April is National Poetry Month, 30 days to speak in verse, rhyme your words and enjoy the delights and struggles of the world in a condensed description. April also means the passing of winter. We are beginning a month of bursting crocuses, red-breasted robins and long-forgotten sunny afternoons. That being the case, we start this month’s book notes with an old familiar poem by William Wordsworth.

I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o’er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils,
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in slightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they
Outdid the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed—and gazed—but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.

We have many enticing poetry titles dotting our shelves. In this month dedicated to haikus and sonnets, among the most exciting additions is a CD of Mary Oliver’s poetry. In At Blackwater Pond (0807007005), the Pulitzer Prize-winning poet reads her work onto an audio recording for the first time ever. If you are not familiar with her work (or are a big fan), there’s nowhere better to start (or round out your collection) than to have Oliver read, with her own intonations, a variety of her favorites (that will soon be yours).

Dede writes: The Madonnas of Leningrad (0060825308) by Debra Dean is my current favorite book. It begins in the present in America’s Northwest and travels back in time to the siege of Leningrad where Marina, a docent at the Hermitage Museum, memorized whole rooms of paintings and sculpture—making a “Memory Palace”—to remain sane in the horrors of war. Now elderly and suffering from short term memory problems, she finds that she still remembers the beauty and joy in the treasures of the Hermitage. This moving portrayal of hard-won survival and the loneliness of Alzheimer’s is not depressing, believe it or not. This is Dean’s first novel for which she did ten years of research.  

Second Honeymoon (1596910380) by Joanna Trollope is the newest treat from the bestselling British author. You will not be disappointed! In the novel, parents approach the bittersweet time in life when their children move out and move on with their own lives. They have barely adjusted to the empty nest when the chicks return, and life is more complicated than ever. I loved reading about all the domestic details; her strong narrative voice and sense of humor are intact.

Alice writes: I love Julia Alvarez, and her newest novel only reinforced my respect for her. Saving the World (156512510X) has two story lines woven together, and unlike many other books formatted similarly, both plots were engaging. In the present day, an author named Alma Huebner is married to a man who works for a humanitarian organization, and his latest project is in Alma’s native country, the Dominican Republic, where he is setting up a green center in the midst of a violent protest against a pharmaceutical company conducting AIDS medication testing on the poor. In the alternating chapters, we read the story Alma is writing about an early 19^th C. mission to vaccinate Americans against small pox. Plagues, politics, altruism and idealism are the strings tying the two plots together.

Generally not a theme in my reading, I also loved another disease-focused novel, this one by Allegra Goodman. Intuition (0385336128) takes place in a Cambridge, MA laboratory. When a handsome, smooth-talking postdoc begins to get results with the R-7 virus, the fame and scrutiny placed on a potential cure for cancer draws out the personalities of a team of scientists. In particular, the discoverer of the dazzling results—Cliff Bannaker—draws the ire of his soon-to-be former girlfriend, a co-worker named Robin, who publicly doubts his findings. There, within the personal, comes a novel about American science, about ethics and about the interference of emotions in a supposedly antiseptic and objective profession.

Next up for book group, on Tuesday, April 11^th from 7-8 p.m., we will discuss Sheri Holman’s The Dress Lodger (0345436911). Set in 19^th C. England, the heroine is a fifteen-year old girl caught between a city threatened by disease and a less than savory livelihood. A potter's assistant by day and prostitute by night, Gustine sells herself in a rented gown to feed and protect her child—who was born with his heart outside his chest cavity. She holds a glimmer of hope after meeting Dr. Henry Chiver, an ambitious young surgeon who fled Edinburgh after being implicated in the convictions of two pioneer anatomists. Amid the gathering momentum of the cholera epidemic, Henry and Gustine strike up a fatal pact: life for her son in exchange for a fresh supply of dead bodies for Henry's dissection.

FROM THE CHILDREN’S ROOM:

Pat writes: Spring has finally arrived. With sunny days and warmer weather, an abundance of new picture books have come into the store. A few have the addition of a CD, some contain a reading of the story while others have rhymes and music.  

Arlene Alda’s new book, Did You Say Pears? (0887767397), is a treat for the eyes and fun for the ears. Filled with homonyms (words that are spelled alike but with different meanings) and homophones (words that sound the same but with different spellings and different meanings), her book is filled with clear, wonderful photos, and a text of rhyme that makes it fun to read again and again. Great for pre-kindergarten through second grade.

This Little Piggy and Other Rhymes to Sing and Play (0763613487) by Jane Yolen is filled with lap songs, finger plays, clapping games and pantomime rhymes wonderfully presented and simply explained for parents to play with their babies and toddlers. Many familiar and a few less-known songs and rhymes are listed, accompanied by the whimsical and colorful illustrations of Will Hillenbrand.  The CD features 13 songs from the collection.

