Archives for staff picks

Celebrate LGBTQIA+ Pride

Join us this June in celebrating Pride Month! We’ve got a variety of events planned this month and some exciting book recommendations below for all ages. In addition to our events, we’ll be attending Westchester Pride on June 4th, so make sure to stop by our table for Grab & Go Kits and more at the corner of Main Street and Court Street! Events: Grab & Go Kits: Pride Month! Thursday, June 1st at 10:00 a.m. For grades K-3 Location: Lobby Pick up a new Grab & Go Kit at the Library, while supplies last, starting today. Kits will be
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Categories: Library News.

Five Strong Female Characters in YA Fiction

This month we're celebrating strong heroines in our young adult (YA) fiction collection. Read on for YA Librarian Lilian's recommendations for books that feature capable and inspiring female protagonists. Legendborn by Tracy Deonn Grade 8 and up Library Catalog: All available formats “Sixteen-year-old Black whiz kid Bree Matthews battles grief and demonic forces on her college campus. After her mother dies in an accident, Bree begins a residential program for enterprising teens at her mother’s alma mater and, soon after her arrival, witnesses a magical attack that triggers hidden memories about the evening her mother was killed. Haunted by the
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Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Teens, Library News, and Teens.

May Middle Grade Pick of the Month

Middle grade is a term that refers to books written for readers between the ages of eight and twelve. In this column, Erica will recommend great books for children in this age group! Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor by Xiran Jay Zhao Library Catalog: Print Libby: eBook and eAudiobook Zachary Ying has been struggling to fit in at school – hard to do when you’re one of the only non-white kids. But any worries about that are immediately overwhelmed when Zachary’s mother’s soul is stolen – and he gets possessed by the spirit of the first emperor of China!
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Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.

May Graphic Novel Pick of the Month

In this blog, Donna will highlight graphic novels that are great reads! Graphic Novels are intended for readers ages 8 and up. graph·ic nov·el a novel in comic-strip format A first time for everything by Dan Santat Bestselling author and Caldecott Medalist (ages 10-14) Library catalog: Print Libby: ebook A school trip to Europe in the summer? Most kids would be excited, but not Dan. This graphic novel is a memoir of Dan Santat’s middle school years. Dan is seen as a pretty good kid. He stays out of trouble, listens to his teachers and parents, and tries to fly
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Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.

Books By Dads For, and About, Dads

Below please find lists curated by the Youth Services Librarians of White Plains Public Library of Nonfiction, Memoirs & Parenting Books; Picture Books, Juvenile Fiction; and Young Adult Fiction written by fathers that are for fathers and about fatherhood. Nonfiction, Memoirs, & Parenting Books Dad’s Book of Awesome Projects by Mike Adamich Library Catalog Dad’s Book of Awesome Science Projects by Mike Adamich Library Catalog Fatherhood by Papa B: a Game-changing Guide for Parents, Father Figures and Fathers-to-be by Bode Aboderin Library Catalog – Libby Made With Dad: From Wizards’ Wands to Japanese Dolls, Craft Projects to Build, Make and
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Categories: Authors & Books, Kids, and Library News.

Picture Book Pick of the Month

Picture Books are for all children!   In this blog, Donna will highlight great picture books old and new. Noor and Bobby by Praline Gay-Para, Illustrations by Lauranne Quentric (ages 4-7) Translated from French by Alyson Waters Library catalog: Print Libby: ebook What immediately grabbed my attention was the sweet illustration of a boy holding a dog on the cover. This illustration is simplistic in nature, but the story it tells is multi-layered. There are certain subjects that are hard to discuss with younger children and that is exactly why we need books like Noor and Bobby. The author never uses
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Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Kids, and Library News.

Beautiful Bilingual Books, Part 9

LINDOS LIBROS BILINGÜES, Parte 9 The Library has a lovely collection of bilingual Spanish/English books. To celebrate reading in two languages, we will be featuring our beautiful new books in a blog – so enjoy practicing your Spanish and English skills with these books. La Biblioteca tiene una colección hermosa de libros bilingües en inglés/español. Para celebrar leyendo en dos idiomas, le estaremos presentando nuestros lindos libros aquí. Así puede disfrutar practicando sus destrezas en ambos idiomas con estos libros. Bedtime for Baby Shark / A la cama Bebé Tiburón, by John John Bajet. Library Catalog An adaptation of the
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Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.

May is Family Wellness Month!

The month of May is a great time to educate, encourage, and enact a healthy lifestyle for your family! Eating healthy, exercising, and unwinding at the end of the day are important ways for keeping everyone happy and healthy. There are lots of simple activities you can do to keep your mind & body fit…and think about ways to improve your daily habits, such as going to bed at a reasonable time!   Books for the whole family to check out: Taking Care of Me by Mari C. Schuh Library catalog, ebook Yoga for little kids: simple poses to encourage
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Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.

Celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month

On April 20th, 2006, President Bush issued the first proclamation designating May 2006 as Jewish American Heritage Month. Since then, the month of May is dedicated to celebrating the many contributions of Jewish Americans in the last 369 years and encourages everyone to learn more about the history, culture, accomplishments, and diversity of the American Jewish community. A great wealth of resources for families to celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month are the programs and exhibits of the Jewish Museum on 5th Avenue at 92nd Street in NYC. Check out their family events here. To celebrate the month, I have gathered
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Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.

May is Latino Books Month

Latino Books Month was launched by Rhode Island Latino Arts (founded in 1988 & today is Rhode Island’s leading nonprofit organization exclusively dedicated to the promotion, advancement, development and cultivation of Latino arts) and has been sponsored by the Association of American Publishers (AAP).  Latino Books Month began in 2004 and has been celebrated ever since. It is dedicated to all Latino authors, illustrators and books, including fiction, poetry, drama, autobiography and art. It is meant to inspire literacy amongst the Latino community, promoting English and Spanish reading and highlighting Latino countries and cultures. Latino Books Month encourages librarians, teachers,
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Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.

