Children’s Nonfiction Books about Pets

January 11, 2015December 30, 2014 / Sharon Tyler / Leave a comment

Do you have a children begging for a new pet, or one that needs to learn a little bit more about the responsibility that comes with the joys of having a pet? Perhaps your youngster just loves all things cute and pet-like and would like to learn a little bit more about them, including some history and wacky facts. Well, which ever inspires you and your child to search for non fiction books about pets, here are some books that you can enjoy together.

1.Presidential Pets: the Weird, Wacky, Little, Big, Scary, Strange Animals that have Lived in the White House by Julia Moberg

2. Pets in America: a History by Katherine C. Grier

3. Oh the Pets You Can Get!: All About our Animal Friends by Tish Rabe

4. Adopting Pets: How to Choose Your New Best Friend by Bill Gutman

5. Pocket Pets by Alvin Silverstein, Virginia Silverstein, and Laura Silverstein Nunn

6. The Royal Treatment: a Natural Approach to Wildly Healthy Pets by Barbara Royal, with Anastasia Royal

7. Underwater Dogs: Kids Edition by Seth Casteel

8. Sneed B. Collard III’s Most Fun Book Ever About Lizards by Sneed B. Collard III

9. 125 True Stories of Amazing Pets: Inspiring Tales of Animal Friendship & Four-legged Heroes, Plus Crazy Animal Antics

10. Why Rabbits Eat Poop and other Gross Facts about Pets by Jody Sullivan Rake

Looking for even more pet fun? Here are a few more books that might fit the bill; My First Guinea Pig and Other Small Pets by Linda Bozzo, Love Your Hamster by Judith Heneghan, Orangutans are Ticklish: fun facts from an Animal Photographer by Steve Grubman with Jill Davis, Do Fishes Get Thirsty? questions answered by Dr. Les Kaufman and staff of the New England Aquarium, How Dogs Really Work! by Alan Snow, Silkies and other Guinea Pigs, My First Pets Board Book, Safety: with Pets illustrated by Sue Wilkinson, When a Pet Dies by Fred Rogers, or May I Pet Your Dog?: the How-to Guide for Kids Meeting Dogs (and Dogs Meeting Kids) by Stephanie Calmenson.

Entertainment Weekly Picks Top Nonfiction Books of 2014

December 30, 2014December 11, 2014 / Linda / Leave a comment

The following nonfiction titles were among Entertainment Weekly‘s top picks for 2014.

Blood Will Out by Walter Kirn – The true story of a young novelist who meets and befriends an eccentric, privileged New Yorker when he delivers a crippled hunting dog to him from an animal shelter, and later discovers that his friend was a serial imposter and brutal double-murderer.

The Secret History of Wonder Woman by Jill Lepore -A cultural history of Wonder Woman traces the character’s creation and enduring popularity, drawing on interviews and archival research to reveal the pivotal role of feminism in shaping her seven-decade story.

Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant? by Roz Chast – A graphic memoir by a long-time New Yorker cartoonist celebrates the final years of her aging parents’ lives through four-color cartoons, family photos and documents that reflect the artist’s struggles with caregiver challenges.

What If? by Randall Monroe – The creator of the popular webcomic “xkcd” presents his heavily researched answers to his fans’ oddest questions, including “What if I took a swim in a spent-nuclear-fuel pool?” and “Could you build a jetpack using downward-firing machine guns?

Smoke Gets In Your Eyes by Caitlin Doughty – The blogger behind the popular Web series “Ask a Mortician” describes her experiences working at a crematory, including how she sometimes got ashes on her clothes and how she cared for bodies of all shapes and sizes.

The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace by Jeff Hobbs – Presents the life of Robert Peace, an African American who became a brillant biochemistry student at Yale University, but after graduation lived as drug dealer and was brutally murdered at the age of thirty.

Goodreads Best Book Award Winners Announced!

