Archive for January, 2009
What We Are Reading
I am listening to the audiobook version of The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen. It is an amazingly realistic portrait of an American Family. (It also needs to be repaired because my dog chewed up part of it.)
American Nerd : the story of my people by Benjamin Nugent.
I am in the middle of this. Nugent gives the history of Nerdom and so far it is pretty fascinating.
–Sunni, Technical Services
Lord Perfect by Loretta Chase
Benedict Carsington is known as “Lord Perfect” because everything about him is, well, just perfect. In a chance encounter with a young widow named Bathsheba, he begins to wonder if perfection isn’t a little boring. Then his life begins to spin out of control when his nephew is dragged into a treasure hunt by Bathsheba’s impetuous daughter, and he finds himself racing across England to catch them accompanied by the sarcastic and quick-witted Bathsheba. A fast-paced story with original characters, sensual romance, and lots of humor, this historical romance is a must read.
–Stacey, Emily Fowler Central Library
I just finished Slumdog Millionaire by Vikas Swarup. This is the same book as Q&A, so look for both in the catalog if you want to put a hold on it. What a crazy life this young boy has had, culminating in a seemingly suspicious win on a game show, with the highest prize payout EVER. While the protagonist tries to prove he didn’t cheat, you learn about the many adventures he has had. Highly recommended!
-Sian, Technical Services
I recently started the manga series Death Note by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata. High School Student Light Yagami finds a “Death Notebook” accidentally dropped by a Shigami, or death god. Now, Light holds the power of people’s lives in his hands, and immediately starts testing the power of the Death Note. I highly recommend this series for fans of shonen manga, suspense and crime fiction.
-Dana, North Branch Library
Add comment January 30, 2009
A Plethora of Penguins, Part 1
Today I got a new batch of Easy Picture Books, and found a surprising number of them featured penguins. For those of us in the children’s library world, penguin books have been a big thing in recent years, since And Tango Makes Three was the Most Challenged Book of 2007 from the American Library Association. This new group of books prove much less controversial than Tango, but still deliver quality illustrated literature.
The first book is a quiet little tale by Antoinette Portis:
A Penguin StoryEdna is a contemplative penguin who looks out onto the seemingly endless white ice, black night, and blue water wondering if there is something else. She finally tires of wondering and ventures out to find that something else that surely exists.
Portis uses bold lines to create almost child-like artwork that complements the nuanced text; together, the text and illustrations create a work that holds appeal for various age groups. Preschoolers will be drawn in by the clear, bold illustrations and the color concept. Older children will be drawn to Edna’s boldness and independence in exploring uncharted territory.
Even adults will be able to appreciate Portis’s message of never losing the willingness to search for the new and exciting in a world that can sometimes seem insipid and mundane. Be like Edna–never get tired of looking.
-Dana Zakrzewski
Add comment January 27, 2009
Newly ordered DVDs you can put holds on
1. Australia
2. Bolt
3. Choke
4. Doubt
5. Elegy
6. The Haunting of Molly Hartley
7. How to Lose Friends and Alienate People
10. Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa
12. Role Models
13. Seven Pounds
14. Twilight
Add comment January 20, 2009
DPL’s Mini A-Kon
Do you eat, drink, and sleep Anime and Manga? If you are a fan of Anime and Manga join us at the North Branch Library as we put on our own Mini A-Kon*.
An Anime afternoon filled with a DDR tournament, guest speakers, anime showings, Anime themed video games, a cosplay competition and PRIZES!
Who
Teens, 12—18
Anime enthusiasts
Where
North Branch Library
3020 N. Locust Street
Denton, Texas 76209
When
Saturday, January 24th
1pm to 5pm
Guests
Wendy Powell – Voice of Envy on Fullmetal Alchemist.
Caitlin Glass - Voice of Winry Rockbell on Fullmetal Alchemist.
Cate Ferman - Art Director for Funimation
Open Gaming and Tournaments
DDR
Dead Or Alive 4
Naruto Clash of Ninja Revolution,
Bleach Shattered Blade
Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi
Brought to you by:
Denton Public Library’s Animanga Club
Special Thanks to:
Funimation – http://www.funimation.com/
DFW Games – http://www.dfwgames.com/
*A-Kon® is the oldest continually running, anime-based convention in N. America. Celebrating it’s 20th year in 2009, A-Kon® hosts anime fans and guests, and offers other items of interest ranging from gaming, to independent film, all in the quest to provide the best experience for the fans and bring the most engaging, and educational, entertainment to the anime community. A-Kon will be Friday thru Sunday, May 29th thru 31st 2009, in Downtown Dallas at the Sherton Dallas Hotel and Convention Center.
Add comment January 17, 2009
Chinese New Year
Celebrate the Chinese New Year at the North Branch Library. We will bring in the Year of the Ox with activities, crafts and a special Kung Fu sword demonstration by Grandmaster Yuanming Zhang. Join our celebration at the North Branch Library, 3020 N. Locust at 4:00 pm Monday, January 26. This program is for children ages 6-10.
Find books about Chinese New Year here.
Add comment January 15, 2009
Denton Writes 2009
In celebration of April’s National Poetry Month, the Denton Public Library is hosting its second annual writing contest, Denton Writes. Along with the contest, various writing workshops and activities will be held from now through the month of April. This year, the writing contest is open to teens, adults and children (2nd – 6th grade).
