I Love Snow

snow 2

I love snow.  Yes, love it!  I know, I’m in the minority – most people tend to complain snowflake 1about snow.  We live in New England.  Snow is a way of life.  Sure, I’m not thrilled with having to scrape the frost and snow off my car, dig the car out, deal with a dead battery, but still, I love snow.  It always makes me smile snowflake 2when I see the flakes falling.  No matter my mood, snow lifts me up.  Out of curiosity, I typed ‘snow’ in the search box of our catalog and 1,224 items came up!  There are children’s books, movies, adult fiction and non-fiction.  Below are a few adult titles that might be of interest.  If nothing appeals to you, take a look at our catalog.  There is sure to be something out of the 1,224 titles that you might want to check out.

the snow brideThe Snow Bride  Debbie Macomber – While journeying to Alaska to marry a man she met on the Internet, Jenna Walsh is kidnapped by Reed Kenner, a fellow passenger, who will do anything to prove that she is making the biggest mistake of her life.

snow in augustSnow in August – Pete Hamill – An unlikely friendship between an eleven-year-old Irish Catholic boy and a lonely rabbi from Prague in 1947 Brooklyn has the two opening new windows of understanding with each other but still fighting the prejudices of the day.

waiting for snow in havanaWaiting for Snow in Havana – Carlos Eire – A survivor of the Cuban Revolution recounts his pre-war childhood as the religiously devout son of a judge,and describes the conflict’s violent and irrevocable impact on his friends, family, and native land.

the snow queenThe Snow Queen – Michael Cunningham – A heartbroken man turns to religion after seeing a vision in the sky above Central Park, while his musician brother takes drugs he thinks will help him compose a ballad for his seriously ill wife.

last snowLast Snow – Eric Van Lustbader – In the aftermath of an American senator’s death on a political trip, presidential Special Advisor Jack McClure is dispatched to investigate a perilous trail throughout Eastern Europe, an assignment that is complicated by his efforts to protect two unlikely companions.

mercy snowMercy Snow – Tiffany Baker – A tragic bus accident has devastating repercussions for two families from opposite sides of the tracks of a tiny New England paper milling town.

sisters of heart and snowSisters of Heart and Snow – Margaret Dilloway – Two estranged sisters reconnect when they return to their childhood home in response to their mother’s dementia diagnosis and one of the pair takes on her mother’s power of attorney.

whiter than snowWhiter Than Snow – Sandra Dallas – When a devastating avalanche traps nine children walking home from school in 1920, the disaster has life-changing effects on the people who live in the small Colorado town where it occurs.

College Applications and Financial Aid Help

collegetopHave you decided to go back to college? Maybe you have a family member that is going back to school, or just starting to think about life after high school?  Well, it is never too early, or too late, to start researching options and resources that might be available to you. The library has plenty of books, guides, and other resources that can make the decision and application process a little bit easier. Here are some great places to start the search and decision making process, but keep in mind that there are many more resources and help you available at the library and online.

After checking out the paper resources you might also want to check out an upcoming program on the subject. On January 12 2016 Jennifer Philips will be presenting a seminar on College Financial Aid at 6:30pm. Registration is required. For more information or to register take a look at all the details here.

Choosing the Right School:
college1The Other College Guide: a Roadmap to the Right School for You by Jane Sweetland, Paul Glastris and the staff of Washington Monthly
Profiles of American Colleges 2016 compiled and edited by the College Division of Barron’s Educational Series
The Hidden Ivies: Fifty Top Colleges from Amherst to Williams that Rival the Ivy League by Howard R. Greene and Matthew W. Greene
Bound-for-College Guidebook: a Step-by-Step Guide to Finding and Applying to Colleges by Frank Burtnett

Applying to School:
college2In! College Admissions and Beyond: the Experts’ Proven Strategy for Success by Lillian Luterman and Jennifer Bloom
The New Rules of College Admissions: Ten Former Admissions Officers Reveal What it Takes to Get into College Today by Stephen Kramer, Michael London
The Simple Guide to College Admission & Financial Aid: How to Select the Right College, Applying for Admission, Writing the College Essay, [and] the Financial Aid Process Made Easy by Anne M. St. Pierre & Danielle M. Printz
B+ Grades, A+ College Application: How to Present your Strongest Self, Write a Stand-Out Admissions Essay, and Get into the Perfect School For You–Even with Less-than-Perfect Grades by Joie Jager-Hyman, EdD

