Library Hours - December 2014 break

The Festival of Lights

                                                                          (Microsoft clip art)

The Festival of Lights or the Feast of Dedication, also known as Chanukah, began last night at sundown. What is Chanukah, also spelled Hanukkah, and why do members of the Jewish faith celebrate it? According to the book, Holiday Symbols and Customs, Hanukkah is a time to remember how the Jews overcame persecution and rebelled against the Syrian-Greek King Antiochus in the second century A.D. (Henderson, 2009). Hanukkah occurs during an eight day period sometime between the dates of November 25 and December 26 (Henderson, 2009). Followers of Judaism celebrate Hanukkah by lighting a menorah, “a special eight-branched candlestick,” each night of the holiday (Breuilly, 2002). In addition to the menorah, the dreidel, a small, top like object and latkes, potato pancakes, are also symbols of the holiday.

The Sullivan library has some Hanukkah specific resources that are featured below, but we also have books about holidays and festivals which contain information and images related to Hanukkah in them. To learn more about Hanukkah, stop by the library and check out some of the resources we have, or visit this site.

Jacques Pepin’s Chanukah Celebration

By Jacques Pepin

DVD 641.568 J19cha

Pepin and his daughter cook a feast to celebrate the holiday Chanukah. According to the DVD summary, their menu is, “a French-inspired Chanukah dinner menu.”

The Hanukkah Mice

By Steven Kroll and illustrated by Michelle Shapiro

JF K

A family of mice plays with the gifts that a girl named Rachel receives for Hanukkah. 

Additional Resources and Bibliography

Ajmera, M. & Nakassis, M. & Pon, C. (2009). Faith. Washington, DC: Charlesbridge. 

Breuilly, E. & O'Brien, J. & Palmer, M. & Marty, M. (2002). Festivals of the World: The Illustrated Guide to Celebrations, Customs, Events & Holidays. New York, NY: Checkmark Books. 

Henderson, H. (Ed.). (2009). Holiday Symbols and Customs. Detroit, MI: Omnigraphics. 

7 Aspects of Finals Week Told via Buddy the Elf

1. Finals Week begins and you're in a state of disbelief as you realize how much work you have to get done.

2. You say good-bye to having a good night's sleep during finals.

3. Your instructors say that their final will be easy, but you know better.

4. The computer/network crashes just as you finish that big paper. When it comes back, everything you did is gone.

5. You finish an exam and leave feeling pretty good. Later you realize you made a HUGE mistake.

6. You spend some time being down on yourself.

7. Then finals week is over, and you get your grades. You realize that you passed everything. Oh the joy!

Study Hacks to Help You During Finals Week

Acing your finals would be really cool, right? Or, at least getting a good grade?  Most likely you don't have one of these:

Sure would be nice to have one though!

Take a look at these study hacks. One of them may make the difference between merely getting by or doing really well.

1. Use an app on your computer to eliminate distractions while studying.
For PCs, try Cold Turkey. For Mac, try Self Control. Sorry, there isn't a mobile app for either service, though Cold Turkey will work on Windows-based tablets such as Surface Pro 3 with a full Windows installation.

 

The secret to continuous studying is some sort of reward system. The next couple of hacks will demonstrate this.

2. When reading, leave a gummy bear trail. 
(Or use any other favorite, small treat like a Jolly Roger or Hershey's Kiss.) When you reach the treat, you get to eat it!

3. Give yourself a 5-minute break after studying for 25 minutes. This is called the Pomodoro Technique (click the link to learn more).

Other hacks you can try:

4. Try an interactive flashcard site like Quizlet. 

Quizlet also offers mobile versions for your phone or table.

5. Before taking a test, write down all the relevant information you can think of on an index card. 

Pretend it's a piece of paper that the instructor will allow you to have while taking the test.

You can review these, and check out more study hacks here: Buzzfeed: 17 Little Tricks to Help You Ace All Your Tests

A Brightly Shining Star

The tinsel, ribbons, and bows of the Christmas season are beautiful, but, as the gentle story featured today reminds us, Christmas is about more than just packages and decorations. 

A Star So Bright: A Christmas Tale

By M. Christina Butler and illustrated by Caroline Peddler

JF B

Animals notice a bright star and follow the star to a stable where baby Jesus is. The last page has a foil star with twinkling lights on it for little readers to enjoy. 

Christmas-Texas style

They say that everything is bigger in Texas. Texans would that everything is better in Texas too. While we may argue with those viewpoints, we can all agree that a well planned fete with a well-laid spread is a good thing. Here some books to help with your Christmas entertaining plans:

The Pastry Queen Christmas: Big-Hearted Holiday Entertaining, Texas Style

By Rebecca Rather and Alison Oresman

Call #: 641.5686 R234pa

Christmas recipes, craft ideas and instructions, and entertaining and decorating suggestions fill this book. One of the recipes included in the book is for a chocolate cookie crusted eggnog cheesecake. Yum. 

For more Christmas recipes and entertaining ideas, check out these other Christmas titles. 

Christmas Entertaining

Edited by Georgeanne Brennan

Call #: 641.568 B838c

The Essential Christmas Cookbook

By Lovoni Walker

Call #: 641.5686 W181e

Partridges, Geese, and Swans Cost How Much?

For the last 30 years PNC has tallied how much all of the items in the song The Twelve Days of Christmas cost, and the results for this year have been tabulated.

PNC Christmas Price Index

To take away some of the sticker shock of purchasing all of the swimming swans, golden rings, and drummers drumming, prepare some hot chocolate and read one of these illustrated versions of the song with your family. Both of these titles are available in the Sullivan University Library, and one of the librarians will be glad to help you find them.

The Twelve Days of Christmas
Illustrated by Laurel Long; JF L

A partridge in a pear tree, ladies dancing, and drummers drumming all make an appearance in this lavishly illustrated picture book based on the song, “The Twelve Days of Christmas.”

The Twelve Days of Christmas
Illustrated by LeUyen Pham; JF P

A multicultural cast of characters portray the words of the classic Christmas song, “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” in artist LeUyen Pham’s version.

'Tis the Season. . .

Whether you rock around the Christmas tree, spin the dreidel, or celebrate the seven principles of Kwanzaa, the library has books (and DVDs) to help you remember the different holidays of this season. This week and next week the library will introduce some of the holiday items we have in the library here on our blog and on our Facebook page.

Please check back each day or so to see what cookbook, entertainment guide, or children's book we will share with you.

Now, without further ado, today's featured presentation is. . .

The Polar Express written and illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg

Before it was a motion picture sensation, The Polar Express was a Caldecott award-winning book that told the story of a boy’s special trip to see Santa Claus.

Check out these two websites for activities and crafts related to The Polar Express.

Polar Express Christmas Fun

The Polar Express Party Kit 

This book is on display in the library in the juvenile fiction and children's book area, and its call number is JF V.

Please ask one of the librarians if you need assistance locating this book or any other library material. We will be glad to assist you.