Archives for staff recommendations

Creepy Chronicles: March 2024

For the kids looking for more dark and twisted tales, Erika is here to bring you a middle grade scare! The Radium Girls: Young Reader’s Edition by Kate Moore All available formats After the discovery of the Radium element by the Curies in 1898, America was eager to find a use of it to gain as much profit as possible. From paint to beauty products, radium was soon added as a ‘cure all’ ingredient. When the United States Radium Corporation opened its doors for women to work as watch dial painters in 1917, they assured the women the paint was
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Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.

YA Graphic Novel Picks

Graphic novels are so much fun to read. Here at some of new available titles: Tamon's B-Side, Vol. 1 by  Yuki Shiwasu Library Catalog Gr 8 Up—Utage's obsession with her favorite boy band F/ace may be to an unhealthy level, but her part-time job as a housekeeper ensures she has the income to support expensive albums and meet-and-greets. However, her latest client happens to be the object of her obsession: sexy bad-boy front man, Tamon! At home though, Tamon is depressive, antisocial, and anxious. Utage finds her job is not only to clean his house and get him on a
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Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Teens, Library News, and Teens.

Good Trouble: Amanda Gorman

On January 20, 2021, I watched Joe Biden’s inauguration. Perhaps, like me, you were feeling hopeful and optimistic, that democracy was working, that positive change was taking place – the country had survived January 6, we had a new President, and for the first time a female Vice President. Perhaps, also like me, all of that became secondary as you were transfixed by the young woman who took the podium – Amanda Gorman, only the sixth poet to read at an inauguration, and by far the youngest. As she stood there reading, Amanda Gorman seemed far older than her 22
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Categories: Authors & Books, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.

Beautiful Bilingual Books, Part 18

BEAUTIFUL BILINGUAL BOOKS, Part 18  LINDOS LIBROS BILINGÜES, Parte 18 The Library has a lovely collection of bilingual Spanish/English books. To celebrate reading in two languages, we are featuring our beautiful new books in a monthly blog – so enjoy practicing your Spanish and English skills with these picture books. La Biblioteca tiene una colección hermosa de libros bilingües en inglés/español. Para celebrar leyendo en dos idiomas, le presentamos nuestros lindos libros aquí. Así que disfrute practicando sus destrezas en ambos idiomas con estos libros ilustrados. The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s 100 First Words / Primeras palabras, by Eric Carle. Library
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Categories: Authors & Books, Español, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.

New Books in the Edge: February 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. Sky’s End by Marc J. Gregson Grades 9 and up Library Catalog “To save his younger sister from their villainous uncle, a 16-year-old enters a perilous contest that involves killing massive sky serpents. Anyone living on the socially stratified floating islands can rise in status
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Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Teens, Library News, and Teens.

New Books in the Trove

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 Babies My Hair is Like the Sun by St. Clair Detrick-Jules & Tabitha Brown (Birth to 3 Years-Old) Library Catalog “I ask you, one and all, to take a good, long, hard look at this cover. This, my friends, is my perpetual frustration. This cover is not overly complicated and yet it is, in essence, incredibly well made. It’s beautiful, the colors are fantastic, and look at how well the photo itself
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Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.

The Library’s TTRPG Collection

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!).  Holds cannot be placed on the titles, but you can pick them up at the Library and borrow them for three weeks! 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
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Categories: Authors & Books, Homepage, Homepage Teens, Library News, and Teens.

New Books in the Edge: Nonfiction Edition

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. Usually this post is about fiction, but this month, I'm featuring a roundup of the nonfiction titles we've added to the Edge collection over the past few months. A Long Time Coming: A Lyrical Biography of Race in America from Ona Judge to Barack Obama by Ray Anthony Shepard Grades 7 and up Library Catalog “A collective biography of six major Black resistance leaders,
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Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Teens, Library News, and Teens.

February 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! All You Knead is Love by Tanya Guerrero All available formats here Alba feels abandoned when her mother ships her off to live with her Abuela Lola in Barcelona, but it doesn’t take long for her to find all the good in her new life – a new hobby, new friends, and the unconditional love from her abuela that she’s never felt from either of her parents.
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Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.

Creepy Chronicles: February 2024

For the kids looking for more dark and twisted tales, Erika is here to bring you a middle grade scare! The Skull by Jon Klassen All available formats Otilla is a young girl running away from a very bad place. As she is escaping her past, she comes across a house in the woods, and in the house resides a skull. No body, just skull! As Otilla and the skull befriend each other, we learn the skull has a secret. Can Otilla and the skull survive the night? This story will leave you lingering with some questions including what could
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Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.

Beautiful Bilingual Books, Part 17

BEAUTIFUL BILINGUAL BOOKS, Part 17 LINDOS LIBROS BILINGÜES, Parte 17 The Library has a lovely collection of bilingual Spanish/English books. To celebrate reading in two languages, we are featuring our beautiful new books in a monthly blog – so enjoy practicing your Spanish and English skills with these picture books. La Biblioteca tiene una colección hermosa de libros bilingües en inglés/español. Para celebrar leyendo en dos idiomas, le presentamos nuestros lindos libros aquí. Disfrute practicando sus destrezas en ambos idiomas con estos libros ilustrados. Twice as Many Friends / ¡El doble de amigos!, by Brian Amador. Library Catalog A bilingual
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Categories: Authors & Books, Español, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.

