One week ago, I was returning from the American Association of School Librarians conference in St. Louis, Missouri. And now I’m ready to share my takeaways.
School librarians are a warm group of people. I was stopped by people who knew me through other school librarians and I stopped people who I knew through their presence in the organization or online. However the conversation starts (standing in line, sitting in a conference session, at the counter of a restaurant) it always feels comfortable and welcoming.
See The Librarians documentary as soon as you can.
Books are the greatest and best bridge between people. Don’t ever forget it.
To be an author is to be a public figure and that takes a toll on anyone. Jason Reynolds was so eloquent in sharing the importance of his self-care routine especially as he gets older. It was also echoed in other sessions as well.
There are some neat tools out there and companies are eager to share them with school librarians. I was enthralled by the Sooth.fyi demonstration and excited to use it in my building with students.
Present! It’s a way to give back to your profession and meet others too. I was able to talk about teens and manga (a favorite discussion topic). And I was enriched by EVERY session I went to, too. Ideas that I will put into practice both sooner and later.
For as active as the conference is, it’s nice to sink into a soft bed in a hotel every night after a delicious meal and a hot cup of tea.
It’s always a bonus to travel to a city or state you’ve never been to.
If we know each other just a little bit, you know that I like to create challenges for myself as a fun way to feel accomplished but also (often) learn in the process. This challenge started in spring as a lead-up to a much-anticipated trip to Japan with six teenaged boys as part of a bigger tour group. I wanted to dive into the Studio Ghibli films because I didn’t watch them growing up and I was preparing to travel to the country of origin for the legendary film company and creative genius behind it, Hayao Miyazaki.
I borrowed the DVDs from the public library and stole time on the only DVD player in the house, my sons’ Playstation system in the basement. It was slow going, but I chose popular, much-discussed titles. Then I went to Japan and when I got back decided that I would watch the rest of them before summer’s end. But I also needed a new way to watch them, so we bought a small DVD player to hook up to the garage TV which doubles as entertainment during workouts. So now I could walk on the treadmill or do my strength training AND watch an animated classic. Needless to say this accessibility sped up my ability to complete them all before summer’s end– watching twenty-five movies (recognizing that The Red Turtle is not often included in the longlist even though Studio Ghibli co-produced it with a French company, the brainchild of a Dutch animator and French screenwriter). Here are my thoughts on the movies and the journey:
At the beginning, several of them I watched with at least one of my two sons (who also traveled as part of the entourage to Japan). But the majority were watched alone. I am also an infrequent movie-watcher in general. I prefer documentaries to movies though I can say my favorite non-Studio Ghibili animated movie of all time is Inside Out. As I watched the Studio Ghibli movies, I thought about three big items: the storytelling, the visual interest, and time management. And as I watched more and more, I made connections between older titles and newer titles or what was happening in the world. There wasn’t a specific order I watched them in either. I would borrow from the library and just like reading, it was more of a mood choice than anything else. So without a pattern, it was easy to simply enjoy it for what it was. I questioned the length of some movies and others I could tell within minutes that it would be a favorite just from the first scenes that engaged all of my senses. Of course, the ones that elicit a visceral emotional response also found their way to the top of my favorites list. Many would agree that Grave of the Fireflies is not a movie that you watch over and over again, (once is generally enough to be gutted by it) and it begins and ends with the emotional response that makes it memorable.
A brief thought for each movie on my ranked list:
From Up on Poppy Hill
I promise that because this was the last movie I watched didn’t mean that it was going to go to the top of the list, however, from the opening scenes and music, I was sucked into the warmth of Umi and the beauty of Poppy Hill and curious to know more. Plus all of the scenes at the Latin Quarter were visually stunning and often cute or funny or both.
The Secret World of Arrietty
This tiny world and Arrietty’s fighting spirit won me over. The miniature world brings me back to a childhood imagining that all of my stuffed animals and dolls had a life outside of the human gaze a la Toy Story and this one feels similar about what we don’t see.
Grave of the Fireflies
As mentioned, this intricate historical story brings tears to everyone’s eyes for its portrayal of the aftermath of the Pacific War. I don’t even want to share any more because it should be on everyone’s list to watch.
Kiki’s Delivery Service
Kiki is adorable, enough said. I’m a sucker for a fashionable witch. And while I’m not a cat person per se, Kiki’s sidekick Jiji was just as fun. Visually this was one I loved to watch.
The Boy and the Heron
The most recent movie was thematically complex and artistic. The combination won me over as Mahito discovers an abandoned tower and a talking heron. This is one I watched before traveling to Japan and felt particularly moved when I looked up at the A-Dome in Hiroshima and saw a heron in one of the windows.
The Red Turtle
A wordless movie about survival was sparing but stunning.