A Frog Thing (0970380933) along with It’s Me! (0970380925) by Eric Drachman are two picture books with the story included on CD. A Frog Thing is about a little frog named Frank whose parents have told him he can do anything he sets his mind to and works hard at. Only, Frank wants to fly, and flying is definitely not a frog thing. One day a baby bird falls into Frank’s pond, and with his excellent swimming ability, he saves her and takes her back to shore. The little bird’s mama is so grateful that she and another bird fulfill Frank’s desire to fly. In the end, Frank agrees that he may not ever be able to fly, but he can be a really great swimmer. It’s Me! is about a girl who loves to play dress-up. Sometimes she is a beautiful princess, other times a wicked witch and sometimes a mommy. One day, dressed as herself, her family has a hard time recognizing that “it’s just me,” their very own Patricia. But when they do, she gets hugs and kisses from her mom, who tells her how much she was missed.

Lullabies Under the Moon (1416913599) by Giovanni Caviezel is a sweet board book, perfect for tucking into a little one’s Easter basket. Charming illustrations help tell the story of Little Bunny, who is having such a good time that he doesn’t want to go to sleep. Finally he hears his mother’s soft voice singing to him, and he closes his eyes as she continues her lullaby under the moon. The CD includes a 25-minute story narration along with musical composition, a quiet and calming conclusion to any young one’s day.

Judy H. writes: Snake (9037580758) by Jeff Stone is the third book in a proposed seven part series set in 17^th century China. This book centers on Seh, a 12-year-old monk whose name means snake. Seh is a master in martial arts, and his style of fighting mimics the actions and behavior of a snake. He and two fellow young monks set out on a mission to deliver very important scrolls into the hands of the “right person.” In his journeys, Seh and his companions witness the massive destruction of temples, the murder of monks, attacks by bandits and local rebellion. If you are looking for a constant kung-fu, action-packed adventure for an older elementary school boy, this series is the one.

Marilyn writes: Student reviewers Perry D. and Julian P. both gave high marks to The Book Thief (0375831002) by Markus Zusak. Perry writes, “This was one of the most incredible books I’ve ever read. This is a Holocaust story unlike any that has been published. It’s actually told from the mournful, gentle point of view of Death itself. In the very beginning, The Book Thief is introduced as ‘just a small story really.’ But this book is anything but a small story. It’s unforgettable.” Julian adds, “Everything is very vivid, and the book is masterfully designed and illustrated. All in all, the book was exceedingly good, and I highly recommend it.” This is a challenging book; we recommend it for high school and mature middle school readers.

One of our favorite books for storytime (Wednesdays from 11:00 to 11:30) has just come out in paperback. Tracey Campbell Pearson’s Bob (0374408718) is the story of a rooster and the journey he takes so that he can learn how to crow. Along the way, he meets a variety of animals who teach him the sounds they make until at last he meets a rooster named Fred who does teach him to crow. Bob returns home and puts his assortment of skills to use. This is a wonderful read-aloud story with lively text and illustrations.

Stephanie S. really enjoyed Septimus Heap Book Two: Flyte (0060577347) by Angie Sage. “I’ve read a lot of fantasy books…but this one seemed to stand out…Septimus Heap is back as Marcia Overstrand’s apprentice and Jenna Heap as Princess Jenna. But all is not hunky-dory in their palace. Marcia is being trailed by a shadow, and Simon is back for vengance. Jenna is kidnapped, so Septimus and Nikko go to save her. But it isn’t as easy as they think. I thought this book was really good, and I can’t wait for the next one to come out.” For ages 10 and up.

Newbery Award-winning author, Cynthia Kadohata, has written a new novel, Weedflower (0689865740). Student reviewer Julia H. writes, “I loved this book and thought that it was a very interesting story of a Japanese girl growing up in World War II America. Afer Sumiko hears that the Japanese bombed, she does not know that the events to follow will include abandoning her family’s flower farm in California and being relocated out into the hot dry deserts of Arizona…Reading this book I shed some tears but was left with great insight into this time period of our country’s history.” Recommended for middle school readers.

Counting On Grace (038574644X) by Elizabeth Wintrop tells a story of life in a textile mill in the early 1900s. Student reviewer Kate P. writes, “Grace is a young girl who wants to do more with her life. She spends hour after hour, day after day, doffing her mother’s six machines, which means 1,632 bobbins. She hates her town…[and] longs for learning and to leave the mill. The book is a heartfelt story about a girl who simply won’t settle for ‘this is my lot and I’ll make do.’ Anyone who has dreams will like this book.” Recommended for middle school readers.