#ComicsWednesday Compass South by Hope Larson and Rebecca Mock

If you're looking for an old-fashioned, fast-paced, riveting adventure story, look no further than Compass South by Hope Larson and Rebecca Mock. Our story opens when Alexander and Cleopatra Dodge's father goes missing. Alex and Cleo join a gang to make ends meet until he returns, but a bungled burglary forces the twins into hiding. They assume new identities and head to New Orleans. Alex and Cleo get separated. Each makes their way to San Francisco, unaware that the compass and pocket knife left to them by their father hold the keys to a lost pirate treasure. The pirates want their treasure back.

I loved this book. It had all the hallmarks of an enjoyable family-oriented action movie, but in graphic novel form. Rebecca Mock's illustrations are the perfect fit for this story. If you're a fan of Treasure Island, Indiana Jones, or The Pirates of the Caribbean, you'll definitely enjoy Compass South. I didn't want to stop reading, even when the book ended. Luckily for me, there's a sequel coming out in June. Read Compass South and then look for Knife's Edge later this summer!

- Libby, Youth Services.

Arrr! It be Talk Like a Pirate Day!

The wonders of the Internet, and the influence of Dave Barry spread the joy of Talk Like a Pirate Day to scallywags around the world. The Miami Herald has Mr. Barry's original column online for your enjoyment.

To join in the fun, all that needs doing is to sprinkle in a mix of vocabulary aquatic each September 19th. If, like me, your piratical knowledge isn't up to snuff, I recommend the official Talk Like a Pirate Day translator.

As well, Mango Languages, Carnegie-Stout's most excellent online language course, offers lessons in Pirate for beginners: www.mangolanguages.com/try-it.php?course_id=224. Be sure to check out the 30+ languages available to learn from the comfort of your own home!

If you're looking for some reading of a seafaring nature, you might try the classic Treasure Island, the romantic tale Her Forbidden Pirate, or the current The Pirates of Somalia. And, for the science fiction lovers, we have plenty o' space pirates! To find more books and movies, try an Exact Subject or Subject Keyword search for Pirates or Piracy in the library's catalog.

For a last bit of high seas fun, readers with a Facebook account can change settings to display Pirate-American. To do so, click on the Setting icon (it looks like a gear) on the upper right-hand corner of the page. From the menu that pops up, select Account Settings. In the Language options, select English (Pirate), and you'll have your sea legs in no time, matey.

Avast ye, Dubuquers, 'tis Talk Like a Pirate Day!

Are ye in need o' a refresher on your pirate lingo? Look t' our blog post o' last year for the origins o' this fine day, and links t' get ye talkin' like a pirate.

If you're lookin' t' celebrate this fine day, Carnegie-Stout has a fine trove o' piratical books and movies for you t' peruse.

Might we suggest explorin' t' phenomenon o' space pirates? Those scurvy dogs who sail t' voids between t' stars and have appeared in works o' science fiction for decades. Below we've gathered a samplin' o' titles available at Carnegie-Stout.

Trading in Danger by Elizabeth Moon
The Rock Rats by Ben Bova
Sureblood by Susan Grant
The Reality Dysfunction by Peter F. Hamilton
The Truth of Valor by Tanya Huff
Firefly: the complete series
Outlaw Star
Treasure Planet
Tenchi Muyo!

Ahoy! It be Talk Like a Pirate Day!

The wonders of the internet, and the influence of Dave Barry spread the joy of Talk Like a Pirate Day to scallywags around the world. The Miami Herald has Mr. Barry's original column online for your enjoyment.

To join in the fun, all that needs doing is to sprinkle in a mix of vocabulary aquatic each September 19th. If, like me, your piratical knowledge isn't up to snuff, I recommend the official Talk Like a Pirate Day translator: talklikeapirate.com/translator.html

As well, Mango Languages, Carnegie-Stout's most excellent online language course, offers lessons in Pirate for beginners: www.mangolanguages.com/try-it.php?course_id=224
Be sure to check out the 30+ languages available to learn from the comfort of your own home!

If you're looking for some reading of a seafaring nature, you might try the classic Treasure Island, the romantic A Pirate's Love, or the current The Pirates of Somalia. To find more books and movies, try an Exact Subject or Subject Keyword search for Pirates or Piracy in the library's catalog.

For a last bit of high seas fun, readers with a Facebook account can change settings to display Pirate-American. To do so, simply select the link at the bottom left of any page that says English (US) (or whichever language you currently have your account set to display). From the menu that pops up, select English (Pirate), and you'll have your sea legs in no time matey.