‘You’re Welcome, Universe’ by Whitney Gardner

I read this book through the lens of considering myself part of a street-art community, through the admittedly non-permanent medium of yarn-bombing. I appreciated the detail and nuance that went into the protagonist, Julia, assembling supplies, preparing stencils, and applying her art.

One area where I struggled to connect with the main character’s viewpoint was that when another artist modified her piece, she considered it in terms of being “shown up,” of the other artist declaring “war” on her. Another character, YP, even asks Julia, “Why does it have to be war?”

You’re Welcome, Universe was a 2018 recipient of the Schneider Family Book Award, which honors an author or illustrator “for a book that embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience.” I’ve long followed this award, as a person on the autism spectrum. The emphasis on art made this book, in particular, one that I especially wanted to read.

Library-themed trip to San Francisco

Took a library-themed day trip to San Francisco this week, to celebrate my birthday. Rode aboard Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit to the San Rafael Transit Center, then caught Golden Gate Transit’s “Route 31” free shuttle to the Golden Gate Ferry.

Once in SF, we walked to the closest branch of the San Francisco Public Library, which offers a free library card to any California resident.

Our trip wouldn’t have been complete without a visit to Readers Bookstore Fort Mason, operated by Friends of the San Francisco Public Library; with book-laden packs we then made our way to the Golden Gate Bridge Visitors Center, where we caught Golden Gate Transit’s “Route 101X” back to downtown Santa Rosa.

(Image: Books from Readers Bookstore, with my San Francisco Library Card.)

‘First Rule of Punk’ by Celia C. Pérez

I’ve embarked on reading recent honorees of the American Library Association’s annual Youth Media Awards.

First up is The First Rule of Punk by Celia C. Pérez. It was recognized in February as a 2018 Pura Belpré Author Honor Book — and reading it, this May, it definitely set a tone for excellence.

The protagonist, Malú, is thoroughly likeable; she simply wants to be herself, while her mother seems to hold an ideal vision of the perfect señorita that she wants Malú to be like.

I could thoroughly relate, as I’m sure many young readers could. The content of the vision may vary, as might the identity of the relative, but I can’t imagine anyone liking an attempt to mold them into something they are not, and to know that you fail to live up to this ideal — well, put simply, it sucks.

One thing I found most enjoyable in this book were the interspersed ’zines, pages of collage-art that added dimension to Malú's narrative.

Here’s a definition of a ’zine, courtesy of Wikipedia: “A zine is a small-circulation self-published work of original or appropriated texts and images, usually reproduced via photocopier.”

The author, Celia C. Pérez, has been making ’zines for years; in her author bio, she states that her favorite 'zine supplies are “glue sticks, animal clip art (to which she likes adding speech bubbles), and watercolor pencils.”

Pérez includes directions for how readers can make ’zines of their own, a touch that I especially appreciate. I love exploring new forms of self-expression through art, and am delighted to think that young readers of this book might be inspired to new forms of creativity.

Youth Media Award winners in SRCSA library

A definite highlight to this past week at Santa Rosa Charter School for the Arts, was the arrival of books honored among the best of children’s literature by the American Library Association’s Youth Media Awards. I await with interest early each year as the awards are announced, but how much more exciting to be able to read some of these books for myself, and to know that my library customers will be able to enjoy them too. Appreciation to the School for the Arts Community Organization, for purchasing these wonderful new arrivals.

‘Pottymouth and Stoopid’ by James Patterson

An entire community creates the environment where bullying is condoned. Case in point: Michael and David, protagonists of James Patterson's novel, Pottymouth and Stoopid.

It only took one person, in each case, to saddle the boys with cruel nicknames, but then those nicknames stuck.

Those names gave rise to a collective attitude about who these boys were, and what they had the potential to become.

I take stories about bullying to heart, because I myself am its survivor. I was called names, I was physically abused, and I was shunned by my schoolmates.

Today I work around students, and I worry about the ways that bullying can manifest. Am I observant enough to catch them? Are there behaviors that slip by me? Do I contribute to a problem, or am I part of the solution: an entire community that, instead of condoning, unites in support of the victims?

Patterson and co-author Chris Grabenstein have my enduring gratitude for crafting a book that, while entertainingly funny, conveys a serious message about the hurtful effects of bullying.

Disclosure of material connection: My taxes support local libraries’ acquisition of this and other resources. I consider the access I enjoy to be a “priceless” return on my investment.