A Social Justice Reading List for Young Adults

by Mary-Ellen Mess

In the spirit of the Reverend Dr. King: 

The familiar phrase “with liberty and justice for all” echoes the dreams of courageous women and men of all backgrounds who used the framework of the Constitution, the courts, legislative advocacy and the power of protest to pursue equality for those long denied the promise of America.  

Our nation’s history is filled with heroic stories of activists who fought to change laws and attitudes that kept many people from enjoying equal rights. The protections we take for granted today are a result of the work of those who risked a great deal in pursuit of social justice.  

Abolitionists, Suffragists, Labor Organizers, Civil Rights Activists, Feminists, Disability Advocates, Gay Rights Activists, and Native Americans have all contributed to the cause of forming “a more perfect union.” The 14th Amendment passed after the Civil War guaranteed equal protection under the law and paved the way for landmark court cases including Brown v. Board of Education. The 19th Amendment, the Civil Rights Act of 1964,  Title IX, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and Obergefell v. Hodges expanded opportunity for full access and civic participation to African Americans, women, the disabled, gays and transgender people. 

Celebrate these achievements by learning more about both the famous and the unsung social justice  warriors who helped make America more inclusive and fair. Walk in someone else’s shoes in novels about characters seeking acceptance and equality in a nation known as “the land of opportunity”. Innumerable books have been published about the quest for social justice, here are a few suggestions: 

Books in the Red Bank Public Library collection.

NON-FICTION 

African Americans 

The Autobiography of Malcolm X as told to Alex Haley (1964, 440 pp) 

Claudette Colvin: Twice Towards Justice by Philip Hoose (2009, 124 pp) 

Good Trouble: Lessons from the Civil Rights Playbook by Christopher Noxon (2018, 189 pp)

Stamped: Racism, Anti-Racism, and You by Ibram X Kendi and Jason Reynolds (2020, 248 pp)

Turning 15 on the Road to Freedom by Lynda Blackman Lowery (2016, 144 pp) 

We are Not Yet Equal: Understanding Our Racial Divide by Carol Anderson (2018, 232 pp) 

Native Americans 

An Indigenous People’s History of the United States by Roxanne Dunbar Ortiz (2019, 228 pp)

Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West by Dee Brown (1970, 445 pp)

Rez Life by David Treuer (2012, 319 pp) 

#NotYourPrincess: Voices of Native American Women edited by Lisa Charleyboy & Mary Beth Leatherdale (2017, 103 pp) 

Immigrants 

The Far Away Brothers by Lauren Markham (2019, 234 pp) 

Ink Knows No Borders: Poems of the Immigrant and Refugee Experience edited by Patricia Vecchione &  Alyssa Raymond (2019, 143 pp) 

The Line Becomes A River: Dispatches from the Border by Francisco Cantú (2018, 247 pp) 

Strike! by Larry David Brimmer (2014, 150 pp) 

Women 

Let Me Play: The Story of Title IX : The Law That Changed the Future of Girls in America by Karen Blumenthal (2005, 160 pp)

Notorious RBG: the Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg by Irin Carmon & Shana Knizhnik (2015, 177 pp)

Votes for Women: American Suffragists and the Battle for the Ballot by Winifred Conkling (2018, 271 pp) 

Gay & Transgender 

The 57 Bus: A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime that Changed Their Lives by Dashka Slater (2017, 320 pp)

Queer, There and Everywhere: 23 People Who Changed the World by Sarah Praeger (2017, 215 pp)

Victory: The Triumphant Gay Revolution by Linda Hirshman (2012, 348 pp) 

FICTION 

All American Boys by Jason Reynolds (2015, 320 pp)

Dear Martin (2018, 240 pp) and Dear Justyce (2020, 260 pp) by Nic Stone

Frankly In Love by David Yoon (2019, 406 pp) 

How It Went Down by Kekla Magoon (2014, 336 pp) 

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez (2017, 240 pp)

Internment by Samira Ahmed (2019, 282 pp) 

Mexican White Boy by Matt De la Peña (2008, 247 pp) 

Monster by Walter Dean Mosely (1999, 281 pp) 

Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi & Yusef Salaam (2020, 386 pp)

UnBroken: 13 Stories Starring Disabled Teens edited by Marieke Nijkamp (2018, 320 pp)

Watch Us Rise by Renée Watson & Ellen Hagan (2019, 353 pp)

You Bring the Distant Near by Mitali Perkins (2017, 303 pp)

You're Welcome, Universe by Whitney Gardner (2018, 320 pp)

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Working at the RBPL is a second career for Mary-Ellen, who spent 30 years managing youth programs in Newark, NJ. In anticipation of her retirement from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ, Mary-Ellen returned to school and earned a MLIS in 2013. A part-time Reference Librarian at RBPL, she resides in Red Bank with her husband. Mary-Ellen considers herself fortunate to have raised two sons in Red Bank, a diverse community with great public schools.

Featured Photo of Martin Luther King, Jr. speaking against the Vietnam War at the University of Minnesota in 1967. Photo used with Creative Commons license, courtesy of the Minnesota Historical Society.

This week's Library Horoscopes

by Eleni Glykis, Library Director and resident star child

Library horoscopes are back! So many rare planetary transits happening over a short period of time, our resident star child was overwhelmed with cosmic energy. Coming off of a mercury retrograde and entering a solar eclipse in Sagittarius, the stars have never been so clear!

Aries (March 21- April 19)

End your week with a surge of adventurous energy, take Eryka Andrex’s Friday Fitness class and start the weekend off right.

Taurus (April 20 - May 20)

This weekend, focus on your own creativity, binge watch the Library craft offerings from Power Play (Adult or Kids) , Bilingual Teen Crafts, Kid’s Crafts Night, StART!  

Gemini (May 21 - June 20)

You will again be torn this month when you discover that you cannot choose between the latest James Patterson or Nora Roberts. Be daring—choose both!

Cancer (June 21 - July 22)

Wellness and health take over your mind this week, leading you to download The Whole30. Worried about what to do with all those off the list legumes? Drop them off at the Library’s Take What You Need Leave What You Can Food Pantry.

Leo (July 23 - Aug 22)

Read with your heart Leo! The sun in Sagittarius and your passionate expressive 5th house has you gravitating towards romance for some winter sizzle. Try check out The Outlander (Book,or TV Series), One Fine Cowboy or The Search will to get your heart racing. 

Virgo (Aug 23 - Sept 22)

The sun joining Mercury in Capricorn later this week will ignite your festive baking mood. Baking Gold : How To Bake (Almost) Everything With 3 Doughs, 2 Batters, And 1 Magic Mix and create some delicious sweets

Libra (Sept 23 - Oct 22)

This holiday season was made for you! Hoopla’s December Movies of the Month will fill your week with some extra holiday cheer!

Scorpio (Oct 23 - Nov 21)

Your confidence soars this week as the sun tines Mars while in feisty Aries. Use that extra shine to enter the Library’s Ugly Sweater Contest.

Sagittarius (Nov 22 - Dec 21)

This week will have you looking for something different. Try Mexican Gothic, Black Leopard, Red Wolf, There There or The Astonishing Color of After to diversify your reads.

Capricorn (Dec 22 - Jan 19)

Power down Capricorn. Detaching from tech reignites your love for curling up with a good book on a cold night. Give your phone a much needed break. Place a hold and utilize our curbside service to find your next new read

Aquarius (Jan 20 - Feb 18)

This week has you seeking opportunities to experience new things. Reach out to the Library’s reference staff via email and have them pick out your next read.

Pisces (Feb 18 - Mar 20)

Health and wellness overtake you this week.  Watch the Library’s first installment of Everything We Eat to learn about Seasonal Eating in NJ.

Reading about Native American History

by Mary-Ellen Mess

“What is history, but a fable agreed upon?” 
-Napoleon Bonaparte

It has been 50 years since Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West by Dee Brown hit the bestseller list with a fresh perspective on the mythology of the American frontier. Since that time, poverty and government neglect continue to plague Native American communities but new found wealth from casinos has empowered some tribal governments to restore cultural pride and reassert treaty rights via the federal courts.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs lists 574 recognized tribes and 300 reservations on its website. Despite more than 150 years of displacement, genocide, broken treaties and forced cultural assimilation; Native American communities remain resilient as evidenced in recent headlines about mascots, monuments, and court decisions. Author David Treuer, an Ojibwe from Northern Minnesota, documents the political and legal struggle for tribal survival in two books: The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee: Native America from 1890 to Present and Rez Life: An Indian’s Journey through Reservation Life.