December 28, 2014December 30, 2014 / Sharon Tyler / Leave a comment

Every year Goodreads allows its registered members to vote on the best books of the year in a variety of genres and categories. The votes are done in three rounds, each round lasting about a week. This years voting for the final round ended on November 24th. The winners in each category are:

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Fiction: Landline by Rainbow Rowell

Mystery & Thriller: Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King

Historical Fiction: All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

Fantasy: The Book of Life by Deborah Harkness

Romance: Written Down in My Own Heart’s Blood by Diana Gabaldon

Science Fiction: The Martian by Andy Weir

Horror: Prince Lestat by Anne Rice

Humor: Yes Please by Amy Poehler

Nonfiction: The Opposite of Loneliness by Marina Keegan

Memoir & Autobiography: This Star Won’t Go Out by Esther Earl

History & Biography: The Romanov Sisters by Helen Rappaport

Business Books:#Girlboss by Sophia Amoruso

Food & Cookbooks: Make it Ahead by Ina Garten

Graphic Novels & Comics: Serenity: Leaves on the Wind by Zack Whedon

Poetry: Lullabies by Lang Leav

Debut Goodreads Author: Red Rising by Pierce Brown

Young Adult Fiction: We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

Young Adult Fantasy: City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare

Middle Grade & Children’s: The Blood of Olympus by Rick Riordan

Picturebooks: The Pigeon Needs a Bath! by Mo Willems

Parenting Books for New and Experienced Families

December 18, 2014December 18, 2014 / Sharon Tyler / Leave a comment

About to become a parent, or just looking to read what all the experts and fellow parents have to say on the subject? Here are some useful collection or books to consider for reassurance, advice, and inspiration. Parenthood is not easy, no matter what ‘they’ say. Every child and every family is different, but it always helps to learn about the theories and recommendations that just might help you in the coming years. I have given three small lists here, one for parents to share, one that is particularly helpful to my fellow moms, and a list fabulous resources for fathers.

Parenting Books for All:
1. All Joy and No Fun: The Paradox of Modern Parenthood by Jennifer Senior

2. Good Kids, Tough Choices: How Parents Can Help Their Children Do the Right Thing by Rushworth M. Kidder

3. You Might as Well Laugh: Surviving the Joys of Parenthood by Sandi Kahn Shelton

4. Nurture the Nature: Understanding and Supporting Your Child’s Unique Core Personality by Michael Gurian

5. Parenting Experts: Their Advice, the Research, and Getting it Right by Jane L. Rankin

6. The Business of Baby: What Doctors Don’t Tell You by Jennifer Margulis

7. Selfish Reasons to Have More Kids by Bryan Caplan

8. Babyproofing your Marriage by Stacie Cockrell, Cathy O’Neill, and Julia Stone ; illustrated by Larry Martin

Especially for Mothers:
1. Why Have Kids?: a New Mom Explores the Truth about Parenting and Happiness by Jessica Valenti

2. The Hidden Feelings of Motherhood:
Coping with Stress, Depression, and Burnout by Kathleen A. Kendall-Tackett

3. The Girlfriends’ Guide to Toddlers by Vicki Iovine

4. I Was a Really Good Mom Before I Had Kids by Trisha Ashworth and Amy Nobile

5. Because I’m the Mother, That’s Why by Stephanie Pierson ; illustrations by Mary Lynn Blasutta

6. The 7 Stages of Motherhood by Ann Pleshette Murphy

Especially for Fathers:
1. The Book of Fathers’ Wisdom: Paternal Advice from Moses to Bob Dylan by Edward Hoffman

2. The Playskool Guide for Expectant Fathers by Brian Lipps

3. Father Knows Less, or, Can I Cook my Sister? by Wendell Jamieson

4. The Expectant Father by Armin Brott

5. Rookie Dad Tackles the Toddler by Susan Fox

6. Dad Handbook by Peter Baylies

This is of course far from a comprehensive list, and we would be more than happy to help you find a book that best fits your needs. We do have a Parent’s section in the children’s room full of helpful books as well as a variety of books in the nonfiction section. If you are look for specific information please stop by the Children’s Desk or Reference Desk and we will gladly help.

December 16th is Chocolate Covered Anything Day!

December 16, 2014December 17, 2014 / Sharon Tyler / Leave a comment

Did you know that there is a day to celebrate covering foods with chocolate? This year December 16th is Chocolate Covered Anything Day! Now, with whispers of a chocolate shortage have been present in the news lately it is even more important to celebrate this day with some fantastic treats. Chocolate covered fruit such as strawberries, banana, and pineapple are well known and loves and less obvious treats like chocolate covered pretzels and more savory treats have become more popular in recent years, a day like today is just the inspiration you might need to explore other less obvious pairings, like chocolate and bacon.

So, in honor of today cover your food in chocolate or simply make something tasty with it. Like all good things chocolate is better when shared so, in spirit of the holiday season, share some of your chocolate treats with your friends and family. Here are some books to give you chocolate related inspiration: