Monday, November 28, 2022

First Chapter Book Club and Beginning chapter books

First Chapter Book Club and Beginning chapter books

Do you have a young reader who is just starting to read chapter books? We’d love to see them at the First Chapter Book Club tomorrow! (Tues, Nov. 29 at 3:30 pm) We will be reading the first chapter of a Mercy Watson book together, then playing a round of Book Character Bingo! While the Magic Tree House series seems to fly out of the library, if you’re looking for some other beginning chapter book suggestions, here are a few that have been popular in our homes:

My Father's Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett

Secrets of Droon series by Tony Abbot (a favorite at our house, luckily there are 35 in the series!)

Ivy and Bean series by Annie Barrows

Sofia Martinez series by Jacqueline Jules

Zoey and Sassafrass series by Asia Citro

Kingdom of Wrenly series by Jordan Quinn

Narwhal and Jelly series by Ben Clanton

Princess in Black series by Shannon Hale

Yasmin series by Saadia Faruqi

Happy Reading!

Monday, November 21, 2022

Pie in the Sky (and on your Thanksgiving Table)

Pie In The Sky (And On Your Thanksgiving Table)

One thing we’re always thankful for is pie, especially this time of year! Another reason to be thankful this year is that the Friends are having a Pie Sale, so it is one less thing to add to our list of dishes to prep. Pies will be available for pick up this Wednesday, Nov. 23^rd!

Do you have any special dishes you prepare on Thanksgiving? A few dishes that we are fond of: carmelized sweet potatoes, scalloped corn, cheezy vegetables, ginger beets, Italian sausage and sage stuffing, wild rice with shitake mushrooms and chestnuts, butternut squash and toasted pecan pasta…

Looking for more recipe ideas? We always love looking at the recipes in our cooking magazines (Taste of Home, Food Network Magazine, Midwest Living), and these books have some photos that are making our mouths water:

The Harvest Baker by Ken Haedrich

The Home Cook by Alex Guarnaschelli

Carla’s Comfort Foods by Carla Hall

The Complete Autumn and Winter Cookbook (America’s Test Kitchen)

Crisps, Cobblers, Custards & Creams by Jean Anderson

As always, we are thankful for you, our patrons, and all the wonderful stories you share with us throughout the year. Wishing you all the best!

Monday, November 14, 2022

November is Native American Heritage Month

November is Native American Heritage Month

Happy Native American Heritage Month! What does it mean to be Native American in modern times? The U.S. has a complex and fraught history with Native Americans and there are so many things that white Americans could learn in terms of the Native American experience, mired as we are in pervasive cultural stereotypes and prejudices, with a Hollywood veneer.

To delve a bit deeper into hearing their own voices and experiences, here is a list of a few books that we believe offer great insight. Please note that A Snake Falls to Earth by Darcie Little Badger was the winner of the National Book Award, a Newbery Honor award, and chosen as the 2022 Big Library Read (chosen by OverDrive/Libby as the global community read for the year.) For more titles, we recommend Debbie Reese’s blog: https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/

If you’re interested in hearing more firsthand stories from other people/groups that are battling stereotypes, be sure to check out The Communication Project at the Library this Thursday, Nov. 24, starting at 5 pm. Choose from a variety of topics and talk one on one with volunteers to hear their perspective.