Category Archives: More Connections

A Proper Toast

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a proper toast

Meet a toast with a LOT of personality! Today’s blog post is a story time, simple project, and quick snack, all rolled into one!

We recommend Toasty by Sarah Hwang (Margaret Ferguson/Holiday House Books, 2021, read here by the Loveland Public Library). Toasty is a slice of bread, but he really wants to be a dog. Even though he knows there are differences and major challenges, the intrepid Toasty heads to the park to meet some pups. Unfortunately, all does not go as planned. But when a girl appears at the moment Toasty needs her the most, a beautiful friendship begins.

You’ll need:

  • A piece of toast
  • A toaster or oven

Why I didn’t figure out this toast drawing thing when my kids were smaller?!? It’s adorable. First, use you fingers to firmly press a design (or a letter or word) into an uncooked slice of bread. Pop the slice in the toaster, and done!

Of course, me being who I am, I did wonder if the cooking time/temperature impacted how the design appeared on the toast…

toast test 3The answer is basically no. Above you can see 3 slices of toast cooked on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd settings on my toaster. The design appears about the same. Or…maybe I did the experiment so I would have an excuse to eat three yummy slices of toast that morning? Hmmmmm. Totally not telling.

Pop’s Top 10: Our Favorite Posts of 2021

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12 month 46 hour library 4Wow wowzers wowie WOW are we looking forward to turning the page to 2022! But before we put a lid on 2021, we thought we would revisit some of our favorite posts! Here they are, in no particular order, our Top 10 posts of 2021!

#1 TOTALLY RANDOM

Never in a million years did I think a recycled pasta box would go viral, but this was one of our most popular projects! It’s a simple writing prompt machine, inspired by an arcade claw machine from summer vacations past.

#2 LIFESTYLES OF THE RICH AND NOBLE

Medieval Vogue front 1

Katie and I had a good time revisiting this fashion-parody-but-it’s-actually-historically-factual magazine. Medieval Vogue was part of a massive 2012 Robin Hood event. You can read more about the event fun here.

#3 DESTINATION: SLEEPY HOLLOW

It’s not everyday you get to check a box on the life list! Visiting Sleepy Hollow, NY has been something I’ve always dreamed of….and our 2021 trip will always be something to remember.

#4 BRINGING LITERATURE TO LIFE

Katie was delighted to interview Australian blogger Bryton Taylor, whose amazing literary parties and original recipes give us much inspiration!

#5 LITERARY AMUSEMENT PARK RIDES

moby dick ride_2

A Top 10 list in a Top 10 list? We couldn’t resist including this one because it was pure joy to research.

#6 FLOWERS FOR FERDINAND

In addition to featuring one of Katie’s favorite picture books, this post was full of hope, spring, and a fantastic wildflower identification app!

#7 FROM FOLKLORE TO FANTASY

Co-hosted with Vineet Chander from Princeton University’s Office of Religious Life, Hindu Life Program, this live Zoom webinar with talented authors Sanyantani DasGupta and Roshani Chokshi was just magical. And the Q&A with the kids was epic! You can find the entire event here.

#8 SPLASHY SPELLING

This one made the list because it was almost a huge fail and it turned my hand pink. Yes, PINK! Though I ultimately managed to produce a cute bath time spelling craft, my digits were blush for days!

#9 PUPPY POST

more puppy post 1Of course we’re going to include the post that introduced Finley, the newest addition to Katie’s family! Look at him, rocking that doggie delivery mailbox! Awwwww!

#10 THE 12 MONTH, 46 HOUR LIBRARY

12 month 46 hour library 4 Otherwise known as the craft kit that almost took Katie down. It might have taken a year, but now we have an adorable physical representation of Katie’s persistence and perseverance (and just look at that cute library ladder)!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! HERE’S TO 2022!

Monkeys, Monkeys, Everywhere

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monkey in space_3

Sun Wukong ao you tai kong (Monkey’s space travel), by Yi You. Shanghai: Shao nian er tong chu ban she (Youth and Children Publishing Company), circa 1990s. Cotsen Children’s Library, Princeton University Library.

Happy World Monkey Day! December 14th is the official day when all things simian, including monkeys, apes, and lemurs, are celebrated. So we headed down to our library’s special collections vaults to find cool images of non-human primates!

The Horse and the Donkey_Gupta_2

The horse and the donkey and other stories, artwork by Raju Gupta and Mitu. Delhi, India: Dreamland Publications, 1997. Cotsen Children’s Library, Princeton University Library.

Many of these collection images are inspired by the Chinese mythical figure Sun Wukong, or the Monkey King, who is one of the main characters in the famous 16th century fantasy novel, Journey to the West. In the story, Sun Wukong is a monkey born from stone and acquires Taoist supernatural powers. After Buddha imprisons him under a mountain for 500 years, Sun Wukong embarks on an epic journey to get his powers back.

Xiao dian ying_1_2

Xiao dian ying, by Shanghai mei shu dian ying zhi pian chang. 1979, Di 1 ban. Cotsen Children’s Library, Princeton University Library.

The Monkey King is one of the most enduring Chinese literary characters and is inspired by both Chinese and Indian ancient cultures. Over the centuries, Journey to the West has been translated multiple times, including Julia Lovell’s 2021 translation from Penguin Books. It was reviewed by our colleague Minjie Chen, Cotsen’s Metadata Librarian for Non-Roman Collections, who stated it was the best version she had ever read!

Sun Wukong ren ti li xian_2_1

Sun Wukong ren ti li xian (Monkey’s adventure inside the human body), by Bingzi. Shanghai: Shao nian er tong chu ban she (Youth and Children Publishing Company), 1989. Cotsen Children’s Library, Princeton University Library.

If you’d like to read more about monkeys in the Cotsen Children’s Library, we recommend Minjie’s highly detailed Year of the Monkey blog post, which features truly gorgeous images of collection gems.

Pug’s tour through Europe_1_1

Pug’s tour through Europe, or, The Travell’d Monkey: containing his wonderful adventures in the principal capitals of the greatest empires, kingdoms, and states, written by himself. London: John Harris, Corner of St. Paul’s Church-yard, 1824 (London: Printed by S. and R. Bentley, Dorset Street, Fleet Street). Cotsen Children’s Library, Princeton University Library.

Finally, if you are looking for simian picture books and projects for little monkeys, check out our oatmeal container monkey that swings on a branch, and this awesome ape loose in NYC!

Xiao dian ying_2_2

Xiao dian ying, by Shanghai mei shu dian ying zhi pian chang. 1979, Di 1 ban. Cotsen Children’s Library, Princeton University Library.