by Kim Mattingly
The 94th celebration of Children’s Book Week will be held May 13-19, 2013. Established in 1919, Children’s Book Week is the longest-running national literacy initiative in the country. Administered by the literacy organization Every Child a Reader and funded in part by the Children’s Book Council, Children’s Book Week celebrates books for young people and promotes the joy of reading.
During Children’s Book Week, the 6th Annual Children’s Choice Book Awards Gala will take place on May 13th at the Liberty Theater in New York City. Children’s book author Lisa Yee will host the awards ceremony, and the awards are to be presented by popular authors Tomie dePaola, Henry Winkler, Lois Lowry, Meg Cabot, Katherine Applegate, Brian Selznick, and Walter Dean Myers. The Children’s Choice Book Awards are the only national book awards where the winners are chosen by children.
To celebrate Children’s Book Week, the Daviess County Public Library will be hosting a drop-in craft all day Wednesday, May 15th. Children ages 12 and younger are invited to make a leather bookmark to take home. In addition, regularly scheduled storytimes will take place on Monday and Thursday at 10:00 a.m. for children 0-5 and their parents or caregivers.
For more information about national programs occurring during Children’s Book Week visit www.bookweekonline.com.
How Star Wars: Episode I Destroyed Popular Filmmaking: Pt – 1 Excitement
by Ryan Henry
Steve, Derek, and I woke up before dawn and headed to the Malco multiplex on Frederica Street in Owensboro, KY, to wait in line. The occasion — tickets were going on sale for Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace, and we wanted to be sure to get to see the film on opening day. We heralded the return of the Star Wars saga by bringing plastic lightsabers to duel while waiting and a Chewbacca cardboard standee to preside over the morning’s festivities. We would wait a mere four hours to purchase our tickets, a fraction of the sixteen years it had been since we had all watched the previous film, The Return of the Jedi, in theaters.
Of course I had already purchased on CD the movie’s orchestral score composed by John Williams. A midnight odyssey to an after-hours premiere of the new Hasbro action figures line at Toys R Us yielded the two Jedi (Qui Gon Jinn and Obi Wan Kenobi), a Battle Droid, and a mysterious new alien warrior named Jar Jar Binks (who I figured would be similar to Chewbacca from the original series). My Star Wars fandom had embarrassingly surpassed childhood nostalgia of the original films to encompass expanded universe novels such as Timothy Zahn’s Heir to the Empire series, West End Games’ tabletop roleplaying game, and a Darth Vader action figure still on card signed by David Prowse. At the end of that day, my collection included three tickets to see Episode I on opening day at the Malco multiplex on Frederica Street, in Owensboro, KY.
The Star Wars marketing machine had worked viewers into a frenzy. A cheeky trailer for the film Austin Powers 2: The Spy Who Shagged Me commanded “If you see only one movie this summer – see Star Wars. But if you see two movies, see Austin Powers 2.” Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, and Kentucky Fried Chicken adapted their décor to resemble key settings from the film and advertised it on their packaging (hey, I was in college, so I saw a lot of Taco Bell in those days). Mountain Dew and other Pepsi products stamped the characters’ faces on the drink cans. [An aside, if you drank diet sodas you would get a female character such as Queen Amidala or Padme. This sexist promotion continues to more contemporary films such as Marvel’s Avengers with Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow adorning cans of Diet Dr. Pepper. We will discuss this again in the Marketing section.] I had (and still have because I get rid of nothing) an Episode I sheet set. Cereal bowls, coloring books, action figures, Christmas tree ornaments, etc.
I could continue and tell you just how big the hype of Episode I was to me as a Star Wars fan and how much Lucasfilm pushed the film through every available outlet. I could also tell you the disappointment my friends and I felt, leaving the screen at around 2:30 p.m. on May 19 after the first showing in Owensboro. Shell-shocked, we debated if we wanted to watch the film again at 3:15 (since we had already purchased a total of three tickets to the film for opening day). I don’t need to describe all of this to you, likely because you’ve read it elsewhere or even experienced it for yourself. No, this is going to be much bigger than that and much more damning of George Lucas and the juggernaut of terrible filmmaking that is Episode I. This is going to explain just how The Phantom Menace drafted the blueprint of how terrible American popular cinema became in the following years.
by Lisa Crowley
It started in March with “Lookin’ for Leprechauns” to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Then in April, it was “Signs of Spring” to encourage spring to make an appearance. Now, we are celebrating Mother’s Day with “Calling All Cartoon Moms.” This will be the third month of the scavenger hunt on the first floor. If you’re unaware of what I’m talking about, here’s the skinny:
Each month, the theme changes to reflect a holiday, a season, an event, etc. There are 10 items placed around the first floor. If you see the first floor Information Desk, you can pick up a game sheet. Write the names of the items on the designated spaces on the game sheet. Once you have found all 10 items, turn the sheet in to the first floor Information Desk and you will receive a coupon for a free book from The Book End.
So far, over 120 people have participated in the scavenger hunts since they started in March. The hunts are enjoyable for patrons of all ages. I try to select items to seek that both children and adults will recognize with books rewarded that both children and adults will enjoy.
Even though putting together each scavenger hunt is certainly fun, there is a larger reason behind the purpose. I try to incorporate our displays with the hunt. If patrons walk by our displays, the hope is that they stop and look to see what types of books are showcased and take the ones that look interesting to them. We have displays all along the outer walls of the first floor, two foyer displays in front of the first floor Information Desk, and mini-displays near the computers. The point of the scavenger hunt was to get patrons moving around the first floor, visiting sections they may not normally visit, and taking books that actually interest them. We always want to open patrons to new topics or ideas they may not be aware of.
“Calling All Cartoon Moms” centers on celebrating Mother’s Day. There are 10 famous cartoon moms hidden throughout the first floor. So, if you like winning a free book and exploring your local library, please come in and join the 120 + patrons who have already participated in the scavenger hunt at the library.
by Kara Schroader
Everyone warned William Joyce and Brandon Oldenburg they were doing things in the wrong order—the book should be created first, then the animated short film, and then maybe an iPad app. It’s a good thing they didn’t listen. As originally planned, The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore appeared in two different screen adaptations before making the transition into print last summer. Since then, the animated short-film, the app, and the picture book have received admirable reviews.
Inspired by Hurricane Katrina, The Wizard of Oz, and a love for books, “Morris Lessmore” is a story of people devoting their lives to books and books who return the favor. The print-edition of the story is a rapidly paced, beautifully illustrated tale for adult readers and young readers alike. Morris Lessmore, a young book lover with a snazzy brown suit spends his days on a porch piled high with books. In his free time, Morris records his own private thoughts into a journal. When an unexpected storm sweeps through his town destroying homes and ruining Morris’ beloved books and journal, the world as he knows it is deranged.
Last year, The Fantastic Flying Books of Morris Lessmore won the Oscar for Best Animated Short Film. The remarkable 15-minute film, available on YouTube, is comprised of the perfect combination of music and imagery to tell the story of a man finding his purpose among the pages of books. Containing no dialogue at all, this movie leaves its viewers with a newfound respect for books and libraries.
The app, developed by Joyce’s own Moonbot Studios, is a hybrid of the short film and the picture book. Much like the film, music and animation propel the story and provide a “cinematic flow”. Keeping true to the picture book, the app also includes a textual story to follow and still images to view. This combination, with the addition of evenly-paced narration and numerous interactive features, sets the app version of the story apart from its companions.
Whether in the form of short film, iPad app, or picture book, the story of Morris Lessmore will captivate and entertain individuals of all ages while instilling a sense of gratitude for the written word. Allow yourself or children you know to enjoy this fascinating story of a young book lover in its various forms of film, app, and book.
by Kim Mattingly
Spring Break will be here soon! Now is the perfect time to start planning your week. The Daviess County Public Library will be offering a variety of fun activities for children of all ages.
Two sessions available: 2 pm and 3 pm
You have the underpants- now you just need a cape! Join us in the Programming Room to hear some of Captain Underpants’ remarkable adventures and create your own cape!Ages 12 and younger
10 am
Join us for a whimsical butterfly storytime, and use fingerpaint to create your own beautiful butterfly.
Ages 5 and younger
Two sessions available: 2 pm and 3 pm
Create your own artwork using fuse beads! Choose from animals, people and other cool shapes! Model them with all the colors of the rainbow and take them home to decorate your room!
Ages 6-12
6:30-7:30 pm
Accelerated Reader has become a fixture at your child’s school but do you know how it works? Do you know where to find books? How is your child’s reading level determined? Join us in the programming room for a presentation on the AR program and a tour of the Children’s area.
Parents and School age children
2-4 pm
Amelia Bedelia has turned 50 this year and she needs help more than ever with her to-do list! Come celebrate Amelia’s birthday with cake, activities, and Amelia herself!
Ages 12 and younger
Registration is required for some of our programs because of limited spacing. You may register at the 2nd floor Information Desk or by calling (270)684-0211 ext. 237.