WEBVTT 00:00:21.049 --> 00:00:24.829 Hello, I'm Patrick Adams. And I'm Caroline Legere. 00:00:25.120 --> 00:00:28.320 And this is Librarians of Littles, a podcast 00:00:28.320 --> 00:00:31.839 where we discuss books, give makerspace ideas, 00:00:32.439 --> 00:00:36.020 and give tips and tricks for working with our 00:00:36.020 --> 00:00:39.320 youngest learners in the library setting. This 00:00:39.320 --> 00:00:43.060 week we have two books that come from the Texas 00:00:43.060 --> 00:00:46.840 2x2 list. The Texas 2x2 list is a list curated 00:00:46.840 --> 00:00:49.859 by the Texas Library Association every year. 00:00:50.200 --> 00:00:54.799 It consists of 20 books that are excellent for 00:00:54.799 --> 00:00:58.820 students between the ages of two and second grade. 00:00:59.600 --> 00:01:02.880 This week our first book off of that list is 00:01:02.880 --> 00:01:07.040 There Are No Ants in This Book. This book is 00:01:07.040 --> 00:01:09.480 a Tundra book, which is a division of Penguin 00:01:09.480 --> 00:01:12.540 Random House Books, and it was published in 2024. 00:01:13.000 --> 00:01:17.459 The author is Rosemary Mosco, and the illustrator 00:01:17.459 --> 00:01:22.459 is Anna Piroli. And this book appears on two 00:01:22.459 --> 00:01:25.200 different state lists, the Texas 2x2 list for 00:01:25.200 --> 00:01:30.939 2025, and Capital Choices for 2025, age birth 00:01:30.939 --> 00:01:34.620 to five. And this is the list from the District 00:01:34.620 --> 00:01:39.150 of Columbia. The author history, Rosemary Mosco, 00:01:39.310 --> 00:01:42.590 is an author, illustrator, speaker, and naturalist. 00:01:42.890 --> 00:01:45.549 She has written for many publications, including 00:01:45.549 --> 00:01:50.489 the New York Times, Audubon, Rewriting America, 00:01:50.810 --> 00:01:54.109 and Ranger Rick. She also makes a regular comic 00:01:54.109 --> 00:01:58.310 strip for the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Living 00:01:58.310 --> 00:02:02.790 Bird Magazine. And she has judged a bird tattoo 00:02:02.790 --> 00:02:06.640 contest twice. That's great! yeah isn't that 00:02:06.640 --> 00:02:10.479 cool and her favorite glacial landform is the 00:02:10.479 --> 00:02:13.020 esker i don't even know what that is but i had 00:02:13.020 --> 00:02:19.159 to look it up it's basically um when a glacial 00:02:19.159 --> 00:02:24.199 formation recedes it leaves like scar marks on 00:02:24.199 --> 00:02:25.840 the land, and that's kind of where the massacre 00:02:25.840 --> 00:02:27.560 is. So, yeah, I had to look it up because I was 00:02:27.560 --> 00:02:29.560 like, now I need to know. And so that's... I 00:02:29.560 --> 00:02:32.240 think I might need to look up glacial landforms 00:02:32.240 --> 00:02:34.139 in general. I didn't know there were different 00:02:34.139 --> 00:02:36.759 names for... Okay. Well, I know what I'm doing 00:02:36.759 --> 00:02:44.719 later today. Yeah. Some of her other books she 00:02:44.719 --> 00:02:49.240 has written include Butterflies Are Pretty Gross, 00:02:49.860 --> 00:02:53.819 illustrated by Jacob Suva. Solar System, Our 00:02:53.819 --> 00:02:56.659 Planet in Space, which is part of the Science 00:02:56.659 --> 00:03:00.099 Comics Collection, which is co -authored by John 00:03:00.099 --> 00:03:03.860 Chad. Backyard Expeditions, Exploring Nature 00:03:03.860 --> 00:03:07.919 from Country to City, illustrated by Bing Ling 00:03:07.919 --> 00:03:13.139 Hu. And Flowers are Pretty Weird, illustrated 00:03:13.139 --> 00:03:18.699 by Jacob Suha. And the illustrator of this book... 00:03:18.939 --> 00:03:23.800 Anna Paroli was born in Genoa. She moved to Milan 00:03:23.800 --> 00:03:26.939 to study illustration at the European Institute 00:03:26.939 --> 00:03:31.319 of Design. She is a visiting professor at Academia 00:03:31.319 --> 00:03:35.599 de Brera, oh dear, teaching design applied to 00:03:35.599 --> 00:03:40.479 the arts. Her other books are Anona Mouse, which 00:03:40.479 --> 00:03:45.219 is written by Vicky Vincenco, I Hate Cats, a 00:03:45.219 --> 00:03:50.150 love story, written by I'm going to go with David 00:03:50.150 --> 00:03:54.050 Calley and Oliver and the Night Giants written 00:03:54.050 --> 00:03:59.990 by Kitty O'Meara. And so for this book a young 00:03:59.990 --> 00:04:02.490 girl is looking for a place to have a picnic. 00:04:02.590 --> 00:04:04.530 She believes that she has found a great spot 00:04:04.530 --> 00:04:08.009 because there are no ants. As she prepares to 00:04:08.009 --> 00:04:11.139 eat she finds that there actually are ants in 00:04:11.139 --> 00:04:14.020 her picnic spot. And as they come out, she finds 00:04:14.020 --> 00:04:17.000 that there are many different types of ants with 00:04:17.000 --> 00:04:20.399 many unique characteristics. And so I thought 00:04:20.399 --> 00:04:23.360 this was just a really cute story. It had a lot 00:04:23.360 --> 00:04:26.120 of interesting facts about different kinds of 00:04:26.120 --> 00:04:28.399 ants. I didn't, I mean, I knew there were lots 00:04:28.399 --> 00:04:30.860 of different kinds of ants, but I didn't know 00:04:30.860 --> 00:04:33.399 all the different unique characteristics of a 00:04:33.399 --> 00:04:36.600 lot of these that are um incorporated into the 00:04:36.600 --> 00:04:38.839 story and so that was really cool