Archives for staff picks

March Nonfiction Pick of the Month

March Nonfiction Pick of the Month

Nonfiction books are written to present the facts on a wide range of topics, for a wide range of ages. In this column, Erica will recommend new and/or notable nonfiction from the Trove collection! Queens of the Jungle by Dr. Carly Anne York and Kimberlie Clinthorne-Wong All available formats here York and Clinthorne-Wong have collaborated on a wonderful volume packed full of information and beautiful illustrations, with so much to enjoy both visually and educationally – certainly I learned a number of things! Enjoy learning about the matriarchs of the animal queendom in this amazing book written for ages 8-12
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March 24, 2025 9:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, and Kids.
Tags: juvenile nonfiction, nonfiction, Nonfiction Pick of the Month, staff picks, and staff recommendations.

Irish Heritage Month

Irish Heritage Month

Ireland is an island nation on the westernmost edge of Europe, known for its wide expanses of lush, green fields. In fact, its nickname is the Emerald Isle. But there are also large areas of rugged, rocky landscape. Ireland is a nation of storytellers. The tradition dates back to Celtic bards, who would record and recite the country's history. Many famed writers come from Ireland, including several winners of the Nobel Prize for literature. St. Patrick’s Day—observed internationally every March 17—is packed with parades, good luck charms, and all things green. The event started as a religious holiday, but over
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March 12, 2025 11:55 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: Irish folklore, Irish heritage, Observances and Celebrations, St. Patrick's Day, staff picks, and staff recommendations.

March’s Kid Librarian of the Month

March’s Kid Librarian of the Month

Each month a kid is chosen to curate a display in The Trove with some of their favorite books. Are you interested in being next month’s kid librarian? Fill out a submission form available at The Trove Desk!  Name: Matteo Age: 9 Favorite types of books: Mystery and action fiction Why do you like to read? Because it takes you places you might never go. Check out Matteo’s recommended reads! The Wild Robot Series by Peter Brown All available formats Roz the robot discovers that she is alone on a remote, wild island with no memory of where she is
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March 7, 2025 9:06 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Homepage Kids, Kids, Library News, and Uncategorized.
Tags: book recommendations, children's books, children's literature, kid librarian, Kid Librarian of the Month, staff picks, and staff recommendations.

Librarian Faves: Adult LGBTQIA+ Books

Librarian Faves: Adult LGBTQIA+ Books

These are the LGBTQIA+ books that White Plains librarians enjoyed the most this year, collected for our upcoming PrideWorks tabling; covering a wide range of genres and identities, there’s something for everyone! Don’t Want You Like a Best Friend by Emma R. Alban A swoon-worthy debut queer Victorian romance in which two debutantes distract themselves from having to seek husbands by setting up their widowed parents, and instead find their perfect match in each other–the lesbian Bridgerton/Parent Trap you never knew you needed! Sequel: You’re the Problem It’s You Two Rogues Make a Right by Cat Sebastian Intent on nursing
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March 6, 2025 3:30 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Homepage, and Library News.
Tags: LGBTQ+ Pride, LGBTQIA+, staff picks, and staff recommendations.

Swimming and Water Safety Programs and More

Swimming and Water Safety Programs and More

White Plains Department of Recreation and Parks is gearing up for their Jump In and Swim! program. Jump In and Swim! Every child and adult should have the opportunity to learn to swim. Jump In and Swim! is designed to help children and adults learn basic swimming skills and water safety practices. Learning these skills helps to build confidence and self-esteem. Swimmers will grow stronger in body, mind and spirit. All Jump In and Swim! events are free and take place at the White Plains High School pool.  To register for these programs, contact Ellen Albers, 914-422-1255 or ealbers@whiteplainsny.gov. Friday, March 28
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February 28, 2025 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Events, Homepage Kids, and Kids.
Tags: booklists, library staff picks, recreation and parks, staff picks, staff recommendations, storytime, storytime for ages 2-6, swimming, trove events, trove storytime, and water safety.

Kids in the Kitchen 6

Kids in the Kitchen 6

Welcome to Kids in the Kitchen. This blog series highlights great cookbooks for kids. Fairy Tale Feasts: A Literary Cookbook for Young Readers and Eaters by Jane Yolen and Heidi Stemple Library Catalog Fairy Tale Feasts is more than collection of stories and recipes. In it, Caldecott-winning author Jane Yolen and her daughter, Heidi Stemple, imagine their readers as co-conspirators. About the creation of the stories and the history of the foods they share fun facts and anecdotes designed to encourage future cooks and storytellers to make up their own versions of the classics. From the earliest days of stories,
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February 24, 2025 2:02 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: books for kids, cookbooks, Kids in the Kitchen, staff picks, and staff recommendations.

February Nonfiction Pick of the Month

February Nonfiction Pick of the Month

Nonfiction books are written to present the facts on a wide range of topics, for a wide range of ages. In this column, Erica will recommend new and/or notable nonfiction from the Trove collection! The Mona Lisa Vanishes by Nicholas Day All available formats here You probably know that the Mona Lisa is one of the most famous paintings of all time, but do you know the story behind why? Day has done extensive research and written a fascinating dual narrative of the Mona Lisa being painted and what happened both during and after its infamous theft. Fans of true
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February 12, 2025 4:09 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: juvenile nonfiction, nonfiction, Nonfiction Pick of the Month, staff picks, and staff recommendations.

