Library Notes By Erika Kosin
The Dystopian Novel for Teens

Many people dream of living in a perfect world. A place where everyone is equal and there are no worries, but in the attempt to create that perfect world, the created society usually ends up as a dystopian one. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a Dystopia as an imaginary place where people lead dehumanized and often fearful lives. The Dystopian novel is usually set in a future society that is repressed and tightly controlled by some governmental entity, but many times the people living their do not know any differently.

With today’s political climate and the popularity of book The Hunger Games, many teens have found a new genre of fiction to cling to. While The Hunger Games has brought this genre to the front of mainstream literature there are many books, some classic such as Fahrenheit 451 (1953), that have broached this idea of a controlled society that “thinks” they are an enlightened, utopian existence. Some dystopian novels that can be found at the Rowan Public Library for Teens include:

The Giver by Lois Lowry – Imagine a society where everyone is the same. There is no color, no love, no choices and no knowledge. Jonas lives in a world just like this and everyone is happy, but on his twelfth birthday he learns that he will be the receiver of memories, the person who knows what life was like before the sameness. As he learns about what life could be, he is faced with the dilemma of leaving home to live a full life or staying and keeping those around him in the dark and happy.

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld – What if at the age of 16 everyone in society underwent plastic surgery and became perfect versions of themselves. If all choices, views and beliefs were erased making everyone pleasant and compliant. Set 300 years into the future, Tally Youngblood is about to become a “pretty” when she follows her friend Shay to the smoke, a village of “uglies” who refuse to undergo the transformation. As she learns more about the people of the smoke and the world of the pretties, will Tally decide to stay true to herself or will she go to the city to become a Pretty after all.

Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix – Twelve year old Luke Garner is the illegal third child in his family and has to stay inside because of a new housing development for government officials being built behind his home. He lives in a future America where droughts have caused a food shortage causing the government to create a strict population law that limits families to two children. If a “Shadow Child” is found, the population police will either kill or imprison the child, therefore forcing these children to either live in the shadows or take on new identities. With government officials moving in, could there really be other shadow children in the new homes?

Matched by Ally Condie – Cassia Reyes has been looking forward to her Matching Ceremony for a long time. When she finds out the Society has chosen her best friend Xander to be her perfect mate, she is both happy and surprised since your mate is usually from a different city and never someone you know. When Cassia receives her microchip with the information about her match on it, a boy named Ky quickly flashes on the screen before Xander, making Cassia question the validity of the Matching process. Could there actually be more than one perfect match out there for each person? Could the society have made a mistake and picked the wrong person for her? As she questions the matching process, she discovers that her world is not as perfect as it seems.

Library Notes / April 30, 2012 / Dara L. Cain




Books for Babies



As a mother (and a Children’s Librarian) I have enjoyed reading to my daughter since the day she was born. She’s eighteen months old now and has developed a love for books that I hope will continue throughout her life. It is amazing to see that if you give her a choice between a book and a toy nine times out of ten she chooses the book to look at the pictures. Each night before bed we read a story together and she loves to turn the pages and name some of the pictures in the story that she knows.

Why do I read aloud to my baby? Reading provides a wonderful opportunity to spend quality time with my daughter and to open her mind to the exploration of the world around her. This shared activity teaches her about communication and introduces her to concepts such as stories, letters, numbers, shapes, and colors in an entertaining way. Reading aloud also helps build her listening, memory, and vocabulary skills. It’s never too early to start educating your child.

Do you want to know a great thing about reading aloud? It doesn’t take any special skills or tools. All that is needed is your time, your little one, and a great selection of books to choose from. I would love to share with you some fun books that my daughter has enjoyed listening to that you might like to share with your child before bed or anytime during the day.

I have enjoyed reading Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See? by Eric Carle to my daughter since she was born. This is a great story with simple repetitive text and clear pictures on solid white background. Babies are drawn to these types of illustrated books with bold and starkly contrasting colors. Some other great titles are I Like Black and White by Barbara Jean Hicks, Who Are They? By Tana Hoban, and I Kissed the Baby by Mary Murphy.

Karen Katz is the author of some amazing board books for children including Where Is Baby’s Bellybutton?, Ten Tiny Babies, Counting Kisses, and Baby Loves Spring. My daughter loves these board books because all of the stories are about babies which she seems to be fascinated with. When your child begins to respond to what’s inside of books select board books such as the ones by Karen Katz with pictures of babies or familiar objects that they can relate to. Board books are great when your child starts to use his hands to grab because they are sturdier than pictures books and are easier for a child to hold when they are learning to turn the pages.

When your child starts to become independent and can do things like sit up in the bathtub and eat finger foods, find simple stories about daily routines. My daughter loves the book Tubby about a baby who loves playing in the bathtub by Leslie Patricelli and Bubbles, Bubbles a Sesame Street Workshop board book with a lot of repetition. “Bubbles bubbles on my nose. Bubbles bubbles on my toes, Bubbles bubbles in my hair. Bubbles Bubbles everywhere!” Books that invite babies to repeat simple words and phrases is great for when you child starts to talk.

Books with different textures (soft, scratchy, crinkly) and mirrors are also wonderful for this age group. The author Fiona Watt does some fun board books that are touch and feel that my daughter loves to get her hands on. That’s Not My Pony… It’s Mane Is Too Fluffy, That’s Not My Fairy…Her Dress Is Too Shiny, and That’s Not My Train…It’s Wheels Are Too Squishy are just a few of the tiles that she has written. Fold-out books or books with flaps that open for a surprise are also engaging and exciting for a child. My daughter loves Eric Hill’s Spot series. Her favorite is Where’s Spot. A mother dog in search of her lost puppy searches around the house and finds eight other animals hiding behind the concealed flaps until finally she finds her puppy.

Once your child gets a little bit older read whatever stories your child asks for. It doesn’t matter if it’s the same book every night for weeks and weeks because you want your child to listen to stories that they are interested in whether it be ducks, puppies, trains, or trucks. My daughter loves Duck and Goose by Tad Hills and What Puppies Do Best by Laura Numeroff and I can’t tell you how many times I have read those stories. I continue to read them to her because she loves them and I want her to one day love to read.

One of the best ways to encourage your child to grow up to be a reader is to have books around your house. I have several bins of books in my daughter’s room that she likes to pull out and look through. I also keep some of her books mixed in with her toys. In addition to the books you own, take advantage of those you can borrow from the library. Rowan Public Library has storytime just for babies, too which is a fun way for your child to enjoy stories with other babies their age.

Library Notes, Pam Everhardt Bloom, April 23, 2012


In Lieu of “The Hunger Games”

I must admit; I’ve yet to read the “Hunger Games.” I will read it, if for no other reason than I promised a child and also because friends from 10 to 70 tell me they love it. Naturally I’ve heard fabulous reviews; however, one reviewer’s comment that I can’t forget was on NPR and ended with the announcer’s confession that he just wanted to read a Jane Austen after reading books from this dystopian genre. To be perfectly honest, his voice sounded like he needed a Jane Austen novel – desperately. His review led me to the young adult section at the library. His lament brought me to choices, while not purely utopian, were definitely not dystopian and highly appropriate for many of us who still enjoy a bit of mystery and magic, with a good dose of hope and moral purpose woven into the story.

My first stop was at author Madeleine L’Engle, perhaps best known for “A Wrinkle in Time.” L’Engle was a prolific writer, publishing over 60 books. In the Dictionary of Literary Biography, Marygail G. Parker writes of “a peculiar splendor” describing this author’s body of work. Many of her books are found within the young adult section of the library. Do not let that designation deter those of you beyond those young adult years. As L’Engle once said, “You have to write the book that wants to be written. And if the book will be too difficult for grown-ups, then you write it for children.”

In “The Arm of the Starfish” and “Dragon in the Water”, characters Meg Murray and Calvin O’Keefe from a “Wrinkle in Time” are now married with equally interesting children. “The Arm of the Starfish” combines the science and science fiction possibilities of the regenerative properties of starfish with mystery, politics, and intrigue and introduces the reader to lovable and sometimes realistically flawed characters. Book two, “Dragons in the Water” takes the O’Keefe family to Venezuela where they quickly become involved in stolen art and murder, along with native healers and the ecology of village life. Both books offer more than mere mysteries. Her characters learn lessons from life, lessons about themselves and others. For her characters, introspection is as important as any of the action in moving the story to its conclusion.

I chose a third book for no reason other than the title, “The Lost Songs” and its categorization as a Junior Library Guild selection. Caroline Cooney, award winning author of more than 90 books, tells the story of a southern community and the lost songs of teenager Lutie Painter’s ancestors. She intertwines these songs in surprising ways into the lives of Lutie and her friends and acquaintances, Doria, Kelvin, and Train. Like L’Engle, Cooney’s characters delve into an examination of life that leads to sometimes unsettled conclusions and I reread the last chapters for pure pleasure and because I didn’t want the story to end.

I find that L’Engle and Cooney weave a theme of hope and moral purpose throughout their stories without being preachy. Perhaps, that is also what the NPR reviewer needed from Jane Austen’s books. I “hope” to find the same magic in “The Hunger Games.” It’s the next book on my reading list.

LIBRARY NOTES


APRIL 2, 2012

Lynn Denison



Isn’t it refreshing to know that the word “civility” is still a word found in our dictionaries and is still practiced? The word is defined as a noun which means “respectful and considerate behavior that enables us to live and work together—locally and globally—embracing our shared humanity and interpersonal connections.”