Whisper of the Heart
There’s a sweetness to Shizuku’s book nerdiness and her embarrassment at her skills. Then there’s her outsized wishes and dreams and fairytale visions especially when she tries to identify the person who keeps checking out the books she’s checking out before her. Her empowerment over the course of the movie kept me humble.
The Wind Rises
An epic story that went a little long, however, the tragic romance was ultimately the (dare I say) best part of this historical movie with lovely scenescapes to get swept away with.
Spirited Away
When I had the chance to go to a Japanese bathhouse, I took it, in part due to the movie. Obviously the creatures steal the movie with their personalities but it did run a little long.
Howl’s Moving Castle
I read the book first, so the adage about the book being better than the movie is usually always the case and I think that’s the same in this case though, as with Spirited Away, the creatures steal the movie.
My Neighbor Totoro
Totoro is the adorablest, no doubt, but it wasn’t enough to carry the movie. There were parts to adore but it wasn’t as cohesive as the others that are at the top of my list but one thing I appreciated (and you’ll see it in the next few down on my list) is the snapshot of country life in Japan.
Only Yesterday
As with My Neighbor Totoro, the visions of country life take center stage. For Taeko it’s reflecting on her life at ten and what that means for her at twenty-seven which is why most adults would connect deeply with this one, but again, what kept it from rising higher was the length.
When Marnie Was There
The discoveries that lead to the resolution and final scenes had a hopefulness that shifted from the darker Anna we meet at the beginning. The reminiscences about the marsh house throughout the movie proved lovely and my favorite characters were actually Anna’s relatives she stayed with. If I was going to stay in the country for a summer, I’d want to stay with them!
The Tale of the Princess Kaguya
The story justifies the length and the peek into Japanese royal life was the reason I was thoughtfully engaged in this movie though it took a more ethereal ending (though it obviously started out that way too, I know) wasn’t what I was hoping for.
My Neighbors The Yamadas
This cartoon-like sketch of regular life in a series of vignettes was refreshingly basic and that’s what’s to love about it. From long days at work to being cool at school to grandmother Yamada’s view of the world, I giggled plenty of times.
Castle in the Sky
The castle in the sky! Once there this fantastical world was immersive. It just took too long to get there.
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind
Nausicaa is a bada** princess who observes and reacts in a way that is in the best interest of her people, even if that means risking her own life.
Ponyo
I don’t know why I don’t love this one more. Maybe I was distracted when I was watching it or the story itself wasn’t captivating, though goldfish are cool. I had one that lived in my dorm room for several years, surviving longer than expected since I realized when I won him that he had an odd bubble on the side of his body.
Earwig and the Witch
It might be sacrilegious because I know the chatter is that it is the worst of all of the movies especially because of the animation and yes, I would agree that the animation is out-of-the-ordinary for what we love about Studio Ghibli films, but Earwig grew on me. Her curiosity and stick-to-it-ness provided an industrious nature when she was always viewed as the underdog having been abandoned at an orphanage by her mother.
The Cat Returns
Too long to love. I was too impatient that more and more kept happening to Haru to keep her from getting back to the human world.
Ocean Waves
Ah, all good manga is about the dichotomy of teenage emotions, so I get it, but in movie form, I wanted it to be over sooner than later. It had the manicpixiedreamgirl vibes written all over it from the start.
Pom Poko
The ones that fall to the bottom are the movies that are heavy-handed in their environmental themes. It’s one thing to celebrate nature and remind us to take care of it, but it’s another to spend two hours with shapeshifting raccoons trying to stop a development from being erected.
Porco Rosso
Focusing on the aviation side of the story is the strength, but the cursed main character ace pilot was odd enough to make me curious to see where it was going but odd enough to also not make me love it.
Princess Mononoke
See Pom Poko’s explanation, this was equally long and heavy-handed with the bright spot being the sweeping scenes of nature before destruction.
Tales from Earthsea
The fantastical didn’t move me and neither did the visual for this film which is why it ended up at the bottom of the list.
There you have it. How does my list compare to yours? While I’ll be snacking on sushi for lunch to celebrate, I’d love to read your comments.