to learn about 00:04:38.839 --> 00:04:43.879 the different kinds of ants and just I I love 00:04:43.879 --> 00:04:48.620 picture books that include non -fiction information 00:04:48.620 --> 00:04:51.139 into a story because it's a fun story you get 00:04:51.139 --> 00:04:53.240 to enjoy it but you get to learn at the same 00:04:53.240 --> 00:04:56.220 time about the the concept and so like being 00:04:56.220 --> 00:04:59.029 able to introduce this to little kids and give 00:04:59.029 --> 00:05:01.250 them some information about ants and let them 00:05:01.250 --> 00:05:04.889 learn about the topic of ants while sharing a 00:05:04.889 --> 00:05:08.189 fun story that has these beautiful bright colorful 00:05:08.189 --> 00:05:12.529 pictures and then it also incorporates numbers 00:05:12.529 --> 00:05:15.389 and counting because the ants are as they're 00:05:15.389 --> 00:05:16.870 introducing themselves they're counting how many 00:05:16.870 --> 00:05:18.490 different kinds of ants are being introduced. 00:05:19.370 --> 00:05:22.930 I think it's just a fun story that will definitely 00:05:22.930 --> 00:05:25.649 keep the kids engaged. And, you know, you kind 00:05:25.649 --> 00:05:28.269 of get to introduce some of those science concepts 00:05:28.269 --> 00:05:31.350 and little different adaptations that the different 00:05:31.350 --> 00:05:35.110 ants have to help them survive. And, you know, 00:05:35.170 --> 00:05:38.009 it's, it was a fun story. And I think it'll definitely 00:05:38.009 --> 00:05:40.149 be one that I use probably this spring. We'll 00:05:40.149 --> 00:05:43.430 do like, maybe we'll do like a picnic theme and 00:05:43.430 --> 00:05:45.949 get to read this fun book in the spring with 00:05:45.949 --> 00:05:48.529 my pre -K students, because I think they'll really 00:05:48.529 --> 00:05:51.550 enjoy it. Yeah, this book was really fun. This 00:05:51.550 --> 00:05:54.050 was the first time I'd read it and like you said 00:05:54.050 --> 00:05:56.170 I just really really loved that it incorporated 00:05:56.170 --> 00:06:00.269 both fiction and nonfiction and it was just a 00:06:00.269 --> 00:06:03.660 really nice blend of the two kind of It was a 00:06:03.660 --> 00:06:06.259 little bit of something for everybody. It was 00:06:06.259 --> 00:06:08.360 nice. I think that fiction was a great way to 00:06:08.360 --> 00:06:10.439 kind of get the kids hooked, especially with 00:06:10.439 --> 00:06:13.920 younger kids that I think, I mean, they do get 00:06:13.920 --> 00:06:16.300 really, really interested in animals and nature 00:06:16.300 --> 00:06:18.199 and things like that. And there's there are a 00:06:18.199 --> 00:06:21.800 lot of kids who really love nonfiction, but especially 00:06:21.800 --> 00:06:23.620 when they're a little bit younger, it takes takes 00:06:23.620 --> 00:06:26.079 them a minute to get there. And this was a great 00:06:26.079 --> 00:06:29.480 way to kind of reel them in. Excellent introduction 00:06:29.480 --> 00:06:31.930 to a nonfiction. Yeah. Yeah. It kind of like 00:06:31.930 --> 00:06:33.750 bridges the gap between them, you know? Yeah. 00:06:33.990 --> 00:06:36.230 For sure. It does. I like it. I like it a lot. 00:06:36.329 --> 00:06:38.110 I'd give it a five out of five. It's a great 00:06:38.110 --> 00:06:39.430 one. Yeah. That's what I'm thinking too. Five 00:06:39.430 --> 00:06:41.589 out of five. Cause it was a fun story. There's 00:06:41.589 --> 00:06:44.850 not like a ton of words on the page to like slow 00:06:44.850 --> 00:06:46.949 down. So it's got a good pace to it. It's not 00:06:46.949 --> 00:06:49.990 going to like bore the kids to be like, Oh, we're 00:06:49.990 --> 00:06:52.329 learning about all these. Like it's fast paced. 00:06:52.449 --> 00:06:55.509 It's, there's not too much on any given page 00:06:55.509 --> 00:06:57.410 so that you get to keep moving through the story. 00:06:57.410 --> 00:06:59.350 And I think it's just a, it's a good story. I 00:06:59.350 --> 00:07:02.579 like it a lot. So if we're gonna incorporate 00:07:02.579 --> 00:07:05.439 some kind of makerspace activity with this, I 00:07:05.439 --> 00:07:08.060 was thinking using some Play -Doh and having 00:07:08.060 --> 00:07:11.060 the kids build their own ants out of Play -Doh. 00:07:11.459 --> 00:07:13.579 There's some pretty cool pictures of these different 00:07:13.579 --> 00:07:16.699 ants that are clearly illustrations, but if you 00:07:16.699 --> 00:07:20.480 could put like a picture of a certain type of 00:07:20.480 --> 00:07:24.120 ant that's shown in the book with the actual. 00:07:24.480 --> 00:07:26.680 real life version of it so that kids could see 00:07:26.680 --> 00:07:28.899 like the illustrated version and the real life 00:07:28.899 --> 00:07:31.220 version of the ant and then have them kind of 00:07:31.220 --> 00:07:35.420 try and build the ants out of Play -Doh so you 00:07:35.420 --> 00:07:38.139 could give them the different examples of ants 00:07:38.139 --> 00:07:41.120 that they have in the book and then they can 00:07:41.120 --> 00:07:43.379 pick the different kind of like maybe you have 00:07:43.379 --> 00:07:46.000 one kid try and make the winnow ant and you make 00:07:46.000 --> 00:07:48.879 another one try and make the honey pot ant and 00:07:48.879 --> 00:07:51.860 another one making the leaf cutter ant and they 00:07:51.860 --> 00:07:54.920 can see the illustrated version and a real life 00:07:54.920 --> 00:07:56.540 version of it, and then they can make a Play 00:07:56.540 --> 00:07:58.680 -Doh version of it. I think that would be fun. 00:07:58.759 --> 00:08:00.339 And I think the kids would have a good time being 00:08:00.339 --> 00:08:03.439 able to, especially just being able to compare 00:08:03.439 --> 00:08:06.819 the illustrated version and the real life photograph 00:08:06.819 --> 00:08:09.379 version of it. That would be cool in itself. 