Archives for Authors & Books

Book ‘Em 2021–2022

Book ‘Em 2021–2022

Join us as we discuss a wide range of crime fiction. Did the critics get it right? Book ‘Em meets from 2:30-3:30 p.m. over Zoom. To request or check out a title, click on your preferred format. We hope to have more copies and formats available in the future. To request or check out a title, click on your preferred format. Click here for a printable PDF of dates & titles. September 22 Nine Elms (Kate Marshall #1) by Robert Bryndza Library Collection: Print “A compelling read with an intricate plot, a strong setting, and characters so real they are
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August 18, 2021 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Book Discussion, Director's Corner, Events, Featured, Homepage, and Library News.
Tags: Book 'Em, book discussion, book group, mystery, mystery book discussion, mystery book group, and mystery books.

Teen Book Review: Want

Teen Book Review: Want

Title: Want Author: Cindy Pon Publisher: Simon and Schuster Library Catalog The novel Want takes place in a futuristic dystopian society where the rich are shielded from pollution while the poor suffer. The protagonist, Jason Zhou, is determined to change this by teaming up with his friends to infiltrate and destroy the corporation responsible for the pollution. Intertwining action, love, loss, and suspense, this book is an excellent read. Additionally, many comparisons can be drawn from this book to the current state of the world. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to teens who want to be engrossed in a fast-paced
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August 16, 2021 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Teens, Library News, and Teens.
Tags: book review, books, Cindy Pon, for teens by teens, reading, teen book review, and teen volunteers.

Going to School

Going to School

As we start thinking about going to school, either for the very first time or once again, the idea can bring with it sweet memories of best friends and fun activities; or the fear and anxiety of the unknown. Read these titles with your children and start the conversation of how much fun school can be. Mi Escuela / My School, by George Ancona. Library Catalog The King of Kindergarten, by Derrick Barnes. Library Catalog / OverDrive & Libby The Bus For Us, by Suzanne Bloom. Library Catalog Biscuit Goes to School, by Alyssa Satin Capucilli. Library Catalog / OverDrive
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August 12, 2021 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: back to school, children's books, children's literature, staff picks, staff recommendations, and The Trove.

Peculiar Picks

Peculiar Picks

Peculiar Picks are a selection of odd, funny, interesting, curious, moving, irreverent, and otherwise wonderfully awesome, but perhaps not well known, reads. Peculiar Picks are books for younger readers and their grown-ups, handpicked by the Library's Youth Services Manager, Joshua Carlson. Today’s Peculiar Picks features girls who befriend monsters, frequently proving to others that there is more to someone than their appearance while dismantling prejudiced ideas and stereotypes. Lula and the Sea Monster by Alex Latimer OverDrive & Libby / hoopla / Library Catalog Lula and the Sea Monster is such a delightful book about friendship, along with some environmentalism.
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August 12, 2021 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: children's books, monsters, Peculiar Picks, staff picks, and staff recommendations.

Parenting: Moving

Parenting: Moving

Big changes like moving are hard for everyone, but especially hard for children. Here are some things I learned from my move last year, tips from the pros, and some nice books you can share with your children to prepare them. My five-year-old son was afraid that he would forget his old house. Mind you, this was after we convinced him that all his toys would, in fact, be coming to the new house with us. So, we decided to have him make a video tour of the old house. He went from room to room, explained what he did
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August 11, 2021 9:08 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: parenting and parenting tips.

Teen Book Review: With the Fire on High

Teen Book Review: With the Fire on High

Title: With the Fire on High Author: Elizabeth Acevedo Publisher: Quill Tree Books Library Catalog / Hoopla / OverDrive & Libby With the Fire on High is an empowering story of teen mom Emoni Santiago. She faces struggles unlike those of her peers but she finds comfort in cooking, which is her passion and gift. Emoni's dreams to graduate and one day become a chef seem impossible when having to juggle the daily struggles of being a teen mother. With help from her grandmother, her best friend Angelica, Malachi, a recent transfer student, her baby Emma, and cooking, Emoni finds
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August 9, 2021 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Teens, Library News, and Teens.
Tags: book review, books, Elizabeth Acevedo, for teens by teens, reading, teen book review, and teen volunteers.

August 2021 LibraryReads

August 2021 LibraryReads

Here are the books published this month that librarians across the country love. Find out more here. If the Shoe Fits: A Meant To Be Novel by Julie Murphy Library Catalog: Print OverDrive/Libby: eBook “Low on job prospects, fashion school grad Cindy moves in with her stepmom, a reality show producer. When a spot opens up in the Bachelor-style series, Cindy seizes the chance to get nationwide exposure for her designs. The last thing she expects is to find love. A Cinderella-inspired romance with a plus-sized heroine and a multicultural cast. For fans of Red, White, & Royal Blue, The
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August 4, 2021 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books and Library News.
Tags: books, Library Reads, LibraryReads, reading list, and recommendations.

