Posted in Explore and Discover on August 2, 2016 at 6:00 am
by Erin Dodge Local artist Loretta West teaches the meditative art form of Zentangle at the Library District during August as part of our 2016 Summer Programs. In a previous post, Loretta graciously answered my questions about Zentangle and where she finds inspiration. Today, she shares a booklist filled with books that have touched her soul and […]
Posted in Explore and Discover, Teens on June 2, 2016 at 6:00 am
By Kelsey Hudson Every once in awhile, something comes together in just the right way to bring about a fantastic opportunity. You could say, the odds were ever in your favor! Last summer, my colleague librarian Sheree West and I were talking about a new collaboration she’d begun with Mica Peak High School (MPHS) in […]
Tags: book clubs, booklists, books, community, grants, teachers, technology, teens, YA
Posted in Explore and Discover on May 31, 2016 at 6:00 am
by Brian Vander Veen Yes, science fiction and fantasy have been global phenomena for a long time, but it feels like the last few years have seen an uptick in the number of foreign SFF novels getting English translations. Last year, The Three-Body Problem by Chinese author Cixin Liu became the first novel in translation […]
Tags: adults, booklists, books, fantasy, fiction, science fiction, translation
Posted in Explore and Discover, kids, Parents and Teachers on May 26, 2016 at 6:00 am
By Sheri Boggs If you’re a parent or teacher of a grade schooler, you’ve probably heard the term “summer slide,” sometimes also called “summer learning loss.” Summer slide refers to what happens to student brains when they are inactive over the three months of summer vacation. Although kids are getting a much needed break, they […]
Tags: booklists, books, family, kids, parents, teachers, young learners
Posted in Explore and Discover, Teens on May 10, 2016 at 6:00 am
by Kelsey Hudson The world is not ending—at least not yet—but sometimes it can feel that way, especially after I’ve read three or four dystopian novels in a row. I love a good dystopian tale as much as the next person, but I think there comes a time when even the most die-hard fan needs […]
Posted in Explore and Discover on May 3, 2016 at 6:00 am
By Sheri Boggs The United States are no longer united. In the wake of the Second Civil War, the once great nation is in shambles. And as the Republic of Idaho emerges alongside other newly formed, formerly American countries, the fate of the world hangs in the balance. Local author Trent Reedy concludes his stunning […]
Posted in For You, kids on April 7, 2016 at 6:00 am
by Sheri Boggs Board books are undeservedly one of the most easily dismissed formats in all of children’s literature. With their chunky spines and thick, laminated pages, they’re designed to withstand the worst a baby can deliver, from a good, saliva-drenched gumming to being hurled from a high chair. They’re short by necessity—most around […]
Tags: board books, books, illustrated books, kids, parents
Posted in Explore and Discover, For You on April 5, 2016 at 6:00 am
By Brian Vander Veen When I went to see Star Wars: The Force Awakens, I had prepared myself for disappointment. And sure, much of it was a rehash of a plot we’d already seen twice in the Star Wars franchise, and yes, there were plot holes aplenty, but I’d be lying if I said I […]
Tags: books, graphic novels, Star Wars
Posted in Explore and Discover, For You on February 23, 2016 at 6:00 am
By Sheri Boggs “Mom, did I ever have an imaginary friend?” I click my pen and wait for an answer, aware that this very blog post was due three hours ago and I need some way to introduce it. But alas, Mom is no help. “No, honey. Your sister had Paul,” (Paul being a plush […]
Posted in Explore and Discover, For You on February 18, 2016 at 6:00 am
By Brian Vander Veen In my head, my home coffee table is something like the platonic archetype of coffee tables, with a few books arranged in a tidy stack, next to a generously sized mug–on a coaster, of course–still steaming with the fragrant, nutty aroma of freshly brewed coffee. And sometimes, for a rare and […]
Tags: booklists, books, on my coffee table