This is the time of year when librarians get together to acknowledge the best books of the year. We’ll be running these selections over the next few weeks, and over here on our website you’ll find the awards and lists of best books for youth.

I served on the committee that chose the best cookbooks of the year—don’t laugh, it was tough work! Not only did we read well over 100 books, but we also cooked from all of the top contenders.

Fortunately, it was a great year for cookbooks. One of my favorites is Jubilee: Recipes for Two Centuries of African American Cooking by Toni Tipton-Martin. James Beard winner Tipton-Martin offers recipes that explore the vast African American foodways in which she is so expert, and absolutely every recipe is sure to be a hit.

And if you are craving some classic Italian-American cooking, look no further than Feast of the Seven Fishes: A Brooklyn Italian’s Recipes Celebrating Food and Family. Weaving memories, recipes, and profiles of Bensonhurst bakers and butchers, this is a visually intoxicating love letter to an era, a way of life, and above all a cuisine. Make the Eggplant Parmigiana this weekend!

Go here for the complete list.

Brian Kenney
Library Director
bkenney@whiteplainslibrary.org

Mother Goose Play Time, the Trove’s early literacy program for little ones up to 24 months with a caregiver, and Trove Time, our storytime and socialization/play program for ages 2-4 with their caregivers, are two of our most popular programs. The demand for the Mother Goose program has far exceeded its current once per week scheduling, so in February some changes will be taking place.

Mother Goose Play Time is now Trove Time: Tiny Tots and will take place on both Monday and Friday mornings at 10:30 a.m. It will be the same early literacy rich program with songs, finger plays, and stories great for up to age 24 months, just twice as many sessions!

Trove Time for ages 2-4 itself isn’t changing at all, with great stories and songs followed by a wealth of play and engaging social time, however it will now just be twice each week, on Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 10:30 a.m.

Trove Time is supported by the White Plains Library Foundation.

Reminder: The Foundation's 25th Anniversary Gala is March 14, 2020. In recognition of the this milestone celebration, the Foundation is honoring Barbara R. Loucks, Diane H. Tabakman, and NewYork-Presbyterian Westchester Behavioral Health Center.

We’re thrilled to be welcoming bestselling author Erik Larson who will talk with us about his new book, The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family and Defiance During the Blitz – hard copy included with your ticket, hot off the press. Join us! Funds raised through the Gala support children’s programming, family events, technology training, reading groups, teen activities, language classes, and more. Tickets are selling fast, click here to RSVP.

About the book: “The Splendid and the Vile takes readers out of today’s political dysfunction and back to a time of true leadership, when, in the face of unrelenting horror, Churchill’s eloquence, courage, and perseverance bound a country, and a family, together."—Random House

Our first School Break Mini-Camp held at the end of December was a great success. Teens worked on a variety of projects showing different ways of creating energy. Our second School Vacation Maker Camp will focus on Robotics. Teens will participate in a variety of no tech to hi tech activities that will teach basic skills in Engineering, Coding, Design Thinking, and Computational Thinking.

The camp will be held February 18-21, from 9:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. For teens in grades 6 and up. Registration required for each individual session; attendance each day is a must. To register, visit our online calendar here or call us at (914) 422-1481. There is a $5 materials fee due on the first day.

This program is made possible by a grant from ConEd to the White Plains Library Foundation.

We’re excited to announce our latest newsletter created just for families: What’s The Story? All about children and teen activities—and perfect for parents, caregivers, and grandparents—What’s The Story? will keep you up-to-date on all the programs, events, and new content in the Edge and the Trove. And best of all, links will make it easy for you to register for events as you read about them.

Published monthly, our first issue will debut tomorrow. To celebrate, we will be raffling off a $25 Cafe gift card to one person who signs up for the youth services newsletter, as well as ten coupons for a free book from the Friends of the Library book store in the Cafe. The winner will be selected at the end of February.

To subscribe, visit our website here and update your preferences to include What's the Story? And let us know what you think!

Due to popular request, the Trove has added new dates to the scheduled STEM Buddies program. Children in grades 1-4 can sign up at the Compass Desk in the Trove to work on STEM activities in small groups for 30 minutes, now also on Saturdays and Sundays in February from 2:30-3:30 p.m. Sign-up will start at 2:00 p.m.

The world of work is changing...do you need to plan for what's next? Sign up for an eight-week seminar with WEBS Career & Educational Counseling Services, conducted by a professional career counselor. You'll take formal assessments to evaluate your interests and personality, find out about educational training programs and more.

Attendance at an orientation session prior to the seminar is required. For dates, times, and to register, please call (914) 674-3612.

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YA fantasy where the oppression is real.

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