Picturebooks on the Small Screen

July 9, 2013July 9, 2013 / Sharon Tyler / Leave a comment

If there is a child in your house that has a favorite book that you refuse to keep reading umpteen times a day, or are trying to pry small eyes away from the television and towards an actual book, I just might have a solution! I have discovered a series of DVD’s that my two children and I can enjoy without feeling guilty about watching.

Scholastic has a series of DVD’s that take favorite picturebooks, and some chapter books, released in a form everyone can enjoy. The picturebook DVD’s typically include the words at the bottom of the screen with a read along feature and the original artwork. This just might get a young television fan interested in picking up a book that they have seen, or checking out more by an author on the library shelves. Many of the stories are read by the authors and some contain interviews with those authors that the adults will appreciate even more than the kids do. Here are some of my favorite examples of great children’s books that use the actual text of the book in order to excite children about reading.

1. Chrysanthemum is a DVD with Chrysanthemum, Owen, and Weekend with Wendell by Kevin Henkes. It also has Picnic by Emily Arnold McCully, Monty by James Stevenson, and Wizard by Jack Kent. The DVD is recommended for ages 2 through 7 and has a read along option available. Narrators on this DVD include Meryl Streep, Sarah Jessica Parker, Mary Beth Hurt, and Marlene Danielle.

2. Click, Clack, Moo, Cows that Type by Doreen Cronin, illustrated by Betsy Lewin and narrated by Randy Travis is the title story for my second pick in this section. Other stories on the DVD include The Day Jimmy’s Boa Ate the Wash written by Trinka Hakes Noble and illustrated by Steven Kellogg with the voices of Brianna Kittrell and Heidi Stalling; The Pigs’ Wedding written and illustrated by Helme Heine; The Cow Who Fell in the Canal written by Phyllis Krasilovsky, illustrated by Peter Spier, and narrated by Rex Robbins; and Charlie Needs a Cloak written and illustrated by Tomie de Paola. This disc is recommended for ages 2 through 8 and includes English and Spanish language track (for title story only) with optional “read along” track.

3. How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night? by Jane Yolen is the title track on two different DVD’s. One also has In the Small, Small Pond by Denise Fleming, Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin by Lloyd MoMoss, All the Colors of the Earth by Sheila Hamanaka, The Napping House, Joey Runs Away, and Picnic. The stories are narrated by Jane Yolen, and Laura Dern; the illustrators are Mark Teague and Marjorie Priceman. The other DVD with How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night? as the title track is a selection of several of Yolen’s How Does a Dinosaur series and other dinosaur related books.

4. Swimmy is the title story in this collection of stories from Leo Lionni. The other stories included are Frederick, Fish is Fish, It’s Mine!, Cornelius, Each Peach, Pear, Plum, Hush Little Baby, and Let’s Give Kitty a Bath. These eight classic Leo Lionni animated stories are recommended for ages 3 through 9.

5. There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly is a classic tale. On this DVD is the version adapted by Simms Taback which is narrated and sung by Cyndi Lauper. The disc also includes Antarctic Antics, written by Judy Sierra and illustrated by Jose Aruego & Ariane Dewey; Musical Max, written by Robert Kraus and illustrated by Jose Aurego & Ariane Dewey (narrated by Mary Beth Hurt); Keeping House written by Margaret Mahy and illustrated by Wendy Smith; and Waiting for Wings, written by Lois Ehlert. This disc is recommended for ages 3 through 8 and has a Spanish version of Musical Max.

6. Knuffle Bunny by Mo Willems starts off a DVD that also has Shrinking Violet written by Cari Best and illustrated by Giselle Potter; Possum Magic written by Mem Fox and illustrated by Julie Vivas; Planting a Rainbow written and illustrated by Lois Ehlert; Brave Irene by William Steig; and Will I have a Friend? written by Miriam Cohen and illustrated by Lillian Hoban. There is a read along option on the disc as well as an interview with Mo Willems. The disc is recommended for ages 2 through 8.

For more great picturebooks and short chapter books turned into DVDs, you can search for the Scholastic Storybook Treasures series. But do not forget to take a look at the original versions of these great stories as well!

James Gandolfini – Beyond Tony Soprano

June 29, 2013June 29, 2013 / Louise / Leave a comment

Most people know James Gandolfini from his iconic role as Tony Soprano on the critically acclaimed HBO drama “The Sopranos“. His untimely death on June 19 prompted me to check out some of his other roles, available on DVD at Cheshire Public Library. There are some real gems here.

Not Fade Away (2012) – This film is about a group of young kids who try to form a rock band in ’60s Jersey. Gandolfini is great as Pat, the strict father of the band’s lead singer, who wants his son to abandon his rock-star fantasies in favor of college, so that his son can have the education and opportunities he didn’t.

Killing Them Softly (2012) – Critics were divided on this film, in which Gandolfini plays a depressed alcoholic hitman. Dubbed a “super-cynical crime caper”, the many of characters in the film are pretty despicable, but Gandofini’s turn as the soprano-esque Mickey stands out.

