New Mystery Sleuths for Teens

by Melissa Oleen Rowan Public Library

                Nancy Drew, Miss Marple, Perry Mason, Sherlock Holmes.  These were the series sleuths that lined my young adult bookshelf.  If you are a young adult or know one who enjoys reading books by mystery writers like Carolyn Keene, Donald J. Sobol, Agatha Christie, Erle Stanley Gardiner or Arthur Conan Doyle, let me introduce you to a relatively new series sleuth that will have you reading your way through their series faster than author Alan Bradley can write them.

Flavia de Luce (FLAY’-vee-ah duh-LOOSE) has all the traits of a good sleuth – she is smart, determined, observant and curious.  She is also a well-written character that captures your attention and will appeal to both male and female readers.  At eleven years old, Flavia is largely unsupervised and this freedom is a blessing and a curse.  A self-taught chemist with a passion for poisons, she spends most of her free time in the Victorian era chemistry lab in an abandoned wing of Buckshaw, the decaying English Manor house where she lives.  When not experimenting in her lab, she is roaming the English countryside around the village of Bishop’s Lacey on Gladys, her “ancient BSA” bicycle. 

Flavia’s mother died when she was young and she currently lives with her widowed father, two pesky older sisters and a loyal butler.  Flavia regularly matches wits with the local constabulary in solving the strange deaths that so often happen in those small, seemingly unexciting English villages.  As a younger sister, she experiences all the teasing, taunting and ignoring strategies older siblings often use to make life in general miserable for the youngest child.  Bradley does an excellent job of giving us a character that behaves much older than her years and seems to have left the trappings of childhood behind but at days end is still a child learning the lessons of youth.

The series is set in England in the 1950s.  It is not necessary to read the titles in order but readers will get more out of the series if they are able to read them sequentially.   The first book in the series, The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, has Flavia investigating a murder that happens on the grounds of Buckshaw.  In Flavia’s words “I wish I could say I was afraid, but I wasn’t.  Quite the contrary. This was by far the most interesting thing that had ever happened to me in my entire life.”   The series continues with 2) The Weed That Strings the Hangman’s Bag, 3) Red Herring without Mustard, 4) Speaking From Among the Bones, 5) I Am Half Sick of Shadows and 6) Dead in Their Vaulted Arches.

The library has all titles available in hard copy within the adult fiction collection (under Bradley).  The North Carolina Digital Library has all titles in the series available as eBooks AND Audio books.   You can access the NC Digital Library through the library’s website and can create a login using your library card.  From the point of sign-on, you will follow directions based on the type of electronic devise you will be using.  If, like Flavia, heaven to you is “a place where the library is open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week” then I encourage you to experience this series in electronic format.

Amelia Earhart: An Inspiration to Young Children

by Dara L. Cain Rowan Public Library

Who could not find themselves captivated by the inspirational story of Amelia Earhart?  Ever since Amelia’s plane disappeared on July 2, 1937, people have wanted to learn about the famous female aviation pioneer who broke many early aviation records.  To this day, legend and mystery still surrounds the final flight and disappearance of Amelia Earhart and her navigator, Fred Noonan.  In honor of Amelia Earhart Day celebrated on July 24th come to the library with your children to check out some wonderful books on this historical icon. 

A friendly picture book biography presented in a fun way for young children is I am Amelia Earhart by Brad Meltzer. Amelia is pictured as a child, even at the height of her adult accomplishments and fame.  The humorous nature and brief, readable text will appeal to young children.  Young readers will be inspired to strive and dream big as this book resonates a “can do” spirit.   

Flying Ace: The Story of Amelia Earhart by Angela Bull is a beginner reader book. The age-appropriate text will capture a child’s attention while helping them develop reading skills and general knowledge.  The book begins with a fictionalized account of Amelia’s childhood interest in flying, but the rest of it is straight narrative examining her life and mysterious disappearance. The illustrations include many photos and maps with captions that expand the main text and give a glimpse at the historical period. 

One of the many books in the "Picture Book Biography" series written by David A. Adler for beginning readers is A Picture Book of Amelia Earhart.  Adler highlights Amelia’s life and focuses on her dedication to be the first woman pilot to cross the Atlantic alone.  Realistic, double-page watercolor illustrations provide an accurate setting for the time period and complement the text.  A brief author's note cites theories about Amelia’s disappearance as well as the lack of evidence to support them.

Amelia Earhart: The Legend of the Lost Aviator by Shelley Tanaka provides a great introduction into the life of the famous pilot.  It is shaped like a picture book but includes a lot of text.  The in-depth writing is great for obtaining detailed information on Amelia’s flying from her first sight of an airplane at the age of ten to the last radio transmission she made before she vanished.  The narrative discusses how fragile the airplanes of the 1930s were, how difficult the navigation, and how unreliable the instruments were during her time.  The book only spends a little time discussing other aspects of her life.  This book is illustrated with attractive artwork, historical photographs, and quotes that enliven and enrich the page layout. 

Amelia Lost: The Life and Disappearance of Amelia Earhart by Candice Fleming moves readers back and forth between Amelia’s life (from childhood up until her last flight) and the extensive search for her and her missing plane.  Detailed photos, maps, and handwritten notes from Amelia herself are tailor-made for middle graders.  Readers learn about Amelia’s free-spirited early childhood, first inclinations toward flying, and her other pursuits.  An overview of the era's social and political climate as it pertained to women help readers grasp the significance of Amelia’s accomplishments. This honest depiction of Amelia’s professional and personal life forms a complete portrait of a complex woman.

Amelia remains an inspiration for young people as well as a symbol of independence and courage.  Share these great tiles with your children to aspire them to grow up and live out their dreams!

Doors of Possibility

Pam Bloom Rowan Public Library

What constitutes reading? How do you find that perfect book for a child’s interests? With summer reading in full swing, it’s a relevant question. To many children and their parents, reading involves a beautifully illustrated picture book or chapter book. These criteria can easily provide hours of happy reading, yet they can also be a constraint. This summer might be the time to open new doors of possibility in reading material for your child.

Consider asking this question the next time you visit the library with a child, “Do you like stories or do you like facts?”  I’ve often heard children complain that they want to learn something when they read. These aren’t the children that are going to be happy with any good chapter book. It’s either branch into the non-fiction area of their specific interests or, if the requirement is a chapter book for school, consider historical fiction or a biography. Choices are endless. Love knights? Non-fiction selections might include: You Wouldn't Want to be a Medieval Knight!: Armor You'd Rather Not Wear by Fiona MacDonald or Sweaty Suits of Armor: Could You Survive Being a Knight? by Chana Stiefel. Both of these selections provide a touch of humor with facts to satisfy.  From the historical fiction genre, Joust of Honor, a Knight’s Story by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell takes the reader back to medieval days of squires, lords and ladies while Clyde Robert Bulla adds a twist to the days of King Arthur with The Sword in the Tree.  The four books above contain great illustrations to accompany a taste of history. A biography of William the Conqueror might also please a non-fiction lover and Life as a Knight: an Interactive History Adventure by Rachael Hanel, while non-fiction, provides action and adventure equal to any chapter book.

Have a reluctant reader or a child that is determined to read books beyond their current reading level? To avoid placing limits on their interests with cries of “too thick” or “too long,” books on CD provide another avenue to reading. Try playing the beginning of Gary Paulson’s Hatchet in the car and turning it off at an exciting part. Leave the book lying around the house and don’t say a word. You might be surprised. The right book can be a powerful draw. CD books can also avoid an argument with the child that is determined to read books beyond their current reading level and refuses to read with someone looking over their shoulder. Again, grab the CD of the desired book and options open for these single-minded readers. Alternate between reading a chapter and listening to a chapter or simply listen and follow the words. In addition, children who read well above grade level can also benefit from CD books. As children begin reading harder books, writing styles can become more complicated. Listening to a book may help them transition to a novel that isn’t quite as linear as many of the early chapter books they’ve been reading. Try The Beasts of Clawstone Castle by Eva Ibbotson for a literary feast of words.

Technical reading is another genre often ignored. It’s still reading!  Have a budding artist? Junk Drawer Jewelry by Rachel Di Salle and Ellen Warwick or The Duct Tape Book: 25 Projects to Make with Duct Tape by Jolie Dobson will keep them reading and busy for hours. A favorite for your resident engineer might be David Macaulay’s “New Way Things Work.”

For your jokesters and pre-teens try The Encyclopedia of Immaturity by the editors of Klutz or The Big Book of Girl Stuff by Bart King (and his five sisters.) The right prank or learning how to deal with mean girls can demand close attention to detail.

