Flu season reading

As the flu season sweeps the country, leading to high abstentee rates at work and school, we at the library are, as always, thinking about good books. So here are some good books to go with the flu, whether you're recovering yourself, caring for the sick, or just worried and wanting to know more:

The Given Day by Dennis Lehane
This epic novel takes place in Boston in the aftermath of the 1918 Influenza epidemic. With cameo appearances by Babe Ruth and other historical figures, Lehane brings to life a city under pressure as a police force tasked to protect against revolutionaries decides to strike. Riveting!

Divining Women by Kaye Gibbons
A dark story of abuse and transcendence set in late 1918 as the horrors of World War I abate and the great influenza pandemic begins its destruction.

Flu by Kevin Cunningham
This is an in-depth look at influenza, including an explanation of its varieties and ever-changing nature, speculation about past outbreaks, the 1918 pandemic, and then covers the current potential crises of both avian and swine flu. Snappily written and provides a wealth of information.

The Great Influenza by John Barry
Magisterial in its breadth of perspective and depth of research and now revised to reflect the growing danger of the avian flu, The Great Influenza is ultimately a tale of triumph amid tragedy, which provides us with a precise and sobering model as we confront the epidemics looming on our own horizon.

The Stand by Stephen King
Just a little sniffle, right?! Arguable King’s finest work, The Stand is a showdown of good and evil in a world destroyed by a government-created plague

An American plague : the true and terrifying story of the yellow fever epidemic of 1793 by Jim Murphy
It's 1793, and there's an invisible killer roaming the streets of Philadelphia. This killer has a name -- yellow fever -- but everything else about it is a mystery. The author draws thought-provoking parallels to modern-day epidemics.

The Last Town on Earth by Thomas Mullen
A small town in Washington state tries to ride out the Flu epidemic by cutting contact with the outside world. This first novel is imaginative, historical, and powerful. Beautiful writing.

And the winner is...

Congratulations to 10-year-old Chloe from Marysville!

Chloe is the grand prize winner of the Name the Otter contest. More than 2100 kids sent in names for the Sno-Isle otter. Out of the 33 finalists who submitted the winning name Otis, Chloe's name was drawn out of a hat by children's author and illustrator Erik Brooks, Otis' creator. Chloe took home a framed original painting of Otis, signed by Erik. The celebration included a delicious cake topped with a picture of Otis made with icing and a scary/funny story read by Erik. Thanks goes to all the kids who entered the contest and voted for their favorites online. Visit Otis the Otter on the Sno-Isle Libraries Kids Web page at www.sno-isle.org/kids.

Virtual Reference

Ever woken up at 2:00 am trying to remember the name of the American 1970s band that came from an Australian Aboriginal saying? Or sat down with your child as they attempted to find scholarly journal articles for their assignment on the endangered Ailuropoda melanoleuca? Or just wanted to know how to put more than one book on hold at a time from the Sno-Isle Libraries' online catalog?

All these questions can be answered any time of day, any day of the week through our Chat with a Librarian service. Sno-Isle librarians participate in this service each afternoon, and other librarians in Washington State are available the rest of the day to field questions. Even in the middle of the night a librarian from a cooperating library somewhere in the country is ready willing and able to help.

This virtual chat service is accessible from the library website through the Ask a Librarian choice on the teal menu bar. From there you can either use the "ask wa" qwidget on the right, or click on the "Connect with a Librarian" link. You can remain anonymous, but if you provide your email address, you will receive a transcript of your chat session so you can go back to the information and web sites provided by the librarian.

So the next time you have a question that can't wait for an email response and it's too late or early to phone us, chat with a librarian through this virtual reference service and get an answer right away.

-MAB

Book-It Repertory Theatre presents “Coyote: A Trickster Tale from the American Southwest” and “Raven: A Trickster Tale from the Pacific Northwest.” Gerald McDermott’s award-winning Native American folk tales come to life at Cascade Elementary School at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, November 13th and at Marshall Elementary at 1:30 on Friday, November 13th.

Raven and Coyote--two tricksters from Gerald McDermott’s award-winning folk tales--bestow gifts and get into trouble as they explore the earth and the heavens. In Coyote: A Trickster Tale from the American Southwest, a mischievous bright blue coyote with a nose for trouble meets a flock of crows and longs to fly with them. The crows help him, but soon grow tired of his bragging and boasting, so they teach him a lesson that changes him forever. Raven: A Trickster Tale from the Pacific Northwest, tells the tale of how Raven brings light into a world covered in darkness. Raven searches far and wide for the source of the light and finally plays a mighty trick on the Sky Chief to steal the sun and place it in the sky for all the people. Funded by the Wal-Mart Foundation and the Friends of the Marysville Library, these two performances are free of charge and open to the public.