Between 2010 and 2019, Cauli Le Chat (2006?-2020), feline roving reporter for Mooresville Public Library (Mooresville, Indiana), reported all things interesting to cats (and humans) happening at the library. Related stories from across the state (and beyond) were also included.
Aggie McPooch says that Crafty Gal is made of awesome. True statement!, as Sammy the Toucan would say. In this week's early literacy video blog, Crafty Gal and Aggie showcased a couple of great children's books, plus they featured Crafty Gal's holiday reading bundles that are available throughout our youth services department. Each bundle has several holiday books all set for your reading pleasure. What a great concept! I'd say Crafty Gal is a Maid (as in Maiden, not housekeeper) of Awesome. Like Superman (the Man of Steel), without the colorful tights and cape.
I'll let them tell you all about it.
Miss Michelle @ MPL: Book Bundles, Wintry Crafts,
& More, by Crafty Gal & Aggie McPooch
There's a shout-out in the video to Broadway Gal and Sammy the Toucan, so watch for it around the 8:44 to 9:14 marks. We've got a book trailer for one of the books Crafty Gal and Aggie discussed.
The Mitten, by Jan Brett
(MPL Book Trailer #147)
Jan Brett (or one of her minions) sent my Library an email saying that she really liked our book trailer. That was nice of her. We really like all of her terrific books.
Your Roving Reporter On The Go,
Cauli Le Chat
P.S. Crafty Gal's awesomeness reminded moi of "Wonder," by Natalie Merchant, from her CD Tigerlily (1995). Here's a video clip of Merchant performing the song on Late Show With David Letterman (1996).
In their new editions, dictionaries will have Crafty Gal's photo next to the definition of awesome. Well, they should.
Crafty Gal & Porcine Pal
Crafty Gal will be leaving the library staff in a couple of weeks. Sad does not begin to express how we feel about it. Her early literacy programs are now legendary. She has significantly boosted the library's early literacy resources available to patrons. She revolutionized the library's use of social media. She writes an outstanding blog about early literacy. She is a terrific all-around reference librarian. She also made fantastic videos. Here are her playlists:
Nursery Rhyme Time with Miss Michelle (Video Playlist) Early Literacy Videos: Miss Michelle @ MPL (Video Playlist)
In short, what Crafty Gal couldn't do wasn't worth doing. Put more affirmatively, she has been a superlative, preeminent librarian. Metaphorically, she leaves huge shoes to fill. (Her feet are not actually that big.)
Most of all, we will miss Crafty Gal's wonderful sense of humor and her passion for early literacy programming. She has taken the library to new heights, and our preschool patrons (and their caregivers) will sorely miss her. We, too.
Good luck with your new adventures, Crafty Gal. May you always fare well.
Your Roving Reporter On The Go,
Cauli Le Chat
P.S. We've put together a video montage of some of Crafty Gal's most memorable moments in early literacy fun. There's no better tribute than one's own work.
Meet Crafty Gal, new MPL early literacy associate, whose actual name is Miss Michelle. Always on top of things, Sammy already gave Miss Michelle her "Cauli nickname" in this introductory video.
Crafty Gal is a MSTie (i.e., fan of MST3K--Mystery Science Theater 3000), so I know we will get along smashingly.
Welcome, Crafty Gal! You've survived a Sammy video interview. No mean feat, that.
Much More to Come, Crafty Gal, So Hit the Ground Running,
Cauli Le Chat
MPL Roving Reporter
New Staff News Beat
P.S. Speaking of being crafty, here's "Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft," by Klaatu, from the Canadian group's debut album, 3:47 E.S.T. (1977), about which we have blogged before. Okay, craft and crafty mean different things, but you try to find a good song with the word crafty in the title. (The Beastie Boys tune doesn't count, because it's not sufficiently family-friendly for my blog.)
