May Family Book Club
with Tess
In this club we read middle grade fiction appropriate for ages 6-12, but anyone is welcome if you enjoy children's literature! I will be posting discussion questions weekly based on the book we are reading and I will also provide activities that relate. Please comment on the discussion questions so we can stay connected through reading!
May's book is "Pax" by Sara Pennypacker! Available instantly through hoopla digital as an eBook and an eAudiobook.
1. Pax and Peter have a close relationship. Do you have a pet that you feel close to? Would you travel to find them if they were lost?
2. Do you like that the chapters take turns between Peter and Pax's point of view?
3. What do you think of the other foxes that Pax meets? Can he trust them?
4. Do you understand why the vixen does not trust Pax?
5. There is a war starting between the humans, which is why Peter has to go live with his grandfather. Do you think this will be a major theme in the book? Do you think it will keep Peter and Pax apart?
Share your answers to the questions below in the comments and tell us what you think of the book so far!
Want to read along and join the discussion? Check out "A Snicker of Magic" by Natalie Lloyd on Hoopla Digital!
Share your answers to the questions below in the comments and tell us what you thought of the book!
Chapters 20-27 + epiloge
- When Felicity and her mama eat the Blackberry Surprise ice cream, they talk about factofabulous memories. Will you share one of your factofabulous memories?
- Aunt Cleo says that only fools run away from what they fear. Do you agree?
- What did Felicity forget at the Duel? What did she do instead?
- What happened at the Duel to break the curse?
- Did you enjoy this book? Why or why not? Give your opinion of the novel!
Vote for the May book!
Vote for the book you would like to read in May by leaving a comment below with the title you want to read! All titles are available instantly from hoopla digital!
"Because of Winn Dixie" by Kate DiCamillo
The summer Opal and her father move to Naomi, Florida, Opal goes into the Winn-Dixie supermarket—and comes out with a dog… named Winn-Dixie. The dog is big and ugly but with a sterling sense of humor. Winn-Dixie is better at making friends than anyone Opal has ever known and she spends all that sweet summer collecting stories about her new friends and thinking about her mother. But because of Winn-Dixie or perhaps because she has grown, Opal learns to let go, just a little, and that friendship—and forgiveness—can sneak up on you like a sudden summer storm.
"The Willoughbys" by Lois Lowry
Abandoned by their ill-humored parents to the care of an odious nanny, Tim, the twins, Barnaby A and Barnaby B, and their sister, Jane, attempt to fulfill their roles as good old-fashioned children. However, it is an unquestionably ruthless act that sets in motion the transformations that lead to their salvation and to happy endings for not only the four children, but their nanny, an abandoned baby, a candy magnate, and his long-lost son too.
"Pax" by Sara Pennypacker
Pax was only a kit when his family was killed, and “his boy” Peter rescued him from abandonment and certain death. Now the war front approaches, and when Peter’s father enlists, Peter has to move in with his grandpa. Far worse than being forced to leave home is the fact that Pax can’t go. They leave Pax behind but Peter can’t stand the guilt; he packs for a trek to get his best friend back and sneaks into the night. This is the story of Peter, Pax, and their independent struggles to return to one another against all odds.
Family Book Club with Miss Tess
"A Snicker of Magic" by Natalie Lloyd
Chapters 1 - 10
Want to read along and join the discussion? Check out "A Snicker of Magic" by Natalie Lloyd on Hoopla Digital!
Discussion Questions
1. From the mother’s story, what kind of magic would you want? (I would want to bake some magic into pies and cakes!)
2. Have you ever been the new kid(s) at school? Can you relate with Felicity and Frannie Jo?
3. Chocolate chip pork rind ice cream?? Yuck! What flavors would YOU create at Dr. Zook’s Ice Cream Parlor?
4. A boy in Felicity’s class asked why they called themselves the Brothers Threadbare. Later, Aunt Cleo tells Felicity “threadbare” means shabby, worn-out, well-used… Felicity’s teacher (Miss Lawson) tells the students they’ll need to figure out why the brothers called themselves that on their own. Do you have any guesses?
5. What would your talent be at a talent show?
6. What do you think of Jonah (the Beedle)?
7. Do you think Roger Pickle will come back?
8. What do you think of Oliver Weatherly, owner of Dr. Zook’s and original Beedle?
9. If Oliver offered you Blackberry Sunrise ice cream, would you take it? Why or why not?
10. Do you think the last sentence in chapter 10 is foreshadowing? That means when something is stated early in the book and comes true later on.