If none of the above rings true for your family and you have a discouraged reader, think twice about how much time you allow for selection of books within the library. Choosing the right book can take some deliberation, particularly when surrounded by thousands.  A large library can be overwhelming to children and the simple gift of time and your friendly librarian might be what your child needs to find that perfect book to launch a lifetime of reading.

Learn about the numerous complexities of driving in ‘Traffic’

 by Edward Hirst Rowan Public Library

The car has been a part of American life for many years and whether we see it as a symbol of freedom or a symptom of sprawl, we define ourselves by how and what we drive. In the book “Traffic,” Tom Vanderbilt writes about how traffic has shaped human nature and vice versa.

Based on his detailed research and interviews with experts around the world, “Traffic” kicks the tires of that everyday activity we call driving. It turns out that it is a surprisingly complex mix of technical, physical and psychological factors woven together that explains how traffic works and why we drive the way we do. In it he answers many of drivers’ most nagging questions: Why does the other lane always seem faster? Why does adding more lanes bring more cars and more congestion? Does anybody signal anymore?

For this well-written and researched book he interviewed traffic reporters, traffic engineers, psychologists studying human-machine interactions and Dutch urban planners who design intersections with no pavement markings, traffic signs or signals.

Backed up by an impressive amount of psychological, sociological, historical, anecdotal and economic research, the book is engaging and sobering. His findings reveal how little attention drivers pay to the road and how frequently they misjudge crucial information, referring to traffic as “an environment that has become so familiar we no longer see it.”

For those of us who aren’t brain surgeons, driving is the most complex everyday thing we do. It is a skill that consists of 1,500 mini skills. At any given moment, we are navigating terrain, maintaining our position, judging speed, evaluating risk and anticipating the future actions of others. All of that while sipping a coffee, quieting a toddler, thinking about last night’s television episode or checking a voice mail.

One study of a section of road in Maryland found that drivers were presented a piece of information every two feet. That translates to about 440 words per minute, or reading three paragraphs like this while looking at lots of pictures, and then repeating for every minute of driving. Traffic is available for checkout from the library or downloading from North Carolina Digital Library.

Just don’t read it while driving; traffic isn’t getting any better.

Getting Started with Aquariums

by Marissa Creamer Rowan Public Library                                                                                                                            

 Do your summer vacation plans include a trip to one of North Carolina’s public aquariums?  The aquariums at Roanoke Island, Pine Knoll Shores, and Fort Fisher offer a wonderful opportunity to experience North Carolina’s aquatic environments. Aquariums provide such a refreshing respite from the unrelenting heat of summer.  Watching sea creatures glide silently through the clear water is so relaxing you might find yourself wishing for your own aquarium at home.

Scientific advances have made aquarium keeping more convenient than ever. If you think you might be interested in starting a home aquarium but want to learn more before you take the plunge, plan a visit to Rowan Public Library for a selection of books to guide you.

For a basic beginner’s guide, try Gina Sandford’s Aquarium Owner’s Manual.  She discusses the various kinds of equipment needed, how to set it up, and how to choose and care for fish and plants. Also provided are sample setups for a variety of different environments including tropical freshwater, softwater, and rift lake, as well as brackish water, marine, and reef. Each setup includes specifics concerning equipment, décor, plants, and stock, as well as alternate fish selections.

If you like a methodical approach, Setting Up a Tropical Aquarium Week-by-Week by Stuart Thraves is the book for you. Thraves walks you through the process step-by-step, beginning with building the system, and leads you through adding plants and fish at the proper time. I especially like the photographic sequences that follow each stage of set-up in real time over a period of twelve weeks. The detailed “Routine Maintenance” section will help you keep your aquarium in top form.

Of course, you want your aquarium to be pleasant environment for your fish as well as an attractive feature in your home. To create an aquarium with the appearance of the natural habitat in which the fish live, take a look at Aquarium Designs inspired by Nature, by Peter Hiscock. He provides a world tour of aquatic environments with full details of how to create them in a home aquarium. Draw inspiration from the large photographs depicting the swirling currents of mountain streams and rushing rivers. Or perhaps you prefer the still waters of peaceful lakes, swamps and pools. Detailed descriptions of the habitats and the native fish and plant life can help you create your own inspired design.

The beautiful fish are the main attraction in an aquarium, and the variety of fishes available to the aquarist is larger than ever before. If you don’t know a gold zebra loach from a goldfish, consult Focus on Freshwater Aquarium Fish, by Geoff Rogers and Nick Fletcher. You will find more than 800 beautiful color photographs of over 150 popular freshwater fish, divided by family grouping, with details on the size and characteristics of each.

