Saturday, September 5, 2026

This month in the collection


I've stopped saving new books on Pinterest - our new catalog overlay should be able to do it better, eliminating a step. Of course, I deleted the Pinterest boards before I had figured out how to do the lists...

 New Book Spotlight

*Unless otherwise noted, all items were purchased for or added to the library collection*


Board Books

Picture Books

Beginning Chapter Books (new series)

  • Witches of Anderson House: A spell for disaster by Jennie Poh

Juvenile Graphic Novels

Juvenile Fiction

Juvenile Nonfiction

Young Teen

  • Heartland by Jilanne Hoffmann
  • Sleepless by Gordon Korman
  • Spirit service by Sarena Nanua

Young Adult Graphic Novels

    • I Love Amy vol. 1
    • My secretly hot husband 1
    • Bite me by Dugan

    Young Adult 

    • Prince among pirates by Katie Abdou
    • You jump first by Myah Ariel
    • Kingdom of waves by Melissa De la Cruz
    • Such a lucky girl by Wendy Heard
    • Where lost girls go by Kody Keplinger
    • No one leaves the manner by Kelly McWilliams
    • I didn't do it by Elle Gonzalez Rose
    • My killer family reunion by Dinesh Thiru
    • Murder hypothesis by Sarah Wishart
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    Tuesday, September 1, 2026

    Fall 2026 programs

     I planned a minimal slate of programs for this fall. Keeping the library open and maintaining programs and services throughout renovations over the past year has been overwhelming and there are still lingering issues and project to resolve and finish. Fall is also our Friends' big fundraiser and budget season for the city. There's just also a lot of other stuff happening. Usually I plan while thinking of the times when the most people can attend, but for this fall I am offering what our staff and resources allow.

    Fall events handout

    Self-directed activities, available during all open hours

    • Read and Grow
    • Scavenger hunts
      • September - tools (we are transitioning to a reusable scavenger hunt to save paper)
      • October - ghosts (this is an all-library scavenger hunt run by the circulation department)
      • November - food
      • December - space
    • I spy aquarium - coming in October
    • Mystery sticker picture - while supplies last and then we'll think of something else
    Self-directed programs, drop-in during specific times
    • STEAM activities, based on the activity calendars
      • These will be offered on some Mondays and possibly Fridays, when there are no other programs, but regularly on Wednesday mornings. The Wednesday morning sessions are aimed at homeschoolers, although all are welcome.
    • Pokemon Hangout
    • Homeschool Teen Hangout
      • This is during the same time as the Wednesday STEAM activities and is basically an opportunity for the teens to use the Create Space. I don't know how this will go - we might end up with a lot of younger kids in the space or need to have a staff presence. Or nobody will show up at all.
    Storytimes
    • Paws to Read (outside presenter)
    • Family Storytime (school colleague - alternates at the library and the Rec department)
    • Wiggles and Words
    • STEAM storytime (afternoon storytime themed with the activity calendars. It's run by two Library Board members who are also teachers)
    Other events
    • Itty Bitty Bopping Bakers. This is a storytime/cooking event run by our school colleague in conjunction with the nonprofit we partner with who offers services to adults with disabilities.
    • Jory John's Food Group party. One of the TAB members wanted to have an event and I gave them a time and they are planning it.
    • Live animal presentation - this is one of the Preschool Family Fun nights run by my school colleague and hosted by the library.
    Teen events/Create Space
    • I have a monthly TAB meeting planned - the November one is the Food Group party and I told the kids we'd have a cookie party in December. Otherwise they have to figure out what they want to do.
    • Teen hangouts in the Create Space - the teens get to come and make stuff. They enjoyed this over the summer, but I don't know how their schedules will work out during the school year.
    • My teen volunteer opportunities this fall will be opening the Create Space on specific afternoon/evenings. I will be doing some training for them and the times I've picked are when I am available at the youth or information desk. I don't know how this will work out - I can't advertise it, b/c I can't guarantee that volunteers will show up, so there might or might not be kids coming. Still, if it ends up with teens hanging out on their own that will be fine too. And if nobody comes at all, I tried. I've also scheduled some groups (like Girl Scouts) to use the Create Space.

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    Sunday, August 30, 2026

    Picture Book Neighborhoods - GO

     I've rearranged the sub-sections of this neighborhood a bit, going back and forth between fiction vs. nonfiction, or arranging by different types of machines. I've had this organization for a while and will probably stick with it. Pretty much anything in this section circulates, although there are definitely popular authors or series (even if those go out of print very rapidly, like Sciesczka's Truck Town).