Our newest book at Rowan Public Library on the subject is Saving Civility: 52 Ways to Tame Rude, Crude & Attitude for a Polite Planet by Sara Hacala. Ms. Hacala is a certified etiquette and protocol consultant. Her premise is that we are all part of the problem of some of the rude and crude behavior we frequently see in today’s world and we all need to be part of the solution. The book is an easy read but a very challenging one. Some of the chapter titles are “Mind Your Cyber Manners,” “Celebrate Diversity,” “Just be Nice,” “Work at Workplace Civility,” “See Yourself as Others See You,” and “Respect the Boundaries of Others.” In our day-to-day lives we see hostile and polarizing political interactions, bullying, tasteless and tactless comments delivered without discretion, disrespect for older adults, and the list goes on. Although Ms. Hacala bemoans our often modern boorishness, this is not a book of manners per se but rather one filled with practical ways for us as individuals to strive to make the world a more enriching, pleasant place to live. I felt the book was made even more meaningful by the thought provoking quotations that are liberally sprinkled throughout.

The Meaning of Nice: How Compassion and Civility Can Change Your Life (and the World) by Joan Duncan Oliver is another new book that, although light and easy to read, explores deep questions about the nature of human virtues such as honesty, kindness, empathy, loyalty, and just plain being nice. The author has been an editor for The New York Times Magazine and editor in chief of New Age Journal. She was the founding editor of People, US Weekly, and Self magazines.

Dr. P. M. Forni is an award-wining professor at Johns Hopkins University who teaches courses on the theory and history of manners. His book, The Civility Solution: What to Do When People Are Rude, is prefaced by this quote from James Katz: “If anything characterizes the twenty-first century, it’s our inability to restrain ourselves for the benefit of other people.”

For a really fun, witty read try Talk to the Hand: The Utter Bloody Rudeness of the World Today, or Six Good Reasons to Stay Home and Bolt the Door, by Lynne Truss. Ms. Truss first tackled the subject of poor grammar in her multi-million-copies-sold book Eats, Shoots, and Leaves. In this next book she takes on the serious subject of civility in a way that will have you laughing as you applaud her ability to defend the importance of maintaining such virtues as politeness, courtesy, respect for others and self control.

If you are interested in relaxing, yet enlightening reading, select one or all of the above books on your next visit to a branch of the Rowan Public Library.

Gretchen Beilfuss Witt


March 18, 2012
Catesby Volumes
Most have heard of Audubon, but a century before his work, another naturalist set the bar for excellence in both study and illustration. Mark Catesby came to the American Colony of Virginia in April of 1712 accompanying his sister to Williamsburg, where her husband Dr. William Cocke was a successful and politically active physician. Cocke introduced Catesby to a number of influential gentlemen of the colony also very interested in the scientific analysis of the natural world. Among those in Catesby's circle was William Byrd II, a fellow of the Royal Society. In September of 1712, Catesby and Byrd journeyed on the Pamunkey River to observe the nature of the region. This trip was the beginning of a lifelong friendship between the two men.

Catesby continued his study and trips to the American colonies throughout the next few years and in between 1722 -1726, Catesby explored the Carolina colonies. Deliberately choosing to observe each area more than once but during alternate seasons, he captured the flora and fauna in different states.

Returning in 1726 to London, Catesby immediately sought a way to publish his work. Not having the money to send the drawings to Amsterdam or Paris to engravers and wanting to maintain control over his own work, he persuaded Joseph Goupy, a printmaker, to teach him how to etch plates. He divided his illustrations into two main groups, the first containing birds and attendant plants, the second fish, reptiles, and amphibians, etc. He spent the next twenty years working on his book, supporting himself by working in commercial nurseries growing plants from seeds obtained on his travels. The printed etchings and descriptions were sold by subscription. Put together as folios, the text and drawings had to be printed on two different presses and then brought together. Initially Catesby planned to make a plate for each plant and animal; while the first few plates contain only a single object, he began to put animals and plants on the same plates. During this timeframe most books on natural history had few illustrations and those were drawn from dead animals. His work was unique in that the plants, fish, and birds were sketched from life adding to the appeal and accuracy of the images. For the first edition, he colored the printed etchings himself until enough money came in from subscriptions to hire colorists to follow his "master set." These folios were bound as the subscriber wished, many as two volumes like our own, and others in three volumes like that of Windsor Castle in England. This magnificent work of both science and art was owned by kings and queens, royal governors, members of the Royal Society, as well as scholars and naturalists from Philadelphia to St. Petersburg.

Due to the generosity of the Craige family and as part of the Craige Collection, Rowan Public Library is the proud owner of a set of Mark Catesby's The natural history of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahama Islands. These books, carefully preserved, are displayed on the lower level of the Headquarters library.

Sara Campbell


Rowan Public Library

February 10, 2012


The dresses, the drama, the affairs. No, I’m not talking about Hollywood, but rather PBS’ popular series Downton Abbey. Set at the end of the Edwardian Age, it was a time when the British class system was very rigid. It also marked a time of rapid change. War was fast approaching and industrialization was changing the life they’d known. Attention and concern was shifting towards the poor and the status of women. It would be the last time corsets would be worn as a standard of everyday life, and women’s suffrage was gaining momentum. Many authors and book titles that are still well-known, were in their prime – Rudyard Kipling, Oscar Wilde, Frances Hodges Burnett’s The Secret Garden, J. M. Barrie’s Peter Pan, and Beatrix Potter’s Peter Rabbit, just to name a few. Albert Einstein was working on his mathematical theories, and the 1908 Summer Olympics had just concluded in London. If you would like to read more about this time period, try some of these books available from Rowan Public Library.

The Remains of the Day is a novel by Kazuo Ishiguro which was also made into a film in 1993 starring Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson. Ishiguro’s novel, told in diary form, relates the life of a butler, Stevens, and his time spent in service to Lord Darlington. Stevens obviously holds his dignity and honor above all, as becomes evident over his missed life of love with Miss Kenton and his unwavering loyalty to Lord Darlington. As with Downton Abbey, class is highly evident, along with Stevens resolve to hold oneself to impossibly high standards. Banter and Stevens lack of humor becomes a joke in itself. British to the core, The Remains of the Day and a good scone will not leave you wanting.

Daisy Goodwin’s The American Heiress tells the story from the young American wannabe heiress point of view. In 1893, Cora Cash’s mother is set on finding a title for her daughter. Cora knows all the ins and outs of American society but quickly finds that her spoiled attitudes are not appreciated in European society. Becoming a Duchess seemed like a grand plan, but Cora quickly discovers that it’s not all fun and games. Can she fit in with her very proper mother-in-law who dotes on her son, a house full of servants who want nothing to do with her, and life in such a strange place?

In 1911, England was a blissful place if you were one of the lucky elite. George V had just been crowned and a common pastime was to throw lavish parties. One such party, The Shakespeare Ball, treated 600 members of the British upper class to a concert hall which had been transformed into an Elizabethan-Italian garden. A blue sky covered the roof, lower seat boxes became yew hedges (complete with birds), cypress trees lined the edges of the hall and the upper levels were designed to looked like marble terraces. The entertainers were mostly real-life descendents of Shakespeare himself. Most did not realize that in a few short years, they would be in the midst of a world war, because in 1911, England was enjoying The Perfect Summer, by Juliet Nicholson.

Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey by the Countess of Carnarvon takes you behind the scenes of Highclare Castle, the setting for Downton Abbey. Almina was the daughter of banking tycoon Alfred de Rothschild and married the Earl of Carnarvon at age 19, bringing with her a substantial dowry. She was able to pay off the Earl’s £150,000 debt and still manage to have enough left of over for them to live in style, hosting parties for 500 with a staff of eighty. All this changed when World War I descended upon England and the house was turned into a hospital and convalescent home.

For all these Downton Abbey read-alikes and many more, look no further than Rowan Public Library. You can read a book and pretend you are a countess or an earl – if you can find someone to bring you tea.

Library Notes / February 6, 2012


Dara L. Cain

The 2012 Newbery and Caldecott Winners Are…


If you haven’t already heard January was a very exciting time in the library community! The Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association has announced this year’s Newbery and Caldecott Medal winners for titles published in the previous year. Writer Jack Gantos has won this year’s Newbery Medal for Dead End in Norvelt. In 2001, Gantos received the Newbery Honor Award for his book Joey Pigza Loses Control. This year’s Caldecott Medal has been awarded to Chris Raschka, illustrator and writer of A Ball for Daisy. Raschka also won the Caldecott Medal in 2006 for The Hello, Goodbye Window.

The Newbery Award was established in 1922 and became the first children’s book award in the world. This prestigious award is named in honor of eighteenth-century English bookseller John Newbery. The intent of the award is "to encourage original creative work in the field of books for children” and “is awarded to the author for most outstanding contribution to children’s literature.” Set in a real Pennsylvania town created during the Great Depression the character Jack Gantos (named after the author) manages to find himself “grounded for life” at the beginning of his summer vacation in Dead End in Norvelt. Jack’s punishment is to help an arthritic old neighbor, Miss Volker type obituaries filled with stories about the citizens who have lived in the town. As one obituary leads to another Jack finds himself entangled with twisted promises, voices from the past, a homemade airplane, Girl Scout cookies, Hells Angels, and possibly…a murder. In this funny adventure story Jack learns that being grounded may have its unexpected share of surprises as he learns about facing death and his fears.

It became apparent to many people after the Newbery Award was established that the artists designing picture books for children were equally deserving of recognition and encouragement. As a result, the Caldecott Medal was established in 1938 and was named in honor of the nineteenth –century English illustrator Randolph J. Caldecott. “This medal is to be given to the artist who had created the most distinguished picture book of the year.” Every child has a special toy and in the wordless picture book A Ball for Daisy illustrated by Chris Raschka most children will be able to relate to Daisy, an energetic black-eared dog whose favorite red ball is deflated by a big brown dog. Daisy is heartbroken but learns that sometimes losses can lead to unanticipated gains when Daisy and the big brown dog become friends and the big dog gives her a blue ball that they both can play with together. Raschka is successful in portraying the emotions of the story without the necessity of words by using ink, watercolor, and gouache artwork. He effectively creates large close-ups of Daisy to emphasize emotion and smaller panels for the action scenes.