Et tu, Sammy? Now that Broadway Gal is leaving my Library for the bright lights of Indianapolis and the Indiana State Library (ISL), will Sammy the Toucan be far behind? Sammy sticks pretty close to Broadway Gal. I think Sammy is Broadway Gal's boss bird, so she (Sammy) will want to continue bossing her (B.G.) around at ISL.
Sammy the Toucan
If, indeed, Sammy is also leaving us, then who shall be Crafty Gal's "sidekick" in our early literacy videos? Sidekicks are quite important to programs such as these. Crafty Gal could fly solo, but she really needs somebody with whom to banter.
Naturally, I have the perfect suggestion for a replacement. She even has her own press hat. That's true show business, I'd venture. All she needs now is a cane.
Well, not to put too fine a point on it, Cauliette also needs a "helper," if you catch my drift. The BizMeister created Cauliette, but I got the definite impression that she doesn't puppeteer. So where does that leave us?
Okay, MPL minions. Somebody is going to have to step forward to do the puppeteer thing with Cauliette. I'll expect you in my office by no later than next Wednesday, September 26, 2012, with a plan of action. You know where to find moi.
Just to be clear--Scowl-Face is right out. He can't keep ahold of anything, let alone Cauliette. A "helper" must have a sure grip and dexterity. So that rules ol' Scowlly out-of-bounds for this job.
So, to summarize:
If Sammy the Toucan heads east with Broadway Gal, we'll need a new sidekick for Crafty Gal.
My vote for replacement is my namesake, Cauliette.
Some lucky MPL staffer will need to be Cauliette's "helper."
Not Scowl-Face.
Maybe helping Cauliette would mean bonus pay. (Hazard pay, more likely.) What about it, Boss Lady? Just saying.
Is Sammy a Toucan or a Budgie? She Looks a Little Pudgy,
Cauli Le Chat
MPL Roving Reporter
Early Literacy News Beat
P.S. Crafty Gal uploaded her latest early literacy video to our early literacy YouTube channel. Is this the last time we'll enjoy Sammy the Toucan playing sidekick? Say it isn't so!
Crafty Gal and Sammy the Toucan recorded another early literacy vlog (video blog, I'm guessing), which, happily, didn't involve any felons but had lots of legged critters (Sammy notwithstanding).
I think Crafty Gal is getting quite the hang of these videos. I wonder who she will have replace Sammy when she's (Sammy's) gone? She (Sammy) and Broadway Gal are hitting the easterly trails, you remember. (Indefinite pronouns? Where?)
Crafty Gal had lots of interesting books and crafts for younger readers. Sammy, of course, had many insightful and witty comments, but Crafty Gal had some great rejoinders. That background check comment had Sammy on the ropes for a second. But Sammy is no comeback slouch herself. Engaging banter, as always.
I see from the video that Crafty Gal had her charges paint some "dirt" on a picture of a hoggerpig. Did you know why hoggerpigs cover themselves in dirt and mud? It's to protect their delicate skin from the sun, keep cool in hot weather, and shelter against biting insects. Hoggerpigs are actually quite clean critters. That's what Scowl-Face's father told him, and he (father) won grand champion for a prize hoggerpig at the Indiana State Fair a gazillion years ago. Was that before horseless carriages? Maybe not that long ago, but still.
Sammy seems to be hung-up about this whole legs business. She must have claws--how else could she hold onto the edge of the bookshelves? She's rather touchy about the subject, though, so I had best tread lightly.
What's MY favorite book about a hoggerpig? Well, here's my favorite book trailer on the subject. Will that work?
Dreaming Big Moiself,
Cauli Le Chat
MPL Roving Reporter
Early Literacy News Beat
P.S. George Harrison's "Piggies" is an intriguing social commentary on the Beatles "White Album" (1968). The harpsichord is a nice touch. Was Beatles' producer George Martin playing it, or was that Paul or John? I could look it up, but it's nap time.
Crafty Gal monkeys around with Foo Foo in two music videos from her Story Time Rocks! series. Let's watch.