Teen Book Review: American Panda

Teen Book Review: American Panda

Title: American Panda Author: Gloria Chao Publisher: Simon and Schuster Library Catalog / OverDrive & Libby Gloria Chao’s romance novel American Panda is about a seventeen year old girl named Mei Lu who is leading up to her parents expectations in life. Mei Lu goes to college even though she should be in high school but, she skipped fourth grade. Mei’s parents already had their plan set for her and it was to become a doctor, marry someone who’s Taiwanese and produce babies. The problem was that Mei dislikes germs, falls asleep in her classes, and likes a guy who
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August 2, 2021 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Library News, and Teens.
Tags: book review, books, for teens by teens, reading, teen book review, and teen volunteers.

What You Need to Know About… Monster

What You Need to Know About… Monster

Gone are the days when every middle school and high school summer reading list was full of titles by Walter Dean Myers. While at one time, Myers was the go-to author for diverse characters, because he was one of the only authors of diverse characters, we are now fortunate that the publishing industry has begun embracing diverse authors.  WIth this shift in the publishing industry, and public desire for diverse works, there is an increasing body of wonderful and important works by newer writers such as Jason Reynolds and Angie Thomas. But this doesn’t mean that Myers' books are no longer poignant
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July 27, 2021 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Teens, Library News, and Teens.
Tags: teen movies, teens, What You Need to Know About, and YA literature.

Dive Into Diversity: Happy Summer Birthdays!

Dive Into Diversity: Happy Summer Birthdays!

There are so many talented and diverse children’s authors and illustrators being published! To celebrate them, I have decided to celebrate their birthdays on a seasonal basis starting with summer, and hopefully continuing throughout the year 2021-22. I was greatly inspired by Eric VanRaepenbusch’s website, Happy Birthday Author, and highly recommend it! VanRaepenbusch’s website focuses on creating “memorable reading experiences by celebrating author and Illustrator birthdays.” He has engagingly documented the authors and illustrators he as a homeschooling parent has studied with his children, and the STEAM activities they have done together to create an incredible resource for other parents
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July 26, 2021 11:31 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: children's books, children's literature, Dive into Diversity, staff picks, and staff recommendations.

Teen Book Review: Follow Your Arrow

Teen Book Review: Follow Your Arrow

Title: Follow Your Arrow Author: Jessica Verdi Publisher: Scholastic Library Catalog / OverDrive & Libby A girl named Cece Ross is a social media influencer. Things are great until she and her girlfriend break-up. Soon after she meets a boy who isn’t on social media at all and keeps her internet fame a secret. But social media catches up quickly and now Cece faces a scandal. I really enjoyed this book, it was quick and easy and deals with topics like identity, the LGBTQ+ community and social media. I definitely recommend this book as we see Cece grow to put
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July 26, 2021 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Library News, and Teens.
Tags: book review, books, for teens by teens, Jessica Verdi, reading, teen book review, and teen volunteers.

Dive Into Diversity: Let’s Go on a Trip

Dive Into Diversity: Let’s Go on a Trip

White Plains is a wonderfully diverse community! Parents, children and teens have expressed an interest in titles that reflect the diversity in the community, and Ashley, Kathlyn, and Raquel's “Dive Into Diversity” column will spotlight noteworthy children's and teen titles that are inclusive, diverse and multicultural to fulfill that interest. Ashley's portion is aimed at readers in grades 4-6. It’s summer break and perhaps your family is traveling! If that isn’t the case, here are a few recommendations of great diverse stories about going on a journey that you can stay home and enjoy! Fly on the Wall by Remy
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July 23, 2021 9:50 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: children's books, children's literature, Dive into Diversity, juvenile fiction, staff picks, staff recommendations, and travel.

Dive into Diversity: YA Retellings

Dive into Diversity: YA Retellings

In 2021, my Dive into Diversity posts about young adult books will focus on a different genre each month. I’ll highlight books with characters that represent a range of experiences and identities. I’ll also feature authors who share an aspect of their characters’ identity as much as possible. I was somehow able to wait until July before writing about one of my favorite types of fiction: retellings of fairy tales and classic stories. This month I read A Blade So Black by L. L. McKinley, a retelling of Alice in Wonderland. In this version, Alice stumbles into an awareness of Wonderland when
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July 22, 2021 10:56 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Teens, Library News, and Teens.
Tags: Dive into Diversity, fairy tales, staff picks, staff recommendations, and YA Fiction.