Dead End in Norvelt and Daisy’s Red Ball can be found at Rowan Public Library!!! Remember, to also look for this year’s Newbery Honor Books: Inside Out & Back Again, written by Thanhha Lai and Breaking Stalin’s Nose, written and illustrated by Eugene Yelchin. For the younger audience be sure to check out the Caldecott Honor Books awarded this year: Blackout, illustrated and written by John Rocco, Grandpa Green, illustrated and written by Lane Smith, and Me…Jane illustrated and written by Patrick McDonnell.

Library Notes – January 20, 2012


Pam Everhardt Bloom

Sweeten Your Life


Children sometimes provide the best lessons. My three year old granddaughter, Gracie, was visiting one weekend and she was particularly sweet and agreeable. When I jokingly asked her how she got so sweet, her very serious reply was, “I read books.” Gracie’s insight made me think seriously about how literature and stories have the potential to affect all of us, no matter our age.

When was the last time you sat down with a beautiful picture book? Books that we often think of as children’s books are truly “everybody” books and offer much more than lovely illustrations. Perhaps it’s time for a trip to the children’s section at your local library. Like Gracie, you might just find these reads make you and your life a bit sweeter.

Patricia Polacco is an illustrator and author with great stories to share. “Pink and Say” is an unexpected Civil War story handed down through the author’s family, a story for all ages. Two other of her books based on true stories are “Thank You, Mr. Falker” and its sequel, “The Junkyard Wonders.” To describe these last two books as stories of children with learning difficulties doesn’t even begin to describe the magic found in Polacco’s books. Treat yourself to these readings and most likely, you’ll be back for more Polacco selections.

Eve Bunting weaves a story of loss and step-families and a hope for growth in “The Memory String,” illustrated by Ted Rand. Like Patricia Polacco, her books are numerous and this treasure will surely entice you to explore others such as “Butterfly House,” “So Far From the Sea,” and “Night Tree.”

For your favorite nonconformist or for the pure pleasure of a good story, check out a copy of Paul Fleishman’s “Westlandia,” illustrated by Kevin Hawkes, and follow the adventures of Wesley and his crop of “swist.” Follow up this celebration of uniqueness with other books such as “Duck, Rabbit” by Amy Krouse Rosenthal. We all need a reminder that everything depends on how you look at it and the illustrations by Tom Lichtenheld will not disappoint. As an added bonus, it’s a great read-aloud.

Jeff Brumble teams with artist Gail de Marcken to create stories of good deeds in “The Quiltmaker’s Gift” and “The Quiltmaker’s Journey.” The illustrations are so detailed and numerous that you may find yourself creating your own tales to extend Brumble’s stories. Following this same theme, “Miss Rumphius,” story and pictures by Barbara Cooney, is a beautiful reminder of the need to spread goodness and beauty through the world and the possibilities that can make it happen.

As you renew your acquaintance with picture books, don’t neglect two timeless stories for all ages, “The Story of Ferdinand” by Munro Leaf and “The Giving Tree” by Shel Silverstein. Life will seem sweeter – guaranteed!

Library Notes


Lynn Denison

January 15, 2012



Someday I’m going to finish this book. . .file these papers. . .paint this room. . .try this recipe. . .balance my checkbook. . . . If these or any other “some day” phrases are on your list of things to do that you never get done, then maybe “someday I’ll stop procrastinating” is also on that list.

Procrastination statistics show that procrastination is a large and seriously growing problem in the United States. Though millions of Americans add “stop procrastinating” to their annual list of New Year’s resolutions, it ends up becoming just one more thing to put off doing. Fifty percent of college students report that they procrastinate consistently and consider it to be a problem; in the general population, chronic procrastination affects twenty-five percent of adults; and over ninety-five percent of procrastinators would like to reduce their delaying ways. Nearly all of us fall into that category occasionally.

At Rowan Public Library you can find the fully revised and updated edition of the classic guide PROCRASTINATION: Why You Do It, What to Do About It NOW, by Jane B. Burka, PhD and Lenora M. Yuen, PhD. Their research is based in part on their renowned procrastination workshops that they have presented through the years. Their book delves into the many and varied reasons why we procrastinate, some of which are feelings of doubt and pressure, a complex relationship with time, and neurological and interpersonal roots. The most important result of reading this easy-to-use and sometimes humorous book is to obtain resources on how to stop procrastinating and start getting things done.

Another new book on the subject is The Procrastination Equation. The author, Piers Steel, PhD, is one of the world’s foremost researchers and speakers on the science of motivation and procrastination. He is also an admitted practicing procrastinator from an early age. In a recent article in the Canadian Press on the launching of his new book, Dr. Steel notes sardonically that the book is “just in time for last Christmas.” Dr. Steel tackles head-on the widely accepted perception that perfectionists are prone to putting things off. Instead, he writes that the personality trait that stands out among the rest in predicting procrastination is impulsiveness. The book contains a questionnaire to help readers figure out where they fall in the ranks of procrastination. Techniques for dealing with the problem are given throughout the book. One coping mechanism that Steel points out that could be useful to anyone working often with a computer is to turn off any icon that indicates that new e-mail is coming in. Instead only check e- mail at natural breaks in the work flow. He claims that an action as simple as that can add up to a 10 percent increase in productivity, equaling over an extra month per year. The book is sprinkled throughout with interesting quotes from famous people, some of them humorous. My favorite is by Mark Twain, “Never put off till tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow.”

Two older but still vital books in this area that are worth exploring are It’s About Time: The Six Styles of Procrastination and How to Overcome Them by Dr. Linda Sapadin and Jack Maquire and The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Dr. Stephen Covey. Dr. Covey’s book has sold more than 15 million copies in 38 languages. As an interesting aside, in 2003 Dr. Covey received the National Fatherhood Award, which as the father of nine and the grandfather of 43, he says is the most meaningful award he has ever received!

Perhaps you’ll feel inspired one of these days to stop by Rowan Public Library for one of the above books or for some of the other informative, inspiring, and entertaining items we have awaiting you at one of our three branches.

Library Notes

Edward Hirst

The New Year brings a wealth of new resources available online through NC Live. You can access these anytime from the comfort of your home or from within the library. You only need an RPL library card number and PIN for access from home.


Art & Architecture Complete: Magazines, journals, trade publications and books covering a variety of art and architecture subjects including antiques, art and art history, interior and landscape design, and more.

Biography Reference Center: More than 450,000 biographies, including actors, authors, explorers, historical figures, inventors, musicians, Presidents of the United States, scientists and many others.

Entrepreneurial Studies Source: Covers topics relevant to entrepreneurship and small business, including key magazines, reference books, case studies, and company profiles.

Environment Complete: Journals on topics including agriculture, renewable energy sources, natural resources, marine & freshwater science, geography, pollution & waste management, environmental technology, urban planning, and others.

Legal Information Reference Center: Contains hundreds of full-text publications and thousands of legal forms. The full-text legal reference books are provided through Nolo, the nation's oldest and most-respected provider of legal information for consumers and small businesses.

Points of View: Provides students with a series of essays that present multiple sides of a current issue. This resource provides more than 280 topics, each with an overview (objective background/description), point (argument), counterpoint (opposing argument), and Critical Thinking Guide.

Small Business Reference Center: Offers a wide variety of information on small business and entrepreneurial subject areas, common business types, a help and advice section, and information on how to create business plans that lead to successful funding.

Small Engine Repair Reference Center: Detailed, user-friendly repair guides for all types of small engines.

In addition NC LIVE has upgraded other resources, with additional content and new features:

Academic Search Complete: Magazines and journals on many subjects, includes peer-reviewed and scholarly works.

Business Source Complete: Journals, peer-reviewed publications, magazines on a wide range of topics including marketing, management, accounting, finance and economics.

Literary Reference Center Plus: Articles and criticisms, including peer-reviewed, bios and interviews, novels, short stories, poems, and literary magazines.

MAS Complete: For high school and junior college students. They include magazines, original historical documents, such as The Bill of Rights, The Constitution, The Federalist Papers and the speeches of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Novelist K-8 Plus: Reader's advisory service for fiction and nonfiction titles, designed to support the curriculum and kids’ pleasure reading. This is easily searchable by author, title, series name, plot, and lexile level with author read-alikes and lists of award-winners.

Library Notes


Marissa Creamer

A new year stretches before you; a clean, blank slate offering endless possibilities. This is your chance to re-invent yourself, or at the very least, to make some improvements to the current model. If you have made any New Year’s resolutions, you are following a tradition going back to the early Romans. The Romans named the first month of the year after Janus, the Roman god depicted with two faces. Since he was able to look back at the old year and forward to the new, Janus became the symbol for resolutions, and many Romans sought forgiveness from their enemies before the beginning of the New Year.

The Puritans also believed the New Year was a good time for renewal. They tried to make the holiday an occasion for changing the way they lived their lives, and often made vows to overcome their weaknesses, make use of their talents, and make themselves useful to others.

Today, our most common New Year’s resolutions are to lose weight, exercise more, and stop smoking. We also vow to become more organized, stick to a budget, and save more money. Despite our best intentions, resolutions can be difficult to keep. Experts say that it takes about 21 days for a new activity to become a habit, and six months for it to become a part of your personality.

No matter what your resolution, Rowan Public Library can probably help you achieve your goal. The library has books, CDs, and DVDs about diet, cooking, exercise, financial management, home organization, and more.

If you have resolved to eat fresher, healthier meals and avoid mass-produced items, check out “Cook This Now,” by New York Times food columnist Melissa Clark. Subtitled “120 Easy and Delectable Dishes You Can’t Wait to Make,” this book takes a seasonal approach to cooking, using fresh, in-season ingredients and fewer processed foods. Recipes are arranged by season and individual month, with dishes including starters, entrees, sides and desserts. Start the New Year with “Crisp Roasted Chicken with Chickpeas, Lemons, and Carrots with Parsley Gremolata”; welcome spring with “Green Poached Eggs with Spinach and Chives”; celebrate summer with “Berry Summer Pudding with Rose-scented Custard”; and warm up autumn with “Butternut Squash Risotto with Pistachios and Lemon.”

