Awful Library Books

Vaccination and You

October 26, 2021 Mary Kelly Health and Safety 4 comments

Vaccination and You
Cohen
1969

The info in this book is not that bad. It is geared to upper age elementary and it is pretty basic. It is simple enough that even some US governors, senators, and other leaders could grasp the concepts. With an update and more modern illustrations, this could work in 2021.

The photographs used were actually interesting. They also used a painting for the Louis Pasteur pages. Mrs Pasteur seems to be lurking in the hallway by his lab. Instead of a citation for the painting, there is a note that Mrs Pasteur is patiently waiting. (A quick search identified the artist as Robert Thom. This was from a group of paintings commissioned by Parke-Davis, later donated to the University of Michigan. You can see the collection uploaded here.)

Story of the Boy Scouts

October 25, 2021 Holly But it's Historical! 5 comments

Story of the Boy Scouts
Blassingame
1968

Submitter: Quaint Hardy Boys style illustrations and historical black and white photos accompany this book about the history of the Boy Scouts. While there are a few pictures of African American children and a boy with a turban on the cover, included also are some stories about the boys “howling like Indians” and “playing Indian” as they set up camp. One boy is described as a “cripple” who doesn’t look like “a man to lead” and grew up having to work with the girls in the sewing room rather than be outdoors with the boys. It’s a snapshot of the times, but there’s a lot that has happened in the 50+ years that have passed since this book was published. The kids in our library need more up to date info on scouting, and more culturally sensitive language. Girls can now join the Boy Scouts in their activities, and are no longer confined to the sewing room.

Holly: WorldCat’s description of this book says: “Discusses the origin and continuing growth of the Boy Scouts, relates true stories of Scouting heroism and adventure, and describes the many activities of Scouting.” I’m all for a history of the Boy Scouts, but respectful language is a must. Kids interested in scouting activities can definitely do better than this!

Friday Fiction: Amos Fortune: Free Man

Amos Fortune: Free Man
Yates
1951

Submitter: Somehow this book from 1951 was still on the shelf, maybe because of that shiny Newbery sticker on the cover. Or maybe it just got overlooked. Either way, a story of a slave written in the 50s is likely going to be questionable today, and I would say this one is. Descriptions comparing Black characters to dogs and untamed animals are jarring. The idea that Africans needed to be civilized before they could handle freedom seems to be presented not as something that many people wrongly believed at the time but as actually being true. At one point it is spoken directly from the still-enslaved main character himself. With some guidance and discussion, this book could be instructive of assorted historical and current trends in racist thought and language, but the public library kids biography section isn’t the place for that.

Holly: No, it isn’t. Just because a book is an award winner does not mean it should be kept forever. Either put it in a special Newbery reference collection or weed it.

Mary: This was pretty much the only slavery discussion that was around when I was a child in the 1960s. I remember liking the story. However, it was written in the 1950s for a white audience and of course it sanitized the evil of slavery for said audience. Although Amos Fortune was based on a real person, it really is a biographical novel. I think this article can give people more to chew on if they are second guessing weeding a Newbery.

Put the Fear of God Into Your Toys

October 21, 2021 Mary Kelly Craptastic Crafts and Hobbies, Department of God 10 comments

Making Old Testament Toys
Hutchings
1972

We have so many craft books featured on this site. Holidays? Pick your favorite. Can’t decide which craft to try? We have you covered here. Holly and I have personal favorite craft books on this site: Applehead dolls, Pantyhose Crafts, and Macrame, to name a few. Old Testament toys might also join this esteemed list of crafts.

Old Testament theme? Not my favorite theme for crafting, but I suppose that might appeal to some folks. The color scheme is ugly and the 2 pages of photographs are not even amateur level. But the crafts…

The feminine fix-it Auto Handbook cover page

Car Repair for the Ladies

October 19, 2021 Mary Kelly Can I get there from here? 2 comments

Feminine Fix-it Auto Handbook
Ward
1974

I’m actually kind of a fan of this book. Aside from the dated advice, it is actually a pretty good book. It’s written without any cutesy condescending language.The advice is competent and not overly technical. It would be a good car book regardless of gender. The rather girly title isn’t my favorite, but for 1974 it probably worked pretty well.

I really do think the landscape for women having to talk to mechanics and car sales people is different. Granted, I have a built in shield with a automotive engineer husband. Back in the day (the 1980s) when we were car shopping, I was ignored, except when talking about colors. Same with mechanics. I was sure I would be taken to the cleaners with up-selling and unnecessary repairs.

Groovy Teen Decor

October 18, 2021 Mary Kelly Home and Garden, Talkin 'Bout My Generation 19 comments

New Young Ideas in Decorating
Walton
1970

Groovy teens everywhere will want to get their own rooms in shape…just like Grandma. All the decorating fads of the late 1960s and the early 1970s are here. Street signs? Check. Beaded curtains? Check. Gauzy drapes? Check. Peace sign? Double check. In 1970 this would have been nice choice for the young adult collection. The entire book reminded me of Rhoda’s Minneapolis apartment from the Mary Tyler Moore Show.

Friday Fiction: Next Patient, Doctor Anne

October 15, 2021 Mary Kelly Friday Fiction 4 comments

Next Patient, Dr Anne
Gilzean
Original publication: 1959

For today’s #FridayFiction, I am indulging in my love of nurse romance with this oldie, but goodie. Dr Anne is somewhat unusual for the nurse romance genre, since this woman decides to be a DOCTOR! Best of all, she actually becomes a doctor. Anne fails her entrance exam, while boyfriend Jonathon heads off to medical school without her. She spends the next year working and studying and then finally is accepted. Jonathon, is already there and is evidently not the same guy she knew when she was planning her life. There are a few hints that he isn’t the one from the get go. However, fellow doctor pal Bill, who was not quite on Anne’s love radar, professes his love for Anne.

Given the pub date, I was so glad that Anne did not quit medicine to “be a real woman”. She struggles and makes mistakes, gets yelled at by nurses, and works hard. I like that she is not necessarily portrayed as some serene goddess of perfection. She seems to mature through the book as both an adult woman and a doctor.

Microwave Everything!

October 14, 2021 Mary Kelly You Ate What? 22 comments

Sunset
Microwave Cook Book
Gaulke, ed.
1976

The Sunset books have been featured here more than a few times. They covered everything: camping, home decorating, fashion/crafts, and of course cooking/entertaining. I am sure we have only scraped the surface of the awful possibilities. Back in the olden days, I probably would have bought them for the collection, just because they were so well known.

Microwave cooking was all the rage in the mid 1970s. However, as I remember my mother (and myself) trying to microwave something, I swear the food always turned a grayish color and looked awful.