April 2012

Everything I need to know about libraries, I learned at a sushi bar. My husband and I went out to dinner at a sushi bar with some friends this past Friday night. Although this was the second time I had been to a sushi bar, it was technically the first time I actually tried sushi. You see, eating raw fish isn’t really my thing. I much prefer to sink my teeth into a big, thick, juicy burger. Or a big, thick, juicy steak. Really, anything big, thick and juicy, as long as it has been cooked, works for me. Not to step too far out of my comfort zone, I ordered a bento box with chicken teriyaki and California spring rolls. I admit, not very adventurous, but my husband and our friends made up for my lack of bravado. They ordered eel and sea urchin. I tried the eel, but there are at least three reasons why I didn’t try the sea urchin: 1) yuck, 2) gross, and 3) yuck again. I may not ever have sushi as a regular staple in my diet, but I did truly enjoy tasting some new foods and spending the evening with great friends. So, here’s what I learned about libraries while at the sushi bar: don’t be afraid to try something new. The library is a great place to start. Try reading a book by a new author, check out a cook book and cook a meal from some exotic country, or come to a program that piques your interest. Visit us online at www.beloitlibrary.info or find us on Facebook to see what great programs we have available for kids, teens and adults. Even if you have to take baby steps (I might try sea urchin next time…) grab a friend and take that first step. And as always, be sure to check out these new books: New: Understanding Our Need for Novelty and Change by Winifred Gallagher. "A bright look at our fascination with the new and different. Gallagher examines how we deal with the ever-increasing amount of novelty and rate of change in our lives. ... Gallagher points to the age-old remedy of moderation and notes neophilia will undoubtedly prove valuable in a future where the only certainly is constant change. Engaging and cautionary." (Kirkus Reviews) French Kids Eat Everything: How Our Family Moved to France, Learned to Love Vegetables,Banished Snacking, and Discovered 10 magic Rules for Raising Healthy, Happy Eaters by Karen Le Billon. Moving her young family to her husband's hometown in northern France, Karen Le Billon is prepared for some cultural adjustment but is surprised by the food education she and her family (at first unwillingly) receive. In contrast to her daughters, French children feed themselves neatly and happily—eating everything from beets to broccoli, salad to spinach, mussels to muesli. The family's food habits soon come under scrutiny, as Karen is lectured for slipping her fussing toddler a snack—"a recipe for obesity!"—and forbidden from packing her older daughter a lunch in lieu of the elaborate school meal. (Book Description)