"Five Little Monkeys"
Fingerplay Show by Crafty Gal
(Story Time Rocks! Video Series)
Here's where Foo Foo comes in.
"Little Bunny Foo Foo" by Crafty Gal
(Story Time Rocks! Video Series)
Pretty cute songs, Crafty Gal! Great for your early literacy troops. I'd sing along moiself, but I'd sound like I'm caterwauling.
Your Roving Reporter On The Go,
Cauli Le Chat
P.S. The Monkees released "The Door Into Summer," co-composed by producer Chip Douglas and Bill Martin, on the album Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones, Ltd. (1967).
In this week's early literacy programs at the Library, we're diggin' dinosaurs with Crafty Gal. I'm plenty excited! You can tell because I used an exclamation mark.
Crafty Gal is having her early literacy charges digging for dinosaur bones in our excavation site near our outdoor Kinder Garden youth activity area, which is also my favorite hangout at the Library.
MPL Kinder Garden Outdoor Youth Activity Area
Boss Lady took some snapshots that appear on Crafty Gal's blog. What dinosaurs were discovered? I don't know, but I'm sure of one thing: I didn't use the sand piles for a litter box. Just saying.
Your Roving Reporter On The Go,
Cauli Le Chat
P.S. "Tim the Dinosaur," by the Ziggens, a self-described "cowpunksurfabilly" band from Orange County, California, appeared on the CD Pit Stop (1995).
This week, Crafty Gal and Aggie McPooch were all teed-off or something. You'll see why when you watch the latest episode of our early literacy video blog (vlog).
Miss Michelle @ MPL: Early Literacy Fun at the Library
(Week of January 27-February 2, 2013)
Besides her usual barrage of creative crafts, Crafty Gal featured several fun reads for her young charges. We particularly liked the craft accompanying the folk tale The Princess and the Pea. That truck is cute, too.
Naturally, I was most excited to see a fellow feline featured in the vlog. T is definitely for TIGER! I'm surprised Aggie McPooch wasn't at least a little bit scared by the tiger's fierceness. Slobberdogs are pretty brave, though.
That trumpet player sure got into hot water. It just goes to show that where you toot your horn makes a big difference to some people.
Not much said about turnips, I noticed. The less said the better, perhaps.
If you aren't attending Crafty Gal's early literacy programs (i.e., Baby Time, Time For Twos, Little Listeners, Pajama Time, and Ready, Set, Read!), and if you have young humans stampeding around your house, you really should get out more. Come to the library! These programs fill quickly, so you should act now. Or sooner. Visit our online events calendar for program dates and times.
Your Roving Reporter On The Go,
Cauli Le Chat
P.S. Last year, Wild Thang and Sammy the Toucan did a vlog about the letter T, too. But there was no tooting in that one, so Crafty Gal has one-upped there, for sure.
Once again, your feline roving reporter has scooped all the other news outlets by posting this week's puppet interviews for Crafty Gal's early literacy blog. Puppet candidate #3 is (say it with moi using your best pirate voice) Cap'n Arrrrrgyle the Pirate.
Crafty Gal interviews puppet candidate #3
Cap'n Arrrrrgyle the Pirate
Sammy the Toucan interviews the good captain, too
Now that all three puppet candidates' videos have been posted on the MPL YouTube Channel, be sure to cast your vote to choose Sammy the Toucan's replacement as Crafty Gal's early literacy sidekick. Let's review the particulars in our promo trailer (below).
MPL Promo Trailer: Puppet Interviews
(with instructions how to cast your vote)
Need to review the interviews with Doctor Hooticus Maximus and Bippidy Bag? Can do.
Doctor Hooticus (Whoticus?) Maximus Interviews:
Bippidy Bag Interviews:
Want to watch all three Sammygrams interviews in a single video? I can do that, too.
4) Dude, you need to interview more puppet candidates.
5) Cauliette
Okay, I added Cauliette without asking permission from Crafty Gal or Boss Lady. But I promised! All right. Cauliette is not an official candidate. But the other four choices are on the ballot.