00:08:09.579 --> 00:08:11.879 But then for them to be able to then try and 00:08:11.879 --> 00:08:14.819 make it out of Play -Doh to give them that tactile 00:08:14.819 --> 00:08:17.480 activity at the same time, I think that would 00:08:17.480 --> 00:08:20.060 be a lot of fun. Yeah, that would be a lot of 00:08:20.060 --> 00:08:23.060 fun. I really like that that kind of it's a little 00:08:23.060 --> 00:08:25.040 bit more involved than just drawing it You know, 00:08:25.120 --> 00:08:27.879 I mean you could just draw it to absolutely or 00:08:27.879 --> 00:08:29.839 have them try and trace it or what have you But 00:08:29.839 --> 00:08:32.879 I like that that kind of takes it a step further 00:08:32.879 --> 00:08:35.899 Approved good work. I like it. And I think yeah, 00:08:35.899 --> 00:08:40.120 I think like and then you know, I Play -doh can 00:08:40.120 --> 00:08:43.080 get messy, but it can use it in the right way 00:08:43.080 --> 00:08:45.299 and kind of give the kids some boundaries You 00:08:45.299 --> 00:08:48.360 know having it out occasionally it's definitely 00:08:48.360 --> 00:08:50.799 not something I use every week but for those 00:08:50.799 --> 00:08:54.399 special occasions being able to use it it's fun 00:08:54.399 --> 00:08:56.379 and so you know I think this would be a good 00:08:56.379 --> 00:08:59.500 reason to have a have it out so they could use 00:08:59.500 --> 00:09:03.519 it yeah yeah I like it you know and you could 00:09:03.519 --> 00:09:06.080 also do like there's a lot of play -doh mats 00:09:06.080 --> 00:09:08.019 and such that are really easy to find online 00:09:08.019 --> 00:09:10.740 that you could like probably just print a little 00:09:10.740 --> 00:09:12.860 background with a little picnic on it or something 00:09:12.860 --> 00:09:16.659 and have a little habitat ish kind of a thing 00:09:16.659 --> 00:09:19.840 for him to That's a good idea. Yeah, I like that. 00:09:21.620 --> 00:09:25.320 All right. So this week for our library of littles 00:09:25.320 --> 00:09:27.960 management tip, I thought it would be important 00:09:27.960 --> 00:09:31.639 since we're getting close to starting by the 00:09:31.639 --> 00:09:34.080 time this episode airs, it's going to be pretty 00:09:34.080 --> 00:09:37.360 close to us being back in full swing with seeing 00:09:37.360 --> 00:09:41.919 students and everything. But it's important to 00:09:41.919 --> 00:09:45.960 build your team with your specials or your co 00:09:45.960 --> 00:09:49.500 -curricular teammates. And so as the year goes 00:09:49.500 --> 00:09:51.919 on, you wanna have those strong relationships 00:09:51.919 --> 00:09:54.360 with those other teachers. And so taking the 00:09:54.360 --> 00:09:56.639 time near the beginning of the year to try and 00:09:56.639 --> 00:10:01.740 build those special relationships, because as 00:10:01.740 --> 00:10:06.059 a librarian, lots of times we're a lone island 00:10:06.059 --> 00:10:09.340 on the campus. No one else does the job that 00:10:09.340 --> 00:10:14.769 we do. But if you can... find those couple people 00:10:14.769 --> 00:10:17.549 that have something that you can relate to, like 00:10:17.549 --> 00:10:19.789 the gym teacher or the art teacher, music teacher, 00:10:19.789 --> 00:10:21.909 that kind of thing, where you guys are kind of, 00:10:21.909 --> 00:10:26.590 you see all the students on campus, and if you're 00:10:26.590 --> 00:10:29.990 in the rotation, then you're even more so a team. 00:10:30.330 --> 00:10:32.269 So being able to build up those relationships 00:10:32.269 --> 00:10:36.409 and kind of to foster the teamwork and the building 00:10:36.409 --> 00:10:40.129 of helping each other out to do what's best for 00:10:40.129 --> 00:10:43.100 the kids. That's really important. And so there's 00:10:43.100 --> 00:10:45.740 different ways you can do it. Like this last 00:10:45.740 --> 00:10:48.700 week, we had lunch as a team together and we 00:10:48.700 --> 00:10:50.279 were able to talk about our summers and that 00:10:50.279 --> 00:10:54.440 kind of stuff. Later next week, personally, my 00:10:54.440 --> 00:10:58.940 team, I sent them all a video from TikTok of 00:10:58.940 --> 00:11:02.159 a dance. And so we're gonna be practicing that 00:11:02.159 --> 00:11:04.539 dance over the next week so that we can record 00:11:04.539 --> 00:11:07.639 ourselves doing the dance so that we can post 00:11:07.639 --> 00:11:11.039 on the school's social media to like... welcome 00:11:11.039 --> 00:11:12.879 the students back, that kind of thing. So like 00:11:12.879 --> 00:11:17.340 doing fun, silly, goofy things like that. I know 00:11:17.340 --> 00:11:20.519 that, you know, it doesn't have to cost a ton 00:11:20.519 --> 00:11:22.340 of money, but you can do different things