FDL Reads: Dreams of Joy

Dreams of Joy by Lisa See

Reviewed by: Susie Rivera, Reference Specialist

Genre: Historical Fiction

Suggested Age: Adult

What is this book about? This novel is the sequel to Lisa See’s Shanghai Girls, however, I believe there is enough background information given to read it on its own.  Joy is nineteen years old and has just found out a big family secret.  This takes her on a journey from her home in California to Shanghai to find her birth father.  China in 1957 was in the midst of the beginning of Communism.  Joy gets caught up in the Communist vision, falls in love and quickly marries a Chinese man when she visits a village collective.  She soon finds that life in the collective is not the ideal that it is promised to be.  When Pearl finds out what happened to her daughter, she is horrified and follows her to China to try to save her.

My Review:  I have enjoyed several of Lisa See’s novels and this one is good as well.  See always does her research and it really shows here. Communist China comes to life through the eyes of Joy.  The hardships she faces while living in the collective were sometimes difficult to read.  The tragedy surrounding this period was that Mao’s Great Leap Forward  ended up being a man made famine.   We see the horrors of that famine and what desperate people will do out of extreme hunger. In the beginning, Joy is a bit foolish as a character, but you must remember that she is just a teenager and still naïve.  She definitely learns some very hard lessons by the end of the whole ordeal.

Three Words That Describe This Book: Insightful, Tragic, Eye-Opening

Give This a Try if You LikeSnow Flower and the Secret Fan, Memoirs of the Geisha, The Killing Fields

Rating: 5/5

Find it at the library!

About FDL Reads

FDL Reads is a series of weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library.

FDL Reads

 

2021-06-11T16:26:35-05:00June 11th, 2021|

#FDL: Audiobooks Read by Celebrities

June is audiobook month! Check out one of these books read by a celebrity.
Author: Matthew McConaughey | Narrator: Matthew McConaughey
From the Academy Award–winning actor, an unconventional memoir filled with raucous stories, outlaw wisdom, and lessons learned the hard way about living with greater satisfaction.
Yearbook
Author: Seth Rogen | Narrator: Full Cast and Seth Rogen
A collection of funny personal essays from one of the writers of Superbad and Pineapple Express and one of the producers of The Disaster Artist, Neighbors, and The Boys
Author: Margaret Atwood | Narrator: Claire Danes
The Handmaid’s Tale is the chilling tale of Offred, a woman who is stripped of her personal identity and forced to work as a surrogate for wealthy and powerful couples in a near-future dystopia. Emmy Award winner Claire Danes brings this modern classic to vivid, eerie reality.
Author: Harper Lee | Narrator: Reese Witherspoon
Reese Witherspoon is the heart behind this audio adaptation of Harper Lee’s Go Set a Watchman. Drafted three years before it was set aside for Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, this listen features characters and storylines that many listeners will be quite familiar with.
Author: Ethan Hawke | Narrator: Ethan Hawke
The novel of a young man making his Broadway debut in Henry IV just as his marriage implodes—a book about art and love, fame and heartbreak from the acclaimed actor/writer/director.
Sunshine Girl
Author: Julianna Margulies | Narrator: Julianna Margulies
Known for her outstanding performances on the groundbreaking television series The Good Wife and ER, Julianna Margulies deftly chronicles her life and her work in this deeply powerful memoir.
-Annotations from the publishers
Post by Susie Rivera, Reference Specialist

#FDL is an update on all things Fondulac District Library and books.

2021-06-17T13:34:16-05:00June 11th, 2021|

Story Time (Online) – Pig the Pug

Good morning and welcome back to story time! I’m Miss Sharon. It was nice taking some time off to get ready for Summer Reading but it’s also nice to be back with you doing story time! Today’s books are all about Pig the Pug.

 

Song: The More We Get Together

The more we get together, together, together,
the more we get together, the happier we’ll be.
Cause your friends are my friends,
and my friends are your friends,
the more we get together the happier we’ll be!

Source: Supersimple A Place To Learn and Grow

.

Book: Pig the Pug

Written and illustrated by Adam Blabley and read with the permission of Scholastic.

