Hi, I'm Erin. I am a school librarian in New Hampshire. I love to blog about anything that has to do with children's literature, the horror genre, authors, book festivals, arts and crafts, literary theory, film adaptations of books, history, libraries, classic film, women's studies and anything else that catches my interest.
Follow me on Instagram @tiedyelibraryn
A few days ago we ventured up to Portland, ME to visit the International Museum of Cryptozoology. I'd been wanting to check it out for a year or so, and we finally went.
The museum doesn't contain a whole lot of science- based exhibits; it's more like a fan's altar to mysterious sightings and local lore. There are displays on everything from Bigfoot and Yeti, including examples of known hoaxes such as Fiji mermaids and Jackelopes.
It's a pretty small museum, mostly made up of display cases containing everything from movie props to stuffed animals to casts of Sasquatch footprints.
I found out about this place on Atlas Obscura, so at least now I can check off another location I've been to.
I feel very grateful to have the friends and family that I do, and that I had a nice Christmas. They clearly understand how hard I've been working in my new library job, and their gifts encourage me to continue doing what I love.
My mom sent me some stuff from the company Out of Print. A tote bag and a cool mug that has titles of banned books. When the mug is room temperature, the titles are blacked out, but when hot liquid is poured inside, the titles are revealed.
My loving husband surprised me with several literary/library gifts. He gave me a special 150th anniversary edition of Little Women, along with a book by Anne Boyd Rioux that contains the history, analysis and criticisms of the book and its adaptations. Discussing Little Women stories and films is one of my favorite things to do! He also made me a shelf to keep all my Little Women books on, because I have quite a few.
My godmother sent me a kit to create my own miniature library, which I'm looking forward to building. I have a fairy library, which is actually an old jewelry box turned dollhouse, and I created a bookshop for Belle to run as a sort of fan fiction homage to Beauty and the Beast, but it will be a lot of fun to design my own modern library. I just wish I was small enough to live in it.
The biggest gift I received was my very own Little Free Library. These tiny lending collections are popping up all over the place, and I love how they inspire people to share and trade books and they promote literacy in communities. I can't wait to paint mine and put it out this spring.
Aside from these library-centric gifts, I also got a new teapot and some tea, a book about NH graveyards, cozy socks, bath salts, mermaid "thing a ma bobs" and more. I'm pretty much set now to spend the remainder of my Christmas break reading, taking baths (and pretending I'm a mermaid), drinking tea and working on my dollhouses.
We went for a little walk today in Canterbury, NH.
There is a place there called Church of the Woods, and we wanted to see it. It's a space that welcomes anyone of any faith to come and connect with God in a natural and simple setting.
There were no services, but we walked one of the trails as our own way of celebrating. As we walked the trails, which were covered in moss, I noticed the tiny red blooms growing on it. Nature has a way of decorating itself I guess.
When we got home, we settled in for a cozy evening with all our animals. The bunnies laid in front of the fireplace all evening, soaking up the warmth:
Eric got out his guitar and we sang a few songs before reading The Night Before Christmas and putting John to bed. Now to indulge in some eggnog with brandy and watch It's a Wonderful Life.
I'm finally on Christmas break, but I keep thinking about work stuff. Go figure- the minute I get some free time, I decided to write about work stuff.
Actually I've been meaning to write about this for a while because it's been on my mind. I've been seeing A LOT of posts lately in my librarian Facebook groups about schools that serve middle school kids, either as a middle school or as a K-8 school like mine. Many of them seem to have rules about which grades can check out which books, like "8th grade only" or some other version of that idea.
I admit that it's very challenging to curate a collection that contains "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" as well as "Thirteen Reasons Why", but I firmly believe that every student in the school should be able to find books that interest, challenge, inform, inspire and comfort them. I also have latched onto the idea as books as mirrors and windows: some students might check out "Thirteen Reasons Why" and it will let them see another person's struggle. Some may read it and see a reflection of their own experiences, and both are important.
For that reason, I have not made any 'rules' like that, at least not yet. We have a YA section, but most students don't venture there unless they are already interested in it, and not put off by the thicker books with higher lexiles. The section where this predicament comes up the most is our Graphic Novel section.
Many of the 4th grade girls are going through those books like wildfire, and it makes me so happy to have them coming in multiple times a week, looking for a new book. However, there are a few books in that section which border YA/more mature themes.