11. What are you enjoying most about this book so far? Any predictions you would like to make?
Comment from Miss Tess: I love the silly words used in this book. Like Felicity says, “Why the hayseed you call yourself a Beedle…?” and “too spindiddly an offer to pass up.” It would be fun to be like Felicity and write down all the words we like from this novel!
Family Book Club
by Tess
The April book pick is A Snicker of Magic by Natalie Lloyd.
'Midnight Gulch used to be a magical place, a town where people could sing up thunderstorms and dance up sunflowers. But that was before the curse drove the magic away. Felicity and her nomadic mother arrive in Midnight Gulch and feel their luck may be about to change. Felicity must figure out how to bring back the magic by breaking the spell that's been cast over the town and her mother's heart.'
Log on to HooplaDigital.com to borrow a copy online, instantly, with your library card.
Don't have a library card? Click here to get a virtual one!
Reading schedule:
April 1-12: Chapters 1-10 (Questions posted on Monday, April 13)
April 13-19: Chapters 11-19 (Questions posted on Monday, April 20)
April 20-26: Chapters 20-27 + epilogue (Questions and activity posted on Monday, April 27)
I hope you enjoy this book! Let's read!
Post by Sara V.H.
While any form of shared reading and exposure to books is beneficial to a young child, dialogic reading is a form of shared reading that can greatly assist in the development of a young child’s language skills. Dialogic reading “involves reading with, rather than to, the child” (Atkinson, 2013). With dialogic reading, the adult involves the child in the book, encouraging them to participate through prompts, providing feedback to the child, and adapting the way they read to the child based on their developing skills (Atkinson, 2013). While there are a number of ways to engage a child while reading, literacy initiative Reading Rockets uses the acronym CROWD as a guide for parents to engage their children.
- Completion prompts - having a child finish a sentence in a rhyme scheme to help them learn the structure of language
- Recall prompts - asking a child to tell you what happened in the story to help them understand plots, either at the beginning of a familiar story or at the end of a new story
- Open-ended prompts - asking a child to explain what is happening, especially when there are strong images, to help develop their expressive abilities
- Wh- prompts - asking a child the “5 W’s and H” - who, what, where, when, why, and how - to help develop the child’s vocabulary
- Distancing prompts - asking a child to relate an aspect of the story to something outside of the story, such as an aspect in their own life
(Whitehurst, 2017)
These simple prompts can help a child engage more in the story and gain more from storytime.
To see dialogic reading in action, visit your local Aurora Public Library for a storytime! A complete schedule can be found at AuroraLibrary.org or here.
Below is also video showcasing dialogic reading.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8jetjDEF4w
Resources
Atkinson, A. (2013). Critical review: Does dialogic book reading improve overall language skills in preschoolers? University of Western Ontario: School of Communication Science and Disorders. Retrieved from https://www.uwo.ca/fhs/lwm/teaching/EBP/2012_13/Atkinson_A.pdf
Whitehurst, G. J. (2017). Dialogic reading: An effective way to read to preschoolers. Retrieved from http://www.readingrockets.org/article/dialogic-reading-effective-way-read-preschoolers
Rx for Success (2016, Sept. 14). Rx for success: Dialogic reading. [Video file]. Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8jetjDEF4w
Post by Chris G.
The history of the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction is fairly interesting. The award itself is named after the international association of writers, PEN (which is an acronym for "Poets, Playwrights, Essayists, Editors, and Novelists), and the prolific American author William Faulkner.
Faulkner was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1949 "for his powerful and artistically unique contribution to the modern American novel." In 1960, he used his prize money to establish the William Faulkner Foundation, a charitable organization intended to support young writers. Among other things, the Faulkner Foundation gave out an annual literary prize called the William Faulkner Foundation Award, the winners of which include names like John Knowles, Thomas Pynchon, Cormac McCarthy, and Robert Coover. After 10 years, the Faulkner Foundation was dissolved in 1970. The PEN/Faulkner Award was named to honor Faulkner's philanthropy, as well as to continue in the Faulkner Foundation Award's tradition of recognizing works of literary excellence.
