‘The Best at It’ by Maulik Pancholy

The Best at It by Maulik Pancholy is a moving story about a boy who is determined to be the “best at” something. The protagonist, Rahul, already excels at math, but he resists joining the school “Mathlete” competition because he’s convinced it will brand him as a nerd. Rahul also struggles with compulsive and anxious behavior, and homophobic bullying by a classmate. Nice parts to this book are that Rahul has supportive friends and accepting parents and grandfather who love him unconditionally. As his father puts its, “Rahul. Whether you place first or fifth or thirty-fifth or two thousand and fifth ... and no matter who you are. Your mom and I will always love you.”

Series-order labels for books

Series-order labels really help identify which book should be read next. They streamline shelving books in order, and help to flag series gaps- but often numbers that were printed by the publisher are in a tiny font or missing entirely from the spine of the book. Labeling some of our series books was one of my projects this week in SRCSA library. I worked my way through “Captain Underpants” and embarked on “Magic Treehouse.” I designed the labels with a high-contrast black text against a white background, in the same size-14 font that I use for books’ call numbers.

SOC 1: Diversity in children’s books, ideology and structural strain

For Sociology 1 at Santa Rosa Junior College, I am exploring a social movement, including its identifiable ideology and possible structural strains. For this assignment, I have chosen the topic, “Diversity in children’s books.”

Six Flags Read to Succeed for / para 2019-2020

(En inglés / In English)​
Santa Rosa Charter School for the Arts is participating in Read to Succeed®, a free program that allows students in grades K-6 to earn tickets to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom just by reading six hours for fun.

Here is how your child can earn a free ticket to Six Flags:

1) Register this fall using this link: https://sixflags.com/books. Use Santa Rosa Charter School for the Arts's code: 6GEUV, or the code for your child's teacher.
2) Your child may read any books they choose.
3) Keep track of your child’s reading using the 2019-2020 reading log.
4) Record your child’s reading at Six Flags' website. Hours can be logged using a computer or a smartphone.
5) Receive a free Six Flags Discovery Kingdom ticket from the school in May.

Sincerely,

Ms. Cynthia
Library Technician
and School Coordinator for
Six Flags Read to Succeed®


(En español / In Spanish)
La Escuela Chárter de Artes de Santa Rosa está participando en Read to Succeed,® un programa gratuito que permite a los estudiantes de los grados K-6 obtener entradas para Six Flags Discovery Kingdom sólo por divertirse leyendo durante seis horas.

Aquí es como su hijo(a) puede obtener una entrada gratis a Six Flags:

1) Regístrese este otoño, usando este enlace: https://sixflags.com/books. Use el Código de la Escuela Chárter de Artes de Santa Rosa, 6GEUV; o el Código de la maestra de su hijo(a).
2) Su hijo(a) puede leer cualquier libro que escoja.
3) Seguimiento de la lectura de su hijo(a) usando el diario de lectura para 2019-2020.
4) Registre la lectura de su hijo(a) en la website de Six Flags Read to Succeed®. Las horas se pueden registrar usando una computadora o un teléfono inteligente.
5) Reciba su entrada gratis Six Flags Discovery Kingdom de la escuela en Mayo 2020

Sinceramente,

Sra. Cynthia
Técnica de la biblioteca
y Coordinadora de escuela
para Six Flags Read to Succeed®

‘The Music Box’ by Bekezela Broscius

I enjoyed this book, which centers around the experience of a girl, Busi, attending school in Zimbabwe, who’s being bullied by a classmate.

The fact that Busi’s school was putting on a play was of special interest to me, as the school where I work integrates the arts into its teaching of core curriculum and its arts electives include drama. I view children’s books that address performance and other arts as especially well-suited for my school library.

In Busi’s case, the performance was a class-trip fundraiser. Busi submitted an anonymous idea to put on a class play of Cinderella.

Busi later auditioned and won the role of Cinderella, but was overcome by anxiety because Doreen, the school bully, was cast in the role of stepmother.

Throughout reading this book, I really felt for Busi as a character. The book’s themes of bullying and of trying to make new friends could resonate with children everywhere.

I received an Advance copy of this book through BookSirens

SRCS : Schools closed through Friday

All schools and offices of Santa Rosa City Schools will continue to be closed through Friday, Nov. 1, 2019.

SRCS : Escuelas cerradas por el resto de semana

Todas las escuelas y oficinas de Santa Rosa City Schools continuarán cerradas por el resto de esta semana (hasta el 1 de noviembre).