to 00:11:22.340 --> 00:11:27.000 just kind of build that relationship. And, you 00:11:27.000 --> 00:11:30.539 know, I want to be able to go to those people 00:11:30.539 --> 00:11:32.559 and feel comfortable talking to them, because 00:11:32.559 --> 00:11:34.220 there's lots of times where we're gonna end up 00:11:34.220 --> 00:11:37.200 having to work together. Like, I have a brand 00:11:37.200 --> 00:11:41.299 new art teacher this year, and in my district, 00:11:41.299 --> 00:11:44.500 in the district, they teach art and music. So 00:11:44.500 --> 00:11:47.360 she's feeling slightly overwhelmed at the moment, 00:11:47.620 --> 00:11:50.279 which is totally understandable when you're realizing 00:11:50.279 --> 00:11:53.720 you have 36 weeks to teach 36 weeks of art and 00:11:53.720 --> 00:11:57.259 36 weeks of music education to every grade level. 00:11:57.980 --> 00:12:03.019 And she was told she's doing, every grade level 00:12:03.019 --> 00:12:06.980 is doing a musical performance this year. That's 00:12:06.980 --> 00:12:10.320 a lot. to take on as a as a this is her first 00:12:10.320 --> 00:12:12.539 year doing art and music before that she was 00:12:12.539 --> 00:12:14.360 a classroom teacher so that's a lot going on 00:12:14.360 --> 00:12:17.159 so like i want i want to feel comfortable being 00:12:17.159 --> 00:12:19.259 able to go to her but i want her to be comfortable 00:12:19.259 --> 00:12:22.179 coming to me to ask for help and like so i've 00:12:22.179 --> 00:12:25.320 already told her i was like hey anytime that 00:12:25.320 --> 00:12:29.399 you're needing for us to get together as a group 00:12:29.399 --> 00:12:32.440 and take the whole grade level to the cafeteria 00:12:32.440 --> 00:12:34.820 to practice on the stage for a musical performance 00:12:34.820 --> 00:12:38.559 or if you need some feedback on what like an 00:12:38.559 --> 00:12:40.820 idea that you have. You need to be able to come 00:12:40.820 --> 00:12:42.679 to us. We want you to be able to come to us and 00:12:42.679 --> 00:12:44.440 have those conversations and that kind of thing. 00:12:44.679 --> 00:12:47.860 And at the same time, like a lot of the makerspace 00:12:47.860 --> 00:12:50.419 activities and stuff that we do incorporates 00:12:50.419 --> 00:12:54.820 art or music or like I have a makerspace teacher 00:12:54.820 --> 00:12:57.399 that like so it incorporates the technology stuff. 00:12:57.419 --> 00:13:04.580 So like if I can work with them to improve my 00:13:04.580 --> 00:13:07.970 lesson or to lay a foundation or if I can get 00:13:07.970 --> 00:13:09.690 them to lay the foundation so by the time the 00:13:09.690 --> 00:13:11.710 kids come to me, they have a better understanding 00:13:11.710 --> 00:13:13.950 so that we can do some of these other things. 00:13:14.929 --> 00:13:17.029 Those relationships are so important for that 00:13:17.029 --> 00:13:20.110 kind of stuff too, because it helps the students 00:13:20.110 --> 00:13:24.850 get the most out of the lessons. And so doing 00:13:24.850 --> 00:13:27.710 anything that we can to kind of build that camaraderie 00:13:27.710 --> 00:13:30.529 and feel comfortable to be able to come to each 00:13:30.529 --> 00:13:32.450 other and ask questions and ask for feedback 00:13:32.450 --> 00:13:36.200 and ask for help, which... I have to admit, I'm 00:13:36.200 --> 00:13:40.440 so bad at sometimes asking for help. But, you 00:13:40.440 --> 00:13:42.659 know, building those relationships, it makes 00:13:42.659 --> 00:13:45.139 it easier to do that. So just finding different 00:13:45.139 --> 00:13:49.940 ways to kind of get together and, you know, feel 00:13:49.940 --> 00:13:53.279 comfortable. I also in, I have in my library, 00:13:53.320 --> 00:13:55.960 I have a work room. That's where I keep either. 00:13:57.060 --> 00:14:00.799 Coffee machine. I've got a mini fridge with like 00:14:00.799 --> 00:14:03.179 snacks and stuff So I tell I make sure my teammates 00:14:03.179 --> 00:14:05.500 know that they are welcome at any time to come 00:14:05.500 --> 00:14:07.840 in and get some caffeine or some chocolate and 00:14:07.840 --> 00:14:09.860 that kind of stuff, you know anything that we 00:14:09.860 --> 00:14:12.740 can do to get them to come in and feel comfortable 00:14:12.740 --> 00:14:15.200 enough to come in and just You know be able to 00:14:15.200 --> 00:14:16.840 chat and see what's going on and see what we 00:14:16.840 --> 00:14:20.639 can help each other with I'm very fortunate that 00:14:20.639 --> 00:14:26.450 my team we've only been like My PE teacher last 00:14:26.450 --> 00:14:30.149 year was her first year. My makerspace teacher 00:14:30.149 --> 00:14:33.529 last year was her first year. One of the PE aids 00:14:33.529 --> 00:14:35.470 last year was her first year. And then I've been 00:14:35.470 --> 00:14:38.529 on this campus. This is my third year. The art 00:14:38.529 --> 00:14:41.629 teacher this year is brand new. The second PE 00:14:41.629 --> 00:14:43.710 aid this year is brand new, but we've already 00:14:43.710 --> 00:14:46.769 kind of started to mesh. And I think it's going 00:14:46.769 --> 00:14:48.850 to be a good year, but I think it has to do with 00:14:48.850 --> 00:14:51.769 the fact that like we've got a group text chat 00:14:51.769 --> 00:14:56.259 strand go in where we Like talk to