If your resolution involves becoming more organized, the library has a wide selection of organization titles, including several by Peter Walsh, acclaimed organization and clutter expert. In his latest, “Lighten Up: Love What You Have, Have What You Need, Be Happier With Less,” Walsh focuses on money and debt. His goal is to “help you achieve a personal balance that brings you happiness and the courage to choose a richly rewarding life over the mindless pursuit of stuff.”

You can find these titles, as well as the latest issue of magazines such as “Health,” “Cooking Light,” “Vegetarian Times,” and “Runner’s World,” at Rowan Public Library. Stop by and find materials to help you make your New Year’s resolution a reality.

LIBRARY NOTES: ANNIVERSARIES


PAUL BIRKHEAD – DECEMBER 25, 2011

Something I always enjoy at the dawn of a new year is learning who or what will be marking an anniversary during the next twelve months. Did you know that 2011 marked the 100th year Rowan Public Library has been in existence? The library has celebrated all year with special programs and guest speakers at each location.

The year 2012 will see continued interest in all subjects concerning the American Civil War. Battles marking their 150th anniversary this year include those at Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Fredericksburg, and Antietam. Rowan Public Library has an extensive collection of books and DVDs that discuss these events as well as others. Do you have an ancestor (or two) who fought in the Civil War? If so, you’ll want to stop by the Edith M. Clark History Room on the third floor of the Headquarters library in Salisbury. There you’ll find thousands of books, microforms, manuscripts, and other materials that can help you discover your own genealogical gems.

In the literary world, there are several anniversaries that ought to be remembered this year. It’s amazing to me that, even after all this time, the following works continue to be read (or watched in movie form) and loved by subsequent generations.

200 years ago (1812) – Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss

100 years ago (1912) – Riders of the Purple Sage by Zane Grey

75 years ago (1937) – Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck and The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

50 years ago (1962) – Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury

25 years ago (1987) – Patriot Games by Tom Clancy and Beloved by Toni Morrison

As you can see, there are several literary milestones that you’ll have a chance to celebrate with the library this year. Are there two or three titles on that list that you’ve never read - or has it been a long time ago? Stop by Rowan Public Library and check out our collection. We’ll be here to help you and looking forward to our next one hundred years serving Rowan County.

Gretchen Beilfuss Witt


December 11, 2011

Holy Days, Holidays

This time of year can be hectic for everyone but special as well. We each have our own unique traditions to observe either community-wide or family specific, religious or cultural. I am always curious as to how these observances got started. Some customs began eons ago – our custom of giving gifts dates back to early Roman winter solstice celebrations - and some are much more contemporary.

Valerie Menards' "The Latino Holiday Book" describes two Hispanic-American contributions to main stream Christmas celebrations. Cuetlaxochitl, is the Aztec name for the beautiful la flor de nochebuena or the flower of Christmas Eve. One story claims that a poor girl in Mexico wishing to take flowers to church was instructed by an angel to gather weeds and take them as an offering. These weeds were miraculously transformed into poinsettias. The U.S. name comes from the first U.S. minister to Mexico who brought the plant to the United States in 1829, Joel R. Poinsett. Luminaries are an even more complex amalgam of traditions. Native Americans in New Mexico, adapting their bonfire custom, made little fires outside churches and houses. In the 19th century when Chinese paper lanterns came into the picture; luminaries were placed in paper bags. These little fires symbolically light the way for the journey to Bethlehem.

Kwanzaa began in the 1966 by Maulana Karenga as an effort to establish a cultural observance, specifically for African-American and others of African descent; a way to celebrate heritage. Using Swahili, a common language among much of East Africa, and synthesizing elements from African harvest festivals, Kwanzaa is celebrated from December 26-New Year's Day. In "Kwanzaa: An African-American Celebration of Culture and Cooking" Eric Copage shares recipes as well as cultural and historical samples to illustrate Kwanzaa principles and experiences.

There are many older practices commemorating the Christmas season. The practice of sending Christmas cards began in England with Sir Henry Cole, a founder of the Victoria and Albert Museum. By the mid-1840s the custom was adopted by the royal family and as postage became less expensive more people participated. Cards in the United States were too expensive until a lithographer Louis Prang around 1875 mass produced them. Other customs signify the ending of the holiday season. Historically, Christmas Day was the beginning of the twelve days of Christmas ending on Twelfth Night or Epiphany when the Magi came to visit the Christ Child. Special cakes were made and gifts exchanged. In Shakespeare's time, Twelfth Night was one of masquerades and revelry. An almond in a sliver of cake brought good luck to the finder. Another tradition has the Christmas season ending on the day of ritual purification of Mary, forty days after the birth of Christ. The custom of blessing candles on this day gave it the name Candlemas. Decorations would be taken down, the last piece of the Yule log put away for next year and the Christmas plants burned and spread over the gardens. Candlemas day was a good day for weather casting. If a sunny day, folks could expect forty more days of cold and snow; in America, February 2 is more commonly known as Groundhog Day.

These and other interesting facts can be found at your library. However its observed, enjoy your holiday season.

Library Notes


Rebecca Hyde  


What is “aging”? It is not a disease, but a developmental process that affects body and mind. In the “Art of Aging: A Doctor’s Prescription for Well-Being,” Dr. Sherwin Nuland, clinical professor of surgery at Yale University, describes the aging process and suggests ways we can “attune” ourselves to its progress. We can choose to take an active, creative part in cultivating our personal art of aging. According to the professional literature of geriatrics, the ability to adapt, to learn and then accept one’s limitations is a determinant of “successful aging.” Dr. Nuland prefers “attune” to “adapt”: attuning ourselves to the passage of years means being “newly receptive to signals welcome and unwelcome, to a variety of experiences not previously within our range, while achieving a kind of harmony with the real circumstances of our lives.”

For Dr. Nuland the “real circumstances of our lives” do not include a vision of an ageless future in which the responses of our bodies to the passage of time, heredity, and the biology of life can be rearranged to prevent or even reverse aging. His “prescription for well-being” is not a detailed list of rules to follow but rather a description of those people who have lived creative and productive lives, managing limitations and chronic illnesses. There is a remarkable portrait of Michael DeBakey, who lived a life of “vibrant longevity.” What goals did he have at the age of ninety-six? He just had a schedule of things that needed to be done, but didn’t dwell on whether he was going to be alive to do them. “I’m absolutely sure I”ll arrive to where I’m going” was DeBakey’s philosophy, which applied to getting on a plane or death.

Two other books examine aging with differing doses of inspiration and hard realism. In “The Gift of Years: Growing Older Gracefully,” Joan Chittister, a Benedictine Sister, offers a collection of essays on the rewards of “mature life,” or aging well. It is time to let go of fantasies of eternal youth and fears of getting older, and engage in a new stage of life. And it has its own purpose, which is to give us time to assimilate and make new choices in the way we live.

Susan Jacoby wrote “Never Say Die: The Myth and Marketing of the New Old Age.” She is a critic of the “young old age” or “new old age” featured in American culture. This new norm presents “a formidable obstacle to any effort to deal pragmatically with the social, economic, and medical problems associated with real old age.” As for the individual, the right to feel rotten affords better preparation for suffering and loss than inflated expectations that lead to real despair: it’s energizing. Jacoby was amazed at the intensity (and poetry) of her grandmother’s awareness of death. The old woman mourned the end of her usefulness but looking at the river said, “It’s good to know that the beauty of the world will go on without me.”

Culinary Cozy Reads
Sara Grajek

These days, there are many styles of murder mysteries. Some are written to keep you guessing throughout the book, wondering ‘whodunit’. Some keep you jumping at every turn of the page, with plot twists and turns. Others can be defined as cozy mysteries. These usually feature an amateur detective, are set in a small town or village, and are gentle reads. The murder is not gruesome or graphic and may even take place out of sight with only a quick description. Most of the book takes place with the main character (who is usually very likeable) tracking down the killer, with the help of the local police (who is often very handsome). Sub-categories have even developed within cozy mysteries, with culinary, quilting, animals, and home repair themes. Culinary mysteries may be set in a restaurant or catering business and recipes are usually included for the dishes that are mentioned in the story.

In Jessica Beck’s, The Donut Shop Mysteries, Suzanne Hart is owner of the local donut shop. When she finds her friend and loyal customer dead in front of her shop she quickly takes on more than just baking. With the help of a hunky state police officer, she becomes an amateur investigator, determined to find out who killed her friend. A cast of characters including an ex-husband, a wacky best friend, and an ex-cop who gives inside information all add up to create a fun, light-hearted mystery. Start with Glazed Murder and work your way through to the most recently published Tragic Toppings. Pair with your own Krispy Kreme doughnut and a cup of coffee for extra fun.

While you are making your coffee, you can start Cleo Coyle’s Coffeehouse Mystery series. With titles such as Through the Grinder, Roast Mortem, and her newest, Murder by Mocha, Coyle serves up a shot of mystery and love in each offering. Set in New York City, the Coffeehouse Mysteries are written by a husband and wife team under the pseudonym of Cleo Coyle and each book is set in a popular NYC location. Tidbits about coffee and coffee making are interspersed with murder mystery as barista Claire Cosi tracks down murderers in the Metropolitan Museum of Art and sleuths with NYPD firemen.

Laura Childs has several popular mystery series, including one set in a Tea Shop. In Death by Darjeeling, the Indigo Tea Shop is a local Charleston favorite. At a catered event, one of the guests is found dead due to drinking tea. Naturally, the shop owner, Theodosia Browning, is the first suspect. She must take the investigation into her own hands in order to prove her innocence and save the tea shop. Look for other titles in the series such as Shades of Earl Gray and Scones and Bones. For light mysteries that will make you hungry for more, stop by Rowan Public Library for one of these delicious reads today!

