Sunday was Groundhog Day. I hear that Mr Phil saw his shadow. There were no shadows here. It was a wet, cold, dreary day. I slept most of the day.
I hear that it was also Super Bowl Sunday. I’m not really sure what that means. I did get a Super Bowl full of my favorite kibble and green beans and pumpkin for dinner! That makes me a winner!
All of this means that February is upon us. And February happens to be the month for Lovers of Libraries. And that means me!
“Library Lovers’ Month is a month-long celebration of school, public, and private libraries of all types. This is a time for everyone, especially library support groups, to recognize the value of libraries and to work to assure that the Nation’s libraries will continue to serve.”
Our libraries are in danger these days. There are all kinds of cutbacks in funding. Some are closing their doors. A very sad thing. Our public library has had to cut back on workers and hours that they can be open. Another very sad thing. Libraries are important to communities. Libraries are places to learn something new or to escape into new worlds. They are sanctuaries from the hubbub of the outside world. Like minded people can congregate at libraries. They are the only places that you can go and spend all day out of the cold or heat without having to spend any money! And Oh! The Places You Can Go in a library!! It boggles the mind!
I have pulled some books off of my personal library shelves that are about libraries. There are soooooooo many books about libraries and librarians! All kinds of critters visit libraries. Dogs, of course, and cats. But there are books about Library mice and lions and dragons and bats and ghosts and foxes and even gingerbread men! The library has a place for everyone! Well, I’m going to share some of my books with you.
Library Lil is by Suzanne Williams and illustrated by Steven Kellogg. I love Steven Kellogg! My copy was published by Scholastic in 1998 by arrangement with Dial Books for Young Readers.
Lil was a girl who LOVED books. When she was little she read all the time. In bed, in the tub, while playing soccer. She was always carrying around stacks of books so her arms got really strong. When she grew up, she became a librarian. She had to convince the townfolks that books were better than TV. And she managed to convince a gang of motorcycle hoodlums that books were a good thing too! A Librarian Extraordinare!!
The Brave Bookmobile was written by Grover Page, Jr. and illustrated by Joe Reisner. It was published by E.C. Seale & Co. in 1966. This is a little book that shows how important the Bookmobile is to a community. Hill County is blanketed with snow, but there are folks out there that need books! The Brave Bookmobile must trudge through and make her rounds. Becky has a report due and needs to do some research. Richard and his mom need to do some research too. Old Ben, who is blind, needs some audio books. And everyone in town likes to come congregate at the Bookmobile. Even Mr. Brown, the dog! The Brave Bookmobile manages to make all the rounds and leave everyone happy.
Quiet! There’s a Canary in the Library was written and illustrated by Don Freeman. It was published by The Trumpet Club in 1969. Every Saturday morning Cary went to the library. One Saturday she sat down with a book about a zoo and began to imagine what it would be like if there was a day at the library for all the animals to come. In her imagination, mayhem insues, but the day is saved by a canary! It’s a pretty funny story!
Curious George Visits the Library was “illustrated in the style of H.A. Rey by Martha Weston.” This book was published in Great Britain by Walker Books in 2008. More mayhem in the library! It seems to follow Curious George wherever he goes. This mayhem involves George’s desire for more and more books to take home, and a library cart.
There’s a Cricket in the Library is the most interesting one of this bunch. It was written and illustrated by fifth-grade students of McKee Elementary School in Oakdale, Pennsylvania. It was published by Willowisp Press in 1991. A cricket is causing mayhem in the library. He’s chirping like crazy and hopping on chairs and eating the books! So the kids all say “SHHH!” So the cricket says “Good-bye!”
And then there is the best book of all! –
I’ll be going to visit the library this week. Like I do every week. Maybe you can find some time to visit your library this month. And when you do, maybe you can stay awhile and help out. Shelve some books, or do some paper work, or read to some kids. Something to help out those librarians.
You might like to check out the website for Library Lovers’ Month. They have some great ideas for things to do this month.
And HERE is another site that has all kinds of suggestions for ways to help your library.
Wishing you JOY at a library near you!
Your library friend
Rhythm
What a super fun book about YOU, R! I didn’t even know there was a book about you. You are famous!
Love and licks,
Cupcake
I am famous in Glen Rose, Texas for sure! When I walk down the street people always call out my name. Life’s not too bad here.
Wow – take a bow, Rhythm. We’re impressed inded!!
Hugs and kisses
Dina xxoo
My favourite libraryish book is Library Lion by Michelle Knudsen. Great story. Groundhog Day, hey? That was a great movie. So memorable, in fact, that radio announcers over here have taken to using the phrase to mean “the same as yesterday” when reporting the weather. Like “today will be sunny with a top of 31 and Groundhog Day for Wednesday”. Do they do that over there? Probably not. It might get confusing, when you have an actual Groundhog Day.
Library Lion is a good one for sure. Are you not familiar with the crazy celebration here that is Groundhog Day?! That movie is for real! It gets played over and over here on the real Groundhog Day. I like that your weather people use it as a weather forecast! That is tooo funny!
When the movie first came out, that was the first I’d heard of it! It sounds like a fun sort of a day though – cheeky rodent weather forecaster!
Cheeky indeed! Do you have giant rodents down there?
Do wombats count?
I don’t know much about wombats, but it seems to me that they would surely count with the rodents. Do they live underground? Maybe you could start Wombat Day!
They live in burrows – I suspect they’re actually marsupials, but we can overlook that for the moment.
Isn’t everything in Australia a marsupial? Groundhog Day Australian style. It could work.
It certainly seems that way. We have our fair share of pouched beasties, that’s for sure.
Oh my gosh, a BOOK about you, that’s the best! Also the best superbowls are filled with good food, you are right!
It’s my favorite book! Me and my Mom Person wrote the story and our good buddy Paul, who is autistic, illustrated it. He is really awesome. I wish you many superbowls filled with good food!!
Great books! Libraries are awesome! 😀
One of my most favorite places to be!!
And mine too! 😆
😀
Thanks for the heads up! That is great that you have a book with your name on it Rhythm!
It’s kind of a fun thing.
The library is my second home 🙂 Thanks for calling my attention to library month.
You’re most welcome! Thanks for stopping by!
I don’t think dogs are allowed in our libraries, but I’ll try to use my puppy eyes to get in. I love kids, especially if they’ve got crumbs on their fingers:-)
Kids are the best right after breakfast or lunch. And I’ll bet if your Mom talked to your library, they might go for a dog coming in to read with the kids. It seems to be a popular thing these days.
How can we get copies of your book Rhythm? 🙂
Oh wait – just figured it out! Amazon: http://amzn.to/1eAUBHq
Thanks for asking!!