Library Bumper Stickers

 by Jim Whalen  Rowan Public Library

With the latest long politician season you are probably tired of all the politics. There is audio, video, and the endless mail from all candidates. Someone is always looking for a soundbite. Play that negative or positive short message and instant winner or loser.

Let’s look at some library sound bites. Some are new, some, old, and some bumper stickers. Take a break and enjoy them. 

Libraries always remind me there are good things in this world.

Your library is your paradise.

If you have a garden and a library you have everything you need.

Old librarians never die, they just get renewed.

Where are you headed with your life? Each direction is good if there is a library along the way.

Without libraries what have we? We have no past and no future.

The most important asset of a library goes home at night, the librarian.

I have found the most important thing in my wallet, my library card.

I ransack libraries and find them full of treasures.

If I was a book I want to be a library book so I could be taken home by all sorts of kids.

Librarians working for you since 2600 BC

If truth is beauty how come nobody has their hair done in the library?

A truly great library has something in it to offend everybody.

Libraries raised me.

My two favorite things are libraries and bicycles; they both move forward without wasting anything.

Bad libraries build collections, good libraries build services, and great libraries build communities.

An original idea, that can’t be too hard. The library is filled with them.

When the going gets tough, the tough get a librarian.

You can borrow a book, but you get to keep the ideas.

A book is a magic portal to another dimension

When in doubt visit your library.

I'm a librarian you could not shock me if you tried.

Libraries are forever.

Who needs a librarian when you have Google? Who needs a doctor when you have Webmed?

To keep this short I did not give credit to the writer, but you can always ask a librarian.

Graphic Novels at Rowan Public Library

by Hope Loman Rowan Public Library

In today’s article I would like to focus on a part of the Rowan Public Library collection that most patrons do not access: the graphic novel collection.  There are over 1,000 titles at all three branches in the graphic novel collection and the NC Digital Library, including comics, manga, and stand-alone works in a wide variety of genres and subject matters—even non-fiction graphic novels.

Unfortunately, graphic novels are sometimes stigmatized for not being “real books,” although a 2001 study by literacy professors Cunningham and Stanovich at California State University discovered that reading comics led to greater literacy skills.  There is also the excuse that graphic novels are just for “lazy readers,” when they have actually been proven to be a great resource for reluctant readers because they aid in processing information, teach elements of storytelling, and can be a stepping stone to other literature.

Here are some of the different volumes in the RPL graphic novel collection that might appeal to readers who might be hesitant to browse this area of the collection:

            I Remember Beirut by Zeina Abirached – this award-winning author portrays her childhood in 1980s Lebanon, where fighting between Christians and Muslims divided the city.

            Prez Volume 1: Corndog-in-Chief ­ by Mark Russell – America’s first teenaged president, Beth Ross, must find a way to overthrow a corporate shadow government and saved the world.

            Pyongyang: A Journey in North Korea by Guy Delisle – in 2001, cartoonist Guy Deslisle lived in the capital of North Korea for two months on a work visa, and records what he was able to see of the culture and lives in the communist society there.

            Stone Cold: The Stone Man Mysteries, Book One by Jane Yolen – After being saved from death by Silex, a beast trapped in the form of a gargoyle, young runaway Craig begins a new life by probing a series of murders that has menaced Scotland.

            Monster: A Graphic Novel by Guy Sims – Adapted from the award-winning novel by Walter Dean Myers, this book is about sixteen-year-old Steve Harmon, who is on trial as an accomplice to murder and is trying to come to terms with the course his life has taken.

            The Beatles: All Our Yesterdays by Jason Quinn – Follows the story of the Beatles, from their origins in Liverpool to their journey to Hamburg and rise to fame in the 1960s.

            Girl in Dior by Annie Goetzinger – It’s February 1947, and Clara, a newly hired chronicler and guide to the new Dior fashion house, is hand-picked to be a model.

            March: Books 1 – 3 by John Lewis – These first-hand accounts of the author’s lifelong struggle for civil and human rights detail his involvement in the Freedom Rides and March on Washington in 1963.