For example, one girl recently wanted to borrow Drama, because she's already read all Raina Telgemeier's other titles.
I told her that there are some themes in there which make some people uncomfortable, and she asked what they were. I told her that it has a character who is gay, and she asked "What does that mean?" I asked her what she thought it meant, and she still didn't know. So I asked her if she was comfortable enough asking her parents about things she doesn't know, and what they would think of her reading a book like that. . .and she thought and said "I think I'll wait 'till next year for this one." I was so proud of her for putting so much thought into her reading choice.
And even more recently, one girl wanted to check out the graphic novel adaptation of Anne Frank's diary.
Aside from the usual information about the Holocaust, there are also some parts which deal with puberty, like when she first gets her period. I told the girl that books about the Holocaust tend to make people sad and upset, and she told me she's read sad books before. I also asked her if she'd feel comfortable asking her parents questions about what she was reading, and she said she would be. So she checked the book out, and she's not the first girl in that grade to read it either.
I don't want to be a gatekeeper, or keep girls from reading a powerful and inspiring book, one that has the potential to shape their identities as it did mine. . .
But I do want to make sure they read it at the best possible time, and not before they are ready to confront things that are so woven with themes of Life and Death. And I want their parents to trust me as someone who has their children's best interests in mind when they come into the library.
There have been some up's and down's, but I'm glad to say it's been mostly up's. I've had some real positive feedback lately from the students, like drawings:
I've also been feeling the love from their families, who have been sending in baked goodies, Burt's Bees and little care packages.
1. I've had some victories to celebrate recently. I knew the week before break would be crazy, so I planned some holiday/winter themed STEM activities for grades 4 and 5, and they went over great. The kids worked hard on the assignments, but they had alot of fun together. I even had a couple of 7th grade girls ask if they could come in and try one of the projects, and they also did a great job.
2. Our book club is going really well! We're reading a book of short stories by Patrick Carman, and since he's the guy behind the ghostly Skeleton Creek series, it only makes sense that his other book would have a creep factor, too. The short stories often follow a common trope in folklore and/or horror, and since I spent a few years at YMS designing my 6th grade enrichment class around those concepts, I have tons of resources ready to go. The kids are enjoying the book club, but as I looked around the room the other day I had some extra pride because: 1)we have quite a few boys, and adolescent boys are notorious for avoiding reading. Also, there are some students in their who struggle with attention spans and/or reading. However, because the stories are short, it takes the pressure off them. Also, the introductions are audio files and the conclusions are short videos (on the book's website), so even a student who has difficulty processing text can make sense of it by listening to and viewing other parts of the story.
3. I am improving in my knowledge of coding. I have been spending time doing the Google CS First Storytelling course, since I assigned it to my 7th graders, so that helps. Plus, I have been getting into classrooms more to do lessons on coding, and the last two I did went pretty well. The first one I did did not go as well as I hoped, but I talked to the classroom teacher, and we agreed that I could do another lesson to give the kids another chance at learning code. It's pretty disappointing when a lesson doesn't go over well, but I am willing to try again, for the students and for me.
Since we were on the road for Thanksgiving, we have decided to stay in NH for Christmas. I know I will be a little homesick, but it will be really nice to have a week and a half to relax in my own house.
The other night I tortured myself by trying to find more info on the live-action Disney version of The Little Mermaid. I wasn't able to find much, but I clung to every little scrap I could find.
Luckily, there is another little mermaid to distract me for a little bit. I was so excited when I saw that the most recent adaptation of my favorite fairy tale is on Netflix.
I watched it alone, so I could give it my undivided attention. It's not a straight retelling of Andersen's tale, but rather an updated/slipstream interpretation.
It begins with a grandmother reading the book to her little grand-daughters, and most of the story is told in a flashback; the setting is Mississippi in the 30's or 40's. The little girl Elle is sick, and after her uncle Cam hears of a miracle cure, they travel to a circus to try and purchase some (although he doesn't really believe it will cure her- he seems like he's hoping to disprove it).
While they are enjoying their night at the circus, they go to a show where the ringleader unveils a large tank, claiming that inside is a real, live mermaid. Elle pushes her way to the front of the crowd, wanting to see for herself. She sees a beautiful young woman inside, with a tail. They seem to have an instant connection to each other, as they place their hands on opposite sides of the glass.
