Sandhill Cranes

Just published in our February 2010 Inkslinger

One Shoe Blues!

It is hard to believe two weeks has passed since our January Friday Fun for Kids! We featured Sandra Boynton’s One Shoe Blues book, starring B.B.King. It was so nice to see lots of BOYS at the workshop!

Mina and I got to the bookshop early to set up the room, the projects, and the DVD player. As we were setting up, a little boy, about 3 or 4, came in with his grandmother to read some afternoon books. As the workshop began, they sat off to the right, listening, but not wanting to intrude. That little boy looked so interested in the book and so curious about the project, that I had Mina give him an extra kit. He was THRILLED! He absolutely loved it. It warmed my heart to see him so grateful and happy to be included.

First I read the story, One Shoe Blues, which stars B.B. King, his guitar Lucille, and some sock puppets. B.B. King sings about how he lost his shoe and how now he has the “One Shoe Blues.” The sock puppets help him remember where he left it…silly B.B.King! We finished the story and then dove into making sock puppets! Everyone got a sock and some sticker shapes. The moms helped out by putting the sock on their hand while the child decorated it with all the shapes. That little boy fell in love with his sock puppet and didn’t take it off the whole time! He named it Skateboard!

After the puppets were done, we sat down, snacked on gingersnaps and watched the short (12 minute) DVD that comes with the book— a performance by B.B. King of the “One Shoe Blues” song with the sock puppets. It is cute. Then we read a few more music-themed books including The Musical Life of Gustav Mole by Kathryn Meyrick and Rhinoceros Tap: 15 Seriously Silly Songs (book/cd) also by Sandra Boynton.

The Musical Life of Gustav Mole follows a little mole born into a musical family. We follow him along as he develops his love of music from child to adult. In the end, he becomes a composer and marries an opera singer. The children learn about different instruments, different musical styles, etc., in a way that is approachable.

Rhinoceros Tap: 15 Seriously Silly Songs approaches music and rhyme in a fun silly way. Each page is a different song enhanced with Sandra Boyton’s familiar pictures. There is sure to be a giggle found at the end of each song. Mina especially likes the silly Noodle Lullaby and always giggles at the last line: “…and the Owl went…..MOOO!!” That just cracks her up! “Mama, the owl went MOO!! Ha, ha, ha! Owls don’t go MOO!!”

When we were wrapping up our Friday afternoon, the little boy, still wearing Skateboard, his Sock Puppet, put on his coat, and left with a BIG smile on his face.

We hope to see you at our next Friday Fun for Kids! February 12, 4 p.m. This third event in our new series (the second Friday of each month) of storytime and crafting events for children has a Valentine’s theme: sweet stories and treats–then kids 3 and up will decorate their own Valentine’s mailboxes. Registration required, $15 per child, please call 801-484-9100.

A perfect evening with Audrey Niffenegger

It really couldn’t have been more perfect: a brilliant author, a thrilled audience, a few ghosts and a few jokes. Audrey was gracious and fiercely intelligent. Audrey began with a short reading from Her Fearful Symmetry, which, if you haven’t yet read it, is not to be missed. Then she opened the floor to a host of smart, writerly questions. Everyone wanted to know how she managed to write such incredibly complex works of fiction, including many fans of her earlier work, The Time Traveler’s Wife. And she obliged, offering up many tidbits and hints for aspiring writers, in fact, she was inspiring.

The Town Club book group’s 10th anniversary!

What a pleasant surprise to find out that my friends at The Town Club and I were celebrating our 10 year book group anniversary. For our readers who do not know the Town Club, it is a ladies organization located in Salt Lake City on South Temple.
My son Patrick was five years old when we started; another way of measuring my aging. The core group of ladies has stayed the same, and we have read and been challenged many times over.
The ladies at the club, notably Rowena Howe, made the moment a celebration. We read My Life in France, the memoir of Julia Child. And at our very well attended luncheon, Rowena  had arranged for the chef to use some of Julia Child’s recipes. It was delicious. Toasts and compliments were abundant, and I was the beneficiary of a beautiful handwoven scarf. I have to say the kind words were the best gift.
Working for the Town Club ladies has been a tremendous experience for me. I learn something every month. The members bring so much wisdom and experience to every group, and I am lucky to be a part of their group.

–
Margaret Brennan Neville

Local Author Showcase Debuts!

What a nice evening we shared with six recently published local authors. Their books ran the gamut from mystery to memoir, fantasy, both teen and adult, to fiction and not to be outdone, a manual for revolutionaries. After a lively Q&A session, the authors signed their books and visited with the crowd who had come to hear and meet them. This will be the first of a quarterly series celebrating local writers and what they contribute to our community. Mark Tuesday, April 13 on your calendar for our next showcase.

From left: Bonn Turkington, Steven Bates, Lisa Mangum, Charles Amonett, Susanna Barlow, Ryan Shattuck