Books in our Branch

Your reading list this month, selected by Noe Valley branch librarians Roberta Greifer and Carol Small, features stories by John Steinbeck's son, writings about the Free Speech Movement, and a mouse who makes magic. To find out what books are available, call 415-695-5095 or visit the Noe Valley Sally Brunn Library at 451 Jersey Street, near Castro Street. Besides books, the branch offers magazines, videos, DVDs, and the archives and index to the Noe Valley Voice. It also has periodicals such as USA Today and the New York Times, a collection of books in Spanish, a women's literature section, and a section devoted to college and 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 Fiction
- In the short-story collection Down to a Soundless Sea, by Thomas Steinbeck (John Steinbeck's son), sailors, doctors, and ranchers attempt to eke out a living along California's rugged central coast.
- In Gorgeous Lies by Martha McPhee, a dying therapist and his unconventional family struggle to come to terms with the betrayals and misunderstandings of the past.
- The Time of Our Singing, by Richard Powers, is about three interracial American siblings, united by their shared love of song.
Adult Nonfiction
- An offshoot of an introductory writing workshop conducted by Wally Lamb, Couldn't Keep It to Myself: Testimonies from Our Imprisoned Sisters is a collection of personal narratives by 11 women prisoners at York Correctional Institution.
- Part history, part memoir, Dancing at Ciro's by Sheila Weller is an expose of the famous American nightclub, its Hollywood regulars, and the Pandora's box of secrets shared by the family who owned it.
- 1421: The Year That China Discovered America by Gavin Menzies convincingly pulls together ancient maps, astronomy, and surviving accounts of Chinese explorers to prove that the Chinese arrived 70 years before Columbus.
- With a preface by Len Litwack, The Free Speech Movement: Reflections on Berkeley in the 1960s, edited by Robert Cohen and Reginald Zelnik, includes the writings of Greg Marcus, Jonah Raskin, Bettina Aptheker, and Mario Savio.
Children's Fiction
- Where there's work to be done, the loader, dump truck, bulldozer, and others all do their part in Get to Work, Trucks!--written and illustrated by Don Carter. Ages 1 to 3.
- Adventuring and exploring are fun, but there are times when youngsters need reassurance from a parent more than anything else, as Nancy Tafuri points out in Mama's Little Bears. Ages 1 to 3.
- Beginning readers will enjoy seeing how the changing of one vowel can create a whole new situation in Mouse Makes Magic, a Phonics Reader by Kathryn Heling and Deborah Hembrook, illustrated by Patrick Joseph. Ages 5 to 7.
- In Tom Mouse, written by Ursula LeGuin and illustrated by Julie Downing, a young traveler going out into the world is lucky enough to meet an endangered species activist. Ages 5 to 7.
- A child who is anxious about an upcoming activity would take comfort in reading about another's experience in Little Rat Sets Sail by Monika Bang-Campbell, illustrated by Molly Bang. Ages 5 to 8.
- With some help from Grandpa and a good friend, a girl moves toward accepting her baby sister in Iris and Walter and Baby Rose, an easy reader by Elissa Haden Guest, illustrated by Christine Davenier. Ages 5 to 8.
- The activities and observations of a child during one calendar year are described by Charlotte Zolotow and depicted by Erik Blegvad in Seasons: A Book of Poems. Ages 5 to 8.
- Luke, Kevin, and Tracy start out to help some animals in distress because of the flood, but find other dangers await them in P.J. Peterson's suspenseful Rising Water. Ages 10 and up.
LIBRARY EVENTS
Art Exhibit
- Neighborhood artist Joseph Suarez shows "The Same Image Drawn on Paper and in Clay Tiles," in a March exhibit of his work at the Noe Valley Library, 451 Jersey Street.
Preschool Story Time
- Children ages 3 to 5 can hear stories read aloud at preschool story time, at 10 a.m. on Tuesdays, March 4, 11, and 25.
Films in February
- The library invites preschoolers 3 to 5 to watch a series of short films at two times on Tuesday, March 18, at 10 and 11 a.m.
Family Lapsits
- The library's family lapsit offers stories, songs, and finger plays for infants and toddlers at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 1.
Noe Valley head librarian Roberta Greifer contributed this month's adult book annotations. Children's librarian Carol Small wrote the children's book descriptions. If you get a chance, drop by the library and thank them. --Editor, Noe Valley Voice