WEBVTT 00:00:20.710 --> 00:00:24.550 Hello, I'm Patrick Adams. And I'm Caroline Legere. 00:00:24.890 --> 00:00:28.210 And this is Librarians of Littles, a podcast 00:00:28.210 --> 00:00:32.590 where we discuss books, give makerspace ideas, 00:00:32.689 --> 00:00:37.009 and give tips and tricks for working with our 00:00:37.009 --> 00:00:40.490 youngest readers in the libraries. This week, 00:00:40.869 --> 00:00:44.189 as this episode comes out in the middle of October, 00:00:44.770 --> 00:00:47.829 some of you will already be planning for Veterans 00:00:47.829 --> 00:00:50.770 Day, and so we decided we would pick some Veterans 00:00:50.770 --> 00:00:55.759 Day and Veterans -themed books. to share so that 00:00:55.759 --> 00:00:59.560 you can prepare the library for all of the fun 00:00:59.560 --> 00:01:01.960 events that I'm sure will be taking place in 00:01:01.960 --> 00:01:07.140 November. So our first book that we will be sharing 00:01:07.140 --> 00:01:12.079 is titled Rolling Thunder. It is written by Kate 00:01:12.079 --> 00:01:15.540 Messner and illustrated by Greg Ruth. It was 00:01:15.540 --> 00:01:18.680 published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of 00:01:18.680 --> 00:01:24.700 Scholastic Inc. in 2017. It did win two awards, 00:01:25.060 --> 00:01:27.060 the first being the Teacher's Favorite Award 00:01:27.060 --> 00:01:30.640 of 2018, and the second being the Notable Social 00:01:30.640 --> 00:01:34.939 Studies Trade Books for Young People for 2018. 00:01:35.379 --> 00:01:39.239 And then it was also on two state lists, the 00:01:39.239 --> 00:01:43.060 Keystone to Reading Book Award for the 2018 -2019 00:01:43.060 --> 00:01:46.000 primary list, which is from Pennsylvania, and 00:01:46.000 --> 00:01:50.599 the Beehive Award 2019 Poetry for Grades K through 00:01:50.599 --> 00:01:57.170 9. which is from Utah. Our author is Kate Messner. 00:01:57.310 --> 00:02:00.810 She is curious and writes books to make kids 00:02:00.810 --> 00:02:04.909 wonder. Her books are often selected for the 00:02:04.909 --> 00:02:07.730 One School, One Book or One School, One Author 00:02:07.730 --> 00:02:11.280 programs. And before becoming a full -time author, 00:02:11.560 --> 00:02:15.400 Kate was a TV news reporter and an educator teaching 00:02:15.400 --> 00:02:19.580 middle school for 15 years. And just based on 00:02:19.580 --> 00:02:22.300 that, we can tell she's fearless because dealing 00:02:22.300 --> 00:02:26.919 with middle school kids for 15 years is a challenge 00:02:26.919 --> 00:02:31.039 in itself. It sure is. It takes a special kind 00:02:31.039 --> 00:02:35.219 of person to be able to do that. Uh -huh. Good 00:02:35.219 --> 00:02:39.400 for her. Yeah. Some of her other books include 00:02:39.400 --> 00:02:42.960 Over and Under the Snow, Over and Under the Pond, 00:02:43.180 --> 00:02:46.340 Over and Under the Wetlands, Over and Under the 00:02:46.340 --> 00:02:49.659 Waves, Over and Under the Canyon, and Over and 00:02:49.659 --> 00:02:52.039 Under the Coral Reef, all of which were illustrated 00:02:52.039 --> 00:02:55.439 by Christopher Silas Neal. She's also written 00:02:55.439 --> 00:02:59.039 Dr. Fauci, How a Boy from Brooklyn Became America's 00:02:59.039 --> 00:03:03.259 Doctor, illustrated by Alexandra Bai. The Brilliant 00:03:03.259 --> 00:03:06.139 Deep Rebuilding the World's Coral Reef, illustrated 00:03:06.139 --> 00:03:09.680 by Matthew Forsyth. How to Write a Story and 00:03:09.680 --> 00:03:12.639 How to Read a Story, both illustrated by Mark 00:03:12.639 --> 00:03:15.960 Siegel. Sea Monster's First Day, illustrated 00:03:15.960 --> 00:03:19.780 by Andy Rash. Sloth Wasn't Sleepy, illustrated 00:03:19.780 --> 00:03:22.800 by Valentina Toro. The Scariest Kitten in the 00:03:22.800 --> 00:03:26.039 World, illustrated by Mackenzie Haley. She also 00:03:26.039 --> 00:03:28.879 has a bunch of chapter books and series including 00:03:28.879 --> 00:03:32.919 History Smashers, Ranger in Time, Fergus and 00:03:32.919 --> 00:03:37.879 Zeke, Wildlife Rescue, and Marty Maguire, and 00:03:37.879 --> 00:03:40.699 then some other chapter books including Manhunt, 00:03:40.900 --> 00:03:43.120 All the Answers, Hide and Seek, and many, many 00:03:43.120 --> 00:03:46.180 more. She's written like over 80 books and so 00:03:46.180 --> 00:03:50.939 she's very prolific. I do love her books, though. 00:03:51.060 --> 00:03:53.840 They're always... I didn't know that she had 00:03:53.840 --> 00:03:56.620 like series books like that. I didn't know about 00:03:56.620 --> 00:04:00.159 those, but like those... over and under all the 00:04:00.159 --> 00:04:02.840 Things books. I absolutely love all those for 00:04:02.840 --> 00:04:05.099 pre -k. They're kind of amazing. They're some 00:04:05.099 --> 00:04:08.180 of my favorites, really. Yeah, the History Smasher 00:04:08.180 --> 00:04:11.180 books are really cool. A lot of my kids enjoy 00:04:11.180 --> 00:04:14.360 those, and then Ranger in Time is an excellent 00:04:14.360 --> 00:04:16.980 series. It's about a dog that time travels and 00:04:16.980 --> 00:04:19.019 stuff, and so a lot of my kids enjoy that series, 00:04:19.060 --> 00:04:22.399 too. Oh, that's fun! Yeah, so yeah, both of those 00:04:22.399 --> 00:04:26.899 series, my kids love those. I bet I have those 00:04:26.899 --> 00:04:29.360 in my library now, and I didn't know it. I'm 00:04:29.360 --> 00:04:33.339 