Archives for book recommendations

2020 Staff Favorites

2020 Staff Favorites

The White Plains Library Staff have assembled their picks for the year, featuring cookbooks, DVDs, music, audiobooks, and plenty of plain old books. It's a wonderfully wide-ranging list, full of lots of surprises, and should help with your holiday shopping or just some entertainment for yourself. Enjoy! Below you'll find a list with links to the catalog or resource where they're available as well as a blurb on why staff enjoyed it. Books: Peace Talks by Jim Butcher Library Catalog OverDrive and Libby: eBook and audiobook Harry Dresden is a wizard living in modern day Chicago. Think of this book
Read More

December 16, 2020 9:32 am | by | 2 Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Director's Corner, Evergreen, Featured, Homepage, Homepage Kids, Homepage Teens, Kids, Library News, and Teens.
Tags: best of 2020, book recommendations, books, music, staff picks, staff recommendations, and television.

She Writes: Historical Novels

She Writes: Historical Novels

This month's collection of titles for our “She Writes” series focuses on historical novels. Had it with 2020? Transport yourself to a different time and place with historical fiction all written by women! Below you'll find available formats, but we also have a curated list with additional titles in OverDrive that you can checkout here. Find last month's post on nonfiction science here. Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Library Collection: Print OverDrive and Libby: eBook and audiobook “When the Igbo people of eastern Nigeria seceded in 1967 to form the independent nation of Biafra, a bloody,
Read More

November 16, 2020 1:28 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage, and Library News.
Tags: book recommendations, books by women, She Writes, staff picks, staff recommendations, women authors, and women writers.

Hoopla Bonus Borrows

Hoopla Bonus Borrows

Due to popular demand, Hoopla Bonus Borrows are back for the month of November, starting November 1 and running through November 30! How it works: When you borrow a Bonus Borrows title during the month of November you will be debited ZERO borrows from your monthly hoopla borrows. In addition to these titles, you will also continue to have access to hoopla's full collection of over 950,000 eBooks, audiobooks, movies, TV shows, music, comics, and more. The collection will be free from 11/1/20 to 11/30/20. Click here to view the entire Bonus Borrows collection. Read on below for some staff
Read More

November 4, 2020 1:13 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: Library News.
Tags: book recommendations, film recommendations, hoopla, hoopla Bonus Borrows, staff picks, and staff recommendations.

What Should We Read Next? Book Lover Event

What Should We Read Next? Book Lover Event

Sunday, November 8th 1:00–2:30 p.m. Get a heads-up on new books and refresh your reading list with books you might have missed with publishing insider Carol Fitzgerald. Back by popular demand, Carol will share news about the season’s buzzworthy titles and chat about what books groups have been doing since March when “the world went virtual.” Carol Fitzgerald is the President of The Book Report Network—a group of internet sites on books and authors that have become the gathering places for a large and devoted community of booklovers since 1996, and the host of the “Bookreporter Talks To” video/podcast series.
Read More

October 23, 2020 11:38 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Library News.
Tags: book discussion, book group, book recommendations, carol fitzgerald, reading, and The Book Reporter.

Horror Stories: Books & Movies

Horror Stories: Books & Movies

To celebrate Halloween and a favorite genre to read and watch in October, we've put together a list of recommended reading and watching available through our catalog and digital resources. Find our curated list of frightfully creepy reads for Halloween and beyond on OverDrive here. For something a little less scary, find our list for “Halloween Treats for a Spooky Night In” list here. Books The Year of Witching by Alexis Henderson Library Catalog OverDrive and Libby: eBook “Immanuelle’s mother dies in childbirth, proclaiming, with her dying breath, that her baby is ‘a curse.' Now a teenager, Immanuelle can’t find
Read More

October 9, 2020 3:51 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books and Library News.
Tags: book recommendations, books, film, halloween, Halloween Books, Halloween Movies, horror, horror films, Observances and Celebrations, October, Spooktober, staff picks, and staff recommendations.

Halloween Reads

Halloween Reads

Are you looking forward to Halloween as much as I am? This year we might be limited in our normal Halloween activities due to COVID, but there are still some fun things to do. You can dress up and take photos with your family! In the past two years, I have had fun dressing up as Wednesday Addams and Punk Eleven from Stranger Things Season 2, Chapter 7: “The Lost Sister.” You can also treat yourself to a movie marathon. Some of my favorites include Beetlejuice, Practical Magic, Shaun of the Dead, The Nightmare Before Christmas, and It’s the Great
Read More

October 7, 2020 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Homepage Teens, Kids, Library News, and Teens.
Tags: book recommendations, eBooks, fun, graphic novels, halloween, Halloween Books, juvenile fiction, Observances and Celebrations, October, picture books, Spooktober, staff picks, staff recommendations, and YA Fiction.

