The Front Porch

by Rebecca Hyde Rowan Public Library

             The front porch, the lawn and the beach are part of our cultural landscape, consuming a lot of time, energy, and money.  As cultural icons, they are synonymous with status and good citizenship (lawn), well-being and pleasure (beach), or civil society (porch). 

            In “The Lawn:  A History of an American Obsession,” Virginia Scott Jenkins asks why Americans have front lawns while people in other countries have front gardens or interior courtyard gardens.  She explores what gardens tell us about American culture and how residential landscape has evolved.

            Apparently, before the Civil War, few Americans had lawns.  Up to the 1850’s, houses in American towns were built close to the street with perhaps a small fenced front garden.  Farmhouses were surrounded by packed dirt, pastures, or gardens.

            When did our notion of residential landscape change and why?  After the Civil War, the single-family house, surrounded by grass, developed and spread throughout the nation.  According to Jenkins, this change was due partially to suburban movements:  expansion of transit lines, models of public parks, adoption of the automobile by the middle-class, the popularity of golf, low-cost mortgages, and funding for highways.  Jenkins adds that the real impetus to the lawn craze was dependent on our ability to grow lawn grasses and on our aesthetic desire to have a lawn:  affordability of tools and grasses plus the adoption by the middle-class of what had been a luxury of the wealthy.

            What is the future of the lawn?  Jenkins examines present ecological problems and possible alternatives in the twenty-first century.   And what is the amount of lawn in the United States?  According to Dean Bill Chameides of Duke’s Nicholas School of the Environment, we have more than forty million acres of lawns.

            “The Beach:  The History of Paradise on Earth,” by Lena Lencek and Gideon Bosker, looks back to antiquity, when the beach was anything but paradisiacal.  The shore was the limit of the known, and the sea was “the mother of all mysteries.”  The English word “shore” was derived from the Old English “scieran,” meaning to cut or shear:  the shore was “shorn off” by a sea that could rise up and wreck havoc against ships and coastal inhabitants.  In the Middle Ages, Europeans avoided the ocean partially because of the belief that water was connected to plagues.  By the seventeenth century, the beach’s medicinal attractions were rediscovered, and it became a center for upper class social pursuits.  Then with rail travel and the passage of legal holidays, a trip to the coast was available to all classes of people.  We now create artificial beaches, and sometimes find that “the real thing” has become a health hazard, tainted with pollution.  Still, the beach represents for most of us a site of regeneration, relaxation, and recreation. 

            For some relaxation and good conversation, your destination may be the front porch.  “Out on the Porch:  An Evocation in Words and Pictures” is introduced by Reynolds Price, who tells us about a particular porch in Warren County, describing an ordinary day in 1942 when he was nine.  His account gives us “some sense of the role and meaning of a porch in the life of a middle-class Southern family of no more than average complexity, rage or need.”  The book continues with photographs of porches populated by people and furniture along with excerpts from the works of Southern writers.

           

Giving Away “Free”

by April Everett Rowan Public Library

                “No thank you” was the most common response I got my first year of participating in World Book Night.  Who knew it would be so hard to give a free book away? I thought to myself.  For those who are unfamiliar, World Book Night (WBN) is an annual celebration dedicated to spreading the love of reading, person to person.  Each year on April 23^rd, thousands of people hit the streets to give away a box of 20 free WBN paperback books to light and non-readers World Book Night.

                 The premise of “spreading the love of reading” appealed to me, but the “person to person” bit is what made me apprehensive.  I am overall a painfully shy and socially awkward person, despite my choice of a public service career.  Nevertheless, in 2012 I signed up and was chosen to be a “giver” (the term used to describe those who distribute WBN books).  A coworker and I hit the streets to share the joys of reading and were met with people scurrying to the other side of the street, car windows quickly being rolled up, and a number of thinly veiled “whatever you’re selling, we don’t want it” attitudes.  And honestly, could I blame them?  We’ve all been approached by someone in the parking lot asking for money, charities soliciting donations at the door, or groups sharing pamphlets.  None of those acts are inherently bad, but sometimes you just want to buy your milk and bread and go home.

                Discouraged by the response in 2012, I decided to take a year off from WBN and cheer on from the sidelines.  When giver registration opened for WBN 2014, I reluctantly signed up.  In February, I received confirmation that I had been selected as a giver, and that my top choice of Wild by Cheryl Strayed was the book I would be giving away.  This time around, I wore a large “I am a Giver” sticker and my library name badge in hopes that people would not run the other way when they saw me coming.  I also chose the public transportation as my venue, since I am rider myself.  Nervously, I offered free books to my fellow riders, many with whom I have shared a ride on a daily basis for the past two years.  I offered the book to one passenger, who said he did not like to read but that his girlfriend might like it.  He went on to say that after he gets off from a long day at work, he doesn’t have time to read--it’s just dinner, a shower, and off to bed.  I nodded in understanding, thinking about the free time each one of us has on our commute, silently willing him to open up the book.  About ten minutes into the ride, I glanced back and noticed he was reading the book.  I looked at the two passengers in front of me and they were reading their copies too.  Come to think of it, this was the quietest commute I’d ever had.  Almost all of the passengers were reading their WBN books!