Schools closed both Monday and Tuesday / Escuelas cerradas los lunes y martes

Here is the latest message from Santa Rosa City Schools. All schools and offices will be closed on both Monday and Tuesday.

Aquí está el último mensaje de Santa Rosa City Schools. Todas las escuelas y oficinas estarán cerradas los lunes y martes.

https://www.srcschools.org/powershutoffs

SRCS: No school on Monday

Here is an important message from Santa Rosa City Schools. “Due to high winds, smoke, power shutoffs, and nearby evacuations, all schools will be CLOSED on Monday October 28. This means all after-school programs, such as athletics and childcare, are also canceled for Monday. Officials recommend staying inside as much as possible and having emergency supplies ready. Once again, there will be NO SCHOOL on Monday. We will keep you posted as the situation unfolds.”

SRCS: Escuelas estarán cerradas el lunes

Aquí hay un mensaje importante de Santa Rosa City Schools. “Debido a vientos fuertes, humo, cortes del suministro eléctrico y evacuaciones en los alrededores...todas las escuelas estarán CERRADAS el lunes 28 de octubre. Eso significa que todos los programas para despues de clases, tales como los deportes y cuidado de niños) han sido cancelados para el dia lunes. Los oficiales recomiendan que todos se queden adentro tanto como sea posible y que se preparen los suministros de emergencia. Otra vez, las escuelas estarán cerradas el lunes. Les estamos informando durante el desarrollo de esta situación.”

Kincade Fire in Geyserville: Santa Rosa air quality, and keeping safe during power shutoffs

Smoke from the Kincade Fire near Geyserville was discoloring the skies above Santa Rosa yesterday, and Santa Rosa City Schools (SRCS) received questions about the air quality and schools.

In a statement to families, the district shared that “The California Department of Education has established guidelines to help us determine the best action when there is wildfire smoke in the area.”

Professional resources in SRCSA library

Did you know that our school library has Professional resources, which can be checked out by school staff? Take a look at our selection, located on the blue shelf at the end of the circulation desk. There are books about perspectives in multicultural education, shaping school culture, promoting the school’s “brand,” strategies for teaching reading, developing creativity in the classroom, rules for children’s games, and more! Let me know if there’s a particular topic that you are interested in, and I’ll try to find resources that support it.

Book Exchange / Intercambio de Libros

Hello, everyone! We have an SRCSA Book Exchange. There is a cart outside of the school library. Please take any books that you are interested in reading. Also, please donate books that you are done with, and would like to give to others. Just put them in the cart. We would like to make sure all of our students have plenty of books to read. The cart will be rolled out in the morning and put away at the end of the school-day. Bring and take books anytime. Thanks for helping us share our love of books!

Sincerely,

Ms. Cynthia
Library Technician


¡Hola a todos! Tenemos un intercambio de libros de SRCSA. Hay un carrito afuera de la biblioteca de escuela. Por favor tome cualquier libro que le interese leer. Además, por favor done libros que no necesita y que le gustaría dar a otros. Solo ponlos en el carrito. Nos gustaría que todos los estudiantes de SRCSA tengan muchos libros para leer. El carrito se sacará en la mañana y se guardará al final del día escolar. Traiga y llévese libros en cualquier momento. ¡Gracias por ayudarnos a compartir nuestro amor por los libros!

Sinceramente,

Sra. Cynthia
Técnica de la Biblioteca

New dust jackets for fiction books

Dust jackets are essential for promoting plain-covered books; how else can a reader determine at first glance, what a book is about — and from there, decide whether or not to open it and sample a few of its pages? So my project this week was to create new jackets for books that were currently without. From left to right, here are Wings of Fire — Legends: Darkstalker by Tui T. Sutherland, Paint the Wind by Pam Muñoz Ryan, and The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate. I used craft paper and added color-printouts of front-cover images from the publisher. The books’ titles and call numbers are recreated on each book’s spine, and plot summaries are pasted on the back.

‘Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky’

This latest offering from Rick Riordan Presents features gods and heroes of Western African mythology, alongside African-American folk legends. The author, Kwame Mbalia, has done a fantastic job assembling a cast of characters that this reader really cared about.

I sympathized with titular hero Tristan Strong, who has a lot of challenges to deal with.

When the story opens, Tristan has lost his best friend Eddie, who was killed in a bus accident. Tristan can’t help feel as though he should have been able to save Eddie, and he valiantly protects Eddie’s notebook of stories, the only thing of Eddie’s he has left.

