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High Shelf Esteem

Archives for August 2016

August 29, 2016

Back To School: Not Just for Kids!

Back To School Apple

It’s back-to-school time and I’m sure many kids across the country have the same pre-return jitters that I did when I was in elementary school. Questions like: “Will the cafeteria lady force me to finish my fish sticks, even if they make me feel sick?” and “Is Sister Christine really teaching fifth-grade sex-ed this year?” plagued me. Little did I know back then that I would have the exact same nervous feelings as a school librarian decades later, though my questions have changed a little.

As educators we need to project confidence and control or we risk our classrooms descending into something akin to the monkey house at the zoo, but I think I would have been comforted to know that my teachers also felt anxiety about the start of a new school year. It would have been a point of connection and allowed me to see that they were human too.

So, with the general theme that kids aren’t the only ones who go back to school, I’ve pulled together a back-to-school book list of titles featuring non-child protagonists. Despite the fact that kids aren’t technically in the spotlight, young readers will be able to connect the emotions and feelings of the main characters with their own start-of-school-year experiences.

 

First Day Jitters, by Julie Danneberg

First Day JittersSarah Jane Hartwell doesn’t want to go to her new school at all. She won’t know anyone and is sure she’ll hate it, but she allows Mr. Hartwell to help her get ready and take her to meet her principal. And when the principal introduces to Sarah to her class, we’re in for a surprise…

Ok, we’re all adults here and you’ll reach the end of the book in about a minute, so I’ll spoil it for you: Sarah’s the teacher! And I don’t doubt that there are many teachers who will pull her get-out-of-school antics with their spouses in the coming weeks.

 

Dad's First DayDad’s First Day, by Mike Wohnoutka

When the first day of school rolls around, Oliver is eager to start the new year, but his Dad… not so much. Oliver’s dad’s tummy hurts, he hides behind the couch, throws a tantrum when he drops Oliver off – he is totally not ready to let go. But when Oliver’s dad comes to pick Oliver up, he sees how much fun Oliver is having with his classmates and realizes he has to let his son grow up.

My favorite scene in the book is Oliver’s teacher carrying Oliver’s dad kicking and crying out of the classroom with a big smile on her face. Sorry, overbearing parents, you have to let your unique-as-a-snowflake child socialize with the rest of the masses!

 

Is Your Buffalo Ready for Kindergarten?, by Audrey Vernick

Is Your BuffaloAlthough it may not seem like buffalos would be a prime candidate for joining a kindergarten class, this book makes the case for one little girl’s buffalo. As long as he cooperates, learns how to get along without using horns, and tries his best, he’s totes ready! In addition to be humorous, this book has a nice message of acceptance. The kids in the story are pretty cool with the fact that buffalo is a bit smelly and “eats grass, then throws it up in his mouth and eats it again.”

 

Sophie’s Squash Go To School, by Pat Zietlow Miller

Sophie's Squash Go To SchoolThis one isn’t told by the squash, so technically it doesn’t fit this list, but the story is so cute I had to include it. Sophie is very attached to her best friends, Bonnie and Baxter (two squash gourds with big smiley faces), and isn’t interested in going to school and making new human friends. Steven Green, however, didn’t get the memo. Despite Sophie’s rejections, Steven persistently tries to befriend her. When Sophie eventually has to put Bonnie and Baxter down for their winter nap, Steven offers a new packet of squash seeds in friendship and she finally comes around to being his pal. “Sometimes growing a friend just takes time,” she says.

It’s a pretty cliche happily-ever-after ending, but I was a sucker for it.

 

School’s First Day of School, by Adam Rex

School's First DayI was first drawn to this book because the illustrator is Christian Robinson, winner of a 2016 Caldecott Honor for Last Stop on Market Street. As expected, the illustrations are lovely, but the story is absolutely adorable as well. The main character is a newly built school (Frederick Douglass Elementary) and it is very nervous about students arriving for the new year. The first day doesn’t start smoothly. The school finds it very disheartening to hear students say “I don’t like school,” and even retaliates at times by squirting them with the water fountain (love this!). But over the course of the day, the school enjoys listening students’ jokes, seeing them work, and learning from the teacher and realizes how lucky it is to be such a special building.