Down the Shore

Down the Shore (2011) – In this indie drama, Gamdolfini plays the operator of a rundown kiddie amusement park on the Jersey shore. Variety said of his performance, “…Gandolfini’s most substantial feature role to date … reminding audiences why he’s a genuine American acting treasure”.

Welcome to the Rileys (2010) – Gandolfini is Doug Riley, a man dealing with the tragic death of his teenage daughter. On a business trip to New Orleans, he encounters Mallory(played by Kristen Stewart of “Twilight” fame), an angry runaway living a dangerous life as a stripper. Moved by emotions he barely understands, Riley abandons his old life to save hers.

In the Loop

In the Loop (2009) – Gandolfini showcases his comedy chops as Lieutenant General Miller, senior military assistant to the U.S. secretary of Defense, engaging in several hilarious rapid-fire verbal exchanges with various politicians in this film satire.

Lonely Hearts (2006) – In this period drama, Gandolfini teamed up with John Travolta as homicide detectives who bring a serial killer couple to justice. (Based on the true story of Martha Beck and Raymond Fernandez, who became known as the notorious “Lonely Hearts Killers” in the 1940s.)

The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3

The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 (2009) – Gandolfini plays a supporting but pivotal role as the mayor of New York City in this suspense film about a hostage crisis on the subway. The all-star cast also includes John Travolta and Denzel Washington, and is a remake of the 1974 film of the same name.

The Man Who Wasn’t There (2001) – In the Coen brothers’ noir film, Gandolfini stars as a department store boss caught up in blackmail and adultery. The AV Club said of his performance, “James Gandolfini doesn’t even make it past the 30-minute mark in The Man Who Wasn’t There, yet in every respect, he looms large over Joel and Ethan Coen’s unsung masterpiece.”

Where the Wild Things Are (2009) – Gandolfini plays Carol, the “lead” Wild Thing, the gentle-giant mentor to 9-year-old Max. Even though the only thing evident was Gandolfini’s voice, (the film made use of motion-capture CGI as he acted the role) he still managed to make the character be both scary and lovable in equal measure.

Susan Picks: Foreign Films

June 7, 2013June 5, 2013 / Susan O. / Leave a comment

I like foreign films as a form of foreign language practice. The people speak at a normal rate and use conversational words as they would if you went to their country. But, like most people, if it’s a language I don’t know well, I tire of the gibberish after five minutes, and I rarely have time to sit and watch subtitles. On the other hand, I like foreign films because they aren’t the same repetitive formulaic Hollywood boredom. They often rely heavily on character development, less on action, and are hard on irony. The sceneries are often exotic and intriguing, ways of life (like collapsible yurts and nomadic circles) so very different – yet oddly similar – to America in all its forms. You sympathize with the main characters and feel their pain. Here’s a weekend’s worth of films that you probably haven’t heard of and are well worth your trouble:

Since Otar Left – a Georgian film about three generations of women who haven’t heard from their bread-winning relative in ages, and imagine how well he’s doing as they wait for him to call. Kind of like Waiting for Godot in Sochi.

Tulpan – a Kazakhstani film about a young nomadic sheepherder named Asa who returns after serving in the Russian Navy and wants a wife – but try and find one on the empty steppe. Then there are the crazy traditional courting rituals to be conquered …

Combination Platter – a story about an illegal Chinese immigrant trying to live out the American promise while working like a slave in a Chinese restaurant and dodging the terror of immigration.

9^th Company – a modern Russian film about their futile 1980’s war in Afghanistan, a no-holds-barred action thriller every bit as good as any American movie. You might have hated them in 1980, but you will cheer for them now.

Vitus – a sweet Swiss film about a little boy whose parents help push him to be a brilliant concert pianist by the age of nine – but all he really wants to be is a little boy.

Travel the world from your recliner and give one a try today!

10 Books on the Small Screen

May 23, 2013May 20, 2013 / Sharon Tyler / Leave a comment

You may already know that some of the most popular shows at the moment came from previously published books. However, you may not realize just how often these small screen hits have been adapted from stand alone books, or longer series.

Here are ten television shows that I have been happy to inform my husband have been based (at least loosely) on books. Some are obvious, and well known to come from books, while others might surprise you.

1)T rue Blood is based on Charlaine Harris’s Sookie Stackhouse series, about vampires and other paranormal creatures and their interactions with people in Louisiana. The book series begins with Dead Until Dark, published in 2001. Fans of the books who watch the show are not necessarily “in the know”. By the end of the first season the respective plots have diverged enough for fans to enjoy both without knowing just what might happen next. The final book in the series, number 13, Dead Ever After was just published on May 7th.

2) Dexter is based on a book series about a serial killer with a strict moral code written by Jeff Lindsay. The first book, Darkly Dreaming Dexter, was published in 2004. Dexter’s Final Cut, the seventh book in the series, is scheduled for release in September of 2013.

