Storytime at the Welty House!

During the spring and summer, the Mississippi Library Commission and the Eudora Welty House and Garden teamed up to present Storytime in the Garden. MLC employees, Eudora Welty House employees, and Eudora Welty House docents all took turns reading a children’s book while sitting in the beautiful gardens of the Eudora Welty House. The featured books included a wide range of biographies focused on blues musicians, famous inventors, labor organizers, and Congressmen. These storytimes were broadcast on the Eudora Welty House and the Mississippi Library Commisssion's Facebook page.

While the storytime sessions could only be featured on Facebook for a short time, the Mississippi Library Commission has a copy of each book featured in Storytime in the Garden that can easily be checked out via our curbside checkout. The titles, authors, and a brief description of the books are listed below.

The Amazing Age of John Roy Lynch by Chris Barton and Don Tate talks about the childhood and career of John Roy Lynch, one of the first African American U.S. Congressmen and the first African American elected to serve as Speaker of the Mississippi House.

The Boo-Boos that Changed the World by Barry Wittenstein and Chris Hsu is a history of the invention of the Band-Aid and how this medical marvel went from patching up kitchen wounds to being used in battlefields.

Brave Girl by Michelle Markel and Melissa Sweet details the 1909 New York shirtwaist strike through the eyes of labor organizer Clara Lemlich.

A Computer Called Katherine by Suzanne Slade and Veronica Miller Jamison is a biography about NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson, from her childhood love of math to her experiences in working on the first manned mission to the moon.

How Emily Saved the Bridge by Frieda Wishinsky and Natalie Nelson focuses on architect and engineer Emily Warren Roebling and how she helped build the Brooklyn Bridge.

Muddy by Michael Mahin and Evan Turk is a lushly illustrated biography of the Mississippi blues musician Muddy Waters.

Preaching to the Chickens by Jabari Asim and E.B. Lewis is a boyhood story of U.S. Congressman John Lewis as he practices his oratory skills at his family’s farm.

Shark Lady by Jess Keating and Marta Alvarez Miguens is a biography of scientist and biologist Eugenie Clark and the start of her lifelong fascination with sharks.

Overall, the program was a massive success. Each story routinely got likes, comments, and shares in the double digits. Each broadcast had over 350 views, with one book in particular topping out at a whopping 1,200 views! That book was Shark Lady, read and broadcast on Shark Awareness Day.

It was wonderful to partner with the Eudora Welty House and Garden for this storytime project and we hope to partner with them again in the future! The Eudora Welty House is currently offering tours, Tuesday-Friday, at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. Reservations are required, so please call or email ahead of time.

No Strings Attached

Alex Brower

Reference Manager

While in-person programming is on hold right now, librarians have had to find new and exciting ways to connect with their patrons. Virtual story times are one of the most popular programs that libraries can provide safely, and how better to take your story time to the next level than puppets?!
I get it. You don’t want to use some strange, unfamiliar puppet in your story time. It might throw off your game. So let me introduce you to a few of MLC's favorite puppets. That way, when you check one out, it’ll be like having an old friend there reading along with you. One who doesn’t require a mask!

The first puppet I’d like to introduce is Romeo. A family man (meaning he is part of a family set), he enjoys poetry, green Jell-O, and lazy Sundays. When asked why he dislikes aye-ayes so much, Romeo brought up their weird long fingers. We have to agree; they're pretty weird.

Romeo also loves to travel, so why don’t you invite him and his family over for a program or two? He’s a great listener.  

Our next puppet is a sweet little dragon called Linda. Linda loves flowers. She loves smelling them, growing them, and eating them! She makes a mean arrangement (if you ask her nicely). April is already a great month, but if you ask our favorite anthophile Linda, April 25^th is just the perfect date! If only dragons needed a light jacket… As for her dislike of hobbits, apparently Linda’s ancestor had a nasty run-in with one in the past. Something about dwarves and stolen gold? We couldn’t make it all out, since she got pretty heated (ha!).

Our final puppet on show is a possum called Blossom. Blossom is a trash connoisseur and devoted mother to her baby, Delphine. In her free time, she enjoys solving the world’s lupus problem, one tick at a time. Fun fact: possums eat approximately 5,000 ticks each season, according to MDWFP (link below). Don’t ask her about Gary unless you want to be hissed at, which we don’t recommend. We think her dislike of sad songs may be tied in some way to Gary as well, but we were afraid to ask. She did promise not to get into the library’s trash if she was invited to story time, which is a big ask for a possum.

