Cover art: watercolor by Marge Kendrick

The Friends of Cook Memorial Library have produced a charming calendar for 2009. In full color, on sturdy coated stock, it features the work in paint, collage, ink, and pencil, of twelve library patrons. Two of them are staff. It celebrates local sights and spirit. Several people, leafing through it, crowed, “It FEELS like Tamworth!”

Folded, they are 7″ x 7″, open they are 7″ x 14″ - small enough to fit into your satchel, sturdy enough to hang on your wall. At only $12 apiece, they are a terrific art bargain, and a great gift and memento of a the area and the library.

They are now available at the library, and this is our very own Shameless Commerce Division proudly announcing its arrival. All proceeds support library doings. You could send a check for $14 ($2 for shipping costs), pay to the order of Friends of Cook Memorial Library, to CML Calendar, 93 Main St., Tamworth, NH 03886, and get one, or $28 for two, and so on…

We thank you in advance. You won’t be disappointed!

Anita Shreve, the critically acclaimed author of fourteen novels, will present her new book at the Music Hall in Portsmouth, NH on Tuesday, November 18th. Her discussion will be followed by an interview with NPR newscaster, Laura Knoy, host of NHPR’s “The Exchange” Tickets are on sale to the public Saturday, July 19th.

Cook Memorial Library does it again! The summer reading program’s theme is “G’day for Reading” with an Australian flair.

So in that spirit the float’s theme “Wild for Reading” was born. Amy Carter, Children’s Librarian extraordinaire, led a team of people to victory - first prize for “Best Civic Float.” Here you see everyone assembled, animals and children, with Taylor Whiteside serenading the crowd on the violin.

Because of a renewed interest in “all things French”, I’ve been taking a look at our collection of French cookbooks. When I read Au Rue Tatin, it whetted my appetite for more; author Susan Loomis has a blog. So then I took out Julia’s Mastering the Art classic, but her recipes are too fiddly for me. I’m not spending all day making baguettes; I’m just not.
Julie and Julia describes the frustration of trying to cook French when you don’t have any time, don’t have the right equipment and don’t have access to proper ingredients. Published from Julie’s blog a few years ago, this book is funny, and well worth a gander.
If you are interested in current blogs about French cooking, here’s one from a Parisian blog called Chocolate and Zucchini. Here’s another by Sam (English) and Fred (French.) There’s a whole world of recipes out there. Get into that kitchen and get busy!

We have a new little book on the shelf, “The Last Lecture” by Randy Pausch. Pausch is a self-professed geek who grew up to be a professor of things like Creating Virtual Reality. His own reality took a 180 degree turn when he learned he had pancreatic cancer. Has pancreatic cancer. The book, co-written by a Wall Street Journal writer (I’m sorry, I’ve forgotten your name…), is the hard-copy version of the real lecture Pausch delivered at Carnegie Mellon, part of a lecture series inspired by the theme: what would you say if it were really your last lecture? He had, he said, the right material.

The book contains 51 small chapters, or essays, or headings. The lecture is visible in its entirety on YouTube. Here is a way to look at things, like life and death, through the clear eyes and experience of an energetic scientist who loves his life, his family, and has made the most of his chance to prepare a veritable last lecture.

Recently I had the good fortune to be invited by my friend, Marie, to spend a long weekend on Little Cranberry Island, way out in the North Atlantic off Mt. Desert Island. In the small village of Islesford live approximately 70 year-round residents, amongst them the children’s book illustrator, Ashley Bryan. He is a most gracious man who let us wander around his home for several hours looking at the marvelous children’s museum that is his house, and asking him questions about his work. Marie spent her childhood summers on the island and says that Ashley is exactly the same now as he was thirty years ago. He’s never too busy to welcome everyone who shows up, and these days, a great many people find their way to his door. From Memorial Day to the end of October, he can be found painting in his garden every day. In the evenings, he works on his stained glass projects or his puppets. The puppets are fantastically unique, each made from rags, scraps, bones, feathers, and driftwood, much of which he picks up on his beach walks. His puppets accompany him when he tells stories at schools and libraries.
The stained glass is made from sea glass, also picked up on the beach, and paper mache, using simple techniques that Ashley has developed and taught, through his 60 plus years on the island, to hundreds of island children.
Below is a picture of me with Ashley as he explains how he makes his amazing stained glass art.
I will never forget my visit to this extraordinary artist and teacher. It was a most treasured experience, made even more so by the knowledge that it has been shared by many others.

Jay Mankita presents “The Day the Library Went Wild!” Don’t miss this one!

Singer-songwriter Jay Mankita will appear at the Cook Memorial Library in Tamworth on Friday, July 25th. Jay will be presenting an interactive musical concert for children and their families featuring quirky, original songs about nature, animals, and the ‘wild’ human being in all of us. The show starts at 2 PM and will be followed by a short presentation about his veggie oil-powered van.

An activist for social and environmental justice, Mankita tours in his van which runs on recycled vegetable oil. He enjoys showing his van and his solar powered sound system to folks after the show, talking about how each one of us can contribute to helping make a better world through small, simple changes.

As a songwriter, Mankita combines humorous and serious material; addressing topical issues, but always in an entertaining way. A masterful guitar player, he blends traditional acoustic blues, ragtime, and swing styles with a quirky, original feel, and has just finished his 6th recording; ‘Eat like a Rainbow’, a CD for kids about healthy food.

Mankita is as well known for his music for children, as he is for his adult performances. He is now touring his show in 65 towns this summer throughout the Northeast. This year’s concert features a kangaroo song, and a rocking version of “Waltzing Matilda”, to support the library’s summer reading program, “G’Day for Reading”. For more information about the show call the library at 323-8510. Or look up information on Jay Mankita.

Brian Charles, local musician and owner of the Charles Double Reed Co, will play the digeridoo, a wind instrument played by indigenous Australians of Northern Australia. He will be accompanied by Jim Shea. Here is a digeridoo player in Australia, and another in Barcelona.

Naturalist Emberley Hudak will introduce snakes through pictures, stories, snake skeletons, and a visit from a live milk snake.

July 1st 10:30 Storytime with Tabatha Bradley, direct from Australia!
July 8th 10:30 Storytime with Gail Marrone
July 15th 10:30 Storytime with Jeff Landesman
July 22nd 10:30 Storytime with Margaret Rieser
July 29th 10:30 Storytime with Marion Posner
Aug. 5th 10:30 Musical Storytime with Olga Morrill
Aug. 12th 10:30 Storytime with Jeff Landesman
Aug. 19th 10:30 Storytime with Claes Thelemark