Paying for School:
Paying for College Without Going Broke by Kalman A. college3Chany with Geoff Martz
Getting Financial Aid 2016 from College Board
Peterson’s How to Get Money for College 2016
Scholarship Handbook 2016
Paying for College: the Greene’s Guide to Financing Higher Education by Howard R. Greene and Matthew W. Greene

This is just a starting point, and everyone’s path through higher education is different.  If you need further help using online resources or finding materials you need please stop by the Reference desk, we will be more that happy to help. And do not forget about our eLearning resources on the library website, which can help with the research and preparation as well. We are also holding a College Financial Aid Seminar at the library on Tuesday, January 12, 2016 at 6:30pm.

Romance Novels With Mature Couples

roses and wine

It seems that in most of the romance books I read, the couples are very young.  The average age of heroines in romance books today is 24-26.  The average romance reader is 44, and the number of readers over 45 is 44%.  Sometimes I find it hard to connect to the stories  because I’ve long passed my twenties.  Are you finding yourself with the same dilemma?  The good news is that the industry is aware and romances are no longer about the young, perfect couple with perfect jobs and perfect lives.  Stories have become more like real lives with all the real issues and hardships, and that includes stories with more mature characters.  If you’d like to read romances with more mature characters, here is a small selection of titles.

black roseBlack Rose – Nora Roberts – Roz, a wealthy and independent woman who believes that love is behind her, is stunned when unexpected romance comes into her life.

julie and romeoJulie and Romeo – Jeanne Ray – Julie Roseman and Romeo Cacciamani had been born to rival florist families in Boston, but it is love at first sight when they spot each other across a crowded lobby.

hannah's courtshipHannah’s Courtship – Emma Miller – Amish widow Hannah Yoder never intended to marry again. Yet when her friendship with veterinarian Albert Hartman begins to bloom into something more, Hannah wonders if perhaps she’s finally ready for a new love.

taken with youTaken With You – Shannon Stacey – Even though he is her complete opposite, librarian Hailey Genest finds herself falling for rugged, outdoorsy game warden Matt Barnett, who is renting the house next door.

wild manWild Man – Kristen Ashley – When DEA agent Brock walks into Tessa O’Hara’s bakery, she thinks she’s found the man of her dreams, until the details of his mission jeopardize what they have together.

honeysuckleHoneysuckle Summer – Sherryl Woods – Raylene Hammond, who is shielded from the world by her best friends as she recovers from a disastrous marriage, falls in love with sheriff’s deputy Carter Rollins, but wonders if she is strong enough to accept what he is offering.

this heart of mineThis Heart of Mine – Susan Elizabeth Phillips – When children’s book author Molly Somerville acts on her crush on Chicago Stars quarterback Kevin Tucker, she sets in motion a chain of events that will alter the lives of everyone it touches.

deliciousDelicious – Sherry Thomas – A rising political star, Stuart Somerset gets more than he had bargained for when he meets his talented new chef, Verity Durant, and finds himself attracted to more than just her cooking abilities.

catch of a lifetimeCatch of a Lifetime – LuAnn McLane – While making her aunt’s diner the go-to place for gourmet down-home fare, Jessica Robinson, a single mother and world-class chef, catches the eye of former major leaguer Ty McKenna who, no stranger to her cooking, tries to convince her that he is a one-woman man.

 

 

Sources:  Booklist Reader, Dear Author, Romance Writers of America

 

 

Our Most Popular Non Fiction Series for Children

IMG_3100When biography and nonfiction book reports are assigned in school, there is one series that most middle grade readers go to first. Most will head straight for the Who Was biographies and the What Was and Where Is nonfiction series. These books cut straight to the important facts about the subject matter, while making the reading both fun and interesting. In fact, these books are so popular that it is hard to keep them on the shelf even when there are no school projects looming. To see just how few of these popular books actually are in the library right now, check out the small wooden stand outside the Teens Room.

whowas1This series is published by Penguin, and covers an extensive list of people, places, and events that are important historically or are currently relevant in pop culture. The books are easily recognizable by the caricature style drawing of biography subjects and bold cartoon work of all their covers.  There are also illustrations throughout the books and extra bits of information that make the reading more fun. For big fans of the series Penguin has a website where readers can keep track of which books they have read and test their knowledge.