 

Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten, by Joseph Slate

Miss BindergartenIn this book, we see kindergarten students getting ready for their first day of school — brushing their teeth, getting dressed, eating their lunch on the morning bus — but the focus is on their teacher, Miss Bindergarten, who works her butt off to get her classroom ready. The story is clearly fiction since she sets everything in ONE morning (impossible!), but I love that on the title page, we see inspirational notes Miss Bindergarten wrote for herself and stuck all over her bedroom to help her approach the first day of school with energy and positivity. It’s also very endearing that Miss Bindergarten has the price tag to her shirt sticking out throughout the duration of the book. Teachers have a lot on their minds and can’t be bothered with details like tags!

 

Filed Under: Reviews and Recommendations Kristen Leave a Comment

August 27, 2016

Literary Linking: August 22 – 26

Laptop Yellow TableMy favorite bookish links from the week of August 22 – 26:

New Study Shows Reading Harry Potter Lowers Americans’ Opinions of Donald Trump

“Because Trump’s political views are widely viewed as opposed to the values espoused in the Harry Potter series,” Mutz writes in the study, “exposure to the Potter series may play an influential role in influencing how Americans respond to Donald Trump.”

Stuck in a Book

“Here’s a new literary comic by cartoonist Grant Snider. It explores the process of getting lost in a book that all bookworms are familiar with.”

#CamerasandDancers Visits the Library for the Performing Arts

“A large group of photographers and dancers recently descended upon The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts early one morning for a one-of-a-kind photography event: #CamerasAndDancers. Dancers from the Parsons Dance Company and the Paul Taylor Dance Company joined Jacob Jonas the Company, social influencer and photograper Dave Krugman, and a group of photographers and Instagrammers to put their own unique spin on the spaces in and around LPA.”

How To Get a Regency Beach Body

“It’s summertime and that means feeling like you have to conform to other people’s standards of beauty as you’re bombarded with blogs telling you how wrong your life is. So here’s another one to add to the bonfire of bad writing. I’m here to tell you how you, yes you with the Colin Firth obsession, can have the beach body Lizzie Bennet and her ilk strived for.”

 

Filed Under: Literary Linking Kristen Leave a Comment

August 23, 2016

Bookish Shopping: NYC Edition

I’m happy to report that I made it to all the literary stops on my NYC itinerary, and I have some fabulous purchases to show for it. If you’re in the city, drop by the Mo Willems Exhibit at The New York Historical Society or The Strand to find the items I bought. But if a trip to The Big Apple isn’t in your near future, don’t fear. I’ve included links to buy these items online.

Here’s what I got…

At The Strand:

“When in Doubt, Go To the Library” T-Shirt

When in DoubtAs a librarian, it’s important to dress the part. And no, that does not mean cardigans, pencil skirts, buns and glasses. For me, the librarian uniform is lots of bookish T-shirts, and now I have one with Hermione’s wise words to start the new school year. I couldn’t remember exactly when in the HP series she says this line, but with a little research, I found that it’s a quote within a quote spoken by Ron in The Chamber of Secrets. The line reads: “Because that’s what Hermione does,’ said Ron, shrugging. ‘When in doubt, go to the library.” Fine advice for all.

 

84 Charing Cross Road, by Helen Hanff

84 Charing Cross RoadI had to be strategic about my book purchase at The Strand. With so many titles to choose from (The Strand houses 18 miles of books for Pete’s sake!) and limited suitcase room, I decided that I would allow myself to buy one book, and the book had to be about books or bookstores. 84 Charing Cross Road immediately came to mind, because I’d heard it recommended on a number of different podcasts for readers who like books about books and bookstores. Perfecto! I haven’t started it yet, but I’m particularly excited to pick it up because it’s told through the correspondence of the author and a used book dealer in London. I love me a story told through letters.