Tristan is also dealing with the shame of having lost his first boxing match. This is a big deal because Tristan’s father was a renowned boxer, so Tristan has to deal with feelings of letting down the family legacy.

Divided skirt and tunic, repurposed from tablecloth and men’s shirt

My latest sewing project is a divided skirt repurposed from a tablecloth that I got from The Legacy crafting shop in Sebastopol. Being a cyclist, I like the freedom of wearing a divided skirt. But soon as I laid it out to take a photograph ... how quickly it became a cat bed!

With it is one of Jonathan’s shirts, repurposed as a tunic for me. I marked the shirt along cutting lines from a paneled blouse pattern that I like. Then I cut along the lines and resewed the shirt, matching hem and shoulder seams.

I added a length of lace along the collar, put a new pocket where the men’s shirt pocket used to be, and added a length of eyelet-lace trim along one of the front panel seams. The accent pocket is also from the tablecloth and the trim came from Legacy as well.

‘Home Girl’ by Alex Wheatle

Naomi, a teenage girl in the UK foster-care system, is placed with a temporary family, the Goldings. When she arrives at the Goldings’ home, Naomi is wary at first, especially of Tony, the father, because past experience has led Naomi to suspect men of wanting to sexually abuse her.

As her stay progresses, Naomi gradually comes to trust this new family; observing her become able to let down some of her barriers is one of the most moving aspects of this book.

Outside the household, on multiple fronts, this arrangement is bombarded with criticism. The reason is that Naomi is white and the Goldings are black ... and therefore any long-term stay would be “against official policy.” Tony’s father views the placement as “robbing” a black child of a stable home, and after foster-mother Colleen spends hours painstakingly braiding Naomi’s hair, another girl physically attacks Naomi because she decides that Naomi has appropriated a black hairstyle.

Altogether, Home Girl is a very moving book, which Young Adult readers might relate to. The author, Alex Wheatle, is known for inventing his own slang for use by his characters; his book Crongton Knights was a recipient of the Guardian Children’s Book Award.

I received a copy of this book through LibraryThing Early Reviewers

Sewing helper Starfire

Starfire has been “helping” me sew.

‘To Catch a Cheat’ by Varian Johnson

To Catch a Cheat by Varian Johnson is an entertaining story about a youthful con artist. The protagonist, Jackson Greene, is determined to retire after an earlier successful heist that prevented school election wrong-doing.

Jackson and his crew are now being threatened by a doctored security video that appears to depict them flooding the entire middle school. To prevent the video being turned over to the principal, Jackson and his crew must engineer a heist of the answers for an upcoming test.

With this demand hanging over them, Jackson and “Gang Greene” are determined to uncover the real culprit(s). Who really flooded the school, and who is attempting to pressure them? An added complication concerns the fact that Jackson is being forced out of retirement. His friend Charlie de la Cruz had been prepared to take on leading the team, and Charlie has his own style of doing things.

This story will appeal to readers who enjoy complicated turns of plot, especially those who enjoy protagonists with a strong moral compass. As an added feature, the author, Varian Johnson, includes an explanation of several cultural references — including scenes from film and television — that relate to elements of the plot involving heists and schemes.

Readers may want to read The Great Greene Heist, which is set prior to this one, but To Catch a Cheat can be read on its own with the back-story easily understandable. I’d originally learned about this book from a librarian’s recommendation, and I’m looking forward to readers being able to check it out from our school library.

‘Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow’

First in a series, this story concerns a girl whom everyone believes to be “cursed.” Because of this curse, Morrigan Crow is a convenient scapegoat for everything that goes wrong in her community — even, sometimes, “extreme” weather events or other people’s own wrong decisions.

Even more concerning is the fact that cursed children die when the calendar cycle reaches Eventide, the “last day of the age.”

The timely arrival of Jupiter North, a member of the Wundrous Society, allows Morrigan to escape this fate, but thrusts her into a world of new challenges as she competes for a place in the Society.

With deft world-building, author Jessica Townsend introduces readers to a society where Wunder, a magical substance, is relied on like a power-utility. What is the connection between shortages of Wunder and cursed children living in an area? Who is the Wundersmith, a person feared and spoken of in legend? This story is sure to appeal to young readers who enjoy epic fantasy.

Word-search and flash cards support science concepts

Another successful conclusion to high school credit recovery with Santa Rosa City Schools​! Here’s a photo highlighting some of my work on behalf of Physical Science. I created flash cards and word-find puzzles to help reinforce concepts from the textbook. Students were able to earn additional points by completing these activities. (I used “Discovery Education,” an online program, to create the word-finds; I indicated dimensions, input search-terms, and designated the form of output. I then copied and pasted the generated puzzle into a Google document for print-out.)

