good sports about the wild and crazy days during this first week of Summer Reading…!!

Oh…!! and Domino’s also brought free pizza for the kids at the 1:00 p.m. program on Thursday too…!!

Summer Feeding Program

Summer Feeding Program

Originally uploaded by circulating.

St. Mary School Lunch Ladies are providing FREE lunch Monday – Friday for children 18 years and younger outside in the garden at McCracken County Public Library!

We served 18 children yesterday and 23 lunches today. Each Thursday, through July 27, they will also provide breakfast as well.

Our customers are astounded. We are as well and truly appreciate the opportunity to join these hard working, caring lunch ladies in this most exciting project for the kids in our community!

Early Literacy Station @ CIL2007

early literacy station

Originally uploaded by circulating.

Steve Russell and Deenean Handfield from AWE shared with us their Early Literacy Station. How cool would these be set up at remote location around your community…?

This self contained unit packed with developmentally appropriate software titles encourages exploration across all curriculums for ages 2-8.

We need these in doctor offices, day care centers, supermarkets… where all else…?? Just add a big library logo and a bit of intriguing info to encourage library visits and you reach your customers where they are…!!

Dr. Duck @ Your Library

 

Who’s the coolest duck of them all?
Dr. Duck, and he’s back for the fall.
With his doctor’s bag full of words,
You just know he’s one hip bird.
Join the duck and his friends,for Story Time,
It’s free! It won’t cost you one thin dime.
Every Thursday at ten and one,
There’s books and singing-all sorts of fun.
You don’t need an appointment to see the coolest duck in the aviary,
Just come on in to the McCracken County Library.