News from the Pierson Library

Build Your Own Mini Gingerbread House: Gather at the library at 3:15pm on Friday, Nov. 21 to create your own mini gingerbread house complete with a nonpareil shingled roof, gumdrop lined windows, and a pathway to your door paved with starlight mints. Please call 985-5124 to register in advance so we will have enough gingerbread houses to go around. Ages 4 and up are welcome.

Giving Thanks Story Time with Dawna Hammers: Join us on Saturday, No. 22 at 10:30am to celebrate the season of the harvest and learn songs and stories that remind us to be thankful for our beautiful world and our wonderful friends and family. Take a turn playing a drum or trying out a rhythm instrument or just sing along with Dawna. All ages are welcome.

Happy Thanksgiving: The Library will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 27, and the following day, Friday, Nov. 28, so that our staff may celebrate Thanksgiving with their family and friends. We will be open on Saturday, Nov. 29 as usual from 10am to 3pm.

Preview of December events:

Meet Ron Krupp, author of “The Woodchuck Returns to Gardening” on Tuesday, Dec. 2 at 7pm. This is a sister companion to his first book, “The Woodchuck’s Guide to Gardening.” The book is rooted in organic methods and begins with “My Garden Journal 2012-2013,” recounting his adventures in his own garden and at the Tommy Thompson Community Garden in Burlington’s Intervale. A jester called the “Chuckster” follows him around, making fun of his gardening and asking questions that allow him to offer helpful insights. The main part of the book travels into the world of vegetables, berries, and fruits.

Genealogy with John Kelley on Wednesday, Dec. 3 at 1:30pm. John will offer tips on resources to help you fill out the branches on your family tree.

The Sci-Fi & Fantasy Book Group will meet on Thursday, Dec. 4 at 7pm to discuss “California” by Edan Lepucki. This novel, Lepucki’s first, deals with the human element in a crumbling post-apocalyptic society crumbles. Cal and Frida have survived on their own in the lush, solitary wilderness, but decide that when their baby is born, they may fare better within the safety of a small community. As they integrate into a nearby settlement, the couple realizes that they may have traded the hazards of the outside world for the paranoia and mistrust of other people. “California” questions the role of family and responsibility, and as a portrait of marriage, is perhaps as incisive as anything set in the real world. We will be serving pizza, so please sign up in advance or call 985-5124 to reserve your slice!

Green Mountain Audubon Presentation on “Chasing Chickens – Colorado Grouse” by Eric Hynes. Please join us on Tuesday, Dec. 9 at 6:30pm to learn about what are often referred to as North America’s “Birds of Paradise.” These members of the Phasianidae Family perform elaborate, noisy, and colorful breeding displays. There is no better place in North America for gallinaceous birds (like domestic fowl , pheasants, turkeys, and grouse) than the state of Colorado, and no better time to find them than in April. Eric’s talk will illustrate his experience as a tour leader looping around the state in spring showing birders the prairie-chickens (Lesser and Greater) of the eastern plains, the sage-grouse (Gunnison and Greater) and Sharp-tailed Grouse of intermountain parks, and the sometimes difficult Dusky Grouse of the mountains and ridges. Plenty of shorebirds, waterfowl, raptors, and mammals as well will punctuate this visually impressive presentation. Eric earned a B.S. at the University of Vermont focusing on environmental studies and wildlife biology. He has traveled across the United States with a number of trips into Central America as well. He has taught numerous bird identification workshops and led field trips locally and abroad for Maine Audubon, but he and his family now live in Burlington.

Book Review

By Gene Schinto

“One Plus One” by JoJo Moyes

This wonderful novel is like the movie “Little Miss Sunshine.” There is a hectic road trip to enter a little girl in a competition. More importantly, “One Plus One” is a love story as unlikely as it is intense.

Jess Thomas’ narcissistic husband has left her to raise their ten-year-old daughter Tanzie and Nicky, his teenaged son. A mathematical genius, Tanzie has been invited to compete for an important scholarship. Ed Nicholls is a tech millionaire accused of insider trading. At a minimum, he stands to lose his job and his fortune.

On impulse, though he hardly knows her, Ed offers to take Jess and her daughter to the math contest, a three day drive to Scotland. Their motley crew includes Nicky and a huge stinky dog.

The four principal characters are all easy to like in this constantly entertaining tale. JoJo Moyes is a reliable provider of laughter and tears.