Blogs, blogs, and more blogs....

Feed Readers: Thank Goodness for Feedly!  First, I tried Good News, and I couldn’t figure my way around it. I wasted way too much precious time trying to make that one work for me. Feedly was so much more user-friendly!  I could figure out how to use it and set it up to my advantage, easily and quickly. I have already created two folders, one for librarian blogs and another for educational technology. I am looking forward to using this tool.

Librarian Boss Blogs:

https://www.thedaringlibrarian.com

I love the title of this blog!  I aspire to be a bold and daring librarian!  From scrolling through this blog, I found posts about everything from Educational Technology to how to label (or not label) LGBTQIA+ books in your library. The blog is written by Gwyneth A. Jones, who has over 30 years of experience as a librarian. It seems she now works as a consultant, but I think I can learn a lot from this wise and daring lady!

https://trappedlibrarian.org/blog/

This blog is part of a bigger website run by Laura Trapp, an experienced elementary school librarian. She share some great ideas for book selection, which is an area of growth for me.  Not only to I want to be a good steward of the financial resources I am given, I also want to buy the absolute best resources for my kids.  She also regularly posts about advocacy and technology. One of my favorite posts so far was just a practical guide on creating meaningful library bulletin boards!

https://librarylearners.com/blog/

Cari White writes this blog, and she is an experienced school librarian who develops resources and trainings for librarians.  She has some great stuff on library centers! I think she is some kind of ‘library centers guru’ because she has even written a book about them. I want to operate centers in my library, but I have not been brave enough to try them yet!  I am hoping for some practical tips and inspiration. She also has ideas for some great, new library lessons. 

https://librarianinthemiddle.com/blog

I want to follow this blog because I work at an intermediate level, and this blog addresses middle school library issues. I have already read a great post about the disconnection students have between the OPAC and the shelves.  This is a frustrating issue with my students!  They can find something they like on Destiny Discover, but many of them can’t use the information provided to find the book on the shelf.  Also, I immediately liked her category tags listed on the side of her blog, like “Advocacy,” “Culture,” and “Research.” 

http://melissa.depperfamily.net/blog/

I want to spend some quality with with this blog, by Melissa Depper.  She has a lot of great posts and resources for story time!  Story time with my 1st graders and Kindergarten students is one of my very favorite parts of my job!  I see a lot of potential in that close-up time with my people, and I want to maximize my opportunities there.

And finally- Tumblr, not a dating app...oh my!

https://www.tumblr.com/thelivelylibrarian3

We are the Water Protectors Review

-image from https://read.macmillan.com/mcpg/wearewaterprotectors/

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY: 

Lindstrom, Carole. 2020. WE ARE THE WATER PROTECTORS. Ill. by Michaela Goade. New York, NY: Roaring Brook Press. ISBN 978-1-250-20355-7

2. PLOT SUMMARY: 

With water as its focus, this story is told from a Native American naturalist perspective.  The narrator learns the importance of water from her grandmother, who tells her of the role water has played in nature and in their culture.  It is seen and valued as sacred.  The main character emphasizes the critical importance of water to man, animals, and nature.  Then an enemy of water is introduced as the ‘black snake.’  The illustration and description of the black snake infer it is an oil pipeline.  The story ends with the narrator standing against the black snake, as a guardian and protector of the water. 

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS: 

This book speaks to an important environmental issue- the preservation and protection of water. Its symbolism of an oil and gas pipeline as a black snake is easily interpreted as an evil presence of destruction. It is social commentary through a simplistic perspective.  

It also highlights beautiful aspects of Native American culture, such as the respect and care of nature and the strong connections between familial generations. The relationship between the grandmother and granddaughter is strong and meaningful. It explores the role of stewardship of the earth. 

4. REVIEWS

Caldecott Medal, 2021

ALA Notable Children's Books, 2021

Booklist Starred Review, Feb. 1, 2020

"While the text draws on specific cultural beliefs, its argument is universal: "We are stewards of the Earth...A beautiful tribute and powerful manifesto."

5. CONNECTIONS

*This would be an excellent read aloud for the World Water Day on March 22nd or Earth Day, April 22nd.

*This book pairs well with Does Earth feel? by Majewski ISBN 978-0-06-302153-2

"This compelling narrative follows the planet's relationship with humans and engages with themes around empathy and environmentalism; a perfect book to spark conversations and inspire a new generation of young leaders." -from the publisher, Katherine Tegen Books

*We are Water Protectors Activity Kit by Carol Lindstrom

Millions of Cats Review

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY: 

Gág, Wanda. 1928. MILLIONS OF CATS. New York, NY: Puffin Books. ISBN 0-14-240708-9

2. PLOT SUMMARY: 

An elderly couple becomes lonely, and the wife asks her husband for a cat. He kindly goes in search of a pet. He soon discovers not just one cat, but a whole hill covered with cats- “millions and billions and trillions of cats.” When the cats all follow the husband home, the wife is overwhelmed and points out the obvious problem of feeding so many cats.  So the couple decides to let the cats decide which one they will keep. The old man asks them which cat is the prettiest, and this starts a quarrel that ends horrifically with almost all of the cats eating each other up. In the end, the couple finds one little cat left hiding in the grass, who escaped the violence because it thought itself unworthy of being considered pretty. They happily take the little cat home as their pet, to love and care for in their home. 

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS: 

This book was one of only two on the “classics” list that I had never read. It is different from the children’s books of today. The mood changes quite drastically; at the beginning, it seems like a sweet tale about an adoring couple who loves cats, but then it turns into a savage scene of feline annihilation! Including this kind of violence in a children’s story denotes a different age and culture than the one we live in now. 

The story line is simple, and it presents sweet undertones between the couple and eventually with their leftover cat. The illustrations and even the font of the words remind me of nursery rhymes and fables. It is like a fable in that it teaches a lesson about the dangers of vanity and jealousy.  

4. REVIEWS

Newbery Honor, 1929

5. CONNECTIONS

*According to many, Millions of Cats is the oldest American picture book. 

*https://millionsofcats.weebly.com/

*This book pairs well with a non-fiction book, Curious Cats by Katie Kawa ISBN 978-1-48245-356-0. Study guides are available for compare/contrast using the two books. 

Let the Adventure Begin!