• Lists

    Summer Camp Titles for Middle Grade Readers

    Although I didn’t spend my summers as a child at summer camp, many of my friends did and it always sounded like so much fun. Here’s a great list of titles for middle grade readers that are set in summer camp – Enjoy! Camp Babymouse by Jennifer L. Holm &…

  • Lifestyle

    Early Literacy At Its Finest

    There’s a great article on the School Library Journal’s website about the positive effects of storytime on young children. Storytime began in the late 1800s and has changed drastically over the years from a time when children were expected to sit quietly and listen to an adult read books to…

  • Reviews

    Book Review: The Secret Sheriff of Sixth Grade

    I’ve enjoyed a number of Jordan Sonnenblick’s books in the past and he even visited our library for an author visit program, so I had high hopes for The Secret Sheriff of Sixth Grade, but honestly, this wasn’t my favorite story.Maverick is starting sixth grade and this year he promises to…

  • Reviews

    Book Review: Brightwood

    Daisy only knows the house and gardens of Brightwood Hall, her mother suffered from a horrible tragedy and only goes out when it’s completely necessary and never allows Daisy to leave. With a stockpile of food and her mother’s Day Boxes (a box for each day filled with things that…

  • Lists

    20 Titles About Colonial America & the Revolutionary War

    While Top Ten Tuesday is taking a break, I decided to create a different book list for today. Today, on Independence Day, I’m sharing 20 titles about Colonial America and the Revolutionary War. These titles share a wide range of experiences from different groups of people who lived through this…

  • Lists

    It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 7/3/17

    I honestly have no clue how it’s already July… I feel like this year is flying by and although this new position is cutting into my reading time, I’ve started finding a good balance, which all pretty much when out the window this weekend. I’m spending the holiday weekend with…

  • Lifestyle

    Director's Thoughts #10 – Shifting Collections

    After you weed the entire collection… what do you do next? That was my question, after spending 5 months and countless hours running reports, scanning, stamping and sorting books. The next step for us…. shifting the collection. Although tight, our children’s department had a lot more wiggle room at the…

  • Lifestyle

    Authors Who Write for Adults & Kids

    A number of authors dabble in different genres, but not as many attempt to write for both adults and children – it’s not easy! A book written for middle grade readers is going to sound differently than something written for teens which will also be different from something written for…

  • Reviews

    Book Review: The Bone Sparrow

    The Bone Sparrow by Zana Fraillon is the story Subhi, a refugee born in an Australian permanent detention center after his mother and sister fled the violence of their homeland. Subhi’s world is only what he knows inside the fence of the detention center, but his imagination allows him to…

  • Lifestyle

    Far Too Common a Problem Results in Unexpected Heroes

    I think at this point almost everyone who follows social and community issues has heard of the skyrocketing numbers of deaths due to drug overdoses, specifically that of heroin in the past few years. It’s a national crisis and you can learn more about the startling number of people it…