New Books in the Edge: April

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. Star Splitter by Matthew J. Kirby Grades 7 and up Library Catalog / Libby “In a far future with quantum communication and teleportation, something goes terribly wrong. After 6 years apart, it’s time for 17-year-old Jessica to be reunited with her parents—but at the cost
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Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Teens, Library News, and Teens.

April Middle Grade Pick of the Month

Middle grade is a term that refers to books written for readers between the ages of eight and twelve. In this column, Erica will recommend great books for children in this age group! Catching a Storyfish by Janice N. Harrington Library Catalog: Print Libby: eBook This novel in verse tells the story of a young girl whose move to a new state causes her normal stream of words to almost entirely dry up when her classmates make fun of her accent. The only place she feels safe enough to talk is fishing with her grandfather – but what is she
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Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.

Celebrate Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Month

Celebrate Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Month With Great Picture Books! Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Heritage Month began in 1977 as a ten-day celebration of Asian Pacific American contributions to the United States. In 1992, President George H.W. Bush signed a law expanding the celebration to the entire month of May. The observance started by commemorating two events: The arrival of the first Japanese immigrants to the United States on May 7, 1843 and the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad, largely built by Chinese immigrants, on May 10, 1869. The month-long celebration of Asians and Pacific
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Categories: Authors & Books, Events, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.

Bilingual Family Night / Noche bilingüe de familia

Bilingual Family Night / Noche bilingüe de familia For Children & Families / para niños y sus familias Wednesdays / miércoles, 7:00 p.m. May/mayo 3, June/junio 7 July/julio 5, August/agosto 2 Please join us for Bilingual Family Night – a program series in English & Spanish for the entire family, with stories, songs & a craft that is held once a month. Disfrute con nosotros de la Noche bilingüe de familia, un programa en inglés y español para toda la familia, con cuentos, canciones y una manualidad que ofrecemos una vez al mes. The Library has a lovely collection of
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Categories: Authors & Books, Español, Events, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.

Happy Earth Day

“I have learned you are never too small to make a difference.” — Greta Thunberg Earth Day Reads 2023: Be Water-Wise, Super Grover! Library Catalog Fight Pollution, Big Bird! Library Catalog It’s Earth Day, Cookie Monster! Library Catalog, ebook Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle, Oscar! Library Catalog My friend Earth by Patricia MacLachlan Library Catalog Tall, tall tree by Anthony D. Fredericks Library Catalog Thank you, Earth: a love letter to our planet by April Pulley Sayre Library Catalog We are water protectors by Carole Lindstrom Library Catalog ebook 101 ways to be an eco hero by Kait Eaton Library Catalog
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Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.

Celebrate National Arab American Heritage Month

National Arab American Heritage Month takes place in April; and it celebrates Arab American heritage & culture and pays tribute to the contributions of Arab Americans and Arabic-speaking Americans. In April 2021, President Biden and the U.S.Department of State recognized April as National Arab American Heritage Month. The President wrote in his letter commemorating the event, “The Arab American community exemplifies so much of what our country stands for: hard work, resilience, compassion, and generosity… Diversity is one of our greatest strengths, and it is essential that we continue celebrating, promoting, and educating others about the myriad ways that the
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Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Homepage Teens, Kids, Library News, and Teens.

New Books in the Edge: March

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. Stateless by Elizabeth Wein Grades 6 and up Library Catalog / Libby “Intrigue and danger in the air and on the ground make for an exciting read that is steeped in interwar history. In late August 1937, Stella North, 17, is representing Britain by flying
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Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Teens, Library News, and Teens.

March Middle Grade Pick of the Month

Middle grade is a term that refers to books written for readers between the ages of eight and twelve. In this column, Erica will recommend great books for children in this age group! The Civil War of Amos Abernathy by Michael Leali Library Catalog: Print Libby: eBook Amos Abernathy is a gay middle schooler who’s been volunteering as a historical reenactor for most of his life – his mom runs the entire park. When Amos learns about the LGBTQ+ history in his backyard, he wants to share it with audiences through the park – but he gets passed over to
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Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.

Celebrate International Transgender Day of Visibility

International Transgender Day of Visibility is an annual event that occurs on March 31st. The day is dedicated to celebrating the accomplishments and contributions of transgender and gender nonconforming people and raising awareness of discrimination faced by transgender people in the United States and worldwide. Attacks on the rights of transgender individuals have risen alarmingly in 2023. According to Tim Walker in his article, “Bill aims to establish Minnesota as a ‘Trans Refuge’ state” for the Minnesota Legislature, “Nearly 250 bills in 32 states are under consideration that would single out trans people for discriminatory treatment of their privacy, their
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Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.

Beautiful Bilingual Books, Part 7

BEAUTIFUL BILINGUAL BOOKS, Part 7 LINDOS LIBROS BILINGÜES, Parte 7 The Library has a lovely collection of bilingual Spanish/English books. To celebrate reading in two languages, we will be featuring our beautiful new books in a blog – so enjoy practicing your Spanish and English skills with these books. La Biblioteca tiene una colección hermosa de libros bilingües en inglés/español. Para celebrar leyendo en dos idiomas, le estaremos presentando nuestros lindos libros aquí. Así puede disfrutar practicando sus destrezas en ambos idiomas con estos libros. Viento, Vientito/Wind, Little Wind by Jorge Tetl Argueta & Felipe Ugalde Alcántara Library Catalog Describes–in
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Categories: Authors & Books, Español, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.