each other 00:14:56.259 --> 00:14:58.220 and see how things are going and that kind of 00:14:58.220 --> 00:15:01.200 thing and like building that relationship of 00:15:01.200 --> 00:15:04.799 Like hey, how's your kid doing? Like? How was 00:15:04.799 --> 00:15:08.279 your family vacation that kind of stuff? it helps 00:15:08.279 --> 00:15:14.840 just to make it so that You're not So alone I 00:15:14.840 --> 00:15:17.460 think is really yeah important thing, you know, 00:15:17.740 --> 00:15:19.480 because as librarians There's a lot of times 00:15:19.480 --> 00:15:22.720 where we feel like we're just alone Yeah, we're 00:15:22.720 --> 00:15:24.679 isolated a lot because we're the only ones that 00:15:24.679 --> 00:15:28.720 do what we do Yeah, and I mean that's still true. 00:15:29.159 --> 00:15:30.960 Yeah, if we can make some of those relationships 00:15:30.960 --> 00:15:33.460 that makes it yeah, that's why it's so important 00:15:33.460 --> 00:15:36.600 to build those relationships because otherwise 00:15:36.600 --> 00:15:41.600 We really are just loners all the time And we 00:15:41.600 --> 00:15:44.820 can't do it and I mean, you know, it's nice to 00:15:44.820 --> 00:15:48.059 that like you and I we get to chat weekly and 00:15:48.120 --> 00:15:49.860 that kind of thing, but it's not the same as 00:15:49.860 --> 00:15:52.120 being on the campus with each other and doing 00:15:52.120 --> 00:15:54.279 those things. Like we can make a good strong 00:15:54.279 --> 00:15:57.899 library support system for ourselves. Yeah. Well, 00:15:58.080 --> 00:16:00.980 and then we work with different kids. Yeah, absolutely. 00:16:02.159 --> 00:16:04.700 Yeah. Our campuses are just, every campus is 00:16:04.700 --> 00:16:07.399 unique. So those people on your team are going 00:16:07.399 --> 00:16:09.220 to understand the quirks of your campus. They 00:16:09.220 --> 00:16:11.720 won't understand the quirks of your everyday 00:16:11.720 --> 00:16:15.879 job as a librarian and the little pieces of your 00:16:15.879 --> 00:16:18.639 job where you're programming for your library, 00:16:18.940 --> 00:16:22.700 but they will understand why you're doing certain 00:16:22.700 --> 00:16:26.639 things for certain students and how to modify. 00:16:26.659 --> 00:16:27.379 Absolutely, and you can just go and rant about 00:16:27.379 --> 00:16:30.279 little Johnny who really pushed the buttons today, 00:16:31.000 --> 00:16:32.960 and they get that kind of stuff, and you know. 00:16:34.179 --> 00:16:37.139 Yeah, and yeah, they're the ones that'll understand 00:16:37.139 --> 00:16:40.460 like, and they'll be able to help you too with 00:16:40.460 --> 00:16:42.980 suggestions for little Johnny and like what works 00:16:42.980 --> 00:16:46.710 in their lesson because you can. probably accommodate 00:16:46.710 --> 00:16:50.110 and modify in the same ways. Yeah. Well, and 00:16:50.110 --> 00:16:53.190 like, I just know, like, over the past year, 00:16:53.590 --> 00:16:56.470 like, I'll be like, Hey, do you have this issue 00:16:56.470 --> 00:16:58.929 with this friend? And like the gym teacher will 00:16:58.929 --> 00:17:01.149 be like, no, because like they, we just let them, 00:17:01.649 --> 00:17:03.370 they get all that energy out kind of thing. It's 00:17:03.370 --> 00:17:05.130 like, okay, well, great. If that, if movement 00:17:05.130 --> 00:17:07.190 helps, then maybe I incorporate more movement 00:17:07.190 --> 00:17:10.509 into my lesson. And so, yeah, it absolutely does 00:17:10.509 --> 00:17:14.089 help. Or, Oh, Little Susie does really well when 00:17:14.089 --> 00:17:16.650 you incorporate music or art into what we're 00:17:16.650 --> 00:17:18.250 doing. Okay, then that's what I'm gonna have 00:17:18.250 --> 00:17:20.690 to try and do, you know? So absolutely, it definitely 00:17:20.690 --> 00:17:23.690 helps to see, to be with those teachers because 00:17:23.690 --> 00:17:25.569 they get to see them in a different setting too. 00:17:25.630 --> 00:17:28.769 And so sometimes they have a better or a different 00:17:28.769 --> 00:17:32.730 view of that child. And so, yeah. Yeah. It's 00:17:32.730 --> 00:17:36.049 true. So yeah, those are very important. Definitely. 00:17:37.269 --> 00:17:39.049 Definitely build those relationships with your 00:17:39.049 --> 00:17:43.160 team so that you're not that. island in the in 00:17:43.160 --> 00:17:46.640 the ocean of the school, you know. Yeah, I'm 00:17:46.640 --> 00:17:49.660 in the process of I'm at a new school this year, 00:17:49.660 --> 00:17:51.740 and I'm in the process of building those teams. 00:17:52.019 --> 00:17:56.180 And I think I'm still I'm very much still missing 00:17:56.180 --> 00:17:58.440 my old team. That's a good reminder that I need 00:17:58.440 --> 00:18:04.660 to build new relationships. It is hard. And it's 00:18:04.660 --> 00:18:06.859 not something that happens overnight. It's not. 00:18:07.240 --> 00:18:12.880 No, it'll take time. but when you get there, 00:18:13.559 --> 00:18:17.400 it's really nice because it is nice to be able 00:18:17.400 --> 00:18:20.460 to just be happy to see some people at work and 00:18:20.460 --> 00:18:23.420 just come in and be like, at least I know somebody's 00:18:23.420 --> 00:18:25.859 there that I can talk to if I have an issue and 00:18:25.859 --> 00:18:30.539 it's really important. Yeah, you're right. That 00:18:30.539 --> 00:18:33.259 really can make all the difference. My team is 00:18:33.259 --> 00:18:36.099 how I survived the last several years of crazy. 