Library Corner

Book of the Month: Bunnicula:  This immensely popular children’s story is told from the point of view of a dog named “Harold.” It all starts when Harold’s human family, the Monroes, goes to see the movie Dracula, and young Toby accidentally sits on a baby rabbit wrapped in a bundle on his seat.  How could the family help but take the rabbit home and name it “Bunnicula”?

Chester, the literate, sensitive and keenly observant family cat, soon decides there is something weird about this rabbit.  Pointy fangs, the appearance of a cape, black-and-white coloring, nocturnal habits . . . it sure seemed to Chester like the newcomer was a vampire bunny.

When the family finds a white tomato in the kitchen, sucked dry and colorless, well . . . Chester becomes distraught and fears for the safety of the family.  “Today, vegetables. Tomorrow, the world!” he warns Harold.  This book, along with other children’s chapter books, is available in the Juvenile Fiction Collection of our church’s library.

Church Library Is Now Online

Are you curious about the books in our church library?  Do you want to know if the library has illustrated books about Noah’s ark or volumes about peer pressure among young adults? 

Now you can check online at http://www.librarything.com/catalog/StPetersCarmel.  This ever-growing catalog currently lists the Picture Book, First Reader, and Board Book collections.  Young adult and adult collections are coming soon!  A special thanks to one of our members, Jessica Placke, for all her hard work with the online catalogue. 

If you would like to provide cookies for the event, set up tables Saturday morning, or help take down tables after, please contact the church office to be put in contact with Jessica Placke, the church librarian.

Monthly Book Review

This month, enjoy a little departure from my usual book review . . . the reasons are twofold.  1)  I keep mentioning this book which formed me as a child, and many people have never heard of it; and 2) I’m working on a challenging book offered by one of you for next month’s Epistle.

The book that shaped me as a child is The Runaway Bunny.  It is by the same author and illustrator as Goodnight Moon:  Margaret Wise Brown and Clement Hurd.  Although almost everyone knows Goodnight Moon, few seem to be aware of The Runaway Bunny, and it is for this reason that I share the title and my thoughts with you. 

The Runaway Bunny tells the story of a little bunny who (surprise!) wants to run away from his mother.  One might think this is no big deal – or at the very least, a boring plot – but there is much within these pages.  As the little bunny tries to run away, his mother becomes more and more a part of his life . . . in a good way. 

When the little bunny wants to be a fish in a stream, his mother becomes a trout fisherman and fishes for her little bunny.  When the little bunny wants to become a rock on a mountain, his mother becomes a mountain climber.  The story takes its reader to many places, many of them simple, some of them magical. 

The reason I maintain that this story is so important in my life is that it paints a wonderful picture of God.  God is one who meets us where we are – wherever we are – even when we’re trying to run away.  I urge you to pick up this book (regardless of the number of kids in your life!) and enjoy it for all that it is.  Sometimes the best stories are those that do not take up many pages but which change our hearts in ways unimaginable.  — Lori Bievenour