Of course, Cam doubts that that she is actually a mermaid, especially after he and Elle run into the mermaid while out on a walk. Elle asks why she has legs, and the mermaid tells her that mermaids have the ability to transform back and forth with the tides.
The movie Hook was imaginative in its use of slipstream thought: "What is Peter Pan had grown up? What if he left Neverland and forgot who he was?" This retelling of The Little Mermaid has a similar thought process.
In the text, the little mermaid does fall in love with a Prince, and become human to meet him. However, the prince falls in love with another woman, and marries her instead. The mermaid is offered a chance to return to her family under the sea, if she stabs him in the heart and allows his blood to fall on her legs, she is told it will transform back into a tail. However, she loves him so much that she cannot bear to hurt him, so she resigns herself to her fate: becoming sea foam. Because of her selflessness, she is instead granted a soul, and lives forever as a Daughter of the Air, watching over the prince and his bride.
In this version, the slipstream thought is like: "What is the little mermaid did not become a Daughter of the Air? What is she was granted a soul, but someone else owned it?"
Much like Hook takes place many years after the original story (which was penned by JM Barrie in 1904), this version of The Little Mermaid also takes place decades after the original story would have happened, leading us to believe that the mermaid has been in servitude for the entire time.
The cinematography in the water scenes is beautiful and dream-like.
There's no Sea Witch in this version; instead the villain is a cruel ringleader who has discovered how he can capture and control the magic of others.
The film is on the short side, which is fine. A fairy tale composed for children doesn't need to be an epic.
Overall, I enjoyed a fresh take on my favorite fairy tale; it has enough differences to be interesting, but enough similarities to be faithful to the original.
I finally got sit down and watch Hold Your Man. I've been wanting to see this movie since I first heard of it, in highschool! I remember asking to inter-library loan it at our local library, and they weren't able to find a VHS copy of it. It was difficult to find on DVD for a long time too, because there's not much demand for little-known pre-code films to be transferred onto various types of media, each time a new format becomes popular.
I am guessing that streaming video is making these types of old movies easier to find and view, and I hope that it is also giving them a renaissance by allowing more viewers to discover them, but maybe that's too optimistic of me.
Anyways, Hold Your Man is another film that pairs the King of Hollywood with Jean Harlow. I've always liked their on screen chemistry. Clark Gable (pre-mustache) and Harlow always seemed like two puzzle pieces that fit together. He usually played a gangster or conman, and she was never duped by his crooked smile and smooth words, playing more than a few tricks of her own. Harlow oozed sensuality, with her bedroom eyes and her filmy dresses and satin robes, and she often played a character who is well-known to more than a few men, but because of her cherubic face, viewers know there's more heart to her than she lets on. Despite her bleached blonde hair and her pencil-thin eyebrows, she still managed to look innocent and vulnerable, that is, when she wasn't a wise-cracking tough cookie.
The first moment she appears on screen, she's in the bathtub. Conman Eddie Hall (Gable) busts into her apartment as he's evading some policemen.
She screams and covers herself, emerging a moment later in a black satin robe. In just that introduction, the pre-code characteristics of the film are evident: the audience catches a glimpse of her bare body, and afterwards she allows him to change clothes in her apartment, after they've only known each other for five minutes. She hands him a robe from her closet and he remarks "Hey, this a man's robe!" In 1933, an unmarried lady would not have had a man's robe in her home. . .unless she was more like a Lady of the Night. . .and she also would not have had numerous photos of other men hung up in her bedroom.
She also would not be chatting casually with a shirtless criminal, as she wears nothing but a satin bathrobe, in her bathroom.
One of my favorite things about watching classic films is how I am able to interpret history through the story's lens.
For example, in the beginning of the film, conman Eddie is lamenting a scam that wasn't as lucrative as he'd hoped, and his buddy says "What a waste of a Depression- you can't tell a banker from a bum", which isn't difficult to figure out, given the 1933 setting.
Furthermore, after Ruby (Harlow) is sent to a women's reformatory, one of her roommates begins ranting about the brokenness of a social class system, saying "We don't do anything that debutantes don't do, but you don't see them in here", and one of them women calmly explains "She's a communist."
Communists were kind of a self-contained group, but the Great Depression led to an increase in enrollment for this political party, as many people wondered how an economy that was so prosperous in the previous decade was now failing them. Later, when this woman's sewing machine breaks down, she rants again that "all machines are broken", and declares that machines are responsible for the Great Depression.