whowas2There is a book club here at the library that meets once a month and focuses on the Who Was series. About a month before each meeting, a librarian will select a book from the series for everyone to read. At the meeting, readers chat about what they discovered in the book and do one or more fun activities inspired by that person’s life. For more info on when the group is meeting check out our events calendar.

what1Here is a small sampling of the wide variety of people, places, and events this series explores; Who is Jane Goodall? by Roberta Edwards, What is the World Series? by Gail Herman, What was the Battle of Gettysburg? by Jim O’Connor, Who was Dr. Seuss? by Janet Pascal, What was Hurricane Katrina? by Robin Koontz, Who was Betsy Ross? by James Buckley, Where is Mount Rushmore? by True Kelley, Who was Frederick Douglass? by April Jones, What is the Panama Canal? by Janet B. Pascal, Who is Stan Lee? by Geoff Edgers, What was the March on Washington? by Kathleen Krull, and Where is the Great Wall? by Patricia Brennan Demuth.

Weeding Through the Holiday Wish Lists at the Library

wishlistWith the holidays quickly approaching advertisements for toys, gadgets, and all sorts of hot items are increasing and seem to keep getting brighter, louder, and more insistent. My kids are certainly taking notice and chiming in with regular rounds of “I want that!”

Thankfully, with the marketing and tie-ins that most companies are doing these days there are plenty of books about the latest obsessions that can help explore the most popular product lines. From Minecraft to Disney movies, there are novels, picturebooks, and guides that could inspire a love of reading and some serious research. Here are some books you might want to take a peek at or christmasminecrafttest interest levels with the intended recipient, before purchasing as a gift.

Minecraft
Minecraft Blockopedia by Alex Wiltshire, Minecraft Essential Handbook  by Stephanie Milton,  Minecraft Redstone Handbook by Nick Farwell, and The Ultimate Player’s Guide to Minecraft by Stephen O’Brien.

Legos
christmaslegoThe LEGO Ideas Book: Unlock Your Imagination or LEGO Play Book: Ideas to Bring Your Bricks to Life by Daniel Lipkowitz, The Unofficial LEGO Builder’s Guide by Allan Bedford, The Lego Adventure Book : Spaceships, Pirates, Dragons & More!, The Lego Movie: the Essential Guide by Hannah Dolan, The LEGO Build-it Book. Amazing Vehicles Amazing Vehicles by Nathanaël Kuipers and Mattia Zamboni, and Building Robots with Lego Mindstorms: the Ultimate Tool for Mindstorms Maniacs! by Mario Ferrari, Giulio Ferrari and Ralph Hempel.

Star Wars
christmasstarwarsStar Wars: the Visual Dictionary by David West Reynolds, Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith: the Visual Dictionary by James Luceno, Star Wars: Absolutely Everything you Need to Know by Adam Bray, Kerrie Dougherty, Cole Horton, and Michael Kogge, Star Wars: the Original Trilogy Stories based on the story and screenplay by George Lucas, The Star Wars Craft Book by Bonnie Burton, and LEGO Star Wars in 100 Scenes by Daniel Lipkowitz.

Disney (Frozen, Avengers, and so on)
christmasdisneyFrozen: the Essential Guide by Barbara Bazaldua, Frozen: the Junior Novelization adapted by Sarah Nathan and Sela Roman, The Avengers Storybook Collection, Avengers, Age of Ultron: the Junior Novel by Chris Wyatt, Inside Out adapted by Suzanne Francis, Disney Pixar Inside Out: the Essential Guide by Steve Bynghall,  Disney Princess: Little Golden Book Favorites, Disney Storybook CollectionThor adapted by Elizabeth Rudnick, Captain America. Winter Soldier Ultimate Collection and Knowhere to Run: Starring Star-Lord by Chris “Doc” Wyatt.

As always, these are just suggestions and a starting point. There are so many great books out there, and that is especially true of hot topics. There are graphic novels, novels, picture books, easy readers, and non fiction guides related to just about everything on the wish lists your family might be working on. Why not take a look at a library copy before adding a new book to your home library, or do some research on the newest game or topic that monopolizes discussions in your home?