For readers who want to understand the strength and wisdom of indigenous peoples who once occupied the North American continent from sea to shining sea, Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz offers An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States and “All the Real Indians Died Off” and 20 Other Myths about Native Americans. Classics such as Red Earth, White Lies by Vin Deloria, Jr. and The Wisdom of the Native Americans edited by Kent Nerburn challenge the orthodoxy of the “Discovery of America” and “Manifest Destiny” and provide context to the furor over symbols and statues venerating those who contributed to the extermination of a people and their culture.

Insight into the lives of Indians in the United States today may also be found in award-winning novels by Native American authors Tommy Orange (There, There), Louise Erdrich (Love Medicine, A Plague of Doves), and Sherman Alexie (The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fist Fight in Heaven.) along with many others.

Recorded history is usually an interpretation of whom ever is doing the record-keeping. At a time when long-held beliefs about our national heritage are being questioned and the reputations of cultural icons once considered heroic are in dispute, it’s easy to pick a side and dig in. The books mentioned here provide an opportunity to view history from another perspective. I hope you enjoy them.

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Working at the RBPL is a second career for Mary-Ellen, who spent 30 years managing youth programs in Newark, NJ.  In anticipation of her retirement from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ, Mary-Ellen returned to school and earned a MLIS in 2013.  A part-time Reference Librarian at RBPL, she resides in Red Bank with her husband.  Mary-Ellen considers herself fortunate to have raised two sons in Red Bank, a diverse community with great public schools.  

Paper Toys as a safe way for libraries to entertain kids during COVID-19

by Jaime Pfisterer

All over the country, librarians have been attending Zoom meetings trying to navigate the new world COVID-19 has forced upon us. We’ve talked about new procedures that have to be put in place like masks for all employees, curbside pickup, disinfecting surfaces, and book drop quarantine. Even when libraries fully open to the public again, all patrons will need to wear masks and services will have to be spaced apart. One of the problems that has been discussed are the toys in the Children’s Rooms. Parents and caregivers will usually bring their children to the library to check out books but also for playtime. But now librarians will have to remove the toys or have very few out in order to stop the spread of the virus. 

At my library, I’ve been hosting a program called Power Play where children and teens can come and play games, do STEM activities, and make crafts. Since the beginning of the quarantine, I moved Power Play to Facebook Live and even offered sessions for adults. One of the challenges I had was trying to think of materials that most people had at home. My solution was having my projects be paper-based since paper is an item in most households. So when the problem was brought up about not having toys in the library, I thought that paper toys may be the best answer. 

Paper toys are inexpensive, efficient, and are easily disposable. A child can make the toy for themselves, play with it, and take it home. Even, if the child leaves it behind, the librarian can simply throw it away. Paper toys may be the sanitary playtime solution that we have been looking for during this COVID-19 Pandemic. 

I created a Pinterest Board filled with Paper Toy Resources, which you can view all of here. Some of the Pins are embedded below. You can view one of my programs at this link.

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Jaime Pfisterer is a Reference Librarian at the Red Bank Public Library.

Reading comics about race

by Matt Hershberger

Given the unrest over the past few weeks surrounding the issues of systemic racism and police brutality, the Red Bank Public Library has been trying to highlight titles in our collection that focus on issues of race and racism, as well as titles that elevate BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) voices.

RBPL Director Eleni Glykis, in a post titled "Black Lives Matter," listed some of the digital titles available. Reference librarian and non-fiction buyer Mary-Ellen Mess listed some of the standout titles in that collection, and Children's Librarian Sira Williams gave tips and book suggestions on how to start talking to your kids about race.

Today, we're focusing on comics. Comics are particularly useful as teaching tools for teens who aren't as big of readers, or for people who are more visual learners (if you are new to comics, we have a guide to get you started). The very good news is that there are a lot of BIPOC voices in comics, and there is a lot of astounding work being done. What follows is just a handful of what we have available in our physical collection*. Some are available digitally. 

March by John Lewis

Civil rights leader and US congressman John Lewis is a living legend -- he was the chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), an original Freedom Rider, a marcher at Selma, and a speaker to the same enormous crowd that heard Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech. March is his three-volume graphic memoir.

African-American Classics

This anthology features graphic adaptations of the works of some of America's most prominent early 20th century Black writers, including W.E.B. DuBois, Zora Neale Hurston, and Langston Hughes.

Incognegro by Mat Johnson

Mat Johnson's Incognegro tells the story of a Black newspaper reporter who can "pass" for white, and uses this to investigate lynchings in the Deep South.

Prince of Cats by Ronald Wimberly

Ronald Wimberly's Prince of Cats is a reimagining of the story of Tybalt, one of the side characters in Romeo and Juliet. Set in 1980's New York, it melds a hip-hop sensibility to the Bard's classic story.

Monster by Walter Dean Myers

This is a graphic adaptation of the New York Times-bestselling novel Monster, which tells the story of a teenager awaiting trial for murder and robbery. It has since been made into a movie called All Rise.

Malcolm X: A Graphic Biography by Andrew Helfer

This short biography is a great starter for anyone who is curious about Malcolm X, one of the most controversial and least understood Civil Rights leaders of the past century.

Hip Hop Family Tree by Ed Piskor

Ed Piskor's four-volume Hip Hop Family Tree is a graphic history of hip-hop, from its origins in the early 70's through to 1985. 

Black Panther by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Essayist and bestselling author of Between the World and Me Ta-Nehisi Coates made his first foray into comics writing working on Marvel's Black Panther. Black Panther was the first mainstream superhero of African descent, and remains one of the most popular to this day.

Harlem Hellfighters by Max Brooks

World War Z author Max Brooks wrote this fictionalized account of the African American 369th Infantry Regiment in World War I. They spent more time in combat than any other American unit, never lost ground to the enemy, and were nicknamed by the Germans the "Hell-fighters." Nevertheless, they faced intense discrimination from their own government.

Inhuman Traffick by Rafe Blaufarb

Inhuman Traffick is a strange book -- it started as an academic paper and eventually morphed into a comic, recounting the British Navy's efforts to quash the illegal transatlantic slave trade in the mid-19th century.

The Girl who Married a Skull and Other African Stories

This comics anthology features retellings of a dozen or so old African fables and myths. The stories are beautifully illustrated and beautifully told.

Yellow Negroes and Other Imaginary Characters by Yvan Alagbe

This acclaimed comic, which landed on virtually every "Best Comics of 2018" list, tells the story of undocumented African immigrants in Paris in the modern day.

Your Black Friend and Other Strangers by Ben Passmore

Ben Passmore is one of the more electrifying comic artists working today. The title comic can be read for free here, but it's worth picking up the book for the other stories, which range from nonfiction accounts of police brutality protests, to sci-fi parables, to accounts of political arguments with family members.

Do you have suggestions for other comics we should get for our collection? Submit them below!

*The physical library, at the moment, remains closed. But we will be opening our collection for curbside pickup in the coming weeks, and you will be able to check all of these books out then. Keep an eye on our Facebook pages or sign up for our weekly newsletter for updates.

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Matt Hershberger is the tech guy at the Red Bank Public Library. He is also the comic buyer and he runs the "Sustainable Red Bank" lecture series.

Ebooks for your Jersey Shore Staycation

by Mary-Ellen Mess

The world-wide pandemic may have scuttled your travel plans for the summer, but books offer a way to discover exotic cultures and spectacular landscapes both here and abroad from the safety of your beach chair.

Author Nevada Barr’s series about Park Ranger Anna Pigeon is set in popular parks and pristine wilderness areas managed by the National Park Service. In each suspenseful novel, Ranger Pigeon lands a temporary assignment in a new locale only to find herself using her training and instincts to bring miscreants to justice.

Whether attempting a rescue in the depths of Carlsbad Caverns or studying wolves on an island in Lake Superior, Anna Pigeon is one tough cookie. Her daring exploits provide both great entertainment and an appreciation of the breath-taking beauty and ever-present danger in our National Parks.