                I don’t mean to over-dramatize the experience, but it brought me unspeakable joy to see others taking advantage of what may be their only free time during the day to read, and to know that I played a small role in making that possible.  If you are interested in being a giver for WBN 2015, visit www.us.worldbooknight.org and sign up for the newsletter.  Rowan Public Library supports the mission of WBN and has been a site for givers to pick up books since 2012, so we will also be posting information about how to sign up as it becomes available.  Registration for givers usually begins in the fall, so stay tuned!

Picture Books are Not just for Babies

by Erika Kosin Rowan Public Library

            What constitutes a “Picture Book”?  A picture book is a medium that uses illustrations that help embellish or enhance a story or narrative. When most adults think of a picture book, they envision toddlers and preschoolers being read to.  While many of the books in the picture book section of the library are meant for smaller children, there are some within the stacks that are definitely not “baby books” and are written with the older child in mind. 

              Historically, many books that are now categorized as a chapter book, such as Alice in Wonderland and The Wizard of Oz, are considered the beginnings of picture books.  These are stories were heavily illustrated when they were originally published.  Today, many children’s chapter books include illustrations to help enhance the story, but do not compare to the richness of text and imagery that can be found in the larger formatted, full color picture book.  Most picture books for older children contain rich vocabulary and the accompanying illustrations help provide a historical or cultural context.

            Some authors are well versed in picture books, but do not expect their stories to be shared with the young child.  Allen Say writes and illustrates children’s books rich in text and historical accounts that explore the world and culture of Japanese-Americans.  Grandfathers Journey, a former Caldecott winner, follows generations within his family as they move back and forth between Japan and the Americas, while Tea with Milk follows a young girl who returns with her family to Japan only to feel out of place with the Japanese culture.  Henry’s Freedom Box by Ellen Levine brings the historical story of the slave Henry Brown and how he mailed himself to freedom after seeing his family sold off.   This book is a small window into the effects of slavery and the strength and ingenuity some slaves evoked to bring themselves to freedom. 

            Other picture books for older readers are fun, but cautionary tales that may upset the younger child.  One such book is A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon which follows Camilla, a young girl who tries so hard to fit in that she begins to change color.  This book is geared towards elementary school kids who understand the concept of hiding things they like because they are afraid it will make them look un-cool.  For the younger child, the idea of changing colors and developing stripes may be upsetting.    Silent Movie by Avi tells the tale of an immigrant family through black and white images, invoking the feel of a silent movie, a feat that might not have been possible as a chapter book.    

            Over the years fairytales and folktales in their original text have been repackaged and published in Picture book form.  From Anansi the Spider’s trickster ways to the Grimm Fairytales, these cautionary tales are woven and explained in both text and illustration.  Rapunzel illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky includes rich imagery where each illustration is a textured oil painting, giving life to the characters and a unique setting to the popular tale.  These original texts are often seen as too scary for the younger child.

            If your child is a strong reader, do not discourage them from checking out a heavily illustrated picture book from the library.  Take a look at the book to make sure it is appropriate for your child and allow them to immerse themselves in the rich history, culture and vocabulary that can be found within the text and images of a picture book.

Explore Art With Children

by Dara Cain for Rowan Public Library

Is art just fun and games for children to participate in?  Look further and you will discover that children are actually learning a great deal when they do art activities. Art provides some of the building blocks of child development.  The best part about art is that children have so much fun creating that they don’t even realize that they are learning!

Art projects provide plenty of opportunity for children to work on their fine motor skills. They will learn how to use a pencil to write carefully, use crayons to draw, and hold a paintbrush to make the desired marks. They may use scissors to cut paper into definite shapes and squeeze glue from a bottle in a controlled manner.  These tasks help a child learn to control materials and are essential to the growth of fine motor skills in young children. 

Art is a way for children to practice their communication skills and also a great way for children to express themselves.  A child might document an actual experience by drawing a picture of a fun day at the zoo.  He may emit feelings of joy or sadness by the choice of colors and types of lines he creates.  He can share an emotional experience by painting a portrait to reflect the loss of a pet.  In some cases art is the presentation of an expression, but it may also be that the physical process of creating is the expression. Art allows a child to communicate feelings he might not be able to express verbally.