While in the reformatory, Ruby discovers that she's pregnant. This is a HUGE pre-code indicator, because Ruby is not married yet.
The film takes its title from a song that's played throughout the story. Here's a clip of Jean Harlow singing it:
Something I particularly enjoyed about the story is that the preacher who marries Eddie and Ruby is black, and Eddie expresses his gratitude and appreciation for the man's kindness. Clark Gable never understood the division of people based on skin color. As a child growing up in Ohio, he was known to play baseball with any boy. When I visited the Clark Gable birthplace and museum a couple years ago, the guide told a story that he and some friends hitchhiked on a train to play a game with another group of boys in a neighboring town. When they arrived, the boys they met said they wouldn't play ball with blacks, so they just got right back on the train and headed home again, rather than leave out anyone.
Gable also made his disgust known over the Academy's rules, when Hattie McDaniel, the first black woman to receive an Academy Award, was not allowed to sit at the table with her co-stars, but had to sit alone at a table in the back of the room. Even that had been a compromise, since the nightclub had a strict no-blacks policy. Gable had wanted to boycott the ceremony and not attend, but McDaniel asked him to go, for her.
The story moves along quickly, and it has a happy ending. I would watch it again
I haven't had much time to write lately, which is why my posts are so few and far between. I am finally getting around to writing about a couple things from Thanksgiving break.
We usually stay in NH for Thanksgiving, and travel for Christmas, but this year we swapped our plans, and spent Turkey Day in my home city.
I had school the day before Thanksgiving, so that night we just drove to Albany, and then arrived at my family's on Thursday.
We were able to try some new things while we were there, including ther now-famous Dill Pickle Pizza. The little pizzeria Rhino's had been in operation for over a decade, when they were inspired to create it. The crust is covered in a garlic cream sauce, and cheese, and then topped with slices of dill pickle. They're not out of a grocery store jar either- the ones that top the pizza, and delicious, old-fashioned style ones, and of course the pizza is sprinkled with dill seasoning.
In August of 2018, the Dill Pickle Pizza went viral. I saw it all over Facebook before I even realized it was from Rochester, NY. I am glad to report that it IS worthy of all the attention, and I plan to make it a regular tradition now on my trips (just like Garbage Plates).
One night, I actually went out on a date! (It's OK, it was with my husband.) We went to a couple places for drinks, including Fifth Frame Brewing. I tried the Thrift Store Recliner (chocolatey with peanut butter flavor).
On our drive back home, we made a little stop in Seneca Falls. Seneca Falls is believed to be the basis for Bedford Falls, in It's a Wonderful Life.
There's a museum dedicated to the film there which we visited, and of course we took a walk on the bridge, too.
Being in the museum reawakened my drive to watch more classic films. It's a great feeling when you can reclaim some little part of yourself that felt like it was slipping away.
I've been so busy with my new job and all the new responsibilities that come with it, and now all the stresses of the holiday season, that I hadn't been able to indulge in some of my favorite activities, like working on dollhouses or finding a classic movie to sit down and watch and analyze. . .
In my next post, I'll discuss one of the movies I watched.
This year, I decided to try something a tiny bit more technology related. I have been reading the non-fiction book Zombie Makers with the 3rd grade classes, and we've been discussing scientific terms like host, parasite, mutate, spore, etc. The book is about real life 'zombies'; bugs that get infected by parasites, and stop acting naturally, because the parasite gains control over their nervous systems.
As a STEM tie in, they are going to create cardboard mazes for my 'zombie' hex bug. He was a special order from Amazon; he comes with his own coffin.
I named him Hector Salamanca!
Not only do I have a zombie hex bug, I made my own hex bug! I removed the head of a (new) toothbrush, bought a micro motor from Amazon, and attached a small battery to it. It's my first attempt with any kind of robotic, and it's very temperamental, but when it started moving I was like:
I also brought some art journals along, since so many people liked them last year.
The keynote speaker this year was great, and I attended his session on Digital Citizenship at every grade and got some great ideas and resources.
