The Book Club of Washington is conducting a free workshop for book collectors in the lower level meeting room at the Green Lake Branch Library (7364 E Green Lake Dr N) on Saturday, March 24, 2012, 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Doors will open between 9:30 a.m. and 9:45 a.m.

Pamela Harer of the Book Club of Washington sent the following list of questions that the workshop will address:

Question #1: I have a book that is very important to me but it is in pretty bad condition. Should I have it repaired?  Should I have a box made for it?  Should I throw it away and buy another copy that is in better condition? Learn your options from other collectors and a professional book restorer.

Question #2: I am building a book collection and want to keep track of its contents on my computer but I am not all that computer savvy.  Is there a database program that is simple, searchable and flexible? How about BOOKcat? Learn from other collectors who have wrestled with this problem. Why is it so important to keep records anyway?

Question #3: I have 300 books on one subject and my children are not interested in either the subject or the books.  Should I try to sell them myself individually on eBay? Sell as a collection? Should I take them to a bookseller to sell them on consignment? What terms should I expect?  What about sending them to an auction house?  How much input should I expect to have in how the books are listed? Maybe I shouldn’t sell them at all but give them away to an institutional library that will make them available for research by other collectors? If I decide to do that how do I find the best place and will that place take them? And use them?

There will be several experts at the event. Will Larson will discuss paper, water damage, worms, foxing, archival materials, stains, leather, vellum and problems that can’t be cured but can possibly be ameliorated.

Carolina Veenstra, a professional restorer, bookbinder and box maker will help attendees decide what to fix, what to box and what to ignore.

Pamela Harer will talk about electronic record keeping and Sandra Kroupa will explain how OCLC works and will talk about agreements with institutions. Ben Harer, who has both bought and sold at auctions, will discuss his experiences with major auction houses such as Christie’s and Sotheby’s.

Taylor Bowie will discuss the terms you should negotiate with a bookseller before consigning to one. He will also help Pamela examine over twenty copies of “Green Eggs and Ham” to consider their comparative values.

More from Pamela Harer:

Do not bring any of your books.  We will not be evaluating books.

This is not a workshop for beginners who are deciding whether to collect books or what kinds of books to collect. Pitfalls and practicalities, dangers and pleasures will not be discussed. We will be scheduling another workshop to address those issues later in the year nearer the time of Seattle’s Antiquarian Book Fair in October.

©Amy Duncan for My Green Lake | Seattle's Green Lake Blog, 2012.

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Post tags: library, literary

Pork Neckbones, Sauerkraut & Rutabagas: Memories of my Green Lake Girlhood, a new book of neighborhood history by Dorothea Nordstrand, will be made available at a book launch on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012, 2-3 p.m., at the History House of Greater Seattle (790 N 34 St).

Nordstrand’s four children share the following on an event flier:

This book of memoirs is the culmination of 25 years of story writing, begun when Dorothea was 70, and put together in humorous, heartwarming details from her vivid memory.

Despite the many hardships that her family endured during her childhood, the love and respect, sense of adventure and heartfelt enjoyment of life shine through. Her stories of homesteading in Eastern Washington and growing up on Seattle’s Green Lake are sweet and tender, revealing a spirit that was uncommonly adventurous for a woman of her era.

As her children, listening to her poignant stories and later reading them, our love and admiration has grown for our mom, for our grandparents, and for family and friends whom we did not know well. For those of you holding these pages for the first time, Dorothea’s delightfully winding threads of truth and love will immediately enfold you within the warm embrace of her family.

Welcome, Dave, John, Hildy and Paul

Dorothea Nordstrand passed away in May 2011 at the age of 95. According to her obituary, her family moved to Green Lake in 1919 and she graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1934. Following high school, she worked at Green Lake State Bank.

Some of Nordstrand’s remembrances about her childhood in Green Lake have been published as essays on historylink.org. You can find links to those essays here.

Pork Neckbones, Sauerkraut & Rutabagas will be available for $14.95 at the History House. It will also soon be available for online purchase at HistoryHouse.org.

For more information about Nordstrand, Pork Neckbones, Sauerkraut & Rutabagas, or the book launch, please contact History House at (206) 675 -8875 or john [at] historyhouse.org.

©Amy Duncan for My Green Lake | Seattle's Green Lake Blog, 2012.

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Post tags: 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, fremont, historical, literary

Leslie Patricelli, author and illustrator of the board books Yummy Yucky, Quiet LOUD and Potty, will be at Mockingbird Books (7220 Woodlawn Ave NE) on Tuesday, December 20, 2011.

Patricelli will be sharing her newest book, Be Quiet, Mike!, at the 11 a.m. storytime.

©Amy Duncan for My Green Lake | Seattle's Green Lake Blog, 2011.

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Post tags: kids, literary, local businesses

photo credit: Daehyun Park

The “Bikes for Books” reading program is still underway at the Green Lake Branch Library (7364 E Green Lake Dr N).

Children in first through third grades have been reading books all fall for a chance to win a bike, helmet and lock.