If your heart was set on a European sojourn, David Nicholls’ novel Us, will take you to must-see places for a tour of the continent. Douglas Petersen’s long awaited celebratory family trip with his wife and son doesn’t quite turn out as planned. Surprise! It’s a bittersweet tale of self-discovery that is both amusing and heart-wrenching.

Two Steps Forward by husband and wife team Graeme Simsion and Anne Buist also explores themes of personal renewal as widowed Zoe and divorced Martin each set out on the two thousand kilometer Camino de Santiago. As in any self-respecting romantic comedy, these two strangers fall victim to misunderstandings that ebb and flow as they cross paths with each other and a cast of characters seeking absolution, acceptance, and peace of mind.

John Burdett’s thrillers set in sexy, steamy Bangkok follow the exploits of Detective Sonchai Jitpleecheep as he seeks justice while dodging local corruption and foreign profiteers. The son of a long gone American GI and a Thai bar girl, Sonchai is a wry observer of human behavior who struggles to balance his Buddhist beliefs with the reality of being a cop in Thailand.

A relaxing visit to Botswana is possible in the company of Precious Ramotswe, whose intrepid spirit and practical wisdom solve problems big and small for the inhabitants of Alexander McCall Smith’s No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency novels. Or spend time with Smith’s Isabel Dalhousie Series set in Scotland if you prefer a cooler climate.

Plan your staycation by browsing these and other ebooks in our 24 Hour Library on the RBPL website. You will need your library card number and PIN to borrow books there.

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Working at the RBPL is a second career for Mary-Ellen, who spent 30 years managing youth programs in Newark, NJ.  In anticipation of her retirement from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ, Mary-Ellen returned to school and earned a MLIS in 2013.  A part-time Reference Librarian at RBPL, she resides in Red Bank with her husband.  Mary-Ellen considers herself fortunate to have raised two sons in Red Bank, a diverse community with great public schools.  

How to Keep High School and College Students Productive this Summer

by Karen Cronin

This summer our high school and college students may not be working the jobs or internships they had planned on.  Restaurants may have few customers, so they will not need as much staff.  Summer camps are cancelled in many towns, so they will not need counselors.  Many college internships have been cancelled because company employees are working from home.  So that leaves many high school and college students without jobs this summer.  So, what can they do?  Enter Universal Class and Rosetta Stone!

Universal Class has hundreds of online classes library card holders can take for free.  It can be accessed through the Red Bank Library website under Resources -- Research Databases.  All classes are taught by professional instructors. The classes are grouped into several categories, such as, Accounting, Business, Computer Training, Real Estate, etc.  Within each category are classes associated with that particular subject. All classes are self-paced, so you can take your class when it is convenient for you.  Some classes have assignments and exams so you can chart your progress.  Many classes have the option for you to audit only which does not require assignments or exams.  At the end of each class you can print out a certificate that shows you completed that particular course.  

Let’s say you have a student who is interested in or majoring in Education.  They could click on the “Teacher Resources” category and find several classes to take on several subjects.  For example, under this category are Autism 101, Basic English-Speaking Skills, Behavior Management 101, Building Children’s Reading Skills, and more.  Patrons can take up to five courses at a time, and have six months to complete each course.  

Another option for students this summer is learning a new language or brushing up on a language that they are familiar with.  Rosetta Stone, the library’s language learning program, can be accessed by library cardholders through our website under Resources – Research Databases.  Rosetta Stone offers 30 languages in an online format that is self-paced.  Many of the languages offer options as to how you want to learn.  There is a reading and writing focus, speaking and listening focus, as well as other types of learning options.  Rosetta Stone teaches its students to read, write, and speak the language of their choosing.

This summer there may not be a lot of jobs to be had for our high school and college students.  But the library has opportunities for our students to learn new skills or brush up on existing skills for free! Next summer when our students are interviewing for colleges, internships or post college jobs and they are asked what they did during the summer of 2020, they will be able to list the classes and skills learned through their library with Universal Class and Rosetta Stone.

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Karen Cronin is a Library Assistant at the Red Bank Public Library.  She currently moderates the library’s monthly Cookbook Club.  Karen is Rutgers University alumnae (go Knights!).

June is National Caribbean-American Heritage Month

by Claire Lomack-Phelps

The mission of National Caribbean American Heritage Month is to introduce and promote the rich culture and heritage of the Caribbean American people. Throughout the US in June, several events are organized by community leaders. Writers, artists, politicians, business owners, athletes, musicians and actors are among some of the Caribbean Americans who have  contributed to American culture. In 2017 there were approximately 4.4 million residents of Caribbean descent in the United States. Beginning in the first half of the 20th century and increasing during the 1960's, migration to the states occurred for several reasons, from increased employment opportunities, to escape from political instability. The Caribbean islands and surrounding regions are known for their beautiful vacation spots, scenery, music and cuisine.

In early 2006, Congress passed a resolution sponsored by Congresswoman Barbara Lee, that recognized the significance of  Caribbean people and their descendants in American history and culture. On June 6, 2006, President George W. Bush issued a proclamation; spearheaded by Dr. Claire Nelson, founder and president of the Institute of Caribbean Studies and annually recognized by the White House, designating  June as National Caribbean American Heritage Month. For more information visit their website, icsdc.org.      

Caribbean Music

Caribbean music is a diverse  blend of African, European and Indigenous influences. Some of the more popular styles include Calypso and Soca - Trinidad and Tobago, Reggae - Jamaica; originating from the two older styles Ska and Rocksteady,  Salsa - Cuba and Puerto Rico,  Merengue -  Dominican Republic, Bomba y Plena- Puerto Rico and Compas - Haiti. The music often uses witty, subtle and imaginative ways to address issues of political and social commentary. With origins dating back to the 1930's, every Labor Day the West Indian Day  Parade is held in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, NY.  

Caribbean Food & Local Caribbean Restaurants

Caribbean Cuisine is a fusion of  African, Creole, European, Latin American, Middle Eastern and Asian influences. The most common ingredients are rice, plantains, beans, coconut, sweet potatoes, cassava and tomatoes. They are prepared with various local meats and spices. Check the following websites for recipes.

Caribbeanfood.com

Caribbeanchoice.com/recipes

Jamaicans.com

These restaurants featuring Jamaican, Haitian and Cuban food located in Monmouth County offer take out service.

Norah's Irie - 530 Springdale Ave., Long Branch, NJ.  732-443-4781

Shore Caribbean Restaurant - 425 Liberty St., Long Branch, NJ  732-963-9928

Mark's Place - 621 Main St., Asbury Pk., NJ.   732-455-3210

Tijo's Kreyol Kitchen - 1400 Asbury Ave., Asbury Pk., NJ   732-774-2200

Cuban Cafe - 1007 Memorial Dr., Asbury Pk., NJ  732- 807-4444

Jama Grille - 2200 Rt. 66, Neptune, NJ  732-919-52520

Caribbean Materials at the Library

The following items are available through the Red Bank Library catalog and Hoopla.

Island People: The Caribbean and the World - Joshua Jelly-Schapiro

Cooking the Caribbean Way - Cheryl Davidson Kaufman

The Campaign for the Sugar Islands, 1759 - Marshall Smelser

The Big Truck That Went By: How the World Came to Save Haiti and Left Behind a Disaster - Jonathan Katz

Once in an Island - Alvin Glen Edwards

The Caribbean - 24 All Time Favourites - Caribbean Sea - Hoopla Music

The Caribbean Jazz Project - Caribbean Jazz Project - Hoopla Music

Black in Latin America - Henry Louis Gates, Jr. - Documentary - DVD 

Children of Uncertain Fortune - Daniel Livesay - Hoopla E book

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Claire is a Library Assistant in Circulation and the Children's Room at the Red Bank Public Library.

This library resource will help you find your next book

by Mary-Ellen Mess

While we usually know when we like a particular book, many of us don’t always know how to describe exactly why we like it. An online search for a good book, whether it be on Amazon, Goodreads, or another website usually starts with a book that you have already read and enjoyed. Then up pops a list of titles by the same author, books other readers have purchased, or those that deal with similar themes.