Fall Into a Great Children’s Book
Dara L. Cain

Fall is the perfect time for outdoor family activities. What could be more enjoyable then spending time with your family bobbing for apples, pumpkin picking, attending festivals, and jumping into piles of fallen leaves! To get in the spirit of the Fall season be sure to get your hands on these great books to share with your child.

Who doesn’t think of Johnny Chapman, known best as Johnny Appleseed during this time of year. Jane Yolen’s biography Johnny Appleseed: The Legend and the Truth recounts both the facts and the legend of this historical figure. The text is fixed in rectangular boxes that give the appearance of frayed-edge leaf torn from an old book and the beautiful paintings are sure to captivate your child’s attention. The author in poetic stanza talks about the legends of Johnny and under the verses details about Chapman’s family, his growing desire to travel west, and the heritage he left behind are included.

It’s always fun to go to the pumpkin fields each year as a family to search among the many different sizes and shapes of pumpkins in hopes of finding the perfect one. Turn your pumpkin outing into a teachable moment by sharing with your child the story Life Cycle of a Pumpkin by Ron Fridell and Patricia Walsh. Your child will have a fun time learning about the life cycle of a pumpkin through simple text and full-color photographs. Discover how big pumpkins grow, why pumpkins have very big leaves, and what you can make with pumpkins.

It is so beautiful to witness the leaves on the trees change color from green to yellow, red, and orange during this wonderful time of year. In the book Autumn Leaves by Ken Robbins explore with your child an album of life-size autumn leaves and their changing colors. The photographs realistically show the imperfections of the leaves found from various areas of the country and their intriguing shapes. Observe the leaves of the smoke tree and how they resemble paddles, how the linden tree consists of leaves that appear to be hearts, and many more. For the inquisitive child a one-page explanation as to why green leaves of summer change color is included at the end of the book.

Here are a few more noteworthy books you’ll definitely want to read with your child for enjoyment. The protagonist in the story Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert is cleverly made from an assortment of real autumn leaves to form his body and acorns for eyes. One day Leaf Man is carried away by the wind and it is up to the reader to follow his trail “past the chickens, towards the marsh, over the ducks and geese” which are all creatively arranged from leaf collages too. The characters Cat, Squirrel, and Duck each have their own assigned duties when it comes to cooking their famous pumpkin soup in the story Pumpkin Soup by Helen Cooper. When Duck decides one day that instead of pouring the salt he wants to be the stirrer all chaos breaks loose among the friends. Linda White tells the story of Rebecca Estelle, an old woman who has despised pumpkins ever since she was a girl. When an enormous pumpkin falls off a truck and crashes into her yard she covers the pumpkin with dirt. You must read the story Too Many Pumpkins to find out how one forgotten pumpkin turns into many. One of my personal favorites The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams is about a little old lady who is not afraid of anything. She encounters a pumpkin head, a tall black hat, and other spooky objects that follow her through the dark woods trying to scare her.

All of these wonderful Fall books are available at Rowan Public Library!

Library Notes November 4, 2011

Culinary Cozy Reads

Sara Grajek

These days, there are many styles of murder mysteries. Some are written to keep you guessing throughout the book, wondering ‘whodunit’. Some keep you jumping at every turn of the page, with plot twists and turns. Others can be defined as cozy mysteries. These usually feature an amateur detective, are set in a small town or village, and are gentle reads. The murder is not gruesome or graphic and may even take place out of sight with only a quick description. Most of the book takes place with the main character (who is usually very likeable) tracking down the killer, with the help of the local police (who is often very handsome). Sub-categories have even developed within cozy mysteries, with culinary, quilting, animals, and home repair themes. Culinary mysteries may be set in a restaurant or catering business and recipes are usually included for the dishes that are mentioned in the story.

In Jessica Beck’s, The Donut Shop Mysteries, Suzanne Hart is owner of the local donut shop. When she finds her friend and loyal customer dead in front of her shop she quickly takes on more than just baking. With the help of a hunky state police officer, she becomes an amateur investigator, determined to find out who killed her friend. A cast of characters including an ex-husband, a wacky best friend, and an ex-cop who gives inside information all add up to create a fun, light-hearted mystery. Start with Glazed Murder and work your way through to the most recently published Tragic Toppings. Pair with your own Krispy Kreme doughnut and a cup of coffee for extra fun.

While you are making your coffee, you can start Cleo Coyle’s Coffeehouse Mystery series. With titles such as Through the Grinder, Roast Mortem, and her newest, Murder by Mocha, Coyle serves up a shot of mystery and love in each offering. Set in New York City, the Coffeehouse Mysteries are written by a husband and wife team under the pseudonym of Cleo Coyle and each book is set in a popular NYC location. Tidbits about coffee and coffee making are interspersed with murder mystery as barista Claire Cosi tracks down murderers in the Metropolitan Museum of Art and sleuths with NYPD firemen.

Laura Childs has several popular mystery series, including one set in a Tea Shop. In Death by Darjeeling, the Indigo Tea Shop is a local Charleston favorite. At a catered event, one of the guests is found dead due to drinking tea. Naturally, the shop owner, Theodosia Browning, is the first suspect. She must take the investigation into her own hands in order to prove her innocence and save the tea shop. Look for other titles in the series such as Shades of Earl Gray and Scones and Bones. For light mysteries that will make you hungry for more, stop by Rowan Public Library for one of these delicious reads today!

Library Notes
October 28, 2011
Erika Kosin

Using Books to Talk to Children about Family Illness and Death

 Throughout the month of October the focus has been on Breast Cancer awareness where children of all ages hear the word Cancer and learn to recognize the significance of the color pink, but many are unaware of what cancer is and how it can affect them. In fact, most parents shelter their children from the disease until the day that they need to speak to their children about a loved one who is seriously ill, or even worse, the parent him/herself. There is nothing to truly prepare a parent for this day, but there are books that may help parents talk to their children that deal both with the disease and also the loss of a loved one. While broaching these subjects may be tricky and scary, sometimes letting a child know what to expect can help them process the information and understand that it is not their fault.

Some books available at Rowan Public Library for children about Cancer include:
Mom Has Cancer! by Jennifer Moore-Mallinos – This short picture book explores the fear a child has when he notices something isn’t right as Mom and Dad are always sad and going to the doctor. When Mom explains to her son that she has cancer and what that will mean for the family, the boy is of course scared and sad, but is able to cope with the changes happening in the home. While in the book, mom’s cancer goes into remission, it does tell children that the doctor’s visits won’t stop and that mommy can get sick again, but they should be happy that everything is ok right now.

My Mommy has Cancer by Carolyn Stearns Parkinson – Written by a mother of three who’s youngest was only five when she was diagnosed with cancer, this book is meant to explain cancer to a very young child. The author felt that it was important to let children know that even though mommy is sick and it is a scary, sad time, it is alright for them to be happy and enjoy life.

Nana, What’s Cancer by Beverlye Hyman Fead and Tessa Mae Hamermesh – A book of questions and answers between a 10 year old girl and her grandmother as the girl tries to understand this illness that effects so many people. Factual and informative for children who are either curious about the disease or want to understand what a loved one is going through.

Good Luck, Mrs. K.! by Louise Borden - While family is important to children, they also feel the loss of a teacher when one is seriously ill and can not return to the classroom. Ann loves her third-grade teacher, from her interesting name to the way she knows all of the children in her class. When Ann’s teacher gets sick and a substitute comes in, she is faced with a reality that sometimes illness is not fair. As the class sends their teacher letters in the hospital, the students learn about cancer and see how it can affect those around them.

When Someone Has a Very Serious Illness and When Someone Very Special Dies from the series Children Can Learn to Cope with Loss and Change by Marge Heegaard – Both of these titles are set up in workbook form where parents can make copies of the pages and have children participate in the activities to help them deal with the emotions they are feeling when dealing with a serious illness or the loss of a loved one.

“Private Viewing – On-line Library Resources for Your Home Theater,” by Pam Everhardt Bloom

October 23, 2011

If you’re looking for something a little different to view or just trying to save pennies, look no further than your Rowan Public Library. All you need are your library card number and your personal PIN number. If you don’t have a PIN, simply request one in person at the circulation desk of any Rowan Public Library and you’ll be ready to select movies and documentaries on-line for personal viewing.

NCLive Digital library is easily accessed from home using the Rowan Public Library Home Page at www.rowanpubliclibrary.org . Open the library’s home page and look under “Related Links” on the left side. A click on “On-Line Tools” will open up a variety of choices. Select NCLive Resources and then, if you can resist the other entries that are available using your library card and PIN number, scroll down to the NCLive Video Collection and enjoy the many choices.

Catagories available include American History, The Arts, Biography, Business & Investing, Cultural Studies, Current Issues, Education, Health & Medicine, Kids, Military History, North Carolina, Science, and World History. Series available are American Experience, American Masters, Art 21, Cyberchase, Empires, Frontline, Ken Burns, Liberty’s Kids, Masterpiece, Wilkes County, NC Oral Documents, and Scientific American Frontier. You may also browse by individual title or by titles with closed captions.

Math adventures abound in Cyberchase and may provide a fun learning advantage for your child or a quick remediation for adults helping with homework. Liberty’s Kids provides another link for an enjoyable supplement to the social studies book. Masterpiece lovers will find favorite editions of past shows and possibly new favorites. For a different twist, the series Art 21 explores art themes that range from the topics of “Place and Spirituality” to those of “Power and Memory.” For the curious mind, look no further than Scientific American Frontiers. Episodes ranging from Animal Einsteins to Body Building and on to Natural Born Robots provide something for everyone and these are just a small sample of the many science topics available.

Should you encounter any difficulty navigating this site, go back to Rowan Public Library Home Page and click on NCLive Directions after opening the On-Line Tool link for additional instructions. There’s also a help and FAQ icon at the NCLive Digital Library site if you have other questions.
Once you’ve met your video needs, don’t forget to look at the many other resources available through NCLive. You will be pleasantly surprised. Happy viewing!

