Books in our Branch

This month's new books list, written by librarians Roberta Greifer and Carol Small, features Kay Boyle's rediscovered first novel, a cure for chronic pain, and a bird who's afraid of heights. To check out a book's availability, call 695-5095 or visit the Noe Valley Sally Brunn Library at 451 Jersey Street near Castro. Besides books, the branch offers videos, DVDs, magazines, CDs, tapes, and the archives and index to the Noe Valley Voice. It also has recently acquired a small collection of adult books in Spanish, and subscriptions to the Sunday and daily New York Times, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, and Barron's. 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
- In part a story of intergenerational conflict, Emigre Journeys, by Pakistani writer Abdullah Hussein, begins in the early 1960s when a young man leaves his village in Pakistan and comes to Britain as an illegal alien.
- Based on a true story and short-listed for the Whitbread Prize, Fred and Edie, by Jill Dawson, depicts the tragic and sensational end of an illicit romance in 1922 London.
- Composed in Paris during 1924 and 1925 and subsequently lost, Process is the newly discovered first novel by the late Kay Boyle.
- Set during the 1941 attack on Leningrad by the Germans, The Siege, by Helen Dunmore, paints a stark picture of the ravages of war and its effect on the lives of ordinary people.
Adult Nonfiction
- Emotional Alchemy: How the Mind Can Heal the Heart, by Tara Bennett-Goleman, explains how our confusing emotions can be transformed into clarity.
- June-Tree is the latest collection of poetry by Armenian writer Peter Balakian, who wrote the prize-winning memoir Black Dog of Fate.
- Pain Free for Women, by Peter Egoscue, reveals how women of all ages and from
all walks of life can free themselves from chronic pain through a series of simple exercises.
Annotations by Roberta Greifer
Head Librarian, Noe Valley Branch
Children's Fiction
- If you ever have trouble going to sleep at night, you may want to try the bedtime routine depicted by Karen Kane in Counting Kisses. It works! Ages 1 to 3.
- In Pepito the Brave by Scott Beck, the protagonist is a bird who is afraid of heights at first, but who eventually overcomes his fear and learns to fly. Ages 3 to 5.
- Just as the conductor had feared, a problem arises when the walrus, the bear, and the elephant are riding on a train with all their purchases; fortunately, the animals solve the dilemma in Christopher Wormell's book Puff-Puff, Chugga-Chugga. Ages 3 to 5.
- Sometimes a certain dog and a certain family seem "made for each other." This is the situation in The Stray Dog by Marc Simont, based on a true story by Reiko Sassa. Ages 4 to 6.
- As the twins go about their first week in school, they find that each of them has useful skills, in Meet the Barkers: Morgan and Moffat Go to School, by Tomie dePaola. Ages 4 to 6.
- Marvin, a discouraged first-grader, moves from being a non-reader to a beginning reader, with the help and understanding of his dad, in Marvin One Too Many by Katherine Paterson. Ages 5 to 7.
- In Pee-Wee's Tale by Johanna Hurwitz, an exceptional guinea pig lives with Robbie in a safe, comfortable home, but later finds that living in Central Park offers its own excitement. Ages 7 to 9.
- As a seventh-grader in Boston during the 1970s, Richard shares his passion for baseball with a friend, but also sees racist attitudes among his classmates, in Gold Dust by Chris Lynch. Ages 10 and up.
Annotations by Carol Small
Children's Librarian, Noe Valley Branch
LIBRARY ACTIVITIES
Be a Part of Library Renovation
- The Friends of Noe Valley meeting on Thursday, March 14, will focus on future
renovation plans for the Noe Valley Sally Brunn Library. Paul Underwood, assistant city librarian, and Marilyn Thompson, project director for the upcoming seismic retrofit, will be on hand to explain the proposed changes and answer questions. The meeting, which is open to the public, will be held at 7:30 p.m., at the Noe Valley Library, 451 Jersey Street. For more information, contact the branch at 695-5095 or call Jeannene Przyblyski of Friends of Noe Valley at 282-4334.
Preschool Story Time
- Children ages 3 to 5 can hear stories read aloud at the library's preschool story time, at 10 a.m., Tuesdays, March 5, 12, and 26.
Movie Tuesday
- Preschoolers 3 to 5 are invited to watch films at 10 and 11 a.m. on Tuesday, March 19.
Saturday Family Hour
- Enjoy stories and songs with your baby or toddler at the family-hour lapsits, on Saturdays, March 9, 16, 23, and 30, at 10:30 a.m.
Unless otherwise noted, events are at the Noe Valley Sally Brunn Library, 451 Jersey St. * 695-5095