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Whistle

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Whistle: A New Gotham City Hero by E. Lockhart and Manuel Preitano
Format: Graphic Novel
Who it’s for: Teens

Life is pretty stressful for Willow Zimmerman. She has to balance high school with her budding interest in activism, a job at the local dog shelter, a crush on the new guy who just moved from Lagos, and caring for her mom who has cancer. When an old family friend reaches out to her with an opportunity to make a lot of money running elegant and elaborate poker games for him and his friends, she can’t refuse. That money will fund a lot of cancer treatments for her mom. But the demands of the position cause her neglect her studies, activism, canine friends, and new crush, while at the same time drawing the unwanted attention of a supervillain who has an axe to grind with her boss.

One night she, and a particularly loyal stray Great Dane named Lebowitz, are attacked by Killer Croc. When she awakens in a hospital days later she has a wicked scar across her face… and superpowers. Apparently Willow and Lebowitz became connected during the attack and she now possesses several canine traits, like super hearing, super smell, the ability to communicate with dogs, and the temptation to chase tennis balls. Okay, that last one isn’t that helpful, but when she uses her powers to uncover a plot by Poison Ivy and The Riddler to destroy her beloved neighborhood, Willow and Lebowitz become vigilante heroes Whistle and The Hound.

This graphic novel for teens is bound to entertain fans of DC comics, the Ms. Marvel series, Spider-Man movies, and E. Lockhart’s YA novels.

Find Whistle in our catalog.

Norman, Speak! By Caroline Adderson

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Norman, Speak!

By Caroline Adderson & Qin Leng

Format: Book

Who’s it for: Kids

 

This heartwarming international children’s picture book has a surprising twist. A boy and his family visit an animal shelter and select the dog that has been in the shelter the longest, a special dog named Norman. Norman is friendly and funny but, does not respond to the usual dog commands. His new family loves him anyway! On an outing in the park Norman’s family learns something about him that changes everything! It turns out that Norman is super smart and has many things to teach and share with his new family.

 

Awards: 2015 United States Board on Books for Young People (USBBY) and 2015 Outstanding International Book (OIB).

Find it in the catalog here.

The Happy Ever After Playlist

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The Happy Every After Playlist by Abby Jimenez
Who it’s for: Adults
Format: eBook

After two years of grieving for her fiancé, Sloan finds a lost dog that steals her heart.  Sloan tries to contact Tucker’s owner with no luck, so she is hopeful that she will get to keep him.  Unfortunately, just when she thinks Tucker is hers to keep, his owner, Jason, contacts her and he definitely wants his dog back.  Jason is on a music tour in Australia and so the two decide that Sloan will keep Tucker until his return.  A long distance romance starts to develop between them.

When Jason returns, they quickly develop a relationship.  However, is Sloan ready to give her heart to another after losing her fiancé?  With Jason’s music career taking off, will they be able to stick together while he is on tour?

This was a fun, flirty romance with lots of heart.  A great escape during quarantine.  This is a standalone romance, but you may want to read about Sloan’s friend, Kristen, first in, The Friend Zone. 

Find the eBook of The Happy Ever After Playlist on Overdrive/Libby and The Friend Zone on Overdrive/Libby.

Scooby Apocalypse

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Scooby Apocalypse Vol. 1 by Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis, and Howard Porter
Format: eBook
Who it’s for: Adults, Teens

It’s everyone’s favorite meddling kids, re-imagined for a new generation. Meet:

Daphne Blake, host of a low rated cable TV show investigating supernatural phenomenon.

Fred Jones, Daphne’s loyal camera man, who has carried a torch for her for years.

Norville “Shaggy” Rogers, dog trainer for a mysterious science lab called The Complex.

Scoobert “Scooby” Doo, prototype of a Complex experiment to create intelligent dogs to serve in the military.

And Dr. Velma Dinkley, top scientist at The Complex, and maybe the world’s only hope at stopping an experiment gone wrong that’s turning the human race into monsters.

This unlikely gang traverse the land in a literal Mystery Machine (What is the actual purpose of this armored van they escaped The Complex in?) trying to survive… The Scooby Apocalypse.

This dark reboot of the Scooby-Doo franchise is fun for new and legacy fans alike. It’s the end of the world as they know it, but you’ll feel fine, when you check out Scooby Apocalypse on Hoopla right now!

The Art of Racing in the Rain

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The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
Format: Book
Who It’s for: Adults and Young Adults

 

This story is about Denny Swift, a race-car driver and rep. for a BMW dealer in Seattle Washington and his dog Enzo. Told from Enzo’s perspective and his belief in the legend that a dog “who is prepared” will be reincarnated in his next life as a human. Enzo also loves watching T.V. documentaries and racing.
Denny adopts Enzo from a farm as a pup. Denny and Enzo begin their journey together where Enzo struggles to hone his humanness and Denny soon meets and marries Eve. Eventually they have a daughter named Zoe. Enzo is devoted to Denny, Eve and Zoe.
Life has many difficulties and sometimes the unthinkable happens. Enzo describes to the reader his life with Denny and his family, the bond he has with each of them and the great struggle they go through when Eve develops brain cancer. In addition, to a surprise and shocking custody struggle of Zoe with Eve’s parents and Denny.
Enzo gleans his knowledge through the television shows and documentaries that he watches. He has gained tremendous insight into the human condition, but cannot understand why a dog does not have thumbs. He does his best to communicate with his family even though he cannot talk.
Enzo sees that life, like racing, is not simply about going fast.

This book is one of the best I have ever read. The story told through Enzo’s point of view. It is happy, sad, traumatic and charmingly funny.
Find it in our catalog 

Homer

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Homer  by Elisha Cooper
Format: Book
Who’s it for: Kids (and adults)

If only you had more money, then you would be happy.

If only you had more friends, then you would be happy.

If only you read more books, watched the hottest new tv show, then you would be happy.

If only you had more vacations, went on more adventures, then you would really be happy.

If only you found a way to lose those pesky extra 15 pounds you’ve been carrying for years, then you would truly be happy.

One of these thoughts has probably crossed your mind at some point.  It’s certainly what we’re being told on a day-to-day basis.  Movies, television, and even our books (Have you seen books like this before? 1,000 books to read before you die: a life-changing list), are constantly telling us that we need to do all the things to be truly happy.  There will always be something more to do.  Another book that you absolutely MUST read.  Another Netflix show that everyone is talking about.  Another thing that you’ve always wanted to do.  They are all waiting for us as soon as we’ve finished with the last thing.

Now, please consider this: if we’re feeling it, then the children in our lives are feeling it as well.

Homer, written and illustrated by Elisha Cooper, is a friendly reminder that we absolutely do not need to do all the things to be happy.  In fact, there is nothing that we have to do at all.  We simply have to Be.  Here.  Now.  Present.

Homer is essentially a story of a dog who is perfectly happy to watch his friends have fun and feels no need to participate himself, but at its core it is a story about the nature of contentment.  Contentment, as in to feel content in the present moment. To be happy with what you have at this exact moment.

There are not many children’s books that express this idea so clearly.  Taking less than five minutes to read, it is well worth the small amount of time it would take to complete it.  Homer teaches a very important lesson that is sorely needed in a society that seems to glorify the doing of all the things.

Find it in the catalog.