Book Awards

Poet Kay Ryan

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  I not only love to read books but I also love to read poetry so I wanted to share this news with all of you that Kay Ryan was appointed the 16th Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry by the Librarian of Congress, Dr. James Billington.  She joins the impressive list of the other Poet Laureates that include Robert Frost, William Carlos Williams, Rita Dove and Gwendolyn Brooks. On her appointment, Dr. Billington said “Kay Ryan is a distinctive and original voice within the rich variety of contemporary American poetry. She writes easily understandable short poems on improbable subjects. Within her compact compositions there are many surprises in rhyme and rhythm and in sly wit pointing to subtle wisdom.”

You can watch a video or listen to her read several of her own poems at Poets.org (from the Academy of American Poets): http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/352?gclid=CKTq76ie1JQCFRLhxgodLTF94Q

She really does write short poems! Here is one that I found to be thought-provoking:

Hope

by Kay Ryan

 What’s the use
of something
as unstable
and diffuse as hope-
the almost-twin
of making-do,
the isotope
of going on:
what isn’t in
the envelope
just before
it isn’t:
the always tabled
righting of the present.

 (from her poetry collection, Elephant Rocks)

 Wow! July is such a wonderful month for reading…books, poems, newspapers, magazines…ANYTHING!

(I also think January, February, March, April, May, June, August, September, October, November and December are great months for reading too!) Happy Reading!

~Donna

 

Tasha Tudor, Children’s author and illustrator

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  Tasha Tudor, children’s author and illustrator, died on June 18, at the age of 92 in her home in Marlboro, Vermont. She had written and illustrated nearly 100 books. Her first book Pumpkin Moonshine was published in 1938. Her Mother Goose (1944) and 1 is One (1956) were named Caldecott Honor Books and she received the Regina Medal in 1971 for all of her contributions to children’s literature.

  She lived the life that she illustrated in her books. Her beautiful, delicate pastel watercolors depicted life in the 19th century and that is how she lived her life on her farm. She did not have electricity or running water in her farm house until her youngest child turned five years old. Her art and lifestyle will be continued by her family. Visit the Tasha Tudor and Family website http://www.tashatudorandfamily.com/ to find out more.

    I have grown up with Tasha Tudor and have loved all of her illustrated books. Thank you Tasha Tudor for all of your contributions to children’s literature. You will be missed!

 

~Donna

 

Ah…..the joys of summer reading!

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It’s a good thing that I love to read because I have added more books to my list…On May 1, the Mystery Writers of America announced their 2008 Edgar Allan Poe Award Winners. Wow! These books look great and I can’t wait to read them!

 Best Novel

Down River by John Hart

 

(Reviewed in our Reading Room)

Best First Novel by An American Author

In the Woods by Tana French

 

(Reviewed in our Reading Room)

 Best Paperback Original

Queenpin by Megan Abbott

 

Best Fact Crime

Reclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy by Vincent Bugliosi

 

Best Critical/Biographical

Arthur Conan Doyle: A Life in Letters edited by Jon Lellenberg, Daniel Stashower and Charles Foley

 

I also finished reading The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen and I loved it! It was just as magical, tender yet bittersweet as her first book. Look for my review in our Reading Room Database.

 Reading is a basic tool in the living of a good life.
~ Mortimer J. Adler ~

Happy Reading!

Donna

 

Children’s Book Week, May 12-18, 2008

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“A great nation is a reading nation.”

Frederic Melcher, 1879-1963

Former editor of Publishers Weekly

 
     This week is Children’s Book Week. Sponsored by the Children’s Book Council, Children’s Book Week has been celebrated by libraries, bookstores, and schools since 1919.  My love of reading today is the direct result of the wonderful books I read and treasured as a child. Babar, Mary Poppins and Little Women are just a few of my favorite classics. Now, there are also other great children’s books to be read. The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy by Jeanne Birdsall and the The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate Dicamillo are just two children’s books that can be enoyed by all kinds of readers.

 Happy Reading!

~Donna~
 

Thank you Arthur C. Clarke!

Donna

“I’m sure we would not have had men on the Moon if it had not been for Wells and Verne and the people who write about this and made people think about it. I’m rather proud of the fact that I know several astronauts who became astronauts through reading my books.”

~Arthur C. Clarke~

Address to US Congress in 1975

The great science fiction writer of almost 100 books, Arthur C. Clarke, died on March 18, 2008 at the age of 90. He influenced not only American astronauts, but also scientists such as Carl Sagan plus movie and television producers such as Gene Roddenberry. His works have been translated into over 40 languages  and many of his books like Childhood’s End have been continuously in print with sales estimated at more that $25 million dollars. The world will miss his imagination and prophetic scientific writings. Check out his 90th birthday reflections in this YouTube video:

~Donna

News that is Newsworthy!

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Librarians and books… making headlines left and right!

First, there was the fabulous tidbit in the Plain Dealer’s PDQ section. A New York librarian won ESPN Zone’s Ultimate Couch Potato Competition! Stan Friedman was able to watch 29 consecutive hours of sports without getting up or falling asleep! It’s hard to know if that’s something to admire or if that’s scary. Forget that it’s sports for a minute. Do you think you could do anything for 29 hours without a break? I know I couldn’t. Stan’s prizes are: “…a 42-inch Olevia LCD HD TV, a DreamSeat recliner, a year’s subscription to ESPN The Magazine, a year’s supply of ESPN Zone game cards, $200 in ESPN Zone gift certificates, and ESPN Zone’s Ultimate Couch Potato trophy featuring a real, live spud. ” Nope. Still couldn’t do it. Go Stan! You are a fine example of the willpower of a Librarian. We salute you!

Even more important than beholding the strength of will in a Librarian? Awards for VIB’s (or Very Important Books) were passed out this morning. The Newbery and the Caldecott winners, among others, were announced at American Library Association’s Midwinter Meeting in Philidelphia. To read the full details, check this out: Press Release from ALA. I love this stuff, even though my list of books to read just got a little bit longer…

Stacey