High school credit recovery with Santa Rosa City Schools

For a third summer, I’m working for high school credit recovery via Santa Rosa City Schools. We’re two-thirds of the way through the second session, which runs through July 25. Each summer that I’ve participated has been a new and interesting experience — and this time around, the program finds me helping in a Physical Science classroom. I’m grateful for this opportunity to work and be productive during the summer months, and appreciate being part of this “second-chance” that’s available to local students.

LINK+ online catalog for more than 70 libraries

Sonoma County Library customers now have a single connecting database that grants them access to the collections of all participating libraries. The LINK+ database is now available to Sonoma County Library cardholders. It’s a catalog of materials from more than 70 participating libraries in California and Nevada.

Who remembers “SuperSearch” that connected several North Bay libraries? I regularly sought items through these libraries’ combined resources until the database went down in 2012.

With that past reliance, I’ve long appreciated cooperative lending among partnering libraries — it greatly expands what each library can offer to their respective customers.

The LINK+ catalog gives patrons access to more than 9 million titles — Books, DVDs, CDs, and videos — from academic, public, and special libraries. You can place requests directly, no forms required, from a single online catalog. To access these resources, you need only log-in with your Sonoma County Library card.

Cuvaison 50th anniversary: Napa Valley Wine Library Association letter

Fifty years ago, my father, Thomas R. Parkhill, co-founded Cuvaison winery in Napa Valley, California along with Thomas Cottrell. Recently, I found an interesting piece of realia from that bit of family history, a letter from the Napa Valley Wine Library Association inviting Dad to be a member. (For those not familiar with the wine library, it’s in the Saint Helena Public Library.) The letter also mentions an article about Cuvaison in the St. Helena Star; wouldn’t that be neat to track down!

(The Saint Helena Public Library has digitized issues of the St. Helena Star from 1874-2014; view them at https://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/serial?id=sthelenastar)

‘The Fire Keeper’ by J.C. Cervantes

With The Fire Keeper, author J.C. Cervantes continues her Storm Runner series that centers around gods from Maya mythology.

Teen protagonist Zane Obispo chronicled his earlier adventure with a secret message for other “godborns” who, like himself, had a god for a parent. In this follow-up, he learns that by doing so, he’s placed those other godborns at risk and, moreover, his father Hurakan is going to be put to death by the other gods.

Cervantes’ books in the Storm Runner series are part of a unique imprint, Rick Riordan Presents, which is published by Disney Hyperion.

The books involves themes and characters from world mythologies, written by authors who are from those cultures and who have a deep familiarity with the legends and traditions.

Rick Riordan, of course, is the bestselling author of mythology-based adventures that combine modern-day characters with figures out of Greek, Roman, Egyptian, and Norse mythologies.

Like Riordan’s own books, the stories in this imprint involve themes and characters from mythology, but Riordan’s role can be described as that of a curator rather than author (“Disney Announces New Rick Riordan Imprint,” Publisher’s Weekly, Sept. 13, 2016).

As related in the article, Riordan had been asked “about a zillion times” by his readers, “When are you going to write about (fill in the blank): the Hindu gods and goddesses? Ancient Chinese mythology? Native American legends?”

As his editor, Stephanie Owens Lurie, explained concerning the imprint’s launch: ”I know he feels that, in some instances, the books his readers are asking for him to write are really someone else’s story to tell.”

Having avidly read each new title as it was released by the imprint, I especially enjoyed a continuation for the saga of Zane Obispo. It populates an exciting and suspenseful adventure with characters that I came to care about.

I received an advance copy of this book through NetGalley

Sonoma County Library going ‘fine-free’

Important news if you’re a regular borrower through Sonoma County Library: Effective July 1, SCL will no longer charge late-fees for materials that are not returned on time. (The library will continue to charge for lost, or damaged, items.)

More than 80,000 people currently owe overdue-fines to the library, according to a recent article in the Press Democrat. SCL is hoping that, by eliminating overdue fines, former library patrons will be encouraged to return without fear of hefty fees.

This move by SCL is part of a nationwide “fine-free” trend among public libraries, in recognition that fines can pose barriers — especially to low-income families — to access resources through the library.

It’s interesting to note that financial impact for the library is expected to be small; the article quotes Ray Holley, a library spokesman, stating that late and lost books account for less than 1 percent of the library’s total revenue each year. According to Holley, it costs SCL more to collect fines than what the library makes from them.