NoveList is a reader’s advisory database on the Red Bank Public Library website that uses a variety of “appeal factors” to help find the perfect book to fit your style or mood. Going beyond familiar genres most readers are quick to recognize: i.e. suspense, sci-fi, romance, etc; NoveList has developed a vocabulary of terms for readers to explore and narrow the search for the right book. By offering a way to describe the characters, pacing and writing style that add to a reader’s enjoyment of fiction, NoveList is a pathway to finding an appealing novel.

For example, World War II is one of the most popular subjects for fans of historical fiction with more than 6,000 titles listed. But that subject includes a vast number of themes – love in wartime, Holocaust survival, immigrant experiences – as well as many ways to tell the stories. Add to the theme of life in wartime a preference for a courageous female character and you narrow the list to 15 books including the best-selling Nightingale by Kristen Hannah and lesser know titles such as Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys and The Shadow King by Mengiste Maaza.

So whether you like your characters sympathetic or quirky, an action-packed or heart-warming storyline, or a fast-paced or leisurely read; NoveList can help find something for every type of reader. By giving you a vocabulary to describe your favorite kind of book – funny or inspiring or gritty or lyrical – as well as lists of similar titles, NoveList may help you discover your next favorite book.

For more about NoveList’s appeal factors, check out The Secret Language of Books. Find NoveList at our Research Databases page. You will need your library card number to logon.

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Working at the RBPL is a second career for Mary-Ellen, who spent 30 years managing youth programs in Newark, NJ.  In anticipation of her retirement from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ, Mary-Ellen returned to school and earned a MLIS in 2013.  A part-time Reference Librarian at RBPL, she resides in Red Bank with her husband.  Mary-Ellen considers herself fortunate to have raised two sons in Red Bank, a diverse community with great public schools.  

How the pandemic taught me to love reading on a tablet

Judy Klavens-Giunta, RDN, Library Assistant, Red Bank Public Library

From a young age libraries have been a huge part of my existence.  At first they were a place of wonder, but as I got older I would go to the library because it was a comfortable and calm place, almost an oasis, a place where I could find ways to travel to another place and/or time.  Even when I was a young child, it was important to me to have a book to read.  I can remember getting anxious as I finished one book and didn’t have one lined up to follow. To this day that is still true.  And by the way, book is the operative word here. Being from the Baby Boom generation books and printed materials were what we all knew growing up and well into adulthood.  Also, I like the tactile feel and smell of a book.  

I like to hold a book in my hands when I read.  I have never been a person who enjoyed reading long articles on my computer even when that became the main way to access information and do research. Okay, so truth be told, many of us that have had to research the “old fashioned” way by ordering journal article reprints and reading sections of academic books, are in awe of the ease of accessing research information online. As a returning student I’ve done my share of research projects/studies on my way to becoming a dietitian and that was way before the expansion of the internet to what it is now. 

Nowadays, a click of a mouse in Google Scholar and voila, there are all (or most of) the journal articles or book excerpts you need. But as far as books go, up until now, I have had no interest in reading them “online.” (So, a little digression, who still puts the period inside the quotation marks and allows two spaces after a period before starting the next sentence.  Sheesh, even punctuation has changed.)

Faced with the Library closing for who knew how long, I was concerned about having enough books to read for however long we were closed.  Especially since we would be stuck at home for long periods of time.  But I was not too worried, because I checked out quite a few books on my last day in the building and after all there were a couple of large piles of books previously purchased from various used bookstores at home. I always wondered why I kept collecting used books because as a regular patron of our library, even before working there, I always had more than enough books on loan to ensure I was never without something to read.  Well, I wondered no longer, and I was set for the duration - or so I thought.

None of us really knew what to expect when the stay-at-home order came.  How much was the pandemic going to turn our world upside down? Or, how long it was going to last for that matter.  Imagine my utter panic when I realized a couple weeks ago that I was probably going to run out of books to read before the library or used bookstores opened again and my supply could be replenished.  How was I going to get by!! 

So, I figured the best thing to do was to become more familiar with our 24-Hour Library resources (with the bonus of becoming better able to help patrons do the same).  There was some anxiety involved in this experience, but it really was for the most part user friendly.  The hardest part was just taking the first step, but once I logged into each site, wow there was so much out there.  Here were resources that would assure that I would always have something to read. But of course, these were not hard copy books and using these resources meant I needed something to download these materials to. Oh, good grief I needed a tablet.

After much gnashing of teeth and wringing of hands, I decided to investigate a Kindle or Android Tablet (since I have an Android phone, I thought it would be easier to use). I really felt it would be the only way to ease my anxiety about where I would get reading material once my books ran out.  However, it replaced one anxiety with another – having to deal with new electronics - well new to me that is.  I have always managed to master new technologies/electronics when I have encountered them as part of a job or personal need but I always feel a certain anxiety during the learning process because this was not something I grew up with.

I went back and forth for quite a while (watching nervously as my book supply continued to dwindle to my last few books) and decided to go for the tablet since it had more flexibility.  But then what kind, which model, etc., etc.  My decision was made a little bit easier by the fact that I planned to use reward points from an account that I have had for over a decade – I had no idea they had a reward program until recently and I actually had enough points to get a decent tablet and I was able to get it at no cost.  Of course, that also meant choosing from what they had.  On the other hand, even if it were a bust, I wouldn’t be out of pocket and I could always gift it. I researched tablets and made my decision based on what was available and placed my order.

Not however, the end of the story.  It arrived quickly. But once it arrived It sat on my couch for almost a week while I agonized over having to go through the set-up process.  What if it didn’t work right. I was remembering how absolutely flummoxed I was when I got my first smart phone about 15 years ago. For days, I alternated between marveling at the efficiency of the technology or wanting to toss it out the window because I couldn’t figure something out. That experience left lingering anxiety about new electronics even to this day and made me anxious about setting up the tablet even though, as I said, I have been able to master whatever I needed to without too much trouble.

All these concerns, all this anxiety (like I needed more during these crazy times). What if I had to download all kinds of apps and/or software.  Did it have a blue light filter-forgot to check that out-would I get eyestrain?  I finally bit the bullet and charged it, turned it on and went through the set up.  Well as I should have realized from my experience purchasing a new laptop a couple years ago, this is not the 1980’s boot disc requiring world anymore.  Turn things on and they are for the most part ready to go.  By the way, did I just date myself?  If you don’t know what I am talking about boot discs (usually a floppy disc) used to be the only way you could get a computer to “boot up.”  None of this just turning it on stuff.   Google those terms if you want to know more.  You can do that now too.  Facts at your fingertips.  What a world!

Anyway, back to my tablet set-up.  Turns out when I set up an account using my Gmail, it automatically pulled everything over from my phone and I kid you not practically no set up required – well maybe download of a few apps.  I was thrilled and relieved.  A week or so has gone by and I am in heaven.  How did I ever live without a tablet (like my feeling once I got use to my smart phone). A much more pleasant experience reading from an online source when you are holding what you are reading from in front of your face rather than leaning over a laptop screen.

So now I have one less thing to be anxious about and right now that is certainly a good thing given that we really have no idea of what the “new” normal is going to be. At least I don’t have to worry that I will run out of something to read and I have a new convenient tool which has helped to improve my online experience. One more thing, I have realized I am more resilient than I thought.  I just need to trust what I have learned and what I know from my life experience.  I am stronger for it.

Everybody be safe and connect with just how resilient you really are.

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Judy Klavens-Giunta is a library assistant at the Red Bank Public Library and a retired public and community health dietitian/nutritionist

Reading About Race With Your Kids

by Sira Williams

We all want a brighter future for our children, but in order to get to the other side of where we are today, we need to listen to one another, ask questions, and engage in uncomfortable conversations. As adults we should do this with our friends, families, neighbors and coworkers. But we must also do it with our children. Normally, parents want to protect their kids from unsettling events in the news. We want to shield them from the ugly realities of our society for as long as possible. That’s why racism and police brutality are subjects rarely discussed in the classroom or at the family dinner table.

In fact, it may never occur to some who are personally unaffected by these issues to talk to their kids about them at all. Sadly, that’s not the case for people of color. Most black and brown children are introduced to these concepts early and often by their parents and caregivers in order to prepare them for situations they will surely encounter. Ready or not, and often sooner rather than later, the day will come when they will have their own experiences to draw from. So don’t be fooled into thinking your children are too young to talk to about these matters. They’re not, but they do need tools and guidance in order to learn and grow. 