February’s Kid Librarian of the Month 

February’s Kid Librarian of the Month 

Each month a kid is chosen to curate a display in The Trove with some of their favorite books. Are you interested in being next month’s kid librarian? Fill out a submission form available at The Trove Desk!  Name: Evie Age: 7 Favorite types of books: Magic, adventure, & scary Why do you like to read? Because I like stories Check out Evie’s recommended reads! Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie All available formats One starry night, Peter Pan and Tinker Bell lead the three Darling children over the rooftops of London and away to Neverland – the island where lost
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February 7, 2025 4:01 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: book recommendations, children's literature, kid books, kid librarian, Kid Librarian of the Month, staff picks, and staff recommendations.

New Books in the Edge: January 2025

New Books in the Edge: January 2025

One of the best parts of my job is ordering new books for the Edge–reading the reviews, seeing what popular authors come up with next, or finding out about an upcoming sequel to an old favorite. Read on to find out about some of the new YA fiction titles coming to our shelves this month. -Kat, Teen Librarian A Language of Dragons by S.F. Williamson Grades 8 and up Library Catalog “As war looms between dragons and humans in an alternate 1923, one girl is forced to work as a codebreaker to save her family. Vivien Featherswallow loves languages: She’s
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January 29, 2025 10:49 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Library News, and Teens.
Tags: new books, new in the Edge, staff picks, staff recommendations, YA Fiction, and YA literature.

January Nonfiction Pick of the Month

January Nonfiction Pick of the Month

Nonfiction books are written to present the facts on a wide range of topics, for a wide range of ages. In this column, Erica will recommend new and/or notable nonfiction from the Trove collection! All About U.S.: A Look at the Lives of 50 Real Kids from Across the United States by Matt Lamothe with Jenny Volvovski All available formats here Lamothe and Volvovski have put together a stunning and compelling snapshot of daily life in each U.S. state through this beautiful book. The short biography of each child is full of personality, as are the gorgeous illustrations that accompany
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January 15, 2025 11:50 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books and Homepage Kids.
Tags: and Library News. Tags: nonfiction, and staff recommendations., Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, juvenile nonfiction, kids, Nonfiction Pick of the Month, and staff picks.

Kids in the Kitchen 5

Kids in the Kitchen 5

Welcome to Kids in the Kitchen.  This blog series highlights great cookbooks for kids.  This entry showcases some titles in the excellent “Young Chefs” series by America’s Test Kitchen. The Complete Baking Book for Young Chefs: 100+ Sweet and Savory Recipes That You'll Love to Bake, Share and Eat! by America’s Test Kitchen Library Catalog “These 100-plus kid-tested recipes feature baking standards, like corn muffins and peanut butter cookies, as well as trendier fare, such as za'atar bread, buffalo chicken lavash flatbread, and Tahini-banana snack cake. Short testimonials from some of the more than 4,000 kids who were part of
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January 10, 2025 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: books for kids, cookbooks, Kids in the Kitchen, staff picks, and staff recommendations.

January is…

January is…

Each month a variety of observances and celebrations take place, from well-known holidays to much lesser known fun (and downright funny or strange!) observances. January 16th: Appreciate a Dragon Day! The Dragon Ark by Curatoria Draconis All available formats Join the Dragon Protector on her quest to find the rarest dragon in the world in The Dragon Ark–featuring illustrations by Tomislav Tomic. With dragon numbers in rapid decline, time is running out to ensure the survival of the species. Curatoria Draconis, also known as the Dragon Protector, is on a mission to find the rarest dragon on Earth: the Chinese
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December 24, 2024 10:10 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Book Discussion, and Homepage Kids.
Tags: and Library News. Tags: books for children, and Observances and Celebrations, Authors & Books, books for kids, children's books, children's literature, events, Featured, Homepage Kids, January 2025, January Festivities, kids, Observances and Celebrations, and staff picks.

New Books in the Edge: December 2024

New Books in the Edge: December 2024

One of the best parts of my job is ordering new books for the Edge–reading the reviews, seeing what popular authors come up with next, or finding out about an upcoming sequel to an old favorite. Read on to find out about some of the new YA fiction titles coming to our shelves this month. -Kat Carroll, Teen Services Librarian When the Mapou Sings by Nadine Pinede Grades 8 and up Library Catalog “Sixteen-year-old Lucille comes of age in 1930s Haiti. Following the death of her mother during childbirth, Lucille has been cared for by her woodworker father and maternal
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December 20, 2024 1:16 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Homepage Teens, Library News, and Teens.
Tags: new books, new in the Edge, staff picks, staff recommendations, YA Fiction, and YA literature.