            These are just a few of the titles that are available to be checked out by any Rowan Public Library patron. View the catalog online or go to any RPL branch to see what other graphic novels are available to read.

           

           

The Sarcastic Side of Children’s Literature

by Stephanie Reister   Rowan Public Library

Having worked with children’s literature for many years, a lot of my favorite authors are geared toward that audience. Three children’s book authors I enjoy use a sarcastic sense of humor, clever morals, and also appeal to adults.

Shel Silverstein, Roald Dahl and Theodor Geisel were interesting characters in their own rights. They were not known for being cuddly or overly cheerful. They all had military backgrounds. They started their careers writing for adult audiences and then, in a rare move decades ago, crossed over to children’s literature.

I love the accessible poetry and stories of Shel Silverstein, even though he did not give happy endings. Reading his poem “Sarah Sylvia Cynthia Stout Would Not Take the Garbage Out” from Where the Sidewalk Ends gave me pause as a kid. What happens when you keep refusing to take out the garbage? It’s eventually too late!

Silverstein’s sentimental story The Giving Tree even has an edge. The boy starts out adoring the tree, and then as time goes on takes advantage of the tree’s unconditional love. “And the tree was happy” it seems every time she gives something of herself to the boy. As an old man, the tree apologetically can only offer him a stump to sit on. The “boy” sits on the stump, but never thanks the tree, even in old age. This melancholy book is a spark for conversation between adults and children about gratitude.

Roald Dahl is another timeless author. His Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a classic and cautionary tale about raising children without manners. Willy Wonka and the Oompa-Loompas impart their wisdom in a way that is straight forward and clever. The morals are for both the children and their parents. Charlie and his grandpa have the virtue of patience, so their whole family is rewarded. The ending is pretty cheerful given the dark tone of the book, but is still satisfying.

I really can’t leave out Theodor Geisel, the immortal Dr. Seuss. In many of his books, it is the children who are the voice of reason. Adults and even a cat are the ones doing illogical things that need to be corrected.

The Butter Battle Book offers a warning about the makings of war. The Yooks and the Zooks start with the frivolous difference in how they butter their bread. The competition/threat between the groups escalates until each side has a Big-Boy Boomeroo they are willing to drop. Geisel leaves readers wondering whether they will.

The Sneetches is about the prejudice Star-Belly Sneetches show against the Plain-Belly ones. Along comes Sylvester McMonkey McBean with a sly money-making scheme. He has one machine to put stars on bellies and one to take them off. The Sneetches spend all their money going back and forth, until none of them know which kind of Sneetch they really are. They figure out “that Sneetches are Sneetches.”

Silverstein, Dahl and Geisel use humor that delivers messages about the consequences of our actions. These authors on the surface seem cynical and abrasive, but they offer the optimism of being able to change one’s ways. It’s their unusual approach to storytelling that has made them much-loved mainstays in children’s literature for generations.

 

Be Thankful

by Chelsea Rhae Childers Rowan Public Library

After Halloween and before the Christmas tree goes up, don’t forget to be thankful! Every year the spooky costumes and candy bustle in a new desire to be on Santa’s good list. With all the disasters going on around us, it is important to stop and think about how blessed we are. Too often the holidays exhaust our anxieties, bank accounts, and minds! Don’t overlook a chance to be thankful for the blessings all around. Be grateful for the little things we might take for granted such as electricity and running water. Make time to show someone they are appreciated. Thanksgiving began as a day to give thanks for the harvest. What better way to celebrate than to cook up some traditional Thanksgiving dishes? “Thanksgiving Dinner” is generally referred to as a feast. There are too many items on the menu to cover, but here are a few with some history. While the “first Thanksgiving” was not even called that and not annually celebrated until much later, we can’t help but picture the Pilgrims and Native Americans gathered around a big table together. More information on the history of this holiday can be found at the library.

Let’s start with the turkey. William Bradford accounted in his journals that the colonists hunted wild turkeys in the fall of 1621. Since turkey is a uniquely American bird, it became the popular meal of choice after Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863. A turkey is usually large enough to feed many people, making it ideal for family gatherings.

