Not Your Typical Princess Picturebooks

/ Sharon Tyler / 4 Comments

My little princess is much more likely to get dirty playing in the mud than her big brother, but still enjoys the occasion frilly dress and ruffles. She is far from the typical princess, and I relish that. Like her, I was more likely to be found playing ‘boy’ games then rocking the pick dresses I was often decked out in. I love the independent nature and rough and ready style of my little girl, and want to encourage her to continue being herself and help both of my kids ignore the standard gender roles and do what makes them happy rather than conforming to the roles of pretty princess and brave knight.

In my efforts to find books that break the stereotypes, I have found a large number of books that feature princesses breaking the standard image. Some of the princess are up to saving themselves, and sometimes saving the prince as well, others are just content in being who they really are and encourage readers of all ages to do the same.

Lovabye Dragon by Barbara Joosse; illustrated by Randy Cecil. When a lonely dragon follows a trail of princess tears, a beautiful friendship is born. They march and sing, roar and whisper, hide and seek, then settle into snug companionship at bedtime.

The Pirate Princess by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen; illustrated by Jill McElmurry. Tired of the royal life, Princess Bea boards a pirate ship and sets out for adventure on the high seas but soon finds she is not good at swabbing decks, cooking in the galley, or keeping watch from the crow’s nest.

Princess Peepers by Pam Calvert; illustrated by Tuesday Mourning. When the other princesses make fun of her for wearing glasses, Princess Peepers vows to go without, but after several mishaps–one of which is especially coincidental–she admits that she really does need them if she wants to see.

Part-Time Princess by Deborah Underwood; illustrated by Cambria Evans. A girl escapes her annoying little brother and the drudgery of school and home life when she travels to a magical kingdom each night and embarks on a series of adventures.

Princess Smartypants by Babette Cole. Not wishing to marry any of her royal suitors, Princess Smartypants devises difficult tasks at which they all fail, until the multitalented Prince Swashbuckle appears.

Thankfully books like these are becoming easier to find, books where a princess (or any girl) is measured by more than her looks and ability to be sweet and quiet. Here are some more great books about princesses that break the mold; The Barefoot Book of Princesses retold by Caitlín Matthews; illustrated by Olwyn Whelan, The Storytelling Princess by Rafe Marti; illustrated by Kimberly Bulcken Root, The Apple-Pip Princess by Jane Ray, Do Princesses Have Best Friends Forever? by Carmela LaVigna Coyle; illustrated by Mike Gordon and Carl Gordon, Not All Princesses Dress in Pink by Jane Yolen and Heidi E.Y. Stemple; illustrated by Anne-Sophie Lanquetin, Princesses are Not Quitters! by Kate Lum; illustrated by Sue Hellard, Princess Pigsty by Cornelia Funk ; illustrated by Kerstin Meyer; translated by Chantal Wright, The Paper Princess by Elisa Kleven, The Paper Bag Princess written by Robert N. Munsch; illustrated by Michael Martchenko, and Princess Hyacinth: The Surprising Tale of a Girl who Floated by Florence Parry Heide; illustrated by Lane Smith.

 

Linda Reads: Concealed In Death by J.D. Robb

/ Linda / Leave a comment

conceal inI hesitated to read this book because I was very disappointed in Ms. Robb’s last ‘In Death’ title, Thankless in Death.  There have been rumors that her last few books (as J.D. Robb and Nora Roberts) were ghost written and there are arguments galore debating that topic.   But Concealed In Death was a great story.   It’s true the style of writing is a little different from earlier In Death books.  Many comments have been made about the main characters of Eve and Roarke being different.  But there have been over 50 stories written about Eve and Roarke and readers should expect that they are getting older, settling down, and wouldn’t have the same dynamic as before.

The book does lack the depth, excitement, and suspense of other In Death books.  It’s a quieter suspense, more thoughtful and introspective, with a lot more focus on the victims.  I actually found that a nice change.  There were a few twists in the story that gave the book a jolt when needed.  All in all, it was a very enjoyable read.

Summary of story:

In a decrepit, long-empty New York building, Roarke begins the demolition process by swinging a sledgehammer into a wall. When the dust clears, there are two skeletons wrapped in plastic behind it. He summons his wife, Eve Dallas immediately—and by the time she’s done with the crime scene, there are twelve murders to be solved.