Summer reading and ‘Friends’ book sale at Sonoma County Library

I won these books (courtesy of Friends of the Santa Rosa Libraries) through posting reviews, logging books-read, and completing activities for summer reading at Sonoma County Library. And with the “Friends” book sale taking place this weekend at SCL’s Central Library, now’s an especially good time to redeem those free-book summer reading prizes. You can register for summer reading online at https://sonomalibrary.beanstack.org/.

Story-time cushions for SRCSA library

Looking forward to library story-time next year at Santa Rosa Charter School for the Arts! These story-time cushions were purchased for the library using Scholastic Book Fairs dollars. Appreciation to School for the Arts Community Organization for making this acquisition possible.

‘Ban This Book’ by Alan Gratz

Amy Anne, a fourth-grader, creates a library of banned books in her locker after a classmate’s mother uses her political influence to remove books from the school library. (The school district has an official policy for dealing with challenges to books, but because this parent has so much clout, the board abandons its official policy and simply removes the books.)

I liked this book for its portrayal of students taking positive action, as well as for its advancement of the theme of choosing books for yourself. It’s OK for a child’s parents to make choices for that child about what is, or is not appropriate, but that child’s parents do not get to make that choice for every other child in the school.

One of my favorite scenes concerns Amy Anne’s wanting to keep track of books borrowed from her library. Amy, of course, does not have access to an automated library catalog. So what does she do? She asks the school librarian about how libraries tracked books before the automated catalog, and the helpful Mrs. Jones even equips Amy with her own date-stamp to imprint due-dates in the books.

SRCSA library, top circulations for 2018-2019

More than 7,000 transactions were recorded this past year in the library at Santa Rosa Charter School for the Arts. Here are the books that were most often checked out during the 2018-2019 school year, with number of circulations.

‘Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree’

This is a sweet and charming book about a girl who is governed by logic, and her interactions with the messy and irrational classmates with whom she shares her life. The author, Lauren Tarshis, also wrote the immensely popular I Survived disaster-survival series. I was able to strongly relate to this book’s protagonist, Emma-Jean; she’s never specifically labeled as anything other than “strange,” but I could easily see her occupying a place on the autism continuum (and I like the way that Emma-Jean’s being “strange” is framed as a positive trait). Altogether, a compelling storyline, difficult to put down — as, with good intentions, Emma-Jean resorts to various forgeries. I kept waiting with apprehension for her ruses to be discovered.

Roseland library: SR council advocates funding

Storytime at Roseland library. Credit: SCL website

Important news for supporters of Santa Rosa library services: The Santa Rosa City Council has directed city staff to include $150,000 for Roseland Community Library relocation in the budget for next fiscal year.

‘Reluctant Paladin’ by Jordan Bernal

A strong theme of uniting to combat bullying is at the heart of this fantasy novel for young readers that is set in Ireland. The protagonist, Niall, has arrived at a new school after his parents leave him in the care of his grandfather.

Niall is an onlooker to a classmate being bullied, and at first he wants to intervene but the bully’s target convinces him not to. Later, Niall is himself targeted by the bully.

Meanwhile, Niall’s grandfather provides veterinary care to various clans of dragon-riders. Bonded pairs of dragons and their human “compeers” keep Ireland safe and prosperous — and only a few people are privileged to know the existence of the dragons.

Recently, Grayson, a young dragon, was born without wings at one of the dragon-riders’ compounds. Grayson was given into the care of a young man who, instead, abused him. Niall’s grandfather and local clan leaders intervene and rescue Grayson, and Niall comes to care for him.

While caring for Grayson, Niall also learns how to defeat the bullying done by his classmate.

The author, Jordan Bernal, has done well with developing her characters. The bully, Thorin, is not simply a one-dimensional villain; instead, we learn he is doing his best to care for several younger siblings. Circumstances have forced him to step into the role of father because his own father is lost in drink, and they all live under constant threat of authorities breaking-up the family.

This book arrived in my school library courtesy of a parent-supporter who attended a writers’ conference with author Jordan Bernal. I am interested in reading The Keepers of Eire, which this book is a prequel to.

Lauren Tarshis books, donated to library

Appreciation to author Lauren Tarshis, who recently donated several of her books to the library at Santa Rosa Charter School for the Arts.