The PEN/Faulkner Award was founded in 1980 by Mary Lee Settle, who herself had won the National Book Award in 1978 for her novel "Blood Tie". This resulted from some controversy surrounding the 1979 National Book Award winner, "Going After Cacciato" by Tim O'Brien. Many in the publishing industry believed that year's award should have gone to John Irving for "The World According to Garp", which led to a rift among the panel of judges and ultimately changes to the rules of how the National Book Awards were judged. In protest of these rule changes, PEN voted to boycott the awards, citing them as "too commercial." The following year, the PEN/Faulkner Award was established. Settle's vision was that the "awards would be judged by writers, not by industry insiders, and no favoritism would be granted to bestselling authors."
Now in its 38th year, the PEN/Faulkner Award is among the most prestigious literary honors an author can receive, and continues to fulfill Settle's mission "to create a community of writers, honor excellence in American fiction, and encourage a love of reading."
The 2018 PEN/Faulkner Award winner was announced on Saturday, May 5th. All of this year's nominees, the winner as well as many winners of years past are available to be borrowed from the Aurora Public Library. You can find those titles and the formats in which they are available below.
This Year's Nominees
"In the Distance" by Hernan Diaz
"The Dark Dark" by Samantha Hunt
Also available as an eBook.
"The Tower of the Antilles" by Achy Obejas
"Improvement" by Joan Silber
"Sing, Unburied, Sing" by Jesmyn Ward
Also available as an audiobook, eBook, and eAudiobook.
Past Winners
2017
"Behold the Dreamers" by Imbolo Mbue
Also available as an eBook.
2016
"Delicious Foods" by James Hannaham
2014
"We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves" by Karen Joy Fowler
2012
"The Buddha in the Attic" by Julie Otsuka
2010
"War Dances" by Sherman Alexie
Available as an eAudiobook through RBDigital.
2009
"Netherland" by Joseph O'Neill
Also available in Large Print and as an audiobook.
2007
"Everyman" by Philip Roth
Also available as an audiobook and eAudiobook.
2006
"The March" by E.L. Doctorow
2005
"War Trash" by Ha Jin
2004
"The Early Stories, 1953-1975" by John Updike
2002
"Bel Canto" by Ann Patchett
Also available as an eBook.
2001
"The Human Stain" by Philip Roth
Also available in Large Print.
2000
"Waiting" by Ha Jin
Also available in Large Print and as an eBook.
1999
"The Hours" by Michael Cunningham
1997
"Women in their Beds" by Gina Berriault
1996
"Independence Day" by Richard Ford
Available as an eAudiobook through RBDigital.
1995
"Snow Falling on Cedars" by David Guterson
Available as an audiobook, eBook, and eAudiobook.
1993
"Postcards" by E. Annie Proulx
And the 2018 winner is...
"Improvement" by Joan Silber
Sources:
The Nobel Prize in Literature 1949
Notes on People; New York Writer Getting PEN/Faulkner Award
Novelist Mary Lee Settle; Founded PEN/Faulkner Award
PEN/Faulkner
PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction
PEN International
William Faulkner Foundation
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Post by Laura R.
Parents, librarians, and educators know it’s important for kids to see themselves and their lives reflected in the stories they read. In honor of Black History Month this February, I’ve gathered a list of eight of my favorite picture books featuring African-American protagonists.
"Leo Loves Baby Time" by Anna McQuinn, illustrated by Ruth Hearson
This story is one of several excellent picture books by author-illustrator duo Anna McQuinn and Ruth Hearson, all featuring African-American main characters. Also check out Leo Can Swim and Lola Loves Stories. In Leo Loves Baby Time, Leo and his mom head to baby storytime at their local library where they sing songs, play with scarves, and have playtime. A great book for your baby or toddler, it has just the right amount of text and bright illustrations of babies for little ones to marvel at. I especially love this book because I lead Baby Storytime every week at my branch—it tells the story of storytime!
"Can I Touch Your Hair? Poems of Race, Mistakes, and Friendship" by Irene Latham & Charles Waters, illustrated by Sean Qualls & Selina Alko
I adore this brand new picture book, a series of conversational poems told from the alternating voices of two children, one black, one white. Charles and Irene are paired together for a poetry project in their fifth grade class, and neither are thrilled by the match. As the poems progress, the two write about going to church and having dinner with family, but they also deal with racial differences and the difficulties of talking about them. Eventually, their experiences start to bring them together. Reading this deeply heartwarming book with your child is great way to spark important conversations about race.
