Books That Feel Like Fall

With the weather getting cooler and the autumnal equinox in sight, I set out on a quest to discover books that feel fall-like. I found lists of books on a number of websites claiming various titles to be good reads for fall, but some of the selections didn't encompass the sense of the season to me. So, I turned to my colleagues in the library to see which books feel like fall to them:

• Anna--House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland (Libby/Overdrive) This supernatural young adult novel focuses on three sisters who disappear from their home in Scotland. They reappear some time later with no memory of what occurred and strange things start to happen. Anna likes the book's spooky aspects, which makes her think of fall.
• Calise--Ten Apples Up On Top! by Theo LeSieg (JE LES) This is a cute counting book for children about a lion, a tiger, and a dog seeing how many apples they can balance on their heads while performing a range of activities. Calise says this book feels fall-like to her because it brings thoughts of apple picking to her mind.
• Eileen--A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness (F HAR) To me, this book presents many aspects of fall. Set in September around the pagan festival of Mabon (the autumnal equinox), a tea-drinking scholar-witch studying in Oxford University's Bodleian Library finds a strange manuscript sought by other witches, vampires, and daemons.
• Emma--Frog and Toad books by Arnold Lobel (ER LOB) The well-loved children's book series about Frog and Toad going on their different adventures while sporting sweaters and jackets speaks fall to Emma.
• Lisa--Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert (J FIC EHL) Lisa's pick for a fall feel is a classic children's story. She believes that this picture book, which shows a man made of colorful leaves blowing in the wind, is imaginative and expresses the beauty of fall.
• Victor--Too Many Tamales by Gary Soto (Hoopla audiobook) Coming from Texas, fall feels a little different to Victor, whose family enjoys eating tamales during the season. In this children's book, a young girl helps make tamales but notices that her mother's ring is missing. Did it slip off her finger and into one of the tamales that was cooked?

I thank my colleagues for their contributions to this post, and now I turn to you, dear readers--which books feel like fall to you? Share with us!

Wishing you a wonderful fall season filled with cozy reads and warm drinks from the perch.

College is Not the Only Option

With the start of a new school year comes a newly published book--Rethinking College: A Guide to Thriving Without a Degree by Karin Klein. I recently read this and highly recommend it for parents of soon-to-be high school graduates and airmen considering their future lives after the military.

With the ridiculously high cost of college these days, the daunting prospect of going into debt, and the possibility of getting a low-paying job outside one's field, it's essential to know that there are other options besides college. Klein's book provides alternatives to 4-year colleges, including various work experiences, apprenticeships, and creative self-employment, among others. Additionally, a number of quizzes are offered to help determine one's interests and strengths as well as desired work-life balance.

So many high schools push kids to take the college track (often because the percentage of graduates planning to attend college determines the reputation of the schools). However, they fail to help those students who don't want or are unable to go to college; they offer few alternatives besides vocational schools or the military. Klein shows that people can be well-educated, have successful careers, and enjoy fulfilling lives without a college degree (similarly, she also discusses how a number of people with advanced graduate degrees are underemployed, dissatisfied with their work, and lack job security).

The world today is different than it was decades ago when a bachelors degree meant more. Since the pandemic, skills are becoming more sought by employers than a college degree. Although college is still a noble pursuit (and is required for certain fields, such as medicine), this book provides invaluable information for students and their families to consider in making one of the largest financial and timewise investments they will ever make.

Wishing everyone a good school year from the perch.

Be a Reading Model

In the last post, I talked about the importance of reading to your children from infancy in order to help make them readers. There is another key factor in helping your children to become readers--modeling. And no, I'm not talking about strutting around the house in the latest outfit you bought on Amazon.

Monkey see, monkey do. Kids are nothing if not impressionable, and the adults around them serve as models to imitate. When they see an adult doing something, they want to do it, too. If an adult is cooking, they will want to cook. If an adult is building something, they will want to build. Similarly, if kids see an adult reading, they will want to read.

If your kids don't see you reading, the concept of reading and books will be foreign to them. It's difficult to get them to do something if they don't see you doing it first. As they get older, your kids may even make the argument, "Why should I have to read if you don't have to read?" That's a legitimate question, in my humble opinion.

Reading should not be a chore for anyone, young or old. I know we're all busy and tired these days, but let's try to set aside 20-30 minutes each evening for leisure reading. It can be a thriller, a romance, a cookbook, a how-to book, a newspaper, even a graphic novel (hey, it's still reading). Just read and let your kids see you reading. And don't forget to read to or with your kids, especially when they're very young. When your kids are older, talk with each other about what books you're reading. It will give you a subject for conversation as well as an opportunity to bond and know each other better.

Wishing you many good family reading moments from the perch.

Get Them While They're Young

A number of you know I lead Storytime on Wednesdays at 10:30, but more recently I've also been reading books on Friday mornings at the Child Development Center. My experiences there with the preschoolers have been nothing less than eye-opening, to say the least.

Each week I read to a different classroom, and it never fails to amaze me how eager the kids are for books and listening to stories. They're so excited and aren't afraid to comment about the characters or the pictures they see on the pages. Sometimes, by popular demand, I need to read a book more than once. Other times, several children rush to give me books they enjoy from a classroom shelf so I can read them aloud.