Lynn Denison
Library Notes
October 16, 2011

Autism is one of the most disabling and puzzling conditions known to mankind. According to the latest report from the Centers for Disease Control, the rate of autism is one in every 110 births. Checking the shelves at Rowan Public Library, I found that we have four recently published books on the subject. Each book approaches the topic from a different aspect, making each informative to parents, family members, teachers, or anyone interested in the subject. Of course, we have other helpful books on the topic, but these four books published in 2011 have the very latest on the breakthroughs being made in the field.

Temple Grandin, Ph.D., has a remarkable story. Her life began with autism. She was completely nonverbal and had a variety of inappropriate behaviors. Today, among her many accomplishments, she is a professor of Animal Science at Colorado State University and the author of eleven books. The movie based on her life brought in 7 Emmy’s, a Golden Globe, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. Her latest book is The Way I See it: A Personal Look at Autism & Asperger’s. This book is a “how to” guide to both inform and inspire readers. With her “insider” perspective and a great deal of research, she offers helpful do’s and don’ts, practical strategies, and try-it-now tips. Just a few of the specific topics that Temple delves into are “How and Why People With Autism Think Differently”, “Economical Early Intervention Programs that Work”, and “Employment Ideas for Adults with Autism.”

Autism Solutions: How to Create a Healthy and Meaningful Life for Your Child, was published in 2011 by Ricki G. Robinson, M.D, M.P.H. Dr. Robinson has treated autistic children for the past 20 years. In her book she provides parents with a solution-oriented guide that covers all the latest research, evaluation, diagnosis, education and treatment options for the autistic child. Above all she provides hope, encouragement and understanding for families searching for answers to the many challenges of autism.

Ken Siri and Tony Lyons are both parents of children with autism. In their book Cutting Edge Therapies for Autism, 2010-2011, they seek to provide articles about the progressive work being done in the field. It is a book written for people who want to learn as much as possible about the therapies available and about how to do everything possible to help the growing number of children affected with autism. According to the authors, “Autism is the country’s fastest-growing medical emergency, affecting more children than cancer, diabetes, Down syndrome and AIDS combined.” This compendium includes articles by leading doctors, therapists, teachers, scientists, educators, social workers and parents. Siri and Lyons’ goal is to update the book annually because of the rapid changes in the field.

Another very fascinating new book is The Myth of Autism: How a Misunderstood Epidemic Is Destroying Our Children by Dr. Michael J. Goldberg. Dr. Goldberg is an expert on neuro-immune and auto-immune dysfunctions and believes there is a likely connection between these treatable dysfunctions and conditions such as autism.

Please stop by Rowan Public Library soon to acquaint yourself with either the books mentioned here or the many treasures of all kinds that your library has to offer.

Cookbooks let children stir things up a little

By Edward Hirst

Rowan Public Library

Cooking with children requires time, patience and some extra cleanup, especially when the children are younger. But many experts think it is well worth the effort. Cooking with children can help get them interested in trying healthy foods they might normally turn up their noses at and Rowan Public Library has some great cookbooks for kids to help you get started.

“Pretend Soup” by Mollie Katzen and Ann Henderson is a well written and illustrated, great introduction to cooking for small children. Each recipe has detailed instructions for the grown-up helper, followed by a two-page children’s recipe that includes step-by-step pictures and simple word instructions. Unlike some other children’s cookbooks, the recipes are all real, healthful foods (“Pretend Soup” is a real recipe for a fruit salad in a yogurt/orange juice soup). Easy to follow illustrations demonstrate the recipes for the youngest chefs, while captivating cartoon characters liven the pages.

“What’s Cooking” is a fun cookbook that is both useful and well designed. Each of the 27 recipes takes up a two-page spread. On one side is the recipe, on the other a full-page color photo of the food. Even better, the book has a hidden spiral binding, so it lies flat on your countertop. Focused mainly on French cuisine, the recipes range from easy to “master chef” and are divided into five sections: breakfast; lunch; breads, salads and soups; dinner; and desserts. Many of the recipes include an extra tip, such as how to flip a crepe or what bread works best for French toast.

In “The Fun of Cooking,” author Jill Krementz visits 19 boys and girls ranging from age 6 to 16 who demonstrate that cooking can be fun. Almost 200 photos show the happy youngsters busily preparing their dishes in the kitchen. They tell why they like preparing their specialties, how they got started and other interesting details. Even the youngest exudes authority: At 6, Alix is already a master at mixing and baking apple cinnamon muffins. There are recipes for entrees, soups, salads and desserts. The chapters begin with safety rules, as nicely written as the young chefs’ comments.

If you want to cook great food that is fun and easy to make, then Emeril’s “There’s a Chef in My Soup! Recipes for the Kid in Everyone” is for you. Although the recipe titles are a little silly, the food is great, and everyone will love it. The book features 75 recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks that are truly kid friendly in their appeal. Preparation is enhanced for young cooks with how to chapters on cooking basics and kitchen safety.

You can find these and other titles to get started cooking at Rowan Public Library.

Series for September
Marissa Creamer
9/16/11

Rowan Public Library has some fresh new releases in some of our favorite series for teens and younger readers:

Gilda Joyce, everyone’s favorite psychic detective, is back with another adventure in “The Bones of the Holy,” by Jennifer Allison. The fifth installment of this popular mystery series finds Gilda in St. Augustine, Florida, reportedly one of the most haunted cities in the U.S. Although relishing the ghostly atmosphere of this historic city, Gilda is concerned about her mother’s impending wedding to Eugene Pook, an antiques dealer. Her “psychic signal” warns her that something is wrong. What happened to Eugene’s former fiancé, who mysteriously vanished many years ago? Who is the ghostly woman in white, who appears in Gilda’s dreams? (And will Gilda really ask Eugene to complete “The Joyce Family Application?”) You won’t want to miss Gilda’s most ghostly adventure yet.

Ally Carter brings us a new “Heist Society” novel: “Uncommon Criminals.” Raised in a family of art thieves, Katarina Bishop has decided to rebel by using her skills to return items to their rightful owners. Returning priceless objects of art plundered by the Nazis is one thing, but stealing the infamous Cleopatra Emerald from an unscrupulous dealer is another job altogether. Kat will need to assemble her team of cohorts and concoct a scheme to liberate the jewel, which has not been seen in public in thirty years and is said to be cursed. Could Kat be in over her head this time? It’s another whirlwind adventure around the globe as Kat seeks the elusive Cleopatra. Will she be able to dodge the curse and return the emerald to its rightful owners?

Speaking of curses, are the Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place really under a curse, as Madame Ioneseco says? There certainly are mysterious goings on when the three feral children and their governess, the unflappable Penelope Lumley, are sent to London in “The Hidden Gallery,” the latest Incorrigible adventure by Maryrose Wood. The children have made much progress since last we saw them. They hardly ever howl at the moon, and for the most part, they resist the urge to chase squirrels up trees. (But encountering the palace guards in their bearskin hats may prove to be a bit of a challenge.) This entertaining tale features a mysterious fortune-teller with an ominous warning, a horde of angry pirates, a secret passageway, and some very strange behavior by Lord Ashton during the full moon. Be on the lookout for clues to the children’s (and possibly Penelope’s) mysterious past.

Come to Rowan Public Library, where you can find the complete series for each of these exciting titles.

HIT THE ROAD
PAUL BIRKHEAD – SEPTEMBER 18, 2011

Did you hit the road this summer? My family and I took several trips to see family, so we put a lot of miles on the old minivan. Like the millions of other Americans we joined on the highway, we didn’t give much thought to how smooth and worry-free our trips were thanks to the Interstate Highway System. The Interstate Highway System began in the 1950’s and continues to provide a network of roads that make it relatively painless to drive just about anywhere in the continental United States. If you stop by Rowan Public Library, check out these materials that show just how much travelling by car has progressed through the years.

Just a century ago, travelling across the United States required major planning and a commitment to spend several months doing it. I know that’s hard to imagine, but if you need help, watch Horatio’s Drive, a DVD at Rowan Public Library. Horatio’s Drive is a PBS documentary directed by the legendary Ken Burns. The story features the remarkable journey of Horatio Nelson Jackson, a retired doctor from Vermont, who makes a wager that he can drive a car from San Francisco to New York City in 90 days. Piece of cake, right? Well, the year is 1903 and no one has completed a journey cross country in a car yet. What follows is an exciting tale of Horatio and his companions, auto mechanic Sewall Crocker and a pit bull named Bud. The journey is filled with perils and numerous setbacks. Partway through the trip, others join the race to reach New York City first. Will Horatio win the race or can he even complete it

After watching Horatio’s struggle on the bad roads crossing America, I was really grateful that we now enjoy a network of smooth interstate highways. Just how those highways came to be is a fascinating story in itself. If you’re interested in learning more about it, I recommend Earl Swift’s book, The Big Roads: The Untold Story of the Engineers, Visionaries, and Trailblazers Who Created the American Superhighways. This book sheds some light on some of the characters that helped design and build the interstate system and actually debunks some previously-held myths.

If the subject of automobiles or travelling interests you, or you enjoy learning about the history of America, hop in your car and make the quick trip over to Rowan Public Library.

Just remember to drive safely.

Library Notes
Rebecca Hyde – August 28, 2011


Have you dreamed of being a writer or are you just curious about how writers write? Then follow the example of the armchair traveler: read about the experiences of other people. You may become a better reader, if not a writer.

The following three books are not standard “how to write” manuals. They are engaging if you accept writing as a road to self-discovery, as a way of truth-telling, or turning life into art.

Roger Rosenblatt is an essayist, playwright, and novelist. He is also a professor who teaches English and writing. His book, “Unless It Moves the Human Heart: The Craft and Art of Writing,” is a narrative of one semester in his “Writing Everything” classes at Stony Brook University. In his postscript letter to his students, Rosenblatt offers parting advice: Write as if your reader needed you desperately, because he does; both you and the human heart are full of sorrow, but only one if you can speak for that sorrow and ease its burdens and make it sing.