To see a complete list of puppets available for checkout through MLC, visit this link: https://www.mlc.lib.ms.us/ms-libraries/special-collections/puppet-kits/. To check out any of the puppets featured here or any of our other puppets, contact Charlie Simpkins, MLC’s Digital Consultant. His email is csimpkins@mlc.lib.ms.us and his phone number is 601-432-4498. 

For more information about how possums are helpful, tick-eating friends, visit this link: http://www.mdwfp.com/media/news/wildlife-hunting/species-portrait-opossum/

Thankful for Picture Books

Charlie Simpkins
Digital Consultant

Certain holidays can evoke different emotions for people. For me, Thanksgiving brings up a sense of nostalgia. I remember the excitement of being in elementary school and knowing that a week-long break was coming. One blissful week of sleeping late, visiting with family, eating special foods, and my favorite activity: reading whatever I wanted.

I did not know until recently that November is National Picture Book Month. I don’t know why November was chosen, but it makes sense for me because of the nostalgia factor. This got me thinking about not only how important picture books are, but also the variety of picture book styles available.

Picture books are often the first books we experience as children. From exploring the book (even with our mouths as infants) to reading bedtime stories, picture books have substantial lessons to offer children. Even being read to as an infant leaves a lasting impact. They learn the nuances of language sounds, they hear new vocabulary, and early on, they will start to connect the vocabulary to the pictures. They can also be introduced to new concepts, such as letters, numbers, animals, etc. They learn print awareness, such as how to hold the book and which way to turn the pages.

The variety of picture books can help meet children where they are. For example, cloth and board books are popular for babies and toddlers. Though not indestructible, the sturdy construction holds up well to rough use by little fingers and usually features bright, engaging colors with few words. One popular board book, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle, hits all the marks with its vibrant imagery and developmentally appropriate refrain.

Concept books are what parents, teachers, and librarians can use to introduce children to new themes, including the alphabet, colors, shapes, and counting. Concept books do not always feature a plot but focus on the core concept that is trying to be taught. I personally enjoy Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault, illustrated by Lois Ehlert. A well written concept book can also lend itself to reflection of the previously taught skill with their memorable, almost lyrical writing.

Easy Reader books, also known as Beginning Reader books, are another step toward independent reading. They usually feature larger print with limited vocabulary and simple sentence structures. While the vocabulary may be limited, Easy Readers do feature engaging, but not overly complicated plots. One of my favorite Early Reader book series is Tad Hills Step into Reading series featuring an inquisitive puppy named Rocket, including Rocket’s Very Fine Day. Such series help support reader independence and build confidence for the budding reader.

Some picture books include only pictures with no text for support. These are called Wordless books and are some of my favorites. The artwork can be simple or detailed, but the reader creates the story guided by the illustrations. One of my favorite Wordless books is Flotsam by David Wiesner. Books in this category can be great for strengthening comprehension skills, such as inference, and proving opportunities for open ended discussions.

Picture books also include non-fiction books that introduce a wide variety of topics in a simple way. They include math, social studies, biographies, and animals. The text may include advanced vocabulary. Two of my favorite non-fiction picture books are What Do You Do with a Tail like This? by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page and P is for Pterodactyl: The Worst Alphabet Book Ever by Raj Halder and Chris Carpenter, illustrated by Maria Tina Beddia. These titles can make even the most complex concept seem more approachable and serve as a great foundation on which to build understanding.

While I may have advanced to reading technical works and full novels, I still enjoy kicking back with a good picture book. What should I read next? I would love to hear what picture books you recommend. Please leave a comment with your favorites below.

Building Readers at Emily J. Pointer Library

Margaret Murray served the Mississippi Library Commission (MLC) and libraries in Mississippi for twenty years before retiring in 2014. At the annual Mississippi Library Association conference in 2015, the Friends of Mississippi Libraries announced a grant honoring her work in the library community. The competitive grant advances library programming and literacy for Mississippi public libraries through activities sponsored by the local Friends of Mississippi Libraries chapters. Three $1,000 grant recipients are named each year.

Como Branch Manager Amy Henderson receives the grant check
from Del Ann Billingsly, Treasurer of the Como Library Friends.

The Friends group of the Emily J. Pointer Library, a branch of the First Regional Library System, is one of this year's recipients. This library, located in Como, Mississippi, wanted to advance early literacy through collection development. Nearly 50% of children in this area perform below passing levels in language arts. Their goals were to attract and expose preschool age children to the alphabet and numbers in a fun way while keeping with current trends of collection development, especially with the inclusion of books featuring diverse characters. In their grant application, the group said, "By offering an appealing, up-dated collection of books to our young patrons, we hope to aid in the improvement of literacy levels in school age children."

Como Library Youth Specialist Veneda Ruby and Pat Hendren
show off some of the books ordered with grant funds.

