Tuesday Storytime: Fourth of July

This was supposed to be a "vacation week" for Summer Programming, because of the coincidence of the holiday weekend and the American Library Association conference in San Fran last weekend through Wednesday.

However, I had a pile of families turn up (which I have to be honest, I sort of expected) so I did a short Fourth of July program with only one book.

Apple Pie 4th of July
Janet S. Wong, illustrated by Margaret Chodos-Irvine
ISBN: 015202543X
Comic-book stylings for the characters, and minimalist backgrounds focus attention to the story.

Our narrator is a young daughter of a family-owned chinese take-out and quick-stop corner store.  She laments that they are open every day of the year except Christmas (even on the Fourth of July!) when obviously everyone knows that no one eats Chinese food on the Fourth of July!  Her certainty is assured and a bit overplayed, as the ending of course has happy revelers enjoying their Chinese food, and everyone retreating to the rooftops to enjoy the fireworks shows.  A great short course in tone and language and expectations.

Next week, back to heroes!

Storytime Potentials: Mama Played Baseball, David A. Adler

Mama Played Baseball
David A. Adler, illustrated by Chris O'Leary
ISBN: 0152021965
Read February 10, 2014

I just finished off a 'larger than life men' storytime, and I'm going to pair it with a 'larger than life women' installment as soon as February is done.  I considered this one for that purpose, but decided on Anthony Browne's My Mom instead.

Mama Played Baseball isn't a bad read, but it is a bit on the long side for my age group, and it also has more to do with wartime changes and family-members in the armed services than really celebrating the mother in the title.  I do like it, but I'm going to keep it in mind for when I focus on patriotism or service to one's country or wartime sacrifices/changes.