Participants can enter their names into a drawing one time for every ten books that they have read between Monday, October 3 and Saturday, December 3, 2011. Each entry requires a short oral book report to to a librarian on one book. One girl and one boy will win.

A prize drawing will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, December 5 at the Green Lake Library. Winners must be present to win.

“So far only a few entries have trickled in,” Children’s Librarian Joanna Trefethen reports, adding that those kids that do get entries in will have a great chance to win.

“Bikes for Books” is funded by the Green Lake Masonic Lodge #149. For more information about the contest, contact Joanna Trefethen at (206) 684-7547 or joanna.trefethen [at] spl.org.

©Amy Duncan for My Green Lake | Seattle's Green Lake Blog, 2011.

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Post tags: contest, cycling, kids, library, literary

Local author Mike Attebery wrote to tell us that his new novel, Seattle On Ice, features scenes from the Green Lake neighborhood.

The story’s finale, according to Attebery, takes place at The Hearthstone (6720 East Green Lake Way N) and on the lake.

From Amazon.com:

Like the secret love child of Dirty Harry and Martha Stewart, Brick Ransom is a rookie cop with a taste for fine dining and zero patience for slovenly deadbeats and criminal scum. In the middle of a rare Northwest blizzard, Brick is forced to cut his dinner short in order to protect three key witnesses – a bookkeeper, a stripper, and a deadly assassin – all of whom are set to testify against Seattle crime boss Frank Mason the next morning. When a gunman ambushes the first witness en route to his downtown hotel, and Brick’s partner is killed in the crossfire, it’s quickly apparent that moles within the police force are leaking the whereabouts of each witness back to Mason in a last-ditch effort to keep the criminal kingpin from ever standing trial. As the storm worsens, and the city freezes to a standstill, it’s up to Brick Ransom to protect the last two witnesses, outwit Frank Mason’s team of killers and crooked cops, and do his best to ignore his growling stomach, all while struggling to contain his growing fascination with Witness #2.

With its signature blend of dark humor and page-turning action, Seattle On Ice is Mike Attebery’s most exciting book yet! What readers are saying about Mike Attebery’s books: “Get this book, stay up late, and dig in. And remember this author’s name, you’ll be hearing more of it in the future.” “This book will grab you and pull you into all of the action, comedy, and romance that we crave as readers!” “With some great twists and turns the adventure never seems to stop. Very entertaining read. I’m looking forward to reading more of his books.”

©Amy Duncan for My Green Lake | Seattle's Green Lake Blog, 2011.

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Post tags: literary, the hearthstone

Kelsie is a student in the University of Washington Department of Communication News Laboratory, an advanced reporting class in which students produce news stories and packages for local neighborhood and ethnic newspapers and online sites.

Nagging parents. Surly teenagers. The conflict between the two has become something of a cliche, one that movies and television shows consistently portray as normal and expected. But some would say this conflict doesn’t need to exist and, in fact, it shouldn’t.

The desire to see more “harmony and enjoyment” in the home is what led local ADD/ADHD coach Margit Crane to write her latest book, “How To Train Your Parents in 6 1/2 Days: A Teen’s Guide to Raising People You Can Live With.”

Mockingbird Books (7220 Woodlawn Ave NE) is hosting a discussion and book-signing on Friday, Nov. 18, 2011 for Crane’s “parenting book for teens.” The book focuses on building positive and supportive relationships between teenagers and their parents.

“Family affects every other relationship you have,” Crane explained in a recent conversation over coffee at the Green Lake Peet’s, and healthy relationships are built on mutual respect. To achieve this, teens and their parents need to learn how to communicate effectively. In her book, Crane dwells on the importance of being honest, open-minded, and willing to make changes.

“We want power conversations,” Crane said, “not power struggles.”‘

Crane’s goal is to “empower the teen and the parents,” first by encouraging them to see things from each other’s point of view. Dissecting the non-verbal elements of a conversation, such as tone, facial expressions and body language, can lead to more understanding and fewer arguments.

It’s as simple as “knowing when to step back and give someone space, when to move forward and let them know that you’re there,” Crane said, taking a sip of her coffee.

As a teacher and school counselor for over 25 years, she is aware of the nearly universal struggles of teens. She recognizes that they are highly influential but often underestimated, even by their parents. Young people are just as capable, if not more so, of easing tension in the family.

“I tell them ‘you have so much more power than you think you have’ and that they can use it for good,” she said, laughing. “And it’s true!”

By nature, teenagers are more “raw and honest” and they expect the same from those around them.

“They are the first to point out hypocrisy,” Crane said, and are sure to hold people to their word. These traits make teens perfect for taking on a leadership role in the family.

Though the book is aimed at teenagers, Crane has included plenty of helpful information for parents as well. Just as conflict doesn’t always stem from one source, both sides of a relationship must be working toward the same goal to see any progress.

“It’s not about good or bad,” she said, speaking of how quickly someone can be labeled a “bad kid” or a “bad parent.” Instead, “it’s about retraining your brain” to change how people interact with each other.