I also attended a session on Cyberbullying and Teaching Kindness, led by Carol Todd. Carol is the mother of Amanda Todd, whose video on YouTube went viral after she died by suicide in 2012. The story of how this teenage girl was targeted, sexploited, and bullied is pretty infamous now, and her mother uses the story to educate students, parents and teachers. If you're not familiar with Amanda's video, here's a link to a reputable copy of her original, sponsored by Suicide Prevention LLC. The video can be upsetting to some people, which is why I did not embed it into my post.
The makerspace had alot to offer, as well. Upcycling t-shirts, weaving with branches, using toilet paper tubes to make funny characters, and a Cricut machine were some highlights.
The best part about this year? My husband got to come, too!
His school had some tickets for the conference, and since there was a whole session on using digital history resources in AP classes, he decided to check it out.
It wasn't really a day 'off' but the change of scenery was great for letting me recharge my battery a little.
I haven't updated in weeks, so here's one in honor of an important annual holiday: My first snow day of the year!
It's always exciting. I was up and ready to go, putting together an outfit for the day, when the phone rang. I'm really glad that I don't have to drive to/from school in all the snow, worrying the whole time, but I'm a tiny bit disappointed because I had some good plans for the day that I've been thinking about for a while.
The 4th grade has been doing a whole unit on Native Americans: first they got divided into different tribes (ones that were native to our state) and they had to claim a territory ( a part of the library) and design their flag. The next week, they had to set up trade lines with other tribes, using stickers that represent resources like corn, fish, medicinal plants/berries, animals, and goods brought over by European settlers. They are really enjoying it. Today was supposed to be the first marriage, to create an alliance between 2 tribes. The kids have been asking about the marriage part for weeks, giggling every time. I had the whole thing worked out, using dice to determine which tribes would be united.
I was also supposed to go observe another class, because the teacher has been coding with her students.
Speaking of observations, I had my first official teacher observation last Thursday. I didn't realize what was happening at first, but when I did I started to get pretty nervous. The students in the library at that time were working on a STEM assignment. They had requested the week before to try something new, and making cardboard mazes is not costly or too complicated for a first try.
I had my post-observation conference yesterday, and it was pretty good. I know there are some things I will do differently next time, but the students were so engaged and working well together, that my supervisor and I were both satisfied. It's a huge load off my mind, and now I can use the Thanksgiving break to re-charge.
It's my favorite day of the year! It's a holiday devoted to eating candy and not being yourself!
This year, I decided to be Practically Perfect in Every Way (definitely not me!).
In case you don't get the reference, I decided to channel the most famous British nanny ever.
This costume came together so easily and naturally. My friend gifted me a bunch of leftover fabric a few months ago, and in the bag was this navy blue skirt with black velvet trim. It turns out she used to do traditional German dancing, and this was part of her costume. I didn't know that traditional German dancing was a thing, but I knew it reminded me of Mary Poppins!
From there, I looked for a white blouse at thrift stores, and I think I paid $1.50 for it. I already had the stockings, the shoes, the black blazer and my husband loaned me the red tie. I got the carpetbag suitcase from a local antique store (with a gift certificate) and I bought the hat on Amazon for less than $10.
So this costume cost less than $12!
I wore it to school on our designated Dress Up Day, and I was impressed with the number of students who guessed it. I also wore it to Ghosts on the Banke, and as soon as I walked in the door, a little girl came up to me tell me how much she liked it.
Now I am making it a point to read the stories by PL Travers.
I went back to YMS yesterday afternoon. It was a little strange to be back in the building, but I was really glad to make the trip. I had to return a library book that I had for four months (yikes- how embarrassing!) and there were a couple odds and ends I left behind. I received warm welcomes and hugs from the teachers and administrators and students. I miss some parts of that job, mostly the people, but I know I am doing some good work at my new school.
I recently accomplished one of my goals; I rearranged the biographies. Instead of just one big shelf that says 920 Biography, I organized them into smaller sections and gave them all their own space on some shorter shelves. I hope this will make them more accessible, and also look more appealing. Here are a few of the labels I made for the different categories:
As for other projects, I continue to weed the collection, and the other day, the Tech. Recycling Company came to take away all the old TV's and overhead projectors that were taking up space.
Sometimes I wish I had taken the steps for Alt 4 certification sooner, rather than waiting five years to start, but I don't know if I would have been ready before then. I learned alot at YMS about what libraries should be, and how they should adapt to best serve the school community. I also learned what my own preconceptions about libraries and literacy were, and how I can be more flexible.