"Chocolate Me!" by Taye Digg, illustrated by Shane W. Evans
Chocolate Me! is a celebration of blackness and a story of self-affirmation for young readers. This easy-to-follow picture book has repeating text and big, bright illustrations. We follow a little boy as he wishes he could be more like his white neighborhood friends, with different hair and a narrower nose. But after a sweet pep talk from his loving mother, all of that changes.
"Alfie" by Thyra Heder
In this adorable picture book about the relationship between a girl and her pet, we first hear the story from the perspective of seven-year-old Nia, then from the perspective of her turtle, Alfie. After Nia receives Alfie as a birthday gift, she introduces him to all her stuffed animals and decorates his terrarium. Unfortunately, he doesn’t seem to notice. Then one day, Alfie disappears. Will the pair be reunited? Read the story to find out; you’ll be sure to fall in love with both narrators!
"28 Days: Moments in Black History That Changed the World" by Charles R. Smith, Jr., illustrated by Shane W. Evans
A new and different take on black history, this non-fiction picture book dedicates a page each to twenty-eight important moments in African American culture. Many of the dates feature well-known figures, such as Martin Luther King, Jr., as well ones not so well-known, like Matthew Henson, arctic explorer. Descriptions of the events are written in verse and include a short paragraph of factual information for curious readers.
"My Good Morning" by Kim Crockett Corson & Jelena Brezovec
I enjoy My Good Morning because, like so many children who read picture books, our main character is mixed race. But that’s not the focus of the story. We follow a little girl as she gets ready for a day at kindergarten, brushing her teeth, getting dressed, and having breakfast—with a few mistakes along the way. Finally, it’s time to say goodbye to Dad, but she won’t cry! With fun rhyming text and expressive illustrations, parents and kids alike will relate to this character’s daily routine.
"Princess Truly in My Magical Sparkling Curls" by Kelly Greenawalt, illustrated by Amariah Rauscher
Just like Chocolate Me!, this story is one of self-affirmation, but with a female protagonist. The second and newest of the Princess Truly series, the story focuses on Truly’s beautiful “fluffy, puffy” hair. Simple rhyming text details Truly’s confidence in herself as she explores outer space and the deep sea. My Magical Sparkling Curls is a great read to show girls it’s okay to believe in themselves and to see themselves as beautiful.
"Last Stop on Market Street" by Matt de la Peña, illustrated by Christian Robinson
Last Stop on Market Street received the Newbery Medal, a Caldecott Honor, and a Coretta Scott King Award Honor in 2016, and in my book, it totally deserves all of them. The pictures are perfect: vibrant and simple in Christian Robinson’s signature fashion. The story follows CJ as he makes his way from church to a mystery location with his nana. CJ grumbles about making the trek across town, but Nana has some wisdom to share about the beauty of their neighborhood. When the pair finally get where they’re going (I won’t say where) CJ’s glad they came, and you will be too!
These are only a few of the great picture books available today. Stop in to your Aurora Public Library for many more recommendations and happenings!
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Post By: Leigh R.
Get Cozy With
Holiday Picture Books
I think we can all agree that the holidays can be hectic. Scratch that. The holidays are hectic. Shopping for presents, attending the kids’ various plays and concerts, holiday parties, shopping, preparing for family visits, dealing with those family visits, trying not to eat too many sugary goodies, and of course, more shopping to find that thing you didn’t know a certain someone wanted until the last minute. In this busy and beautiful season, don’t forget to carve out some special quiet time for you and your family. The library can help you with this! We have wonderful books for children to help celebrate the season. So grab a cozy spot in your house, your favorite blanket for cuddling and a yummy mug of hot chocolate as you enjoy these holiday picture book reads for kids.
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 Here Comes Santa Cat by Deborah Underwood, illustrated by Claudia Rueda
Here comes the Christmas version of such a cute and funny series following the adventures of Cat as he helps out the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, and in this story, Santa Claus! Cat doesn’t always get things right but that’s what makes him so charming. He also doesn’t say much but draws pictures that the reader must interpret to help tell the story.
Home Alone: The Classic Illustrated Storybook based on the story written by John Hughes and directed by Chris Columbus, illustrated by Kim Smith
You know and love the movie but have you read the picture book version? Readers will love the funny and brightly illustrated pages of this wonderful book that completely captures the wild and crazy adventure Kevin has as he tries to get rid of those two, pesky bad guys.