going to go look for those tomorrow. Yeah. The 00:04:33.339 --> 00:04:37.639 illustrator is Greg Ruth, and he is the New York 00:04:37.639 --> 00:04:41.600 Times bestselling author and has written since 00:04:41.600 --> 00:04:45.519 1993. He has published work through the New York 00:04:45.519 --> 00:04:50.620 Times, The Criterion Collection, NEON, A24, Lionsgate, 00:04:50.980 --> 00:04:55.639 DC Comics, Fantagraphics books. Caliber Comics, 00:04:55.980 --> 00:05:00.279 Dark Horse, HarperCollins, I'm Still Going, Macmillan, 00:05:00.660 --> 00:05:04.839 Hyperion, Simon Schuster, Random House, Slate, 00:05:05.100 --> 00:05:09.639 CNN, Penguin, and Tor. He has created two music 00:05:09.639 --> 00:05:12.800 videos for Prince and Rob Thomas and has worked 00:05:12.800 --> 00:05:16.360 on nearly a dozen children's books. That's a 00:05:16.360 --> 00:05:22.019 lot. Yeah. Wow. Okay. Some of his other books 00:05:22.019 --> 00:05:27.240 are... City of Orphans by, is that A -V, Avi? 00:05:27.620 --> 00:05:30.620 I think it's Avi. Avi? I always pronounce it 00:05:30.620 --> 00:05:34.500 Avi. Let's go with Avi. I like it. Red Kite, 00:05:34.519 --> 00:05:39.660 Blue Kite by G. Lee Jiang, The Haunting of Charles 00:05:39.660 --> 00:05:45.180 Dickens by Lewis Busby, The Pirate's Guide to 00:05:45.180 --> 00:05:49.980 First Grade by James Preller, Our Enduring Spirit, 00:05:50.480 --> 00:05:53.740 President Barack Obama's First Words to America 00:05:53.740 --> 00:05:58.540 by Barack Obama and Coming Home and the Lost 00:05:58.540 --> 00:06:01.639 Boy were both written and illustrated by Greg 00:06:01.639 --> 00:06:07.319 Ruth. And like I definitely suggest that everybody 00:06:07.319 --> 00:06:09.699 goes and checks out his website because he's 00:06:09.699 --> 00:06:12.660 got like a lot of his artwork and stuff and it's 00:06:12.660 --> 00:06:17.860 just amazing like his talent is incredible that 00:06:17.860 --> 00:06:22.100 the imagery that he can he can use those different 00:06:22.100 --> 00:06:26.639 mediums to make is just amazing. He's just a 00:06:26.639 --> 00:06:29.360 really talented artist, and it's just awesome 00:06:29.360 --> 00:06:32.680 to see what he's capable of. So he's got a lot 00:06:32.680 --> 00:06:35.019 of that on display on his website. It's definitely 00:06:35.019 --> 00:06:38.980 worth checking out. That's very cool. And then 00:06:38.980 --> 00:06:42.819 as far as our book summary, this story is of 00:06:42.819 --> 00:06:44.920 a boy who travels across the country to join 00:06:44.920 --> 00:06:48.120 his father in a motorcycle ride through Washington 00:06:48.120 --> 00:06:51.620 DC as part of a larger group. The boy and his 00:06:51.620 --> 00:06:54.819 grandfather participate in the Rolling Thunder 00:06:54.819 --> 00:06:57.939 Ride for Freedom on Memorial Day to remember 00:06:57.939 --> 00:07:01.939 veterans. And the Rolling Thunder Ride for Freedom 00:07:01.939 --> 00:07:06.540 is a motorcycle caravan that takes place every 00:07:06.540 --> 00:07:10.660 year on Memorial Day to remember those veterans 00:07:10.660 --> 00:07:15.680 that have taken part in keeping our country safe 00:07:15.680 --> 00:07:19.660 and remembering those that haven't made it back. 00:07:21.000 --> 00:07:24.160 My thoughts on this is that this first off, it's 00:07:24.160 --> 00:07:28.180 a story that's in verse. And so I love that we 00:07:28.180 --> 00:07:31.199 get to add those rhyme schemes in, I think that's 00:07:31.199 --> 00:07:33.060 always something that keeps students attention. 00:07:33.620 --> 00:07:37.839 And the illustrations are just breathtaking. 00:07:38.300 --> 00:07:42.939 It's just so wonderful. And I just love the style 00:07:42.939 --> 00:07:46.860 of the artwork. And I think it tells a very beautiful 00:07:46.860 --> 00:07:48.819 story about remembering those that have served 00:07:48.819 --> 00:07:53.339 for our country. And so I think that it will 00:07:53.339 --> 00:07:55.600 definitely keep the students attention. Being 00:07:55.600 --> 00:07:58.399 that it's in verse, there's not like a ton of 00:07:58.399 --> 00:08:01.220 text on any given page. And so it allows for 00:08:01.220 --> 00:08:03.800 plenty of space for the the illustrations to 00:08:03.800 --> 00:08:07.449 kind of take the lead. And I think that this 00:08:07.449 --> 00:08:10.990 will definitely keep our students engaged and 00:08:10.990 --> 00:08:13.050 interested for the entire length of the story. 00:08:13.550 --> 00:08:17.250 There's also opportunities to include some new 00:08:17.250 --> 00:08:21.250 vocabulary because they do mention POWs and MIA 00:08:21.250 --> 00:08:24.649 and also the Vietnam Memorial, all those kind 00:08:24.649 --> 00:08:27.410 of things. So like in it, you can definitely 00:08:27.410 --> 00:08:29.870 have some conversations about some of the other. 00:08:30.269 --> 00:08:32.070 things that are mentioned throughout the story. 