Many congratulations to Emily J. Pointer Library and the children of Como, who will benefit from this grant for many years to come. Check back with us soon for more posts featuring this year's Margaret Murray Grant recipients!

Librarian of Congress Story Time

Dr. Carla Hayden, Librarian of Congress

Later this week, Librarian of Congress, Dr. Carla Hayden will join us and several classes from the Mississippi School for the Deaf for a special story time at the Mississippi Library Commission. Dr. Hayden, who is in town for the Mississippi Book Festival, will unveil the Mississippi's new literary map Saturday, August 19. Friday, she will read a childhood classic, The Rainbow Fish, while Bevin Glass, Certified Interpreter for the Deaf, assists with a translation from the words on the page to American Sign Language (ASL). We're pretty excited, both about this opportunity and the book itself.

To understand the process a book undergoes when translated into ASL, it's easiest to think of English and ASL as completely separate languages. Deaf and hard of hearing children who are read books with ASL translation but still have access to a print copy have a much easier time learning to read in English. Many times, these translations are much more elaborate than the actual printed story, which gives the child a more comprehensive understanding of the story itself. During further readings, the translation naturally moves to a closer rendering of the printed text, again helping with English literacy. You can read more about reading to deaf and hard of hearing children in this article by Reading Rockets, a national literacy initiative.

The Rainbow Fish

The Rainbow Fish, which is currently celebrating its 25th anniversary, is a vibrant picture book that conveys messages about the downside to pride and the virtue of sharing. The illustrations are unique, as author/illustrator Marcus Pfister used a holographic stamped foil for the rainbow fish's special scales. This was so costly that Pfister remarked, "We decided that I’d get only 50% of my usual royalties for the book, and only that way was it possible to make it work."

When once asked what he hoped children would learn from his book, Pfister said, "Just to learn to get along with any other people during their daily lives, at home, at school, anywhere. Our world becomes more and more complex every day, more and more completely different people from different countries and cultures live together. It’s not always easy, but it’s worth the effort."

We can't wait to introduce this universally loved picture book to the kids who go to school right down the street from us. Until next time, happy reading to them, and happy reading to you!

http://www.readingrockets.org/article/15-principles-reading-deaf-children
https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/authors/interviews/article/56255-q-a-with-marcus-pfister.html
http://www.slj.com/2017/07/industry-news/fish-or-foil-what-came-first-q-a-with-marcus-pfister/#_

15 Books to Read During Jewish American Heritage Month

In 2006, President George W. Bush proclaimed May as Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM). We use this month to acknowledge the contributions Jewish Americans have made to our country. For more information regarding JAHM, visit the Library of Congress's websites here and here.

The Mississippi Library Commission is celebrating JAHM with this list of books that highlight Jewish American literature.

Oskar and the Eight Blessings

by Tanya Simon and Richard Simon
preK-2nd grade

On Christmas Eve and the seventh day of Hanukkah, a young boy arrives in New York City. Although escaping the horrors of Kristallnacht, he still finds kindness and goodness among those he meets.

My Name Is Aviva

by Lesléa Newman

illustrated by Ag Jatkowska
preK-2nd grade

Little Aviva dislikes her name so much that she decides to change it to Emily... that is, until she learns about her Jewish great-grandmother for whom she is named.

Kayla and Kugel

by Ann D. Koffsky
preK-Kindergarten

Kayla and her puppy Kugel set the table for Shabbat. This book explains Shabbat and its traditions and customs.

Echo 

by Pam Muñoz Ryan
2nd-4th grades 

A mysterious harmonica winds its way through the lives of four special children, one of whom, Friedrich, finds himself trying to save his family from the Nazis.

Beyond Lucky

by Sarah Aronson
3rd-7th grades

Ari prepares for his Bar Mitzvah as he tries to become a soccer star and keep his team on track.

The Importance of Wings

by Robin Friedman
5th-8th grades

Israeli-American Roxanne becomes less obsessed with all things American when an Israeli girl moves into the cursed house next door. 

I'm Glad I Did 

by Cynthia Weil
7th grade and up

Jewish JJ pursues her dream of a music career while falling in love and solving a mystery.

Kissing in America 

by Margo Rabb
9th grade and up

Eva, who is Jewish loses herself in romance novels to cope with the death of her father. When she finds the guy of her dreams in real life, who then moves across the country, she and her best friend travel cross-country to find him.

Numbers 

by David A. Poulsen
7th-10th grades

Outsider Andy Crockett encounters Holocaust denial at school.

What to Do About the Solomons

by Bethany Ball
Adult fiction

This debut about a multigenerational family is set in Israel, New York, and Los Angeles.