Good Trouble: Music and Protest

This installment of Good Trouble features a few books about the strong connections between music and activism, as well as individual artists who have made an impact. Nina: A Story of Nina Simone by Traci N. Todd, art by Christian Robinson Library Catalog Discover some of Nina Simone’s music  Born Eunice Kathlyn Wayman, the artist who would become known as Nina Simone was a musical prodigy whose dreams were smashed against the walls of racism and prejudice. As her career finally began to flourish, not in the music halls where her classical piano training would have taken her otherwise, but
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Categories: Authors & Books, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.

NAACP Image Award Nominees

The 55th Annual NAACP Image Award Nominees were recently announced. The winners will be awarded on Saturday, March 16th. Below are a list of nominees that we have available in our collection. Click here for our Libby curated list. Literature Love and Justice by Maya Moore Irons and Jonathan Irons All available formats Lucky Me by Rich Paul and Jesse Washington All available formats Nothing is Missing by Nicole Walters All available formats Our Secret Society by Tanisha Ford All available formats Straight Shooter by Stephen A. Smith All available formats And Then He Sang a Lullaby by Ani Kayode
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Categories: Authors & Books and Library News.

New Books in the Edge: January 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. Wish of the Wicked by Danielle Paige Grades 7 and up Library Catalog “Centering the sole survivor of a magical coven and using “Cinderella” as a foundation, Paige (the Ravens series) weaves a dark and mysterious telling that delves into the origins of the inspiration
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Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Teens, Library News, and Teens.

Creepy Chronicles: Deephaven

For the kids looking for more dark and twisted tales, Erika is here to bring you a middle grade scare! Deephaven by Ethan Aldridge All available formats here Ready to have a fresh start in life, Nev accepts a prestigious full ride scholarship to Deephaven Academy. Of course, anything that comes free tends to come at a cost, and for Nev, the trouble has only just begun when they hear sobbing and scratches coming through the forbidden East Wing. Will Nev be able to untangle the mysteries within this boarding school while under the threat of expulsion? Scare Factor: 3
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Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.

Good Trouble: Clothing and Activism

From the uniforms of the Black Panther Party, to slogan t-shirts, to the audacity of women wearing pants, clothing and fashion are frequently connected to activism. Jovita Wore Pants: The Story of a Mexican Freedom Fighter by Aida Salazar, art by Molly Mendoza Library Catalog Perhaps you’ve heard of the legendary Chinese folk hero Mulan, who dressed as a man and goes to battle, however Jovita Valdovinos was a real person who disguised herself so she could take part in the battle for religious freedom in Mexico, and came to be known as “Mexico’s Joan of Arc.”  Filled with beautiful
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Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.

Middle Grade Pick of the Month: Terry’s Crew

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! Terry’s Crew by Terry Crews and Cory Thomas All available formats here Terry Crews is a kid with vision – he knows exactly what he’s going to be, and he has plans for getting there! First step is attending the elite Rock City Academy, which will help him learn the skills and make the connections he needs. But middle school can be hard, especially with determined bullies
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Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.

YA Graphic Novel Picks for February

Graphic novels are so much fun to read. Here some new available titles: LUNAR NEW YEAR LOVE STORY by Gene Luen Yang and LeUyen Pham (Illustrator) (Graphic romance. 13-18) Library Catalog “Vietnamese American Valentina Tran loved Valentine’s Day until freshman year, when her handcrafted cards were mocked by classmates, and her father told her she was too old to still be making annual valentines on behalf of her long-dead mother. Then, during a surprise visit, her estranged paternal grandmother revealed a devastating family secret. Suddenly, Valentina’s invisible childhood companion, a sweet cupid she’d always called Saint V, transformed into an
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Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Teens, Library News, and Teens.

Beautiful Bilingual Books, Part 16

BEAUTIFUL BILINGUAL BOOKS, Part 16 LINDOS LIBROS BILINGÜES, Parte 16 The Library has a lovely collection of bilingual Spanish/English books. To celebrate reading in two languages, we are featuring our beautiful new books in a monthly blog – so enjoy practicing your Spanish and English skills with these picture books. La Biblioteca tiene una colección hermosa de libros bilingües en inglés/español. Para celebrar leyendo en dos idiomas, le presentamos nuestros lindos libros aquí. Así que disfrute practicando sus destrezas en ambos idiomas con estos libros ilustrados. Better than new: a recycle tale / Mejor que nuevo: un cuento de reciclaje,
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Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.

Favorites From Best Books of 2023

Each year, we enjoy looking through the lists of best books of the year, looking to see which opinions we agree with (or not), and checking to see which gems we might have missed ordering earlier in the year. We rejoice when we discover many of the books already in our collection, although we always do end up finding a title or two to order. Read on to see which books on the “Best of 2023” lists were our favorites this year. Raquel’s Favorite 2023 Best Picture Book: Remember by Joy Harjo & Michaela Goade Library Catalog “As the modern
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Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Homepage Teens, Kids, Library News, and Teens.