‘The Boy at the Back of the Class’

This book offers young readers an introduction, through fiction, to the serious and heartbreaking reality of refugees who have to flee their homeland, who must brave untold hardships and separation from loved ones in hopes of finding a new home. The story’s protagonist, an unnamed first-person narrator, befriends Ahmet, a child newly arrived at school who is a Syrian refugee. The protagonist later organizes an effort to enlist help from the Queen to locate Ahmet’s missing family. The author, Onjali Q. Rauf, provides further information about the status of “refugees” and an age-appropriate explanation of how they differ from “migrants” or “immigrants” (who generally move to a new country by choice). Rauf also provides a list of organizations for readers who would like to help.

(I found this ARC among books that were donated by a library vendor.)

‘Mascot’ by Antony John

First-person narration by main character Noah Savino kept this reader engaged. The story centers around an attempt to unmask “Fredbird,” official mascot for the St. Louis Cardinals, while addressing the challenges that Noah has to face while undergoing physical therapy from an auto collision that paralyzed him and also killed his father. The story is full of memorable and very detailed characters that populate Noah’s world; I think a lot of readers will relate to Noah’s concern about a new man in his mother’s life while Noah struggles to hold onto memories of his father and resolve feelings concerning the collision.

(I found an ARC of this title among books that were donated by a library vendor.)

‘Brief’ catalog records, rehabilitated

This item’s catalog record includes a summary and identifies grade-level interest

One of the ways I utilize my training in library technical services is to augment “brief” catalog records. A “brief” catalog record contains only the bare minimum of information about an item in a library. Maybe it includes the item’s name, the name of the author, the ISBN, and the assigned call number, maybe the name of the publisher and the date of publication.

SRCSA library’s ‘Scholar Dollar Store’

Check out the new and improved “Scholar Dollar Store,” which I operate out of the library at Santa Rosa Charter School for the Arts. Appreciation to School for the Arts Community Organization, which provided available wares. In so many ways, this organization supports and enhances our school, and providing merchandise for the Scholar Dollar store is one of those myriad ways. Posters cost five “Rock Stars” or “Scholar Dollars” apiece, and pencils and bookmarks each cost one. Among store highlights, school-logo “Narwhal” pencils are especially popular.

National Poetry Month in SRCSA library

This collage, featuring print-outs from the cover-art for various books of poetry, is part of a display honoring National Poetry Month in SRCSA library. With it, I put out books of poetry from the library collection. We serve a Kindergarten through eighth-grade population, so my hope is that there is something for all ages represented among the images and books.

Book-cleaning rags from old towel

“Greener” tools for book care in the library: this stack of book-cleaning rags were repurposed from an old towel. I cut the towel into smaller pieces, and bound the raw edges with my Serger. Now they’re ready to embark on their new life, used for cleaning books.

SR libraries Friends sale, last day is today

Made some great finds in children's books during the spring book sale, hosted by Friends of the Santa Rosa Libraries at the Veterans Memorial Building (1351 Maple Ave. in Santa Rosa). Here's a photo showing a few of the selections that I brought back with me. If you haven't yet had a chance to visit the Friends spring book sale, it continues today (Monday, April 8) from 2 to 6 p.m. Today is "Bag Day;" for $5 per bag, you can stuff a bag full of books. Proceeds benefit Santa Rosa libraries in the Sonoma County Library system.

Measure Y supports book-repair class, makes me better librarian

In honor of National Library Week, which begins today, here’s appreciation to Sonoma County Library and supporters of Measure Y. That investment by voters helped to support a recent book-mending class, which will enhance my ability to provide great customer service at Santa Rosa Charter School for the Arts. Here’s a bag of book-mending supplies that I brought back from the class; I’ve already put them to use in SRCSA library.

Teen Poetry Slam at Rohnert Park library

Here’s something that our middle-school students might be interested in: a Teen Poetry Slam at 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 13, at the Rohnert Park-Cotati Regional Library. “This Sonoma County-wide event is open to performers between the ages of 13-19, and Sonoma County teens will also serve as the emcees, judges, and scorekeepers.” The order of events includes an open mic at 3 p.m., a performance by featured teen poet Estrella Pacheco at 3:30 p.m., and the Poetry Slam at 4 p.m. Sign-ups for the open mic will be taken at the door. To compete in the Poetry Slam, email temerson@sonomalibrary.org.

National Library Week, April 7 to 13, 2019

National Library Week is being observed from April 7 to 13. It, along with “School Library Month,” which is observed in April, is an opportunity to reflect on the significance of libraries.

School Library Month in April 2019

Every April, the Association of School Librarians observes School Library Month. The 2019 theme is “Everyone Belongs @ Your School Library,” and the 2019 spokesperson is Dav Pilkey. Learn more at http://www.ala.org/aasl/advocacy/slm.