Art education strengthens problem-solving and critical-thinking skills when children have the freedom to engage in projects without having to follow specific directions.  Instead, they can focus on the discovery of “how” and “why” when given the free will to make choices and work through challenges.  An example of a challenge might be a child who made the color brown when he intended to make the color orange. He now has to think about what he did and make the appropriate corrections. Another example is a child who finds out that the glue he is using isn’t holding down his project and has to decide what to try instead.  Art allows children to make their own assessments and to discover that a problem may not have just one answer.

            Encourage your child to get creative and use his imagination. Art helps to develop a child's creativity by giving him or her the freedom to think independently, experiment, and to analyze.  Get out the art supplies and let them explore so that their creativity has a chance to blossom. You may want to check out Rowan Public Library’s website to find out dates and times for free art classes offered to children of all ages.  While you are at the library feel free to browse the art section in the Children’s Department where you will discover some fun and informational books that talk about famous artists, types of art, and how the history of art has evolved.  Here are some of the great titles you may want to look at with your child:

    A Book About Color:  A Clear and Simple Guide for Young Artists by Mark Gonyea
    Children’s Book of Art by Dorling Kindersley Limited
    Diego Rivera: An Artist For the People by Susan Goldman Rubin
    Get Into Art People: Discover Great Art and Create Your Own by Susie Brooks
    Henri’s Scissors by Jeanette Winter
    A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin by Jen Bryant

Visit Rowan Public Library’s website: www.rowanpubliclibrary.org

Making a list, checking it twice, saving it forever

by Pam Everhart Bloom for Rowan Public Library

The library recently changed to a new and improved online card catalog. It’s a system I think patrons will come to love. I personally love the saved list feature found within your personal account and can imagine all sorts of uses for different ages. All you need to access this feature at home is your library card number and your PIN. (Note: PINs may be set up or changed at the library or over the phone.)

To start your first list, go to the Rowan Public Library Home Page, www.rowanpubliclibrary.org , and click on “Find Books.” Enter your search term and begin looking for items of interest.

For example, my inspiration for a saved list was a children’s book, “Dem Bones,” written and illustrated by Bob Barner. Like many excellent picture books, this book reads on two levels. Reading the author’s dedication, “To Dr. Robert Wilkerson who is frequently humerus and to my boney wife,” I expected this would be a book loved by both children and adults. There’s a simple story line song, “The ankle bone connected to da leg bone,” with enough scientific information added to each page to provide fun details for all ages.

After finding this clever book with cross-over appeal, I thought it might be fun to develop a list for a family read, with everyone in a household pursuing their own bone-connected book and discussing their favorite reads. Here’s how my list developed.

Once I brought up “Dem Bones” in the catalog, I clicked on the “Add to List” icon to the right of the book image. A box popped up asking for my card number and PIN. This information then opened up my personal library account within the catalog. I selected the “Create New List” option and named my new list, “Family Reads.” “Dem Bones” was automatically added to my list and I began to select my other books. It was as simple as placing the word “bones” in the search window and clicking on the icon to add books to my saved list, “Family Reads.” Once completed, I printed a hard copy of my list to use while searching the shelves.

My saved list was a fun way to look for connections on a reading level for all ages and also a different way to emphasize a lifetime of reading with children beyond the bedtime story. Books saved to my list were: “Bones, Bones, Dinosaur Bones” by Byron Barton; “Ask the Bones: Scary Stories from Around the World” by Arielle Olson; “Bone by Bone: Comparing Animal Skeletons” by Sara Levine; “You Can’t See Your Bones with Binoculars: A Guide to your 206 Bones” by Harriet Ziefert; “Your Body Battles a Broken Bone” by Vicki Cobb; “Do Buildings Have Bones” by Time-Life for Children; “Talking Bones; Secrets of Indian Burial Mounds” by William O. Steele; “Human Bones: A Scientific and Pictorial Investigation” by R. McNeill Alexander; “Strong Women, Strong Bones: Everything You Need to Know to Prevent, Treat and Beat Osteoporosis” by Miriam E. Nelson; “It’s Not Just Growing Pains: A Guide to Childhood Muscle, Bone, and Joint Pain” by Thomas Lehman; “Blood, Bones, and Butter; the Inadvertent Education of a Reluctant Chef” by Gabrielle Hamilton; “Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within” by Natalie Goldberg; “Bones of the Lost” by Kathy Reichs and “Land of the Buffalo Bones” by Marion Dane Bauer.

Explore our new catalog. Make a family list for vacation. Teach your kids to make lists of their favorite reads and keep your own list of all the books you’ve checked out to read. Create a list of all the resources that worked best with your last lesson plan. Keep track of the DVDs you don’t want to miss or want to recommend to friends. Whatever your fancy, there’s a saved list waiting for you by simply using your library card and your personal PIN. And if none of my selections brought a smile, check out “Animal Jokes to Tickle Your Funny Bone” by Michele C. Hollow.

