Librarytomes

February 14 “don’t play heart to get”

Today is Valentine’s day. I brought out a few books to help with the romance. One must court their romantic other. Flowers and Chocolate are a good first start. I will begin with “The Rose Family” by Olive L. Earle, 1970. This is a nice introduction about the rose plant. It turns out that strawberries are a part of theContinue reading “February 14 “don’t play heart to get””

February 13 “I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and gosh darn it people like me”

Today is Self-Love Day. Before someone gets upset, it is not Onanism, but rather your self respect, how you feel about yourself. Some say that you cannot love others until you love yourself first. Such is the Stuart Smalley quote in the title. The focus on one’s self is on the 13th of February, so can prepare forContinue reading “February 13 “I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and gosh darn it people like me””

February 13 “a penne for your thoughts”

Today is National Italian Food Day. I have wonderful book and delicious story for you.The book “Bean Banquet” by by Patricia R Gregory is a great book. We already talked about it. Cooking beans is a wonderful art…And then you eat, perchance to f…..fill your belly. She also wrote another book “Mangia Bene, Traditional Recipes of Italy” Pasqualina (Patricia)Continue reading “February 13 “a penne for your thoughts””

February 12 “a penny for your thoughts”

Happy Birthday to the man on the penny-Abraham Lincoln. Growing up in Illinois, I’ve seen and heard a lot of Lincoln; From ‘Land of Lincoln’, to New Salem, to Springfield home, to Lincoln Museum, to Oak Ridge Cemetery, school trips have taken me there. I have a lot of Lincoln books, but will discuss some ofContinue reading “February 12 “a penny for your thoughts””

February 12 “if you build it, they will come”

Today begins National Homes for Birds Day. It gives us time to make birdhouses for our feathered friends before nesting season. I have several books for the occasion. First is A Golden Book “Bird Nests” by Nina Shackelford and Gordon E. Burks, 1962. This is a ‘read-it yourself’ book for young kids. Large print, and wonderful colored illustrations of differentContinue reading “February 12 “if you build it, they will come””

February 11 ‘the thrill of the risk’

If anyone is a betting man (or woman), I have a few special books, and a few special events to bet on. The first is National Foundation Day Japan. This day is to celebrate the founding of Japan. It is a safe bet that Japan is one of the most beautiful countries that I have visited. Much like Dorothy,Continue reading “February 11 ‘the thrill of the risk’”

February 10 “If you only see one movie this year … you need to get out more often.”

Today is Global Movies Day, established by the The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. I have a bunch of movie books, many that are classified as coffee table books. They are large with nice photos. They are all easy to flip through, without having to invest an entire evening reading. Let me point out a few: “LoveContinue reading “February 10 “If you only see one movie this year … you need to get out more often.””

February 9 ‘she loves me, yeah, yeah, yeah.’

We have for February 9, several National Days, and one that should be. We will begin the one that should be, February 9th, 1964-The Ed Sullivan show-73 million people saw the Beatles for their first live show in America. The rest is Beatles history. The first book on display is paperback writer John Birk, and “The Beatles inContinue reading “February 9 ‘she loves me, yeah, yeah, yeah.’”

February 7 ‘Shhhhh????’

Today is National Read Aloud Day. And we should read out loud. Too many teachers use the following book (at least in practice), “One Hundred Ways to Teach Silent Reading” by Nila Banton Smith, 1925. Nope. Let us look at more: Here is an older book to help us, “The Rational Method in Reading”, by Edward G. Ward, 1896. TheContinue reading “February 7 ‘Shhhhh????’”

February 8 ‘up to the highest height’

Today is Kite Flying day. There are two books that can showcase the fun of kites. First, is the second (of four) books of Mary Poppins, “Mary Poppins Comes Back” by P.L. Travers. Not only on the dust jacket, where the Banks family is tugging on a kite string, but in the middle of the first chapter,Continue reading “February 8 ‘up to the highest height’”