00:08:32.429 --> 00:08:35.450 And I think this is just a great story where 00:08:35.450 --> 00:08:38.389 a lot of kids can, can be able to kind of be 00:08:38.389 --> 00:08:40.690 like, Oh yeah, like my grandfather has told me 00:08:40.690 --> 00:08:43.409 about this or my grandfather did that. And so 00:08:43.409 --> 00:08:46.470 they can make some real world connections with 00:08:46.470 --> 00:08:49.789 that while also enjoying a beautiful story with 00:08:49.789 --> 00:08:52.509 wonderful illustrations. So I definitely give 00:08:52.509 --> 00:08:55.690 this one a five out of five. I agree. This one 00:08:55.690 --> 00:08:59.590 was Absolutely wonderful. This is definitely 00:08:59.590 --> 00:09:02.750 a five out of five for me, too. I loved all that 00:09:02.750 --> 00:09:05.490 rhyming. Even if the kids don't really understand 00:09:05.490 --> 00:09:08.669 all of the vocabulary in there and really understand 00:09:08.669 --> 00:09:12.350 what's happening, that rhyme scheme will kind 00:09:12.350 --> 00:09:14.429 of draw them in and keep their attention just 00:09:14.429 --> 00:09:18.669 because of the rhythm of it is so lovely. And 00:09:18.669 --> 00:09:21.090 just those illustrations really are very eye 00:09:21.090 --> 00:09:24.820 catching, very engaging. And this can be a really 00:09:24.820 --> 00:09:29.000 really difficult topic to cover with pre -k Just 00:09:29.000 --> 00:09:32.240 because it's not something that they experience 00:09:32.240 --> 00:09:35.700 in their everyday lives They that's not you know, 00:09:35.940 --> 00:09:38.240 they may or may not have veterans in their family. 00:09:38.259 --> 00:09:41.039 They may or may not have members of the military 00:09:41.039 --> 00:09:45.340 that they can connect with so they May or may 00:09:45.340 --> 00:09:47.759 not really understand all this and that's not 00:09:48.840 --> 00:09:51.139 if they can't see it and touch it and feel it 00:09:51.139 --> 00:09:54.500 it's it's just typically a hard concept and this 00:09:54.500 --> 00:09:57.779 is one of those that's just a little bit harder 00:09:57.779 --> 00:10:00.940 so this one kind of it just it's simple enough 00:10:00.940 --> 00:10:03.679 that it really um makes it more accessible for 00:10:03.679 --> 00:10:06.379 our pre -k kids so i loved it it was a great 00:10:06.379 --> 00:10:12.080 choice so as far as a makerspace activity i so 00:10:12.080 --> 00:10:14.080 i was trying to figure out what I think would 00:10:14.080 --> 00:10:16.120 be the best thing to do with this activity. And 00:10:16.120 --> 00:10:20.480 I really like the idea of having the kids kind 00:10:20.480 --> 00:10:23.799 of like my first gut instinct was to have the 00:10:23.799 --> 00:10:26.639 kids kind of draw pictures or make little cards 00:10:26.639 --> 00:10:30.299 that we could send over to like the VA or something 00:10:30.299 --> 00:10:35.519 like that. But I always am terrified to do that 00:10:35.519 --> 00:10:40.139 with younger students because what tends to happen 00:10:40.139 --> 00:10:42.179 and I don't know if it's that I don't get maybe 00:10:42.179 --> 00:10:45.409 I just need to work on Clarifying the expectation 00:10:45.409 --> 00:10:48.529 that might be on me but a lot of times what happens 00:10:48.529 --> 00:10:51.830 is you these kids hear about the military they 00:10:51.830 --> 00:10:54.129 hear about how these people have done things 00:10:54.129 --> 00:10:58.210 for our country and Occasionally like the concept 00:10:58.210 --> 00:11:00.309 of wars get brought up and so and that what ends 00:11:00.309 --> 00:11:02.610 up happen is you get these pictures of people 00:11:02.610 --> 00:11:04.590 like fighting in wars and stuff like that, which 00:11:04.590 --> 00:11:10.350 I While Understanding that it's coming from a 00:11:10.350 --> 00:11:13.210 four or five year old student it can be taken 00:11:13.210 --> 00:11:15.110 with a grain of salt. It's also not something 00:11:15.110 --> 00:11:17.850 that we necessarily, it's always kind of like 00:11:17.850 --> 00:11:22.470 a sensitive topic that you don't want to open 00:11:22.470 --> 00:11:27.210 up any, I don't want to say wounds, but any psychological 00:11:27.210 --> 00:11:30.610 things that may come up with those kinds of images. 00:11:31.070 --> 00:11:34.190 So I'm always fearful of just being like, make 00:11:34.190 --> 00:11:37.090 a card to say thank you to our veterans kind 00:11:37.090 --> 00:11:41.190 of thing. So I think what I would do for this 00:11:41.190 --> 00:11:46.029 is, Since the stories about the child as participating 00:11:46.029 --> 00:11:49.970 in the motorcycle parade convoy I would probably 00:11:49.970 --> 00:11:52.090 have the Legos out and I would have the kids 00:11:52.090 --> 00:11:54.149 build their own motorcycles, but while they're 00:11:54.149 --> 00:11:58.610 building I Would be I would definitely make Like 00:11:58.610 --> 00:12:00.730 out of poster board and that's what I think I'm 00:12:00.730 --> 00:12:02.330 gonna do this year is we're gonna make like a 00:12:02.330 --> 00:12:05.029 I'm gonna take a poster and make a giant card 00:12:05.029 --> 00:12:12.240 that has like a thank you and have some pictures 00:12:12.240 --> 00:12:15.580 of different soldiers and have the kids color 00:12:15.580 --> 00:12:18.399 a little soldier that we can put into the giant 00:12:18.399 --> 00:12:21.720 card that we can then send to the VA. And by 00:12:21.720 --> 00:12:24.740 giving them a defined space of what to color 00:12:24.740 --> 00:12:29.220 and what to do, we can avoid some of the other 00:12:29.220 --> 00:12:31.519 issues that might arise if they were just told, 00:12:32.000 --> 00:12:35.769 draw a picture for this kind of thing. That way 00:12:35.769 --> 00:12:38.490 we can still send over a card to like our local 00:12:38.490 --> 00:12:43.210 VA or something like that. But also give the 00:12:43.210 --> 00:12:47.649 kids something physical to do when it's not their 00:12:47.649 --> 00:12:50.570 turn to be working on the card. And so give them 00:12:50.570 --> 00:12:53.309 that those other activities to do like building 00:12:53.309 --> 00:12:56.529 a motorcycle out of Legos so that they can make 00:12:56.529 --> 00:12:58.909 that connection with the story at the same time. 00:13:00.389 --> 00:13:02.789 Yeah, I like that. I think that you're right 00:13:02.789 --> 00:13:05.740 a lot of the time when you just Just blanket 00:13:05.740 --> 00:13:10.000 trying to explain With the thank you notes like 00:13:10.000 --> 00:13:11.940 we've I've tried to do that as well and that 00:13:11.940 --> 00:13:14.500 that does tend to happen I think we did have 00:13:14.500 --> 00:13:19.879 a teacher Successfully do individual notes, but 00:13:19.879 --> 00:13:23.220 she had to do it a little bit differently where 00:13:23.220 --> 00:13:27.549 she like Explained about veterans day and such 00:13:27.549 --> 00:13:29.750 and she did do it in in conjunction with veterans 00:13:29.750 --> 00:13:31.470 day and she explained about veterans day and 00:13:31.470 --> 00:13:34.309 did all that but then she had to do like a whole 00:13:34.309 --> 00:13:38.309 nother day or two with like just writing a thank 00:13:38.309 --> 00:13:41.330 you note and that was the angle she had to go 00:13:41.330 --> 00:13:44.789 at was like just say thank you you're just saying 00:13:44.789 --> 00:13:46.730 thank you with something nice you would like 00:13:46.730 --> 00:13:50.470 to get it's just thank you and nothing else and 00:13:50.470 --> 00:13:52.730 then that she was able to do it that way. But 00:13:52.730 --> 00:13:57.789 I think it goes back to like the accessibility 00:13:57.789 --> 00:14:01.690 of the concept of the veteran. It's just not 00:14:01.690 --> 00:14:03.409 a very accessible concept for our kids because 00:14:03.409 --> 00:14:07.529 they don't understand like they're not quite 00:14:07.529 --> 00:14:10.769 there. It's a good thing to talk about. I still 00:14:10.769 --> 00:14:13.409 think we should talk about it. And it's important 00:14:13.409 --> 00:14:16.149 to introduce, but it's just it's an abstract 00:14:16.149 --> 00:14:18.070 concept. It's not in front of them. So it's just 00:14:18.070 --> 00:14:21.529 hard. It's not easily accessible for them. So 00:14:21.529 --> 00:14:23.629 I think that's why that can be hard. But I love 00:14:23.629 --> 00:14:26.330 that, you know, the giant card with like having 00:14:26.330 --> 00:14:28.889 a defined space and everything. That's a great 00:14:28.889 --> 00:14:34.750 way to make that part more concrete and more 00:14:34.750 --> 00:14:38.009 easier for them to understand. I like that a 00:14:38.009 --> 00:14:41.409 lot. I do. I think that's a great idea. So I 00:14:41.409 --> 00:14:42.929 think that's what I'm going to do this year with 00:14:42.929 --> 00:14:46.190 my pre -K students because yeah, and I get like, 00:14:46.470 --> 00:14:48.970 I like the idea of being able to take the time 00:14:48.970 --> 00:14:50.909 to come at it at the angle of we're just saying 00:14:50.909 --> 00:14:53.269 thank you. I think the problem is, is that in 00:14:53.269 --> 00:14:57.009 the library setting, we don't have enough time 00:14:57.009 --> 00:15:00.309 to do that. And that makes a lot of sense though, 00:15:00.409 --> 00:15:02.509 that that would work. And I can see how that 00:15:02.509 --> 00:15:05.090 would definitely work. It's just we're with our 00:15:05.090 --> 00:15:08.250 time constraints. It worked in a classroom. I 00:15:08.250 --> 00:15:10.330 don't think it would work in the library. For 00:15:10.330 --> 00:15:12.809 sure. Yeah. And so I think that's it. Yeah. But 00:15:12.809 --> 00:15:17.350 I do like that idea too. And maybe I can, maybe 00:15:17.350 --> 00:15:22.909 we can come up with a way to have some of the, 00:15:22.909 --> 00:15:26.070 like the kindergarten teachers work on that with 00:15:26.070 --> 00:15:29.990 those students. So they can make their own cards 00:15:29.990 --> 00:15:32.269 and then I can take those along with the pre 00:15:32.269 --> 00:15:36.379 -k cards to, to drop off. Maybe we can do something 00:15:36.379 --> 00:15:38.240 like that with the where they have a little bit 00:15:38.240 --> 00:15:40.320 more time. They can have some of that time in 00:15:40.320 --> 00:15:44.080 the classroom to work on that angle of it. I 00:15:44.080 --> 00:15:47.259 like that idea. Yeah, yeah, because yeah, it 00:15:47.259 --> 00:15:49.779 was just with the restraints that we have for 00:15:49.779 --> 00:15:53.700 time and and the ability to work one on one with 00:15:53.700 --> 00:15:56.139 the students. It just there's it doesn't work 00:15:56.139 --> 00:15:58.820 as well in the library setting, but it is such 00:15:58.820 --> 00:16:02.480 an important thing. And I do think that by starting 00:16:02.480 --> 00:16:07.080 early. with the introduction, as the students 00:16:07.080 --> 00:16:09.799 mature and get older, they've got a better foundation 00:16:09.799 --> 00:16:12.500 for for understanding it for sure. And so it's 00:16:12.500 --> 00:16:14.700 why it's so important to start introducing it 00:16:14.700 --> 00:16:17.340 early, even if it is a more challenging concept. 00:16:17.399 --> 00:16:20.580 I do. Yeah, I do agree that we should start early. 