RPL also has a selection of books for the saltwater aquarium enthusiast, as well as books on aquarium plants and fish health.  Take advantage of the resources available at Rowan Public Library to ensure success with your new aquarium.

Storytelling with Photography

By Paul Birkhead Rowan Public Library
     
      What makes photography special to so many people?  I would venture to say that it is because photos represent an artistic means of communication between the person taking the photo and the viewer.  Photographs are not only art; they are a medium through which to tell a story.  Rowan Public Library is a strong proponent of storytelling in any form and offers an array of items related to photography.

       The Art of Photography by Bruce Barnbaum is a book available for check out at the library.  In the book, Barnbaum does a good job laying down a foundation for understanding what makes a good photographer.  He does this by not only teaching mechanics, but through explaining the philosophies behind them.  Numerous charts and photographs effectively demonstrate how certain techniques create better images.  A similar book in the library’s collection is Michael Freeman’s The Photographer’s Eye, which also explains and demonstrates good composition and design.  Both of these books are sure to appeal to beginning photographers as well as to those with more experience.  

    When a person knows how to photograph properly, it shows in their work.  Diane Griliches is a great photographer and over one hundred of her images are reproduced in her book, Thinking Photography.  The photos inside are striking, but what’s really helpful are the descriptions of what she was thinking as she took them and the methods she used to capture them so beautifully.

    If you want to get better at photography, you must practice the art.  In Creative Photography Lab, Steven Sonheim lays out 52 witty, yet constructive photography exercises that will show you a new way of thinking about taking photos.  From a study in reflections, to take-your-camera-to-work day, to creating a mini photo journal; these assignments will give you the practice you need in an enjoyable way.

    Have you ever thought about taking a photography class?  If so, you may want to consider signing up for a computer class through Gale Courses (formerly Learn 4 Life).  There are several courses available where you can learn basic and advanced photography.  There are even classes to help you master Photoshop Elements, a popular photo editing program.  These online courses normally cost big money, but are available to Rowan Public Library cardholders for free.  For more information, go to www.rowanpubliclibrary.org and look for the Gale Courses link.  Classes last for six weeks and sign-ups begin every few weeks.  The next round of classes begins June 18th, so if you’re interested enroll now.

    It seems everyone these days is taking photos.  Whether it’s using a traditional camera or a Smartphone, you can take better pictures by understanding the elements of design and composition and through mastering certain techniques.  Rowan Public Library can give you the tools you need to express yourself through photography.      
   

P.G. ‘Plum’ Wodehouse had ample talents to entertain

by Gretchen Witt Rowan Public Library

On Oct. 15 in the year 1881, Pelham Grenville Wodehouse was born and, despite his mother’s penchant for substantial names, he was known throughout his life as Plum.

Growing up in late Victorian and Edwardian England, Plum, not atypically, was raised along with his two older brothers in England whilst his parents resided in Hong Kong. A reserved and solitary individual, he began writing stories at the age of 7. Plum’s first published work was in “Public School” magazine in February 1900; his career was to span three quarters of a century.

Listening to one of his audiobooks, “Damsel in Distress,” I was completely struck by how effortlessly he makes the most mundane of topics — eliminating pests in the garden for instance — into a fascinating bit of revelry. A young lady running away and hiding in a taxicab while her brother confronts her erstwhile rescuer draws a crowd of ordinary working class folks speculating on the exact nature of the argument and what will come of it. The activities of the everyday and the quirks and vagaries of his characters continue to amuse us.

In many ways Wodehouse fashioned the current view of what Edwardian England was like. Nearly everyone is familiar with his marvelous characters Bertie Wooster and the inestimable Jeeves. Who hasn’t been enchanted by the word play of Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry as they portray these two fellows getting in and out of the most absurdly sticky situations?

The library has four seasons of this wonderful show on DVD ready to be checked out. “The Jeeves Omnibus” is a good place to begin if you are unfamiliar with the antics of these two characters. It includes two complete novels and 10 short stories full of Plum’s unique dialogue of erudition and English upper-crust slang.

Wodehouse wrote 70 novels and more than 300 short stories. One collection of stories of particular interest might be “Wodehouse on Crime,” edited by Bensen with an intriguing forward by Isaac Asimov. With such titles as “Strychnine in the Soup” and “The Crime Wave at Blanding’s, this collection is for the detective novel lover.