Llama Llama Holiday Drama by Anna Dewdney
This little llama, a favorite character of many, is stressed out from the holidays. Lots of shopping with Mama Llama, cookie baking and craft making are making it hard for him to be patient; that is, until Mama Llama reminds him that spending time with family is more important than presents.
My First Kwanzaaby Karen Katz
Bright and colorful, Katz’s books for the youngest ones are short and sweet but always offer a warm and delightful story, perfect for babies and toddlers. In this holiday board book, a little girl teaches readers about the special traditions of Kwanzaa.
.png "Shmelf the Hanukkah Elf cover") Shmelf the Hanukkah Elf by Greg Wolfe, illustrated by Howard McWilliam
I know what you’re thinking. Shmelf…really? Trust me, this rhyming mash-up of Christmas and Hanukkah fun is a great introduction to Hanukkah traditions. It begins with an elf named Shmelf who is shocked when he learns that not all kids celebrate Christmas. He decides to visit some Jewish families and is fascinated when he learns about the story of Hanukkah and how some kids celebrate the holiday.
 Stranger in the Woods by Carl R. Sams II and Jean Stoick
A stranger arrives in the woods in the shape of a snowman, and all the animals in the forest are curious to discover more about this mysterious visitor. The artists use real photographs to showcase deer and other creatures in this beautiful, magical winter wonderland that will make you want to get out there and do some exploring with your family!
 The Christmas Boot by Lisa Wheeler, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney
If there was an award for the illustrator who creates the “coziest” images, this recipient of the Caldecott Medal many times over, Jerry Pinkney, surely wins the prize! He beautifully captures Wheeler’s story about an older lady who lives alone in the wilderness and the magic boot she finds one day. When a mysterious visitor comes to reclaim his boot, the two “talked of everything and nothing, deep into the night”. He grants her wish before he leaves in this original, feel-good story.
 The Itsy Bitsy Dreidel by Jeffrey Burton and Chani Tornow, illustrated by Sanja Rešček
Sing the tune of “The Itsy Bitsy Spider” as you share this board book with little ones. The cheerful pictures capture a Hanukkah night as a family of Dreidel characters read from the Torah, make latkes and light candles to celebrate the holiday.
 The Night Before Christmas: A Brick Story by Clement C. Moore, illustrated by Amanda Brack.
Based on the classic poem, this newer version of the story is perfect for the little LEGO lover in your life! The illustrator does a great job constructing the scenes through LEGO bricks and characters. Kids will have fun pouring over the pages and noticing the tiny details and surprises that await them.
 The Twelve Prayers of Christmas by Candy Chand, illustrated by James Bernardin
Beautiful illustrations and a reimagining of that first Christmas night tell the story of the birth of Jesus. What’s different about this version is that it’s written in twelve separate prayers or poems, and tells the perspectives of the different people and animals who witnessed the event, from a Wise Man to a donkey.
 Turkey Claus by Wendy Silvano, illustrated by Lee Harper
Turkey makes his first appearance in the Thanksgiving story, Turkey Trouble, by the same author. In this sequel he is once again on a mission to save his turkey legs from becoming dinner for the farmer and his wife. Just like the first book, Turkey tries to disguise himself but this time he hopes to find Santa to make his Christmas wish come true. Will he make it in time to escape Christmas dinner? This book will incite laughs from little ones, and they will also be drawn to the fun illustrations.
 Way Too Many Latkes: A Hanukkah Tale in Chelm by Linda Glaser, illustrated by Aleksandar Zolotic
Set in the fictional village of Chelm, popular in Jewish folklore, this book tells a cumulative story of a woman who forgets how to make latkes for Hanukkah. When her husband asks the Rabbi for help, their problem only grows…literally. Beautiful illustrations with funny facial expressions add to this new Hanukkah tale.
Come into the library to check out any number of these books and prepare for a cozy holiday break!
Cover images used from Amazon.
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December New Releases and Bestsellers!
Post by Kristin S.
As we head into the cold, but cozy month of December, take a look at the recent bestsellers, newly released DVDs, and timely series recommendations below! Follow the links in each post to find the item in our catalog for you to check out. Let us know what you think of each book or DVD in the comments section. Enjoy!
Recent New York Times Bestsellers:
Fiction
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Oathbringer by Brandon Sanderson
Borrow: [Print] [eBook]
The eagerly awaited sequel to the #1 New York Times bestselling Words of Radiance, from epic fantasy author Brandon Sanderson at the top of his game.
