Literary Let Downs

I’ve found that after reading so much juvenile/YA fiction, it’s hard switching back to adult fiction.

My most recent foray back into adult literature was The Miniaturist. And after reading 150 pages I gave up. Perhaps I was not in the right mood for it, but it seems like many of the subtleties and nuances are lost on me. My patience level has worn down to just above the bare minimum. I have so so so many books on my to read list. If you can’t grab my attention long enough after 150 pages for me to click twice to renew the book, then I just give up.

I haven’t completely given up on it. Like so much adult literature, it seems to require a slower pace from me, a nice lingering read. And in my current frenzied state of checking out 20 books at a time, I just can’t give it that devotion.

I guess I’m just nervous. About reverting to a childlike state. About forgetting how to be an adult. About never being able to read contemporary adult fiction, and then smugly sipping my starbucks again.

Searching for the Perfect Bunny Flannel

In late March all of our storytimes are either rabbit or bunny themed, and though our library has well over 250 flannel stories in our file cabinet, everyone was bemoaning the lack of Good Bunny Flannels. And so my crafty little self has volunteered to make a new one, with a directive to avoid the five little whatsit flannels. After scouring the internet high and low, I have found quite a few that I am excited about. I’ll hold off on making one and wait for everyone’s feedback first, but I’m just too excited not to share!

Thrive After Three has a wonderful flannelization of the Rabbit Who Liked to Moo.

Meuse Notes created a flannel based on the Turkish folktale of the Three Little Rabbits (similar to three pigs)

Library Village made a terrible cute version of Too Many Bunnies. I love “grass isn’t greener on the other side” stories!

Roving Fiddlehead has pictures of the most darling Russian folktale alternative The Enormous Carrot.

Loons and Quines‘ flannel Bunny Gets Dressed is adorable and seems wonderfully multi-purpose for many themed storytimes.

And Miss Merry Liberry’s Conejito is cute with a great story and moral AND is multicultural. Win win win!

I am just so amazed and inspired by all of these flannels. Can’t wait to re-make one for our collection and share it with the kiddos!

An Acknowledgement of Shortcomings: Knowledge about Speech Delays

Two days ago, a patron came in asking for books. Specifically, books for her speech-delayed 19 month old. She mentioned she’d read Sandra Boynton and Eric Carle books, but was wanting more, with more repetition. At which point she gazed down at me sitting in my chair as I drew a complete and utter blank.

I’ve been working at the library for three months and three days now- and I’m not a librarian, just an assistant. But since the two children’s librarians were on lunch break just then it was up to me to help and I had no resources, or rather I had too many resources that I did not know to draw from.

I unfortunately had to explain the situation and admit that I would not be able to help her- I still have too little experience in picture books to be any kind of authority. She was extraordinarily kind and understanding and said she’d probably come back another day at a better time.

And so, for my future personal reference:

Our Little Tongginator has compiled an amazing list explaining why she chose the books and how they help develop speech. She breaks the books down into ten categories: interactive, animal sound, repetitive, rhythmic, sign language, humor, vocabulary builders, song/finger plays, body, and social/emotional books.

SLP Mommy of Apraxia has a much more straightforward list without the explanations. Great for quick reference.

I think ultimately I need to combine and add on to make my own list. Accessibility and being able to help all patrons is an important goal for me, and I still have so much to learn. It seems almost overwhelming at times. I just have to remember to tackle each question as it comes, and even after the patron has gone to research and answer it as fully as I can to be prepared for the inevitable next time.

If any soul reading this on that great expanse of internet would like to contribute any other knowledge on this matter, I’d appreciate it. Until then, I cast my message in a post to the waves hoping it gets caught in someone’s net.