.

Song: Oh Where, Oh Where, Has My Little Dog Gone?

Oh, where, oh, where
Has my little dog gone?
Oh, where, oh, where
Can he be?

With his ears cut short
And his tail cut long,
Oh, where, oh, where
Can he be?

Oh where, oh where
Has my little dog gone?
Oh, where, oh, where
Can he be?

Source: NurseryRhymes.org

.

Book: Pig the Slob

Written and illustrated by Adam Blabley and read with the permission of Scholastic.

.

Song: The Wheels on the Bus

The wheels on the bus go Round and Round,
Round and round,
Round and round.
The wheels on the bus go Round and Round,
all through the town.
    (Roll hands around each other)

The wipers on the bus go Swish, swish, swish;
Swish, swish, swish;
Swish, swish, swish.
The wipers on the bus go Swish, swish, swish,
all through the town.
    (“Swish” hands in front of you like windshield wipers)

The horn on the bus goes Beep, beep, beep;
Beep, beep, beep;
Beep, beep, beep.
The horn on the bus goes Beep, beep, beep,
all through the town.
    (Slap palm in front of you like honking a horn)

The doors on the bus go open and shut;
Open and shut;
Open and shut.
The doors on the bus go open and shut;
all through the town.
    (Push hands back and forth in front of you)

The Driver on the bus says “Move on back,
move on back, move on back;”
The Driver on the bus says “Move on back”,
all through the town.
    (Point thumb over your shoulder)

The babies on the bus says “Wah, wah, wah;
Wah, wah, wah;
Wah, wah, wah”.
The babies on the bus says “Wah, wah, wah”,
all through the town.
    (Rub fists in front of eyes)

The mommies on the bus says “Shh, shh, shh;
Shush, shush, shush;
Shush, shush, shush.”
The mommies on the bus says “Shh, shh, shh”
all through the town.
    (Hold index finger in front of mouth as if saying shhh)

Source:  DLTK Sites For Kids

.

Book: Pig the Tourist

Written and illustrated by Adam Blabley and read with the permission of Scholastic.

.

Song: Skinnamarink

Skinnamarinky dinky-dink (Put your left elbow in right hand, wave.)
Skinnamarinky Doo (Right elbow in left hand, wave.)
I (Point to eye.)
Love (Cross your arms over your heart.)
You! (Point to audience.)
Skinnamarinky dinky-dink (Left elbow in right hand.)
Skinnamarinky Doo (Right elbow in left hand, wave.)
I (Point to your eye.)
Love (Cross arms in front of heart.)
You! (Point to audience.)
I love you in the morning (Cross arms above your head.)
And in the afternoon (Cross arms around your chest.)
I love you in the evening (Cross around your tummy.)
And underneath the moon! (Cross arms above head again.)
Skinnamarinky dinky-dink (Left arm in right hand, wave.)
Skinnamarinky doo (Right arm in left hand, wave.)
I (Point to your eye.)
Love (Cross arms in front of heart.)
You (Point to audience.)
Too (Show two fingers.)
Boo boop we doo! (Wave and kiss!)

Source: youtube.com/watch?v=Ix_LyeuYbcI

.

Craft: Pug Stick Puppet

Craft kits are available to pick up in the Youth Services department or the drive-up window while supplies last.

Kit Supplies:

  • Pig the Pug Template
  • Craft Stick
  • Instruction sheet

Supplies you need from home:

  • Scissors
  • Glue

Instructions:

Step 1: cut out the pug template

Step 2: add the chin

Step 3: add the face mask

Step 4: add the ears

Step 5: add the nose

Step 6: add the tongue

Step 7: add the eyes

Step 8: attach the craft stick to the back of your pug face

Source: Woo! Jr Kids Activities

Song: Thanks for Coming

(Tune: Oh My Darling Clementine)
Thanks for sitting, thanks for listening,
Thanks for coming here today!
Now that story time is over
Hope you have a lovely day!