 

At the “The Moseum Store” – New York Historical Society Mo Willems Exhibit*:

Pigeon Mug

Pigeon Coffee CupI recently cleaned out our cabinets of old mugs, chipped plates, and Renaissance Festival goblets (I regretted giving away the goblets
immediately after), so one would imagine that I’d avoid buying MORE cabinet-filling items so soon. But one would imagine wrong. I couldn’t resist this mug, seeing as Pigeon embodies my morning caffeine cravings perfectly in the design. Plus, I justified the purchase by deeming this my new coffee vessel for work. The one I have right now is an old thermal mug that leaks all over my awesome bookish tees. So, Pigeon will not take up room in our cabinets and I get a mug that won’t leave embarrassing stains on my clothing. Win, win!

Elephant & Piggie Finger Puppet Set

E and P Finger PuppetsThe Thank You Book, the last book in the Elephant & Piggie series, is in a box in my library waiting to be unpacked, and I can’t wait to use these puppets to tell the story. It might be a little tough to turn pages with mini-Piggie and mini-Gerald on my fingers, but I’ll  make it happen.  I can’t quite believe that the Elephant & Piggie series is over, but I’m sure Mr. Willems has some magic up his sleeve.

* The exhibit itself is fantastic – I learned that Knuffle Bunny was originally supposed to be a bear! Check it out before the exhibit closes on September 25.

Filed Under: Bookish Musings Kristen Leave a Comment

August 21, 2016

Literary Linking: August 15 – 19

My favorite bookish links from the week of August 15 – 19:

blur book pages

What President Obama Is Reading This Summer

“President Obama is on Martha’s Vineyard for his annual vacation, and he’s packed a hearty and diverse book bag for the beach.”

 

The Hamilton Reading List: For Those Kids That Just Can’t Get Enough

“I know 6-year-olds who have Hamilton memorized.  I know 10-year-olds who can explain what the Federalist Papers are in minute detail.  So why not make a booklist for the #Hamilkids as well?”

Clothes and Books and Ways To Go Wrong

“Clothes aren’t just something one puts on a character to stop her from being naked. Done right, clothes are everything — a way of describing class, affluence, taste, self-presentation, mental health, body image. Clothes matter. Besides all that, clothes are fun.”

The Wonderful, Terrible Power of Food in Roald Dahl

“Dahl’s feasts are his imaginative aristeias. At the same time, Dahl’s most whimsical confections are always paired with torments for those who can’t resist them.”

Mary Bennet Sequels? Jane Austen’s Minor Characters Are Neglected for a Reason

“Another Pride and Prejudice sequel is set to rescue to untold story of the unmarried Bennet sisters. Such rewrites are popular – but minor characters play an important role…”

 

Filed Under: Literary Linking Kristen Leave a Comment

August 19, 2016

A Book Nerd in NYC: Itinerary

empire-state-building

Today my husband and I embark on a trip to New York City to celebrate my birthday, and while turning 33 is kind of “meh,” our trip is going to be fantastic! NYC is a book-lovers paradise and we have some great literary stops on our itinerary:

 

The Art and Whimsy of Mo Willems Exhibit

Mo Willems is one of my heroes. I have so much respect for his ability to make the reading experience fun and interactive. I can always whip out an Elephant & Piggie book during storytime and know that students will love it. The exhibit is at the New York Historical Society Museum & Library and is described as bringing “together original art, sketches, and inspirational drawings from Willem’s most popular series, plus stand-alone classics.” I’m particularly excited about seeing his Pigeon drawings, because Pigeon is pretty much the best picture book character of all time. There’s also a “Moseum Store” so I definitely plan on picking up some Mo swag. “Pigeon of Liberty” tote bag? Yes please!