Reverse applique on ‘Big Bang Theory’ shirt

Sonoma County crafters, who else has visited The Legacy near downtown Sebastopol? It’s a great thrift-consignment shop that features crafting supplies.

Came away from my first visit to The Legacy with some great floral-patterned fabric, which I used to create a reverse applique for my “Big Bang Theory” T-shirt.

(Yes, even something as awesome as this shirt, depicting “Rock-Paper-Scissors-Lizard-Spock,” can become even more awesome through the marvel of customization.)

Best of all, the “fabric” was a no-longer-used cushion cover — thereby diverting something for repurposing that may otherwise have had no further use.

The Legacy is located at 789 Gravenstein Highway South. The merchandise has been donated, and it’s run by volunteers for the Sebastopol Area Senior Center.

‘Juana and Lucas: Big Problemas’

Fun, engaging story about a young girl, which was based upon author Juana Medina’s childhood in Bogotá, Colombia.

In this series installment, Juana is coping with changes that are brought by her mother's new relationship.

I see this book helping young readers who might face similar circumstances: Juana’s Mami becoming engaged, getting married, and moving the family to a new home.

Some especially nice touches: Juana’s preference for wearing pants instead of dresses is presented as valid.

(“Girls who want to climb trees without scraping their knees and girls who want their legs to be warm would much rather wear pants.”)

Juana’s relationship with her loyal dog, Lucas, is a stable constant in her life, and the book reassures that Mami will never stop being Juana’s mami, even if she does remarry.

I received an ARC of this book through LibraryThing “Early Reviewers”

STEAM books in SRCSA library

One of this month’s highlights was a STEAM fair at Santa Rosa Charter School for the Arts. Here’s a display I put out in the library at SRCSA ... a variety of books on the subjects of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math.

SRCSA library, graphic novel collection grows

One of the books I’m reading, The Creativity Project (edited by Colby Sharp), features a fantastic argument for the validity of reading comic books and graphic novels.

FOSS hands-on science kits, prepped for delivery

The latest delivery of fresh curriculum from Santa Rosa City Schools brought Full Option Science System (FOSS) Kits to Santa Rosa Charter School for the Arts.

Successful end to Scholastic Book Fair

Another successful conclusion to Scholastic Book Fairs in the library! The books and merchandise are back in their boxes and cabinets at Santa Rosa Charter School for the Arts. Here’s a book-cart holding new books for the library, purchased with Book Fair dollars.

Of $4965.18 earned this past week in Scholastic Book Fair dollars, $3596.92 has been invested back into our school. (Figures supplied by Lissa Provost.) The money has gone to student Raffle prizes and books for teachers’ classrooms, as well as books for the library.

Thank you to everyone who made Literacy Week possible; you are greatly appreciated.

And what an experience for SRCSA students in fourth- through eighth-grades: an author visit and book-signing by Armand Baltazar (Timeless Diego and the Rangers of the Vastlantic). You’ll find copies of his book in all of the fourth- through eighth-grade classrooms, as well as in our library, thanks to the School for the Arts Community Organization.

Book fair ‘open for business’ in SRCSA library

Families, have you visited the book fair yet at Santa Rosa Charter School for the Arts? Lots of great books to choose from, and proceeds support the library and also books for teachers’ classrooms.

Scholastic Book Fair, cabinets arrive

The library will be a very different place at Santa Rosa Charter School for the Arts, when these Scholastic Book Fair cabinets are opened, and the merchandise is arranged. Appreciation to the many volunteers who make the book fair and Literacy Week possible.

Award winners in SRCSA library

Among new arrivals in the library at Santa Rosa Charter School for the Arts: some 2019 Medal and Honor-Book recipients of the American Library Association’s Youth Media Awards. Each year, the ALA recognizes “the best” among children’s and young adult literature. In the photo: this partial view shows a few of the recent honorees. There were more books in this counter-top display than I could fit in the frame — and a few books are missing from the display, for the absolute best of reasons: that is, the books have found their way into readers’ hands. Appreciation to the School for the Arts Community Organization, which financed purchasing new books for the library.

