One of the many incredible resources EIU students have at their disposal is the Mary J. Booth Library. With a collection of over 1 million books, Booth Library is one of EIU's most impressive and beautiful buildings. But, with a collection that large, there's bound to be a few unique books strewn in here and there. Check out some of the quirky books Booth Library has hiding in its stacks.
1. How to Father by Fitzhugh Dodson
Are you confused about how to properly father? Worried you won't know how to father correctly when the time comes? Then this book is for you! Read along as Dr. Fitzhugh Dodson details (in exactly 497 pages) how you can become the best father to your child(ren)... circa 1975.
Summary: Renowned psychologist and bestselling author Dr. Fitzhugh Dodson has created an indispensable guide to help every father (married or single) understand his essential role in his child's healthy development. Sensitive to the changing needs of the father, Dr. Dodson offers men guidance and positive reassurance through every stage of a child's life--from infancy through adolescence.
Call Number: HQ769 .D587 1975x
2. Hammers and Mops, Pencils and Pots: A First Book of Tools and Gadgets We Use Around the House by True Kelley
Have you ever panicked upon realizing that your child will have absolutely no idea how to use any of the "gadgets" located around your house? I mean, mops are very important! Well, panic no more. Just check out this book, give it to your kid, and have them educate themselves. No longer will they be confused about how to use a mop... or a hammer... or a pencil.
Wait, should we really be encouraging tiny tots to use a hammer?!
Summary: In this very young How Things Work wordbook, True Kelley illustrates everyday tools and how they are used in various settings. Kelley shows everything from paper clips and pens to saucers and shovels in use around the house.
Call Number: 683.8 K2875h
3. The Story of the Little Mole Who Went in Search of Whodunit by Werner Holzworth and Wolf Erlbruch
Yes, you did see the picture correctly. This is a children's book about a mole who got pooped on and then attempts to solve the mystery of who did it. Quirky, indeed.
Summary (and yes, this is the actual summary that is on Booth's page): When Little Mole tries to find out who pooped on his head, the other animals show him how they poop in order to prove their innocence.
Call Number: 800 H7498s
4. Defusing the Angry Patron: A How-To-Do-It Manual for Librarians and Paraprofessionals by Rhea Joyce Rubin
I'm not a librarian, nor am I a paraprofessional, so I suppose I'm not qualified to offer an informed opinion on the frequency of angry patrons... But, does this really happen often enough to warrant an entire book?
Summary: Does dealing with angry customers eat up staff time, increase stress at public service desks, and undermine morale? This work introduces the many causes and faces of anger as well as practical techniques for dealing with angry patrons. It covers handling frustration and confrontative behavior.
Call Number: Z711 .R79 2000
5. Pigeonholed in the Land of Penguins: A Tale of Seeing Beyond Stereotypes by Barbara "BJ" Hateley and Warren H. Schmidt
If you're in a prominent leadership position and need to see beyond the stereotypes of your employees, but the typical "how-to" books just aren't doing it for you, then go to Booth Library and check out this book! With a very particular sense of humor and an interesting set of metaphors, the authors of this book have detailed how businesses and organizations can better serve their employees. To get a sense of this book, feel free to check out the excerpt from Chapter 1 below (which Booth Library was kind enough to include on their website).
Once upon a time, in the not-so-distant past,
the Land of Penguins was thriving in the Sea of Organizations.
Resources were plentiful, and business was good.
They had come a long way since their early beginnings [...]
The penguins had come to see the talent and skill
of these new birds as important to the future of their Land.
They even rewarded a few of the new birds for their achievements
-- by promoting them to leadership positions.
I love it.
Summary: In this parable, the tale of Paula pigeon is told, demonstrating how organizations must become much better at capturing the talents, energy and commitment of all employees if the organizations want breakthrough ideas.
Call Number: PS3558.A7378 P54 2000
6. The Story of My Teeth by Valeria Luiselli
I know I'm not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but I did kind of judge this book by its summary. Definitely quirky.
Summary: Gustavo 'Highway' Sanchez is a man with a mission: he is planning to replace every last one of his unsightly teeth. He has a few skills that might help him on his way: he can imitate Janis Joplin after two rums, he can interpret Chinese fortune cookies, he can stand an egg upright on a table, and he can float on his back. And, of course, he is the world's best auction caller - although other people might not realize this, because he is, by nature, very discreet.
Call Number: PQ7298.422.U37 H5713 2014
7. The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith
This quirky little children's book actually makes me pretty happy. I appreciate its stupid fairy tales.
Summary: The entire book, with its unconventional page arrangement and eclectic, frenetic mix of text and pictures, is a spoof on the art of book design and the art of the fairy tale. The individual tales, such as The Really Ugly Duckling and Little Red Running Shorts, can be extracted for telling aloud, with great success.
Call Number: 800 Sci26s
8. Tomatoland: How Modern Industrial Agriculture Destroyed Our Most Alluring Fruit by Barry Estabrook
Firstly: I didn't realize the tomato was our most alluring fruit. Secondly: I still refuse to accept that the tomato is a fruit.
Summary: Based on a James Beard award-winning article from a leading voice on the politics of agribusiness, Tomatoland combines history, legend, passion for taste, and investigative reporting on modern agribusiness and environmental issues into a revealing, controversial look at the tomato, the fruit we love so much that we eat $4 billion-worth annually.
Call Number: SB349 .E78 2011
9. How to Know the Ferns: A Guide to the Names, Haunts, and Habits of Our Common Ferns by Frances Theodora Parsons
Should you ever need to know how to classify every type of fern in existence, you will find help in this book.
Summary: Unfortunately, I could not find an official summary anywhere for this book. (Though I think the title is pretty self-explanatory.)
Call Number: QK525 .P26
10. How to Tell If Your Cat is Plotting to Kill You by Matthew Inman
This one could actually come in pretty handy. You never know. While I have not read this book myself, I imagine (going by the summary) that it's a tad bit sarcastic in nature.
Summary: If your cat is kneading you, that's not a sign of affection. Your cat is actually checking your internal organs for weakness. If your cat brings you a dead animal, this isn't a gift. It's a warning.
Call Number: PN6231.C23 I56 2012
Thanks for checking out this article! I hope you have a lovely day.