00:18:36.299 --> 00:18:42.559 I would not have survived without them. They're 00:18:42.559 --> 00:18:46.099 incredibly important people. Yeah. And you know, 00:18:46.259 --> 00:18:47.619 like some of that's the thing, that's the other 00:18:47.619 --> 00:18:50.220 part too. It is, is you build those relationships 00:18:50.220 --> 00:18:53.079 and then when you leave the school, you keep 00:18:53.079 --> 00:18:55.420 those connections going. I mean, I still have 00:18:55.420 --> 00:19:00.400 a group chat with my team from my last school. 00:19:00.759 --> 00:19:02.900 Like we still have a group chat together where 00:19:02.900 --> 00:19:05.880 we send memes and joke and ask how the kids are 00:19:05.880 --> 00:19:07.680 doing. I'm going to go to lunch with my old team 00:19:07.680 --> 00:19:11.950 after this. Absolutely. Yeah, that's yeah, it's 00:19:11.950 --> 00:19:14.869 true. Yeah, it's yeah, you can maintain those 00:19:14.869 --> 00:19:18.789 connections because Yeah, it's important. We 00:19:18.789 --> 00:19:22.230 need our support system. We're human. Yes. Yes, 00:19:22.369 --> 00:19:28.940 for sure. All right. Well, the next book that 00:19:28.940 --> 00:19:32.660 we're going to talk about today is Lucky Duck. 00:19:33.180 --> 00:19:36.759 It's published by Alfred A. Knapp from 2024 and 00:19:36.759 --> 00:19:40.000 the author and illustrator is Greg Bizzoli. We 00:19:40.000 --> 00:19:43.420 have talked about him a couple of times on this 00:19:43.420 --> 00:19:47.299 podcast before, and I'm not going to lie. I know 00:19:47.299 --> 00:19:50.910 he is. And for the author history, I definitely 00:19:50.910 --> 00:19:53.269 self -plagiarized and just took the notes from 00:19:53.269 --> 00:19:55.369 episode number 15, so you'll just have to hear 00:19:55.369 --> 00:19:58.069 it again. So thanks for hanging with me, y 'all. 00:19:58.470 --> 00:20:01.369 This book was pretty great, though, and it is 00:20:01.369 --> 00:20:07.069 on several lists. This one is a Children's Favorites 00:20:07.069 --> 00:20:10.230 Award from 2025. It's a junior library guild 00:20:10.230 --> 00:20:13.619 selection for 2025. It's on 10 different state 00:20:13.619 --> 00:20:17.119 lists. It got the Alabama Yellow Hammer Picture 00:20:17.119 --> 00:20:20.640 Book Top 10 Award, District of Columbia Capital 00:20:20.640 --> 00:20:25.559 Choices, 2025 Indiana Read Aloud Primary Award, 00:20:26.099 --> 00:20:29.740 Iowa Goldfinch Award, Utah Beehive Award, Texas 00:20:29.740 --> 00:20:35.200 2x2, and Wyoming Buckaroo Book Award for 2025. 00:20:35.839 --> 00:20:37.839 Lots of things, because that's just what Greg 00:20:37.839 --> 00:20:40.779 Fizzoli does. That's just what he produces all 00:20:40.779 --> 00:20:43.180 the time. Just assume it's awesome if it's by 00:20:43.180 --> 00:20:50.740 him. For his author history, from our previous 00:20:50.740 --> 00:20:53.740 notes, but that's okay, Greg Cazole went to school 00:20:53.740 --> 00:20:56.099 in Pennsylvania where he got his undergrad in 00:20:56.099 --> 00:20:58.740 English literature at Millersville University 00:20:58.740 --> 00:21:03.180 after taking two years to volunteer for the AmeriCorps 00:21:03.180 --> 00:21:06.180 Volunteers in Service to America program. He 00:21:06.180 --> 00:21:10.150 got his master's of Fine Arts in Book Arts and 00:21:10.150 --> 00:21:12.910 Printmaking from the University of Arts in Philadelphia. 00:21:13.390 --> 00:21:16.210 He is married to artist, teacher, and author 00:21:16.210 --> 00:21:19.049 Kay Healy. They have two daughters and currently 00:21:19.049 --> 00:21:22.869 live in South Philadelphia, and he has written 00:21:22.869 --> 00:21:27.049 and illustrated over 50 books. His very first 00:21:27.049 --> 00:21:29.250 book was The Watermelon Seed, which did win the 00:21:29.250 --> 00:21:32.470 Geisel in 2013, and he's also won the Geisel 00:21:32.470 --> 00:21:40.210 Honor for Good Night, Al, and the book hog. And 00:21:40.210 --> 00:21:44.109 in this book is about Susan the Duck, who has 00:21:44.109 --> 00:21:47.250 the absolute worst luck. Every day something 00:21:47.250 --> 00:21:49.970 new and unfortunate happens to her. Things like 00:21:49.970 --> 00:21:52.849 her roller skates being two sizes too big, her 00:21:52.849 --> 00:21:55.509 kitchen light bulb burns out, or she'll spill 00:21:55.509 --> 00:21:59.359 her marbles all over her house. Her luck continuously 00:21:59.359 --> 00:22:02.539 turns, however, when a friendly wolf stops by 00:22:02.539 --> 00:22:06.160 to bring her soup ingredients. Eventually, the 00:22:06.160 --> 00:22:08.740 wolf brings everything she needs to make duck 00:22:08.740 --> 00:22:12.640 soup. All that soup needs is the one last ingredient. 00:22:13.880 --> 00:22:17.579 Luckily for her, though, all of the items from 00:22:17.579 --> 00:22:20.920 her string of rotten luck created a chain reaction 00:22:20.920 --> 00:22:23.740 that results in the wolf. flying out of the house 00:22:23.740 --> 00:22:28.380 in roller skates and into a hornet's nest outside. 