We hit the road early today so we could spend the day in Providence, Rhode Island. Every year, the Lincoln School holds a Children's Book Festival, and they always have wonderful authors and illustrators there. This year we went specifically for David Weisner and Kevin Henkes. The school had a little photo booth set up, so I got this picture of me and John:
I have always loved Kitten's First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes, so I brought that along for him to sign. I also brought two books from the school library that are now extra-special.I also brought along a couple of his books from the school library, and I told him that I use his books when I teach about Visual Literacy, and he said it sounded like a good project. Proud librarian moment!
David Wiesner had the longest line while we were there. We brought a couple books we already had, and I also got the school library's copy of Flotsam signed, but I bought the graphic novel Fish Girl as a treat for myself. Fish Girl is kind of like a modern version of The Little Mermaid, and I have that mermaid obsession, which I am seeking treatment for (not really though).
After we got all our books signed, we walked around a little, but the morning was pretty rainy and chilly. We did find a little playground, and had fun walking on wobbly rope bridges together:
Then we grabbed some lunch a Luxe Burger Bar in downtown Providence. I had the most amazing burger: it had the regular lettuce and tomatoes but it also had creamy goat cheese, caramelized onions, bacon jam, onion rings, and wasabi mayonnaise. I don't know if I'll ever have a burger as good as that one. I also had a Roadsmary's Baby pumpkin ale with a cinnamon-sugar rim.
On our drive home, we took a little detour to Danvers, MA to see the old Danvers Lunatic Asylum. The asylum opened in 1878, and was in operation until 1992. The property was sold in 2005, and much of the original building was demolished in 2007. However, since it is on the Register of Historic Places, it has been revamped and is now an apartment building.
The Gothic style "castle on the hill" inspired HP Lovecraft's horror stories as well as Arkham Asylum in the Batman Universe. (Arkham Asylum is where the Joker ends up, and meets Harley Quinn.)
This facility, which once utilized straitjackets and lobotomy surgeries, is now the centerpiece of upscale apartment living, and it has cheerful flowers planted out front; however, visitors should take a little walk. . .
Just two minutes down the road is the old cemetery, in which the remains of many patients who were 'treated' at the hospital now rest. It seems to be pretty well maintained, and some of the graves are marked with simple name plaques. However, the names of all those who died during their stay are listed on three monuments.
So, a day of children's books, playgrounds, pumpkin ale and asylums. . .sounds like a pretty good day.
I've been awake for 16 hours now. I had a terrible night's sleep, fueled by weird anxiety dreams and a mind that would not turn off. When I got up this morning I watched an episode of Supernatural, a show on Netflix an 8th grader told me about. I am really enjoying it, because it focuses on urban legends and well-known horror tropes. This morning's episode focused on the Hook Handed Killer that preys on teenagers in cars, which coincidentally is the urban legend I speak about in the Scary Stories documentary. I know that the first year of a job is the hardest. I am still getting used to a new school with new staff members and new students. I am adjusting to a fixed schedule with much longer days than my previous position. And all this comes with added responsibilities. Sometimes it's overwhelming. I am using all my spare time in school to weed the collection. It's very exhausting and time consuming, but any librarian knows the sense of triumph and relief we feel when we dispose of unwanted books or technology that take up valuable space. So far I've withdrawn three book trucks, one media cart, and three big boxes full of books and VHS tapes. So for now, I comfort myself with the knowledge that I am working really hard and I try to think about the good things: I got hugs this morning as students walked down the halls to their classrooms. My 8th grade class started doing their presentations on Visual Literacy, using the Whole Book Approach to facilitate discussions about picture books. One group did Where the Wild Things Are, and I had never noticed before how the moon changes shape throughout the story. It is full at the beginning and end, but when Max is in the land of the Wild Things, it is a crescent moon with pointed ends, mirroring the claws and teeth of the beasts. One student decided to present by himself, and he chose The Very Hungry Caterpillar. He pointed out that the caterpillar eats his way through all the food, crossing over the gutter, and simultaneously passes into a new phase of life. I do not often give full credit on assignments, but all the presenters today got 10/10 because I was genuinely impressed with their insights. So tomorrow I'm off to the Rhode Island Children's Book Festival- hopefully it will be a good day for a road trip.