00:16:21.059 --> 00:16:23.799 It's just a hard one. It's just a hard concept 00:16:23.799 --> 00:16:26.679 for them. They'll get there, though. They will. 00:16:28.519 --> 00:16:32.799 All right, so that leads us to our Library of 00:16:32.799 --> 00:16:36.440 Littles management tip. Our management tip this 00:16:36.440 --> 00:16:42.080 week is to check out a movie. The tip is to look 00:16:42.080 --> 00:16:47.059 up the movie, The Librarian's Film. The website 00:16:47.059 --> 00:16:56.500 is It is a film by director Kim A. Snyder. And 00:16:56.500 --> 00:16:59.440 this is a movie that's near and dear to our heart 00:16:59.440 --> 00:17:02.720 because we know some of the people that were 00:17:02.720 --> 00:17:06.539 involved in the making of the film. The description 00:17:06.539 --> 00:17:12.099 for the film goes like this. In Texas, the Kraus 00:17:12.099 --> 00:17:17.740 List targets 850 books focused on race and LGBTQIA 00:17:17.740 --> 00:17:20.920 plus stories, triggering sweeping book bans across 00:17:20.920 --> 00:17:25.000 the US at an unprecedented rate. As tensions 00:17:25.000 --> 00:17:28.359 escalate, librarians connect the dots from heated 00:17:28.359 --> 00:17:31.839 school and library board meetings nationwide 00:17:31.839 --> 00:17:36.839 to lay bare the underpinnings of extremism fueling 00:17:36.839 --> 00:17:40.930 the censorship efforts. Despite facing harassment, 00:17:41.670 --> 00:17:44.849 threats and laws aimed at criminalizing their 00:17:44.849 --> 00:17:47.890 work. The librarians rallying cry for freedom 00:17:47.890 --> 00:17:52.450 to read is a chilling cautionary tale. And so 00:17:52.450 --> 00:17:57.470 this is a book based on all of those. And I say 00:17:57.470 --> 00:18:03.170 the the past book bannings that started in about 00:18:03.170 --> 00:18:08.369 2020 and a little bit before then. And it's an 00:18:08.369 --> 00:18:11.910 interesting film that highlights what librarians 00:18:11.910 --> 00:18:14.650 have been dealing with for the last few years 00:18:14.650 --> 00:18:17.849 and what we're still dealing with and the repercussions 00:18:17.849 --> 00:18:21.089 of those choices and decisions that have been 00:18:21.089 --> 00:18:25.990 made over the last few years. And it shows librarians 00:18:25.990 --> 00:18:29.109 from across the country. There's a definite focus 00:18:29.109 --> 00:18:32.089 on some of the librarians from Texas, but there 00:18:32.089 --> 00:18:35.509 are librarians in other cities and states that 00:18:35.509 --> 00:18:38.930 had to deal with these issues. And so this is 00:18:38.930 --> 00:18:45.809 a very impactful film that just had its official 00:18:45.809 --> 00:18:48.289 premiere in New York within the last couple of 00:18:48.289 --> 00:18:52.069 weeks. They are doing tours around the country. 00:18:52.460 --> 00:18:55.220 as the film is being released. So if you check 00:18:55.220 --> 00:18:59.019 out that website, you might be able to find a 00:18:59.019 --> 00:19:03.779 showing near you. And it's also there, I know 00:19:03.779 --> 00:19:07.400 that they're working to find a place to release 00:19:07.400 --> 00:19:10.359 it to a streaming service or two. And so they're 00:19:10.359 --> 00:19:13.559 working on that. But it's definitely a film that's 00:19:13.559 --> 00:19:17.579 worth checking out. Just to clarify, we don't 00:19:17.579 --> 00:19:20.720 get any money for any of this. We're promoting 00:19:20.720 --> 00:19:24.779 this because I think it's a very valuable and 00:19:24.779 --> 00:19:30.140 informative documentary that might, if nothing 00:19:30.140 --> 00:19:33.579 else, it'll make some librarians feel like they're 00:19:33.579 --> 00:19:36.640 not alone because so many of us have had to deal 00:19:36.640 --> 00:19:40.299 with these issues as of late or within the last 00:19:40.299 --> 00:19:42.779 few years and so this is definitely something 00:19:42.779 --> 00:19:45.700 worth checking out. I strongly suggest seeing 00:19:45.700 --> 00:19:49.829 it. um find it in a theater near you or find 00:19:49.829 --> 00:19:54.250 it when it comes out on dvd and blu -ray or when 00:19:54.250 --> 00:19:56.670 it comes out to a streaming service it's it's 00:19:56.670 --> 00:19:59.990 worth checking out watching seeing what we what 00:19:59.990 --> 00:20:02.730 librarians have been through and some of the 00:20:02.730 --> 00:20:05.950 challenges that we're still facing today yeah 00:20:05.950 --> 00:20:08.089 i'm very much looking forward to seeing this 00:20:08.089 --> 00:20:10.670 um we're gonna go see it next week and i'm very 00:20:12.879 --> 00:20:15.720 Very interested in it. You and I both worked 00:20:15.720 --> 00:20:19.640 at a district that was very heavily impacted 00:20:19.640 --> 00:20:24.660 by all that mess and Fortunately, we're not as 00:20:24.660 --> 00:20:27.039 impacted at the moment, but I know that could 00:20:27.039 --> 00:20:30.599 change Like any day really that's just kind of 00:20:30.599 --> 00:20:33.740 how it is in Texas where we are right now. That's 00:20:33.740 --> 00:20:37.359 yeah Yeah, it's a kind of a day -by -day thing. 