00:22:30.480 --> 00:22:33.319 I rather love this book. I think, I don't think 00:22:33.319 --> 00:22:36.140 I've read a book that's either written or illustrated 00:22:36.140 --> 00:22:38.779 by Fizzoli that I don't like. Now that I think 00:22:38.779 --> 00:22:41.019 about it. I think I would give this one another 00:22:41.019 --> 00:22:46.819 five out of five. It was just, it's got that 00:22:46.819 --> 00:22:50.880 clever humor of his that's like very simple for 00:22:50.880 --> 00:22:55.309 kids. and very clear cut and everything, but 00:22:55.309 --> 00:22:58.549 then it's also got things that are kind of embedded 00:22:58.549 --> 00:23:03.990 for adults that like, I'm not sure that a pre 00:23:03.990 --> 00:23:07.890 -K kid would notice the first time around unless 00:23:07.890 --> 00:23:11.309 a teacher pointed it out to them, that all of 00:23:11.309 --> 00:23:16.630 the things from Susan the Duck's bad luck were 00:23:16.630 --> 00:23:20.869 actually what contributed to her good luck in, 00:23:20.869 --> 00:23:22.589 you know, running the wolf out of the house. 00:23:22.710 --> 00:23:25.930 I think they might notice a couple of things. 00:23:26.609 --> 00:23:28.670 Like maybe they would notice like the marbles 00:23:28.670 --> 00:23:30.970 on the floor or something, or the ladder that's 00:23:30.970 --> 00:23:33.250 up in the hallway, you know, tripping on things 00:23:33.250 --> 00:23:35.970 like that, that maybe were from earlier in the 00:23:35.970 --> 00:23:38.329 book. But I think for the most part, like a kid 00:23:38.329 --> 00:23:40.210 would, it would need to be pointed out to the 00:23:40.210 --> 00:23:42.809 kid. I think for, I think that's more of an adult 00:23:42.809 --> 00:23:46.450 thing or an older, like kindergarten, first grade, 00:23:46.529 --> 00:23:49.279 I think would even pick up on it. three or four 00:23:49.279 --> 00:23:52.160 year old reading the book, I'm not sure. I think 00:23:52.160 --> 00:23:54.079 that would it would need to be pointed out. That's 00:23:54.079 --> 00:23:55.980 okay, because that's part of like the adult humor 00:23:55.980 --> 00:23:59.539 where the adults noticing all these things that 00:23:59.539 --> 00:24:01.039 happened previously and kind of putting that 00:24:01.039 --> 00:24:06.039 together for the kid. It's got that classic, 00:24:06.039 --> 00:24:08.720 you know, Pizzoli illustration style with the 00:24:08.720 --> 00:24:12.279 big bold colors, lots of bold lines makes it 00:24:12.279 --> 00:24:16.599 just really easy for the kids to see everything 00:24:16.599 --> 00:24:19.720 on the page that they're trying to point out. 00:24:20.119 --> 00:24:22.859 And then of course in the background on the pages 00:24:22.859 --> 00:24:25.000 you've got like there are certain things like 00:24:25.000 --> 00:24:27.319 there's a framed watermelon in the background 00:24:27.319 --> 00:24:30.500 and such that like fans of Pizzoli will be able 00:24:30.500 --> 00:24:34.519 to see references to his other books in there. 00:24:34.859 --> 00:24:37.480 I don't know. I just love it. All of his books 00:24:37.480 --> 00:24:41.480 are pretty great. Yeah. I absolutely agree. This 00:24:41.480 --> 00:24:44.559 is an amazing story. I really enjoyed it. And 00:24:44.559 --> 00:24:47.470 I do think you're right. I think certain parts 00:24:47.470 --> 00:24:50.910 of the chain reaction kind of would be things 00:24:50.910 --> 00:24:53.269 that the kids would easily notice, like yeah, 00:24:53.849 --> 00:24:56.950 the marbles kind of thing. But like then I think 00:24:56.950 --> 00:24:59.750 some of it's more subtle. Like the fact that 00:24:59.750 --> 00:25:02.569 her roller skates were two sizes too big, but 00:25:02.569 --> 00:25:05.789 they fit that will perfectly kind of fit, you 00:25:05.789 --> 00:25:07.930 know, like little things like that I think would 00:25:07.930 --> 00:25:10.509 be more subtle. But like you said, it's the part 00:25:10.509 --> 00:25:13.130 of that adult humor that can definitely be explained. 00:25:13.480 --> 00:25:15.680 but wouldn't be necessarily caught right away 00:25:15.680 --> 00:25:18.759 by the students, which I like that because I 00:25:18.759 --> 00:25:22.259 think that allows for the reader to grow as a 00:25:22.259 --> 00:25:23.880 reader, too, because they're not going to necessarily 00:25:23.880 --> 00:25:28.279 see it all. And so as the kid grows up and continues 00:25:28.279 --> 00:25:30.339 to read it, they're going to pick up more things 00:25:30.339 --> 00:25:33.359 on their own. Or as the adult, you can step in 00:25:33.359 --> 00:25:38.000 and point it out. Either way, I think that that's 00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:40.640 a really cool aspect of a lot of his books is 00:25:40.640 --> 00:25:43.509 that that adult humor is something that as the 00:25:43.509 --> 00:25:45.589 kid grows, they're gonna notice more and be able 00:25:45.589 --> 00:25:49.630 to enjoy the book for even longer that way. Yeah, 00:25:49.630 --> 00:25:53.109 I love this book. It was super fun. I look forward 00:25:53.109 --> 00:25:56.230 to sharing it this year with my students. Yeah, 00:25:56.549 --> 00:25:59.829 and I think because it is more subtle, things 00:25:59.829 --> 00:26:03.170 like that are more subtle in there. Honestly, 00:26:03.410 --> 00:26:05.509 I think it would even work with older kids, even 00:26:05.509 --> 00:26:08.450 though it is a very simple book