1. The Secret World of Arrietty “The Borrowers” is a wonderful fantasy novel about tiny people living in an old British country home. Studio Ghibli is the studio that gave the world “My Neighbor Totoro,” “Howl’s Moving Castle,” “Ponyo,” and the academy-award winning film “Spirited Away” (as well as other beautifully animated movies). As Studio Ghibli’s take on “The Borrowers,” “Arriettey” is the studio’s most recent American-dubbed, Disney-released film. I’ve seen the original Japanese version and it is just as wonderful as their earlier movies. It’s slow-moving and sweet, with just enough humor and adventure to charm elementary school kids. For older, anime-loving teens, “Arrietty” again showcases writer Hayao Miyazaki’s profound sympathy with strong female protagonists. Suspenseful set pieces and impeccable animation round out this highly recommended film. Unfortunately this film contains only the Japanese and American-English audio tracks. This is the first Studio Ghibli film to have a separate British-English soundtrack, which perhaps stays closer to the spirit of the novel.

    The Secret World of Arrietty

    “The Borrowers” is a wonderful fantasy novel about tiny people living in an old British country home. Studio Ghibli is the studio that gave the world “My Neighbor Totoro,” “Howl’s Moving Castle,” “Ponyo,” and the academy-award winning film “Spirited Away” (as well as other beautifully animated movies). As Studio Ghibli’s take on “The Borrowers,” “Arriettey” is the studio’s most recent American-dubbed, Disney-released film. I’ve seen the original Japanese version and it is just as wonderful as their earlier movies. It’s slow-moving and sweet, with just enough humor and adventure to charm elementary school kids. For older, anime-loving teens, “Arrietty” again showcases writer Hayao Miyazaki’s profound sympathy with strong female protagonists. Suspenseful set pieces and impeccable animation round out this highly recommended film. Unfortunately this film contains only the Japanese and American-English audio tracks. This is the first Studio Ghibli film to have a separate British-English soundtrack, which perhaps stays closer to the spirit of the novel.
  2. Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two Although this might well be the final game produced for the original Wii, the story is too cool to pass up. The first Epic Mickey was a lot of fun, with the addition of another playable character it should be even better. It’s on pre-order, not supposed to come out until October 1st, so we have a while to wait. Replay Epic Mickey while you wait!

    Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two

    Although this might well be the final game produced for the original Wii, the story is too cool to pass up. The first Epic Mickey was a lot of fun, with the addition of another playable character it should be even better. It’s on pre-order, not supposed to come out until October 1st, so we have a while to wait. Replay Epic Mickey while you wait!
  3. The Good Food Revolution: Growing Healthy Food, People, and Communities Will Allen From 1978 to 1992, the state of Wisconsin lost 1000 to 1500 individual farms EVERY YEAR. Milwaukee resident Will Allen decided, in 1993, to start a small farm in the heart of the city. He didn’t just succeed, he changed the way people think of urban spaces. Today there are urban farms in cities all around the world inspired by Allen’s “Growing Power”. His new book, “The Good Food Revolution,” tells the story of his family, his business, and how good food can be within the reach of anyone.

    The Good Food Revolution: Growing Healthy Food, People, and Communities

    Will Allen

    From 1978 to 1992, the state of Wisconsin lost 1000 to 1500 individual farms EVERY YEAR. Milwaukee resident Will Allen decided, in 1993, to start a small farm in the heart of the city. He didn’t just succeed, he changed the way people think of urban spaces. Today there are urban farms in cities all around the world inspired by Allen’s “Growing Power”. His new book, “The Good Food Revolution,” tells the story of his family, his business, and how good food can be within the reach of anyone.
  4. The Art of Fermentation: An In-Depth Exploration of Essential Concepts and Processes from Around the World Sandor Ellix Katz “With illustrations and extended resources, this book provides essential wisdom for cooks, homesteaders, farmers, gleaners, foragers, and food lovers of any kind who want to develop a deeper understanding and appreciation for arguably the oldest form of food preservation, and part of the roots of culture itself. Readers will find detailed information on fermenting vegetables; sugars into alcohol (meads, wines, and ciders); sour tonic beverages; milk; grains and starchy tubers; beers (and other grain-based alcoholic beverages); beans; seeds; nuts; fish; meat; and eggs, as well as growing mold cultures, using fermentation in agriculture, art, and energy production, and considerations for commercial enterprises. Sandor Katz has introduced what will undoubtedly remain a classic in food literature, and is the first-and only-of its kind.”

    The Art of Fermentation: An In-Depth Exploration of Essential Concepts and Processes from Around the World

    Sandor Ellix Katz

    “With illustrations and extended resources, this book provides essential wisdom for cooks, homesteaders, farmers, gleaners, foragers, and food lovers of any kind who want to develop a deeper understanding and appreciation for arguably the oldest form of food preservation, and part of the roots of culture itself. Readers will find detailed information on fermenting vegetables; sugars into alcohol (meads, wines, and ciders); sour tonic beverages; milk; grains and starchy tubers; beers (and other grain-based alcoholic beverages); beans; seeds; nuts; fish; meat; and eggs, as well as growing mold cultures, using fermentation in agriculture, art, and energy production, and considerations for commercial enterprises. Sandor Katz has introduced what will undoubtedly remain a classic in food literature, and is the first-and only-of its kind.”
  5. The Last Waltz (Special Edition) 1976 documentary/live show by seminal roots/jam group “The Band.” Drummer Levon Helm passed away last month and this classic Scorsese film deserves to be revisited. Just one of our many music docs including Shine a Light, It Might Get Loud, American Hardcore, Thug Angel, Pearl Jam Twenty, and more!

