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Thirteen Little Blue Envelopes and The Last Blue Envelope by Maureen Johnson

February 12, 2021 by Carla Leave a Comment

Title: Thirteen Little Blue Envelopes and The Last Blue Envelope by Maureen Johnson
Format: ebook and book
Who’s It For: Teens and Adults

Aunt Peg was dead. Ginny Blackstone hadn’t seen her aunt in a few years. Aunt Peg had spontaneously gone off on an adventure in Europe. However, Ginny received a bundle in the mail from her aunt containing thirteen blue envelopes. Aunt Peg had prearranged a trip for Ginny to Europe. Yet, Ginny had to follow her aunt’s rules as laid out in the first blue envelope. No phones, no emails. Aunt Peg provided a bank card, the funds for Ginny’s summer adventure.

In Thirteen Little Blue Envelopes, Ginny followed her aunt’s itinerary as explained per envelope.  She could only progress on the next leg of her journey when she completed the assigned task of the previous one.  So, throughout the summer, Ginny met a host of people, including an eccentric artist, a kindly manager at Harrods, zealous tourists, and welcoming hostel travellers.  She experienced London, Paris, Italy, and Amsterdam.  Along the way, Gin met Keith, a budding actor and college student.  Lanky and quirky, Keith became interested in Ginny and her unusual quest.  By the end of the summer, they weren’t boyfriend/girlfriend but, as Keith said, “something in-between.”

In The Last Little Blue Envelope, Ginny returned to England.  Although her backpack with the letters had been stolen, a tall brooding young man named Oliver had recovered them.  Gin was reunited with Keith, and she met Oliver and a friendly young woman named Ellis.  They journeyed together to complete the quest of the thirteenth envelope.  On the way, Ginny discovered more about love, friendship, family, and herself.

If you’re looking for a lighthearted tale with a personal journey, this duet could be the ticket.

Find Thirteen Little Blue Envelopes here.

And The Last Little Blue Envelope is here.

Filed Under: Recommended for Adults, Recommended for Teens, Uncategorized Tagged With: Adventure, Europe, Romance

New Year’s Celebrations for Kids

December 25, 2020 by Erin Leave a Comment

The New Year, a time to reflect on what has passed and to celebrate new beginnings, is just around the corner! How do you celebrate? These vibrant and lively stories offer a doorway inside two young girls’ celebration of family culture and tradition.  

 

Shante Keys and the New Year’s Peas by Gail Piernas-Davenport
Format: Book
Who it’s For: Kids

We set out with Shante on her quest to find the missing ingredient for her family’s New Year tradition.  Told in rhyme, this mission unfolds on the streets of Shante’s neighborhood but ultimately becomes a journey through the cultures and traditions of her neighbors too. By the end of the story,  it’s clear she can experience the beauty of the wide world just by looking at what makes the people she sees everyday unique.  What I love about this story are the underlying messages of diversity, community, teamwork and sharing! Also, included at the back of the book are a fun recipe to try at home and a resource for the cultures of other countries, their traditions and celebrations.

Find it in the catalog.

 

Freedom Soup by Tami Charles
Format: Book, DVD, Digital Audiobook, Digital Movie
Who it’s For: Kids

In this story, we meet Belle and her Ti Gran as we are dropped into their gloriously delicious adventure in cooking set against a backdrop of their Haitian history.  The dynamic and bright pictures dance off the page taking us with them. You can almost feel and taste the freedom Ti Gran talks about while she cooks.  Luckily for us, the recipe for Freedom Soup is in the back of the book!   And as an extra tidbit, the author offers up a little information about the real Ti Gran as well!

Find it in the catalog and on Hoopla as an audiobook or streaming video.

Filed Under: Recommended for Kids, Uncategorized Tagged With: Digital Audiobook, Digital Movie, Family, Food, Foreign Culture, Holidays, Picture Book, Rhyming

Feel Good Romance for Teens

December 9, 2020 by Elizabeth Leave a Comment

Life is crazy right now! While you try to take it easy this holiday season, check out these new, lighthearted stories.

Layoverland by Gabby Noone
Published: August 4, 2020
Format: Book
Who it’s for: Teens

Bea has some flaws. She says she is “a hater, not a helper,” but then she is in a deadly car accident and finds herself as an assigned helper in purgatory. It turns out that the place between heaven and hell is in a tacky airport.

If Bea wants to move on to heaven, she has to help 5,000 souls figure out what’s keeping them out of heaven. Bea is manipulative and can call out your weaknesses, so she’s great for the job!

Then, it turns out that cute Caleb is also the guy that caused the car accident that killed them both. Of course, flawed Bea plots to make sure Caleb doesn’t get into heaven.

If you like dark humor, and the tv show The Good Place, this book is for you!

Find it in the catalog.

 

Every Reason We Shouldn’t by Sara Fujimura
Published: March 3, 2020
Format: Book
Who it’s for: Teens

Looking for an upbeat romantic comedy? Here’s your book!

But first, Olivia has to work through some things. At 16, she feels like her competitive figure skating career is over, which means she’s not living up to the expectations of her gold medal Olympian parents, the family skating rink business is failing, and her mom’s serious back injury left Olivia as her caretaker, and has left the family with massive medical bills.