The place once housed a makeshift shelter for troubled teenagers, back in the mid-2040s, and Eve tracks down the people who ran it. Between their recollections and the work of the force’s new forensic anthropologist, Eve begins to put names and faces to the remains. They are all young girls. A tattooed tough girl who dealt in illegal drugs. The runaway daughter of a pair of well-to-do doctors. They all had their stories. And they all lost their chance for a better life.

Then Eve discovers a connection between the victims and someone she knows. And she grows even more determined to reveal the secrets of the place that was called The Sanctuary—and the evil concealed in one human heart.

Tell Someone to Take a Hike and Join Them!

/ Sharon Tyler / Leave a comment

With the arrival of nice weather many of us are looking to get back to walking or hiking and exploring the hidden treasures around us. Did you know that there are some great places to hike right here in Cheshire? Well, we have some small maps available for free at the library with maps of local trails and routes.

We also have some great books about hiking trails in Cheshire, Connecticut, and throughout New England. Here are some of those books that might offer you hiking routes and ideas that you might have forgotten about or simply never knew about.

1. Trails, Cheshire, Connecticut. by the Cheshire Environment Commission and Cheshire Land Trust

2. AMC’s Best Day Hikes in Connecticut: Four-Season Guide to 50 of the Best Day Hikes from the Highlands to the Coast by René Laubach and Charles W.G. Smith.

3. Short Nature Walks in Connecticut by Eugene Keyarts

4. Best Hikes with Kids: Connecticut, Massachusetts & Rhode Island by Cynthia Copeland [Lewis], Thomas J. Lewis, and Emily Kerr

5. Weekend Walks along the New England Coast: Exploring the Coast from Connecticut to Maine by John Gibson

6. Connecticut Walk Book West: the Guide to the Blue-Blazed Hiking Trails of Western Connecticut by the Connecticut Forest and Park Association; edited by Ann T. Colson.

7. Connecticut Walk Book East: the Guide to the Blue-Blazed Hiking Trails of Eastern Connecticut by the Connecticut Forest and Park Association; edited by Ann T. Colson, Cindi D. Pietrzky

8. Hiking Connecticut and Rhode Island by Rhonda and George Ostertag.

9. 100 Classic Hikes in New England: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut by Jeffrey Romano.

10. Cruising Connecticut with a Picnic Basket by Jan Mann

Museum Passes at CPL – New England Air Museum

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Cheshire Library has a collection of museum & state park passes that are available on a first come, first served basis for Cheshire residents to check out. CPL Staff member Lisa continues our series about the museum passes we offer, along with related reading material. This month, The New England Air Museum!

Featured Museum Pass:                    New England Air Museum

This month’s featured museum pass is for the New England Air Museum. This pass is valid for 2 adults or seniors at $6.00 each and 2 free children (ages 4-11); ages 3 and under free. Passes are day specific (Weekday, Saturday and Sunday) so be sure you borrow the correct pass for the day you plan on visiting the museum. All museum passes are available to Cheshire Residents on a first-come, first-served basis and must be returned by the close of business the next day.neam

The New England Air Museum is committed to presenting the story of aviation, the human genius that made it possible and the profound effects that it has had on the way in which we live. They achieve this by:

  • Preserving and presenting historically significant aircraft and related artifacts
  • Engaging our visitors through high-quality exhibits that help them understand aviation technology, history and the stories of the men and women who built, flew and made history with these famous machines
  • Inspiring students through our innovative and hands-on education programs delivered on-site and in schools that allow them to discover and reflect on aviation technology and history and its ties to social studies, science, geography and technical advancements.

The New England Air Museum offers a variety of activities, multimedia & drop-in programs for visitors. Programs offered change daily depending on the time of the year. Some things you might see include:

  • Flight Science Demonstrations: Flight really takes off in our interactive demonstrations about the science and history of flight.  From balloons to the Wright Brothers to the Space Shuttle, you can feel the pressure of air, see a balloon launch, explore the Bernoulli Principle and more.  Demonstrations are located in the Civilian Aviation Exhibit Hangar.
  • Build & Fly Activities: Hands-on “build & fly” activities that will spark the imagination and challenge the inquisitive mind.  You even get to take your new creations home with you for future flying fun. Located at the Build & Fly Station in the Military Exhibit Hangar.
  • America Takes To The Air: Explore the early days of commercial aviation from the Ford Tri-Motor, to the famous DC-3, to the Boeing 747, through hands-on, interactive demonstrations.  The demonstrations look at the marketing efforts of the early airlines, stewardess requirements, and the technology that was developed that has become the foundation of modern air travel. Visitors will get to see and touch some unique artifacts that tell this amazing story of travel and adventure.
  • Cockpit Tours: Gain a pilot’s eye perspective from the cockpit exploring the controls and flight instruments of select aircraft within our collection.
  • Flight SIM Spot: The Flight Sim Spot, puts you in the cockpit. With real cockpit controls, three large screens, great stereo sound and the best available graphics, you can fly virtually any aircraft, anywhere – even aircraft in the Museum’s collection. Trained Educators (many of them are active pilots) provide training, instruction and personal attention not only in how to use the simulators but in the many aspects of flight.

The museum is located at 36 Perimeter Road, Windsor Locks, CT. Hours of operation: Open 7 days a week, year round, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. The Museum will close at 3:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve, and 4:00 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. For additional information, please contact the Museum at 860-623-3305 or check out their website at https://www.neam.org.

Book Club Picks – Action/Adventure

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book clubIs your book club looking for a little excitement?  Here are some action/adventure books they may be interested in.

Suspect by Robert Crais – LAPD cop Scott James is not doing so well. Nine months ago, a shocking assault by unidentified men killed his partner, Stephanie, nearly killed him, and left him enraged, ashamed, and ready to explode. He is unfit for duty—until he meets his new partner.

Into That Forest by Louis Nowra – Two girls survive a terrible flood in the Tasmanian bush and are rescued by a pair of Tasmanian tigers who raise them in the wild. Their story of survival is remarkable, as they adapt to the life of the tiger, learning to hunt and to communicate without the use of human language. When they are discovered and returned to civilization, neither can adapt to being fully human after their extraordinary experience. Totally believable, their story will both shock and captivate readers as it explores the animal instincts that lie beneath our civilized veneer.

timeTime and Again by Jack Finney – When advertising artist Si Morley is recruited to join a covert government operation exploring the possibility of time travel, he jumps at the chance to leave his twentieth-century existence and step into New York City in January 1882. Aside from his thirst for experience, he has good reason to return to the past—his friend Kate has a curious, half-burned letter dated from that year, and he wants to trace the mystery.

The Pale Horseman by Bernard Cornwell – The last unvanquished piece of England, Wessex is eyed hungrily by the fearsome Viking conquerors. A dispossessed young nobleman, Uhtred is tied to the imperiled land by birth and marriage but was raised by the Danish invaders—and he questions where his allegiance must lie. But blood is his destiny, and when the overwhelming Viking horde attacks out of a wintry darkness, Uhtred must put aside all hatred and distrust and stand beside his embattled country’s staunch defender—the fugitive King Alfred.

First to Kill by Andrew Peterson – Ten years ago, a botched mission in Nicaragua ended covert ops specialist Nathan McBride’s CIA career. Now he utilizes his unique skill set in the private sector—until the night Frank Ortega, former director of the FBI, calls in a favor. A deep-cover federal agent has vanished, along with a ton of Semtex explosives, and Ortega needs them found—fast. Because for him, this mission is personal: the missing agent is his grandson. And Nathan McBride is the only man he trusts to save him.

The Broken Places by Ace Atkins – A year after becoming Tibbehah County sheriff, Quinn Colson is faced with a pardoned killer’s return to Jericho. Jamey Dixon now preaches redemption and forgiveness, but the family of the woman he was convicted of killing isn’t buying it. They warn Quinn that his sister’s relationship with Dixon could be fatal. Others don’t think the new preacher is a changed man, either—a couple of dangerous convicts who confided in Dixon about an armored car robbery believe he’s after the money they hid. So they do the only thing they can: break out and head straight to Jericho, leaving a trail of bodies in their wake.

The Body Departed by J.R. Rain – When a killer broke into James Blakely’s apartment and fired twelve bullets into his body, it was the end of James’s life—but just the beginning of his journey to redemption. Sentenced to burn in hell for a crime he cannot remember, James is given the choice to proceed immediately to the afterlife or haunt the world of the living in search of his killer. Electing to return to Earth as a ghost, he attempts to solve the mystery of his own murder, visits the living—starting with his daughter and ex-wife—and confronts the sins in his past that put him on the fast track to eternal damnation.