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Jeana Barry

Return of the Scot

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Return of the Scot by Eliza Knight
Format: Book
Who’s it for: New for Adults

Duke of Sutherland and war hero Lorne Gordon is ready to return home after ten years of being missing in action as a prisoner of war, but how is a Duke to return home when his title and estate have been sold out from under him? Business maven Jaime Anderson has little sympathy for the Duke presumed dead and is resolute to withhold her newly purchased property from the currently penniless Laird, but can she withhold her heart from the determined Duke despite their bitter past? An unlikely partnership and more than a few sparks might unite these stubborn Scots!

Eliza Knight’s first book of the Scots of Honor series is one more Highland romance to add to a historical romance lover’s “to be read” shelf. Family secrets, mysterious disappearances, and less than tactful proposals aren’t the only plot points to enjoy. Jaime and Lorne’s strong personalities and dialects make this prickly and utterly Scottish pair well-matched for their entertaining banter and slowly built tension. Cheeky cousins, blunt butlers, and detestable siblings are also in store for this novel that can be read alone or with the accompanying novels in the series.  Fans of Highland romances from authors like Lyndsay Sands and Lori Ann Bailey may enjoy this quick, lightly sensual read and it’s following novels in the trilogy. Find Return of the Scot by Eliza Knight and other authors in our catalog.

 

Mindful Mr. Sloth

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Title: Mindful Mr. Sloth by Katy Hudson
Format: Picture Book
Who it’s for: Kids

Do you know someone who just won’t slow down? Well, you might just need a friend to help you see the world at a different pace!
Sasha Patience Pruitt is a little girl with little patience and little time for stillness until a newly made friend enters her life with a new perspective. Mr. Sloth is slow at talking, playing, and everything else Sasha loves to do. Maybe a bike race will bring her new friend up to speed, or maybe Sasha will learn that enjoying the moment is worth the “waaaaaaaaiiiiiiiiittttttt.”

This adorable picture book is a great read aloud for young movers and shakers as a gentle introduction to self regulation (the ability to pause between thought and action to respond appropriately to a situation) and practicing mindfulness (the ability to be aware and present with thoughts and feelings in the moment). Slowing down can be difficult and that’s why we have friends to show us that taking time to enjoy life can be exactly what we need. If you have a little one in your life who only knows one speed, this picture book is for you! Find Mindful Mr. Sloth in the catalog!

Oh Look, A Cake!

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Oh Look, A Cake! by J.C. McKee
Format: Book
Who it’s for: New for Kids

Oh look, a cake! I wonder who left such a yummy cake out? Can it be eaten? Can it be shared? Lemur and Sloth are wondering too! Join these two friends as they puzzle over a delicious discovery of a lifetime and maybe learn a few very important lessons about looking but not eating.

Fans of Elephant and Piggie and other quirky character duos may enjoy Lemur and Sloth’s moral dilemma of cake eating, cake sharing, and cake consequences. Author and illustrator J.C McKee’s colorful pastels will definitely draw kids in but adults are definitely invited to enjoy this silly story and its slightly less silly twist. A warning for parents- the cake is not the only thing eaten! Always check who the cake belongs to before taking what’s not yours in the animal kingdom! Your child might not understand the ending, but grown ups sure will!

Rest assured that you can say “oh look, a book!” with little consequence at your local library branch! Find Oh Look, A Cake! in the catalog here.

 

The New LiBEARian

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The New LiBEARian by Alison Donald; illustrated by Alex Willmore
Format: Book
Who’s it for: Kids

What happens when the librarian is late to storytime? Why is the librarian’s desk covered in honey and paw prints? Who will read for storytime? How about the new librarian- who happens to be a bear! In this adorably illustrated picture book, you’ll be “beary” surprised by the magic of the library and its newest librarian! Library lovers will enjoy this special twist on how imagination comes to life at storytime and can even bring forth some very special guests! If storytime sparks your imagination- visit your library branch today and peruse a copy of librarian (and liBEARian) approved stories and activities! Find it in the catalog!

This Zoo is Not For You

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This Zoo Is Not For You by Ross Collins
Format: Book
Who it’s for: Kids

Did you know you need an interview to be seen at the zoo? When one platypus answers the call for hire, they may find that the zoo is not as welcoming as it seems. After multiple rejections from the current zoo residents for not meeting their very particular requirements, perhaps the most a platypus can do is continue being themselves and make sure that the place that they belong is welcoming to everyone.

This adorably illustrated story in rhyme is a wonderful message for being inclusive and welcoming when meeting new people. Sometimes we can be quick to judge whether or not someone is “enough” for our established circles. Sometimes we wonder whether we can fit in or contribute something special to a new group. Sometimes it takes one brave and unique person to break down barriers and create a place where the uninvited are always invited! Whether you’ve been the platypus or a current member of a zoo looking for someone new, this picture book will remind you that even if the zoo is not for you, there’s always room for you on the platybus!

Find This Zoo is Not For You in the catalog here!

Galloping Good Reads: Horses and History

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I don’t know about you, but I definitely had an obsession with ponies at a young age. I guess you could say I was a little bit of a “Horse Girl” and my reading habits definitely showed it. I remember reading Misty of Chincoteague as a little girl and only dreaming of seeing the wild ponies on an island I couldn’t quite pronounce. Who would’ve thought that I’d end up moving from Southern California to the eastern coast and find out that Chincoteague was a real place with real wild ponies?! My eight-year-old self would be positively galloping with joy!

As a former horse girl and a current local history nerd, re-reading Misty was a wonderful opportunity to get acquainted with the very real islands of Chincoteague and Assateague. If you’re looking to enjoy this childhood favorite through a local history lens, take a look at Chincoteague and Assateague Islands and see the real historical photos and facts that inspired the novel. Want more fun facts? Learn about the history of Assateague’s wild ponies in Assateague: Island of Wild Ponies. You might be able to impress your child with some fun local trivia or get inspired for your next outdoor adventure!

Misty of Chincoteague-Book Cover

Misty of Chincoteague – Marguerite Henry, Ill. by Wesley Dennis

Brother and sister Paul and Maureen are captivated by the beautiful and elusive wild mare, Phantom. Hoping to capture her and win her in an auction after the annual pony swim from Assateague to Chincoteague, the duo is surprised to find that Phantom is mother to a beautiful silver colt, Misty. Will Paul and Maureen fulfill their dreams of owning this wild pony pair? Will the wild ponies cross from Assateague to Chincoteague safely? Find out in the Newberry Honor novel by Marguerite Henry!

 

Assateague Island of the Wild Ponies

Assateague: Island of Wild Ponies- Andrea Jauck & Larry Points

A great non-fiction companion for Misty fans – this full color guide to Assateague’s wild ponies and their daily lives will easily enchant the horse-curious. Be inspired to learn with easy to read print and fun facts about Assateague’s habitat and environment as well as other wildlife that enriches the life cycles of Assateague’s wild ponies!

 

Chincoteague and Assateague Islands Book Cover

Chincoteague and Assateague Islands- Nan DeVincent-Hayes and Bo Bennett

Read about the history of the communities off the coast of Virginia and Maryland through stunning historical research. Learn about the symbiotic relationship between the rich tourism of Chincoteague and the wild primitivism of Assateague complete with community contributed stories, postcards, and photos. See the development of these two thriving islands and the people who lived there then and now.