00:20:37.359 --> 00:20:42.740 It's very stressful and Hopefully this will bring 00:20:42.740 --> 00:20:44.619 light to some of the issues we've been facing 00:20:44.619 --> 00:20:48.240 and We'll help the pendulum swing the other way 00:20:48.240 --> 00:20:50.039 so that we can kind of get back to a place where 00:20:50.039 --> 00:20:52.299 we were where there is more freedom to read. 00:20:53.059 --> 00:20:55.579 Yes Yeah, so yeah, check out the film because 00:20:55.579 --> 00:20:59.220 I think it's it's it's very I will say that I've 00:20:59.220 --> 00:21:04.480 got to see it that was the last night of TLA 00:21:04.480 --> 00:21:07.160 this spring they did a showing a screening of 00:21:07.160 --> 00:21:10.869 it and so I was able to see it then and It's 00:21:10.869 --> 00:21:16.170 really good. It's emotional. It's just real. 00:21:16.869 --> 00:21:21.210 The librarians that are interviewed for it, you 00:21:21.210 --> 00:21:25.369 can hear it just in their voices, the emotions 00:21:25.369 --> 00:21:27.710 that they're going through as they were dealing 00:21:27.710 --> 00:21:32.089 with all of these things coming at them and the 00:21:32.089 --> 00:21:35.269 things that were being said to them and about 00:21:35.269 --> 00:21:39.099 them and about the profession. So, I mean, it's 00:21:39.099 --> 00:21:42.519 an emotional story, but it's an important one. 00:21:42.759 --> 00:21:47.079 And so definitely check it out. It is. The next 00:21:47.079 --> 00:21:49.319 book that we're going to talk about today is 00:21:49.319 --> 00:21:52.900 called Hero Dad. So there is a hero dad, but 00:21:52.900 --> 00:21:56.680 there's also a hero mom. They're very, very similar 00:21:56.680 --> 00:21:59.059 books and they're very, very short. So usually 00:21:59.059 --> 00:22:02.480 around Veterans Day, I do these, but I do like 00:22:02.480 --> 00:22:06.240 both of them together because they're real quick 00:22:06.240 --> 00:22:10.599 reads. Hero Dad was published by Marshall Cavendish 00:22:10.599 --> 00:22:13.940 Children in 2010. The author is Melinda Harden 00:22:13.940 --> 00:22:17.500 and the illustrator is Brian Langdow. It has 00:22:17.500 --> 00:22:20.019 not gotten any awards. It's not on any lists 00:22:20.019 --> 00:22:23.980 or anything. And I think these are only the only 00:22:23.980 --> 00:22:28.210 books that Melinda Harden has. written. And for 00:22:28.210 --> 00:22:31.650 her history, she grew up in Traverse City, Michigan. 00:22:31.849 --> 00:22:35.130 She received her MS in mental health counseling 00:22:35.130 --> 00:22:37.690 from the University of Massachusetts, Boston. 00:22:37.930 --> 00:22:41.190 And she currently lives in Pacific Grove, California 00:22:41.190 --> 00:22:44.309 with her husband and two children. And like I 00:22:44.309 --> 00:22:47.210 said, these are her only two books. So she's 00:22:47.210 --> 00:22:48.789 just really passionate about this particular 00:22:48.789 --> 00:22:52.569 subject and had this really excellent idea. And 00:22:52.569 --> 00:22:54.390 now she's done doing other things, which is great. 00:22:55.309 --> 00:22:59.329 And then the illustrator is Brian Langdow. He 00:22:59.329 --> 00:23:02.190 loved drawing and writing from a young age. After 00:23:02.190 --> 00:23:06.250 high school, he studied life drawing and painting 00:23:06.250 --> 00:23:12.029 at the Art Students League of New York. He then 00:23:12.029 --> 00:23:15.170 earned a BA in English from Rutgers College. 00:23:15.630 --> 00:23:18.369 He wrote and illustrated his first published 00:23:18.369 --> 00:23:21.569 book, The Dog Who Loved the Good Life in 2001. 00:23:22.220 --> 00:23:25.200 He then illustrated many books, including Hero 00:23:25.200 --> 00:23:28.460 Mom and Hero Dad. In 2012, he wrote and illustrated 00:23:28.460 --> 00:23:31.039 another book, which made him realize he enjoys 00:23:31.039 --> 00:23:34.759 writing more than he realized. Since then, he 00:23:34.759 --> 00:23:38.779 has continued writing and illustrating many books, 00:23:39.240 --> 00:23:41.920 primarily non -fiction books and leveled readers. 00:23:42.400 --> 00:23:44.900 And he lives in New Jersey with his wife and 00:23:44.900 --> 00:23:49.299 two kids. Some he has done so many other books 00:23:49.299 --> 00:23:56.660 most of them are for the educational market So 00:23:56.660 --> 00:24:00.019 in this book for both with both of these it's 00:24:00.019 --> 00:24:02.359 narrated by a child and it's like it starts off 00:24:02.359 --> 00:24:08.000 as like my dad is a hero and It begins with that 00:24:08.000 --> 00:24:09.900 so it begins with the child just stating my dad 00:24:09.900 --> 00:24:12.720 is a superhero and then it continues with him 00:24:12.720 --> 00:24:17.289 just describing his father in superhero terms 00:24:17.289 --> 00:24:20.170 where it's like he doesn't have x -ray vision, 00:24:20.650 --> 00:24:22.849 but he does have night vision and it has him 00:24:22.849 --> 00:24:26.509 with his like night goggles on and He can't fly 00:24:26.509 --> 00:24:28.829 but sometimes he does and like the illustration 00:24:28.829 --> 00:24:31.529 on that page is like him jumping out of an airplane 00:24:31.529 --> 00:24:35.609 to go parachute down to wherever his mission 00:24:35.609 --> 00:24:39.250 is going to take him and I really like this book 00:24:39.250 --> 00:24:42.569 because each page is very very simple. It just 00:24:42.569 --> 00:24:46.599 has like one or two sentences like that And it 00:24:46.599 --> 00:24:51.039 describes all the soldiers and just really, I 00:24:51.039 --> 00:24:52.920 feel like it's a little bit more accessible because 00:24:52.920 --> 00:24:57.220 it is in superhero kind of terms that kids are 00:24:57.220 --> 00:25:00.140 probably a little