with simple illustrations 00:26:08.450 --> 00:26:11.220 and simple words and all the things. I think 00:26:11.220 --> 00:26:12.859 there are little things like that that would 00:26:12.859 --> 00:26:15.920 make it kind of fun still for older kids to read 00:26:15.920 --> 00:26:18.420 as well. So this might actually be a fun one 00:26:18.420 --> 00:26:21.539 to like, for like if you're a classroom teacher 00:26:21.539 --> 00:26:24.000 or something, like pairing up kids, like if you 00:26:24.000 --> 00:26:26.000 have reading buddies or something with older 00:26:26.000 --> 00:26:28.079 kids reading to younger kids, this might be a 00:26:28.079 --> 00:26:31.779 fun one to do where they can still point out 00:26:31.779 --> 00:26:33.640 all the things. It's simple enough that an older 00:26:33.640 --> 00:26:36.140 kid could read it with no problem and not be 00:26:36.140 --> 00:26:40.319 self -conscious or anything. And like every older 00:26:40.319 --> 00:26:44.200 kid could be able could read it, you know With 00:26:44.200 --> 00:26:47.319 the younger ones, it's it's a good one Well, 00:26:47.400 --> 00:26:50.019 and I definitely agree. I think it would be cool 00:26:50.019 --> 00:26:52.039 with older kids and if you're doing it with older 00:26:52.039 --> 00:26:55.680 kids This would kind of be a cool book to read 00:26:55.680 --> 00:26:59.400 and then introduce the concept of like the Rube 00:26:59.400 --> 00:27:02.839 Goldberg machines were like That's what I was 00:27:02.839 --> 00:27:06.130 gonna say for the makerspace activity like I 00:27:06.130 --> 00:27:07.670 don't think I even wrote that down. You just 00:27:07.670 --> 00:27:10.630 read my mind. So like this would be a cool book 00:27:10.630 --> 00:27:13.069 to do that with. And so, yeah, absolutely. Yeah. 00:27:14.329 --> 00:27:18.769 Well, now that you say that, whoops, I agree. 00:27:21.130 --> 00:27:23.529 That was actually what I was thinking is with 00:27:23.529 --> 00:27:27.650 this one. If I was in the library, if I was in 00:27:27.650 --> 00:27:29.349 the library and I did have reading buddies, I 00:27:29.349 --> 00:27:32.049 think I would have them read this one together. 00:27:32.150 --> 00:27:35.740 And then if I was able to. I know that might, 00:27:36.200 --> 00:27:37.779 time might not allow for that and scheduling 00:27:37.779 --> 00:27:40.220 might not allow for it, but it would be fun. 00:27:40.339 --> 00:27:43.960 Or maybe you could do like an after school STEM 00:27:43.960 --> 00:27:48.640 literacy night kind of a thing. Yeah. Any kind 00:27:48.640 --> 00:27:50.819 of curriculum night where you could like pair 00:27:50.819 --> 00:27:53.940 the older kids with the younger kids in some 00:27:53.940 --> 00:27:57.380 way. And then like, Like you said, this would 00:27:57.380 --> 00:27:59.799 be a great introduction to like a group Goldberg 00:27:59.799 --> 00:28:02.480 machine. And if you don't have time for that, 00:28:02.500 --> 00:28:04.180 which I'm not sure that I would have time for 00:28:04.180 --> 00:28:06.259 that in my library with just the way schedules 00:28:06.259 --> 00:28:09.720 are just doing a fun little board game kind of 00:28:09.720 --> 00:28:12.940 thing, like mousetrap with pre -K would be a 00:28:12.940 --> 00:28:15.740 fun way to kind of introduce that. And then you're 00:28:15.740 --> 00:28:18.960 not having to create a whole lot on your own, 00:28:19.359 --> 00:28:21.839 but you're instead playing a cooperative game 00:28:21.839 --> 00:28:24.819 together like that, where you can. introduce 00:28:24.819 --> 00:28:27.839 that concept and it still kind of ties in all 00:28:27.839 --> 00:28:31.000 the things from the book. Yeah. You could even 00:28:31.000 --> 00:28:33.500 play mouse trap and just like get a little wolf 00:28:33.500 --> 00:28:39.119 instead of a mouse. Yeah. Trap the wolf. Yeah. 00:28:40.700 --> 00:28:43.240 Definitely. I love this book and I think that 00:28:43.240 --> 00:28:44.799 activity would be really fun. It's a good one. 00:28:45.720 --> 00:28:47.599 I don't know. That's just what Pizzoli does. 00:28:47.619 --> 00:28:50.859 He does good stuff. He does. I don't know. Yeah. 00:28:51.339 --> 00:28:54.380 All right. Well, thank all of you for joining 00:28:54.380 --> 00:28:58.380 us today on this episode of Librarians of Littles, 00:28:58.859 --> 00:29:01.839 and we hope you found some fresh ideas for inspiring 00:29:01.839 --> 00:29:04.220 young readers. Please be sure to subscribe and 00:29:04.220 --> 00:29:07.099 connect with us on social media. Happy reading. 00:29:09.640 --> 00:29:12.480 Thank you for listening to this episode of Librarians 00:29:12.480 --> 00:29:15.380 of Littles. We hope that you've enjoyed it. Check 00:29:15.380 --> 00:29:19.750 back each Wednesday for a new episode. Librarians 00:29:19.750 --> 00:29:22.529 of Littles is a podcast produced and hosted by 00:29:22.529 --> 00:29:26.190 Patrick Adams and Caroline Legier. Editor, Patrick 00:29:26.190 --> 00:29:29.970 Adams. Our theme song is performed by JD Adams. 00:29:30.410 --> 00:29:33.049 You can follow us on Instagram at Librarians 00:29:33.049 --> 00:29:38.190 of Littles. You can follow us on BlueSky at littleslibrarian 00:29:38.190 --> 00:29:42.789 .bsky .social. And you can send us your emails 00:29:42.789 --> 00:29:47.190 at librarianoflittlespodatgmail .com.