New Books in the Trove: January 2025

New Books in the Trove: January 2025

We have new books coming in all the time with them on display right as you enter the Trove.  Here’s some of our recent favorite new titles! For Wee Ones Well Done, Mommy Penguin by Chris Haughton (Birth to 3 Years-Old) Library Catalog “Where is Mommy Penguin off to? ‘I think she’s going to get dinner,’ Daddy Penguin explains to his wide-eyed, curious chick. They both stand atop an icy peak to watch Mommy—along with a group of other penguins—as she hunts. First she must swim quickly to catch the darting fish (‘swoosh / swish / swoosh’). Then she leaps
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December 17, 2024 10:10 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books.
Tags: children's book, children's literature, new books, and staff picks.

Kids in the Kitchen 4

Kids in the Kitchen 4

Welcome to Kids in the Kitchen.  This blog series highlights great cookbooks for kids. In this entry, the spotlight is on some fun pop culture inspired cookbooks. Barbie Cooks! a Healthy Cookbook Library Catalog “In this colorful cookbook of over 50 recipes, Barbie encourages kids to make healthy choices by developing their culinary skills and kitchen creativity. Breakfast bites like Loaded Avocado Toast and Mini Frittatas; filling lunch and dinner fare such as Summery Minestrone, Rainbow Carrot Ribbon Salad, and Spaghetti Squash Pizza bowls; and sweet and savory shareables like Sweet Potato Oven Fries and No-Bake Cheesecake Jars, provide kids
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December 13, 2024 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: books for kids, cookbooks, Kids in the Kitchen, staff picks, and staff recommendations.

The Library’s TTRPG Collection – NOW HOLDABLE

The Library’s TTRPG Collection – NOW HOLDABLE

Did you know the Library has a collection of tabletop roleplaying game (TTRPG) books you can borrow?  They are located just outside the Edge, our teen library (though anyone can check them out!). NEW!  Holds can now be placed on TTRPG titles so you can have them delivered direct to your local library! Titles in the growing collection include (by game system – Will be updated as new titles are added. Links for unlinked items will be added as they become available.) What’s a TTRPG? A tabletop roleplaying game (TTRPG) is a system of rules so that a group of
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December 11, 2024 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Homepage Teens, Library News, and Teens.
Tags: Dungeons & Dragons, Dungeons and Dragons, games, gaming, library collections, Roleplaying game, roleplaying games, RPGs, staff picks, staff recommendations, table top games, tabletop games, tabletop gaming, tabletop roleplaying games, and TTRPGS.

2024 Staff Favorites for Adults

2024 Staff Favorites for Adults

The White Plains Library Staff have assembled their picks for the year, featuring literary fiction, audiobooks, fantasy, music, and more. 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 as well as a blurb on why staff enjoyed it. Adults AI Prompt Writing by Emma Grimberg Whether you’re creating stories, art, or music, this guide shows you how to harness the power of AI prompts to bring your ideas to life in a whole new
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December 10, 2024 3:07 pm | by | 2 Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage, and Library News.
Tags: book recommendations, books for adults, staff favorites, and staff picks.

December Kid Librarian of the Month

December Kid Librarian of the Month

Each month a kid is chosen to curate a display in The Trove with some of their favorite books. Are you interested in being next month’s kid librarian? Fill out a submission form available at The Trove Desk!  Name: Josie Age: 11 Favorite type of books: Dystopian, Realistic Fiction, & Mysteries Why do you like to read? Because books are really fun! Check out Josie’s recommended reads! To Stay Alive by Skila Brown All Available Formats The journey west by wagon train promises to be long and arduous for nineteen-year-old Mary Ann Graves and her parents and eight siblings. Yet
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December 2, 2024 2:07 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Homepage Kids, and Kids.
Tags: children's literature, Kid Librarian of the Month, staff picks, and staff recommendations.

New Books in the Trove: November 2024

New Books in the Trove: November 2024

We have new books coming in all the time with them on display right as you enter the Trove.  Here’s some of our recent favorite new titles! For Wee Ones Awake , Asleep by Kyle Lukoff and Nadia Alam (Birth to 3 Years-Old) Library Catalog “From dawn to bedtime, loving glimpses of children living through an ordinary day. Writing almost entirely in rhyming, sonorous sequences of simple nouns, Lukoff begins with sunrise—’A kiss, a blink, a dawn, / a break. // A yawn, / a peep, / a stretch, / awake!’—and goes on to caption cozy digital paintings of three
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November 19, 2024 4:15 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books and Kids.
Tags: children's literature, new books, staff picks, and staff recommendations.

Author Visit Storytime: Laura Bower

Author Visit Storytime: Laura Bower

Author Visit Storytime: Emily Snook: The World’s Smallest Cook by Laura Bower Saturday, December 14th at 11 am For: Families Location: Galaxy Hall Come enjoy a Special Author Storytime with Laura Bower who will be reading her book, Emily Snook: The World’s Smallest Cook. Kids are also invited to make a craft! About the Book: Emily Snook is a whiz in the kitchen. But when she enters an international cooking contest and meets the competition, her hopes of winning deflate like a botched soufflé. Everyone is older, taller and in serious doubt of her cooking capabilities! A classic underdog story,
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November 19, 2024 12:08 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Events, Homepage Kids, and Kids.
Tags: author storytime, author visits, children's literature, staff picks, and staff recommendations.