Plumfield Moms

Book Review: The Candy Bomber

In the prologue, Halversen says, “This book is special to me because it tells about the people of Berlin who valued freedom over food.” He adds, “Children felt this way too. ‘I can live on thin rations but not without hope,’ one ten-year-old boy told me”

Reflection: Good, Better, Best

Self-interest is restrained within due bounds when love supervenes; for then it rejects evil things altogether, prefers better things to those merely good, and cares for the good only on account of the better. ~St. Bernard of Clairvaux, On Loving God

Ancient Manuscripts: How Books Were Once Made

In this episode of Plumfield in Person, Diane and Sara introduce a new series about how books get made with a conversation about how some of the oldest books were first made. All of the books we talk about can be found at our website in the Medieval Manuscripts book list. 
Books and Links:
Magic in the Margins
The Ink Garden of Brother Theophane
Marguerite Makes a Book
Across a Dark and Wild Sea
Brother Hugo and the Bear
The Sailor Who Captured the Sea
Bibles and Bestiaries: A Guide to Illuminated Manuscripts
Pilot disposable fountain pens
Paper Making screen
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Plumfield and Paideia Facebook PagePlumfield Moms Podcast Page
 

Book Review: Down the Big River by Stephen Meader

Down the Big River by Stephen Meader is a fast-moving, exciting, and wholesome historical fiction novel that blessed our Morning Basket for several weeks this winter. In our Forgotten Books: Historical Fiction podcast episode at Plumfield Moms, this book was Sandy Hall’s selection (you can read her detailed review, here). In that episode, both she and Tanya Arnold of Biblioguides gave us a lot of great information about Meader and his reasons for writing these kinds of books. He is a gift to our young people! His stories are set from shore to shore across our country, celebrating America and her growth. And, while we have not read them all, we feel confident in recommending any of his books. You can find that episode here. 
 
 
 
Full review can be found here: https://plumfieldandpaideia.com/down-the-big-river/ 
Historical Fiction episode can be found here: https://plumfieldandpaideia.com/show-notes-american-landmark-books/ 

Book Review: Urchin and the Raven War by M. I. McAllister

This achingly beautiful book is our favorite of all five. It is a war story. It is an adventure. It is one act of love after another. It is a hero’s tale. But, wonderfully, there are many heroes. This book is like the Battle for Helm’s Deep. If you know and love these books, and if you know and love The Lord of the Rings, that is really all that you need to know. It is Helm’s Deep. Fantastically. 
 
https://plumfieldandpaideia.com/urchin-and-the-raven-war/

Our Librarian Life: September 2023

LibraryThing
TinyCat 
Our Reading Life Series
Meet Library Lady: Kathleen Seeger
Meet Library Ladies: Sherry Early, Sandy Hall, and Mary Schubert 
Meet Library Ladies: Kristi Stansfield and Jeannette Tulis
Private Lending Library Directory
Purple House Press 
Ask the Librarian: LibraryThing – Collections vs Tags
Biblioguides Private Lending Libraries List
Shelf Notes

Book Review: The Time Cat by Lloyd Alexander

In Lloyd Alexander’s first children’s novel, The Time Cat, Gareth can move in and out of nine different times, but once he has done that, he cannot ever go back. And so, according to Gareth, a cat most choose wisely when he will leap from life to life. This charming and imaginative story brings history to life. Gareth uses his first life to bring Jason to ancient Egypt and the city of Bubastes where cats are worshipped as gods. While there, they encounter some trouble, Jason learns a little something, and then they move along to the next life. As they move in and out of lives, Jason and Gareth meet all kinds of famous historical figures like St. Patrick while he was still a slave, Leonardo da Vinci as a boy, etc. And in each life, Jason learns something about himself or the world. Full Review: https://plumfieldandpaideia.com/the-time-cat/ 

Plumfield Kids: Please Return to the Lands of Luxury

Welcome to Elsa, age 11 to our Plumfield Kids team! 
If there is one thing I’ve always loved, it’s a book with a soul. And this book has one. I love the stern contrast between the Lands of Luxury, a beautiful oasis, and Yarborough, the island of garbage. The fact that the Island is governed by tyrannical robots was also a fun addition to the storyline as far as villains go! And you seriously can’t forget Jane! Her determination to return a long lost doll to its rightful owner, rather than keeping the beautiful treasure for herself proves that she is a good, honest, strong character.
 
You can see her review of this sweet book by new author, Jon Tilton here: https://plumfieldandpaideia.com/please-return-to-the-lands-of-luxury-pk/
 
You can see Sara's full review here: https://plumfieldandpaideia.com/please-return-to-the-lands-of-luxury/

Reflection: You Brought Us Out

"Learning to live by faith is a process, a lifelong education. Take time to reflect on the courses God has assigned you so far. Remember that he doesn’t mean for you to work through them alone. Ask him for help, and seek support from Christians who have already completed similar assignments."

Ask The Librarian: Library Thing - Collections vs. Tags

Many have asked if there could be a podcast specifically for private lending librarians. Something designed to encourage current librarians while also helping prospective librarians discern whether, if, when, and how they may be called to this special work. Beginning on September 20th, long-time librarians Sherry Early and Kristi Stansfield will sit down with new librarians Diane Pendergraft and Sara Masarik each month to talk about what is happening in their libraries that month. 
While the monthly discussions will be like Our Reading Life (with Tanya Arnold and Sarah Kim) and will probably be around an hour long, we are also recording short discussions about specific technical questions which will support the Ask The Librarian section of The Card Catalog. This first discussion is about the different uses of "Collections" vs. "Tags" in LibraryThing and TinyCat. 
On this page, you can find those discussions as well as many other librarian discussions that have been recorded at Plumfield Moms in collaboration with The Card Catalog. And, don't forget the sign up for Shelf Notes, a monthly newsletter for private lending librarians! You can find all of that here: https://plumfieldandpaideia.com/the-card-catalog/ 
#ourlibrarianlife #askthelibrarian #TheCardCatalog