Alyssa recommends "Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs?"

Over time, public perceptions of death in the United States have changed. The shift from viewings being held in the family home to funeral homes handling nearly every aspect of the process has contributed to a growing discomfort with the concept of death. Mortician and death-positive advocate Caitlin Doughty has built her reputation around de-stigmatizing death. Through her YouTube channel, her work with The Order of the Good Death, and her books, she works to debunk myths surrounding death in hopes of normalizing conversations about our end-of-life wishes and relieving our loved ones of the burden of making those decisions for us.

Doughty’s book Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs? addresses common questions asked by children, resulting in a book that is entertaining and informative for readers of all ages. Some chapters tackle questions we’ve all heard, such as “Will I poop when I die?” while others explore more unusual queries, like “What happens if someone eats a whole bag of popcorn before cremation?” Doughty takes some of the gore often associated with death and replaces it with humor, science, and straightforward explanations.

Labels: All Ages

 

Natalie recommends "Lilo and Stitch and Spirited Away"

It's with a heavy heart that I am sharing that Daveigh Chase, known for her roles as Lilo (Lilo and Stitch) and Chihiro (Spirited Away), as well as Samara (the Ring) and Samantha Darko (Donny Darko and S. Darko), passed away on June 16th.  

In honor of her memory, I wanted to do a staff recommendation for the two movies of hers that resonated with me the most: Lilo and Stitch and Spirited Away.

Lilo and Stitch was a favorite in my house, being my sisters favorite Disney movie.  So much so, that I could, and still can to a degree, quote the whole movie.  It is one of my all time favorite Disney movies as well.  It's a heartfelt movie that looking back does a good job of tackling the issues within it.  As well as having a good dose of humor and action.

As for Spirited Away, this is one of the more well known and beloved Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli movies and won an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2003.  This coming of age story is beautifully animated with wonderful music and a fun cast of characters.  For me it was the first Studio Ghibli film I had seen, which lead to it becoming my favorite from the studio with Princess Mononoke and Howl's Moving Castle not too far behind. I would definitely say that Spirited Away is a must see.  

My condolences goes out to Daviegh Chase's family, friends, and boyfriend.  As well as fans of her work.  She will be missed.

Meghan recommends "Robot Dreams"

"I don’t get it; was it about understanding and accepting loss?”

• My ten-year-old

What could cause such a reflective response from a ten-year-old? The answer is Robot Dreams, a delightful animated film about a dog (in world populated by animals) who is lonely, and orders himself a robot buddy. Buddies they are, and they have fun traipsing all over 1980s New York City until the fateful day they are separated while out and about. Will they ever be reunited?

The film is entirely without dialogue, but don’t worry, it’s easy to tell how every character is feeling and what they want just based on their faces and movements,  as well as small vocalizations and an evocative soundtrack, full of retro bangers. It’s often very funny, even when it’s also sad.

The film is based on a graphic novel by Sara Varon (which is also available through the library) and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2023.

There is one instance of a “rude gesture” (deployed for comedic effect); otherwise the movie is appropriate for all ages.

Ann recommends "Kid Paleontologist: Explore the Remarkable Dinosaurs, Fossils Finds, and Discoveries of the Prehistoric Era"

         

If you’re a dinosaur lover, you will love this book. Young readers will enjoy the beautiful full-page color illustrations of all kinds of dinosaurs. Each illustration has a caption listing a few basic facts about the dinosaur, and a brief but informative paragraph for those wanting to know more about them.

For older dinosaur enthusiasts to enjoy, there is a colorful chart showing how dinosaurs are classified, an illustrated prehistoric timeline, and a brief section that introduces readers to what paleontology is all about. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who can’t get enough about dinosaurs.

Children, all ages

 

Katie recommends "The Door of No Return"

For anyone who knows me, you know I love a novel in verse! Kwame Alexander’s new one does not disappoint.

This book is POWERFUL. The first book in a soon to be trilogy, The Door of No Return follows Kofi Offin, an 11 year old boy from Ghana in the 1860s. Alexander beautifully weaves details of Ghana’s geography and culture into the descriptions of every day life. I just felt an intense sense of dread as I read this, knowing that something awful was coming and I just…couldn’t stop reading. This book is beautiful, brutal, and a little bit hopeful.

I would recommend this to more mature middle grade readers (grades 5 and up), as some scenes include graphic violence. Definitely recommend to teens and adults as well. The audiobook is fantastic.

 

 

Katie recommends "Star Child"

This is a fascinating biography of Octavia Butler, the iconic author. I had never read anything by Butler, and really didn’t know much about her. This books was perfect – it’s short, includes poetry, direct quotes from Butler, photographs, etc. The author does a great job of explaining the poetry pieces without dumbing it down. The writing is really beautiful. One of my favorites so far this year.