Anne Lamott’s “Bird by Bird” describes the reality of a writer’s life: feeling overwhelmed by the task, letting perfectionism ruin your writing, having writer’s block. As Lamott’s father told her ten-year-old brother, who was struggling to write a report on birds, “Just take it bird by bird.”

Jill Conway is an autobiographer and former Smith College president. In “When Memory Speaks,” she examines the work of memoirists over the centuries, reflecting on the different ways men and women narrate their lives and why autobiography is so popular with modern readers and writers.

The fourth book is about writing a journal: “A Trail Through Leaves: The Journal as a Path to Place,” by Hannah Hinchman. Using observation and drawings, Hinchman records the details of her life. We are shown how to patiently observe and enjoy our surroundings.

Here are several more books about the experience and craft of writing. In the classic “Writing Down the Bones,” Natalie Goldberg offers help in “freeing the writer within.” Susan Witting Albert’s “Writing from Life: Telling Your Soul’s Story,” is based on her workshops on “life-writing” for women. In “Write the Story of Your Life,” Ruth Kanin examines the popularity of autobiography and also instructs through examples and suggested readings. Evelyn Nichols and Anne Lowenkopf offer practical advice in “Lifelines: A Guide to Writing Your Personal Recollections.”

Library Notes
August 21, 2011
Sara Grajek

“If you look the right way, you can see the whole world is a garden,” wrote Frances Hodgson Burnett in The Secret Garden. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise, gardening is not a hobby for the faint of heart. Blink and nature will take over. Gardens can also produce some of the most beautiful things you’ve ever seen. The following fictional books will take you into the world of gardens, families, and whimsy and perhaps remind you why you garden. Check one out at Rowan Public Library today!

Sarah Addison Allen’s Garden Spells is set in Bascom, NC, a fictional town but distinctively southern. Claire Waverly creates scrumptious dishes using edible flowers that affect the eater in unusual ways. Her garden is known throughout the town and the apple tree is rumored to grow a very special kind of fruit. Sydney, her younger sister, traveled the country for years but then silently returned one day with her 10 year old daughter. As with many stories, all is not as it seems as Sydney was running away from her abusive boyfriend. Fans of Alice Hoffman will enjoy Allen’s books, and as an added bonus, readers can find recipes from the novel on her website www.sarahaddisonallen.com.

The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton not only takes place in a garden, but throughout multiple time periods. Several characters take turns telling the story of a young girl’s mysterious disappearance from an English estate in the early 1900’s. Each part of the story becomes a piece that ties the mystery together – the aunt who spends her entire life searching for her, the fairy tales woven through the book, the stately estate with the garden hidden in the center. Morton admits to the parallels of The Secret Garden by Frances Hodges Burnett in her novel but was actually first inspired by a true “forgotten garden” in Cornwall, England, “The Lost Garden of Heligan.”

The Secret Garden was one of the last books Frances Hodgson Burnett wrote in her long career. A highly celebrated author, she was considered the J.K. Rowling of her time. Little Lord Fauntleroy was her most popular work, published in serial form in a magazine and highly anticipated by her readers before each publication. The Secret Garden was also published in serial form, released in American Magazine in 1910 before being compiled as a book in 1911. In the story, Mary Lennox discovers the door to a garden that has not been touched in ten years. As she starts to work the garden, she also makes friends with other children at Misselthwaite Manor including her mysterious cousin Colin.

Rowan Public Library will be continuing its centennial celebration with a special edition of the Book Bites Book Club. Join us Tuesday, September 13 at 6:30 pm, for a book discussion of The Secret Garden in the Stanback Room in Salisbury. Also make plans to come again on Tuesday, September 27 at 6:30 pm for a free viewing of the movie, The Secret Garden, with popcorn and lemonade!

Library Notes / August 5, 2011
Dara L. Cain


Travel the World through Childrens' Books

Reading provides your child with a wonderful opportunity to travel through books without leaving the comforts of home. Below are some noteworthy books that will open up your child’s mind to different people, places, and things. An introduction to geography, language arts, and cultural heritage can be explored in these great titles:
Wouldn’t it be fun to explore animal sounds with your child in other languages? In the book Everywhere the Cow Says Moo by Ellen Slusky Weinstein your child can learn how to say dog, frog, duck, rooster, and cow in four languages: English, Spanish, French, and Japanese. As you read the book you will be surprised to learn that the cow sounds the same in all four languages. This is a fun read that includes a list of the animals with their corresponding sounds, spellings, and pronunciations in each language.

A classroom of children receives gifts of clothing from aunts, uncles, grandparents, and great-grandparents living around the world in the story The World Turns Round and Round by Nicki Weiss. Some of the special gifts received are cowboy boots from an aunt in Colorado, a furry hat from a babushka in Russia, a dashiki from a mjomba in Kenya, and a sari from a chachi in India. At the end of the book the classmates are shown wearing their gifts and looking at a globe. Included is a map to introduce the countries discussed in the book and a small glossary with pronunciations and definitions.

Have you ever met a finicky child who didn’t want to eat his food! In the story The King’s Taster by Kenneth Oppel the cook and his dog Max encounter a fussy young king who refuses to eat the cook’s food. In an attempt to satisfy the king the cook and Max travel the world in search of the most scrumptious delicacies including french fries from France, pizza from Italy, and chilli tacos from Mexico. The story will have you laughing when Max finally discovers what has been ruining the king’s appetite and a cook’s promise to tell the king’s mother if he doesn’t eat his food.

Calabash Cat is a West African cat whose curiosity leads him on a journey to find out where the world ends in the story Calabash Cat and his Amazing Journey by James Rumford. Each time Calabash Cat thinks he has found the end of the world he meets another animal: a camel, a horse, a tiger, and then a whale who takes him further. The cat travels through a desert, the grasslands, a jungle, and an ocean but it is not until he meets a wise eagle who carries him into the sky and shows him a world without end. This story is beautifully illustrated in the “calabash” style engraving from the African country of Chad.

Baby mouse has “gone missing” and mother mouse can not find him anywhere in the story Gorilla, Gorilla by Jeanne Willis. In pursuit of her baby a big, scary gorilla chases after mother mouse shouting “Stop!” In fear that she will be eaten mother runs far away to China, Australia, the Arctic, and western America in hopes of evading Gorilla and finding Baby Mouse. Young children reading the story will be delighted to learn that Gorilla never planned to eat Mother Mouse but was only trying to return Baby Mouse safely to her. This story provides a great introduction to various countries, landscapes, and types of transportation for your child to discover.

Library Notes
July 29, 2011
Erika Kosin

One World, Many Stories Summer Reading Program

As the Rowan Public Library’s Summer Reading Program winds down, it is nice to look back and reflect on the great time we had. With this year’s theme, One World, Many Stories, we encouraged both children and teens to travel the world from home through books. While our library is fortunate to have tremendous support from both the Friends of the Rowan Public Library and the County, allowing us to fund all of the wonderful programs we offer, the emphasis is on the children reading throughout the summer. We know that many children view reading as a chore they have to complete for school, but at the library, we say reading is for fun, that is why we do not require children to read a certain list of books, instead we tell them to read what they want during the summer. Also, by allowing the children to choose the books they want to read, whether fiction, non-fiction or a picture book, they learn that the library has books that cater to each individual taste.

Those who work with children know that the simple act of reading keeps their brains engaged during the summer months and will help them stay ahead at school. In fact, studies have shown that those students who read over the summer months return to school better prepared and those who have not read tend to slip back one to two years on their reading ability. With the knowledge of how important it is for children to read over the summer, the library does it’s best to encourage children to read and so far we have seen many children doing just that. This is done by helping children keep track of the hours spent reading and rewarding them for turning in those hours in 5 hour increments, thus creating an incentive to keep reading in a fun atmosphere.

Encouragement to read does not end at the elementary school level at Rowan Public Library, we also offer summer reading programs for the students in Middle School and High School, but their program follows a different format. While this summer’s programs are ending, the teens wrapped up their final program on July 28th with a cookout at the South Branch, and the children’s programming also ended the last week in July, we do encourage everyone to keep reading until school starts at the end of August. Summer Reading 2011 may be winding down, but the staff at Rowan Public Library are already looking towards next summer’s installment and hope to see everyone back and some new participants in June of 2012.

Children ages 1 through fifth grade can turn in their hours through August 12th and our prize basket raffle winners will be announced on August 15th.

Library Notes
July 1, 2011
Lynn Denison

We’ve all heard it said that crime does not pay. Recently I came upon some facts that may refute that theory in certain instances. In April 2011 the British newspaper The Guardian published a “Crime Writers Rich List.” The list is based on recorded sales, box office returns, license fees and company accounts. The list revealed that two living crime writers from the United States, John Grisham and Dan Brown, were in first and second place. Third and fourth place go to British authors Ian Fleming and Agatha Christie. Both of these authors are deceased but continue to live on through the successful sales of their works.

John Grisham holds the title of most successful and highest earning crime writer of all time at $600,000,000. His first book, A Time to Kill, was not a success. His next book, The Firm, spent 47 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and became the bestselling novel of 1991. His next books, The Pelican Brief and The Client, were bestsellers. A Time to Kill was then republished and this time around it was also a bestseller.
Grisham usually publishes one novel a year and to date each one has been an international bestseller. Nine of his novels have been made into films.

Dan Brown is the author of numerous #1 bestselling novels, including The Da Vinci Code, which has become one of the bestselling novels of all time as well as the subject of heated debate among readers and scholars. Some of his other books include Angels & Demons, Deception Point, Digital Fortress, and the Lost Symbol. His fortune is valued at $400,000,000.