bit more familiar with. A lot 00:25:00.140 --> 00:25:02.400 of that is kind of marketed to young children 00:25:02.400 --> 00:25:07.859 anyway. They know about, you know, those are 00:25:07.859 --> 00:25:10.920 classic superheroes a little bit more. So like 00:25:10.920 --> 00:25:15.819 by comparing soldiers to them, I think it really 00:25:15.819 --> 00:25:19.059 connects the dots a little bit better. It's very 00:25:19.059 --> 00:25:21.539 developmentally appropriate. It doesn't have 00:25:21.539 --> 00:25:26.960 guns or anything like that in there. So you don't 00:25:26.960 --> 00:25:31.779 have to have those conversations. But it does 00:25:31.779 --> 00:25:36.240 kind of show kids how soldiers... kind of work 00:25:36.240 --> 00:25:38.980 and some of the things that they do to protect 00:25:38.980 --> 00:25:42.339 our country in very simple terms. So even though 00:25:42.339 --> 00:25:44.460 it hasn't won any awards or anything, it's just, 00:25:44.579 --> 00:25:47.559 it's so simple. I think it's a really good introduction 00:25:47.559 --> 00:25:51.519 to Veterans Day in general and just what a veteran 00:25:51.519 --> 00:25:55.539 is. And I love that it's from the child's perspective 00:25:55.539 --> 00:25:59.440 and that it's describing, you know, either a 00:25:59.440 --> 00:26:01.180 mom or a dad, depending on which book you're 00:26:01.180 --> 00:26:04.059 reading. I like doing them in conjunction with 00:26:04.059 --> 00:26:06.000 each other because there's it's such a short 00:26:06.000 --> 00:26:09.380 but they're both so short and I think it's important 00:26:09.380 --> 00:26:11.960 that they can see that it could be like Anyone 00:26:11.960 --> 00:26:15.359 in their family like you can't like yet. It is 00:26:15.359 --> 00:26:18.279 the dad and it is the mom But then you can talk 00:26:18.279 --> 00:26:20.420 about how it you know, it could be really any 00:26:20.420 --> 00:26:23.519 adult It doesn't have to be just your mom or 00:26:23.519 --> 00:26:26.920 your dad And you can kind of branch out from 00:26:26.920 --> 00:26:30.769 there. So I just think it's a really good Easy, 00:26:31.309 --> 00:26:35.390 simple introduction. The pictures are really 00:26:35.390 --> 00:26:38.769 pretty engaging. They're very simplistic, but 00:26:38.769 --> 00:26:42.609 realistic. Not too overwhelming. So the kids 00:26:42.609 --> 00:26:44.950 can really see what's happening on the page and 00:26:44.950 --> 00:26:49.750 connect with all of that. I think as far as like 00:26:49.750 --> 00:26:52.950 teaching this particular concept, I would give 00:26:52.950 --> 00:26:56.410 it a five out of five. Like if I'm just like 00:26:56.410 --> 00:27:02.180 reading it at home just for fun. If I personally 00:27:02.180 --> 00:27:05.519 had a veteran directly in my home, it would be 00:27:05.519 --> 00:27:08.339 a five out of five. But since I personally don't, 00:27:08.759 --> 00:27:10.980 I would give it just like if I was at home reading 00:27:10.980 --> 00:27:13.720 with my child, I'd probably give it a four out 00:27:13.720 --> 00:27:16.920 of five. It's still good. But for that connection 00:27:16.920 --> 00:27:19.440 there, for the teaching, I think it's a five 00:27:19.440 --> 00:27:23.279 out of five just because it is so easy for kids 00:27:23.279 --> 00:27:27.180 to relate to, regardless of their particular 00:27:27.180 --> 00:27:31.420 background. Agreed. I love both of these books. 00:27:31.880 --> 00:27:34.880 They're really great and really great ways to 00:27:34.880 --> 00:27:37.880 introduce the concept to the students in, like 00:27:37.880 --> 00:27:41.000 you said, in a more relatable way. These are 00:27:41.000 --> 00:27:43.279 the kind of books that like I have both of these 00:27:43.279 --> 00:27:47.549 books in my campus library and My campus, we 00:27:47.549 --> 00:27:50.930 always do a big Veterans Day celebration and 00:27:50.930 --> 00:27:53.349 we have the parents that are veterans come in 00:27:53.349 --> 00:27:55.950 and they get to do like a breakfast with their 00:27:55.950 --> 00:27:58.549 students and then they go to the assembly and 00:27:58.549 --> 00:28:00.630 we recognize them and all that kind of stuff. 00:28:01.029 --> 00:28:06.529 And so usually the week before we do that. I 00:28:06.529 --> 00:28:09.769 try to read these books, at least one of them 00:28:09.769 --> 00:28:12.569 to the students, but if I can't find the time, 00:28:12.690 --> 00:28:16.180 I send the book. Over to the the pre -k classes 00:28:16.180 --> 00:28:18.140 so that they can read them because a lot of times 00:28:18.140 --> 00:28:21.400 they that's Potentially one of the reasons why 00:28:21.400 --> 00:28:23.400 our pre -k students are in pre -k is because 00:28:23.400 --> 00:28:26.859 they have active duty military members and so 00:28:26.859 --> 00:28:29.839 quite frequently their parents will be at that 00:28:29.839 --> 00:28:34.660 Veterans Day celebration and like This is a nice 00:28:34.660 --> 00:28:37.079 way to explain to the kids why well cuz you're 00:28:36.920 --> 00:28:39.819 your parent is a hero and because this is all 00:28:39.819 --> 00:28:42.160 the things that they do and so like that helps 00:28:42.160 --> 00:28:44.500 the kids understand why their parent is in the 00:28:44.500 --> 00:28:46.579 building wearing their work clothes and that 00:28:46.579 --> 00:28:50.559 kind of thing too. And so this is just like I 