If you’re hesitant to start such a conversation, reading with your child is one way to do it. Regardless of their age or maturity level, there are books that can help introduce the issues of race, diversity and justice to your child. Books that include black characters or stories told in their voice may be eye-opening, thought-provoking, and inspiring. You can find such stories at all levels and genres from picture books, junior fiction, and graphic novels to biographies and nonfiction.

Be prepared to answer questions and share your own experiences and ideas about prejudice, privilege, discrimination and fairness. Fairness is a concept that all children understand. “That’s not fair!” has probably been uttered by every single child on the planet. Knowing that feeling of being wronged may give them insight into how people of color feel today as a result of a long history of unfair treatment. See how this can lead to a conversation about one or all of the above-mentioned topics? 

Depending on your own level of knowledge, you may find yourself learning together with your older kids, and that’s okay. Be honest and admit when you don’t know something. There are so many subjects to explore. Slavery, Reconstruction, Jim Crow, the Civil Rights Movement, and the Black Lives Matter Movement are just a few. Remember, Black history is not only about suffering and oppression but also about dignity, creativity, inventiveness, and brilliance. This exceptionalism should be emphasized as well. 

“At this point, there’s no correct place to begin – just begin. ”

The following list includes books for a range of ages that can help start the discussions you need to have about racism and social justice. There are many lists circulating online, too. At this point, there’s no correct place to begin – just begin. Read with your children. Read on your own. If they can read, encourage them to. Answer their questions. Ask them questions. Engage. We will all be better for it. The Red Bank Public Library will also be posting a series of Family Story Times on Race & Diversity on Saturday mornings at 11:30 in June. These are meant to be conversation starters for families with children ages 7 and up. They will be posted on our Facebook Page and our YouTube Channel. We encourage you to follow us and participate.

Let's Talk About Race – Julius Lester 

Something Happened in Our Town – Marianne Celano, Marietta Collins & Ann Hazzard 

Sulwe – Lupita Lyong’o 

Martin's Big Words – Doreen Rappaport 

Black is a Rainbow Color – Angela Joy 

Hey Black Child – Useni Eugene Perkins 

The Day You Begin – Jacqueline Woodson 

Dreamers – Yuyi Morales 

Henry's Freedom Box – Ellen Levine 

I Like Myself – Karen Beaumont 

All Are Welcome – Alexandra Penfold 

The Case For Loving – Selina Alko 

Hair Love – Matthew Cherry 

Tar Beach – Faith Ringgold 

If You Lived at the Time of Martin Luther King –Ellen Levine 

The Story of Ruby Bridges – Robert Coles 

Mae Among the Stars – Roda Ahmed 

Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race – Margot Lee Shetterly 

Ghost Boys – Jewell Parker Rhodes 

Tight – Terry Maldonado 

My Life As An Ice Cream Sandwich – Ibi Aanu Zoboi 

Black Brother, Black Brother – Jewell Parker Rhodes 

Some Places More Than Others – Renée Watson 

The Crossover – Kwame Alexander 

Brown Girl Dreaming – Jacqueline Woodson 

Stars Beneath Our Feet – David Barclay Moore 

Genesis Begins Again – Alicia Williams 

Never Caught: The Story of Ona Judge - George and Martha Washington's Courageous Slave Who Dared to Run Away – Erica Armstrong Dunbar

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Sira Williams is the head of the Red Bank Public Library’s Children’s Room.

Let's Read About Race

by Mary-Ellen Mess

There are many ways to talk about race in the U.S. You might focus on law enforcement, education, housing, and now of course disparities in health care. But the real emphasis should be on ourselves and the attitudes and behaviors that sustain policies and institutions that fail to guarantee equal treatment for all citizens.

Having grown up White in the 50s and 60s, I see the world through the lens of my own experience. My world then was Eurocentric. Early on I had no classmates, teachers, neighbors, or friends who were Black, Asian, or Latinx. I cannot recall one interaction with a person of color until I was in 10th grade.

Books have always been my refuge and my map for exploring the world. In the era of the Civil Rights Movement, I read Black Like Me and The Autobiography of Malcolm X. One Christmas Eve, I can remember finishing Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee and weeping over the tragic history of Native Americans. Along with most Americans, I watched “Roots” on TV and commiserated with the cruel treatment of the slave Kunta Kinte.

Since then my worldview has expanded by virtue of my choices and the rapidly changing demographics of our nation. What hasn’t changed is my love of reading and how it helps me understand where we are today and how we got here.

For many Whites, the discomfort of acknowledging the unearned privilege that comes with light skin (especially if your family wasn’t particularly highbrow) makes it difficult to do the hard work of recognizing one’s own bias. The new generation of writers on race are less interested in tugging at your heartstrings and more interested in ripping away the facade of polite behavior that allows White people to deny their own racism and privilege.

To Kill A Mockingbird is a favorite because it allows Whites to relegate racial injustice to the past. Recent events reveal the fallacy of that assertion. If you are willing to get out of your comfort zone, I’d like to share some of my favorites among the newer books in the RBPL collection:

• Nobody: Casualties of America’s War on the Vulnerable by Mark Lamont Hill

• Biased: Uncovering the Hidden Prejudice That Shapes What We See, Think, and Do by Jennifer L. Eberhardt PhD

• Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson

• White Fragility by Robin J. Di Angelo

• The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson

• Backlash: What Happens When We Talk Honestly About Racism in America by George Yancey

• Rez Life: An Indian’s Journey Through Reservation Life by David Treuer

My White privilege gives me a choice of whether or not to acknowledge some ugly truths in this country. I am able to ignore both the history and effects of racism and my own bias if I choose to do so. People with brown skin have no such choice. For them, as Richard Wright was so aptly quoted in the title of Ta-Nehisi Coates’ book, dark skin always lies Between the World and Me.

These are just a few of the very many books that offer insight into the issue of race in America. The New York Times has published a list of current bestsellers about race and criminal justice. Reading may not solve the complex problem of racism, but it can help us understand what spawned the disturbing images we are witnessing today. My hope is that by reading, we move closer to the goal of liberty and justice for all.

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Working at the RBPL is a second career for Mary-Ellen, who spent 30 years managing youth programs in Newark, NJ.  In anticipation of her retirement from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ, Mary-Ellen returned to school and earned a MLIS in 2013.  A part-time Reference Librarian at RBPL, she resides in Red Bank with her husband.  Mary-Ellen considers herself fortunate to have raised two sons in Red Bank, a diverse community with great public schools.  

Black Lives Matter

--by Eleni Glykis, Library Director

The Red Bank Public Library stands firm with the Black Caucus of the American Library Association and the American Library Association in condemning violence and racism towards Black people and all People of Color. We stand "with library workers, with library users, and with members of the communities we serve and support who are susceptible to acts of prejudice, threats of violence, and even death based solely on their race or ethnicity. The pervasive racism present in our nation denies its residents equal rights and equal access and as such is a barrier to the goals of this association and to the wider profession." 

In 2015, the Red Bank Public Library started its award-winning Let’s Talk About Race program to provide a forum for dialogue and understanding among people of different races and ethnic backgrounds. We have been committed to addressing the racial inequalities that exist within our own community and providing forum and space to make Red Bank a stronger, more informed, and kinder community. To achieve that goal we will continue to provide programming, resources, and materials that represent and celebrate Red Bank’s diversity.

Martin Luther King Jr once said “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends,” The Red Bank Public Library has not been silent, and will NOT be silent. We stand with our friends, families, colleagues, and community members who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color and to our values of celebrating our community’s diversity and creating understanding.

In addition to our Let’s Talk About Race Resource Page, we encourage the public to utilize the following list of digital materials and programs in our community which provokes further discussion, inspire critical thinking, and demonstrate our recognition of social inequity and structural racism in this country.

Upcoming Events:

June 4th @ 6:00pm Red Bank Hosts Community Forum: "Safety in Collaboration" with Police Chief Darren McConnel  To register click here. 