Books such as ‘The Livable City’ offer ideas for better cities

by Edward Hirst for Rowan Public Library

Where might the happiest city on earth be? According to the award-winning journalist Charles Montgomery in his book “Happy City,” it might be Bogota, Colombia. Enrique Penalosa was the mayor who committed to changing the perception of his city and improving the lives of the residents. His plan for reducing traffic and creating public space for people has played a large part in creating a more livable city.

In the book “The Livable City” from the Partners for Livable Communities, the authors define what makes a city livable: open space, free-flowing traffic, historic preservation, attractive cultural and civic institutions, good housing, good jobs and good schools. This book provides the tools that help civic leaders get a handle on the many of the problems cities face today.

Jeff Speck writes about many problems he sees in American cities that he believes can be solved by improving their walkability in his book “Walkable City.” Public health, sustainability and even the lagging economy, he argues, can be boosted by making cities friendlier for pedestrians. Drawing on his background as a city planner and architectural designer, Speck makes a convincing case for revitalizing our public spaces in favor of foot traffic, with steps such as planting more trees and narrowing roads, investing in public transit systems and designing visually interesting buildings.

For thousands of years streets have been a major center of commerce, socialization and cultural exchange. But the advent of automobiles and suburbanization in the 20th century eroded the richness of American street life. Streets and sidewalks, once filled with people, are now filled with automobiles. In the book “Street Reclaiming,” David Engwicht prescribes a series of methods for returning vibrancy to our streets.

These days everyone is familiar with smartphones and smart homes, but how about smart cities? Increasingly such things as traffic patterns, sewage flow and street lighting are all being guided by software. In his book, “Smart Cities,” author Anthony Townsend takes a look at how cities are upgrading their infrastructure for the Internet age.

Time Travels

by Marissa Creamer Rowan Public Library

                Since the publication of H. G. Wells’s iconic novel, “The Time Machine,” time travel has remained a popular topic in literature.  In “The Time Machine,” the first of Wells’ science fiction novels, a Victorian scientist propels himself into the distant future and finds a world where suffering has been replaced by beauty, contentment, and peace. This apparent paradise is inhabited by the naive and delicate Eloi.  He learns that the Eloi are fearful of the dark, however, for in tunnels beneath their paradise lurk the sinister Morlocks. When the scientist’s time machine vanishes, he knows he must search these dangerous tunnels if he is ever to return to his own time.

                There seems to have been increased interest in time travel in recent years, as many new books featuring time travel adventures have been released. The young adult novel “Timebound” was originally self-published by Rysa Walker of Cary, N.C.  It gained national attention when it won the 2013 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award in the YA category. “Timebound” tells the story of 16-year-old Kate, who is stunned to learn about a secret family history involving time travel and a conspiracy by a rogue scholar from the future to rewrite history and change society. When history alters and Kate’s family is lost, she must use her genetic ability to travel back to the 1893 World’s Fair and prevent the murder that changed everything.  In saving her family, however, she may erase the memory of the boy she loves.

                Catherine Fisher brings us another young adult story of time travel involving a mirror that provides a gateway into the past and the future: “The Obsidian Mirror.” The mirror of the title has great and terrible power; it can open a portal to the past, but those who venture in are often lost.  Three people seek the mirror:  one has been sent from the future to shatter its power; another, obsessed with its power, will protect the mirror at all costs; and the third needs the mirror to find a murdered father and save his life. All converge at creepy Wintercombe Abbey during a solstice blizzard, but only one can succeed. The story continues in the new release “The Slanted Worlds.”

                For a more humorous spin on time travel, try Scott Meyer’s “Off to be the Wizard.” Author of the online web comic “Basic Instructions,” Meyer brings us a comedic novel about computers, time travel, and human stupidity. Meet Martin Banks, amateur hacker, who stumbles upon a computer program that can manipulate reality. Despite his vows to keep a low profile, it’s not long before Martin’s “alterations” to reality get him into hot water.  With federal agents in pursuit, Martin flees back in time to Medieval England to live as a wizard while he tries to figure out how to get out of his predicament.  Of course, things don’t go exactly as he planned, and Martin soon learns that being a wizard is not quite as easy as he thought it would be. Suspend your disbelief and enjoy the ride in this first installment of a planned series.

                Other recent titles involving time travel include: “The Impossible Lives of Greta Wells” by Andrew Sean Greer, “The Beautiful Land” by Alan Averill, and the “Ruby Red” young adult series by Kerstin Gier.  You can find all of these books and many other time travel adventures at Rowan Public Library.