The tips described in her book spring from Crane’s professional experience. Coaching clients with ADD/ADHD, she focuses on skills building as well as developing behavior plans and communication strategies for the tweens/teens and their parents. She also actively advocates for these families in schools, laying out solutions to create better learning environments for these youths.

“I’m always for the underdog,” Crane said, smiling. Diagnosed with ADD at the age of 23, she can relate her clients’ experiences both in the classroom and at home to her own. It’s this knowledge that enabled her to write her book with confidence and make the lessons applicable to nearly every family. So too, have the three master’s degrees she’s earned, in education, school counseling and Spanish, which she affectionately calls her “ADD Ph.D.”

Recently, Crane’s blog “Gifted With ADD” was voted second best Parenting Blog in King5 Evening Magazine’s “Best of Western Washington” contest. She was “absolutely thrilled” when she heard the news.

“This is a really good time for me,” she said. “I’m so happy that this is what I get to do.”

She said it’s incredibly validating when she sees her clients, whom she calls “heroes,” fully committed to change. “I love seeing them get better,” she said, and the results can be “pretty freaking amazing!”

Striving to strengthen families, and especially teens, is something Crane has always been passionate about.

“How many wars would be avoided if families got along better?” she asked.

The discussion and book signing takes place at 7 p.m. at Mockingbird Books, located in the Great Hall at Green Lake (7220 Woodlawn Ave NE), on Nov. 18.

©UW News Lab for My Green Lake | Seattle's Green Lake Blog, 2011.

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Post tags: literary, local businesses, teens

Author Fanae Aaron will be discussing her new book What Chefs Feed Their Kids: Recipes and Techniques for Cultivating a Love of Good Food at Mockingbird Books (7220 Woodlawn Ave NE) on Saturday, November 12, 2011 at 11:30 a.m.

The book’s description, via Amazon.com:

How do the people who know the most about food tackle the special challenges of cooking for children’s palates? How do they get their children to join them at the dinner table when most kids would rather play under the tablecloth? Why do some kids love to eat broccoli, sushi, or pesto while others insist on chicken nuggets every night?

A lifelong foodie and a first-time mother, Fanae Aaron had lots of questions about how to teach her son to enjoy a variety of fresh, whole foods. So she sought out a diverse group of twenty award-winning chefs who are also parents.

The book’s first-class lineup includes: Eric Bromberg, Marc Murphy, Zack Gross, Ana Sortun, Piero Selvaggio, and Floyd Cardoz. These chefs stimulate their kids’ curiosity about new foods by engaging them in the process without coercing them, and they share their tips and stories, which provide an intimate glimpse into the chefs’ family lives. Chefs’ strategies include allowing their kids to help prepare meals, taking them to farmers’ markets, and giving them choices with healthy family style meals. What Chefs Feed Their Kids also features seventy-five flavorful recipes—such as Kale and Scrambed Eggs, Baby Lamb Chops, Nori Chips, and Risotto with Pumpkin, Ginger, and Sage—from a variety of cuisines.

©Amy Duncan for My Green Lake | Seattle's Green Lake Blog, 2011.

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Post tags: food, kids, literary, local businesses

Collage artist Kate Endle and children’s musician Caspar Babypants (a.k.a. Chris Ballew of The Presidents of the United States of America) will be at Mockingbird Books (7220 Woodlawn Ave NE) on Friday, October 28, 2011 at 11 a.m.

The husband-wife team will be in the store to celebrate their new books, My Woodland Wish and Bunny Rabbit in the Sunlight.

©Amy Duncan for My Green Lake | Seattle's Green Lake Blog, 2011.

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Post tags: kids, literary, local businesses, music

Children’s author Bonny Becker will be at Mockingbird Books (7220 Woodlawn Ave NE) on Thursday (October 20, 2011).

At 11 a.m., Bonny will be reading from her newest book, The Sniffles for Bear.

The Sniffles for Bear is the third book in the award-winning Mouse and Bear series. ”This series delights readers young and old with their storylines about friendship, humor, and watercolor illustrations,” Linda Spoor of Mockingbird Books says.

At 2:30 p.m., Bonny will talk to young writers about the writing process.

©Amy Duncan for My Green Lake | Seattle's Green Lake Blog, 2011.

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Post tags: kids, literary, local businesses

Participants are allowed to enter their names for the drawing once for every ten books they read between Monday, October 3 and Saturday, December 3, 2011. Each entry will require a short oral book report to to a librarian on one book. One girl and one boy each will win a bicycle and a helmet.

A prize drawing will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, December 5 at the Green Lake Library. Winners must be present to win.

“Bikes for Books” is funded by the Green Lake Masonic Lodge #149.

For more information, contact Joanna Trefethen, Children’s Librarian at the Green Lake Branch Library, at (206) 684-7547 or joanna.trefethen [at] spl.org.

©Amy Duncan for My Green Lake | Seattle's Green Lake Blog, 2011.

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Post tags: contest, cycling, kids, library, literary