June 4th @7:30pm The PBC Community Conversation Series Presents: “Systemic Racism in Our Society; Where Do We Go From Here?” Connect at www.pilgrim-baptist.org or Facebook Live @ Pilgrim Baptist Church of Red Bank



Digital Materials

How to Be An Anti Racist - Dr. Ibram Kendi .
Stamped – Jason Reynolds & Ibram X. Kendi
The New Jim Crow – Michelle Alexander
Lies My Teacher Told Me – James W. Loewen
Between the World and Me  - Ta’Nehisi Coates
Racism without Racists – Eduardo Bonilla-Silva
American Experience: Freedom Riders – PBS
Citizen – Claudia Rankine
How I Resist - Maureen Johson
Betty Before X  - Ilyasah Shabazz, Renee Watson
The Hate U Give – Angie Thomas
I Am Not Your Negro - Filmmaker Raoul Peck envisions the book James Baldwin never finished Remember This House
White Privilege – M.T. Blakemore
Rise Up! The Art of Protest – Jo Rippon, Mari Copeny

What you'll see on the Historic Red Bank Walking Tour

by Mary-Ellen Mess

Red Bank’s location on the Navesink (aka the North Shrewsbury River) has always been the most notable feature of the town, providing commerce and recreation options for visitors and entrepreneurs since the 1800s. The North Shrewsbury Ice Boat & Yacht Club claims to be the oldest existing iceboat clubhouse in the world and the Globe Hotel provided accommodations and victuals for those arriving in Red Bank by steamboat from New York City.

After the railroad arrived, Red Bank became the site of the world’s largest manufacturer of uniforms, the Eisner Uniform Company. Sigmund Eisner was both a successful businessman and a philanthropist who left his mark by erecting buildings throughout Red Bank in the early 20th Century.

Today, the railroad attracts residents who commute to NYC. Residential and commercial development has dramatically changed the character of Red Bank but you can still find a few important historic sites here if you know where to look.

The guided walking tours offered by the Red Bank Public Library have been suspended for now, but there is an interactive Historic Red Bank Walking Tour guide on the library website. As development threatens to erase much of Red Bank’s unique past, use this map and legend of notable sites around town to learn how much is worth preserving.

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Working at the RBPL is a second career for Mary-Ellen, who spent 30 years managing youth programs in Newark, NJ.  In anticipation of her retirement from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ, Mary-Ellen returned to school and earned a MLIS in 2013.  A part-time Reference Librarian at RBPL, she resides in Red Bank with her husband.  Mary-Ellen considers herself fortunate to have raised two sons in Red Bank, a diverse community with great public schools.  

The success of the Story Walk

by Sira Williams

In the summer of 2016 the Red Bank Public Library began our Story Walk initiative with the hope of reaching our local residents in a different and interactive way – one that promotes literacy, fitness and community. It seemed a perfect fit for our “hip” town and for the beautiful passive park that overlooks the Navesink. Each week different picture books were displayed along its winding paths so that visitors could enjoy a short walk and read a story.

We wanted to appeal to the crowds of residents and visitors who gathered several times a week for movies, exercise and jazz in the park. In no time, we found that it was not only a hit with young families, but with dog walkers, lunchtime picnickers, and folks just out for an evening stroll. Since then, the Story Walk at Riverside Gardens has become an established landmark in town, appearing on local Must-See lists, exhibited at the NJLA Annual Conference, and emulated by other libraries and towns. 

Posting each installment was initially very labor intensive - requiring a number of tools and a lot of elbow grease. Frequent monitoring was also necessary to ensure it remained intact because it was open to the elements. Our goal of installing permanent fixtures was realized the summer of 2018 when we cut the ribbon on the new and improved Story Walk at Riverside Gardens! The permanent installation was made possible with support from the Borough and generous funding from the William Gross Foundation. Now residents can visit the Story Walk year round, and because of its popularity, we maintain a second Story Walk on the grounds of the Library during the summer months, too.

The Story Walk ribbon cutting with Miss Sira and Mayor Menna

Selecting the picturebooks for display is fun but challenging. It requires finding the right combination of great illustrations, simple/legible text and a story that appeals to people of all ages, genders and ethnic backgrounds. Our hope is that everyone in the community will enjoy it, so finding bilingual stories that meet these criteria is ideal, and they are featured as often as possible. The books may be seasonal, funny, inspiring or uplifting. Make sure the Story Walk is on your to-do list whenever you’re near the park, especially with children. Encourage kids to read to you. Ask them questions about the story or the illustrations. Challenge them to hop, skip or do jumping jacks between the stations. The Story Walk can be as passive or as active as you make it. 

The Story Walk before the permanent fixtures were put in.

The StoryWalk Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT and developed in collaboration with the Vermont Bicycle & Pedestrian Coalition and the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. Story Walkers are a reminded that the library is a place for everyone and that they might like to visit their library soon. These days you can visit the Red Bank Public Library virtually through our website where you will find our 24-Hour Library with a tremendous catalog of digital materials and our bilingual COVID-19 Resource Page. You should also follow us on FaceBook, Instagram, and YouTube where we post our own programs and content as well as links to resources and information that may be helpful to you at this time. 

As the weather becomes milder and restrictions ease a bit, get out into the fresh air and visit the Story Walk at Riverside Gardens. Currently, you’ll find the Caldecott Medal Winner by Dan Santant – The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend. Enjoy!

Learn the ASL Alphabet

by Natalya Andrex

During quarantine, my family has been trying to learn many new things, and one of those things is American Sign Language. We have started by learning the alphabet, and some basic phrases. Here is a video of my sister doing the ASL alphabet, I hope you enjoy!

April Poems Bring May Poems

by Jaime Pfisterer

Here is our last poetry post for the Poems for Soul series. We had so many entries we decided to extend it into May. Here is a collection favorite poems from RBPL Staff and friends that we would love to share with you.

Miss Gail will be starting off our collection reading “Bad” by Stephen Dunn.

Here is a poem from one of our young patrons named Otto T. who wrote this poem to show appreciation for his teacher Miss May. 

Miss May likes to play
with hay and clay.
She makes a cake
with clay and hay.
What do you say, we
eat her clay and hay?
Down by the bay.
Cake, clay, hay.

Next Miss Jaime selected a poem to celebrate Mother’s Day and show appreciation to her mother and all the mothers that make our lives worhtwhile. It’s called “My Mother Poem” by Ann Taylor. 

The poem, On Aging by Maya Angelou, was recommended by our friend Jay who you might have seen volunteering at our library.  

It is read by Jaime Pfisterer.

Sandra, the sister of our co-worker, Maria Ramirez, has performed a poem in Spanish complete with visuals and music. Below the video, she describes why she likes the music. 

"Me gusta mucho yurima un extraordinario pianista Hope_ nombre de la canción Y elegí este poema porque me hace sentir esperanzada de que tendremos un futuro major." –Sandra Ramirez 

“Nothing Gold Can Stay” by Robert Frost

“I Found a Tiny Starfish” Poet Unknown

The history of pizza

By Judy Klavens-Giunta, RDN

Pizza probably started out as a flatbread.  While many cultures have flatbreads in their foodways some of the earliest instances mentioned are in Roman history:

• “Pizzarelles”” which were kosher matzoh cookies eaten by Roman Jews on Passover.  Pizzarelles still exist to this day in Jewish foodways along with their Italian cookie cousins pizzelles.

• There is evidence of Roman soldiers baking flattened bread or matzoh on their shields and covering them with cheese and dates or cheese and olive oil 2500 years ago (500 BC).

• In the Roman Empire they used flattened bread with various seasonings as an everyday meal.

• In the ruins of Pompeii (near Naples-see next paragraph) they found street stands where pizza was sold, bakeries where they were made and even equipment that bakers used.

There is also archaeological evidence that Greeks as well had a “yeasted flatbread” which also had ingredients baked into it. Interestingly Naples, which is considered the most likely birthplace of the sauce and cheese flatbread we call pizza was a port city originally founded by the Greeks.  So, it is more than likely the flatbread that turned into what we later came to know as pizza was of Roman/Greek origin.