Matilda: The Musical

MatildaEvan asked me back in the winter what I wanted to for my birthday and my immediate answer was Matilda tickets! I read Roald Dahl’s Matilda numerous times growing up and I’ll admit I tried my hand at telekinesis (unsuccessfully). I’ve also watched the movie more times than I’d like to admit and even baked Bruce Bogtrotter’s chocolate cake from the Roald Dahl Revolting Recipes cookbook (also unsuccessfully – I forgot to add the flour!). So let’s just say I’m a huge fan and seeing the musical is going to be AMAZING!


Prune Restaurant

Blood Bones and ButterNow, this may not seem like a literary stop, but this is the restaurant owned by chef/author Gabriel Hamilton. Her memoir, Blood, Bones & Butter: The Inadvertent Education of a Reluctant Chef, is one of my absolute favorite foodie reads. I own the Kindle version, so I can’t have Hamilton sign it if she’s actually there, but I would probably be too starstruck to ask her anyway. Eating like a maniac won’t be a problem though – the menu looks fantastic. Grilled branzino with toasted fennel oil, smokey eggplant with grilled sesame flatbread, poached pear with toasted almond cream… nom nom nom!

The Strand

This stop is a given. I can’t go to NYC and not go to The Strand – that would be madness. When the New York Times came out with their article about getting a job at The Strand and included versions of the quiz potential employees are required to pass, I took the test immediately. I got 40 out 50. Not perfect, but I think I can still go in there with my head held high. Now the big question is: what books should I buy???
Are there any bookish stops I should add to our schedule ? Let me know!

Filed Under: Bookish Musings Kristen Leave a Comment

August 15, 2016

Review: The Woman in Cabin 10

Woman in Cabin 10Title: The Woman in Cabin 10

Author: Ruth Ware

Genre: Thriller/Suspense

Grade: B+

 

Plot:

Lo Blacklock, a journalist working her way up the ladder at a British travel mag, has been given the chance to prove herself on an assignment covering the maiden voyage of a fabulous boutique cruise ship. It seems like a dream job — lots of champagne, spa treatments, rubbing elbows with potential investors — but the recent robbery of her apartment has rattled Lo and nothing feels quite right from day one of the trip.

Lo’s feelings of anxiety are by no means improved the first night aboard when she hears what sounds like a body being thrown overboard. She swears it must have been the woman staying in the cabin next to hers, who she borrowed makeup from earlier in evening. But when Lo calls security to voice her fears, the head of security informs her that cabin 10 has been empty since the boat launched. There has never been a guest in that cabin, all passengers and crew are accounted for, and after a thorough search of the ship, Lo can’t find the woman she met the first night of the cruise.

Desperate to figure out the identity of the mystery woman and whether there’s a murderer onboard, Lo continues to investigate. And what she finds out only leads to more trouble.

My thoughts:

After reading so many thriller/suspense novels about with “girl” in the title, it was refreshing to pick one up about a woman!

I’d heard this book described as a page turner, and it definitely delivered. Ware grabbed me from the very start and I ripped through it in less than 48 hours. Divided into eight parts, the unfolding of the story is deliberately paced (each part ends on a cliffhanger that is then unpacked in the following section), but Ware kept it fresh with a fun twist. Before each new section, she added email exchanges and news reports from the week following the cruise that threw even more mystery on the story.

Lo’s descriptions of her time on the boat made me feel an overpowering sense of suffocation, disorientation and overall uneasiness. Although these sensations aren’t ones I’d want to experience in real life, they were perfect for putting me in Lo’s shoes. I can’t say I loved her as a character, though. I get that suspense/thrillers often use unreliable narrators, but Lo was drunk for so much of the story, even though she kept saying over and over how she shouldn’t drink. It just seems like a bit of cop-out to use alcohol as one of the driving reasons to discredit a character’s trustworthiness, and I wanted Lo to take her work as a journalist more seriously. However, I did appreciate that she was driven enough to do whatever it took to get to the bottom of the mystery. She wasn’t a complete lump

Gripes with the main character aside, the book was still a very enjoyable, fast-paced read. I physically felt compelled to keep reading because I wanted to reach an ending that provided relief for the claustrophobia and paranoia I felt vicariously through Lo. And despite some slightly confusing twists (I had to go back and reread a few sections to make complete sense of the conclusion), I closed the book believing it worth the read.

