December-January 2000 RETURN TO HOME PAGE FEEDBACK

This month's new books list, provided by librarians Roberta Greifer, Mark Mackler, and Carol Small, features a comprehensive history of Chinese art, a biography of Joe DiMaggio, and a peek at Amelia Bloomer's bloomers, in the children's section. To check out a book's availability, call 695-5095, or visit the Noe Valley­Sally Brunn Library at 451 Jersey Street near Castro. In addition to books, the branch offers magazines, CDs, music, a sunny (or rainy) outside deck, a computer with Internet access, and the archives of the Noe Valley Voice. Hours are Tuesdays, 10 to 9; Wednesdays, 1 to 9; Thursdays, 10 to 6; Fridays, 1 to 6; and Saturdays, 10 to 6.

Adult Fiction

2 In Don Passman's thriller Mirage, a techie whose company is bombed has a suspicious alibi.

2 In Too Far Afield, by Günter Grass, the lives of two old East Germans serve as a metaphor for Germany's reunification.

Adult Nonfiction

2 Beautifully illustrated, Art in China, by Craig Clunes, surveys the development of Chinese art from neolithic times to the present day.

2 Mary Karr's Cherry: A Memoir, is the author's candid sequel to The Liar's Club.

2 Richard Ben Cramer's Joe DiMaggio: The Hero's Life explores the dark and unhappy side of DiMaggio's fame.

Annotations by Roberta Greifer and Mark Mackler

Librarian, Noe Valley Branch

Children's Fiction

2 If you read The Itsy Bitsy Spider, by Lorianne Siomades, you may be surprised to see the main character in a well-known poem sporting shoes and colorful clothes. Ages 1 to 3.

2 From alarm clock in the morning to hugs and kisses at night, a young child describes his hectic but happy life in Day Care Days, by Mary Brigid Barrett. Ages 3 to 5.

2 The youngest sibling in the family, concerned that he may not be growing taller, finally gets a lovely surprise when spring comes, in Jacob's Tree, by Holly Keller. Ages 3 to 5.

2 Full Belly Bowl, written by Jim Aylesworth and illustrated by Wendy Halperin, is a heartwarming story of domestic life, change, and a little greed. Ages 5 to 8.

2 A certain piece of women's apparel shocked some people at first, but now is widely accepted, as shown by Shana Corey in You Forgot Your Skirt, Amelia Bloomer! Ages 8 to 10.

2 In Dan Gutman's Jackie & Me, Joe travels from the present to 1947, where he watches some World Series games and learns a lot about character from Jackie Robinson. Ages 9 and up.

2 In her poignant novel, Getting Near to Baby, Audrey Couloumbis shows that people may have different ways of expressing grief after a traumatic event, all of which are appropriate. Ages 10 and up.

Children's Nonfiction

2 In Dinosaur Babies, Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld discusses a variety of clues scientists are using to figure out what parenting skills dinosaurs may or may not have had. Ages 6 to 9.

Annotations by Carol Small

Children's Librarian, Noe Valley Branch

Preschool Story Time

2 Children ages 3 to 5 will hear astonishing tales at the library's preschool story time,
10 a.m., Tuesdays, Dec. 5 and 19.

Films

2 Preschoolers ages 3 to 5 can watch films at 10 and 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 12.

Tenants' Rights

2 Ora Prochovnik of the New College Housing Clinic discusses the legal rights of tenants, sponsored by the Coalition of Concerned Legal Professionals, 11 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 9.

Poetry Readings

2 National Book Award finalist Kim Addonizio is the library's featured poet on Wednesday, Dec. 13, and poets Priscilla Lee and Yvonne Cannon read from their work on Wednesday, Jan. 24; 7:30 p.m.

Aromatherapy for Babies

2 An aromatherapy for babies and toddlers workshop led by Cary and Johanna Friedman begins at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2001.