By Susan Higgins, Adult Librarian
Noe Valley/Sally Brunn Branch Library
September is Hispanic Heritage
Month, a great time to explore the fascinating literature and
art of Spanish-speaking countries. It’s also National Yoga
Month, so why not learn about or reacquaint yourself with the
physical and psychological benefits of this ancient practice?
Here’s a sampling of books that you’ll find at your local
library.
Books for
Adults
The Noe Valley/Sally Brunn
Branch Library has a small collection of English translations
of works by major Latin American authors. Original editions in
Spanish are available at other San Francisco Library
locations. You may request them at www.sfpl.org.
Hispanic Fiction
¥ Best of Contemporary
Mexican Fiction, edited by Alvaro Uribe, is a
bilingual anthology of
stories from 16 writers born after 1945.
¥ The Dancer and the
Thief, a novel by Chilean author Antonio
Sk‡rmeta, translated by Katherine Silver, combines politics, a
love story, and a bank heist. It won Spain’s prestigious
Planeta Prize.
¥ The Bad Girl,by Mario Vargas Llosa, the 2010
Nobel Prize winner for literature, begins in 1950s Peru andtravels through Paris, London, and Tokyo.
¥ Figures and Figurationsis collaboration between Mexican
Nobel Prize–winnerOctavio Paz and his wife, artist
Marie José Paz. The book contains 12 poems (in both English
and Spanish) and color photos of 12 pieces of art.
¥ Want to learn Spanish? Check out
these resources:
—On audio CD: beginning to
advanced courses from Pimsleur, Berlitz, and others;
—Online at www.sfpl.org: in
Articles and Databases look for Mango Languages and
Powerspeak;
—In books: dictionaries,
grammar, idioms, and phrasebooks for travelers.
Read About Yoga
¥ Yoga for Real Life,by Maya Fiennes, is a guide to
Kundalini yoga and how it can relieve stress and increase
energy.
¥ Anywhere, Anytime, Any
Body Yoga: A Practical Guide to Using Yoga in Everyday
Lifeby Emily Slonina is particularly
useful for people with physical limitations.
¥ The spiritual aspects of yoga are
explored in Transformative Yoga: Five Keys to Unlocking
Inner Blissby Wade Imre Morissette.
¥ Yoga for Emotional
Balance: Simple Practices to Help Relieve Anxiety and
Depression,by Bo Forbes, photographs by
Thibaut Fagonde, offers guidance from a clinical psychologist.
Books for
Children
You’ll find a small collection
of books in Spanish for children of all ages in the Children’s
Room. They are a terrific resource for children who speak or
who are learning Spanish. Try these books as well:
Hispanic Fiction
¥ F. Isabel Campoy and Alma Flor
Ada retell their favorite stories in Tales Our
Abuelitas Told: A Hispanic Folktale Collection.
¥ P’o Peep! Traditional
Spanish Nursery Rhymes,selected by Alma Flor Ada &
F. Isabel Campoy with English adaptations by Alice Schertle,
includes side-by-side Spanish and English rhymes from Spain
and the Americas.
¥ Golden Tales: Myths,
Legends, and Folktales from Latin America,retold and illustrated by Lulu
Delacre, covers stories from 13 countries.
Yoga for Children
¥ Children’s Book ofYoga: Games &
Exercises Mimic Plants & Animals & Objects, by Thia Luby, helps children from
ages 3 to 12 have fun while learning yoga.
¥ Yoga Para Ni–as y Ni–os,by Ruth Campos Cabello and Mar’a
Eugenia Verduzco Cruz,includes a CD with music and a
DVD to help children learn the poses.
Picture
Stories for Younger Children
¥ A Gift of Gracias: The
Legend of Altagracia,written by Julia Alvarez and
illustrated by Beatriz Vidal, is a Dominican legend about the
importance of giving thanks.
¥ A Mexican-American boy explores
the stalls at the flea market inGrandma and Me at the
Flea (Los Meros Meros Remateros), story by Juan
Felipe Herrera and illustrations by Anita De Lucio-Brock.
¥ Little Nightis a charming bedtime story
written and illustratedby award-winning Mexican
author Yuyi Morales. ¥ The swallows of San Juan
Capistrano were the inspirationforNacho and
Lolita by Pam Mu–oz Ryan, illustrated by Claudia
Rueda.
¥ Beloved children’s author and
illustrator Tomie dePaolainterprets a classic in Adelita:
A Mexican Cinderella Story.
¥ The Magic Bean Tree: A
Legend from Argentinatells the story of the usefulness
of the carob tree, retold by Nancy Van Laan with paintings by
Beatriz Vidal.
LIBRARY EVENTS
Write Your Own WillWorkshop
San Francisco attorney Stuart
Bronstein will discuss wills and estate planning and then
participants will complete fully executed, valid wills during
this 90-minute workshop. Bring a non-erasable blue pen.
Advance registration required: call 355-5707 or stop by the
library. Saturday, Sept. 24, 3 to 4:30 p.m.
Book Clubs
Clifford Louie hosts the
Great Books Discussion Group, meeting on Wednesday,
Sept. 14, 6:15 to 8:15 p.m. Our own Noe Valley Book
Discussion Group meets on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 7 to 8:30
p.m.
Children’s Events
Toddler Tales
Books, fingerplays, rhymes,
music and movement for toddlers 18 to 36 months and their
caregivers. Tuesday, Sept. 6, 13, and 27, at 10:15 to 10:45
a.m., and 11 to 11:30 a.m.
Preschool Films
Join us for films based on your
favorite picture books. Ages 3 to 5 and their caregivers.
Tuesday, Sept. 20, at 10:15 to 10:45 a.m., and 11 to 11:30
a.m.
Game Day!
Bring your favorite board or
card game! Make new friends! Ages 6 to 10 years. Thursday,
Sept. 15, 3:30 to 5 p.m.
Kathak Traditional Dance of North
India
Costumed children and adults
perform, then offer a hands-on lesson in North Indian dance.
For ages 4 to 11 and accompanying adults. Saturday, Sept. 24,
11 to 11:45 a.m.
All events take place at the
Noe Valley/Sally Brunn Branch Library, 451 Jersey St. For
information, call 415-355-5707 or go to www.sfpl.org.
