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Bedtime for Sweet Creatures

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Bedtime for Sweet Creatures by Nikki Grimes, Illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon
Format: Book
Who it’s for:  Kids

This new, fun book for kids is written by Nikki Grimes, an award-winning author and the illustrations are by Elizabeth Zunon who grew up in the Ivory Coast.  Ms. Grimes hasn’t written a book in a while so this was a good one to read.  Ms. Zunon has a background in art as she works in paint, collage, sewing, silkscreens, jewelry and more.  The illustrations reflect her interest and are a combination of realism and fantasy.

Mommy and Daddy are trying to get their cantankerous toddler son to go to bed but the boy definitely isn’t interested in settling down.  Mommy tries to coax him into bed and then reads a story to him.  It looks like it’s going to work.  Until…  See for yourself how she finally solves the problem.

This is a good bedtime book to read to little ones for Black History month.  Read this delightful book to see how mother finds a way to calm her son.

Find it in our catalog.

 

 

The Pioneers: the Heroic Story of the Settlers Who Brought the American Ideal West

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The Pioneers: the Heroic Story of the Settlers Who Brought the American Ideal West by David McCullough
Format: Book
Who it’s for:  Adults

This notable book tells the story of the early explorers and pioneers who settled the Ohio River wilderness.  The Ohio River was the main force in opening the west to settlement due to steam boat travel.  It was 1788 when settlers from the New England states bravely set out for unknown adventures and trials.  The five major characters in the story are Manasseh Cutler, his son Ephraim Cutler, Rufus Putnam, Joseph Barker, and Samuel Hildreth.  This hardy group of men (with the exception of Manasseh who planned it) ventured west and overcame much adversity in the wild country that had to be tamed.  The other men, women and children who soon followed had to endure floods, fires, wild animals, and attacks from the native Indians.  In spite of all that happened to them, the people persevered and loved their new home.  It is an adventure story for all who love American history and especially the state of Ohio.

The author, David McCullough, is a Pulitzer Prize winner and National Book Award winner.  His research has been thorough for this book.  His source materials were from the Marietta College Library from which he searched to write his book and is made more interesting with the addition of pictures of newspaper clippings, lithographs, maps and paintings.  Find it in our catalog.

 

Claymates

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Claymates by Dev Petty, Illustrated by Lauren Eldridge
Format:  Book
Who it’s for:  Children

This fun children’s book is recommended for younger children.  It is also available as a VOX book, which means that a headphone can be plugged in to it so the child can listen as it is read to them or listen with others without headphones.

Two balls of clay, with eyes, are transformed by the artist into a gray wolf and a brown owl.  The sculptor spends a lot of time creating them to be just perfect and then she leaves the room.  It isn’t long until the two creatures become friends and then they start goofing off.  They stretch and pull at themselves to become many other different critters.  They look totally weird, with lots of sculptor’s tools sticking out of them.  Suddenly they hear the artist returning.  Oh, no!  What will they do?  They try to fix themselves but they just can’t.  Find out what happens next to these two  crazy claymates.  Find it in our catalog.

Creaturepedia: Welcome to the Greatest Show on Earth

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Creaturepedia: Welcome to the Greatest Show on Earth by Adrienne Barman
Format:  Book
Who it’s for:  Children

This delightful children’s book is recommended for children ages 5-8 or kindergarten-3rd grade.  The clever cover illustration immediately draws one in to the fun and knowledge waiting inside.  This book covers more than 600 creatures of all kinds—animals, insects, birds, sea creatures, reptiles and even vanished species and dinosaurs.  These wonkey-eyed critters have such intriguing expressions on their faces—surprised, curious, sleepy, fierce, loving, sad, mean, bored, flirtatious, suspicious, intelligent, silly, cunning and more.  Some appear to be looking at the camera when the flash went off.  The eyes are everything.  The creatures are listed in categories such as big-eared, vanished, camouflaged, striped, show-offs, spotted and other categories.  The facts of each one are brief and can lead to interesting questions that beg for more information.  This book is beautifully illustrated by the author, Adrienne Barman.

Find it in our catalog

 

Love You Hard: A Memoir of Marriage, Brain Injury, and Reinventing Love

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Love You Hard: A Memoir of Marriage, Brain Injury and Reinventing Love by Abby Maslin
Format: Book
Who it’s for:  Adults

In August 2012, Abby and TC Maslin lived in the Capitol Hill area of Washington D.C. with their young son, Jack. TC worked as an energy analyst and Abby was a school teacher. TC was attacked while walking home from a Nationals game late at night.  TC was beaten nearly to death by three young men who took his cell phone and debit card.  They left him bleeding and hurt on a sidewalk a few blocks from his home.  When Abby woke up in the night to find out that her husband wasn’t home, panic set in.  Hours later Abby found out that her husband had been taken to the hospital but she didn’t know if he was alive or dead.

After many days and months of physical rehabilitation, TC did survive, but was unable to walk and talk.  Abby had to take over his complete care, teaching him to read and talk again.  There were no guarantees of his future life after the tragedy.  The two of them had to learn to trust and love each other again.  During their agonizing months both of them had changed.

This is a true story and has connections to St. Mary’s County, Maryland. Abby is a good writer and I was especially touched by her prologue that describes when she and TC met for the first time. This account is a raw and inspiring story with an amazing outcome. TC Maslin has an inner strength that helped him to beat the odds of not only surviving but conquering his disabilities. While still re-learning to walk and communicate, TC realized how much Abby did to take care of him, he said, “But you’ve done everything for me. Do you know that? I love you, honey. I love you so hard.”

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The House of Special Purpose

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The House of Special Purpose by John Boyne
Format: Audiobook
Who it’s for:  Adults

The House of Special Purpose is an historical novel set in the early to mid-20th century.  Georgy Jachmenev is an old man reminiscing on his former life when he was a youth in Russia.  He lives with his wife Zoya in England.  Georgy’s father, a tenant farmer, is inexplicably abusive to him.  As a teen, Georgy is witness to an event that takes place which precipitates his move to Saint Petersburg, the palace of the czar.  Czar Nicholas II and his wife, Empress Alexandra, have four daughters and a son.  Georgy is brought to the palace to live with the royal family as a companion to the son, young Alexei who was born with hemophilia.  He requires strict governance to prevent injury that could cause internal bleeding.  The story is set in the 1970’s but flashes back to the early 1900’s in Russia.  In the end, the true meaning of the house of special purpose is revealed.

The story is narrated by award-winning Stephan Rudnicki who does an excellent job speaking with a Russian accent.

Find it in our catalog