According to historians, actual use of the word “pizza” was first documented in 997AD in Italy.  Which is why Italy is thought to be the earliest known home of ancient pizza. More recent history names Naples as the home of pizza as we know it (with tomato and cheese toppings) but there is some thought that the it might also have come from the island of Sicily.  In Sicily archeologists found remains of flattened breads and tools for their manufacture that was over 3000 years old. In the 16th century explorers brought back tomatoes to Italy from the New World which upgraded the use of the vegetable. Previously it was mostly eaten by poorer people who used them to make simple sauces.  With the arrival of the “New World” tomato varieties there was a new dish created closer to pizza as we know it. In Naples, cooks began to top focaccia with tomatoes and this is one of the reasons why Naples is thought to be where the “modern” version of pizza began. 

By the late 18th century, the dish reached great popularity on the streets of Naples where it was developed as an inexpensive food that could be eaten quickly and sold in the poorer sections of the city visited by many Italian tourists and European sailors. The first modern pizzeria Antica Pizzeria Port ‘Alba opened in Naples 1830, and soon after that many more followed. This Neapolitan novelty soon spread throughout Europe.

Several versions of pizza definitely originated in Naples. Pizza marinara, was usually prepared by a mariner’s (sailor) wife as a dish to serve when he returned from fishing in the Bay of Naples. Pizza marinara has a topping of tomato, oregano, garlic, and extra virgin olive oil.

Pizza Margherita legend has a much more illustrious history. It is said, but never actually proven, that in 1889, famous Naples pizza chef Rafaele Esposito made pizzas with three different kinds of topping for The King and Queen of Italy. Queen Margherita liked…. you guessed it…. a pie topped with soft white cheese, tomatoes and green basil the ingredients of today’s Margherita pizza.  These colors also happen to be the colors of the Italian flag. No one knows if this story is true. However, for years, pizza remained a regional dish popular mainly in the Campania region of southern Italy.

Pizza got its start as an American staple when Italians began to migrate to the US in the 19th century. Many came from the Campania region of southern Italy where pizza was popular and they brought pizza with them introducing it to this country.  At first it was called tomato pie and in fact in some places it still is. Since large concentrations of Italian immigrants settled in New York, Chicago, Philadelphia and the Boston area these were the places that pizza was established and where it was originally sold by street vendors but demand eventually made it necessary to sell it in restaurants as well. 

There is some controversy about who actually opened the first pizza restaurant in this country. The first pizza restaurant is said to have been opened by Gennaro Lombardi in Little Italy, Manhattan who started selling tomato pies out of his grocery store (though he might have been an employee) in 1897. In 1905, he opened the first pizza restaurant, which operated until 1984 when it closed.  It was reopened 10 years later in 1994. When it closed for the first time in 1984, it had been the oldest continually operating pizza restaurant in the country.  A little closer to home, after the closing of Gennaro Lombardi’s pizza restaurant in 1984, the title of continually operating pizza restaurant was inherited by Papa’s Tomato Pies in Trenton, NJ, which has operated continuously since 1912. 

Initially, pizza was brought to the Trenton area with the opening of Joe's Tomato Pies in 1910.  Papa's Tomato Pies followed in 1912 and De Lorenzo's Tomato Pies in 1936. While Joe's Tomato Pies has closed, both Papa's and DeLorenzo’s have been run by the same families since they opened and remain among the most popular pizzerias in the area. Boston also has put in a claim to having had the earliest pizzeria.

According to Adam Kuban, in a post in his blog Serious Eats (2009), the first printed reference to "pizza" served in the US is a 1904 article in The Boston Journal. Giovanni and Gennaro Bruno came to America from Naples, Italy in 1903 and introduced the Neapolitan pizza to Boston. Later, Vincent Bruno (Giovanni's son) went on to open the first pizzeria in Chicago. 

Before the 1940s, pizza was eaten mostly by Italian immigrant families. After World War II, veterans returning from serving in Italy created a market for pizza. Pizza also rose in popularity when Italian American celebrities like Frank Sinatra began to promote it in the 1950s.  By the 1960s, pizza was popular enough to be featured in an episode of Popeye the Sailor according to Hanna Miller in an article entitled “American Pie” written in 2005. Since then pizza consumption has exploded in the U.S with the creation of pizza chains like Domino's, Pizza Hut, and Papa John's to compete with local pizzerias.

As pizza’s popularity spread across the country, many restaurant owners, (not of Italian background) adapted pizza to reflect local foodways and included popular local ingredients. Hence the development of places like California Pizza Kitchen and things like Hawaiian pizza with pineapple and ham and the thicker crust versions with abundant toppings like the Chicago deep dish pizza and Rocky Mountain Pie in Colorado etc.

Whatever type is your favorite, there is no denying that pizza has become a part of American food culture. It has become an American institution. In fact, on any given day 13% of people in the US eat at least one slice of pizza. Here are links to sites with more information: History of Pizza – Wikipedia, Who Invented Pizza?, The True Story of Pizza, The History of Pizza - Origins, and A Slice of History – Pizza Through the Ages. There are probably as many theories and stories about where pizza came from as there are different types of pizza.  All that matters is that an Italian regional dish of humble origins (probably beginning in ancient Rome) became a staple of American cuisine. After all who doesn’t like a slice of pizza, which after all is made of foods from three basic food groups.  And of course, the more veggies you pile on the healthier you can make it.  Enjoy!

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Judy Klavens-Giunta is a library assistant at the Red Bank Public Library and a retired public and community health dietitian/nutritionist. She is hoping to be able to restart her program: “It’s Your Health...Eat Well, Live Well!” covering various topics about healthy lifestyle once the library reopens.

How the outdoors and gardening are even more important during COVID

Editor’s note: If you’re interested in gardening, we’re holding a Zoom discussion with Kristin Hock of New Jersey Audubon on “Gardens for Wildlife” at 7 p.m., Monday May 18th. You can register here.

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by Linda Hewitt

When looking to buy a house, I wanted to have a big backyard, more than a big house. I had three sons who were “encouraged” to play outside. 

One day, I realized that my middle son was not inviting any friends to play at our house anymore. When asked, he replied that it was because I made them play outside. I had to change a bit and allow some video game time, as well as nudging them toward outdoor fun.

Boy, have things changed since that time many years ago when I was raising my kids!

But in some ways, although our lives have seemingly transformed overnight, some things are still brilliantly the same. 

Although many of us now spend much more time working from home on our computers, helping our children with school work, or maybe even spring-cleaning our closets, we are finding that it’s more important than ever to spend time outside, whenever possible.

Spring has always been my favorite season. The time of new beginnings, spring continues to amaze each year, with its rebirth from the dark winter. The wonderful return to more daylight, fresh new growth and buds of the new season make my spirit soar.

Now more than ever, stuck inside, we realize how important it is for our health, both physically, and perhaps even more importantly-- mentally, to spend time outdoors. Taking a walk in a park, or at the beach, stopping by a local lake or walking in the woods are great ways to enrich our lives.

It felt very unsettling during the time recently when most parks were shut down in New Jersey. Although it was done with good intentions, I found myself wondering, “how can you close the outdoors when it is essential to us as human beings?”

Now parks have reopened and hopefully we can respect our fellow beings by social distancing when we are spending time outside of our homes. 

But it is spring, so make the most of it! My advice is get outside as much as you can, and enjoy the spring of 2020. Try calling a friend as you walk— it almost feels like going on a walk together. Or unplug, and just listen to the sounds of nature. You could be amazed by the calls of different birds and wildlife that you've never noticed before. 

If you are lucky, you might come across some animals to observe, like the deer I watched as they watched me in March, while walking at Sandy Hook. One day in April, I sat on a log for several minutes and just listened to the musical chorus of some frogs communicating in Allaire State Park. But yesterday, on Mother’s Day, despite the COVID-19 virus, it was one of the best nature experiences I have had in NJ.

I went to a nursery in the morning, and got some beautiful flowers to plant. Afterwards, I discovered a local park near Red Bank. It was quite close to the Library and yet I had never been there. There were not many people, but lots of animals and birds. 

While walking, my son and I spotted a fox, and a little while after, I saw a foxes’ den, something I have never seen. Inside in the lower right hand corner, was a baby fox. We looked each other in the eye and at first I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. I wanted to pull my phone out of my pocket, but no, this was a time meant to just live in the moment and enjoy with my eyes what I was seeing. 

