You can
explore the history of the FBI and the CIA, or escape to a
world populated by
half-human dragons, by checking out the books suggested this
month by Noe
Valley librarians Susan Higgins and Catherine Starr. The
books—and CDs and
movies—may be sitting on the shelves at the Noe Valley/Sally
Brunn Library (451
Jersey St.) or traveling between other branches in the San
Francisco Library
system. To find out their exact location, go to www.sfpl.org or
call
the local branch, 415-355-5707.
Adult
Fiction
¥ A Kansas woman chaperones future
silent-film
star Louise Brooks in New York during the summer of 1922,
in The
Chaperone by Laura Moriarty.
¥ The Sigh is an illustrated
fairy tale by Persepolis author Marjane
Satrapi.
¥ An ex-spy living on the French
Riviera is forced
to return to his former life, in the pre–World War II
novel House of
the Hunted by Mark Mills.
¥ The Queen’s Loverby
Francine du Plessix Gray tells the story of an affair between
Marie Antoinette
and a Swedish nobleman.
Adult
Nonfiction
¥ British biographer Gordon
Bowker’s James
Joyce: A New Biography presents new details
about the writer’s
life and works.
¥ Science reporter William J. Broad
examines the
history of yoga, its health claims, and its benefits, in The
Science
of Yoga: The Risks and the Rewards.
¥ Enemies: The History of the FBI,by
Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Tim Weiner,provides new
insight into the
agency’s secret intelligence operations.
¥ Argo: How the CIA and Hollywood
Pulled Off the Most
Audacious Rescue in History,by Antonio J. Mendez and
Matt Baglio, describes the 1979 rescue of six American
hostages in Iran.
Books for
Teens
¥ An Amish girl helps an injured
man from outside
her community in The Hallowed Ones,a
thrillerby
Laura Bickle.
¥ Love and Leftovers by Sarah Tregay is
a novel about relationships, told in verse.
¥ After a terrible accident, a
teenager learns
that her boyfriend has been keeping some secrets, in One
Moment by
Kristina McBride.
Books for
Children
¥ As Elephant counts from 1 to 10,
everyone runs
and hides in Hide and Seek, by Il Sung
Na. Ages 2 and
up.
¥ Mama Llama fixes a tattered
stuffed animal and
teaches Llama a lesson in Llama Llama Time to
Share, by
Anna Dewdney. Ages 3 and up.
¥ A boy hikes to the top of a snowy
hill and
treats his dog to a picnic and a story in The
Reader, writtenby
Amy Hest, illustrated by Lauren Castillo. Ages 4 and up.
¥ Lemonade in Winter is about
a brother and sister who start a business at possibly the
worst time of year.It’s
by Emily Jenkins, illustrated by G. Brian Karas. Ages 4 to 7.
¥ A huge fish takes a young boy on
a ride to the
bottom of a lake in Jangles: A Big Fish Story by
Caldecott
honoree David Shannon. Ages 6 to 8.
¥ With their pet at the vet, Oona
comforts her
younger brother Fred by describing the cat’s former brushes
with fate, in The
Five Lives of Our Cat Zook by Joanne Rocklin.
Ages 8 and up.
¥ A runaway boy finds himself
stranded in a
village that has no moon, in Starry River of the
Sky by
Newbery Honor winner Grace Lin. Ages 8 and up.
¥ Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage
is about a spunky 11-year-old girl who as a baby was washed
ashore in a
hurricane. Ages 10 and up.
¥ Though dragons and humans have
been at peace for
40 years, a young musician at the royal court worries that
rising tensions
between the two species may force her to expose her family
secret, in Seraphina by
Rachel Hartman. Ages 12 and up.
LIBRARY EVENTS
Events for Adults
Finding Quality Health Information
Online: Learn
how to find authoritative medical information on the Internet
and to access the health
databases available through the San Francisco
Public Library’s
website. Sunday, Jan. 6, 2 p.m.
Computer Lab for Beginning Users: Are you
a new Internet user? Learn how to navigate the Web, use search
engines, and set
up an email account at this library-sponsored computer lab for
beginners. Note
that computers are available on a first-come, first-served
basis. Wednesdays,
Dec. 12 and Jan. 9, 3 to 4:30 p.m.
Great Books Discussion Group: Sponsored
by the Great Books Council of San Francisco, the Great Books
Discussion Group
explores famous short stories, essays, and speeches.
Wednesdays, Dec. 12 and
Jan. 9, 6:15 to 8:15 p.m.
Events for Children
Holiday Magic Show: Join Al Fodor for
amazing
magic tricks, juggling feats, and comedy. Children of all ages
welcome!
Saturday, Dec. 15, 11 to 11:45 a.m.
Button-Making: Kids ages 8 to 18 can
learn how to use a button machine to create festive button
decorations for
backpacks, bags, or hats. Buttons are less than 2 inches in
diameter, so think
small! Friday, Jan. 11, 3:30 to 5 p.m.
Chinese Lion Dancers: Meet on the library
steps at 451 Jersey St. and welcome in the new year with the
colorful and
exciting Chinese Lion Dancers. For all ages. Saturday,
Jan. 19, 3 p.m.
Art on the Go: Families, preschools,
and daycares: Come listen to some of the best-loved books
of Ezra Jack
Keats during a story time presented by an educator
from the Contempory
Jewish Museum. Ages 3 to 6 and parents/caregivers. Tuesday,
Jan. 22, 11 to
11:40 a.m.
Books,
Songs, and Rhymes: Join our children’s librarian for
Tuesday Toddler
Tales, a story time with songs, rhymes, and
movement for kids 18
months to 3 years old, with parents or caregivers. Tuesdays,
Dec. 4 and 11 and
Jan. 15 and 29, 10:15 to 10:45 a.m., and 11 to 11:30 a.m.
Flicks for Kids: Children 3 to 5 years
old and their parents and caregivers are invited to Preschool
Films on
Tuesdays, Dec. 18 and Jan. 8, 10:15 to 10:45 a.m., and 11 to
11:30 a.m.
All events take place at the Noe Valley/Sally
Brunn Library at 451
Jersey St. near Castro Street. For information, call
415-355-5707 or visitwww.sfpl.org.