 

 

Filed Under: Reviews and Recommendations Kristen Leave a Comment

August 13, 2016

Literary Linking: August 8 – 12

Literary LinkingMy favorite bookish links from the week of August 8 -12:

The Merits of Reading Real Books To Your Children

“A new Harry Potter book and a new round of stories about midnight book release parties reminded me of the persistent power of words printed on a page to shape children’s lives.”

 

From Preschool through High School: 24 Great Books that Show Empathy, Kindness

“When you read these books aloud, you can tell from their expressions that they are empathetic in relating to these characters. They understand what the characters are feeling.”

 

Diversity In Book Publishing Isn’t Just About Writers — Marketing Matters, Too

“In the world of books and literature, “diversity” has recently become hotly debated, along with other cultural and media spheres. Though a few writers of color seem to be getting more shine, the demographics of those working behind the scenes in publishing remain almost entirely white.”

 

How To Make a Harry Potter Monopoly Board Game

“Why play the same old Monopoly with the same old chance and community chest cards when you could invent your own with some surprising twists and turns taken right from your favorite book and film franchise? I call it … Pottopoly! Enjoy!”

 

Emojis that Take the Cake

“Why limit yourself to digital emojis when you could be using them for sweet baked goods?”

 

Books Just for Grownups

An interactive cartoon from the New Yorker that gives more “adult” variations on the titles of some childhood favorites

 

Filed Under: Literary Linking Kristen Leave a Comment

August 12, 2016

Let’s Hear It for the Ladies: 8 Books that Empower Girls and Women

We Can Do It!With Hillary Clinton’s nomination for the U.S. presidency and Obama’s recent essay on feminism today, I’ve been in a girl power kind of mood. I am an elementary and middle-school educator, and I see first-hand how deeply entrenched gender stereotypes are in our society, and it is something I actively try to fight. It would be very easy for me to always hand traditional princess and fairy books to girls, but I make an effort to avoid them as default recommendations. As adults, I think it’s incredibly important to constantly be aware of the double standards and assumptions we have when it comes to gender, and what better way to educate yourself than through books?

 

Below you’ll find two lists of recommendations. One is grown-up titles that address feminist issues and the other is books with uber strong female characters to recommend to the young people in your life (though you might enjoy them too!).

 

Grown-ups:

ShrillShrill: Notes from a Loud Woman, by Lindy West

In series of essays, Lindy West unapologetically shares her experiences as a woman in today’s society. Full of snarky humor (and a smattering of scatalogical jokes), she tackles subjects such as body acceptance, rape culture, and women’s health. Shrill is simultaneously hilariously entertaining as well as serious and thought-provoking. If you’re an audiobook fan, I would definitely recommend listening to it. Lindy narrates and makes the experience feel more personal and human.

 

Girls and SexGirls and Sex: Navigating the Complicated New Landscape, by Peggy Orenstein

Girls and Sex takes an unflinching look at all the aspects of what sex looks like for young women in 2016…and it ain’t particularly good. In the book, Orenstein explores girls’ motives for dressing provocatively; the meaning of virginity; pleasure lacking a place in girls’ sexual experiences; the impact of porn; and more. This book has been a bit divisive for readers (Orenstein definitely has an agenda), but overall, her message is one that stresses how important it is for girls to feel heard and empowered.

 

We Should All Be FeministsWe Should All Be Feminists, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Adapted from Adichie’s TEDx Talk with the same name, We Should of All Be Feminists is a powerful essay that calls on men and women alike to promote gender equality. I personally like that she makes clear that being a feminist does not have to equate to being angry man-haters or unshaven bra-burners. The definition doesn’t have to be so narrow. In fact she calls herself a “Happy African Feminist Who Does Not Hate Men and Who Likes to Wear Lip Gloss and High Heels for Herself and Not for Men.” Short, sweet and with a touch of a humor, Adichie’s essay shouldn’t be missed.