This book is written for middle grade readers, but I would also recommend this to teens and adults interested in Butler’s life.

 

 

 

Jess recommends "The secret garden on 81st street : A modern graphic retelling of The Secret Garden"

Sometimes I am skeptical of modern retellings, but I really enjoyed this retelling of one of my childhood favorites. While intended for ages 8 - 12, with it's beautiful illustrations and personable characters, I would recommend this title to graphic novel readers of all ages or fans of the original. A fast-paced, feel-good read that touches on grief, family and friendship, and coping with death in an easy-to-read format that is well worth the read. 

Justine recommends "The Dire Days of Willowweep Manor"

One dark and stormy night, Haley sees a stranger drowning in the river. Since her greatest passion is Gothic romance novels, she knows her moment has come. But when Haley leaps into the water to rescue the stranger, she awakens in Willowweep. It certainly looks like the setting of one of her favorite books: A stately manor. A sinister housekeeper. Three brooding brothers. There's even a ghost. Except Willowweep is not what it seems.

The Dire Days of Willowweep Manor is a lighthearted parody of Gothic romance novels such as Rebecca, Wuthering Heights, and Jane Eyre.  It's a great Fall read for those who don't want to be scared, but enjoy a spooky atmosphere every so often.

Alicia recommends "The Handmade Charlotte"

Written by Rachel Faucett, The Handmade Charlotte Playbook: Crafts, Games, and Recipes for Families to Do Together Throughout the Year is exactly what the title implies with over 100 activities.  This book is for families with children under 12, grandparents and parents looking for activities and creative outlets for the kids. The book is arranged alphabetical but also includes several indices including projects, seasonal, holiday and recipe types.  Filled with color photos and step-by-step directions, even those who are not very crafty can create a fun, wholesome project with their kids.  Try the Hot Potato Game, the tasty cucumber cakes, or get adventurous and make a unicorn puppet.  Recommended for all ages.

Melissa recommends "Gone to the Woods: Surviving a Lost Childhood"

Although Gary Paulsen's book, Gone to the Woods: Surviving a Lost Childhood, is catalogued as juvenile biography, I thoroughly enjoyed it. My familiarity with the author was limited to my children's experience reading his books as elementary and junior high school students.  One of my daughters found Hatchet, in particular, difficult to read due to its visceral descriptions of a plane crash and a young passenger's subsequent fight for survival.  

Once I began reading Gone to the Woods, however, it became clear to me that Paulsen's themes of childhood loss and abandonment were rooted in his own tragic upbringing. With the exception of a short idyllic period living with a loving aunt and uncle in northern Minnesota and the  influence of a sensitive and nurturing librarian as a teenager, Paulsen's life was a continual struggle to survive.

This biography will interest readers for it's historical detail and inspire them by it's ultimately redeeming conclusion.  

Paulsen handles the gritty details of his life with discretion and tact, but I would recommend this book only for mature middle schoolers and above.​

Meghan recommends "Dora and the Lost City of Gold"

If you’ve been on the fence about watching Dora and the Lost City of Gold, I’m here to say “Go for it!’

This recent movie is a live-action reboot of the animated series Dora the Explorer, which ran on Nickelodeon from 2000 – 2009. In it, Dora lives in the jungle with her parents, who are explorers (and professors) searching for Parapata, a lost Incan city of gold. But when her parents get a lead on its location, they go off to find it while Dora is sent to stay with her Tia and Tio (and cousin Diego) in ‘the city’. First, Dora has some trouble assimilating in high school. Next, she stops hearing from her parents on her satellite phone. Then, she’s kidnapped by villains who are hoping she’ll lead them to her parents and Parapata. Unfortunately, Diego and two of her classmates are also kidnapped!

We watched this as a family and my 5-year old enjoyed the action and fart jokes. My 14-year old thought the representation of high school was spot-on, and got all the inside jokes about Dora, including Boots, songs about her backpack and little asides for the camera. I even enjoyed the self-aware humor and light-hearted fun.

Delicioso!

Natalie recommends "The Guardians: Jack Frost The End Becomes the Beginning"

​

As you may notice by the cover, the image of Jack Frost is similar to his appearance in the DeamWorks animated movie Rise of the Guardians.  Which would make sinjce since he was one of the people who worked this movie (as well as several short films and cartoons), as well as being the one that wrote the children books predeceasing it.  This is the fifth book in a series about the guardians of childhood, the first four centering around Nicholas St. North (Santa Claus), E. Aster Bunnymund (the Easter Bunny), Queen Toothiana (the Tooth Fairy), and Sandman (also known as Sanderson Mansnoozie) in that order.  Along with their friend Kathrine and a few other familiar characters.

