More Books to Read

Here's a roundup of new books at the Noe Valley Sally Brunn Library, provided by
Head Librarian Roberta Greifer and Children's Librarian Carol Small. The library is located at 451 Jersey St. (near Castro Street). Besides books and periodicals, the branch offers CDs, Internet access, and past issues 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 Saturdays, noon to 6. To ask about a book or other materials, call 695-5095.
Adult Fiction
- In The Dream Mistress by Jenny Diski, a London seamstress who discovers a bag lady close to death imagines she's her estranged mother.
- East of the Mountains, by David Guterson, the author of Snow Falling on Cedars, tells what happens when Ben Givens, a widower diagnosed with terminal cancer, ventures on a journey of discovery through the American West.
- Portraying the middle class of modern India, Freedom Song contains three short novels by Amit Chaudhuri, an Indian author being published in the U.S. for the first time.
- The World and Other Places, by Jeanette Winterson, author of Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit, contains 17 or her new short stories.
Adult Nonfiction
- In Home Town, author Tracy Kidder examines the town of Northampton, Massachusetts, and its residents.
- Time, Love, and Money, by Pulitzer Prize winner Jonathan Weiner, describes the genetic discoveries of Seymour Benzer, one of the greatest biologists of the century.
- Work as a Spiritual Practice, by Lewis Richmond, offers a practical Buddhist ap-proach to job satisfaction and inner growth.
Annotations by Roberta Greifer
Children's Fiction
- In No, David! author-illustrator David Shannon shows that even a boy who makes mischief again and again and again is still loved by his mother. Ages 3 to 5.
- A traditional folk song is creatively and joyfully expanded upon -- until bedtime, that is -- in A-Hunting We Will Go by Steven Kellogg. Ages 3 to 5.
- A clever main character receives a birthday present and then uses it to solve a number of different problems in Lottie's New Beach Towel by Petra Mathers.
Ages 4 to 5.
- Joseph Slate (with the aid of illustrator Ashley Wolff) helps children understand important number concepts in Miss Bindergarten Celebrates the 100th Day of Kindergarten. Ages 4 to 6.
- In The Scrambled States of America, Laurie Keller shows that even for land masses, "there's no place like home." Ages 5 to 7.
- For one week each summer, Joe and Mary Alice visit their grandmother in a small town. Their eccentric grandmother never ceases to amaze them in A Long Way from Chicago by Richard Peck. Ages 10 and up.
- Joey is making a lot of progress in spite of his "ADHD" and less-than-ideal home life, in Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key by Jack Gantos. Ages 10 and up.
Children's Nonfiction
- George Ancona shows the reader that people in many different countries express joy using their own way of dancing in Let's Dance! -- illustrated with Mr. Ancona's photographs.
Annotations by Carol Small
Noe Valley History Day
- On Saturday, June 26, 1 to 5 p.m., the library will host its annual "Nostalgic Look at Noe Valley," co-sponsored by the East & West of Castro Club and the Friends of Noe Valley. Come meet new- and old-timers, and view a film, photos, and other memorabilia stored in the Noe Valley Archives. The event will feature cookies and refreshments, a magic show by the Flying Calamari Brothers (1:30 p.m.), and musical entertainment by Bruce Sherman and others (2:30 p.m.).
Films for Kids
- The library will show films for children 3 to 5 on Tuesday, June 22, at 10 and 11 a.m.
Preschool Story Time
- Kids 3 to 5 can hear their favorite tales at the library's preschool story time, at 10 a.m. on Tuesdays June 1, 8, and 29.
Infant and Toddler Lapsits
- Moms and dads should bring their babies for finger play and lullabies at the Wednesday evening lapsits, on June 2, 9, 23, and 30. The music starts at 7 p.m.
For other library events, call 557-4400 or visit the San Francisco Public Library's
web site at http://sfpl.lib.ca.us.