We Await the Will of the Patrons,
Cauli Le Chat
MPL Roving Reporter
Puppet Election News Beat
P.S. Talking about candidates and elections reminded moi of "Center of Attention," by Guster, from the CD Lost and Gone Forever (1999). Most candidates act like they are (or should be) the center of everyone's attention. But that's totally bogus. I should be the center of universal attention. 'Nuff said.
Librarians are super-heroes. I know they look like mild-mannered alter egos, such as Barbara (Batgirl) Gordon and Clark (Superman) Kent, who was originally a newspaper reporter way back in the day, but he was pretty mild-mannered, to be sure. Barbara Gordon was a librarian, though.
Anyway, our super library staffers, such as Casey at the Bat, Crafty Gal, and, to a lesser extent, Scowl-Face, have donned their super-hero garb to present a workshop at this year's Indiana Library Federation (ILF) annual conference bigbash.
Our Terrific Trio's workshop is entitled "Share Your Superpowers With the World!" and is slated for Tuesday, October 22, 2013, from 5:00-5:50 p.m. That's the dinner time slot, so they'll really need to show some superpowers to draw a big crowd. That should be pretty easy for Casey at the Bat and Crafty Gal.
What are their secret identities, you may well wonder? Let's have a look.
The Streak and the Youthinator
(Click Images to Bigify)
Crafty Gal (alias The Streak) and Casey at the Bat (alias the Youthinator) are true super-heroines. Casey isn't totally sold yet on her superhero name, so that may change before the conference. But The Streak sounds like it'll stick.
What are these ladies' superpowers? Well, they can simultaneously conduct several youth programs while corralling hundreds (hey, maybe thousands) of stampeding youngsters and their caregivers. They can locate obscure, microscopically thin children's books faster than a speeding bullet. They can educate and entertain their charges with almost super-hypnotic concentration. And that's just a partial list.
Then there's Scowl-Face's alter ego. Brace yourselves.
Captain Video
Nice Boots, C.V. (Eye-Roll)
Scowl-Face is secretly Captain Video because (this is a gimme) he makes all those videos for my Library. His superpower is talking the ears off evil-doers and boring them into confessing their crimes and voluntarily going to prison, just to get out of earshot.
Librarians should flock in enormous quantities to see this workshop at the ILF bigbash. They will learn about making videos (and hosting programs) that will draw loyal audiences to their libraries' youth services departments. I'd tell you more about it, but that's all I actually know moiself. Watch for a future posting, if Casey at the Bat gives me her Google Presentation.
We're no strangers to superheroes at my Library, as you may recall from this blog posting.
Hey, Casey at the Bat, Crafty Gal, and Scowl-Face! Are you going to wear costumes like the MARCinator? Just asking.
Your Roving Reporter On The Go,
Cauli Le Chat
P.S. "The Adventures of Super Librarian" (2006) is a hoot.
P.P.S. Scowl-Face's superhero is not to be confused with Captain Video (and His Video Rangers) (1949-1955), one of the earliest American science fiction television series. The show appeared on the DuMont Television Network until the network's demise in 1956. Some of the top sci-fi writers of the day, including Arthur C. Clarke, Isaac Asimov, James Blish, Damon Knight, Jack Vance, and many others, scripted the program.
Miss Michelle @ MPL: Early Literacy Fun at the Library
(Week of March 17-23, 2013)
Featuring Crafty Gal & Aggie McPooch
This week Crafty Gal and Aggie McPooch talk teeth. Lots of them from a fun Dr. Seuss book and some cool crafts for tonight's Pajama Time program, at which will appear (drum roll, minions) The Tooth Fairy. Crafty Gal had to pull a few strings to arrange this special visit. Lucky she didn't have to pull any teeth! (Dental humor cracks moi up.) Maybe that's what happened to Aggie's teeth! Guest speakers usually charge a fee, after all.