    The general GO section, without subheadings, includes all of the stories and informational stories about vehicles. A few that could technically go in a separate section are included here to stay together by author and farm machines, including tractors, are in the Community/Farm books.

    Published 2025-2026
    Series and Authors (3 or more titles)
    Other titles I have previously reviewed

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    Sunday, August 23, 2026

    Picture Book Neighborhoods: Fun - STEM


    This was one of the original collection when I created the neighborhoods and I had a lot of arguments with other staff about including math in the FUN section. Which just goes to show that adults absolutely pass their attitudes on to kids! I overhauled this section in my last update and created additional Dewey numbers. This section is one that has a lot of fiction in the Dewey numbers - as I explain to the kids, the numbers are a classification system, not fiction vs. nonfiction.

    This selection doesn't include nonfiction series or some older titles. The biography section isn't heavily used, but I do pull a lot for school requests.

    500 - General Science

    507 - Experiments

    513 - Math

    514 - Mapping and Patterns

    620 - Engineering

    921 - Biographies

    Fiction (selections)



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    Friday, August 21, 2026

    August in review, looking forward to September

    Part of one of our play areas. This is actually very tidy.

     Technically, we still have a week of August left, but summer reading ends this Saturday and I am more or less off until Monday, so as far as I'm concerned we're done.

    This summer was, in terms of summer reading, traffic, circulation, and programs, extremely successful. As far as staff morale and stress levels, it was... overwhelming. We went straight into summer with no break after a year of stressful renovations. Additionally, it turns out that the repurposed space amplifies sound - combined with the increased traffic the noise is relentless. We also had illness, personal losses, and some major weather events. I try to make summer as simple as possible - I don't want to be one of those libraries that dreads summer or end with my staff and I being burned out and exhausted - but I just couldn't avoid it this year.

    In the past, I've offered no programs in August, just summer reading, but this turned out to be problematic between school not resuming until after Labor Day and previous library boards not wanting a program break. I compromised this year and offered a couple simple storytimes and drop-in events (no teen volunteers - those were all scheduled in June-July). However, one thing I've discovered this summer is that the only program our patrons are really interested in is storytime. Otherwise, they are satisfied with the repurposed space, which has three play areas.

    We will be taking a long program break, not resuming until September 21. In addition, this fall I am doing a very simple slate of programs.

    During our program break my staff will be helping out other departments (we had a pivotal staff member move on), finally getting the Create Space arranged, and tackling the endless to-do list of projects that have been set aside before and during the grant renovation process. The last weeks of August I will be spending writing reports and organizing data and then the beginning of September I am going to actually take some time off, handle collection projects that have been languishing, and potentially work through the last projects as the grant draws to a close. It will still be very busy, but hopefully we can be more relaxed and as traffic slows down as people go to the fair and return to school the noise levels might abate.

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    Wednesday, August 19, 2026

    In short, I am busy: We Explore Artist Tom Lichtenheld

    Art Project Part 1: Sketching
    I encouraged the kids to sketch out their ideas with pencils and erasers. I had lots of pictures of Tom Lichtenheld's art processes from Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast.

    Supplies
    • pencils, erasers, paper
    Storytime
    • Sing by Joe Raposo
    • Shark vs. Train by Chris Barton
    • Ten rules of the birthday wish by Beth Ferry
    • Exclamation point by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

    Art Project Part 2: Colored pencils
    The kids color their drawings with colored pencils; there are also activity sheets.

    Supplies
    • watercolor pencils
    • bleeding art tissue paper
    • water, paint brushes
    • paper (thick/stiff works best)
    Resources
    Evaluation

    • 8-19-26
      • I've only done this once before - it generally works better with older kids. I just read a couple stories (Sing, Shark vs. Train, and This is a moose) and then we used watercolor pencils and bleeding art tissue paper.
    • 6-28-19
      • Attendance: 21
      • Notes: I taped the samples of works in progress to a table for the kids to look at. I forgot to bring over toys for the little ones again. Most attendees stayed until 3 and had a great time.
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    Saturday, August 15, 2026

    STEAM Activities: Pattern Play


      Canva links to resources and posters

    Specific supplies

    • colored tape (thin masking tape)
    • shape stickers

    General supplies

    • paper
    • markers
    • pony beads
    • pipe cleaners
    • beading string
    • scissors


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    Wednesday, August 12, 2026

    In short, I am busy: We Explore Artist Sarah S. Brannen


    Books
    Art Project 1: Bleeding art tissue paper
    • Bleeding art tissue paper
    • Paper (thick, non-absorbent paper works best if you have it)
    • Water
    • Paintbrushes
    This is for toddlers or those who don't want to get messy. They just paint the water over the tissue and it "bleeds" onto the paper. It's sold in packs of all colors, but only the dark pink, blue, and purple actually work though. Little kids mostly just enjoy getting things wet anyways. You can either wait for the paper to dry and brush off the wet tissue paper scraps or peel off the wet ones, dying your fingers colors in the process.