Library patrons are invited to submit original, unpublished personal essays, fiction, non-fiction and poems. There are easy-to-follow submission guidelines available on the Denton Public Library’s website (http://www.dentonlibrary.com), blog (http://dentonlibrary.wordpress.com) and MySpace page (http://www.myspace.com/dentonlibrary).
Entries can be sent to the contest email address, dentonwrites2009@gmail.com, and will be accepted through, March 31st.
“Last year’s contest was such a success we decided to encourage children to enter,” said Terri Sharp, Emily Fowler Central Library Branch Manager. “We will also provide writing workshops and programs to help inspire the people of Denton to express themselves through the written word.”
Local editors, poets and authors will judge the entries for the four divisions: Children second through fourth grade, Children fifth through sixth grade, Teens and Adults. There will be one winner per division, per writing category. Contestants are invited to submit one entry per writing category, but may not submit more than one entry in any single category.
The winners will be announced in early May. Winning entries will be published on the Denton Public Library’s blog and the MySpace page. In addition, winners will once again be featured in American Library Association READ posters and displayed at all three library branches.
A congratulatory reception will be held in mid-May to announce the winners and unveil their Read Posters. Later, winning works will be complied into a book entitled, Versifico. Last year’s winners are featured in the first edition of Vesifico, which is available for checkout at all three branches.
Guidelines
Enter now through March 31, 2009 by emailing your work as a Word doc. attachment to:
You may only enter once per category. All entries should include the following:
Full Name
Email Address
Telephone Number
Grade (children and teens only)
Category of Writing – (if Poetry,
indicate Free Verse or Form; if Form, please specify)
Adult and Teen (7th – 12th grade) Writing Categories
Fiction – 1000 – 4500 words (literary or genre)
Flash Fiction 100 – 300 words
Non-Fiction – Articles 350 -750 words
Children’s Literature – 1000 – 4500
Personal Essay – 500 – 2500
Poetry – Free Verse or Format (poet stated)
Min. line count 5– Max line count 50
Children (2nd – 6th grade) Writing Categories
Fiction – maximum words 1500
Non-Fiction – maximum words 1500
Poetry – Free Verse or Form (poet stated)
Min. line count 5– Max line count 30
1 comment January 13, 2009
The Underneath by Kathi Appelt
If I had finished this book four days earlier, it would have qualified as the best book I read in 2008. For now, it is the best book I have read in 2009– so far, although it will be a daunting task for another book to beat it out. Do not let the cover fool you–The Underneath is not a cutesy story about a group of domesticated animals that overcome adversity while learning about what is most important in life. The Underneath is a dark story about a group of domesticated animals that overcome adversity while learning about what is most important in life.
Appelt’s tale takes place in the bayous around the Texas/Louisiana border, a place whose oppressive, stagnant atmosphere seems to beget oppressive and stagnant circumstances, at least in literature. Oppression and stagnation are prominant as The Underneath begins: An old hound dog has spent years chained up by his cruel owner and bays a sad song that no other creature understands. Meanwhile, a giant Cottonmouth stews in her own anger for a thousand years in a clay pot buried beneath the live oaks. We follow the parallel stories of these two seemingly disparate lives through their upheavals and eventual convergence.
The Underneath may not be for every child, simply because of the cruelty, darkness, and despair, but animal lovers will be riveted by the action, climax, and lyrical prose. I highly recommend this book to children ages 9 and up, but I also recommend it to adults. I will be disappointed if this title does not win the Newbery Award; I will be shocked if it is not nominated.
-Dana Zakrzewski
Add comment January 8, 2009
New Year’s Resolutions
Trying to keep this year’s resolution? Let the library do the work for you with these ten great titles!
Our Lady of Weight Loss: Miraculous and Motivational Musings from the Patron Saint of Permanent Fat Removal by Janice Taylor
Bellydance: A Guide to Middle East Dance, It’s Music, It’s Culture and Costume by Keti Sharif
The Poetry Home Repair Manual: Practical Advice for Beginning Poets by Ted Kooser
On Guerrilla Gardening: A Handbook for Gardening without Boundaries by Richard Reynolds
How to Win at Gambling by Avery Cardoza
Clear Thinking When Drinking: The Handbook for Responsible Alcohol Consumption by Roman T. Solohub
Christopher Lowell’s If You Can Dream It, You Can Do It!: Dream Decor on a Budget by Christopher Lowell
What Women Wish You Knew about Dating: A Single Guy’s Guide to Romantic Relationships by Stephen W. Simpson
No More Mondays: Fire Yourself–and other Revolutionary Ways to Discover your True Calling at Work by Dan Miller
Mark Wilson’s Complete Course in Magic by Mark Wilson
-Amy
1 comment January 5, 2009
Care about recycling?
I’m reading Green House eco friendly disposal and recycling at home by Norm Crampton. It’s a thin book with an A-Z list of ways to recycle just about anything in your home.
Aluminum Cans – most people recycle them, but why is it important to?
Because curbside recycling depends on aluminum can recycling-they’re the only household discard that pays its own way around the recovery-reuse cycle.
Bird Poop
The stuff that falls on bird-cage liner is rich in nitrogen and phosphorus and makes good fertilizer for your plants.
Stale Beer
Make a good shampoo rinse (we have books on this at the library: just type Herbal cosmetics as a subject)
There are many more subjects and this is not the only book that we have only having a green home. Take a look and educate yourself. Plus check out the Keep Denton Beautiful website.
–Leslie
Add comment January 3, 2009
