NEW BOOKS: The popularity of The DaVinci Code helped children's author Joy N. Hulme sell her latest book, she's convinced. It's called Wild Fibonacci , Nature's Secret Code Revealed and tells how the Fibonacci sequence appears in the natural world in a parrot's beak, a hawk's talon, a ram's horn and in our own teeth.
It's an equiangular spiral based on the series 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34. Each number is the sum of the two numbers in front of it and occurs throughout nature in curved form. Each page of Wild Fibonacci has four ways to count the code. The book is for ages 7-100, as Hulme puts it.
It's published by Tricycle Press, a division of Ten Speed Press of Berkeley, and the illustrator is Carol Schwartz , who has worked with Hulme before. Wild Fibonacci is especially appealing to math teachers, the author says. Hulme worked all summer long readying for publication three books she had already sold.
Another Hulme book recently released is Lookout Brigade, published by Covenant Communications. This one follows the adventures of a Mormon community in Illinois in 1845 persevering through persecution. Young Oliver helps guard the unchartered town while the adults work on the temple.
Being uncharted, the town isn't allowed a police force. But Oliver gets the chance to belong to the Whistling and Whittling Brigade and this book tells how he outwits the bully threatening to burn down the temple, despite the fact that he can't whistle (to spread the alarm).
Hulme will have a book signing for this and her other books on Oct. 1, 4-7 p.m., at Beehive Bookstore, 1977 Wyrick in San Jose.
The Monte Sereno resident says it's taken at least 10 years to sell these books. But perseverance pays off. This marks her 20th published children's book. Plus, a book on fractions is slated to come out next year.
Hulme isn't just prolific in writing; her human offspring add up too. There are eight living children (counting spouses), 22 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. Now if she can just get Counting by Kangaroos reissued, and her two other fraction explanation books sold ...
NEW NAME: Valley Women's League has been in existence for more than 25 years, but it has newly reorganized to extend its perimeters beyond Los Gatos-Saratoga. The group meets the first Wednesday of the month for 10 a.m. coffees at various locations.
Strictly social, it offers programs and trips, a book group, a garden group and hiking, among other interests. Current membership stands at 135. Co-presidents are Sally Neubauer and Dianne Guisinger; program VPs are J.P. Puette and Pat Williams.
Cathy Gillum, membership, at 408.866.1372 is the one to call to attend an event or join up. The club is a fine way to meet neat people and make great friends, members attest.
PLEIN AIR PAINT OUT: Helen Scheel and Akiyo Walker of Saratoga are among the 24 painters who will participate in Hidden Villa's Plein Air Paint Out on Oct. 1. Local artists will spend the day painting outdoors.
The public is encouraged to attend that day--to explore Hidden Villa and watch art being created. Jurying will begin at 4 p.m. Cash prizes and gift certificates will be awarded to the 12 painters whose works will be selected for an auction to be held at Hidden Villa next spring.
Proceeds from the auction will seed more art events at the preserve. Hidden Villa is a 1,600-acre wilderness preserve in Los Altos Hills that hosts environmental education, summer camps and community programs for youngsters and families.
The preserve is open every day but Monday for tours, picnicking and hiking. The number is 650.949.8651; the website is www.hiddenvilla.org.
FOUR FOTO HOUNDS: Four Saratoga photographers share the billing on the Saratoga Library display walls now through Nov. 8. They are Felicia Pollock, Jerry Venz and Ronnie and Mel Rabadeau.
Church architecture, lighthouses from around the world and window reflections are all Pollock signature pieces. My favorite Pollock piece in the show is "Oil Jars of Santorini" (Greece). There's something particularly appealing about the juxtaposition of the jars, some resting on their sides. Their shapes are echoed in the archways of the background.
Travel also plays a large part in the husband and wife Rabadeau team selections. There's a church nestled in what looks like an Alpine setting, sheep in a quiet pastoral scene, southwest rock outcroppings and fall photos of leaves changing color. The vivid rowboat with brightly-colored rope coiled inside is particularly eye-catching.
Venz photos range from metallic colored print renderings of Bodie and Monument Valley to gentler scenes of Hakone's koi pond and stone lantern. One pond photo contrasts a mallard swimming by a bird sculpture. The leggy metal bird is stationed on a stone in the pond.
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By Mary Ann Cook