Talk Like a Pirate Day: Swashbuckling Reads

Talk Like a Pirate Day: Swashbuckling Reads

Ahoy, me hearties! Avast! Get yar stern to a comfy couch or deserted isle, prop up yer peg leg and get to reading some of these thar piratical reads!  Before I make ye walk the plank! Saturday, September 19th is International Talk like a Pirate Day. When you're finished reading, try one of these Seafaring Activities or else you'll have to swab the deck ye scurvy dog! Picture Books The Pirate Princess by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen Some princesses may like tea and fancy parties, but Princess Bea would prefer sailing upon the briney deep in this tale of girl power on the
Read More

September 17, 2020 12:10 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Homepage Teens, Kids, Library News, and Teens.
Tags: book recommendations, eBooks, fun, Observances and Celebrations, staff recommendations, and Talk Like a Pirate Day.

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. Pearl by Molly Idle Click here to borrow Pearl by Molly Idle in eBook on Overdrive. Pearl by Molly Idle is many things. It is emotional and moving. a story of mothers and daughters. a quasi-creation myth. gorgeously illustrated. It is filled with mermaids, and krakens and a lush, fully-realized underwater world. about responsibility and finding one’s place and
Read More

July 30, 2020 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: book recommendations, children's books, Molly Idle, Peculiar Picks, picture books, and staff picks.

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. It’s summer. It’s hot. The Sun is shining. But, what IS that big ball of gas and flame that makes the summer hot and bright? Having read both of the following books with my daughter, I can attest that they are hilarious, informative, and will hold both your child’s attention and yours, while you learn all about the Sun.
Read More

July 16, 2020 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, eNewsletter, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: book recommendations, children's books, Nick Seluk, Peculiar Picks, picture books, Stacy McAnulty, staff picks, and They Might Be Giants.

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. Baby Monkey, Private Eye by Brian Selznick and David Serlin Also available as an eBook on Overdrive. Brian Selznick is very well-known for The Invention of Hugo Cabret, which was a National Book Award Finalist and winner of the 2008 Caldecott Medal. Baby Monkey, Private Eye, however, is both an Amazon and Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year,
Read More

July 2, 2020 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, eNewsletter, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: book recommendations, Brian Selznick, children's books, Peculiar Picks, picture books, and staff picks.

eBooks to Help with the Job Hunt

eBooks to Help with the Job Hunt

Looking for a new job or interested in job training assistance? We're regularly adding new eBooks to our OverDrive and Libby collections on job hunting, careers, entrepreneurship, programming languages most often required by employers, Word, Excel, and more. When we're open, some of the most frequently requested titles are Passbooks Study Guides, but did you know many are available as eBooks? Below are just some examples of the titles we've recently added to our collection. Modernize Your Resume Modernize Your Job Search Letters by Wendy Enelow Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC), Mathematics Passbooks Study Guide Admission Test by National Learning
Read More

June 23, 2020 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, eNewsletter, Featured, Homepage, and Library News.
Tags: book recommendations, CSEA, eBooks, job help, job training, passbooks, and staff picks.

Star Wars YA Fiction

Star Wars YA Fiction

I am something of a latecomer to the Star Wars universe. In fact, a couple of years ago I assembled a Halloween costume from a Stormtrooper helmet and a lightsaber, blissfully unaware of my error. But recently my preschooler has begun reading Star Wars graphic novels, helping me become more familiar with the setting and characters. For example, he now refers to his baby sister as “a Sand People from Tatooine”—that’s a good thing, right? He adores Kylo Ren and celebrates the accomplishments of “Separatist Leader General Grievous.” Actually, I’m afraid my child might be turning to the Dark Side.
Read More

April 29, 2020 10:07 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, eNewsletter, Featured, Homepage Teens, Library News, and Teens.
Tags: book recommendations, May the 4th Be With You, May the Fourth Be With You, Observances and Celebrations, Star Wars, and YA Fiction.

Earth Day Book Picks

Earth Day Book Picks

2020 marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day – first celebrated on April 22nd, 1970. To mark the important event that underscores the need to care for our planet, here are some noteworthy titles you may enjoy: PICTURE BOOK: We Planted a Tree By Diane Muldrow & Bob Staake eBook on OverDrive/Libby Diane Muldrow’s book focuses on the importance of trees in the lives of people all over the world. Her poetic text focuses on two families – how they each plant a tree, and how each tree helps the two families. Bob Staake’s child-friendly illustrations depict the beauty and
Read More

April 22, 2020 9:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, eNewsletter, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: book recommendations, children's literature, Earth Day, eBooks, Observances and Celebrations, and virtual book display.

