September 2004 RETURN TO HOME PAGE FEEDBACK

This month's new book list, chosen by Noe Valley librarians Carol Small and David Scott, features stories by Ray Bradbury, an in-depth look at the Halliburton Corporation, and a kids' mystery about three mice who live in a museum. To find out which selections are available, call 695-5095, log onto www.sfpl.org, or visit the Noe Valley­Sally Brunn Library at 451 Jersey Street near Castro Street. Besides books, the Noe Valley Library offers magazines, newspapers, DVDs, music CDs, Internet access, and the archives and index to the Noe Valley Voice. 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 Fiction

- The Cat's Pajamas is a collection of mostly unpublished stories written from the 1940s to 2003 by science-fiction legend Ray Bradbury.

- The Tyrant's Novel, by Schindler's List author Thomas Keneally, is a modern political allegory set in a nameless desert country ruled by a despot.

- In John Updike's Seek My Face, an interview with the wife of two major artists sheds light on the mid- and late-20th-century American art scene.

- Sappho's Leap, by Fear of Flying author Erica Jong, is a fictionalized memoir of the Greek poet Sappho, circa 600 B.C.

Adult Nonfiction

- The history of a controversial company is explored in The Halliburton Agenda: The Politics of Oil and Money, by journalist Dan Briody.

- America's response to AIDS in developing nations is detailed in Greg Behrman's The Invisible People: How the U.S. Has Slept Through the Global AIDS Pandemic, the Greatest Humanitarian Catastrophe of Our Time.

- The Scottish rival of Queen Elizabeth I gets her rightful place in history in John Guy's biography Queen of Scots: The True Life of Mary Stuart.

- In The Americans at D-Day, University of Missouri history professor John C. McManus tells the story of the June 6, 1944, Normandy invasion.

Children's Fiction

- New letter learners with a need for speed will enjoy the alliterative romp in The Racecar Alphabet by Brian Floca. Ages 2 to 5.

- Soar into a little boy's imagination as Captain Bob Takes Flight in Roni Schotter's new picture book. Ages 3 to 5.

- Big Brown Bear's Up and Down Day by David McPhail features Bear making an unexpected new friend. Ages 3 to 5.

- In Jean Little's easy reader Emma's Strange Pet, issues relating to allergies and adoptive siblings are handled with sensitivity. Ages 5 to 8.

- The Great Googlestein Museum Mystery by Jean Van Leeuwen describes a week when three mice live in a famous New York museum, where one of the mice rollerblades down the ramp and one causes quite a stir in the art world. Ages 7 to 9.

- After 12-year-old Colleen switches the babies late one night, she finds it increasingly difficult to tell the truth, in Prairie Whispers by Frances Arrington. Ages 10 and up.

Children's Nonfiction

- A Horse Named Seabiscuit, by Cathy and Mark Dubowski, tells the story of a funny-looking horse who lost over 35 races in a row, but went on to win many races and serve as a symbol of hope during the Great Depression. Ages 7 to 10.

- In September 11, 2001: Attack on New York City, reporter and editor Wilborn Hampton provides a number of first-person accounts of an unforgettable day in American history. Ages 10 and up.

LIBRARY EVENTS

Stories and Films for Children

- Kids 2 to 5 are invited to attend preschool story time at 10 a.m. on Tuesdays, Sept. 7 and 28. Children 3 to 5 can come watch short films at 10 and 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 14.

Saturday Lapsits

- Share stories, songs, and fingerplays with your baby or toddler at the library's lapsits at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 4 and 11.