Super popular display with signage inspired by Bob Shea’s artwork!

November is Native American Heritage Month, and we are featuring some excellent books on display right now in the YA space.

Here are a few of the many you can check out today:

TRICKSTER / by Matt Dembicki

In Trickster more than twenty Native American tales are cleverly adapted into comic form. Each story is written by a different Native American storyteller who worked closely with a selected illustrator, a combination that gives each tale a unique and powerful voice and look. Ranging from serious and dramatic to funny and sometimes downright fiendish, these tales bring tricksters back into popular culture in a very vivid form.

WOLF MARK/ by Jospeh Bruchac

Drawing on Native American traditions and his own lively imagination, Bruchac has written a genre-blending novel that combines horror, science fiction, and adventure into a satisfying whole. The fast pace will hold readers attention to the end, which yes leaves the door open to the possibility of a sequel.

MOCCASIN THUNDER / edited by Lori Carlson

Ten stirring contemporary short stories by Indian writers, including Linda Hogan, Louise Erdrich, Sherman Alexie, and Susan Power, show teens–lost, loving, funny, uncertain–coming of age on the reservation and in the city. This distinguished anthology offers powerful, beautifully written stories that are thoughtful and important for teens to hear.

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In April of 2012 the American Library Association released a list of the book most often challenged/banned in 2011.

1) ttyl; ttfn; l8r, g8r (series), by Lauren Myracle
Offensive language; religious viewpoint; sexually explicit; unsuited to age group

2) The Color of Earth (series), by Kim Dong Hwa
Nudity; sex education; sexually explicit; unsuited to age group

3) The Hunger Games trilogy, by Suzanne Collins
Anti-ethnic; anti-family; insensitivity; offensive language; occult/satanic; violence

4) My Mom’s Having A Baby! A Kid’s Month-by-Month Guide to Pregnancy, by Dori Hillestad Butler
Nudity; sex education; sexually explicit; unsuited to age group

5) The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie
Offensive language; racism; religious viewpoint; sexually explicit; unsuited to age group

6) Alice (series), by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Nudity; offensive language; religious viewpoint

7) Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley
Insensitivity; nudity; racism; religious viewpoint; sexually explicit

8) What My Mother Doesn’t Know, by Sonya Sones
Nudity; offensive language; sexually explicit

9) Gossip Girl (series), by Cecily Von Ziegesar
Drugs; offensive language; sexually explicit

10) To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
Offensive language; racism

To start with, nudity in a book with no pictures is just silly. Anyway, as you can see most of these books are generally read by grade school kids so we can guess the challenges came from parents. Parents don’t want our kids to grow up and that fact by itself explains pretty much all the reasons given for challenging a book. The one that upset me is To Kill a Mockingbird. I will let a disclaimer put in before all Looney Tunes DVD releases explain my opinion in that:

“The cartoons you are about to see are products of their time. They may depict some of the ethnic and racial prejudices that were commonplace in the U.S society. These depictions were wrong then and they are wrong today. While the following does not represent the Warner Bros. view of today’s society, these cartoons are being presented as they were originally created, because to do otherwise would be the same as claiming that these prejudices never existed.”

~Aaron Greene~

Come to the YA department and check out our terrific selection of Hispanic fiction and non-fiction, on display for the month of September!

Here are some examples of what you can read:

Dark Dude / by Oscar Hijuelos

In Wisconsin, Rico could blend in. His light hair and lighter skin wouldn’t make him the “dark dude” or the punching bag for the whole neighborhood. The Midwest is the land of milk and honey, but for Rico Fuentes, it’s really a last resort. Trading Harlem for Wisconsin, though, means giving up on a big part of his identity. And when Rico no longer has to prove that he’s Latino, he almost stops being one. Except he can never have an ordinary white kid’s life, because there are some things that can’t be left behind, that can’t be cut loose or forgotten. These are the things that will be with you forever…. These are the things that will follow you a thousand miles away.

Gringolandia / by Lyn Miller-Lachmann

Daniel’s papá, Marcelo, used to play soccer, dance the cueca, and drive his kids to school in a beat-up green taxi—all while publishing an underground newspaper that exposed Chile’s military regime.

After papá’s arrest in 1980, Daniel’s family fled to the United States. Now Daniel has a new life, playing guitar in a rock band and dating Courtney, a minister’s daughter. He hopes to become a US citizen as soon as he turns eighteen.

When Daniel’s father is released and rejoins his family, they see what five years of prison and torture have done to him. Marcelo is partially paralyzed, haunted by nightmares, and bitter about being exiled to “Gringolandia.” Daniel worries that Courtney’s scheme to start a bilingual human rights newspaper will rake up papá’s past and drive him further into alcohol abuse and self-destruction. Daniel dreams of a real father-son relationship, but he may have to give up everything simply to save his papá’s life.

This powerful coming-of-age story portrays an immigrant teen’s struggle to reach his tortured father and find his place in the world.