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Hardcore Twenty-Four by Janet Evanovich
Borrow: [Normal Print] [Large Print] [eBook] [eAudiobook]
Janet Evanovich's #1 New York Times bestselling sensation Stephanie Plum returns in her latest captivating thriller where mutilated corpses litter the streets of New Jersey.
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End Game by David Baldacci
Borrow: [Normal Print] [Large Print] [eBook] [eAudiobook]
When their handler takes a rare vacation and disappears, Will Robie and Jessica Reel are sent to investigate, but after arriving in the small town of Grand they encounter a vicious adversary.
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The Midnight Line by Lee Child
Borrow: [Normal Print] [Large Print] [eBook] [eAudiobook]
Reacher rides the bus north from Milwaukee. At a comfort stop in Wisconsin dairy country he takes a stroll. Among the cheap junk in a pawn shop window he notices a West Point class ring for sale. It's tiny. A woman cadet's ring. Why would she pawn it? Reacher knows what Serena Sanderson must have gone through to get it. He fights through a biker gang and a South Dakota gangster, following the trail of the ring to the emptiness of Wyoming, in search of Major Sanderson. Is she OK?
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The Rooster Bar by John Grisham
Borrow: [Normal Print] [Large Print] [eBook] [eAudiobook]
Three students who have borrowed heavily to attend a third-rate law school realize they have been caught in a scam when they discover that the school's owner also owns a bank specializing in student loans, and plot to expose the scam.
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Artemis by Andy Weir
Borrow: [Normal Print] [Large Print] [eBook]
The bestselling author of The Martian returns with an irresistible new near-future thriller—a heist story set on the moon.
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Origin by Dan Brown
Borrow: [Print] [eBook] [eAudiobook]
Robert Langdon, Harvard professor of symbology and religious iconology, arrives at the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao to attend the unveiling of a discovery that "will change the face of science forever."
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Two Kinds of Truth by Michael Connelly
Borrow: [Normal Print] [Large Print] [eBook]
An investigation into the murder of a young pharmacist leads Harry Bosch and San Fernando's detective squad into the big-business world of pill mills and prescription-drug abuse at the same time that an old case from Bosch's days with the LAPD returns to haunt him.
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Typhoon Fury by Clive Cussler
Borrow: [Normal Print] [Large Print] [eBook] [eAudiobook]
When they are hired to track down a valuable art collection, Juan Cabrillo and the crew of the Oregon find themselves sailing into a perfect storm involving a Filipino insurgency, a Japanese developed super-warrior drug, and a South African mercenary.
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Every Breath You Take by Mary Higgins Clark
Borrow: [Normal Print] [Large Print] [eBook] [eAudiobook]
The fifth collaborative novel in the Under Suspicion series by Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke, takes place at the Met Gala in New York City.
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Uncommon Type by Tom Hanks
Borrow: [Print] [eBook] [eAudiobook]
A collection of seventeen short stories includes three tales featuring a small-town newspaper column called "Our Town Today with Hank Fiset."
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Quick & Dirty by Stuart Woods
Borrow: [Normal Print] [Large Print] [eBook] [eAudiobook]
When a beautiful new client seeks out Stone Barrington, he becomes entangled in the rarefied and intricate world of the art business, where mistakes are costly and trouble lurks beneath the exclusive veneer.
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Fairytale by Danielle Steel
Borrow: [Print] [eBook]
When her life on her family's vineyard is shattered by her mother's death, Camille finds herself at the mercy of a cold-hearted stepfamily at the same time she bonds with her stepmother's mother and a friend from her childhood.
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Future Home of the Living God by Louise Erdrich
Borrow: [Normal Print] [Large Print] [eBook] [eAudiobook]
A tale set in a world of reversing evolution and a growing police state follows pregnant thirty-two-year-old Cedar Hawk Songmaker, who investigates her biological family while awaiting the birth of a child who may emerge as a member of a primitive human species.
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Nonfiction
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Promise Me, Dad by Joe Biden
Borrow: [Print] [eBook]
A deeply moving memoir about the year that would forever change both a family and a country.
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Obama: An Intimate Portrait by Pete Souza
Borrow: [Print]
Relive the extraordinary Presidency of Barack Obama through White House photographer Pete Souza's behind-the-scenes images and stories in this #1 New York Times bestseller--with a foreword from the President himself.