I taught high school English 20 years ago, and I honestly don't remember my students being half as excited about reading as the preschoolers at the CDC. More often than not, trying to get the teens to participate in class discussions was as easy as pulling teeth, no matter how I tried to get them involved or interested. Even though I made Friday a day to read any book for pleasure in class (in my time, it was called SSR or "Sustained Silent Reading"), some students agonized over reading. And bringing some reluctant readers to the school library to help them choose books about things they liked didn't always make a difference.

Thinking about my high school students from years ago and seeing the CDC kids' enthusiasm for reading today has made me realize, more than before, that if you want your children to be readers, you need to start reading to them and with them from infancy. Yes, infancy. Reading board books to babies and progressing to picture books as they grow help kids develop a love for books and reading in addition to developing their thinking, analytical skills, and imagination. It sets them up to succeed in school and beyond. Spark their interest in reading while they're very young; that spark will transform into a raging fire as they get older.

What are some of your favorite childhood books? Share with us!

Looking forward to sharing more reading journeys from the perch.

Learning from Lula

I recently read Kirsten Miller's Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books, a book I thoroughly enjoyed. It's a light read that deals with the serious subject of banning books, something that's happening more often in more places.

The book is set in a small Georgia town where everybody knows everybody, history goes deep, and gossip goes even deeper. Lula Dean, bless her heart, creates the Concerned Parents Committee that aims to rid the school and public libraries of "pornographic" books in order to protect the town's children. She then puts up a little library, in front of her house, filled with conservative books that made her the person she is today. What Lula doesn't know is that the daughter of her high school archrival replaces all her books with banned books, putting false dust covers on them.

It's funny to read about the readers' surprise when they find different books in the covers, but it's inspiring to see how the books change their perspectives and their lives. Books are powerful in helping people learn--about history and each other. Sometimes, the lessons are difficult and unpleasant, but they're necessary for moving forward to a better future and to avoid being mired in the mistakes of the past.

Kirsten Miller does a great job presenting the issues surrounding book banning in a fun, interesting, and non-preaching way. Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books is a real page turner filled with the unexpected. It's sure to stay with you for a while.

Have you read Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books? What are your thoughts on it? Share with us!

Ever yours truly from the perch.

Thinking About the Summer Reading Program?

Just do it! 😊📚

https://fairchildafblibrary.beanstack.org

Cooking for Dad

Father's Day is this weekend, and one way to a dad's heart is through his stomach. The barbecue may be a popular option, but there are other options for tasty, summertime cuisine. And let's not forget desserts--sweets are just as popular with dads as they are with moms!

If you're stumped on what to make for your Father's Day feast, take a look at the following cookbooks and websites offering simple and delicious recipes for dads of all tastes:

Cookbooks

• The Firehouse Grilling Cookbook by Joseph T. Bonanno Jr. (641.5784 BON)  The FDNY author lives up to the culinary reputation of firefighters. There are all kinds of recipes for your cookout, from appetizers and salads to marinades for your meats. Drinks and sweets? They're included.
• The Art of the Pie by Kate McDermott (641.8652 MCD)  My dad has always been a big fan of pie, and this cookbook is bound to please pie lovers of all kinds. Fruit pies, berry pies, creamy pies, even savory pies--they're all here. Various gluten-free and vegan crust recipes are also offered along with those for no-bake crusts.
• 20-40-60 Minute Dinners by Kate Otterstrom (641.5 OTT)  Who says you have to work your fingers to the bone cooking for dad? This book has plenty of quick and easy dishes that dad and everyone will love. From sandwiches to casseroles and more, make a meal that won't take all day.
• Taste of Home All-American Cookbook (BT 641.5 TAS)  Sliders, pigs in a blanket, burgers, corn dogs, pastas, pulled pork sandwiches, baby back ribs, deviled eggs, potato salads, cobblers, cheesecakes, pies...do I need to go on?

Websites

• Better Homes and Gardens  The recipes here are traditional but with interesting twists to make dad's mouth water. Try the Scandinavian Steak and Potatoes, Bacon Cheeseburgers with Kentucky Bourbon Sauce, or Pineapple-Ginger Wings, among others. 
• the kitchn  This site offers 57 scrumptious recipes for dad's big day. There are plenty of dishes featuring beef, chicken, fish, pasta, veggies, barbecue, and more. Grill outside or cook inside, light or hearty, there's something for everyone.
  
• Simply Recipes  For the dad with a sweet tooth, 30 dessert recipes are sure to satisfy, including Flourless Chocolate Cake, Peach Cobbler, Cowboy Blondies, Easy Dump Cake from Scratch, and Blackberry Pie. Bake or no-bake, take your pick.
  
• What's Gaby Cooking  There are various recipes for every course: appetizers, salads, main dishes, and desserts. Among them are a 5-ingredient recipe for Paprika Roast Chicken, Hatch Green Chili Ribs, Blackberry Peach Crisp, and a no-bake Cookie Icebox Cake, perfect for summer.
  

Still not finding the recipes you want? Then stop by the library to take a look at our cookbook selection or search the internet for other cooking blogs and websites.

Do you have a special recipe for dad? Share with us!

Happy Father's Day wishes from the perch.