Succotash is an authentic Thanksgiving dish combining sweet corn and lima beans. Tomatoes, green or red peppers and okra may be added. The casserole form, with a light pie crust on top, resembles a pot pie. Beans, tomatoes, and peppers were New World foods, distinguishing this dish as American. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language says that the English word “succotash” comes from the Narragansett Indian word “sohquttahhash” which means broken corn kernels. There is substantial historical evidence this was served at the first Thanksgiving in 1621.

Add succotash to your own table this year with my tasty recipe:

Ingredients:

• 6 slices bacon cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 (16 oz.) package frozen or 2 cups fresh butter beans
• 4 ears fresh corn kernels cut from cob
• 4 large fresh tomatoes cut into chunks or 1 package cherry tomatoes halved
• 2 cups sliced okra
• 1 clove fresh garlic, minced
• 1 sweet onion, chopped
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 6 tablespoons butter
• 1 teaspoon basil
• Dash of smoked paprika

Directions:

1. Cook bacon in large skillet and set aside, leave drippings in pan.
2. Sauté onion and garlic in hot drippings over medium heat 5 min.
3. Stir in corn cook about 6 min. stirring often.
4. Pour in chicken broth, beans, and okra.
5. Add butter, basil, and tomatoes. Cook for about 10 minutes or until everything is tender but not mushy and most of the liquid has evaporated.
6. Pour into serving bowl and crumble bacon on top, then sprinkle with smoked paprika.

For a vegetarian option, replace chicken broth with veg broth. Omit bacon and replace drippings with 2 tablespoons olive oil.

Green bean casserole is delicious and has been known to convince most children to eat their vegetables. Invented in 1955 by the Campbell Soup Company to promote the use of cream of mushroom soup, this was the ultimate casserole. It was originally called the Green Bean Bake and contained these six ingredients: cream of mushroom soup, green beans, milk, soy sauce, pepper, and French’s Fried Onions. This recipe is still available at www.Campbells.com.

Pie anyone? The first pies were filled with meat! The colonists would not have had the butter or flour needed for the crust, and certainly not the sugar. So why do we eat pie on Thanksgiving? Sarah Josepha Hale, a widow with five children, was a huge fan of this holiday. She worked as a writer and magazine editor to support her family. Hale lobbied for 17 years for Thanksgiving to become a national holiday as she thought it would help unite the country as a moral benefit for families and communities. Lincoln’s declaration of the last Thursday in November (changed six years later to the third Thursday) as a national day of Thanksgiving was then promoted by Hale when she published recipes for turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie. According to Eating in America: A History, "Both squash and pumpkin were baked, usually by being placed whole in the ashes or embers of a dying fire and they were moistened afterwards with some form of animal fat, or maple syrup, or honey." It's likely that Hale was inspired by those stories when pumpkin pie appeared in her culinary descriptions.

Here’s a fun Pumpkin Sugar Cookie recipe, courtesy of Aida Garwood in the Children’s room.

Ingredients:

• 1 Cup unsalted butter
• 1 Cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 egg
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 cups all purpose flour
• 1 Cup pumpkin puree

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350° F.
2. Mix in a bowl butter (room temperature) and sugar until smooth, at least 3 minutes. Mix the pumpkin puree until smooth.
3. Beat in vanilla extract and egg.
4. In a separate bowl combine baking powder and salt with flour and add a little at a time to the wet ingredients. The dough will be very stiff. If it becomes too stiff for your mixer turn out the dough onto a countertop surface. Wet your hands and finish off kneading the dough by hand.
5. Chill the dough 20 min. Divide into workable batches, roll out onto a floured surface and cut.
6. Bake at 350 for 7 minutes. Let cool on the cookie sheet until firm enough to transfer to a cooling rack. Yields about 36 cookies.

A wonderful children’s book about the woman who saved Thanksgiving is, Thank You, Sarah by Laurie Halse Anderson, and can be found at all 3 branches of the library. A few more seasonally related children’s books are:  All of Me! A book of thanks by Molly Bang, Thank You for ME! By Marion Dane Bauer, In November by Cynthia Rylant, and Run, Turkey, Run! By Diane Mayr.

Thanks for being thankful this holiday season and we hope to see you at the library soon!