They also discussed the cold weather we're currently having and how they miss sunshine and rainbows. Crafty Gal made a cool 3-D rainbow craft for her early literacy kids. Pretty cool!
Your Roving Reporter On The Go,
Cauli Le Chat
P.S. February was National Children's Dental Health Month, of which we are now aware (better late than never, I'd wager). The goal is to encourage good teeth care. Keep 'em clean! You only get two sets, and the second batch has to last your whole life. This fellow (watch the video below) from my hometown owned a movie production company that made a film about taking care of your teeth.
Need I remind anyone that I purr? Rub against ankles and give gentle head-butts? I am massively cute! Edgar, on the other claw, just poops pretty much everywhere. (Thank goodness we kitties have litter boxes!) He probably just squawks "nevermore!" repeatedly like a broken record. No one is "raven" about this fellow, I can tell you that right now.
Showdown time, Edgar Allan Crow! This Library's not big enough for the both of us! High noon in the grand hall. Your beak versus my claws. Fair's fair.
Oh, so now Boss Lady says that we can't have an O.K. corral-style showdown anywhere on Library premises. Figures. We can't have any fun.
Just remember this, Edgar. I was my Library's first mascot wearing black. You're a distant second. You must know all about "pecking order," surely.
Your Roving Reporter On The Go,
Cauli Le Chat
P.S. The Black Crowes had a huge hit with "Hard to Handle," a cover of an Otis Redding song, which was included on the band's debut album, Shake Your Money Maker (1990).
Crafty Gal and Aggie McPooch continue celebrating Dr. Seuss' birthday (March 2) by featuring some classic Seuss reading in the Library's early literacy programs. Take a look at those wonderful crafts! We don't call her Crafty Gal for nothing.
This week's early literacy video blog (vlog) delivers the details.
Miss Michelle @ MPL: Early Literacy Fun at the Library
(Week of March 3-9, 2013)
Since we like Dr. Seuss, too, we thought we'd promote some Seuss ourselves.
MPL Book Trailer #149
The Lorax, by Dr. Seuss
While casually discussing all this Seuss-festing, a colleague suggested Go, Dog. Go!, but Crafty Gal corrected the error--that book was written by P.D. Eastman in 1961--but it's still a great early literacy read. We've got a book trailer, as you probably already suspected.
MPL Book Trailer #4
Go, Dog. Go!, by P.D. Eastman
We like Crafty Gal's new look, by the way. It's a keeper, I'd venture.
Your Roving Reporter On The Go,
Cauli Le Chat
P.S. On March 5, 2011, Monroe County Public Library (in Bloomington, Indiana) celebrated Dr. Seuss with "Seusspicious Behavior." Clever title! Minions, take note. Here was MCPL's promo trailer.
My Library has two new early literacy spokescritters, who will be sidekicks to Crafty Gal and Casey at the Bat in their video blogs (vlogs). Looks like Queenie (the moo-cow) and Aggie McPooch (the slobberdog) will be jointly replacing Sammy the Toucan. Tough luck to the other three candidates and Cauliette, who was completely overlooked, I must say.
Minions, make with the meeting videos, already!
I guess you can figure out which is which without moi captioning the videos.
Pretty polished and professional, Queenie and Aggie! You're naturals in front of the camera. Casey at the Bat did an exceptional job, too. Crafty Gal also turned in a stellar performance, but we're accustomed to that now. In fact, we will be expecting great things from this quartet of early literacy talent. We won't have to wait at all--they're already delivering the goods, big-time.
Sammy is certainly no easy winged dinner library spokescritter to replace, but Queenie and Aggie McPooch look quite promising. We're looking forward to their upcoming videos.
Save Some of That Candy Corn For Moi, Crafty Gal,
Cauli Le Chat
MPL Roving Reporter
Early Literacy News Beat
P.S. Aggie McPooch was a tad nervous before her video debut. In this public service announcement, Sesame Street's Maria and Elmo help kids face stressful situations. Crafty Gal was inspired (like everybody else who works with young children) by Sesame Street.
