Author Archives: GPL

Review: Their Bright Ascendancy

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Today I’d like to review one of my favorite series of all time, the Their Bright Ascendancy books by K Arsenault Rivera. This is an adult, Asian-inspired fantasy trilogy composed of The Tiger’s Daughter, The Phoenix Empress, and The Warrior Moon. I just finished the final book on April 20th, and I’m still just floored by the perfection of the ending and wishing there was more!

The books follow two women who meet in their childhood. Shizuka is the niece of the emperor, and Shefali is the daughter of the leader of a Mongol-inspired steppe people. Their mothers are the closest of friends, so naturally they want their girls to be friends as well. Except that when they first meet as children, Shizuka tries to kill Shefali. Later on, the people around them start to notice that these girls may be more than they appear, particularly when, at eight years old, they manage to kill a savage tiger.

These books have so much going for them! The prose is, first and foremost, amazing. It’s very flowery, especially in the first book when you’re just getting adjusted to the author’s writing style. If you’re not a fan of metaphors, reader beware! Despite the poetic, detail-oriented language and the way that the point of view and tense changes for each perspective, the author does an excellent job of leading the reader through the story. I didn’t find myself confused at any point in the three books, even when the books jump between third and second person. And the second person? It is artfully done!

In addition to the solid mechanics of the books, the characters and plot are out of this world. You will feel for every single character you come across. It doesn’t matter if it’s the main characters your rooting for, the despicable villains, or the well-fleshed out side characters. They’ll feel like real people, and you’ll wonder if you could stand to be around some of them if they were! The author weaves the plot along within these character arcs and succeeds in creating an epic masterpiece.

One of the biggest pluses for this series is the LGBT representation. Multiple characters could be described as LGBT, and the way they are portrayed is respectful and empowering to the real-world community. Additionally, the women in these books take the forefront: they drive the plot, they’re strong willed, they’re brave, and they’re leaders. Some balance femininity with necessary heroics, while others, at their core, are gritty and powerful.

As far as negatives go, there aren’t many. I’ve read other reviews from people who feel that the series is filled with appropriation of Asian cultures. You can see this in using real world words and names, but changing their meaning to fit within the context of the author’s world. You can also see this in the animal imagery and the customs of different cultures in the books, just to point out a few of the things that could have been more original. That said, I feel like the representation in the book far outweighs the lack of cultural sensitivity that some readers sense in the text.

Overall, I am in love with this series and the characters! I finished each book within a week, which is often a big accomplishment for a slow reader like myself. It pains me that this series is already over, but the author has a prequel in the works that I’m waiting impatiently for.

If you want to pick up these books, unfortunately we don’t have copies here in Greenwood, but you can order them through Evergreen today and still support us as we’re starting to get books out into the community again!

 

Michelle is a member of our Patron Services Department.  In addition to being an avid reader, she also is an animal lover and a fan of board games.

Social Emotional Learning & your Child’s Emotional Development

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If you’ve been to our library’s Exploration Stations, you’ve most likely seen the “Conversation Station” on the coloring table, with questions that use Social Emotional Learning (SEL) competencies as a framework. That’s not to say that these conversations are only for young children – we know that everyone benefits from developing their social and emotional skills, even adults!

You might be wondering, what is Social Emotional Learning? It’s the tools we have to regulate our emotions and reactions. It’s how we understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions. But why is this something we encourage at the library, and what are the long-term benefits? 

We as librarians want to promote evidence-based practices, and there is a wealth of research demonstrating the lasting benefits of social emotional development. In short, studies have shown that early education can improve childhood non-cognitive skills in a lasting way. We know that students who have a solid SEL foundation have better grades, test scores, and attendance than their peers. They are also more emotionally stable and have an easier time forming positive relationships. 

Especially in the current climate, it’s important to develop these skills in our children, to help them process the changes they’ve experienced over the last couple months. Developing these skills isn’t as challenging as it may seem – modeling the behavior you want to see is a great first step. And then, of course, the conversations we encourage in our programs. Atlanta Public schools have a wonderful infographic (see right) explaining the SEL competencies, and you can build your questions from there.

Here’s a sample of some of the questions we included in our Conversation Station booklets:

 

Self-Awareness

  • What makes you special?
  • How are you feeling right now?
  • What sorts of things do you need help with? 
  • Why are you important in your family?

Self-Management

  • How do you handle stressful situations?
  • How do you act when you are excited? Nervous? Scared?
  • What do you want to do today?
  • How do you get what you want?

Social Awareness

  • How can you tell when someone is sad?
  • What makes your friends special?
  • What are your friends good at?
  • How can you tell when someone needs help?

Relationship Skills

  • What does it mean to be a good friend?
  • How do you ask your friends for help?
  • What do you do when someone is mean to you?
  • How do you show your friends that you care about them?

Responsible Decision Making

  • What are you not able to do on your own?
  • Do you think about what will happen after you do something?
  • Who do you trust? Why do you trust them?
  • If someone has something you want, what do you do?