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Leonardo da Vinci by Walter Isaacson
Borrow: [Print] [eBook] [eAudiobook]
He was history's most creative genius. What secrets can he teach us?
The author of the acclaimed bestsellers Steve Jobs, Einstein, and Benjamin Franklin brings Leonardo da Vinci to life in this exciting new biography.
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Bobby Kennedy by Chris Matthews
Borrow: [Print] [eBook] [eAudiobook]
A revealing new portrait of Robert F. Kennedy that gets closer to the man than any book before, by bestselling author Chris Matthews, an esteemed Kennedy expert and anchor of MSNBC's Hardball.
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Hacks by Donna Brazille
Borrow: [Print] [eBook]
The former Democratic National Committee chair presents a revealing look at the 2016 election, discussing the Russian hacking of the DNC and the missteps by the Clinton campaign and Obama administration that enabled a Trump victory.
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Sisters First by Jenna Bush Hager and Barbara Pierce Bush
Borrow: [Print] [eBook] [eAudiobook]
The fraternal twin daughters of the 43rd U.S. president share personal stories and reflections from their lives within a political dynasty, from their grandfather's presidency through their subsequent upbringing under the eyes of the Secret Service, public, and paparazzi.
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Andrew Jackson and the Miracle of New Orleans by Brian Kilmeade
Borrow: [Print] [eBook] [eAudiobook]
A portrait of the seventh American president focuses on his formative military prowess during the War of 1812 and his pivotal contributions to the capturing of New Orleans from the British.
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Grant by Ron Chernow
Borrow: [Print] [eBook] [eAudiobook]
Pulitzer Prize winner Ron Chernow returns with a sweeping and dramatic portrait of one of our most compelling generals and presidents, Ulysses S. Grant.
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Killing England by Bill O'Reilly
Borrow: [Print] [eBook] [eAudiobook]
The breathtaking latest installment in Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard's mega-bestselling Killing series transports listeners to the most important era in our nation's history, the Revolutionary War.
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God, Faith, and Reason by Michael Savage
Borrow: [Book]
The conservative radio host shares his experiences with faith and spirituality, as well as his thoughts on religion and the Judeo-Christian basis of American culture that he has committed himself to preserve.
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What Unites Us by Dan Rather
Borrow: [Book] [eBook]
A collection of essays that define the historical changes and essential institutions of America to suggest ways to overcome divisions within the country.
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Endurance by Scott Kelly
Borrow: [Print] [eBook]
A memoir by the retired astronaut and former commander of the International Space Station.
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DVD New Releases (Nov-Dec):
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Dunkirk
Borrow: [DVD]
Trapped on the beach with their backs to the sea, British and Allied troops are surrounded by enemy forces facing a fierce battle in World War II.
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Stronger
Borrow: [DVD]
A victim of the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013 helps the police track down the killers while struggling to recover from devastating trauma.
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Mayhem
Borrow: [DVD]
Just after being fired, Derek's office is put into quarantine for a virus that causes people to act out their wildest impulses. As chaos erupts, he makes his way to the top-floor executives to settle the score once and for all.
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Detroit
Borrow: [DVD]
A police raid in Detroit in 1967 results in one of the largest citizen uprisings in the United States' history.
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The Trip to Spain
Borrow: [DVD]
Comedians Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon continue their hit series with a hilarious culinary road trip through Spain, featuring breathtaking locales and to-die-for cuisine.
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Brawl in Cell Block 99
Borrow: [DVD]
When Bradley (Vince Vaughn) is sent to prison, he is forced to commit acts of violence that turn the place into a savage battleground.
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Logan Lucky
Borrow: [DVD]
Trying to reverse a family curse, brothers Jimmy and Clyde Logan set out to execute an elaborate robbery during the legendary Coca-Cola 600 race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
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Tulip Fever
Borrow: [DVD]
An artist falls for a young married woman while he's commissioned to paint her portrait during the Tulip mania of 17th century Amsterdam.
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Rememory
Borrow: [DVD]
When an inventor turns up dead, a mysterious man (Peter Dinklage) steals his latest invention: a device able to extract, record and play a person's memories.
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M.F.A.
Borrow: [DVD]
Francesca Eastwood gives a breakout performance as an art student who is sexually assaulted at a party. After struggling to receive any support from her college to find justice and cope with her trauma, she impulsively confronts her attacker - a decision that has deadly repercussions. As she tracks down fellow rape survivors, an unlikely vigilante is born.