Source: Literary Hoots

– Miss Sharon, Youth Services Specialist

2021-06-10T13:10:13-05:00June 10th, 2021|

#FDL: Books for Pride Month

One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston

For cynical twenty-three-year-old August, moving to New York City is supposed to prove her right: that things like magic and cinematic love stories don’t exist, and the only smart way to go through life is alone. She can’t imagine how waiting tables at a 24-hour pancake diner and moving in with too many weird roommates could possibly change that. And there’s certainly no chance of her subway commute being anything more than a daily trudge through boredom and electrical failures.  But then, there’s this gorgeous girl on the train.

Let’s Get Back to the Party by Zak Salih

It is 2015, weeks after the Supreme Court marriage equality ruling, and all Sebastian Mote wants is to settle down. A high school art history teacher, newly single and desperately lonely, he envies his queer students their freedom to live openly the youth he lost to fear and shame.  When he runs into his childhood friend Oscar Burnham at a wedding in Washington, D.C., he can’t help but see it as a second chance.

Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters

This debut about three women–transgender and cisgender–whose lives collide after an unexpected pregnancy forces them to confront their deepest desires around gender, motherhood, and sex.

All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson

In a series of personal essays, prominent journalist and LGBTQIA+ activist George M. Johnson explores his childhood, adolescence, and college years in New Jersey and Virginia. From the memories of getting his teeth kicked out by bullies at age five, to flea marketing with his loving grandmother, to his first relationships, this young-adult memoir weaves together the trials and triumphs faced by Black queer boys.

Zara Hossain Is Here by Sabina Khan (YA)

Seventeen-year-old Pakistani immigrant, Zara Hossain, has been leading a fairly typical life in Corpus Christi, Texas, since her family moved there for her father to work as a pediatrician. While dealing with the Islamophobia that she faces at school, Zara has to lay low, trying not to stir up any trouble and jeopardize their family’s dependent visa status while they await their green card approval, which has been in process for almost nine years.

Between Perfect and Real by Ray Stoeve (YA)

Dean Foster knows he’s a trans guy. He’s watched enough YouTube videos and done enough questioning to be sure. But everyone at his high school thinks he’s a lesbian—including his girlfriend Zoe, and his theater director, who just cast him as a “nontraditional” Romeo. He wonders if maybe it would be easier to wait until college to come out. But as he plays Romeo every day in rehearsals, Dean realizes he wants everyone to see him as he really is now––not just on the stage, but everywhere in his life. Dean knows what he needs to do. Can playing a role help Dean be his true self?

– Annotations from the publishers

Post by Susie Rivera, Reference Specialist

#FDL is an update on all things Fondulac District Library and books.

2021-06-08T10:44:02-05:00June 4th, 2021|

FDL Reads: The Cousins

The Cousins by Karen M. McManus

Reviewed by:  Katie G, Circulation Assistant

Genre: Mystery / thriller

Suggested Age: Young Adult

What is this book about?   Twenty four years ago millionaire resort owner Mildred Story sent a letter to her four adult children. It read five simple words – “You know what you did.” After years of insisting they had no idea why they were disowned and disinherited by their mother, three letters arrives in the mail. The letters are addressed to Mildred’s grandchildren. Milly, Aubrey and Jonah are offered jobs at the lavish resort on Gull Cove Island that their grandmother owns. She claims she wants to get to know them and make up for lost time. Having never met their grandmother, and only having met each other once as children, all three grandchildren are less than thrilled at the offer. However, their parents insist they go for the summer and attempt to get back in Mildred’s good graces. Shortly after arriving it is clear to Milly, Aubrey and Jonah that something is awry, and the three are determined to find out what really happened on the island twenty four years prior. However, they soon realize that some things are better left in the past.

My Review:  I could not put this book down. From start to finish there were so many twists and turns that I was left guessing up until the last page. The story is told from the perspective of all three grandchildren in first person, alternating each chapter. This format made it easy to become emotionally invested in Milly, Aubrey and Jonah’s lives and better understand their frame of mind and thought process throughout the story. One thing I loved about this book was that I felt there weren’t any loose ends or unanswered questions once the story was complete. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery/thriller.

Three Words That Describe This Book: Exciting, Shocking, and Scandalous

Give This a Try if You Like… One of us is Lying  by Karen M McManus,  A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson,  We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

Rating: 5/5 stars

Find it at the library!

About FDL Reads

FDL Reads is a series of weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library.

FDL Reads
2021-06-11T17:24:29-05:00June 3rd, 2021|

Bilingual Story Time (Online) – Rainforests / Servas

Hi, everyone! My name is Miss Haley, and I’m so happy you’re joining me today for bilingual story time at Fondulac District Library. Bilingual is a word that means more than one language, so that means we’ll be singing songs and reading books in English and Spanish today as we learn about rainforests. Are you ready? Let’s go! ¡Vamos!

 

 Song: Good Morning / Buenos dias

(Tune: Frère Jacques)

English Lyrics:

Good morning

Good morning

How are you?

How are you?

Very well, thank you

Very well thank you

And you?

And you?

Spanish Lyrics:

 Buenos dias

Buenos dias

¿Como estas?

¿Como estas?

Muy bien, gracias

Muy bien, gracias

¿Y usted?

¿Y usted?

Credit: Jack Hartmann Kids Music Channel

.

Song: Open, Shut Them / Abre, cierra

English Lyrics:

Open, shut them

Open, shut them

Give a little clap, clap, clap

Open, shut them

Open, shut them

Put them in your lap, lap, lap

Creep them, crawl them,

creep them, crawl them

right up to your chin, chin, chin

Open wide your little mouth, but…

Do not put them in!

Credit: Jbrary YouTube Channel

Spanish Lyrics:

Abre, cierra

Abre, cierra

Da una palmadita, -ta

Abre, cierra

Abre, cierra

Mantenlas juntitas, -tas

Sube, sube, sube, sube

Hasta la barbilla, -lla

Abre la boquita pero…

¡No metas los dedos!

Credit: NCO Bilingual Storytime

.

Book: We’re Roaming in the Rainforest: An Amazon Adventure / Un recorrido por la selva: Una aventura Amazónica

Written by Laurie Krebs, illustrated by Anne Wilson, and read with the permission of Barefoot Books.

.

Song: If You’re a Lion and You Know It

(Tune: If You’re Happy and You Know It)

If you’re an elephant and you know it, STOMP your feet

If you’re an elephant and you know it, STOMP your feet

If you’re an elephant and you know it, then your face will surely show it

If you’re an elephant and you know it, STOMP your feet

If you’re a monkey and you know it, JUMP around

If you’re a monkey and you know it, JUMP around

If you’re a monkey and you know it, then your face will surely show it

If you’re a monkey and you know it, JUMP around

If you’re a crocodile and you know it, SNAP your jaws (motion with arms)

If you’re a crocodile and you know it, SNAP your jaws (motion with arms)

If you’re a crocodile and you know it, then your face will surely show it

If you’re a crocodile and you know it, SNAP your jaws (motion with arms)

If you’re a lion and you know it, give a ROAR!

If you’re a lion and you know it, give a ROAR!

If you’re a lion and you know it, then your face will surely show it

If you’re a lion and you know it, give a ROAR!

Credit: Sunflower Storytime

 .

Song: La Iguana Y El Perezoso

Spanish Lyrics:

Había una vez una iguana

con una ruana de lana

peinándose la melena

junto al río magdalena

Y la iguana tomaba café

tomaba café a la hora del té

y la iguana tomaba café

tomaba café a la hora del té

Llegó un perezoso caminando

en pijama y bostezando

le dio un empujón a doña iguana

y la lanzó de cabeza al agua

Y el perezoso se toma el café

se toma el café a la hora del té

y el perezoso se toma el café

se toma el café a la hora del té

La iguana volvió toda mojada

furibunda y enojada

le espicha la oreja al perezoso

y lo encerró en el calabozo

Y la iguana termina el café

termina el café a la hora del té

y la iguana termina el café

termina el café a la hora del té

 

English Translation:

Once upon a time there was an iguana

in a woollen poncho,

brushing her mane

next to the river Magdalena

and the iguana was drinking coffee,

drinking coffee at tea time

and the iguana was drinking coffee,

drinking coffee at tea time

A sloth came by,

in pajamas and yawning

and he pushed down the iguana,

throwing her in the water head-on

then the sloth drank the coffee,

drank the coffee at tea time

then the sloth drank the coffee,

drank the coffee at tea time

The iguana came back,

all wet, furious and angry

she pinched the sloth in his ear

and put him in a dungeon

and the iguana finished drinking her coffee,

finished drinking her coffee at tea time

and the iguana finished drinking her coffee,

finished drinking her coffee at tea time

Credit: Mundo Canticuentos and Allthelyrics.com

.

Book: Zonia’s Rainforest / La selva de Zonia

Written and illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal and read with the permission of Candlewick Press.

.

Craft: Hanging Sloth

Pick up a craft kit at the library while supplies last from the Youth Services Department or the drive-up window.

Supplies needed at home:

  • Scissors
  • Coloring utensils (crayons, markers, or colored pencils)
  • Glue (liquid or stick)

Included in supply kit:

  • Two pages of sloth template
  • Two paper fasteners
  • One piece of yarn

 

Instructions:

  1. Color your sloth.
  2. Cut the sloth out from the template.
  3. Glue the sloth face onto the head of the body piece.
  4. Use the paper fasteners to attach the sloth arms to the body. The paper is thick cardstock, so pierce the arms with the fasteners first and then pierce through the body. Then flatten out the backs of the fasteners.
  5. Place the yarn under the arms of the sloth so it looks like he’s hanging on a vine. Then bring the ends of the yarn up above the sloth’s head and tie a knot. Now your sloth is ready to hang out and relax!

 

Credit: tinyurl.com/4ccpkahw

 . 

More Children’s Books About Rainforests:

 English Books:

 Bilingual Books:

.

Mango Language App:

Did you know that we have a free app available on the Fondulac Library website that can help you and your child learn a new language? It’s called Mango, and you can sign up for free using your library card. Check it out by clicking here!

.

Song: The Goodbye Song 

English Lyrics:

Goodbye

So long

To you

My friend

Stay well

And fine

Til we meet

Again

Spanish Lyrics:

Adios

Adios

A ti

Mi amigo

Cuídate

Muy bien

Nos vemos

Otra vez

Credit: Burlington Specials

– Miss Haley, Youth Services Assistant

2021-06-03T12:36:50-05:00June 3rd, 2021|

Here There Be Dragons…

Dragons have ignited our imaginations for centuries! They’ve been important to fantasy books for just as long. While some dragons are as friendly as can be, there are others who wouldn’t mind a little, tasty human for a snack. Plus, there’s so many different ways dragons can look, depending on the culture they’re from! Some dragons fly through the sky without wings, and some slither over land with no legs. What do dragons look like where your family is from? Here are a couple books for different ages with all sorts of dragons in them!

Picture books:

Ellie’s Dragon by Bob Graham

You Don’t Want a Dragon by Ame Dyckman

Amy Wu and The Patchwork Dragon by Kat Zhang

Have You Seen My Dragon? by Steve Wright

Again! by Emily Gravett

.

Chapter books:

Dragons and Marshmallows by Asia Citro (Zoey and Sassafras book 1)

The Dragon Thief by Zetta Elliott

The Dragonet Prophecy by Tui Sutherland (Wings of Fire book 1)

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin

The Dragon Warrior by Katie Zhao

.

Graphic novels:

The Dragonet Prophecy by Tui Sutherland (Wings of Fire graphic novel, book 1)

Dragons Beware by Jorge Aguirre

The Coldfire Curse by Jordan Quinn (The Dragon Kingdom of Wrenly book 1)

The Dragon Bots by Russ Bolts (BOTS book 4)

The Dragon Slayer: Folktales from Latin America by Jaime Hernandez

– Alice, Youth Services Manager

2021-05-28T14:27:56-05:00May 28th, 2021|

FDL Reads: Whatcha Mean, What’s a Zine?