    Art Project 2: Liquid watercolors
    • Liquid watercolors
    • Watercolor paper
    • Brushes
    This is for older kids - these paints stain. I store them in baby food jars and occasionally they dry out - just add a little water. Every once in a while they go bad though and all you can do then is toss them. Theoretically you could add water and dilute them, but that's a little too complicated for my audience.

    I had planned to pass out pencils and notebooks and go outside to sketch things the kids saw, but I had only a couple toddlers to start with and then a few older kids at the end come in to paint and it was hot and humid so I skipped that.
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    Saturday, August 8, 2026

    Picture Book Neighborhoods: Fun - Sports


     This section is one of the originals, but how I organized the books in it has changed quite a bit. I've played around a lot with the cutters of the nonfiction section but finally settled on, generally, cuttering them by sport with an additional cutter if there are more than 4 titles. I also include contemporary sports figures under 921 and historical sports figures in the US history section. (I don't have any picture book biographies of historical sports figures who are NOT from the US, and I'll cross that bridge when and if I come to it!). I'm pretty liberal in interpreting "sports" and have included some general dance titles in this section as well.

     I have a lot of nonfiction series on sports here, including titles from Creative, ABDO (those are old - I don't purchase from them anymore), Lerner, and Capstone. Overall, it's kind of a weird section, because there really isn't much interest in sports from preschoolers so this section is mostly aimed at elementary school kids.

    Biographies

    • Courage in her cleats: the story of soccer star Abby Wambach
    • The girl who figured it out: the inspiring true story of wheelchair athlete Minda Dentler
    • Tacko Fall: to new heights
    • Not yet: the story of an unstoppable ice skater by Zahra Lari
    • Flying high: the story of gymnastics champion Simone Biles
    • I am Simone Biles
    • Fearless heart: the legacy of an Olympic figure skater : an illustrated biography of Surya Bonaly
    • Heroic heart: an illustrated biography of Joe Delaney
    • Decoy saves Opening Day by Shohei Ohtani
    • Basketball dreams by Chris Paul
    • Simone Biles by Ebony Wilkins
    • Sisters: Venus and Serena Williams

    Previously reviewed nonfiction titles

    Previously reviewed fiction titles



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    Friday, August 7, 2026

    STEAM Activities: Mapping our world


      Canva links to resources and posters

    General supplies

    • Paper
    • Scissors
    • Markers
    • Crayons
    • Colored pencils
    • glue sticks
    • old magazines
    When I requested books for this project, in addition to picture books about mapping I also requested some art books about making maps and RPG fantasy map drawing books. I don't think anybody actually did it though - other than an extremely chaotic crossover with Pokemon Hangout, only a few people went in and just colored.

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    Wednesday, August 5, 2026

    In short, I am Busy: We Explore Artist Julie Paschkis


    Best swirly art in the style of Julie Paschkis!
    Art Project Part 1: Sketching

    The kids start with pencils and drawing paper and I show pictures of Paschkis' sketches for her artwork, especially P. Zonka. I encourage them not to worry about "mistakes" or extra lines.

    Supplies
    • Pencils and drawing paper
    Storytime
    During storytime I discuss Paschkis' art process and how the pictures and words are put together. Paschkis is a really easy artist for this because there are a number of interviews with her on  Seven Impossible Things' interview as well as information on her website.

    Read-Alouds
    Display books
    Art Project Part 2: Painting
    Older kids can be encouraged to mix their paints and make new colors, using biocolors. Younger children can use the no-spill paint cups. As always, we change brushes between colors so we don't need cups of water.