Number three on the list with a net worth of more than £100 million is British crime writer Ian Fleming, the creator of the world’s most famous secret agent, James Bond. Fleming wrote 14 James Bond novels and to date there have been 22 official James Bond films. According to “the list” more than 100 million copies of Bond books have been sold worldwide. Some of Fleming’s works available at the library are The Man with the Golden Gun, Goldfinger, and Casino Royale.

It is not surprising that the “Queen of Crime,” Agatha Christie, is named as the fourth richest on the list with a total worth of £100 million. Her crime fiction includes 67 novels, 150 short stories, and 16 plays. The Mousetrap, her most successful play, premiered in London’s West End in 1952 and is still running after more than 24,000 performances—the longest running play ever. Christie created two of fiction’s best-loved characters: the fastidious Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, and the elderly amateur sleuth Jane Marple. Christie’s own personal list of favorite novels includes And Then There Were None, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, A Murder Is Announced, and Murder on the Orient Express.

Rowan Public Library is the place to find all of the novels listed above. Many are also available in large print, as audiobooks on CDs or tape, and some movie versions on DVD. Please stop by the library soon and find out for yourself what these talented authors have created that put them at the top of the “Crime Writers Rich List.”

Library Notes
Edward Hirst
July 10, 2011

Gene Weingarten is a two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist known for both his serious and humorous work. A former editor he now writes "Below the Beltway," a weekly humor column for the Washington Post that is nationally syndicated. In 2010 he published a collection of twenty of his best feature stories that originally appeared in the Washington Post. The book is titled The Fiddler in Subway: the True Story of What Happened When a World-class Violinist Played for Handouts. He has the ability to simply tell each story as he sees it from his perspective. Many of the topics don’t sound funny such as, living with terrorism in Jerusalem or life in a remote Alaskan village plagued by alcoholism and suicide.

The book begins with the story of The Great Zucchini, one of the most popular entertainers of preschool age children in the Washington DC area. Eric Knaus as The Great Zucchini makes an annual income of $100,000 working two days a week, yet he has no idea where his money goes. He can’t drive his car since he owes $2000 in parking tickets, he is behind on his taxes and hounded by creditors. “When the lights go out it’s time to pay the bills”, Weingarten writes. Over the course of the story we learn The Great Zucchini is addicted to gambling and this is story of his struggle with his own personal flaws.

The title of the book comes from an experiment to see if rush hour commuters would recognize the talents of a world class violinist playing for handouts. One January morning commuters entering a DC subway station had no idea that the young man with the ball cap and jeans was one of the finest classical musicians in the world. Earlier that morning Joshua Bell took a cab three blocks from his hotel to the subway entrance to protect his violin, a 1713 Stradivarius worth an estimated $3.5 million dollars. For forty five minutes of playing he earned $32.17 in tips from just over a thousand subway passengers who passed him. Days before he played at a venue where the decent seats were $100 each.

In the Pulitzer Prize winning story “Fatal Distraction” he writes of the tragic phenomenon of parents who have left their young children in hot cars. He explores the events through careful reconstructions to let the parents tell their stories of blame and guilt.

“NEED A JOB?” By Pam Everhardt Bloom – July 3, 2011

Need a job? Finding a job can quickly become a full time job in itself. Whether embarking on an unforeseen job search, or planning for a positive career change, maneuvering today’s online job search and applications can be somewhat overwhelming. Your public library can provide unexpected and valuable online job information without ever having to leave your home.
To start this process at home you do need internet access. If that’s not available, free internet and computer time is available at the library. You may either log on with your library card or request a guest pass if without a card. Laptops are also available for check out within the library to patrons with proper identification and no outstanding fees or fines.

Whether at home or at the library, once on the internet, access the home page for the Rowan County Library, www.lib.co.rowan.nc.us/ . Next look at the left hand side of the page and click “Online Tools.” When Online Tools opens, click on “Jobs” and a wealth of job hunting information is available at no cost.

Since many of today’s jobs require an online application, a valid email address is required. If you don’t have an email account or need to set up an email account with your professional name, this page will immediately direct you to free email sites.

Once you’ve taken care of basics, you’ll find extensive information about application procedures. Read all the tips for success when filling out your applications and find a fact sheet to print and complete with pertinent information to carry with you on your job search.

Not quite sure how to write a resume or cover letter? Continue down the list. If looking for a specific agency to help you, the JobLink Career Center, the Employment Security Commission, and other locations, addresses, and numbers are a click away. And should you be nervous about interviewing, learn about everything from the top 35 questions to be prepared to answer, to how to dress, to what questions to ask your interviewer. Also find information about programs such as Goodwill’s Career Connections for no cost personalized career counseling with one-on-one interview coaching.

With all the preliminaries covered, it’s time to look for openings. You’ll find a list of local job listings linked to this site. In addition, you’re also able to search for jobs throughout North Carolina and the nation. Should you need to consider a total career change, other sites such as O*NET and Occupational Outlook Handbook provide information to help you choose a career that matches your interests.

In today’s economy, more and more people who never imagined having to re-enter the job market are out there looking. The better you prepare, the better your chances to find the right job match. Helpful information is just a “click” away using Rowan Public Library’s Home Page.

Good luck!

FATHERS
PAUL BIRKHEAD
JUNE 19, 2011

Dad, Daddy, Papa, Pop – no matter what you may have called him or call him still, many of us set aside time in June to honor and remember our fathers. One thing I’ve come to realize is the relationship between fathers and their children can be as complex as it can be sweet. The shelves at Rowan Public Library hold many items that talk about fathers and our relationships with them.

Good Stuff is a new book written by Jennifer Grant, daughter of the late actor Cary Grant. Through her book, Ms. Grant gives the reader a unique view into the private life of her father – a true American icon. It appears that the two shared a special father-daughter relationship and the book is filled with many fond memories and reminiscences. I’m sure those memories were made a lot clearer since Cary Grant took great care in preserving many stories, notes, and tape recordings of their time together.

Our Fathers’ War: Growing Up in the Shadow of the Greatest Generation by Tom Mathews explores the dynamics between sons and fathers from the era of World War II. Mathews’ relationship with his own father, a WWII vet, inspired his book where he reports on ten households that dealt with “generation gap” issues. While some stories are funny, others are truly sad since they drive home the point that not all wounds were left behind on the battlefield. Many times, the relationships between vets and their children were the last casualty of the war.

My Father at 100 is a memoir of Ronald Reagan written by his son, Ron Reagan. The 40th president’s 100th birthday would have been in February of this year. To commemorate this fact, Ron Reagan gives the reader some fascinating background information on the Reagan family; how they ended up in America from Ireland, and what it was like for Ronald Reagan to grow up in the Midwest during the early part of the twentieth-century. My favorite portion of the book was when Ron Reagan writes about visiting sites from his father’s childhood.

One of America’s most endearing journalists has to be the late Tim Russert. I heard him interviewed once about his relationship with his father, Big Russ, and the book he wrote in 2004 about it. I finally got around to checking out Big Russ & Me from the library last year and I was so glad I did. I actually checked out the audio book version and it sure was nice to hear Tim’s voice again. While both Tim and his father are no longer with us, these stories celebrating their special bond remain.

Another item you can listen to is NPR Driveway Moments for Dads. Part of National Public Radio’s “Radio Stories That Won’t Let You Go” series, this audio CD is dedicated entirely to stories about fathers.

Whether you choose to check out a book or an audio CD, Rowan Public Library offers many items to help celebrate fatherhood.

Gretchen Beilfuss Witt
June 2011

Garden delights

Some among us have green thumbs, my mother and daughter-in-law have them; alas I do not. However, this time of year with flowers, herbs and other plants at every corner store, the yearning increases for fresh fruits and vegetables in your shopping basket, your backyard garden patch or on your plate. While it’s true that little improvement can be made to luscious, juicy summer tomatoes lightly salted and drizzled with olive oil, experimenting with garden fare can be just as satisfying. Perla Meyers’ Fresh from the Garden explores garden produce for each season from spring asparagus to winter squash. Each season and vegetable receives a bit of attention including how to garden, serve and store. Recipes follow, short and clear, covering soups, main dishes, relishes and pickles. Simple ingredients and serving suggestions for mouth-watering recipes like Baby Red-Skinned Potatoes in Maple Nutmeg Butter make this an easy and enjoyable cookbook.

Farmer John’s Cookbook created by Farmer John Peterson extols the benefits of organic and community farming with stories, articles and recipes. It is a philosophical cookbook explaining the need for “slow” food versus fast food, organic over chemical. Recipes include Oven Sweet Potato Chips, Ginger Melon Sorbet and cornmeal crusted Fried Green Tomatoes -- a delicious foray into fixing fresh food. Check out your local farmer’s market for more inspiration.

Want to take all that fresh food out into the fresh air? Take a look at Robin Vitetta-Miller’s Picnics. Packed with scrumptious dishes ready to travel, she intersperses recipes with picnic factoids, fun bits of trivia. Did you know pique-niques first appeared in the late seventeenth century more as a potluck with everyone bringing something to the meal? It was not until later that they became excursions into the countryside. From chicken salad with raspberries and walnuts, parmesan cheese twists, and hazelnut half-moon cookies, delectable goodies are ready for a picnic basket. Suggestions for theme meals and perfect beverages accompany packing and wrapping tips.

Topping off this collection of cookbooks for the summer growing season is Simple Fresh Southern Knockout dishes with Down-home flavor by Matt and Ted Lee. Intriguing combinations abound – Watermelon Margaritas, Radish butter and Rice Pudding pops – and give just a glimpse of the tasty provisions waiting. Beautifully illustrated with mouth-watering pictures, this cookbook takes a new look at southern flavor. Pimento-cheese, a staple of southern cooking, is re-invented in Pimento-Cheese Potato Gratin, traditional Lobster rolls inspire Shrimp and deviled-egg salad rolls, and the customary Banana pudding becomes Banana Pudding Parfaits. Fresh fare and good eating await – checkout a cookbook today and tantalize your taste buds.