00:28:50.559 --> 00:28:52.960 love these books because it is a it's a really 00:28:52.960 --> 00:28:57.539 good way to start the discussion with your students 00:28:57.539 --> 00:29:00.660 that are younger so they have at least some kind 00:29:00.660 --> 00:29:03.480 of entry -level understanding of what's what's 00:29:03.480 --> 00:29:07.670 going on so absolutely love them. Yeah, I enjoy 00:29:07.670 --> 00:29:13.490 it For the makerspace activity for this one I 00:29:13.490 --> 00:29:15.470 usually have the kids draw a picture of their 00:29:15.470 --> 00:29:20.230 hero and I'm not gonna lie. We do get some pictures 00:29:20.230 --> 00:29:23.569 of some spider -man and things like that, but 00:29:23.569 --> 00:29:28.710 for the most part after reading this book and 00:29:28.710 --> 00:29:32.309 explaining that a hero isn't just spider -man 00:29:32.309 --> 00:29:35.480 or Superman or Paw Patrol is a really popular 00:29:35.480 --> 00:29:39.819 one right now, those characters, and that it 00:29:39.819 --> 00:29:43.460 can be just a regular person who goes out and 00:29:43.460 --> 00:29:48.359 protects our country and does great things to 00:29:48.359 --> 00:29:53.759 protect our freedoms. I would say probably 75 00:29:53.759 --> 00:29:58.579 % of the kids really do connect with it and end 00:29:58.579 --> 00:30:03.480 up drawing something that's more I don't want 00:30:03.480 --> 00:30:08.039 to say appropriate, but more in line with what 00:30:08.039 --> 00:30:11.460 a hero like a real life hero could be. You know, 00:30:11.740 --> 00:30:15.759 only about 25 % end up doing, you know, Spider 00:30:15.759 --> 00:30:19.900 -Man or whatever. Right. So I'll take that if 00:30:19.900 --> 00:30:22.240 you know, the majority end up after reading these 00:30:22.240 --> 00:30:26.920 books, the majority do end up drawing those real 00:30:26.920 --> 00:30:30.839 life heroes. So I'm you know, it's still Like 00:30:30.839 --> 00:30:33.220 I said before several times like this concept 00:30:33.220 --> 00:30:36.039 is a difficult one So as long as we can like 00:30:36.039 --> 00:30:39.359 start introducing that start letting you know, 00:30:39.359 --> 00:30:43.460 the kids know what what a veteran is like I think 00:30:43.460 --> 00:30:45.740 that's really the important thing and typically 00:30:45.740 --> 00:30:49.380 and in our campus in the past When we had all 00:30:49.380 --> 00:30:52.140 pre -k we did have kids draw a picture of their 00:30:52.140 --> 00:30:54.759 hero and then we had like a wall of heroes that 00:30:54.759 --> 00:30:58.480 we displayed for Veterans Day and that stayed 00:30:58.480 --> 00:31:01.059 up through the month of November and that was 00:31:01.059 --> 00:31:04.920 really sweet to get to see what all the heroes 00:31:04.920 --> 00:31:08.700 in our kids lives and like I said, a couple of 00:31:08.700 --> 00:31:11.119 like, you know, chase from Paw Patrol or what 00:31:11.119 --> 00:31:14.559 have you. But for the most part, they did a really 00:31:14.559 --> 00:31:17.539 good job with like drawing real life heroes and 00:31:17.539 --> 00:31:21.039 the people in their lives. So yeah, that was 00:31:21.039 --> 00:31:24.539 our fun one. I like that idea a lot of having 00:31:24.539 --> 00:31:26.680 them all displayed out in the hallway so everyone 00:31:26.680 --> 00:31:30.519 can see them. That's a really cool idea. It was 00:31:30.519 --> 00:31:32.859 really good and that the kids loved seeing their 00:31:32.859 --> 00:31:35.759 work up there and pointing out who their hero 00:31:35.759 --> 00:31:39.380 was And they really they connected with it really 00:31:39.380 --> 00:31:42.279 well. I miss doing that. So I'll probably still 00:31:42.279 --> 00:31:45.180 do something like that. I just probably won't 00:31:45.180 --> 00:31:49.380 Hang it up this year, but yeah Yeah, it's still 00:31:49.380 --> 00:31:51.940 a fun lesson to do you get a lot of windows in 00:31:51.940 --> 00:31:53.980 your library You could put them up on the windows 00:31:53.980 --> 00:31:58.720 of windows. This is true. I could I have not 00:31:58.720 --> 00:32:02.359 used the windows like that yet. I should. Yeah. 00:32:03.480 --> 00:32:07.720 Yeah. I like all my windows. It's fun. Yeah. 00:32:09.059 --> 00:32:11.960 All right. Well, thank you all for joining us 00:32:11.960 --> 00:32:14.680 today on this episode of Librarians of Littles 00:32:14.680 --> 00:32:17.380 and we hope you found some fresh ideas for inspiring 00:32:17.380 --> 00:32:20.220 our young readers. Please be sure to subscribe 00:32:20.220 --> 00:32:23.000 and connect with us on social media. Happy reading. 00:32:23.819 --> 00:32:26.680 Thank you for listening to this episode of Librarians 00:32:26.680 --> 00:32:29.519 of Littles. We hope that you've enjoyed it. Check 00:32:29.519 --> 00:32:33.930 back each Wednesday for a new episode. Librarians 00:32:33.930 --> 00:32:36.690 of Littles is a podcast produced and hosted by 00:32:36.690 --> 00:32:40.349 Patrick Adams and Caroline Legere. Editor, Patrick 00:32:40.349 --> 00:32:44.150 Adams. Our theme song is performed by JD Adams. 00:32:44.549 --> 00:32:47.230 You can follow us on Instagram at Librarians 00:32:47.230 --> 00:32:52.369 of Littles. You can follow us on BlueSky at littleslibrarian 00:32:52.369 --> 00:32:56.970 .bsky .social. And you can send us your emails 00:32:56.970 --> 00:33:01.390 at librarianoflittlespodatgmail .com.