Yummy Story Stew

Children's Liaison Mary Jennings reports on a recent library program:

On Friday, July 15th the library was filled to the brim with happy families enjoying the songs and stories of acclaimed children’s performer Courtney Campbell. (Ms. Campbell is best known for her delightful TV series Mustard Pancakes—check out YouTube for some charming episodes.) The program, entitled Yummy Story Stew, began with a few interactive songs that had the entire audience joining in with gusto. Courtney then told several folk tales from around the world that had both young and old completely engaged. Ms. Campbell, an international performer, finished the program with a hilarious original song about a camel with runny nose she’d observed on a recent trip to Egypt. This wonderful family event was generously funded by the Friends of the Camano Island Library, the Sno-Isle Foundation and Viking Village.

What's the Best Part of Summer?

Well, the weather wouldn't be my first choice, where here in the Northwest, you can usually tell it's summer because the rain is warmer.

Food would have been at the top of my list -- who doesn't love a barbeque? --- but my doctor has suggested I get more acquainted with leafy vegetables, so that's out.

Vacation? Nope, I'm working.

School's out! Hmmm, it's been a l-o-n-g time since I was in school, so that's not really a contender.

Yes, there's the outdoors, the beach, the ferry rides, the chance to hear music in the parks -- all of that is great, but my favorite part of summer is...all the extra time I manage to find. The days are long, there's nothing on TV, I've got a big pile of books and that old porch swing is calling.


Here are three of my recent favorites:



"Before I Go to Sleep" by S. J. Watson
Christine was involved in an accident that results in a particularly devastating form of amnesia: every morning, she wakes up in a strange house with a man who claims to be her husband, and every morning, he calmly explains to her about the accident and her memory loss. Eventually, she begins a journal to keep track of her occassional flashbacks -- but why do these flashbacks differ from what her husband has been telling her?




"Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter" by Tom Franklin
Two boys, one black, one white, are high school friends in Mississippi. Silas is the sports hero, and Larry is the book-ish outsider. Larry manages to get a date, but when the girl never returns home, Larry is blamed. Twenty years later, Silas is a recently-returned police officer, and once again, a girl disappears. Is Larry responsible? While the mystery element drives the plot, the story is really about friendship, betrayal and living with the consequences.

"Record Store Days: From Vinyl to Digital and Back Again" by Gary Calaman

Growing up, record stores were my favorite places to be (I even got to work in a few), so this collection of record store memories (and fantastic photos) is dear to my heart. The best part? The indie record stores that have managed to survive.