    Supplies
    • Tempera paint in no-spill cups
    • Biocolor paint and styrofoam or plastic plates for mixing
    • Paintbrushes, aprons, sink, paper towels
    Evaluation

    Read more »
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    Tuesday, August 4, 2026

    This month in the collection


    Library Pinterest
    New Book Spotlight

    *Unless otherwise noted, all items were purchased for or added to the library collection*

    Board Books
    Picture Books

    Early Readers and Transitional Chapters
    • Cozy town by Ame Dyckman
    • Avery and the squirrel delivery by Rowan Kingsbury
    • Frankie and Friends: The missing sock by Christine Platt
    Beginning Chapter Books (new series)
    • Rainbow magic fairies: Graphic novels
    • Super Roomies: Lake of slime by Jarrett Lerner
    • Sherlock roach and the case of the missing crumb by Joe McGee
    • Venus Washington and the lasagna drama by Maisha Oso
    • Miles and Jones: The Anaconda Attack by Sam Smith
    • Unicorn rescuers: Mermaid Land by Ana Punset
    • Dog meets dog: On the loose in London! by Dan Yaccarino
    Beginning Chapter Books
    Juvenile Graphic Novels

    Juvenile Fiction
    • Swimming into trouble by Angela Ahn
    • Youngest Faircrest and the search for a sorcerer by Ollie George Clark
    • The last ember by Lily Dodd
    • Strays by Gia Gordon
    • Friend group by Lisa Greenwald
    • Renegades: The magic awakens by Erin Hunter
    • Second life of snap by Erin Entrada Kelly
    • Confessions of a mango by Kate Lumsden
    • Pumpkin Apocalypse by M. D. Payne
    • Deepa M. D. by Priya Swaminathan
    • Healer and the phoenix by Linda Trinh
    Juvenile Nonfiction
    Young Teen (Voted for by TAB)
    • Night king's court by Elisa Bonnin
    • My Roman summer by Bruno de Luca
    • Kaya of the ocean by Gloria Huang
    • Midsummer sisters by Niki Smith
    • Sunflowers and Lavender by Maisy Valais
    Manga (new series) (Voted for by TAB)
    • Akira failing in love
    • Apothecary Diaries (light novel)
    • Cogs of time (light novel)
    • Demon prince of Momochi house: Succession
    • Betrothed to a fox demon
    • Summer Hikaru died (light novel)
    • Ichi the witch
    • My Isekai life
    • Otaku love connection
    • I'm running for crown princess, but all I want is a steady paycheck!
    • The weakest tamer began a journey to pick up trash
    • A timid lady was turned into an ugly cat, but on the verge of fainting is picked up by the most fearsome military duke
    Young Adult (Voted for by TAB)
    • Be yourself and other bad advice: a teen girl's guide to unlearning the rules (nonfiction)
    • 99 things to do before you finish high school (new edition) (nonfiction)
    • Gilded blade by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
    • Rolls and Rivalry by Kristy Boyce
    • Breakout by Dhonielle Clayton
    • Costumes for time travelers by A. R. Capetta (new paperback edition)
    • Faraway Inn by Sarah Beth Durst
    • When I was death by Alexis Henderson (review copy, reviewed by teens)
    • Star Seekers by HYBE
    • Release me by Tahereh Mafi
    • Her hidden fire by Clíodhna O'Sullivan (review copy, reviewed by teens)
    Young Adult Graphic Novels (Voted for by TAB)
    • Speak of the devil by Sweeney Boo
    • As I dream of you by Jennifer Lee
    • Everything amplified by Sarah Lippett
    • Morgana and Oz
    • My gently raised beast
    • Remarried empress
    • Sidequested
    • Milk & Mocha comics collection: Our little moments


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    Saturday, August 1, 2026

    Picture Book Neighborhoods: Fun - Play


     I originally had called this section "interactive" books and included most of the I Spy type books here as well. However, most of my patrons had no idea what "interactive" meant and it was too long, so I changed it to books meant to play with. I do have a genre sticker for I Spy books which I use in and out of this section.

    Recommended/Favorite Interactive Books for Storytime

    I Spy/Seek-and-Find Books

    Books to sing
    • Baby Shark
    • Monster Boogie by Laurie Berkner
    • Frog trouble by Sandra Boynton
    • Jane Cabrera
      • Row row row your boat
      • Here we go round the mulberry bush
      • The itsy bitsy spider
    • 5 little ducks by Denise Fleming
    • Cat goes fiddle-i-fee by Paul Galdone
    • Miss Mary Mack and The eensy weensy spider by Mary Ann Hoberman
    • The animal song by Jonty Howley
    • I'm still here in the bathtub by Alan Katz
    • Babies on the bus by Karen Katz
    • Wheels on the bus at Halloween by Sarah Kieley
    • Sing by Joe Raposo
    • All god's critters by Bill Staines
    • Peanut butter and jelly by Nadine Westcott

    Other titles I have reviewed


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