On Saturday, Eric and I ventured into Salem, MA to see the documentary film I am in. We had no idea how crazy the traffic would be! I know that Salem gets busy in October, but it was only the 6th. I had hoped to visit a few of the filming locations for Hocus Pocus, but the streets were mobbed. We did drive by the historic Ropes Mansion, which was used as Allison's home. There were tons of people out front, taking selfies.
A few years ago, we drove into Salem during the summer so that my interview (as a children's literature scholar and librarian) could be filmed. I never knew how complicated making a film was until that point. When I arrived, I had to be wired with a microphone (but of course the wires couldn't be showing) and they had to get the lighting just right (which wasn't easy because too much light made my face look very white, but not enough light made my dark hair blend in with the wooden wall behind me).
In the first trailer for the documentary, I was shown discussing folktales and myths, and the banning of the Scary Stories books. I figured in the years since then, maybe the filmmaker would have so much more material that my measly interview wouldn't be necessary. I told myself that even if I was cut out, that I wouldn't mind because it was still a unique experience.
Yesterday as we sat in the movie screening room at the Peabody Essex Museum, I was surprised to see my face on screen not once, but twice! The first little snippet was me talking about the haunting illustrations by Stephen Gammell, particularly this one:
The second clip from my interview is my analysis of the urban legend about the teenage boy and girl in the car, and they hear a radio bulletin about an escaped murderer with a hook for a hand. The girl becomes frightened, and begs the boy to take her home. He does reluctantly, and when he steps out to open the door for her, he finds a hook on the car door handle.
An alternate version of this story is featured in one of my favorite movies Adventures in Babysitting (and it's worth noting that babysitters also have a prominent place in urban legends)
Stories such as this function as a warning to young people about societal expectations and monitoring their behavior (two teens, alone in a car could lead to sex); the other popular urban legend about a teenager in a car is the one in which a girl is driving and a car follows her, flashing its lights at her, leading her to pull into a gas station and scream for help. The gas station attendant calls the police, and a murderer is discovered to be hiding in her backseat.
I really enjoyed the documentary itself, not just because I happen to be in it. It brought up some really interesting interpretations of the tales that I had never considered. I was extra excited because I ordered these books for my new library, and they had just arrived on Friday afternoon, so now when I go to promote them to the kids, I will have some fresh ideas in my head.
After the film, we got a drink at Notch, a micro brewery. It was pretty good, but we wish they'd had more food to offer because we were really hungry by that point.
I don't think the doc is available for purchase yet, but I will be keeping tabs on it as it continues to be shown at more screenings.
I've blogged about my Beetlejuice dollhouse before. In fact, there are more than a few posts dedicated it, beginning from when I found the dollhouse at Goodwill and paid $1 for it, and the evolution of it from generic 'haunted house' to what it has become.
I love to make my dollhouses and miniature scenes based on books/stories/movies that are important to me, and Beetlejuice has been my favorite 'horror' movie since I was little.
Since I bought the dollhouse at Goodwill for a buck, it was basically just a structure. It didn't have any of the building components like window frames or doors. I was able to make the windows by using upcycled clear plastic from containers (like take-out ones that I kept and washed) and some popsicle sticks.
Finding doors the right size for the openings was a challenge because I didn't have the ones that were meant to be with the dollhouse kit, and the nice quality ones that are stocked at places like Hobby Lobby were not the right size. (I really don't have the tools or expertise to resize the opening in a kit that's already assembled and on it's way to being completed.) The upstairs door from Adam's office was attached to the exterior rather than sitting flush in the opening. It's not ideal, but it doesn't look awful.
Trying to get a front door has been more difficult. The dollhouse is meant to have double doors, but I couldn't find any double doors the right size. I had some cardboard ones installed for a bit, but they looked terrible.
Then yesterday, the Goddess of Free Stuff smiled on me again!
I picked up a huge stash of Barbie stuff from the side of the road, including a nice Barbie house and a whole bag of dolls, accessories and other assorted plastic do-dads.
In the bag, was this random pink and white plastic door:
It's the perfect height for the house! I just need to add some trim around the sides to hide the gap.
Apparently, it's supposed to be part of a fairy door kit:
It looks even better painted red, like the house in the movie:
I wish it was a double door, like the house in the movie, but I can't complain about the price.
I also bought some mini purple lights and a tiny Beetlejuice Living Doll box (Ebay impulse buy) because I can never resist a little dose of metafiction.
There is also a tiny Coke can in Lydia room because:
