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I absolutely agree with Herb - I won't be stocking this book in my school collection. On the other hand, I have to THANK Fredrick Mueller for giving me the perfect suggestion for a Valentine's gift for my husband! And to all the married women out there who are reading this and agreeing with me as they chuckle, we need to let all the other gals in on that great immortal (and not-so-secret) truth - Men's sense of humor "matures" at age ten! ;-) (This explains a lot, doesn't it? Just wish I'd known that 30+ years ago . . . ) Chuckles . . . Joanne Ladewig (A.K.A. "Library Lady") Library Media Tech Lawrence Elementary, GGUSD Garden Grove, California shatz@verizon.net Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark. Professionals built the Titanic. Comments are my own and may not represent the views of GGUSD OK, so I've been snowed in for three days, maybe that's why I'm firing this off this morning. But come on now, I'm really tired of the titles and trends of adolescent potty mouth books that get placed in our libraries. We moan and complain about the lack of simple everyday decency and manners in our culture, yet we stock books with titles like this! Before you start with the "it gets boys to read" argument, I'll give you that. But to assume that's all that boys will read is just an extension of the problem that got us into the reading gender gap to begin with, simplistic answers that don't require real involvement (read teaching). Boys will, anyone will, read if we give them good stories to read. Yes different groups have different interests, but those interests go to storyline, not the quality of the writing. Sure, kids will read booger and farts all day and giggle till the cows come home. They'll eat all the m&ms you leave on the table too, but we don't serve that at lunch. We need to select books that have good writing, good stories, and get involved with them with our kids, boys if that's where you see the problem. It seems to me that, especially in the elementary level, dumbing down is just surrendering. It's our job to teach, to lead, to lift our kids up through education. To give in to the lowest common denominator just to have participation is a copout and a sad state of affairs. I began a new position this year in a different elementary school. Our circulation numbers as of the end of January surpass last years totals. I haven't bought the lastest graphic novels, I pulled the Butt series off the shelves, and I did purchase some new books. But Time Warp Trio is as low on the culture meter as I'll go. Our numbers are up because my emphasis is on the kids. They are welcome in our library and they know it. I am interested in them, but they know I won't pander to them. I've always felt that the worst insult is to be treated as common. To expect our kids to be just average is just awful. To Frederick Muller, this is not meant to be an attack on you or your review. I enjoy reading your reviews on the listserv. This genre of books just hits a nerve with me. Keep up the work. Herb Wilburn, LMS, NBCT Sandy Hook Elementary School -------------------------------------------------------------------- Please note: All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law. You can prevent most e-mail filters from deleting LM_NET postings by adding LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU to your e-mail address book. To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL 3) SET LM_NET MAIL 4) SET LM_NET DIGEST * Allow for confirmation. * LM_NET Help & Information: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ * LM_NET Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/ * EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://lm-net.info/ * LM_NET Supporters: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html * LM_NET Wiki: http://lmnet.wikispaces.com/ --------------------------------------------------------------------