Blog Entries

December 9      Lantern Sam and the Blue Streak Bandits by Michael D. Beil

Ten- year-old Henry and his new friend Ellie are riding the Shoreliner from New York back home to Ohio when Ellie is kidnapped. Is she still on the train? And, if not, how did the kidnappers get her off the train? Henry, with the help of Clarence the Conductor and Clarence's amazing cat Lantern Sam set out to solve the mystery and to save Ellie

. I loved Lantern Sam and the BlueStreak Bandits.  Such a fun mystery! 

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A stand-up comedian probably wouldn’t be your first choice to write a study on the trials of dating in the new millennium, but Aziz Ansari (best known for his role on Parks and Recreation) joined forces with sociology professor Eric Klinenberg for this one-of-a-kind guide to dating, mating, cheating, and etiquette. The result is a book full of solid research andsnarky commentary.

Ansari and Klinenberg found out that there is a generational difference of opinion on whether it’s okay to break up with someone via text message, but romance is changing in other ways, too. Yea...

December 6     Happy Hanukkah!

Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, begins today at sundown. Read Eight Winter Nights: A FamilyHanukkah Book by Laura Krauss Melmed.

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December 4     It’s National Cookie Day!

 Our English word “cookie” is derived from the Dutch word “koekje.” Dutch bakers used small amounts of batter to test oven temperature. It was soon discovered the little pieces of cooked batter were themselves delicious. Bake a batch of cookies or read The Doorbell Rang by Pat Hutchins.

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December 1 is New Book Month!

Your library has many new titles to choose from.

Choose one of his many folktale stories and take in his dynamic illustrations. For more information, click on the link to visit Mr. Young’s website.

Go to Ed Young's website

Reflect on gratitude with Giving Thanks: Poems, Prayers, and Praise Songs edited by Katherine Paterson.

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12-year-old Gabriel Finley loved riddles and word play.  He lived with his Aunt Jaz in an old Brooklyn brownstone because his father had vanished without a trace a few years before the start of our story.  Soon, Gabriel and Aunt Jaz are joined by house guests-- his father’s school friend Trudy and her daughter Pamela.  When Gabriel rescues an orphaned baby raven named Paladin, he discovers a hidden family secret that could help him find and rescue his father.  You see, Finleys are able to bond with ravens in some extraordinary ways—they are able to share...

In a Dark, Dark Wood is a fast-paced psychological thriller that takes place in a creepy setting with creepy characters. Out of touch for years, Nora gets invited to her former best friend, Clare’s, hen party (bachelorette party for us Americans). The party, held in a glass house in the middle of a very dark, dark wood begins to take twists and turns that are even colder and darker than the setting. Waking up in the hospital, Nora begins to piece together what happened in the glass house. She must remember the final details in order to save herself and others. Together, Nora, Clare, F...

This sweet title explores numbers and the concept of multiple parts creating a whole through the idea of family.  Each two-page illustration depicts various sized families during different parts of their day going from one to ten with the refrain of “one family.”  A great tale for discussions of families or counting practice, children and adults will enjoy sharing this book!

Reviewed by Jennie Tuttle, formerly at Wickes Library

Recommended for ages 4-6

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I have always been captivated by the Kennedy’s lives and enjoy reading about them.  Knowing what happened to Rosemary has saddened me at times and I wondered what her life would have been like had she not had a lobotomy.  This book is a two-fold story.  It takes you through Rosemary’s life both before and after her operation and it also walks you through the life of Sister Paulus, Rosemary’s caregiver.  I have always thought Joe Kennedy was a hard man, forbidding his family from seeing Rosemary, but I have softened that view a bit now.   The s...

Are you like Mercy Watson, who loves toast with a great deal of butter on it?

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Every day, Troll tries to find and eat Oliver.  But Oliver outsmarts him every time until one day Oliver does not see the troll all day long.  He becomes a little over-confident that the troll has given up forever.  But Troll jumps out of the closet and gobbles Oliver right up.  Lucky for Oliver, he tastes terrible.  The two of them then figure out something very tasty that works for both of them.     

Review by Michelle Zimostrad, Hoyt Library

Ages 3-7 years

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