3) Vampire Diaries is a television series based on a young adult book series of the same name, which began with The Awakening. The book series was originally written by L.J. Smith, but is now ghost written because the publisher did not like the direction Smith wanted to take the characters in, and her contract gave the publisher the rights to her name and the series. There are now a collection of book sub-series, and it seems to still be going strong.

4) The Dresden Files was a television show that, sadly, only ran for one season on the Sci Fi channel in 2007. It was set in the same world as the book series of the same name, which began with Storm Front. The series was good, and can be found on DVD, but the book series about a wizard detective for hire and doing his best to make a difference, and stay alive, is phenomenal with 14 books and counting.

5) Game of Thrones, as you might already know, is based on George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series, which began with A Game of Thrones in 1996. While the television series has captivated many, and incited many to find the books, I must warn that, while the reads are well worth it, they can be daunting. The books are lengthy, at over 800 pages with the very shortest book, and the fifth book, A Dance With Dragons, tops 1000 pages. Books 6 and 7 are slated to be published in 2015 and 2019, respectively. If you want to ‘read’ the books, but are turned off or intimidated by their sheer size, A Game of Thrones has also been released as a graphic novel and as an audiobook.

6) The Walking Dead is a television series based on a zombie themed graphic novel series by Robert Kirkman. The first installment, Days Gone By was published in 2004, and the most recent volume, number 18, titled What Comes After, comes out in June 2013.

7) The Unit was on CBS from 2006 through 2009. The show was about a top-secret military unit based on the real-life U.S. Army special operations unit commonly known as Delta Force. The series was very popular, but many fans never realized that the show was based on the show producer Eric L. Haney’s book, Inside Delta Force : the Story of America’s Elite Counterterrorist Unit.

8)Friday Night Lights is another popular show that many fans do not connect with the book, rather they think about the movie. Both the television series, and the movie, were inspired by the non-fiction book Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream by H.G. Bissinger, which was published in 1988.

9) Bones, the television series about a forensic scientist working with the FBI, is inspired by the Temperance Brennan series by Kathy Reichs. The book series began with Déjà Dead, published in 1997. The show does not follow the novels, rather that act somewhat like a prequel to them, with the TV show’s Temperance Brennan as a younger version of the novels’ Temperance Brennan.

10) Pretty Little Liars is an American teen drama with an element of mystery and a thriller twist built in. It is loosely based on the popular series of novels written by Sara Shepard, which began with a novel of the same title, Pretty Little Liars published in 2006. The 13th book in the series, Crushed, is scheduled to be released in the summer of 2013 and the 14th book is expected to be released in December of 2013. The television series premiered in 2010, and was renewed for its 5th season, with a spin off series to air in the fall of 2013.

This Disc Won’t Play! Part II – Scratch That Idea

April 15, 2013April 10, 2013 / Susan O. / Leave a comment

So you’ve wiped down your CD or DVD, buffed it shiny, but it still skips, chirps, freezes, and refuses even to advance to the next section. Now you’ve got a problem. Check that mirrored side. Chances are, it’s covered with scratches. Small scratches, especially those on audio media like CDs and audiobooks, and those that run outward from the center to the edge of the disc, may not have any effect at all on performance. DVDs, however, are much fussier, and a minor ding may create havoc. Scratches that run around the disc like an old record interfere the most.

Cheshire Public Library has professional equipment for resurfacing media discs. If simply washing and wiping doesn’t help, we put troubled discs through a three-step process. Seriously damaged discs are scoured smooth with fine sandpaper, then buffed back into shape at high speed, and finished off with a polishing coat of protectant. Usually this is enough to bring them back into good-as-new shape. Small, light scratches will disappear; deep gouges – the kind you can click with your fingernail – are a very bad sign and usually cannot be repaired.

Some damage cannot be fixed. Disc materials are a layer of polycarbonate, a layer of foil, and a layer of lacquer. Any damage to the foil layer, from pen marks, pavement divots, dog teeth, to separation of layers and peeling, is a death sentence for the disc. Likewise, cracks cannot be repaired, because they interfere with that all-important foil layer where the data is stored. Blu-Ray discs are generally much tougher than regular discs, which is good, because they cannot be repaired at all. Blu-Rays have a heavier coating that the cleaning machine cannot penetrate. Amazingly, despite several years of use, we have lost perhaps only two Blu-ray discs because of scratch damage.

The easiest way to keep discs working well is to be gentle with them! Don’t wrestle them from packaging but press that center hub until the disk releases. Always handle them by the edges, and replace them in their case as soon as you are finished with them. Make sure they click onto that hub – shaking around loose in the case will scratch them! Don’t let children play with them, and don’t leave them where your dog can chew them. Be especially careful with items you listen to in the car: the sand you carry in the carpeting of your automobile can damage a disc exceptionally fast. If a disc won’t work, let us know, so we can fix it as soon as possible – tell us which disc of a set, which scene or which track if possible. If the case is broken and the disc is rattling inside, tell us, because those broken hubs are little scratch factories. Disc materials are an expensive part of library acquisitions, and we work hard to keep them in the best shape they can be.