Whatcha Mean, What’s a Zine?: The Art of Making Zines and Mini-Comics by Mark Todd & Esther Pearl Watson

Reviewer: Cindy, Youth Services Assistant

Genre: Nonfiction

Suggested Age: Teens, Adults

What is this book about?  This book tells you pretty much everything you need to know to start making your own zines or mini comics.  It starts off by explaining some of the many reasons people create and read zines and includes a brief history of zine culture and how it changed with various technological advances, most notably the copy machine.  The bulk of Whatcha Mean, What’s a Zine? goes into the nitty gritty details of how to make a zine.  There are several diagrams showing how to fold and cut paper in different ways and instructions for manipulating copiers to do what you want.  If you’ve ever thought about making a zine or comic but didn’t know where to start, this book is exactly what you need.

My Review: This book is essentially a collection of zines that talk about making zines.  I was already a little familiar with the concept of zines, but this taught me a lot of new methods for physically making them.  Printing and binding your own work can be as simple or as complicated a process as you want it to be, and there are really no limits on what sort of content you create.  The authors really emphasize the fact that no matter how weird or boring you might think your ideas are, the act of creating something on your own or with friends can be fun even if no one else ever reads it or gives you money for it.  Pretty much the whole point of zines is creative expression.

I only have two slightly negative things to say about this book.  One is that some of the pages are hard to read because they are handwritten and have a textured background.  That’s pretty common with zines, though.  The other is that the printer hacks they talk about probably wouldn’t work on many of the machines available these days.  Most copy machines and printers work differently now than they did back in 2006 when this book was written, and it’s even easier for anyone to make art on a computer or tablet for free than it was a few years ago.  All of the old-school methods they talk about in this book are definitely still useful, but it would be interesting to see an updated version that looks at some of the ways you can start making a zine online or on an app before printing it out.

Rating: 4/5 stars

Three Words That Describe This Book: practical, informative, artistic

Give This a Try if You Like… journaling, making your own comics, the Riot Grrrl movement

Find it at the library!

About FDL Reads

FDL Reads is a series of weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library.

FDL Reads
2021-06-11T17:26:41-05:00May 26th, 2021|

#FDL Film Review: A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Reviewed by: Melissa Friedlund, Reference Specialist

Genre: Biography

Rating: PG

What is the movie about?  Some of the names and events have been changed, but this movie is based on a real-life friendship between Fred Rogers and a magazine writer. In 1998, Lloyd Vogel, a writer for Vogue magazine, was given an assignment to profile television personality Fred Rogers, also known as “Mister Rogers.” Up until this point, Lloyd’s writing and his personal life have been filled with bitterness, cynicism, and mistrust. While Lloyd shadows Mister Rogers, we get to see many aspects of their lives, both public and private. Meeting Mister Rogers, a truly genuine person who is wholly caring and honest, forces Lloyd to reexamine his preconceived notions, his feelings, and his life.

My Review: I enjoyed this movie quite a bit. It is a little quirky in its story-telling, like using miniatures reminiscent of those on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood as setting transitions between scenes. The way Tom Hanks portrays Mister Rogers, you get a real sense that Fred Rogers was not like everyone else. His active listening skills and his insightful empathy are stunningly honest and a little creepy, to be honest.  However, comparing that to Lloyd Vogel’s guarded and irascible demeanor, it really shows how special Mister Rogers really was. It is easy for people to hold on to old hurts and lie to themselves, not really living honestly and in-the-moment. It was very unexpected to end up being so introspective at the end of a movie, but this one really got to me. And I enjoyed the walk down memory lane, too.

Three Words That Describe This Book: Clever, Nostalgic, Unconventional

Give This a Try if You Like…Won’t You Be My Neighbor? (documentary), Officer Clemmons: A Memoir by Francois Clemmons, and A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood: Neighborly Words of Wisdom from Mister Rogers by Fred Rogers

Rating: 5/5

Find it at the library!

#FDL is an update on all things Fondulac District Library and books.

2021-05-21T11:38:19-05:00May 21st, 2021|
Go to Top