 

Kiddos:

Magic Marks the SpotMagic Marks the Spot: The Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates, by Caroline Carlson

Hillary Westfield desperately wants to be a pirate, but her father has other plans and sends her to finishing school. This setback doesn’t discourage Hillary, though. When she sees an advertisement in search of a pirate crew, she runs away from school and proves herself worthy of the job. She is then thrown into a wild and magical adventure searching for the Enchantress of the North who has stolen all the magic of the world – well, almost all…Hillary’s sidekick is a walking, talking gargoyle after all. (Ages 8 – 12)

 

Igraine the BraveIgraine the Brave, by Cornelia Funke

Igraine is the daughter of magicians and is determined to become a knight, and she’s never had a chance to prove herself until now. The evil nephew of the baroness next door plans to attack her family’s castle and steal their magic singing books. Normally, her parents would fend him off, but they’ve accidentally turned themselves into pigs! Igraine has to suit up and save the day. (Ages 8-12)

 

I actually created an Igraine the Brave book trailer for my students that you can enjoy as well:

 

Rosie RevereRosie Revere Engineer, by Andrea Beatty

Rosie loves inventing things and dreams of becoming an engineer, but is hesitant to share her creations because of a bad experience she had with an uncle who laughed an the invention she made for him (jerk!). But when her great- great- Aunt Rose visits and mentions that one of her lifelong desires has been to fly a plane, Rosie can’t help herself and starts to work on a flying contraption of her own. It doesn’t work quite how she wants it to, but Aunt Rose assures Rosie that the important thing is she tried and that failure is a stepping stone to success. Snaps for positive female role models! And if you like this one, Beatty has a new title coming out in September called Ada Twist, Scientist.(Ages 5 and up)

 

Grace for PresidentGrace for President, by Kelly DiPucchio

When Grace finds out there has never been a female president, she decides that she has to take action! Although she isn’t quite old enough to become the real president, she runs in her school’s mock election against one other nominee, Thomas Cobb. As the campaigning proceeds, she not only learns about the U.S. electoral system, but she also realizes that there are clear lines drawn between the girl and boy voters. Who will win? (Ages 5 and up)

 

LumberjanesLumberjanes: Beware the Kitten Holy, by Noelle Stevenson

Lumberjanes is a graphic novel featuring five kick-butt girls at Miss Quinzella Thiskwin Penniquiqul Thistle Crumpet’s Camp for Hardcore Lady-types. They do their share of traditional camp stuff – canoeing, hiking, etc. – but they also solve supernatural mysteries and fight three-eyed foxes and yetis (think Girl Scouts meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer). You’ll fall in love with each of these empowered and unique girls and will want to start talking like them too. Some of their best exclamations include “Where the Phyllis Wheatley were you?!” and “Friends to the max!” I plan on working those into conversation soon! (Ages 10 and up)

Filed Under: Reviews and Recommendations Kristen Leave a Comment

August 8, 2016

How To Display Your eBooks: Free Them from Their Reader!

ebook display

My eBook display final product.

My husband built me a library – it was fabulously Beauty and the Beast of him, I know – and being able to see my books and appreciate the spines and cover designs of each of them is incredibly satisfying. The pretentious English major in me particularly likes seeing Proust, Elliot, Franzen, Joyce and friends sitting there in their literary glory, ready to be admired by anyone who happens to be browsing my shelves. But recently, it started to bother me that the books displayed in my library do not represent my entire collection. What about all those amazing authors and titles that are trapped in my Kindle?

There are a few titles that I purposely chose to purchase on Kindle for reasons of discretion (*cough* 50 Shades of Gray *cough*). I wouldn’t display those, but the other nearly 300 digital books on my reader are getting short shrift!