Then, Jonah Choi, speed skater and Olympic hopeful, begins training at her family’s rink; and he attends Olivia’s new high school. Jonah is someone who understands what it’s like to be a professional teenage athlete, and as they spend more time together Olivia rediscovers her confidence and passion for skating. It’s time for Olivia to decide what she wants!

Find it in the catalog.

 


More Than Just A Pretty Face by Syed M. Masood
Published: August 4, 2020
Format: Book
Who it’s for: Teens

Danyal Jilani lives up to his family’s idea that he isn’t very bright. But hey, he has lots of other things going for him. He’s good looking, funny, likeable, and lives a carefree life. His only real concerns are becoming a chef, and getting the attention of Kaval. The problem is that Kaval’s parents don’t think Danyal is worthy of their daughter. Danyal’s carefree days are upended when he is selected to participate in an academic competition. The competition is very exclusive, so this could be the way to prove himself to Kaval’s parents.

Danyal has to be sure that he will win, so obviously he enlists the help of Bisma, a potential match for an arranged marriage made by his family. As Bisma and Danyal spend more time together working on his essay entry, he learns of her painful and scandalous secret. His connection with Bisma grows and he starts to realize that his ideal path may not be the best path for him.

Find it in the catalog.

Filed Under: New for Teens, Uncategorized Tagged With: Dark Humor, Funny, Humorous, Lighthearted, Purgatory, Romance, Romantic Comedy, Teens, Upbeat

Octopus Stew

September 9, 2020 by Ms. Karen Leave a Comment

Octopus Stew by Eric Velasquez
Who Its For: Kids
Format: Book

Eric Velasquez (winner of the Pura Belpre Award for Grandma’s Gift and the Coretta Scott King -John Steptoe Award for Piano Man) has written a charming story about an Afro-Latino boy named Ramsey. One day at Grandma’s, Ramsey, an artist and lover of all things superhero, paints a picture of “super Octo”, a superhero octopus. This got Grandma thinking about making pulpo guisado, octopus stew. They go shopping for the ingredients, which included one large and creepy octopus! Ramsey has a bad feeling about this, but home they go where Grandma cleans the octopus and throws it into the boiling pot. They sit down to do some homework when suddenly they hear strange noises coming from the kitchen! BLIMP! BLUMP! BRR! “Que sera esto?” asks Grandma. THUMP!! To their horror, they  find a HUGE octopus climbing out of the pot and with one tentacle it snatches up Grandma! How will Ramsey defeat the mighty octopus and save her? This story will delight all your superhero and octopus fans; check out the foldout pages in the middle of the book and the Author’s Notes for extra layers to the story (or read to the end first), and don’t miss the Glossary in the back, as the author uses many nonstandard Spanish phrases throughout the story, just as his own family did in his childhood home.

Find it in the catalog

 

 

Filed Under: Recommended for Kids, Uncategorized Tagged With: #OwnVoices, Grandmother, Hispanic, Octopus, Superheroes

Spellbound

June 19, 2020 by Catherine Leave a Comment

Spellbound by Allie Therin
Format: Hoopla
Who it is for: Adults

Arthur (Ace) Kenzie leads a double life. By day he is the son of a prominent politician and a member of the upper class. By night, he works with his paranormal friends to save the world from the supernatural relics that could cause the destruction of mankind. A new relic has appeared and Ace needs someone who can see into the past to keep the relic from causing havoc. Rory, the grumpy, young, and extremely powerful paranormal fits the bill. However, the last thing Ace needs is to fall for this grouchy but very handsome young man. 

If you are looking for an incredibly sweet paranormal romance set during prohibition in the heart of New York, Allie Therin’s delightful book absolutely fits the bill. Filled with mystery and longing looks, Spellbound is a wonderful escape. Find the audiobook on Hoopla. 

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Historical Fiction, LGBTQ, Paranormal, Romance

Welcome!

April 16, 2018 by Sara Leave a Comment

Welcome to ‘On the Shelf,’ our new library blog!

For the past 10 years, our customers have enjoyed the Kid’s Book Blog where they could find reviews and suggested reading for children’s picture books. Due to the success of the Kid’s Book Blog, we are renaming and expanding the content while keeping true to the roots of excellent recommendations and commentary!

On the Shelf will feature recommendations and new or coming soon books and media for all ages, from our tiniest customers to our most senior customers! We’ll discuss new books, movies, music, and graphic novels that the library has recently purchased or are coming soon, recommended reads from our wonderful librarians, as well as exciting news, like a favorite read being turned into a movie or a new format or product available through the library.

If you were a follower of the Kid’s Book Blog, don’t worry! All of the reviews are now part of this blog. You can browse or search and find anything that was previously on the Kid’s Book Blog here.

We’re very excited to bring this new feature to our customers! Comment and engage, follow your favorite librarians and find new books and media to enjoy!

Filed Under: Uncategorized

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Welcome to On the Shelf! Find reviews and recommendations for books, movies, music, library resources, and more. All posts from the Kid’s Book Blog have been brought over to On the Shelf, so your old favorites are still here!

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  • Algorithms of Oppression: How Search Engines Reinforce Racism
  • It Is (Not) Perfect
  • Thirteen Little Blue Envelopes and The Last Blue Envelope by Maureen Johnson
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