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HOLIDAY RECOMMENDATIONS 2009 Once, long ago, in the days before personal computers - and before subscription TV, my parents had the foresight to surround my brother and me with books. Good books, pretty books, really great books, classics, comics, reference books, incredibly illustrated by illustrators both well known and not, books like they had never seen before. And voila, they raised readers. Not just any readers - both have an artistic bent. One is a trucker-philosopher, the other is a librarian. (Thanks mom and dad - you two did much right, but this was the best.) Funny how life works out. Two of my favorites, Children of Many Lands (1960) http://looky.wordpress.com/children-of-many-lands/ and a series of beautifully illustrated Big Golden Fairy Tale books, Marie Ponsot (1960s) http://www.librarything.com/author/ponsotmarie, as well as many others are still on my shelves. But these two hold a special place as they shaped my world, and my belief and understanding of humans as a whole. The truly sad thing is most children and young adults I have encountered lately have never owned a book. If they do not have books, they never learn to read, think for themselves, or learn to disseminate of bits (and bytes) of information viewed, let alone remembered, in their lifetime. Sure, kids read if they don't have books, but reading on a computer or in a classroom does not leave room for the tangible element of reading, the quiet space in the imagination, the contemplation of another's thoughts, beliefs, stories, or pictures. In short, it is best ot hold a thing in your hands to know it well. Don't believe me? Think kids do all their reading on a computer these days? If they read at all? Wrong. Take a book like The Invention Hugop Caberet by Brian Selznick (Caldecott 2008). It's Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson for older readers. A mix of graphic illustion and narrative, more reluctant readers have started with it than Harry Potter. And mentioning Harry Potter - the most read, translated, mutilated and stolen book of all time, by the young, and the young at heart. It has captured the imagination of a generation, like much literature before and hopefully after it - like the Twilight saga - it has its own fan fiction - that is where fans - young and old alike - write more stories based on the characters originally created elsewhere.
Boks open the imagination, improve analytical skill, and, not quite unlike puppies - but not as costly - teach children how to care for something they love.
Consider a book as the gift to give for the young one (or the young at heart) in your life. It truly is the gift that will never stop giving.
So, are you looking for that last-minute gift - that item for the hard to please?
There is an ongoing book sale in the library for inexpensive holiday books, bestsellers, high-quality children's holiday and other books, some audio and other goodies, all at affordable prices. You may purchase a beautiful jewel-toned canvas bag (red, blue and green) available for only $10! There are still beautiful quilts available for sale, currently hanging in the children's area. If you stuff your own stockings, and everyone else's, here is the the place to shop!
Have everything you could want or need? Shopping for someone who does? Become a Friend of the Library (or purchase a membership in another name). More than ever, your Library needs Friends!
Visit our "New on the Shelf" pages to see what I consider some of, but not nearly all, the best books available for all ages. If nothing on the list strikes you, call, email or hit the SBBDL Facebook page. The library is full of good ideas!
And all recommended reads are available at Brilliant Books in Suttons Bay. Mention the library when you purchase, and Peter and his staff will account some of your purchase aside as a donation to SBBDL!
Virginia Roberts Library Director
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