Ninja Librarians Recon Team

This week's Ninja Librarians prompt is: What animal would you take with you if you were going on an adventure?

I thought long and hard about this. Without knowing what you might encounter on your adventure it's hard to say what animal would be most useful. I decided on a llama. Llamas are pack animals, so they could carry any supplies you needed. Being from a mountainous region, they are pretty fleet footed so you could potentially ride your llama if the terrain got bad. Llamas also have pretty thick hair, making them warm to snuggle up against. Not to mention the fact that llamas are just plain awesome.

All these prompts got you curious about The Ninja Librarians? Check out the website http://books.sourcebooks.com/ninja-librarians/ .

A Crafty Flashback

With my large order of finger puppets nearly finished, I hope to have new crafts to share with you soon. In the meantime, here are some crafts I've made in the past. 

This one is a Kindle cover with a pocket to store the charging cord

Anyone else remember the Teeny Little Super Guy from Sesame Street?

Big Bang Theory peg dolls

 

My Willy Wonka face

I quite enjoy dressing up for programs, so when we came up with the idea for a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory event I knew I had to do something big. This costume is partly inspired by the description of Willy Wonka in the book and partly by the costume worn by Gene Wilder in the classic film. The costume was a hit with the young participants.

 

Interestingly, the only part of this costume purchased specifically for this event was the purple blazer. Those green pants are a regular part of my wardrobe.

Book Review - Plus One

Title: Plus One
Author: Elizabeth Fama
Genre: Distopia
Similar Books: The Giver by Lois Lowry
                     The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau
Rating:

Slack-jawed engrossing

Summary: In Sol's world, the population is strictly divided - those who live in the day and those who live at night - and there are strict punishments for being out when you don't belong. When Sol's grandfather is dying, she set about to enact a desperate plan to fulfill his final wishes. In the process she gets caught up in a much bigger plot.
My Opinion: At face value this is a very standard teen book. If you let yourself go a little deeper, though, it becomes much more. Sol isn't trying to change the world, just to please her grandfather. She makes rash decisions with little regard for how they will affect the rest of her life (though she does acknowledge from the beginning that her actions are likely to land her in jail). Sol is stubborn almost to the point of becoming unlikable. Fama takes us on a remarkable journey to an amazing conclusion. I can't wait to give this book to patrons.
Other Information: Plus One releases April 8th.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by Netgalley.

Graphic Novel Spotlight: to dance

to dance: a ballerina's graphic novel by Siena Cherson Siegel

I call this one the graphic novel for people who don't like graphic novels. For those who think graphic novels are all about superheroes and monsters and junk (Poppycock of course). This book could hardly be any further removed from superheroes. A memoir of ballet, the images have a fluid sense, the grace of dance itself. Personally, I am quite fond of superhero books but I find myself fond of this book as well. It has a grace to it that is absent from a lot of books.

 

WWW Wednesdays

Today I'm taking the advice of my friend and coworker Abby* who suggests I try this prompt from Should Be Reading. WWW Wednesday asks three questions.

What are you currently reading?
Frenzy by Robert Lettrick
This is the story of 14 year old Heath who is trying to spend a relaxing summer at camp. All is going well when the animals in the surrounding forest begin to attack. This book reads with the intensity of a survival/horror movie.

What did you recently finish reading?
Alien Encounter by Charise Mericle Harper
A goofy book about nine year old Morgan and his new friend Lewis and their misadventures after seeing an alien. 

What do you think you'll read next?
Plus One by Elizabeth Fama


*Abby also has a blog that you should check out if you are so inclined. She is the Lupine Librarian.

Ninja Librarians Recon Team

This week's Recon Team prompt is: Please name 10 scenes from a book that you'd want to experience.

Here is my list.

1. Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt  -  drawing birds from the Audubon book with Doug
2. The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick  -  watching the automaton work for the first time
3. Leviathan by Scott Westerfield  -  meeting the perspicacious loris or exploring the airship
4. Redwall by Brian Jacques  -  the first feast with all of the animals (that food sounds amazing and I'd like to hear the moles talking '"burr oi, zurr")
5. The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis  -  the gathering of the Narnians at the stone table
6. Astronaut Academy by Dave Roman  -  Dinosaur Driving lessons (need I say more?)
7. The Story of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting  -  meeting the Pushmi-pullyu
8. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J. K. Rowling  -  Quidditch!
9. Airman by Eoin Colfer  -  Conor's first glider flight
10. Right Ho, Jeeves by P. G. Wodehouse  -  Pretty much any scene because this book has Gussy Finknottle (which has got to be the funniest name ever) and Bertie trying to be as wise as Jeeves and failing on a spectacular level. 

On a side note, compiling this list has made me realize that most of my favorite scenes are far too dangerous to want to actually experience. Not sure what that says about me.