Comic-Reading Librarian: The Long Halloween

There are a couple schools of thought about comics and graphic novels at the library.

Snobby Librarian: Doesn't get it. Why are you reading that trash and why do I have to appeal to the lowest common denominator and have them on my shelves?

Ambivalent Librarian: I've read/heard of Persepolis and Invention of Hugo Cabret, but do you see how the women are portrayed in this manga crap?

Ostracized Librarian: Gets talked about after spending her break reading those comic books.  Aren't those for 12 year old boys?

So I think maybe you can guess that I'm an Ostracized Librarian.  I'm also going to make a sweeping generalization and say that most people who work in libraries who aren't against comic books work in Youth Services.  Youth Services people want kids to come to the library and read ANYTHING, so we don't turn up our nose at it if there are pictures.  Some of us know that comics are actually good, and not all men in tights lifting cars over their heads.

So every Halloween I read The Long Halloween by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale and then get snickered at by the other librarians behind my back.

Let me just go on record here as saying that I am a Two-Face girl, through and through.  He's always been my favorite in the Rogues gallery, probably because I love a man in a good double-breasted suit.  Also, I adore his story.  He and Batman are two-sides of the same coin (intended imagery!).  Both obsessed with justice, but working towards it from opposite ends of the spectrum of good and evil.  Also, of all the rogues he's most conflicted about his life of crime.  Not a lot of remorse coming from Joker or Poison Ivy, but Harvey Dent is still in there, and we can see him.  So that makes me an unapologetic fan-girl of this story.

The premise is that murders are being committed on every holiday by a killer who has it out for the Mob Scene in Gotham.  Rogues Gallery favorites all make appearances, cementing themselves as super-villains instead of thugs, and the origin of Two-Face plays out.  I really enjoy how his origin wasn't completely rushed and botched like it was in The Dark Knight movie.  (Post complaints below)

If you haven't read it, but you like Batman, go read it.  What's great is that someone who has long been left behind by convoluted DC continuity (which the re-launch did not fix, no matter what they say) can still read and enjoy this story if they know anything about Batman.  It's meant to be a continuation of Batman: Year One by Frank Miller, but I actually don't love that story and think you can do just fine skipping it.

Loeb is a divisive figure in comics.  This book, and Superman for all Seasons are critically acclaimed.  His works on the Ultimates and Ultimatum, definitely a sore spot for fans.  I admit that while I loved this story and to a slightly lesser extent its sequel, Dark Victory, the sort of re-hash of this style he does in "Hush" didn't do it for me.

Also, I don't love the boxy art of Tim Sale in this book, but I got over it because I was engrossed in the Noir murder mystery with the tuxedo wearing, mafia-fighting Batman I love.

If you love Batman or Two-Face, pick it up.  What's more Halloween than reading a book about lunatics in costume and murder-most foul?

Best Monster Storytime Songs for Little Monsters

There are so many brilliant monster books for preschoolers out there.

In my library I've, at times, come across an anti-Halloween sentiment in parents but Monsters tend to squeak by.  The other great thing about Monster storytime is you have plenty of opportunities to yell "RAWR" which is both entertaining for the kids and annoying to the desk staff.

I've complied my favorite Monster-themed songs, great for Little Monsters.

If You're a Monster and You Know it

Tune: " If you're happy and you know it"

If you're a monster and you know it shake your horns
If you're a monster and you know it shake your horns.
If you're a monster and you know it then your growl will surely show it. RAWR! 
If you're a monster and you know it shake your horns.

Continue with:
...show your claws
...gnash your teeth
...stomp your feet
...give a roar

(There is an Ed and Rebecca Emberley book that is similar to this, though I prefer just to sing it this way.)

5 Little Monsters 

5 little monsters under my bed
1 crawled out from my bed spread
Mama came in then she said!
"No more monsters underneath the bed"

Continue counting down until there are:
"Now there are no more monsters underneath the bed So Go to Sleep!"


Horns and Fangs 

Tune: "Head and Shoulders"

Horns and fangs,
knees and claws,
knees and claws.
Horns and fangs,
knees and claws.
Eyes and ears and tail and paws.


(Faster and Faster!)

Five Little Monsters (Fingerplay)

This little monster has a big red nose
This little monster has purple toes.
This little monster plays all night.
This little monster is such a fright.
And this little monster goes:
"Tee-hee-hee"
"I'm not scary, I'm just silly me."

(Hold up hand and point to each finger)

Monster Pokey

Tune: Hokey Pokey

You Put your right paw in, 

you put your right paw out, 

you put your right paw in and you shake it all about.  

You do the Monster Pokey and you turn yourself around.  

That’s what it’s all about.  

Monster Pokey! Rawr!

Verses: Left paw, Right Claw, Left Claw, tail, horns, teeth, whole Monster self.

(Yes, another Hokey Pokey take off.  So sue me, It's what it's all about!)

Next: My favorite Preschool Monster Books

Allow me to Introduce Myself

I'm a geek and a Youth Services Programmer for the Library.

They work together really well, and you know why?

Kids are geeks. Or geeks are over grown kids. I haven't figured out which it is. All I know is that, like any self-respecting geek, kids unabashedly love superheroes, games, swordfighting, explosions, dragons, role-playing, cosplaying...the list goes on.

The Library has always been a safe place for geeks. It's free from that dastardly thing called sunlight and there are books on every subject imaginable. Geeks are always wondering, "Am I alone in liking that?" No matter how obscure, ofcourse there is a book on the subject.

My hope for this blog is to show the bridge between little-geek to normal-sized geek. The best children's books for your little geeks. Gateway drugs for your young adult geeks. For the adult geeks, those gems that are far more interesting to read than anything your average book club is making you read, because they remembered to include: superheroes, swordfighting, explosions, dragons, zombies, unicorns and the like.

And before we get into the geek, nerd, dork argument, I'm going to say right here that I don't identify myself as a "geek" because of any definition on the internet, but rather because it rhymes with "chic."

So I can call myself "geek chic."

Because I am, dammit. Think of a typical geek girl. Okay, I'm her, but I'm geek chic. Fill that in how you may, it softens the blow to my ego.

The term "geek chic" has helped me deal with the fact that I am a geek for a while now. Not that people couldn't tell I was a complete geek/nerd/dork my whole life, but I figured if I didn't confirm it I had a chance of people thinking I was normal. The thought of going to a con made me hyperventilate a bit. "Then everyone would KNOW I'm a geek."

I don't try to hide it (as much) anymore. I am what I am. A Bruce Campbell -loving, genre-fiction reading, talking-t-shirt wearing, internet-addicted geek.

But I'm totally "chic" about it.

Interesting side note, I only saw the word "chic" written in "Seventeen" magazine as a girl, so I thought it was "chick." So during the bell-bottom resurgence of Middle School years, I was certain I was "tres' hippy chick."

Embarrassing.