Order of films by release date
My ranking
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (1984) Castle in the Sky (1986) My Neighbor Totoro (1988) Grave of the Fireflies (1988) Kiki’s Delivery Services (1989) Only Yesterday (1991) Porco Rosso (1992) Ocean Waves (1993) Pom Poko (1994) Whisper of the Heart (1995) Princess Mononoke (1997) My Neighbors the Yamadas (1999) Spirited Away (2001) The Cat Returns (2002) Howl’s Moving Castle (2004) Tales from Earthsea (2006) Ponyo (2008) The Secret World of Arrietty (2010) From Up On Poppy Hill (2011) The Wind Rises (2013) The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (2013) When Marnie Was There (2014) The Red Turtle (2016) Earwig and the Witch (2020) The Boy and the Heron (2023)
From Up on Poppy Hill The Secret World of Arrietty Grave of the Fireflies Kiki’s Delivery Service The Boy and the Heron The Red Turtle Whisper of the Heart The Wind Rises Spirited Away Howl’s Moving Castle My Neighbor Totoro Only Yesterday When Marnie Was There The Tale of the Princess Kaguya My Neighbors The Yamadas Castle in the Sky Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind Ponyo Earwig and the Witch The Cat Returns Ocean Waves Pom Poko Porco Rosso Princess Mononoke Tales from Earthsea
I happened upon Kitt’s quote on social media a while back and immediately saved it both because I’m an avid cemetery walker, so the tombstone reference made me pause but also because as a human being (and likely ones of the reasons I love being a librarian) is that I get to learn every day. We should all strive to learn every day. It’s why librarians curate digital and print collections for others in order to share the joys of learning every day.
I trotted it out again yesterday after signing off on the first of four two-hour webinars I will attend this month. Within five minutes I was furiously taking notes and felt a warm, fuzzy feeling that lasted the entire two hours that this was money well-spent. The expert delivering the content was super knowledgeable and I was with like-minded individuals. The subject has been a hobby of mine for about a decade and I realize that the more I do it, the more I don’t know. So I sought out people who do know more to tell me what they know. And what’s more, she even provided additional materials on top of the wealth of resources she shared. I couldn’t have asked for a better use of my time and energy.
So, here is your permission if you need it to go out and learn something whether it’s free or costs money. Now more than ever, we need to find hobbies and interests that make us feel alive and challenged and connected to a community.
For close to fifteen years, I have moderated a young adult book group for local educators through a collective. Many of those years were in person meetings at local school libraries based on who was attending the meeting and who volunteered to host. But the pandemic moved us online and then the convenience of the platform as well as the expansion of who attended meant that it was easier to sign up than dive forty minutes to an hour for some folks.
Over the years, librarians and educators have retired who were active members. Others have gotten busy with other activities and duties and have stopped coming. Other newer members have come regularly. And one thing stays true, that everyone has a book personality.
We do not have a set reading list. Participants talk about what they’ve read most recently and how it can be relevant to our school libraries and classrooms. That’s the beauty of the book group. Thus, we can count on certain genres or categories to be represented based on participants’ personal reading enjoyment. We have an Austen lover who finds every retelling to read and talk about. We had a woman whose parents were academics of English history and thus every historical fiction period piece featuring the reign of kings like Henry VIII would be shared. We had another who couldn’t bear to have an animal die in a book. Count on me to bring a dark or disturbing book.
I love getting to know everyone’s book personality. Of course we all read outside our comfort books, but it’s nice to know that my weakness is another’s strength.
A handful of years ago, a librarian friend invited me to the movie theater to see the Oscar-nominated animated shorts. She likes weird. The shorts are generally always weird. She knew I’d probably appreciate the weird as well. And thus a tradition was born of seeing them every year.
We went the other day to see them. Yes there were some very weird ones, but we spend a lot time afterward analyzing the message, the visuals, and the storytelling in general. It got me think about short stories– short form writing that can pack a lot or so little that a reader must fill in the blanks with their own experiences to fill out the story. And that’s a magic all its own.
Currently, my public library is in a transitional phase as the old library had to be abandoned due to the overwhelming cost of structural repairs that was needed to make it safe for visitors. Our city decided to purchase an old bank building that had been vacant for many years right in the heart of our downtown, but it also needs significant structural repairs and a redesign but with a revitalization grant, it was a supported opportunity. In the meantime, the library has been in a small pocket of a senior center owned by the city. Our director and small staff has made the best of the situation.
I’m also lucky enough to have more intimate details about the running of the library after being appointed to the Board of Trustees, so I went from an avid user to an avid user and Board member. I encourage anyone who might have the time and energy to dedicate to this volunteer opportunity, to do it. Or simply volunteer, if that’s an avenue at your library. And if that isn’t available, attend the programs. Borrow the books. Check out other materials or if the library has one, their “library of things” or museum passes. Sit in the library for a spell to suck up the energy.
I’ll say what’s often repeated which is that the public library remains one of the last locations that doesn’t ask anything of its visitors. It equalizes access to things like the internet and resources. It provides community connections and aids for literacy.
Therefore, if you haven’t visited your local public library in a while. Now’s your chance.