The One Man

by Andrew Gross
Adult fiction

This thriller involves a heart-pounding rescue of a physicist, the one man who can win the war for the Allies, who is trapped in a Nazi concentration camp.

Modern Girls

by Jennifer S. Brown
Adult fiction

This debut, which is set in the Jewish community of New York in the 1930s, sees a mother and daughter face tough choices as Hitler begins his rise to power overseas.

The Jews of Harlem: The Rise, Decline, and Revival of a Jewish Community

by Jeffrey S. Gurock
 Adult nonfiction

This book follows the path of the burgeoning Jewish population of Harlem in the early 1900s, through their desertion of the neighborhood, and their return today.

Eat My Schwartz

by Geoff and Mitch Schwartz,

with Seth Kaufman
 Adult nonfiction

The inspirational story of offensive linemen Geoff and Mitch Schwartz and their ties to their close-knit Jewish family is told in this heartwarming book.

Rhapsody in Schmaltz: Yiddish Food and Why We Can't Stop Eating It

by Michael Wex
Adult nonfiction

Explore the path of Jewish food from the Bible through Europe to present day America.

If you are interested in more books or book clubs with Jewish content, check out the Jewish Book Council.

Happy reading!

Ten Powerful Picture Book Girls

Women's History Month is a great time to study the accomplishments of women throughout history. Women have invented, dreamed, built, and explored, just like men, since the beginning of time, though their accomplishments may be less known. (After all, for every 1.03 men born, 1 woman is brought into this world. By the time we pass the age of 65, there are only .805 men for every woman on this earth. Women do have a longer life expectancy!¹) Covering up women and their achievements doesn't only occur in history books, but in other books as well. Until quite recently, boys nearly always took center stage when it came to literary entertainment. Now, more and more girls have begun to take their rightful place on the shelves of libraries, bookstores, and homes. We've dug through picture books from the past several years and picked our favorites that feature girls as main characters. These girls are powerful and strong, inventive and inquisitive, proud and compassionate, but above all, they refuse to take "No" for an answer just because they're girls.

Tía Isa Wants a Car

Meg Medina and Claudio Muñoz (illustrations)

2011

Based on a true story from Meg Medina's childhood, a young girl helps her aunt save for a car so that they can visit the beach and still save enough to help their family come to America.

Interstellar Cinderella

Deborah Underwood and Meg Hunt (illustrations)

2015

Cinderella doesn't need saving in this charming adaptation. This girl mechanic rescues the prince. (And no, they don't get married.)

Ada Twist, Scientist

Andrea Beaty and David Roberts (illustrations)

2016

Little Ada is inquisitive and she wants to know everything. What will this budding scientist discover next?!

Suki's Kimono

Chieri Uegaki and Stéphane Jorisch (illustrations)

2005

No matter what anyone says or thinks, Suki wants everyone to see her favorite thing in the world: the kimono her grandmother gave her. When she brings it to school for show and tell, she wins over her whole class and spreads the joy and fun of her Japanese heritage.

Mango, Abuela, and Me

Meg Medina and Angela Dominguez (illustrations)

2015

When Mia's grandmother moves in with her family, a language difference proves to be a big barrier to communication. Mia saves the day by coming up with creative ways to interact with her grandma.

Nasreen's Secret School: A True Story from Afghanistan

Jeanette Winter 

2009

Nasreen's grandmother enrolls her in a secret school for girls when her parents are taken by the ruling Taliban party in Afghanistan. Surrounded by other girls learning math, history, and reading, Nasreen blossoms in this beautiful story about the power of friendship and women.

Mama's Nightingale: A Story of Immigration and Separation

Edwidge Danticat and Leslie Staub (illustrations)

2015

When Saya's mother is sent to an immigration detention facility, she and her daughter share messages and stories via cassette. Saya's father tries to free her mother, but it is Saya herself who saves the day.

New Shoes

Susan Lynn Meyer and Eric Velasquez (illustrations)

2014

Two enterprising young girls won't be stopped by Jim Crow laws. They find a creative way to fix their problem and help fill a need in their community.

This is Sadie

Sara O'Leary and Julie Morstad (illustrations)

2015

Sadie has been a mermaid, a sailor, and a fairy tale hero. She fashions her own playscapes, using couch cushions, blankets, and even hammer, nails, and wood. This is a hearty salute to the power of a girl's imagination.

Zephyr Takes Flight

Steve Light

2012

Zephyr loves planes; she's going to be a real pilot some day! For now, she flies around the world, taking off from her very own room.

Look for more book lists about women in the next few weeks as we celebrate Women's History Month. Until next time, happy reading!

¹CIA World Factbook