Encuestra LCAP para Santa Rosa City Schools

(En español / In Spanish)
Puede anticipar una encuestra para el Plan de Cuentas de Control Local (LCAP) para Santa Rosa City Schools. Más información en el Boletín de noticias del SRCS para febrero 2019:

La Encuesta LCAP llegará dentro de poco

¿Ha comentado sobre nuestras escuelas el año pasado? Miles de padres, alumnos, maestros, personal y miembros de la comunidad participaron en nuestra encuesta sobre LCAP por medio del Internet. Nos dijeron lo que les gusta en nuestras escuelas y las cosas que podemos mejorar. Se usa la información recogida por la encuesta para establecer las prioridades para nuestras escuelas en el próximo año. La encuesta para este año estará disponible a finales de febrero. ¡Puede anticipar un correo electrónico que le invita a participar…o visite nuestro sitio web al final del mes para encontrar un enlace para la Encuesta de LCAP!

(En inglés / In English)​
Look for a survey for the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) for Santa Rosa City Schools. More information in SRCS’s newsletter for February 2019:

LCAP survey coming soon

Did you share your thoughts about our schools last year? Thousands of parents, students, teachers, staff and community members participated in our online LCAP Survey. They told us what they like about our schools and where we can improve. Information from the survey is used as we all set priorities for our schools for next year. This year's survey will be available online in late February. Look for an email inviting you to participate... or go to our website at the end of the month to find the LCAP Survey link!

Novel sets, cataloged for Language Arts class

My ongoing mission as a “curriculum librarian” for Santa Rosa Charter School for the Arts: to catalog and barcode novel sets when teachers alert me that they’re assigning them. Shown here are some books that I recently cataloged for middle-school Language Arts.

Cataloging is essential to tracking the use of resources in-library or in-classroom, and Follett Resource Manager ties inventory records across Santa Rosa City Schools. The automated catalog offers a single go-to place for keeping track of educational resources.

Scholastic Book Fair, planning box arrives

Among this past week’s highlights: the Scholastic Book Fairs planning box arrived at Santa Rosa Charter School for the Arts. Just a few more weeks, and the library will be transformed into a bookstore for the duration of fair. I’m looking forward to the book fair and accompanying “Literacy Week.” And I appreciate the hard work of the many volunteers that make these events possible.

Bullying, a cultural ‘norm’ that I hope to eliminate

As I’ve previously mentioned, I am taking a child development course, and this week, the class has been discussing the influence of culture on children.

Asked what value or cultural practice that we would like to eliminate, my answer is that I’d like to eliminate bullying in all spheres of society.

Love of libraries, a value that I hope to pass on

In our class discussion of “culture,” we were asked this week, what aspects of our culture do we want to keep alive by passing on to the next generation? My answer is that, through my work in a school library, I hope to instill a love of reading in the young people I serve. I hope to create library “repeat customers,” and encourage students’ lifelong learning through support and use of libraries. This directly hearkens back to the benefits I’ve gained from libraries, and what I consider the “advantage” of being raised by a person who considered it important that I be given access to the library.

Cultural upbringing, its effect on who I am today

A class discussion this week asked me to consider a way that I was influenced by my cultural upbringing. What came to mind for me were my mother’s efforts to bring me to our local library, and to take me to live performances.

Escuelas charter del SRCS: solicitudes para lotería

(En español / In Spanish)
Desde el Boletín de noticias del Santa Rosa City Schools para enero 2019: Se aceptarán solicitudes para la lotería para Santa Rosa Charter School for the Arts, y las otras escuelas charter del distrito, entre el 15 de enero y el 15 de febrero del 2019.

(En inglés / In English)​
From Santa Rosa City Schools’ newsletter for January 2019: Lottery applications for Santa Rosa Charter School for the Arts, and other district charter schools, are being accepted from Jan. 15 to Feb. 15, 2019.

My name: personal stories, and significance

In my first discussion for the Child Development course I am taking at Santa Rosa Junior College, I was asked to introduce myself by sharing the story of my name.

‘Aru Shah and the Song of Death’ by Roshani Chokshi

Aru Shah and the Song of Death is author Roshani Chokshi’s second book in a four-book series, or “Quartet.” This story continues a mythology-based adventure that began with Aru Shah and the End of Time.

As this second book opens, it immediately drops readers into the action.

Aru Shah and her friend Mini are the reincarnated souls of demigod brothers, the Pandavas, from Hindu mythology. In this new installment, they meet another girl, Brynne, who is also a reincarnated Pandava. (There were five brothers in all, so it makes sense that in future offerings, two more Pandavas will be introduced.)

Putting aside their initial antagonism, Aru and Mini have to work with Brynne and a classmate, Aiden, to recover a bow and arrow that was stolen from the god of love. This was a fun story, due to be published in April under the “Rick Riordan Presents” imprint. I think this book will definitely appeal to readers of mythology-based fantasy.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a review copy of this book from the publisher. The opinion expressed is my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”