    The Last Waltz (Special Edition)

    1976 documentary/live show by seminal roots/jam group “The Band.” Drummer Levon Helm passed away last month and this classic Scorsese film deserves to be revisited.

    Just one of our many music docs including Shine a Light, It Might Get Loud, American Hardcore, Thug Angel, Pearl Jam Twenty, and more!
  6. Teahouse of the Almighty Patricia Smith Beautiful and sad and then beautiful again, performance artist/poet Patricia Smith builds poems like a sculptor throws clay. Every stanza is a terrible choice between wet hands and the spinning wheel. One final piece for the end of national poetry month: “I always shudder when I pray / so your name must be a prayer.” See also Kay Ryan, Lucille Clifton, Rita Dove, Samuel Menashe

    Teahouse of the Almighty

    Patricia Smith

    Beautiful and sad and then beautiful again, performance artist/poet Patricia Smith builds poems like a sculptor throws clay. Every stanza is a terrible choice between wet hands and the spinning wheel.

    One final piece for the end of national poetry month:

    “I always shudder when I pray / so your name must be a prayer.”

    See also Kay Ryan, Lucille Clifton, Rita Dove, Samuel Menashe
  7. The Brontes: Wild Genius on the Moors: The Story of Three Sisters Juliet Barker My daughter’s name is Bronte. I am not planning on buying this book for the library, but I wanted to point out that it’s over 1100 pages long.

    The Brontes: Wild Genius on the Moors: The Story of Three Sisters

    Juliet Barker

    My daughter’s name is Bronte. I am not planning on buying this book for the library, but I wanted to point out that it’s over 1100 pages long.
  8. The Walking Dead: Compendium One Robert Kirkman You’ve watched the tv series, now read the book! Collects the first 8 volumes of the trade paperback graphic novel. Violent, dark, scary, sad, there’s not much uplifting about “The Walking Dead,” which can be enjoyed as an epic zombie story or read (somewhat less enjoyably) as a warning about the evil in human nature. Zombies are the new vampires, but not in a happy, “Twilight” way. In fact, I stopped reading this series 6 years ago because it was so dang depressing. Have fun!

    The Walking Dead: Compendium One

    Robert Kirkman

    You’ve watched the tv series, now read the book! Collects the first 8 volumes of the trade paperback graphic novel. Violent, dark, scary, sad, there’s not much uplifting about “The Walking Dead,” which can be enjoyed as an epic zombie story or read (somewhat less enjoyably) as a warning about the evil in human nature. Zombies are the new vampires, but not in a happy, “Twilight” way. In fact, I stopped reading this series 6 years ago because it was so dang depressing. Have fun!
  9. Figure 17 I ran into this fairly obscure anime series while searching for kid-friendly Japanese cartoons. Figure 17 is about a shy young girl who investigates a shooting star only to be given a clone by a dying alien life form. She can combine with her clone to fight the evil Maguar, another alien species that has planted eggs all over the place. Or something like that. The sci-fi plot it typically strange, but what makes Figure 17 great is that it focuses on the relationship between the Tsubasa and her clone. Although it is rated as a “7 and up” anime, and it does have its share of cuteness, this slow-moving, character-focused series is a perfect “all ages” anime that can be shared across generations..

    Figure 17

    I ran into this fairly obscure anime series while searching for kid-friendly Japanese cartoons. Figure 17 is about a shy young girl who investigates a shooting star only to be given a clone by a dying alien life form. She can combine with her clone to fight the evil Maguar, another alien species that has planted eggs all over the place. Or something like that. The sci-fi plot it typically strange, but what makes Figure 17 great is that it focuses on the relationship between the Tsubasa and her clone. Although it is rated as a “7 and up” anime, and it does have its share of cuteness, this slow-moving, character-focused series is a perfect “all ages” anime that can be shared across generations..
  10. A Princess of Mars Edgar Rice Burroughs Did you see that new Disney live-action science-fiction film “John Carter of Mars”? Neither did anyone else. No matter, this novel is the first in American pulp fiction writer Edgar Rice Burroughs’s series of stories starring displaced Confederate War soldier John Carter and his adventures on the red planet. Classic turn of the century (last century) sci-fi, “A Princess of Mars” was the first great space opera. This brand new edition of the novel contains an insightful introduction by Junot Diaz.

    A Princess of Mars

    Edgar Rice Burroughs

    Did you see that new Disney live-action science-fiction film “John Carter of Mars”? Neither did anyone else. No matter, this novel is the first in American pulp fiction writer Edgar Rice Burroughs’s series of stories starring displaced Confederate War soldier John Carter and his adventures on the red planet. Classic turn of the century (last century) sci-fi, “A Princess of Mars” was the first great space opera. This brand new edition of the novel contains an insightful introduction by Junot Diaz.

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