Noe Valley Voice February 2000
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Books at Our Branch

This month's new books list, provided by librarians Roberta Greifer and Carol Small, features Desi the extraterrestrial's view of our world, Irvin Yalom's latest therapeutic tales, and for kids, a clever peregrine named Alice. To check out a book's availability, call 695-5095, or visit the Noe Valley ­ Sally Brunn Library at 451 Jersey St. The branch also offers magazines, CDs, access to the Internet, and an index to the Noe Valley Voice. Hours are Tuesdays, 10 to 9; Wednesdays, 1 to 9; Thursdays, 10 to 6; Fridays, 1 to 6; and new extended hours on Saturdays, 10 to 6.

Adult Fiction

- In The Hireling's Tale, a mystery by Jo Bannister, a naked woman, full of crack cocaine, turns up dead at the bottom of a boat.

- Mr. Spaceman, a contemporary fable by Robert Butler, is written from the point of view of Desi, an extraterrestrial visiting Earth at the turn of the millennium.

- Part love story and part thriller, The Sexual Occupation of Japan by Richard Setlowe describes how the events in the life of a young pilot stationed in Japan during World War II lead to sabotage and murder.

Adult Nonfiction

- Catfish and Mandala by Andrew X. Pham, a Vietnamese American, describes his solo bicycle voyage around the Pacific Rim to Vietnam.

- In Momma and the Meaning of Life, psychotherapist Irvin Yalom, author of Love's Executioner, continues his exploration of the therapeutic encounter.

- The Myth of the First Three Years by Jordan Bruer debunks the belief that early childhood experiences determine a child's mental development and future learning.

- The Summer Wind by George Anastasia recreates the shocking events leading to the murder of Anne Marie Farley, and the subsequent trial and conviction of her jealous lover.

Annotations by Roberta Greifer

Head Librarian, Noe Valley Branch

Children's Fiction

- Blue Kangaroo feels more and more concerned as he's placed farther and farther from Lily, but when Lily reclaims him, all ends happily in I Love You, Blue Kangaroo! by Emma Chichester Clark. Ages 3 to 5.

- Henry's enthusiasm for kindergarten changes to apprehension when school actually begins, but later changes back to enthusiasm in Look Out, Kindergarten, Here I Come! written and illustrated by Nancy L. Carlson. Ages 4 to 5.

- Rather than belong to the males-only Mega-Mice or the females-only Cheese Puffs, several friends form a co-ed club, the Frisky Whisker Club, in Horace and Morris But Mostly Dolores by James Howe. Ages 4 to 7.

- Because of her cleverness and skill, Agnes Peregrine is able to defeat the mean bird-hunter Colonel Edwin Pittsnap in When Agnes Caws, written by Candace Fleming and illustrated by Giselle Potter. Ages 5 to 7.

- When their aunt from Canada comes to spend a week with them, Melissa, Amanda, and Pee Wee learn fascinating details about their father, in The Trolls by Polly Horvath. Ages 9 and up.

Children's Nonfiction

- Seeing his first Disney movie, learning to read, and moving into a new house are some of the important childhood events described by children's author and illustrator Tomie De Paola in his memoir, 26 Fairmount Avenue. Ages 6 to 8.

- In The Dragon Lover and Other Chinese Proverbs, Yong-Sheng Xuan presents age-old wisdom in English and Chinese, illustrated with striking paper-cuts. Ages 6 to 9.

- Stephen R. Swinburne and Jim Brandenburg provide information, history, and understanding regarding "our country's greatest predator" in Once a Wolf: How Wildlife Biologists Fought to Bring Back the Gray Wolf. Ages 8 and up.

Annotations by Carol Small

Children's Librarian, Noe Valley Branch

Films for Kids

- The library shows films, including Broderick, Giant Turtles, and It's Snow, for children ages 3 to 5 on Tuesday, Feb. 22, at 10 and 11 a.m.

Preschool Story Time

- Kids 3 to 5 are invited to the library's preschool story time, starting at 10 a.m. on Tuesdays, Feb. 1, 8, 15, and 29.

Infant and Toddler Lapsits

- You and your little ones can sing lullabies and make fingerplays at the lapsits on Wednesdays, Feb. 2, 9, 16, and 23, at 7 p.m.