Outside, you can more easily juggle social-distancing and courtesy by stepping aside for others as they pass by on the trail or sidewalk. It wouldn't hurt to say hello, either."

Another Great Way To Enjoy the Outdoors

If you are a gardener, or want to be, spring is the perfect time to start. You really don’t need to have a huge space to do some planting. Perhaps you are lucky and have a yard or even a spot to place some pots, go outside and plant some seeds. A few weeks ago, seed sales skyrocketed, as people became more anxious about future food availability. We squeaked in an order from our favorite catalog, Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds (though pickings were slim).

This is an opportunity to take charge of your family's health, as there is no greater way to provide food, than growing it yourself. As Baker Creek writes in their 2020 spring catalog, “Seeds are the living component that connects us back to our ancestors, our own culture and the amazing cultures and food.”

In the early spring, I came across an interesting New York Times article, which discusses our collective impulse to garden in this uncertain time. Gardening and planting Victory Gardens filled people’s lives during another uncertain time in history.

Also, it’s a great time to engage children now staying at home to learn about seeds, the importance of healthy eating, and growing their own food. When my children were younger, one of our favorite spring activities was to take cardboard egg cartons and put some soil in each of the twelve slots, plant a few seeds (either vegetables, flowers, or herbs), water and watch them grow! Follow the instructions on the seed packets and plant them somewhere outside when the plants are strong and the weather is right for outdoor planting.

Now that the chance for frost is pretty much over, almost all seeds, seedlings and plants can go directly into the ground (or containers). Within a couple months, with a lot of watering and a little luck, you’ll be swimming in tomatoes.

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Linda Hewitt is the Circulation Supervisor and the Adult Programming Manager at the Red Bank Public Library.

Que ha estado haciendo la librería durante el cierre por COVID-19?

por Barbara Pickell

Aunque las bibliotecas siempre están asociadas con los libros y ciertamente siguen siendo una parte importante de lo que todavía hacemos, yo veo la verdadera misión de la biblioteca como conectar a las personas con los recursos y materiales que cada persona necesita para lo que sea más importante para ellos. A medida que el mundo ha cambiado, también lo han hecho las librerías, que proporcionan cada vez más recursos de forma electrónica y llegan más allá de los muros de la librería hasta donde se encuentran las personas. En este momento de refugio en el lugar, ha sido un desafío y una oportunidad para encontrar formas aún más innovadoras para continuar esa misión de conexión.

De recursos impresos a electrónicos

Compartir materiales impresos no es posible en este momento, pero aún puede obtener un libro, una revista, música o película de la biblioteca, y aún es gratis. Todo lo que necesitas es una tarjeta de la librería y tu dispositivo. Si no tiene una tarjeta de la biblioteca, vaya a Mi Cuenta en la página del Catálogo y presente su solicitud en línea. La librería tiene varios sitios que ofrecen libros, incluidos ELibraryNJ (Overdrive y Libby), Hoopla (sin lista de espera) y Freading (solo libros electrónicos, sin títulos de audiolibros). Al igual que con un libreo de la librería regular, hay límites en la cantidad de artículos que se pueden retirar a la vez y cuánto tiempo puede guardarlos. Verifica cada fuente.

Además, muchas de las bases de datos en línea de la libreria lo llevarán a libros y artículos de revistas, en texto completo. Esto es particularmente útil si desea aprender algo nuevo o explorar una nueva idea. Vaya a JerseyClicks y seleccione una base de datos. Están ofreciendo ofertas de base de datos ampliada en la parte superior de la página durante la pandemia. Masterfile Elite ofrece cobertura de una amplia variedad de temas, pero las bases de datos que cubren áreas temáticas específicas, como el Centro de Referencia Literaria, con muchos títulos clásicos, y el Centro de Referencia para Pequeñas Empresas, con material comercial, pueden ser muy útiles.

Para copias electrónicas de revistas, pruebe RB Digital. Hoopla también tiene películas y música, al igual que libros. Freegal ofrece una amplia variedad de música para descargar. Puede encontrar todos estos recursos en el menú principal de la página web de la biblioteca: haga clic en "Recursos" y desplácese hacia abajo para hacer clic en la librería de 24 horas.

Investigación y aprendizaje en línea

Varios sitios de web pueden ayudarlo con investigaciones, por ejemplo, las bases de datos JerseyClicks ofrecen ayuda con temasde investigacion para todos, desde niños (Explora Primary) hasta recursos académicos (Academic Primary). Pero también hay muchas bases de datos específicas que cubren temas como negocios, salud e información legal. Desde el sitio web de la biblioteca, vaya al menú y seleccione Recursos, luego haga clic en "Bases de datos de investigación".

Intente algo diferente, como aprender un idioma con Rosetta Stone. Rastre su historia familiar a través de Heritage Quest. O seleccione una clase de Universal Class para el aprendizaje permanente, incluso desde casa. El enlace de Recursos Locales le conectará con los servicios locales.

Para niños y adolescentes, revise el Cuarto de los Niños debajo de los departamentos en el menú desplegable. Ahí se han proporcionado enlaces a muchos sitios de web para niños que son divertidos y educativos.

Recursos especiales durante este tiempo

En respuesta a las preguntas más importantes que la gente tiene durante estos momentos, la libreria ha creado alguna sección de recursos especiales. Los Recursos de COVID-19 (desplácese hacia abajo en la página principal) pueden ayudarlo a conectarse con los servicios que puede necesitar en este momento. Si está buscando trabajo, pruebe la página de Recursos de Empleo, debajo de Recursos en el menú desplegable.

Pero algo que ha sido muy emocionante para nosotros, es que muchos miembros del personal de la Librería del Red Bank han estado agregando programas especiales en línea, algo que nunca antes habíamos intentado hacer. La Señorita Sira (es la mejor) ha estado proporcionando cuentos diarios para la multitud de preescolares. Si tiene un joven en el hogar, debería de ser de mucha ayuda. Si tiene hijos un poco mayores, la Señorita Jaime tiene el programa de Power Play todos los martes. La Señorita Maria está haciendo una variedad de programas para adolescentes. Y puedes ver la versión para adultos de Power Play el viernes. Manténgase al día en Facebook sobre esta nueva programación todos los días. La librería también ha agregado grabaciones de sus programas Hablemos de Raza y Red Bank Sostenible a su canal de YouTube. Simplemente busque Librería Pública de Red Bank en YouTube para ver todos. Y revise el calendario en la página web de la librería para ver los próximos programas, como Club de Libro virtual cada mes.

Mas conexiones

Una de las actividades más divertidas en este momento ha sido encontrar y compartir conexiones a actividades en línea disponibles para todos. Síganos en Facebook mientras compartimos lo importante, como la información del censo y las actualizaciones del gobierno, y lo divertido, como los recorridos virtuales por museos y las acciones divertidas. El personal de la librería busca en la web actividades y sitios para transmitir a nuestros usuarios de todas las edades. También han estado compartiendo sus propias historias y lo que están viendo desde sus ventanas con todos ustedes. Como siempre agradecemos su opinión y le pedimos que nos diga si encuentra algo que cree que deberíamos compartir.

En un momento en que muchas personas se sienten solas y aisladas, es bueno tener la capacidad de usar Facebook y otros recursos electrónicos para continuar conectados. Nos encanta cuando les gustan nuestras publicaciones o comparten uno de nuestros videos. Siempre estamos aquí para escuchar sus comentarios y sugerencias y siempre nos gusta escuchar más sobre lo que están haciendo. Nosotros estamos aquí para escuchar, díganos si desea una llamada o si solo quiere platicar llámenos al 732-842-0690 y deje un mensaje para que podamos llamarle de vuelta, o envíenos un correo electrónico a redbanklibrary@gmail.com. Nos importa mantenernos conectados con ustedes.

¿Qué más podemos hacer?

Si usted tiene otras ideas de lo que podemos estar haciendo durante este tiempo de refugio, le agradecemos sus ideas y nos encantaría que complete el formulario a continuación para compartir sus opiniones. Mientras tanto, comenzamos a pensar y planificar el momento en que las puertas de la librería física puedan abrirse nuevamente en un momento de nueva normalidad. Todos esperamos poder verlos en persona, con suerte pronto.