“Strychnine” begins with characters described as their favorite libation — “Draught Stout” is comforted by “Lemonade and Angostura.” Bibliophiles everywhere will appreciate this excerpt: “No poet has yet treated of the most poignant bereavement of all — that of the man half-way through a detective story who finds himself at bedtime without the book.”

A number of Plum’s stories have been used to create a fine collection of short dramatic pieces on DVD, “Wodehouse Playhouse.” In one installment, a young man with an awful stammer is rid of his stutter after a day reminiscent of a Keystone cops episode and finally able to profess his love to his neighbor the vicar’s daughter.

David Jasen writes smoothly and with obvious affection an appealing biography, “P.G. Wodehouse: A Portrait of a Master.” Included in the biography are photographs, first printing book and magazine covers, personal letters and posters from musicals. Plum was an accomplished lyricist and wrote many plays and lyrics alone and in partnership with Jerome Kern and Guy Bolton. Looking for more, Jasen’s book includes a bibliography of published works.

Take time to explore the truly delightful world of P.G. Wodehouse.

Vacation Planning at the Library

by Dr. Betty Middleton Rowan Public Library

 

Are you ready for a vacation? With schools closing for the summer

most families think about that great family vacation.  Making the decision of where to go

is the main battle.  Perhaps the Rowan Public Library can help with that decision.

You will find a great collection of Travel Publications, such as Fodor’s, DK Eyewitness

Travel Guides and National Geographic Travel. Plus the Rick Steve’s travel video’s are   

available that will help you decide on the perfect location.

If you are interested in finding the perfect beach location, Parents Magazine

has great information on their website that had done the research for you.  From

thousands of beaches they compared things such as clean water and low rates.  After that

 to get the list even shorter, they added life guards, low cost attractions, nature activities,

and the family feel of the place.  From the top ten below are those closest to North

Carolina: 1.Hilton Head, SC; 3. St. Pete Beach, FL; 6. Amelia Island GA; 7. Kitty

Hawk, NC; 9. Gulf Shores, AL.

There are so many things to see and do with your children while they are still

Young, Parents Magazine suggested these top seven should be included:  1. A Natural

Wonder: The Grand Canyon, AZ; Niagara Falls, NY & Canada; Glacier Bay National

 Park, AK.  2. An American Monument: Statue of Liberty, NY;  Liberty Bell,

Philadelphia, PA; Lincoln Memorial, Washington, DC.  3. A Civil War Battlefield:

Gettysburg, PA; Appomattox, VA; Vicksburg, MS. 4. A Great American City:

New York City; Boston. 5. An Unspoiled Beach: Cannon Beach, Oregon; Poipu Beach

HI; Ocracoke Lifeguard Beach, NC; 6. Desert Landscape:  Red Rock Conservation

Area, NV; Painted Desert, AZ; Death Valley, CA.  A Man-Made Wonder: Mount

 Rushmore, SD; Hoover Dam, AZ & NV; Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, CA.

            Now it’s your turn.  Plan and enjoy that special vacation with your children.

Camping and Hiking

by Amy Notarius Rowan Public Library

If your summer travel plans this year involve hiking or camping, check out these books from Rowan Public Library before you set off.

“Camping Made Easy” by Michael Rutter offers information for the beginning camper, including how to select the right equipment and clothing. Fire safety and first aid each get their own sections as well.

Joe Miller’s “Backpacking North Carolina” is a handy guide to the many trails available to hikers and backpackers in the state. Miller divides the books into sections, from the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains to the Appalachian Trail, Piedmont and coast. For each trip, Miller lists the same detailed set of important information, including distance and difficulty of the trail, where you can find campsites and water, and special considerations (e.g. watch out for bears!).

Especially useful for trip planning is the “best trips by category” section — find the locations and trails most suitable for beginning backpackers, for viewing waterfalls and wildflowers, going fishing and so on.

Hiking and backpacking are going to work up on an appetite, so don’t miss “The Trailside Cookbook” by Don and Pam Philpott. They begin with a nice overview of camping stoves, dutch ovens and pots and pans and provide a comprehensive list of pantry staples, essential backpack items and kitchen items.

They help you plan for the amount of food you’ll need, and how to store and label the food you bring. Recipes comprise the bulk of the book, and you might not want to wait for the trail to try one out. From hearty breakfasts and and breads to trail mixes and desserts, the variety is impressive.

Check out Rowan Public Library today before beginning your next adventure.