FDL Reads: Jefferson’s Daughters
Jefferson’s Daughters By Catherine Kerrison
Reviewed by: Melissa Friedlund, Reference Specialist
Genre: Biographical, Historical Nonfiction
Suggested Age: Adult
What is this book about? In the late 18th century, two out of six children Thomas Jefferson had with his wife, Martha Wayles Skelton, survived into adulthood. These two children were his daughters Martha Jefferson Randolph and Mary Jefferson Eppes. However, since the 1990s, the world has known for certain that Thomas Jefferson also fathered children with his slave, Sally Hemings. One of these children was also a daughter, Harriet Hemings. The lives of these women all varied greatly despite sharing a father and ostensibly living with him. With Martha’s mostly French-Catholic education, Mary’s formative years in Pennsylvania while her father was Secretary of State and Vice President, and Harriet’s favored-slave status as Sally’s daughter, these women had vastly different opportunities for education and advancement. This book not only describes the courses of their lives, it also delves into the late 18th century attitudes towards female education as well as the reality of slavery and the roots of systemic racism that shaped the lives of these three women.
My Review: I listened to the eaudiobook version of this title on Axis360 and found it a very interesting read. This book seems impressively researched and soberly forthright about 18th and 19th century race relations. A good portion of the book is spent on the eldest daughter Martha’s upbringing and life after marriage as she is the most well-known and well-documented of Jefferson’s daughters. Her European education gave her a significant advantage in life, even compared to other contemporary colonial women of European descent. Mary’s circumstances seem to have been filled with near-abandonment and loss that carved deep holes in her life that she was never able to fill. And despite being born a slave, Harriet may have been the one to have greatly exceeded expectations by leaving Monticello and recreating herself as a white woman. I would definitely recommend this book for those who have an interest in the status and predicament of women in the early years of the Unites States.
Three Words That Describe This Book: Interesting, Thought-Provoking, Diligent
Give This a Try if You Like…Martha Jefferson Randolph, Daughter of Monticello: Her Life and Times by Cynthia Kierner, The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family by Annette Gordon-Reed, and The Other Madisons: The Lost History of a President’s Black Family by Bettye Kearse
Rating: 4/5
About FDL Reads
FDL Reads is a series of weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library.
Story Time (Online) – Pride Month
Welcome to our Pride Month celebration with Miss Alice! This story time will be all about our different families, having fun, and being yourself. We’ll have great books, songs, and a rainbow craft afterwards!
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Song: Hello, Friends
(using ASL, to the tune of Goodnight, Ladies)
Hello, friends! Hello, friends!
Hello, friends! It’s time to say hello!
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Song: Open Them, Shut Them
Open them, shut them, open them, shut them.
Give a little clap, clap, clap!
Open them, shut them, open them, shut them.
Put them in your lap, lap, lap!
Creep them, creep them, slowly creep them,
Right up to your chin, chin, chin!
Open wide your little mouth,
But do not let them in!
Song: Ten Little Fingers
I have ten little fingers, and they all belong to me. (point to self)
I can make them do things. Do you want to see? (point to eyes)
I can squeeze them up tight. I can open them up wide. (squeeze hands shut, then open them)
I can put them together. I can make them all hide. (clap, then hide hands behind back)
I can make them jump high. I can make them jump low. (wiggle fingers above head, then reach down)
I can fold them up quietly and hold them just so. (fold hands and place on lap)
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Book: A Tale of Two Mommies
Written by Vanita Oelschlager and published by Vanita Books.
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Song: One Little Red Fish
One little red fish swimming in the water, (hold up one finger, then put hands together to make fish)
Swimming in the water, swimming in the water.
One little red fish swimming in the water,
Bubble bubble bubble bubble pop! (swirl hands in the air upwards and clap above head)
Two little blue fish…
Three little yellow fish…
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Song: The More We Get Together
The more we get together, together, together, (rock side to side)
The more we get together the happier we’ll be.
When your friends are my friends, and my friends are your friends, (point away from you and then back at yourself)
The more we get together the happier we’ll be.
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Book: Rainbow: A First Book of Pride
Written by Michael Genhart and published by Magination Press.
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Song: Skinamarink
Skinamarink-y dink-y dink, (touch one elbow and wave your hand)
Skinamarink-y doo, (switch arms so you’re waving the other hand)
I love you! (point to your eyes, cross your arms over your chest, point to someone else)
I love you in the morning and in the afternoon. (cup hands together and rock your arms back and forth)
I love you in the evening and underneath the moon.
Oh, skinamarink-y dink-y dink, (touch one elbow and wave your hand)
Skinamarink-y doo, (switch arms so you’re waving the other hand)
I love you! (point to your eyes, cross your arms over your chest, point to someone else)
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Book: Prince & Knight
Written by Daniel Haack and published by little bee books.
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Craft: Rainbow Heart Suncatcher
Craft kits are available from the Youth Services department or the drive-up window while supplies last.