Autism Acceptance Month

Autism Acceptance Month

While browsing available ebooks on the Libby app, I was pleased to find a Big Library Read selection that complements Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month. The current selection is a memoir: Funny, You Don’t Look Autistic, by comedian Michael McCreary. I enjoyed reading about McCreary’s experiences, beginning with his diagnosis at age five and continuing along his path to success as a stand-up comedian. McCreary shares hilarious anecdotes of relatable social awkwardness and moments of self-discovery. He also has a knack for explaining autism—at least, his experience of it—in an approachable way. As McCreary says, not every 22-year-old might feel
Read More

April 9, 2020 1:54 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, eNewsletter, Featured, Homepage Teens, Library News, and Teens.
Tags: Autism, Autism Acceptance Month, book recommendations, Observances and Celebrations, staff recommendations, and YA literature.

Middle Grade Fiction for Autism Acceptance Month

Middle Grade Fiction for Autism Acceptance Month

By Raquel Cavalcanti, Trove Librarian. April is Autism Awareness & Acceptance month. In the United States, the Autism Society held the first National Autism Awareness month in April of 1970, and World Autism Awareness Day takes place on April 2nd every year, a date chosen by the United Nations General Assembly. To mark Autism Awareness and Acceptance month, enjoy the following middle-grade books that present unique and compelling kids on the autism spectrum: A Boy Called Bat (also: Bat and the Waiting Game & Bat and the End of Everything) by Elana K. Arnold All 3 titles available as eBooks
Read More

April 3, 2020 4:24 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: Autism, Autism Acceptance Month, book recommendations, middle grade fiction, Observances and Celebrations, and staff recommendations.

Picture Books for Autism Acceptance Month

Picture Books for Autism Acceptance Month

By Raquel Cavalcanti, Trove Librarian. April is Autism Acceptance Month. The following notable picture book titles about children on the autism spectrum have all been deftly written by authors who are on the autism spectrum themselves or are parents or siblings of family members who are on the autism spectrum. For some more recommended titles, I found this May 2019 Book Riot article, “Understanding the Spectrum: 7 Great Picture Books About Autism,” by Rachel Rosenberg to be worthwhile. A Friend For Henry By Jen Bailey & Mika Song E-book on OverDrive Libby E-book on Hoopla “A boy on the autism
Read More

April 3, 2020 4:20 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: Autism, Autism Acceptance Month, book recommendations, Observances and Celebrations, picture books, and staff recommendations.

Battle of the Books Inspired Reading List

Battle of the Books Inspired Reading List

By Ashley Bressingham and Deb Gaffey, Trove staff. Your Westchester librarians are avidly working to pick amazing books for the Battle of the Books trivia competition for the fourth to sixth grade teams! Deb and I have picked some of our favorites from the nominations and these are all available in either audio or eBook format through the Westchester Library System. Save Me a Seat by Gita Varadarajan and Sarah Weeks Hoopla: Audio Overdrive: eBook Ravi has just moved to America from India and is entering the fifth grade in the town where Joe has lived all of his life.
Read More

April 3, 2020 11:53 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: battle of the books and book recommendations.

Community Reads

Community Reads

What better time than now to share what you're reading? Everyone’s looking for book recommendations right now, and we have many to share in our newsletter, but we thought we could share as a community on social media. So snap a photo of what you’re reading, use the hashtag #WPPLreads and tag us on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook and we'll share and discuss. Facebook: @WhitePlainsPublicLibrary or comment here. Instagram: @whiteplainslibrary Twitter: @whiteplainslib or reply to our thread here.
Read More

March 23, 2020 10:07 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, eNewsletter, Evergreen, Featured, Homepage, and Library News.
Tags: book recommendations, community reads, and social media.

Reading Around the World: Irish Culture

Reading Around the World: Irish Culture

With Tata's “Reading Around the World” book picks, younger patrons and their families will enjoy reading about the different cultural celebrations around the world. Easy holiday Picture Books and easy Folklore stories will introduce young readers to the world outside the U.S. Simply click on a title or cover to place it on hold. Irish lore and traditions are cherished by all. The contributions of our Irish immigrants have carved a path into our very identity. Enjoy these titles full of wit, humor and tradition. And may we all enjoy the luck of the Irish! PICTURE BOOKS The Leprechaun Under
Read More

March 17, 2020 1:10 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, eNewsletter, Evergreen, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: book recommendations, Irish folklore, Reading Around the World, and St. Patrick's Day.

Peculiar Picks: Narwhal and Jellyfish Series

Peculiar Picks: Narwhal and Jellyfish Series

Peculiar picks are a selection of odd, funny, interesting, curious, moving, irreverent, and otherwise wonderfully awesome, but perhaps not well known, reads. Picture books for younger readers and their grown-ups, handpicked by the Library's Youth Services Manager, Joshua Carlson. Many of the books in this column are ones that my wife and I have read with our daughter. Our experiences of trying to find books to keep up with her insatiable love of books, while also keeping us interested in reading them, lead to a lot of the choices in this column. The Narwhal and Jellyfish books by Ben Clanton
Read More

February 27, 2020 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, eNewsletter, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: Ben Clanton, book recommendations, Peculiar Picks, and picture books.