Harry Potter...20 Years Later

Is it really 20 years since the first Harry Potter book was published?

Somehow, it doesn't seem like so long ago when kids (and kids at heart) eagerly awaited the next book in the series to find out what happened to Harry, Ron, Hermione, and the rest of the gang at Hogwarts.  Bookstores across the country had midnight parties with people of all ages dressed in wizarding robes waiting to buy the newest book.  I remember my mailman giddy with excitement when he rang my doorbell to personally deliver my copy of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix purchased from Amazon.

What is it about the Harry Potter series that continues to appeal to new generations as well as kids and adults alike?  It's always amazing when something like a book or a movie stands the test of time, resonating with people all over the world.

Maybe it's the fascinating world that author J. K. Rowling created?  A special train that takes students from Platform 9 3/4 to a special school of magic.  Classes from Potions to Transfiguration to Defense Against the Dark Arts.  Culinary delights such as butterbeer, pumpkin pasties, chocolate frogs, and Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans.  Extraordinary creatures including dragons, hippogriffs, centaurs, basilisks, and house elves.  Not to mention an evil wizard and his cohorts who want to kill the title character and terrorize everyone else.

Whatever it is, the Harry Potter series captures the imagination of both young and old.  It connects generations, giving kids, parents, and grandparents something they can enjoy together as a family.  Additionally, it transforms reluctant readers into book lovers and teaches that the power of love and friendship is the greatest magic of all.

If you've never read the books, perhaps now is the time to start; if you have read them, take the time to revisit.  Stop by the library to check out a Harry Potter book or movie and put yourself under its spell for the first time or once again.

Sending you magical greetings from the perch.

Teal Pumpkins!

They're coming.  Perhaps you've seen them.  Maybe even in your own neighborhood.  They're round.  They're teal.  They're...pumpkins!

Are teal pumpkins some strange mutation of the iconic Halloween squash?  The short answer is no.  The long answer is teal pumpkins are just regular pumpkins painted teal and placed outside of houses offering non-food trick-or-treat items on Halloween.

What?  No candy?  No chocolate?  No munchies of any kind?  Why???

Nowadays, it seems that more kids (and adults) have different kinds of food allergies.  There are people allergic to things like wheat, milk, peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, soy, sesame, fish, and other items.

Imagine being a kid with a food allergy.  All your friends are out trick-or-treating but you can't go because you can't eat the treats.  Not much fun, is it?

However, kids with food allergies can take part in the fun if they can get treats other than food.  Glow sticks, pencils, erasers, coloring sheets, and stickers are popular with all kids.  Of course, you can still have candy on hand to pass out if you'd like, but just be sure to ask the little monsters coming to your door whether they would like candy or a non-food item.  And be careful of some non-food items, such as latex, because some people have allergies to those things as well.

If you'd like to put a teal pumpkin outside your door this year (or just print out a sheet with a teal pumpkin), take a look at the Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE) website for more information.  You may just make a lot of goblins happy this year and save your front yard from getting toilet papered.

Wishing you a fun and safe Halloween from the perch.

Polish Heritage Month

It seems like every month we're celebrating one thing or another at the library, and October is no different.  For the first time we're celebrating Polish Heritage Month with a big display by our front door.  Yay!

When you think of Polish things, what usually comes to mind?  Kiełbasy (a.k.a. Polish sausage)?  Pierogi?  Maybe even polkas and polka music?  (For the record, the polka actually originated as a Czech dance, but Polish-Americans have made it a part of their culture.)

Although it may not be obvious at first glance, Poles have made great contributions to the world.  Astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus came up with the heliocentric theory which placed the sun rather than the earth in the center of the universe.  Composer Frédéric Chopin wrote all those beautiful piano concertos that we love so much.  Scientist Marie Curie (née Skłodowska) discovered the two elements of radium and polonium, naming the latter after her native country.  And let's not forget those Polish military commanders, Kazimierz Pułaski and Tadeusz Kościuszko, who fought in the American Revolution and helped the Colonies win their independence from Britain.  The list of names goes on and on.

In the United States, 3% of the population (that's over 9.5 million people, including yours truly) are of Polish descent.  Chicago has the largest number of Poles outside of Warsaw, Poland.  The first Poles in the country were in Jamestown in 1609, establishing glassmaking and woodworking industries.  Polish-Americans can be found in all fields, including sports, journalism, entertainment, science, politics, literature, and others.  Chances are good that some of your friends or co-workers are Polish.

So, put on your Polish this month!  Learn to dance the Polonaise, watch an Andrzej Wajda movie, read a book by Henryk Sienkiewicz, and bake an awesome babka.  Or just have some Polish candies at the perch until they're gone.

Wishing everyone a Happy Polish Heritage Month from the perch!  Wszystkiego najlepszego!  (All the best!)

Fall Into...Fall!

If you've been following my blog for a while, you probably know I'm a fan of lists.  And since fall is actually here, I thought it would be fitting to make a list of fun things to help us really get the most out of the season.  So without further ado, here are 10 things you can do locally in the Inland Northwest or at home:

• Apple picking in Green Bluff, WA  When you think of fall, you think of apples.  So why not have some fun picking apples with the family in Green Bluff?
• Have some spiced cider.  Speaking of apples, doesn't some nice warm spiced cider on a chilly night sound good?  You can try this recipe or just get a bottle ready-made from Trader Joe's.
• Have some tea and pastries.  Not into cider?  Then have some nice hot tea in the comfort of your own home or go to a local tea house, like the Silver Spoon Tea House in Spokane or the Gaiwan Tea House in Coeur d'Alene.
• Attend an Oktoberfest celebration.  Maybe beer is your thing?  If so, fall is Oktoberfest time!  The big one is 3 hours away in Leavenworth, WA, but there are others nearby in Spokane, and Coeur d'Alene, ID.  Or you can go to Das Stein Haus in Spokane.
• Take a walk in Finch Arboretum in Spokane.  Beside apples, isn't fall about...falling leaves?  Stroll in the arboretum among the trees sporting their autumn colors.
• Light some candles.  Perhaps you're more of an indoor person?  Make a cozy, inviting atmosphere by lighting a few candles.
• Knit or crochet a scarf.  Talking about cozy, knit or crochet a scarf for yourself or a loved one.  Don't know how?  Then come to the library's Spin-a-Yarn the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month and we'll teach you.
• Bake a cake.  After a while, doing all those fall things will make you work up an appetite.  Baking a cake is good for a growling stomach as well as the soul.  And your house will smell great!
• Snuggle in a blanket and watch a movie.  When you get tired, there's nothing better than snuggling in a blanket on the sofa and watching a movie.  Relax!
• Read a book.  You know I had to plug in books and reading somewhere, didn't you?  Fall is the perfect time to stay indoors with a good read, and we have plenty of good ones here at the library for you to borrow!

Hopefully, this list will help you get a start on fall!  For more ideas and things to do, stop by the library!

Wishing everyone a great fall from the perch.

Wildfire Smoke is No Joke!

I'm sure it's no surprise that the air quality in the Inland Northwest is extremely poor to downright hazardous due to smoke from wildfires in the region and neighboring states.  Until the fires are put out and the winds shift, there's not much we can do to get rid of the smoke.  However, according to the experts, there are things we can do to help protect ourselves and keep our exposure to wildfire smoke at a minimum:

• Stay indoors.  The less time spent outside in the smoky air, the better.
• Close windows.  Try to keep the indoor air as clean as possible. 
• Recircle air, close vents.  Cut off the flow of outdoor air coming into your house and car.
• Don't burn anything.  Candles, fireplaces, etc. contribute to bad air quality.
• Drink plenty of water.  It will make your throat feel better and less irritated.
• Wear proper masks.  If you must go outside, limit your time and wear effective masks.

Here are some other informative resources that can help you and your family protect yourselves from wildfire smoke:

• Health Tip: Protect Yourself from Wildfire Smoke Exposure
• How Smoke from Fires Can Affect Your Health
• How to Protect Yourself from Wildfire Smoke
• Protect Yourself from Wildfire Smoke
• Wildfire Smoke: Frequently Asked Questions 

Let's hope the fires are extinguished soon and air clears, but in the meantime, please take precautions and use common sense.

Yours truly practicing fire safety at the perch.

Welcome Back to...Books!

Just because the summer reading program is over doesn't mean that trips to the library should become less frequent.  Noooo!  Quite the opposite!  This is the time of year to take advantage of all the resources the library has to offer to make your little ones (or yourself) successful in school!  Really!

Got some younger (or older) students feeling a little apprehensive about the new school year?  Don't worry.  We got plenty of books to put them in a good mood and make them feel like academic champions.  Need books to help out with reading, writing, math, or science skills?  We got that, too.  History?  We got books and DVDs that help bring the past alive and make it interesting for everyone.  Home ec, woodshop, or anything else?  Yup--chances are good we have it.

If you need some one-on-one help, the library offers tutor.com, real tutors online for K-12 subjects.  For those needing the services of a proctor, we can proctor exams that are either online or on paper.  We also have laptops and desktop computers for you to use, printers, and a fax, as well as electronic databases and other online resources to help you gather whatever information you're seeking.

So just because the summer reading program is over doesn't mean that there's no reason to come to the library.  We're here for you all 12 months of the year!  Rain or shine, hot or cold, sunny or cloudy (you get the idea :-).

Wishing everyone a great new school year from the perch!

Our Love Affair With Superheroes

When I was 12 years old, I fell in love with Christopher Reeve and Superman.  Those dreamy blue eyes and nerdy lock of hair curling on his forehead made me crush hard (to be honest, I've never completely gotten over that crush).  And what's not to like about Superman?  I mean, he can fly faster than a speeding bullet, leap tall buildings with a single bound, etc., etc.  But he's also Clark Kent, the geeky, mild-mannered reporter with glasses who's charmingly klutzy.

Apparently, I'm not the only one who's a fan of one superhero or another.  Our collection of graphic novels (a more respectable rendition of comic books) keeps growing and being used on a regular basis.  Of course, we have Superman graphic novels, but we also have Batman, Aquaman, Iron Man, Captain America, Captain Canuck, Spiderman, Green Lantern...you name it, we probably have it.  And naturally, we have TV shows and movies which are popular and get checked out often.  Just look at all the hubbub the new Wonder Woman movie has been generating in the cinemas.

So, what is it about superheroes that captures the imagination of so many?  Granted, they're all good looking and incredibly muscular, but I think it goes beyond appearances.  In a world that's riddled with problems and tragedies, it's nice to imagine that people with superhuman strength can swoop in and save the day quickly.  It's also comforting to see that all superheroes have a secret identity as everyday, ordinary people who look just like us and deal with normal issues just like us.  Clark Kent loves Lois Lane, but he wants to be loved for himself because Superman is what he can do rather than who he truly is.

Centuries ago, the Greeks and Romans had gods who were capable of extraordinary feats while at the same time exhibiting human shortcomings such as jealousy and hate.  Today, superheroes have taken the place of ancient gods, inspiring us to possibly become our own superheroes and try to make our imperfect world just a little better in our own human way.  And for the record, I actually prefer Clark Kent to Superman because of his vulnerabilities rather than in spite of them.

Wishing you superhero daydreams from the perch.