Peculiar Picks

Peculiar Picks

Peculiar Picks are a selection of odd, funny, interesting, curious, moving, irreverent, and otherwise wonderfully awesome, but perhaps not well known, reads. Peculiar Picks are books for younger readers and their grown-ups, handpicked by the Library's Youth Services Manager, Joshua Carlson. Here’s Part 3 of Peculiar Picks of books based on songs, uplifting and positive. Here are Part 1 and Part 2. Note: I recommend caregivers listen to the music for themselves before sharing with their child to determine if they feel it is appropriate for their child. Let’s Dance adapted from lyrics by David Bowie, illustrated by Hannah Marks
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July 15, 2021 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: children's books, music, Peculiar Picks, staff picks, and staff recommendations.

July 2021 LibraryReads

July 2021 LibraryReads

Here are the books published this month that librarians across the country love. Find out more here. Such a Quiet Place by Megan Miranda Library Catalog: Print “The tight-knit neighborhood of Hollow's Edge is supposed to be a safe, private place where the neighbors all know each other. But secrets lie behind every door. Miranda creates a vivid setting where the characters develop quickly, and the twisty plot will keep readers guessing until the end. For fans of psychological thrillers like The Other Mrs., Into the Water, and Every Secret Thing.”—Leslie Hagel, Fairfield Public Library, Fairfield, CT All The Little
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July 7, 2021 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books and Library News.
Tags: books, Library Reads, LibraryReads, reading list, and recommendations.

Magazines on Libby & OverDrive

Magazines on Libby & OverDrive

Library patrons now have access to over 3,000 magazines titles digitally through OverDrive or the Libby App. All you need is a library card from the Westchester Library System to access them. For information on getting a library card, click here. We've also curated some lists to help you get started, including Popular titles, Cooking, Crafts, Design, Fashion, Music, Sports, and more. You can read the magazines on a smartphone, iPad, or computer. When you see an article you want to read, click on it and you'll be prompted to Read the Article. This opens up the article, making for
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July 2, 2021 10:00 am | by | 2 Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Director's Corner, Featured, Homepage, and Library News.
Tags: libby, magazines, and OverDrive.

Summer Staff Picks

Summer Staff Picks

Whether you're looking for a steamy romance or a great rib recipe, Adult Services & Marketing Librarian Kristen has compiled a variety of titles for you to enjoy this summer. If you're looking for something different, leave us a comment below with the genre or theme you're looking for and we'll give you a personalized recommendation! Beach Reads Summer on the Bluffs by Sunny Hostin Library Catalog: Print OverDrive & Libby: eBook / Audiobook “A self-made Black millionaire invites her three goddaughters for a last Martha's Vineyard summer–at the end of which one will get the mansion. In the first
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June 30, 2021 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, and Library News.
Tags: beach reads, staff picks, staff recommendations, and summer reading.

Remembering 9/11 Writing Workshop

Remembering 9/11 Writing Workshop

Tuesdays July 13th through September 14th* 7:00-8:30 p.m. Click here to register. *Class will not be held on August 24th. In this workshop, we will explore memories of and around the events of September 11th, 2001. Around the country, twisted bits of metal from the Twin Towers are displayed in memorials with the words “Never Forget.” But what exactly do we want to remember about that day? What should we remember? Join us for a deep but gentle dive into our memories around the tragedy, and how we’ve grappled with it in the twenty years since. You will be given
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June 30, 2021 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books and Library News.
Tags: 9/11, creative writing, September 11th, writing, and writing workshop.

Summer STEAM Kit: Seashells

Summer STEAM Kit: Seashells

After the Summer Solstice on Sunday, June 20th, summer will officially be underway! We’re celebrating with a summer-themed Grab & Go STEAM kit, available for pick-up on June 28th. The kits will contain a seashell, googly eyes, and colored sand. You can make the design above or use these instructions for more ideas as you create your own unique craft. Whether you love to go to the beach, love art, or just want to unplug, this activity can provide a wonderful learning experience. For a STEAM enrichment activity, see if you and your child can identify your unique seashell using
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June 28, 2021 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Library News, and Teens.
Tags: Grab&Go Kits, STEAM, STEAM learning, STEM, summer, and The Trove.

Dive Into Diversity: Summer Reading

Dive Into Diversity: Summer Reading

White Plains is a wonderfully diverse community! Parents, children and teens have expressed an interest in titles that reflect the diversity in the community, and Ashley, Kathlyn, and Raquel's “Dive Into Diversity” column will spotlight noteworthy children's and teen titles that are inclusive, diverse and multicultural to fulfill that interest. Ashley's portion is aimed at readers in grades 4-6. Did you know that we have a section in the Trove with tons of suggestions for children and tweens based on what grade they’re in? Starting with Pre-K and going up to grade 6, it’s a really handy resource and many
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June 24, 2021 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: Dive into Diversity, staff picks, staff recommendations, and summer reading.