Sidenote: I didn’t realize I had so many eBooks until I went through my Kindle for this post! I’ve paid a shockingly small amount of money for these books with the help of daily book deals and free galleys. I’ll share some of my eBook acquisition tips in a future post.

I had to think of a way to make my eBooks a physical part of my library, and after a little brainstorming, I figured it out. I would take my retired iPad and create a slideshow of the covers of all the books in my Kindle collection then play it on a loop. I had this idea about 6 months ago and I’ve finally got the slideshow up and running with all kinks ironed out (there were more than I thought there’d be!).

And how does it look? Not to toot my own horn, but it’s pretty darn awesome. The iPad sits vertically on my desk atop a stand that allows it to stay plugged in. Covers for each title (sometimes more than one if there are different versions) cycle through an infinite and mesmerizing loop. Granted, I still can’t pick up the books to read the summary or smell the pages, but at least I get to see beautiful book covers of my eBooks every time I look at my desk. They have been set free from the Kindle’s shackles and I can show off even more of my literary-snob books. Infinite Jest, anyone? 🙂

Below you’ll find my step-by-step directions for creating your own physical manifestation of an eBook library:

  1. Find a digital device that has slideshow capabilities (iPad, digital frame, phone). I used an old iPad that I don’t use regularly because I wanted my slideshow to be on display permanently. If you’re using an iPad or phone, you’ll probably want to buy a stand that allows a power cord to pop through the bottom. 
  2. With your Kindle or e-reader in hand, go through your collection and search for images of book covers for each title you own. I’d recommend using a computer and searching on Google Images. When you’re searching, make sure to filter results using the “Search Tools” option and under “Size” choosing “Large.” Images that are too small will end up looking pixelated in your slideshow. Save all images in an easy-to-access folder.
  3. Once you have all the book covers you want, upload the folder of images to your device. How you do this will be different for each device. For the iPad, I uploaded the images to iCloud and created a “Kindle Covers” album.
  4. You can use the Photo app on the iPad to play the album as a slideshow, but when I used it, the slideshow would freeze every few hours. So, I downloaded the Slide.show make.r app and created a slideshow video instead. Additionally I downloaded Loopideo and uploaded the video to it, so it could play on a loop.
  5. Before displaying your slideshow, put your device in airplane mode and turn all notifications off. This will prevent your show from being interrupted by pop-ups.
  6. Find a nice spot for your device where it can stay plugged in, play your video/slideshow and enjoy!

 

Filed Under: Bookish Musings Kristen Leave a Comment

August 6, 2016

Literary Linking: August 1 – 5

Every Saturday,  I will share a handful of my favorite literary links from the past week. Happy reading!

 

cup-of-coffee

 

The Most Beautiful Libraries in Each US State

“Libraries are timeless treasures. Even as pulpy paperbacks get swapped out for electronic ink, we still crave a physical space where we can surround ourselves with knowledge. When done right, those spaces can be works of art.”

 

Harry Potter and the Book of Spells 

All the different ‪spells‬ featured in the ‪Harry Potter‬ Saga, in alphabetical order. From Accio to Wingardium Leviosa!

 

Chelsea Clinton’s Apt Wrinkle in Time Shout-Out

“It is quite, yes, ordinary that teenage Chelsea might have been smitten with Madeleine L’Engle’s 1963 book, a young-adult fiction touchstone. But it’s possible to read greater significance into the mention of this particular young-adult-fiction touchstone on the night when her mother became the first female major-party presidential candidate.”

 

The Surprising Magic of Bad Books

“Any story about a fairy is a story about female power. Considered this way, it makes sense that this modern girl loves Rainbow Magic over all other fairy stories. It was never really about the magic or Fairyland. It was always about the transformation.”

 

Read Books, Live Longer?

“People who report as little as a half-hour a day of book reading had a significant survival advantage over those who did not read,” said the senior author, Becca R. Levy, a professor of epidemiology at Yale. “And the survival advantage remained after adjusting for wealth, education, cognitive ability and many other variables.”

 

Filed Under: Literary Linking Kristen 1 Comment

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