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Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets
Borrow: [DVD]
A dark force threatens Alpha, a vast metropolis and home to species from a thousand planets. Special operatives Valerian and Laureline must race to identify the marauding menace and safeguard not just Alpha, but the future of the universe.
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The Hitman's Bodyguard
Borrow: [DVD]
Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson star in this outrageous action comedy as an elite bodyguard and renowned hitman forced to work together. In order to succeed, they don't just have to avoid getting killed...they have to avoid killing each other.
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Acts of Vengeance
Borrow: [DVD]
A fast-talking lawyer (Antonio Banderas) transforms his body and takes a vow of silence, not to be broken until he finds out who killed his wife and daughter and has his revenge.
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Good Time
Borrow: [DVD]
Robert Pattinson stars in this fast-paced heist thriller about a bank robber who will stop at nothing to free his brother from prison, launching him into a night-long odyssey through New York's dark and dangerous criminal underworld.
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Birth of the Dragon
Borrow: [DVD]
The legend of Bruce Lee begins in 1960s San Francisco, when Lee fights Shaolin monk Wong Jack Man in a battle for the ages.
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Beach Rats
Borrow: [DVD]
Frankie (Harris Dickinson), a teenager on the edges of Brooklyn, struggles to reconcile his competing sexual desires, leaving him hurtling towards irreparable consequences.
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California Typewriter
Borrow: [DVD]
Cultural historians, collectors, and various celebrity obsessives, including Tom Hanks and John Mayer, launch us into the bittersweet moment when a beloved-but-dying technology, the typewriter, faces extinction.
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Want to read the Dark Tower series before you watch the movie? Here are the books:
The Dark Tower series by Stephen King
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Book 1: The Gunslinger (1982)
Borrow: [Print] [Audiobook] [eBook] [eAudiobook]
Roland, the world's last gunslinger, tracks an enigmatic Man in Black toward a forbidding dark tower, fighting forces both mortal and other-worldly on his quest.
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Book 2: The Drawing of the Three (1987)
Borrow: [eBook] [eAudiobook]
The second volume in Stephen King’s #1 bestselling Dark Tower Series, The Drawing of the Three is an “epic in the making” (Kirkus Reviews) about a savage struggle against underworld evil and otherworldly enemies.
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Book 3: The Waste Lands (1991)
Borrow: [Print] [eBook] [eAudiobook]
Roland, the last gunslinger, and his companions--Eddie Dean and Susannah--cross the desert of damnation, drawing ever closer to the Dark Tower, a legion of fiendish foes, and revelations that could alter the world.
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Book 4: Wizard and Glass (1997)
Borrow: [Print] [eBook] [eAudiobook]
Roland, the last gunslinger, and his band of followers escape one world only to slip into the next where Roland reflects upon past adventures and about his one true love.
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Book 5: Wolves of the Calla (2003)
Borrow: [Print] [Audiobook] [eBook] [eAudiobook]
Wolves of the Calla continues the adventures of Roland, the Last Gunslinger and survivor of a civilized world that has "moved on." Roland's quest is ka, an inevitable destiny -- to reach and perhaps save the Dark Tower, which stands at the center of everywhere and everywhen.
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Book 6: Song of Susannah (2004)
Borrow: [Print] [Audiobook] [eBook] [eAudiobook]
While Jake, Father Callahan, and Oy struggle to free Susannah Dean, whose body is possessed by a demon-mother named Mia, Roland and Eddie find themselves swept by magic to East Stoneham, Maine, in the summer of 1977.
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Book 7: The Dark Tower (2004)
Borrow: [Print] [eBook] [eAudiobook]
The final installment in the epic series completes the quest of Roland Deschain, who works to outmaneuver the increasingly desperate acts of his adversaries and confronts losses within his circle of companions.
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Book 8: The Wind Through the Keyhole (2012)
Borrow: [Print] [Audiobook] [eBook]
Mid-World's last gunslinger Roland Deschain hunts down a murderous shape-shifter. Finding the site of the creature's latest killing, Roland discovers a single surviving witness--a terrified boy named Bill Streeter--and calms him with a story from the Book of Eld.
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Sources: The New York Times, Rotten Tomatoes, Amazon, Goodreads, EarlyWord, New DVD Release Dates
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