It may seem like some of these questions have obvious answers–– but we know that children are not born with this knowledge. They are either taught how to interact and manage themselves, or they learn from the people around them. Additionally, you may already use these questions in your home! How often do you ask your children what they want to do? It’s part of many of our days, once our children are able to voice their preferences. But this simple action develops several skills: it shows children that their opinion matters and increases their sense of self-worth and self-awareness. It models to them how they can interact with other people, by caring about what others want. For you as the “grown-up,” practicing these conversations also helps build a foundation for future emotional development with your child.

If you have any questions about SEL, feel free to contact us. For more information, here’s a few great SEL-related resources:

Social Emotional Learning Overview, Roger P. Weissberg & Jason Cascarino

The Impact of Enhancing Students’ Social and Emotional Learning: A Meta-Analysis of School-Based Universal Interventions, Joseph Durlak, Roger P. Weissberg, Allison Dymnicki, Rebecca Taylor, & Kriston Schellinger

The Positive Impact of Social and Emotional Learning for Kindergarten to Eighth-Grade Students, John Payton, Roger P. Weissberg, Joseph A. Durlak, Allison B. Dymnicki, Rebecca D. Taylor, Kriston B. Schellinger, Molly Pachan

 

Travel the World from Your Living Room

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Going a little stir crazy?  Want to go to Scotland?  Or Japan? Or India?  Me too!  Lucky for all of us, you can travel the world from the comfort of your couch.  And all of these titles are available to download from Libby or Hoopla.  Enjoy!  And we are all looking forward to seeing you guys soon!  

 

Scotland

The Cafe by the Sea by Jenny Colgan

Available on Libby and Hoopla

Returning to her family’s Scottish island town in the aftermath of her mother’s death, a London girl-about-town opens a cafe when she discovers that her father and brothers are not quite up to the task of running the family farm..

 

China

The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See

Available on Libby

Explores the lives of a Chinese mother and her daughter, who has been adopted by an American couple, tracing the very different cultural factors that compel them to consume a rare native tea that has shaped their family’s destiny for generations.

 

India

The Widows of Malabar Hill by Sujata Massey

Available of Libby

In 1921, Bombay’s first female lawyer, Oxford graduate Perveen Mistry, investigates a suspicious will on behalf of three Muslim widows living in strict seclusion who become subject to a murderous guardian’s schemes for their inheritances

 

Spain

A Long Petal of the Sea by Isabel Allende

Available on Libby

Sponsored by the poet Pablo Neruda to flee the violence of the Spanish Civil War, a pregnant widow and an army doctor unite in an arranged marriage, only to be swept up by the early days of World War II.

 

Nigeria

My Sister the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

Available on Libby

Realizing that her beautiful, beloved younger sister has murdered yet another boyfriend, an embittered Nigerian woman works to direct suspicion away from the family, until a handsome doctor she fancies asks for her sister’s number.

 

Canada

Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin

Available on Libby 

A modern Muslim adaptation of Pride and Prejudice finds a reluctant teacher who would avoid an arranged marriage setting aside her literary ambitions before falling in love with her perpetually single cousin’s infuriatingly conservative fiance.

 

Mexico

Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Available on Libby

A dark fairy tale inspired by folklore is set against the Jazz age in Mexico’s underworld, where a young dreamer is sent by the Mayan God of Death on a life-changing journey.

 

France

The Winemaker’s Wife by Kristin Harmel

Available on Libby

The author of the international best-seller The Room on Rue Amélie returns with a moving story set amid the champagne vineyards of northern France during the darkest days of World War II.

 

Ireland

The Library at the Edge of the World by Felicity Hayes-McCoy

Available on Hoopla

Traces the experiences of a librarian on the scenic west coast of Ireland who searches for a way to rebuild her community and her own life in the wake of local estrangements.

 

Japan

Killing Commendatore by Haruki Murakami

Available on Libby

A portrait painter deals with the upcoming divorce from his wife by moving into an old house in rural Japan that used to belong to a famous artist.

 

 

Great Britain

Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert

Available on Libby and Hoopla

Emerging from a life-threatening illness, a fiercely organized but unfulfilled computer geek recruits a mysterious artist to help her establish meaning in her life, before finding herself engaged in reckless but thrilling activities.

 

 

Interactive Movie Experience: The Wizard of Oz

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After you’ve listened to the staff at GPL read you a new chapter of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by Frank L. Baum tonight on One More Chapter, consider adding an interactive movie watching experience to the fun!

Interactive movies are a great way to experience classic films that the whole family loves in a whole new way – all you need are a few items and the script of prompts that we’ve included below.  As a scene, action, or song plays in the movie, follow the action provided on the script.  It’s that easy!  Don’t have one of the items on the list?  Get creative and make your own fun!

 

ITEMS

Here are some starter ideas of items you might need.  Feel free to add to or substitute items on the list for your own, personal interactive movie watching experience:

  • Blank paper and crayons
  • A piece of candy (or other sweet treat)
  • Bubbles (Here are instructions for homemade bubbles!)
  • A tissue paper apple (OR a rolled-up pair of red socks would work too!)
  • A cup of confetti (OR mini marshmallows would work and are easier to clean up!)
  • Diploma (an old piece of paper rolled up will do!)
  • Paper heart
  • Paper medal
  • Song lyrics (for extra fun, sing along!)

** And a bowl of popcorn or a favorite movie watching snack

 

THE SCRIPT

There are two types of actions in the script : RECURRING are actions that you’ll do EVERY time they occur in the movie, while ONE-TIME actions occur only once.  To make things easy, ONE-TIME actions are prompted in order by scene.

RECURRING

Everytime the…

  • Song “We’re off to see the wizard” plays, skip along with Dorothy
  • Scarecrow mentions a brain, do a thinking pose OR tap your head
  • Wicked Witch comes on screen, do your best witch laugh/cackle
  • Tin Man mentions a heart, put your hand over your heart
  • Lion mentions courage, do a strong man pose

ONE-TIME

  • Somewhere Over the Rainbow song, draw/color a rainbow OR look for items in your house – one for each color of the rainbow
  • Toto escapes from Miss Gulch, yell “Run, Toto, Run!”
  • The tornado comes, spin around like a twister
  • Glinda, the Good Witch, appears, blow bubbles to match her bubble
  • The Lollipop Guild song, have a piece of candy
  • The trees throw apples, toss your tissue paper apple at Dorothy and her friends
  • The Cowardly Lion appears, do your best lion impersonation
  • Merry Old Land of Oz song, laugh along with the residents of Oz

** Note: It’s TOTALLY cool to skip through the scary parts!  Fast forward, take a time out for a snack, or have the kids brush their teeth for bed before Dorothy and the gang make it back to Oz.

  • Wicked Witch of the West melts, toss your cup of confetti at the Wicked Witch
  • The Wizard gives Scarecrow his diploma, hand out diplomas
  • The Wizard gives the Cowardly Lion his courage, hand out paper medals
  • The Wizard gives the Tin Man his heart, hand out paper hearts
  • Glinda shows Dorothy how to get home, tap your heels together and repeat with Dorothy, “There’s no place like home.”

If you plan your own interactive Wizard of Oz family movie night, we’d love to see pictures!  Share them with us using #mygpl on Facebook or Instagram OR leave a comment with a picture on one of the One More Chapter Facebook posts each night.

At Home with The Studio: How to Make Pop-Up Cards

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We’ve missed creating new things with you at The Studio! Since we cannot host programs or provide make-and-take projects at this time, we wanted to share a DIY that you can make with supplies that you likely already have around the house. 

Since Mother’s Day is only a week and half away, and Father’s Day is not long after that, we thought we’d share how to make a homemade pop-up card. 

This card is almost infinitely customizable, so don’t limit your ideas to just your mothers and fathers! These would be a great idea to send to friends to connect with them while we are all sheltering at home, or to celebrate any milestone you want.   

You only need a few supplies to get started. 

Materials needed: 

  • 2 pieces of heavy construction paper or cardstock
  • Small pieces of various colors of paper, depending on your theme
  • Markers, crayons, or glitter pens (whatever you prefer for writing your message)
  • Pencil
  • Glue or glue stick
  • Scissors
  • Ruler
  • Stickers (optional)

Directions:

Plan what items you would like to have pop up from the card. You could draw hearts, balloons, gift boxes, animals – you name it! You might even want to start with a silly pun like we did (You’re whale-y awesome, I love you a latte, You’re dino-mite, Thank you berry much, etc.) and use that to decide what item you’d like to have pop up. If you’re not comfortable drawing or creating freehand shapes, you could even put stickers on a piece of construction paper or cardstock and then cut around it. Once you’ve decided, cut your shapes out of the small pieces of paper, and color if you wish.

Take the piece of paper that you want to be the inside of the card. Measure your card and your pieces.

You want to make sure that any lines you use to cut will be small enough to be covered by your design, and also that you don’t cut so deep that your design will hang over the edge of the card when it’s folded up.

Here, we put small lines that would fit within our design, and then used a ruler to draw lines straight out from there. To get a more dimensional effect, we made the lines for the dinosaur 1” long and the lines for the volcano ¾” long. This will make the dinosaur look closer when you open the card.

Push the cut areas forward and crease.

Open the card and glue your item to the bottom half of the cut piece. Repeat as needed.

To add even more dimension to this one, we added a decorative cut to a piece of green construction paper and folded it over. Just glue down the flat piece.  Add your message.

This leaves you with a card that has notches in it, so to cover that up, use your second larger piece of construction paper to glue to the outside. Make sure you don’t put glue on the pop-up pieces!

Decorate the front in coordinating items and add your inscription on the inside. 

 

Here are a couple of other cards we made using the same method.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are a lot of other ways to make pop-up cards that would also be fun to try. One easy way is to cut out 4 of the same size and shape items and layer them by just gluing in the crease. 

We also made a simple and fun card by tracing a child’s hands onto construction paper and cutting them out. Then we cut a strip of construction paper, folded it accordion style, and then put one letter per fold, so the final card reads “I love you this much.” 

For more pop-up card inspirations, visit our Pinterest Pop-Up Card Inspiration board!