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Song: I am Special
(to the tune of Frere Jacques)
I am special, I am special, (point to self)
You can see, you can see. (point away from self)
Someone very special, someone very special, (hold hands out in questioning motion)
That is me, that is me. (point to self)
– Miss Alice, Youth Services Manager
Happy Birthday, Winnie the Pooh!
Can you guess how old Pooh Bear is? The original Winnie the Pooh book by A.A. Milne was first published in 1926, making it 95 years old this year! We think this calls for a celebration, and, of course, the first thing to do for Pooh’s birthday is to read Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne. Then you can learn more about the history of the story and the characters from these books:
- Winnie: The True Story of the Bear Who Inspired Winnie the Pooh by Sally M. Walker
- Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear by Lindsay Mattick
- For adults – A. Milne: The Man Behind Winnie-the-Pooh by Ann Thwaite
After that, move on to Disney’s classic version:
- Disney’s The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh Classic Storybook by Jamie Simons
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh on DVD or Blu-ray
- Winnie the Pooh 5-Minute Stories by Disney Press
If you prefer eBooks or audiobooks, you’ll find lots of options on hoopla. 
Continue your celebration of all things Pooh by borrowing the Winnie the Pooh UNO game from the library and eating some snacks inspired by the characters, such as honey graham crackers for Pooh or baby carrots for Rabbit.
Here’s a simple craft you can make at home:
Pooh’s Honey Pot
Materials Needed:
- 1 plain flower pot (any size)
- a paintbrush
- red, yellow, and black acrylic paint
Directions:
- Write the word “hunny” (as Pooh would spell it) in black around the middle of the pot
- Paint a red stripe along the bottom outer edge of the pot
- Paint the inside and the top rim of the pot yellow
- Slowly drip a small amount of yellow paint from the top edge of the pot to make it look like Pooh’s been eating out of it
– Cindy, Youth Services Assistant
Rainbow Families Story Time
Everyone’s family looks different, and this story time is here to celebrate it! Thanks for joining us to read some fun books, sing together, and make a colorful finger painting craft!
Song: Hello, Friends
(using ASL, to the tune of Goodnight, Ladies)
Hello, friends! Hello, friends!
Hello, friends! It’s time to say hello!
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Song: Open Them, Shut Them
Open them, shut them, open them, shut them.
Give a little clap, clap, clap!
Open them, shut them, open them, shut them.
Put them in your lap, lap, lap!
Creep them, creep them, slowly creep them,
Right up to your chin, chin, chin!
Open wide your little mouth,
But do not let them in!
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Song: Ten Little Fingers
I have ten little fingers, and they all belong to me. (point to self)
I can make them do things. Do you want to see? (point to eyes)
I can squeeze them up tight. I can open them up wide. (squeeze hands shut, then open them)
I can put them together. I can make them all hide. (clap, then hide hands behind back)
I can make them jump high. I can make them jump low. (wiggle fingers above head, then reach down)
I can fold them up quietly and hold them just so. (fold hands and place on lap)
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Book: All Are Welcome
Written by Alexandra Penfold and Suzanne Kaufman. Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers.
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Song: Slowly, Slowly
Slowly, slowly, very slowly creeps the garden snail. (use fingers to slowly walk up your arm)
Slowly, slowly, very slowly up the garden rail.
Slowly, slowly, very slowly creeps the garden snail. (use fingers to slowly walk down your arm)
Slowly, slowly, very slowly down the garden rail.
Quickly, quickly, very quickly runs the little mouse! (quickly tickle)
Quickly, quickly, very quickly round about the house!
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Song: Two Little Blackbirds
Two little blackbirds sitting on a hill, (hold pointer fingers in the air)
One named Jack, one named Jill. (fingers bow to each other)
Fly away Jack. Fly away Jill. (hide each finger behind your back)
Come back, Jack! Come back, Jill! (bring each finger to front)
Two little blackbirds sitting on a pole, (hold pointer fingers in the air)
One named Fast, one named Slow. (fingers bow to each other)
Fly away, Fast. Fly away, Slow. (hide fingers behind your back, quickly and slowly)
Come back, Fast! Come back, Slow! (bring fingers to front, quickly and slowly)
Two little blackbirds flying through the sky, (hold pointer fingers in the air)
One named Low, one named High. (fingers bow to each other, exaggerated low and high voice)
Fly away, Low. Fly away, High. (hide fingers behind your back, exaggerated low and high voice)
Come back, Low! Come back, High! (bring fingers to front, exaggerated low and high voice)
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Book: Milo Imagines the World
Written by Matt de la Pena. Published by G. P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers.
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Song: The More We Get Together
The more we get together, together, together, (rock side to side)
The more we get together the happier we’ll be.
When your friends are my friends, and my friends are your friends, (point away from you and then back at yourself)
The more we get together the happier we’ll be.