What Can(t) Wait / by Ashley Hope Perez

“Another day finished, gracias a Dios.” Seventeen-year-old Marisa’s mother has been saying this for as long as Marisa can remember. Her parents came to Houston from Mexico. They work hard, and they expect Marisa to help her familia. An ordinary life–marrying a neighborhood guy, working, having babies–ought to be good enough for her. Marisa hears something else from her calc teacher. She should study harder, ace the AP test, and get into engineering school in Austin. Some days, it all seems possible. On others, she’s not even sure what she wants. When her life at home becomes unbearable, Marisa seeks comfort elsewhere–and suddenly neither her best friend nor boyfriend can get through to her. Caught between the expectations of two different worlds, Marisa isn’t sure what she wants–other than a life where she doesn’t end each day thanking God it’s over. But some things just can’t wait…

Sale Price :

Last date: Sat, 08 Sep 2012 05:04:06 +0800

Technical Details
Put all of your classroom books and curriculum on display with our Library Shelf. Children can easily grab their favorite book when it’s reading time. Dimensions: 36 3/4″ L x 14 1/4″ W x 48″ HFeatures:-These preschool classroom products are in compliance with the CPSIA safety standard, which are tested by the world-renowned German TUV Rheinland Laboratory.-The products carrying the FSC logo are manufactured from FSC certified lumbers originating from managed forests in Europe, Australia & New Zealand, etc.-The exclusive TerFusá™ edgebanding is stronger and more durable than traditional T-Modeling.-Water-Based, non-toxic finishes used.-Our Kid Guard Rounded Corners and Edges do more than provide a clean finished look, they protect kids from sharp points and edges!-These mobile units include heavy duty caster wheels for easy mobility. Simply flip up the bottom skirt for easy movement and flip it down when ready to park.-Assembly Required.-The exclusive TerFusá™ edgebanding is stronger and more durable than traditional T-Modeling. Years Limited WarrantyThe exclusive TerFusá™ edgebanding is stronger and more durable than traditional T-Modeling.-5 Year Limited Warranty.

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a model of a table for book display

When it comes to drawing attention to your book, nothing works so well as a good display.

I’m not especially crafty. It isn’t that I don’t like crafts; it’s more a matter of talent, or the lack of it. So, when I tell you anyone can create a great display for their book, and it is absolutely essential that you do so, you’ll know I’m not exaggerating.

I found all of my supplies at Michael’s. They have a friendly, knowledgeable staff and with their help, I’m less likely to buy the wrong thing.  It is also a good idea to take your book with you so you can match up colors.  You’ll want to lay your book against various background papers to see the overall effect.

Here is what you’ll need to do a basic display;

Picture or plate stand; They come in metal, wood, and acrylic and in a variety of styles.

Stiff foam board; It should be at least 3/16 inch thick (I use Elmer’s Multi Pack Foam Board 11 x 14 x 3/16)

Double sided tape (great for ribbon or other border trim)

School glue

Glue stick

Scrapbooking paper or card stock

Spray Paint (optional)

You’ll want to print your text on the paper before you begin to decorate it. Think about the context of your display. Will you be using it at a book signing? Then you most likely want to display the price and a headline that will encourage them to buy your book. If you are using it at a school appearance you might leave the price off and add an Amazon Icon or something that tells those who didn’t pre-order where they can purchase the book.

The cardstock fits my home printer so I write the text on my computer and transfer it directly onto the paper. Also with a computer you can customize the color, font and print size. My display uses three pages in three different colors. I place my print right of center on the middle page so it is centered in the finished display.

Now the real fun begins! I used a metal stand and spray painted it to match the background of my book. That way you don’t see the stand, just my book.  Acrylic does the same thing if it is clear but you don’t want it to be so thick it hides your book and the same with wood.

Metal display stand spray painted with Krylon

There are so many colors, textures and prints in scrapbook paper and card stock the choices can boggle your mind. Mix and match them, don’t be afraid to let your imagination go wild, you want it to be an attention grabber! Cut and arrange your papers on the foam board to suit your design and when you are satisfied fasten it with your glue stick or school glue.

Colorful sheets of card stock shown against foam board

You might add fun stickers to enhance your theme. Mine has sparkles which doesn’t show up in the photos. You can find hundreds of stickers to choose from.  Many of them are self-stick. Move them around until you are satisfied that you have just the right look, then, just peel and stick.

Classroom Display

I have three types of display; One for School Book Fair with the price but no Amazon Icon, one for the classroom with no price but it has the Amazon icon and one for in stores and for book signings with price, icon and reviews. As you can see, the stand will easily hold between four and eight children’s books, depending on the thickness. I place my displays on colorful boxes, (shown in the first photo at the top of the page), which I also found at Michael’s. The boxes  hold extra books, business cards, and the coloring book pages I made with a free Gimp software download. I love giving away pages to color.

Well, that’s it then. I’d love to know your thoughts or ideas, feedback is welcome.