July-August 2003 RETURN TO HOME PAGE FEEDBACK

This month's new book list, chosen by Noe Valley librarians Roberta Greifer and Carol Small, features biographies of Rudolph Valentino and Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, and a book about the scientists who created the first atomic bomb. To find out which books are available, call 695-5095, log onto www.sfpl.org, or visit the Noe Valley­Sally Brunn Library at 451 Jersey Street near Castro. Besides books, the branch has magazines, videos, CDs, and the archives and index to the Noe Valley Voice. It also offers the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times, a collection of books in Spanish, a women's literature section, and a section devoted to career resources. Branch hours are Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Wednesdays, 1 to 9 p.m.; Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Fridays, 1 to 6 p.m.; and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Adult Nonfiction

- Dark Lover by San Francisco writer Emily Leider explores the life and tragic death of screen idol Rudolph Valentino.

- Containing the work of writers from Richard Russo to Camille Paglia, The Italian American Reader, edited by Bill Tonelli, includes poetry, fiction, essays, and memoirs from the 1930s to the present.

- Pandora's Keepers by Brian Van DeMark introduces the nine scientists responsible for the creation of the first atomic bomb.

Adult Fiction

- In The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger, a small-town girl is hired as an assistant to Miranda Priestly, a high-profile editor and "the boss from Hell."

- In Havana Run by Lee Strandiford, a Miami businessman, lured to Cuba under false pretenses, helps an American prisoner escape from a Castro jail.

- Heredity by Jenny Davidson is a literary detective novel in which a woman on a travel assignment to London becomes obsessed with an 18th-century criminal.

Children's Nonfiction

- A Flaming Chick Grows Up by Joan Hewett, with photographs by Richard Hewett, shows that young flamingos, although somewhat homely, are still very cute, and change a great deal when they grow up. Ages 4 to 7.

- In Robots Among Us, Chris Baker describes the very promising paths, as well as the big hurdles, that people face in designing and using robots. Ages 7 to 11.

- As author Dawn Fitzgerald says, "What was supposed to be a one-week relief-sit for another tree-sitter became much more" for a determined young woman in Julia Butterfly Hill: Saving the Redwoods. Ages 8 to 11.

Children's Fiction

- In Mud Is Cake, written by Pam Muñoz Ryan and illustrated by David McPhail, ordinary things become magical, as seen through the eyes of young children. Ages 3 to 5.

- Leo and Diane Dillon combine their skill and talent in a picture-book celebration of the life of tap dancer Bill Robinson in Rap a Tap Tap, Here's Bojangles--Think of That! Ages 3 to 5.

- A child's exploration, a Japanese garden, and haiku work together to form a lovely counting book, One Leaf Rides the Wind, by Celeste Davidson Mannis, with illustrations by Susan Kathleen Hartung. Ages 4 to 6.

- In Courage, Bernard Waber explains and illustrates an abstract concept in terms that many children will relate to. Ages 4 to 6.

- Nancy Farmer's House of the Scorpion, a winner of the National Book Award, asks ethical questions about cloning, economics, and social problems. Ages 10 and up.

LIBRARY EVENTS

Award-Winning Magician

- Gerald Joseph performs amazing magic with audience participation for children ages 2 to 5 and their parents, on Tuesday, July 8, at 10 a.m. Call 695-5095 for reservations.

Songs for Preschoolers

- Bonnie Lockhart introduces songs and games from around the world, for children ages 2 to 5, on Thursday, July 10, at 11 a.m.

Musical Story Time

- Children ages 2 to 5 are invited to play instruments, sing songs, and dance with Gina Silverman on Tuesday, Aug. 12, at 10 a.m.

Poetry Reading

- Bay Area poets Yvonne Cannon, Jack Darrow, Michael Fiala, Ken Hoffman, Leslie Kenna, Ana Lichterman, Cesar Love, Ellen Singletary, and Karen Windus read from a new anthology of their work, Tongue Painting, on Wednesday, Aug. 13, at 7:30 p.m.

Preschool Story Time

- Children ages 3 to 5 can hear stories read aloud at preschool story time, 10 a.m. on Tuesdays, July 1, 22, 29, and Aug. 5 and 26.

Summer Films

- The library invites preschoolers 3 to 5 to watch short films, at 10 and 11 a.m., on Tuesday, July 15, and Tuesday, Aug. 19.

Family Lapsits

- The library's lapsits offer stories, songs, and finger plays for infants and toddlers, at 10:30 a.m. on Saturdays, July 26 and Aug. 2, 9, and 16.