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Song: Skinamarink
Skinamarink-y dink-y dink, (touch one elbow and wave your hand)
Skinamarink-y doo, (switch arms so you’re waving the other hand)
I love you! (point to your eyes, cross your arms over your chest, point to someone else)
I love you in the morning and in the afternoon. (cup hands together and rock your arms back and forth)
I love you in the evening and underneath the moon.
Oh, skinamarink-y dink-y dink, (touch one elbow and wave your hand)
Skinamarink-y doo, (switch arms so you’re waving the other hand)
I love you! (point to your eyes, cross your arms over your chest, point to someone else)
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Book: Stella Brings the Family
Written by Miriam B. Schiffer and published by Chronicle Books.
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Craft: Love Makes a Family Finger Painting
Pick up a craft kit from the Youth Services department or the drive-up window while supplies last!
Song: I am Special
(to the tune of Frere Jacques)
I am special, I am special, (point to self)
You can see, you can see. (point away from self)
Someone very special, someone very special, (hold hands out in questioning motion)
That is me, that is me. (point to self)
– Miss Alice, Youth Services Manager
FDL Reads: No One is Talking About This
No One Is Talking About This by Patricia Lockwood
Reviewed by: Beth Weimer, Communications Specialist
Genre: Literary Fiction
Suggested Age: Adults
What is the book about?: What happens if posting “can a dog be twins?” makes you famous? A woman flings outrageous content into the Portal, doom scrolls her life into oblivion, and discovers that being an Extremely Online Person is not without hazards as the lines begin to blur between reality and you and us and them. When an unthinkable tragedy rips through her family, the woman is forced to deal with the disconnect the Internet has created within herself, Real Life, and the painful, fundamental beauty of human connection.
My Review: Oh man. This book was the gut/brain/heart punch I’ve needed. It’s embarrassing how well some of the fragments fit my brain. Lockwood almost perfectly captures the absolute absurdity and heartbreak of our current culture and the unfathomable ways social media and the Internet have intrinsically altered our minds, our relationships, and our communal consciousness. And then the tragedy, oof. The experience the author creates through the observational, stream of consciousness format is breathtaking, and realizing the account is auto-fictional made me sob even harder. This book is graphic, it’s performative, it’s vulnerable, so flawed and tragic and funny – much like the world we’re dealing with – I think it will speak to you even if you’re not Very Online.
Three Words That Describe This Book: Brilliant, Funny, Meta
Give This a Try if You Like… Twitter, Weather by Jenny Offill, Priestdaddy by Patricia Lockwood
Rating: 5/5
About FDL Reads
FDL Reads is a series of weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library.
Story Time (Online) – Glitter!
Song: Clap and Sing Hello!
We clap and sing hello.
We clap and sing hello.
With our friends at story time.
We clap and sing hello!
(Wave and sing hello; stomp and sing hello.)
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Fingerplay: The Itsy-Bitsy Spider
The itsy-bitsy spider,
Went up the water spout.
Down came the rain,
And washed the spider out.
Out came the sun,
And dried up all the rain.
And the itsy-bitsy spider,
Went up the spout again.
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Book: Also an Octopus
Written by Maggie Tokuda-Hall, illustrated by Benji Davies, and published by Candlewick Press.
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Flannel Board: Five Little Unicorns
I saw five little unicorns – creatures from folklore
I watched the blue one prance away, and then there were four.
I saw four little unicorns resting by a tree
I watched the orange one prance away, and then there were three.
I saw three little unicorns, but as near to them I drew
The green one pranced away, and then there were two.
I saw two little unicorns – I watched them run and run
the yellow one pranced away, and then there was one.
I saw a lonely pink unicorn standing in the sun.
when I blinked by eyes, it pranced away, and then there were none.
You can play this on your fingers too – start with five fingers up, and then put one down each time a unicorn prances away.
Source: Pasadena Public Library
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Book: Glitter
Written by Stella J. Jones, illustrated by Judi Abbot, and published by Tiger Tales.
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Song: Green Means Go!
Green means “GO!” Go! Go! Go! (wave fast)
Yellow means “Slow.” Slow… slow… slow. (wave slow)
Red means “STOP!” (stop suddenly)
Go! Go! Go! (wave fast!)
Slow… slow… slow. (wave slowly)
Stop!
Source: Jbrary
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Book: Just Add Glitter
Written by Angela DiTerlizzi & Samantha Cotterill, and published by Beach Lane Books.
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Craft: Glitter Collage
Kit Supplies:
- Black background paper
- Shapes
- Glitter
Home Supplies:
- Glue
Directions:
- Choose the shapes you want to use on your collage
- Decorate the shapes with glitter
- Glue the shapes on the background paper
- Hang up your collage on the refrigerator
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Song: We Wave Goodbye like This
We wave goodbye like this.
We wave goodbye like this.
We clap our hands for all our friends.
We wave goodbye like this.
(Repeat)
– Kris, Youth Services Specialist