Ironic that I’m posting the day after Library Shelfie Day that looks to be the fourth Wednesday of January because yesterday was the day I should have taken a library shelfie! I was damn proud of spending a few days finishing up weeding nonfiction after having done a cursory weed of fiction about a month ago and the other section of nonfiction at the beginning of the year.
The work of actually deleting them from the system and moving them to free carts, teacher classrooms, donations, and new life in another library pales in comparison to the backbreaking (and knee burning) of the weeding itself. Plus of course the feeling of levity when the torn or yellowed pages, smashed spines, and seriously outdated books get tossed because no one needs to that on their shelf. It dulls the shine of the wonderful books on the shelves, so I’m glad they’re shining again.
Yet, like a tale or soap opera entitled “Ourshelves” it’s like laundry at home– the minute I think I’m done, there’s more to do. And in this case– the elegance of pristine shelves with all of the books sitting upright, sitting *just right* on the shelf, nothing backward or tipped over– will all be over as soon as students are back in full force on Monday. Do I wish it could last a few days? Of course, but then I wouldn’t be recognizing that the reason they’re messy is that they’re being used.
With the last day of the year, what’s better than a quick post of my favorite posts from this year because they were often about amazing moments or reads from this past year.
And it wouldn’t be the end of one year and the start of another without having my last book of the year and first book of the new year lined up. Several hours ago I finished the National Book Award winner Kareem Between by Shifa Saltagi Safadi. It’s clear why it’s a winner.
And as if Fiona Staples and Brian K. Vaughan made a wish come true that I whispered into the ether or not, my first read of 2025 will be Saga #71.
There’s no doubt this will be the perfect way to usher in a new year of reading. If you haven’t hitched your wagon to Saga yet, make this your year.
On November 24, 2023, I posted Over this next year that explained a challenge I was embarking on to read forty books that had affected me since I was turning forty. Challenge complete.
Pacing myself throughout the year, I listened to some of the books and read others but I did purchase a few of the titles that I hadn’t previously owned. As I read each one, I flipped it to show my progress over the year.
Ultimately, a few of them will not remain on my shelf because that’s the thing about rereading books, it’s not always the same the second time around. But I’m glad for it because it shows I’m not the same person. Tastes and interest shift in books the same that it does with food or decorating or clothing. That’s to be celebrated and one of the reasons I wanted to undertake the reflective practice of rereading because I rarely reread and prefer to remember the feelings about the books rather than the content. What I learned:
Mood as a literary device is important to me a reader. The books that remain impactful are a direct result of the book’s atmosphere such as The Virgin Suicides, The Girl From the Other Side, and Mudbound.
Nonfiction, especially food memoir, literally takes the cake. Read: Crying in H Mart and Dessert Can Save the World. But books about food are right next to them like Chicken Every Sunday, First Bite, and Lessons in Chemistry.
The classics on my list didn’t hold their own unfortunately. Sorry Brave New World, The Catcher in the Rye, and Jane Eyre. But neither did the epic first book in the Mayfair Chronicles The Witching Hour, though I heart Anne Rice forever and always.
Strong, whip smart, sassy, or otherwise memorable characters are hard to forget. Benny from Circle of Friends, Naomi from Out of Darkness, Maddie from A Northern Light, Lena from Between Shades of Gray, Anne from Anne of Green Gables, Melinda from Speak, Carey from If You Find Me, Charlotte from The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, and Hazel from Anatomy: A Love Story.
Significantrelationships tug at my heartstrings which is why I carry a torch for all of the creatures in The House In the Cerulean Sea and Saga; the dystopian community in The Giver, Werther opining in The Sorrows of Young Werther, the ultimate friendship trio in The Serpent King, and the whole crux of what Turkle stands for in Reclaiming Conversation. And as long as there will be star-crossed lovers, there will be Edward and Bella from Twilight.
Innovative formatting or a unique approach to storytelling keep me thinking about a book long after I’ve finished it. Think The Lovely Bones‘ from beyond the grave, mental illness in Challenger Deep, Long Way Down‘s mystery elevator, Crank‘s verse, The Vagina Monologues‘ well, monologues, Milk and Honey‘s Instagrammable poetry and illustrations, the library in The Midnight Library, and Calvin and Hobbes‘ daily and Sunday strips.
Picture books say so much without having to say much at all. This is where pictures speak a thousand words and the author creates the write words to allow the pictures to shine which is why Farmhouse and My First Day by Quang and Lien were on my list. Both I’ve gifted several times over.
And let’s just say I ripped a page right out of The Power of Moments to create this personal challenge, which is why I’ve relished this project over this last year; celebrating book love by reading Book Love, which was a gift from a friend. I couldn’t have asked for a more fulfilling opportunity and urge others to find a moment to reflect on your own reading journey– whether it’s been a few months or years or a lifetime.
Readers Be Advised 