This book centers around, as you probably guessed, Jack Frost.  It picks up years after the Guardians battle against Pitch, the king of nightmares, and looks into how Jack Frost became Jack Frost and the life he's been living.  Without giving too much away from the previous four books, he was  a being called Nightlight, who helped the Guardians and was a good friend of Kathrine.  This book highlights his life, memories as Jack Frost, and the plan to stop Pitch for good.

As I previously stated, this is the fifth and final book, so you will want to read those first.  We have books one through three as well as this book.  However, we do not have a copy of book four, Sandman and the War of Dreams, but can be found on MeL.

This is a book that is directed towards kids, but all ages can enjoy this series about these fairy/folktale figures.

Gretchen recommends "Prep-Ahead Breakfasts & Lunches"

Trying to save time now that the kids are back to school?  This prep-ahead cookbook gives easy recipes for breakfasts, quick breads, lunches, one bowl wonders, soups, sandwiches, and desserts. These 75 recipes save time and money; they can be stored and/or frozen and reheated.  Recipes include how to batch cook quinoa, spaghetti squash, and cauliflower rice.  Made-from-scratch seasonings like taco seasoning mix are also included. My fall faves include pumpkin quinoa muffins and carrot soup with lentils.  The peanut butter chocolate chip blender pancakes would be a hit with kids for a weekend post-slumber party breakfast.  No nutritional values are provided in this cookbook, however, if time is more important than calories, this might be the cookbook for your family! 

Miss Lynn recommends "Full Cicada Moon"

This novel in verse is beautifully written; it is perfect for ages 8-12 but will be enjoyed by all who read it.

Meghan recommends "Prudence Wants a Pet"

I may be an adult services librarian, but I am also a parent. And while I love my kid, I don’t always love his book choices. (“Really, kiddo? Paw Patrol AGAIN?”) So I was delighted when he recently picked out “Prudence Wants a Pet”. Prudence wants a pet very much. She wants a pet so much, she showers affection and playtime on a variety of inanimate objects. But none is quite the same as a pet. Luckily for Prudence, her persistence pays off.

Both the story and illustrations were charming fun, and it was great to take a break from some of his other favorites for a book we both enjoyed!

This picture book is appropriate for children of all ages.

Kathy recommends "Playback" by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Even though we lost him much too soon, Tom Petty’s music is timeless and still lives on.  Several customers have told me this is one of the finest box sets they have ever listened to.  Very comprehensive from Petty’s early career with Mudcrutch to more recent works plus great live tracks.  Highly recommended. The first three discs are devoted to the must-have tracks from all of Tom's albums up through 1993, and then come the real goodies: a disc of rare B-sides and then two discs of unreleased tracks (27 in all!), including Elvis covers, curiosities like a pre-Stevie Nicks version of Stop Draggin' My Heart Around , demos, live takes and more, plus an 84-page color booklet.

Lisa recommends Making and Tinkering Books

Do you need to keep the kids, tweens and teens occupied over the holiday break? Check out one of our books on making or tinkering:

Lisa recommends Making and Tinkering Books (various authors)

•       The Art of Tinkering 
•        Invent to Learn: Making, Tinkering, and Engineering in the Classroom  
•        The Kids Book of Simple Machines: Cool Projects and Activities that Make Science Fun
•        The Maker Cookbook: Recipes for Children’s and Tween Library Programs  
•        Making Makers: Kids, Tools, and the Future of Innovation
•        Tinkering: Kids Learn by Making Stuff
•        Tinkerlab: A Hands-On Guide for Little Inventors

Lisa recommends "Real Friends"

For anyone who has ever had a hard time making friends, dealt with cliques, or struggled through friendships, this graphic novel memoir is for you.  Shannon Hale shares her experience with elementary friendships, from feeling like the odd one out, to those moments of high anxiety, to making friends who accept you as you are.  I highly recommend picking this one up, no matter what your age is.

P.S. I even gave this one to my mom to read!

Jeannie Recommends Sarah McLachlan's "The Classic Christmas Album"

Classic Sarah McLachlan, track #9 is a sure hit, Room on the Couch for Two. Christmas songs mixed with original tunes, excellent holiday listening! Or try it on Freegal (minus a few tracks) streaming will put you in the holiday mood.

Colette recommends "LARK RISE TO CANDLEFORD" [BBC TV SERIES]

LARK RISE TO CANDLEFORD is a wonderful  TV series that is highly recommended for  family viewing.  LARK RISE  is set in late 19^th Century rural England where our young heroine moves from the small village hamlet in which she was raised to the market town of Candleford for a job.  Times are changing , as are families and expectations.  The series  is sometimes referred to as “Little House on the Prairie” set in the Victorian English countryside.  If you love heartwarming family- focused TV series,  such as Little House and  Anne of Avonlea, you are guaranteed to enjoy LARK RISE and will keep coming back until all 4 seasons have come to a satisfying conclusion.