On the Shelf

Header Right Social

FacebookInstagramMeetupOn the Shelf Blog

Header Right Search

Music

Another Run Around The Sun

by Leave a Comment

Another Run Around The Sun by Ben Taylor
Format: Digital Music
Who it’s for: Teens, Adults

If summer has you ready to unwind with peaceful melodies, Ben Taylor’s Another Run Around The Sun is one you’ll want to check out. His soothing vocals and acoustic guitar require little of listeners but if one wishes to pay more attention, Taylor’s lyrics are pure poetry.

From the song, Digest:

Now times change & the game plays on
And the truth remains but the rules have all gone wrong
Life rises, now here we are
Still looking for the place where we belong

No worries – the songs aren’t all wistful.

From the song, You Must’ve Fallen

And through the absence of light I can hear you enchant in the night so
It’s perfectly clear that I got nothing to lose and nothing to fear and
I got nothing to do except want to want be near

If you’re still on the fence, let me add one more thing to consider. Ben Taylor, while an extraordinary singer/songwriter in his own right, is the son of music royalty, Carly Simon and James Taylor. You will undoubtedly recognize the similarity of his voice with his father’s. If you are a fan of either parent (or both) you’ll enjoy Ben Taylor’s music. Find it on hoopla digital

The Music Shop

by Leave a Comment

The Music Shop by Rachel Joyce
Format: Book
Who it’s for: Adults

Frank loves music.  Frank loves vinyl.   He can look at his customers and “hear” exactly the record they need for the events occurring in their lives.

It’s 1988 and CD’s are the newest thing.  One music shop on a run-down, dead end street refuses to sell anything but vinyl.  Frank, the music shop owner, has created a family around his shop with the shopkeepers and residents on his street.   As shopkeepers on the street struggle to stay open, many begin to sell out to a local development company.  As the street empties, those that are left are inspired by the sudden appearance of a young, beautiful and mysterious woman who’s fainting spell outside the shop ignites questions and excitement on their block.

As the story alternates from Frank’s present in 1988 and his past with his enigmatic mother, he struggles with his desire to love this mysterious woman and his fear of becoming close with anyone.

Joyce has done her research on the music pieces that she weaves into the story.  It’s just as interesting to learn about the background of the music as it is to follow Frank through his present and past life.  This story taps in to the power of music to speak to a person and touch their feelings like nothing else can.

If you loved The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry, you will love this book.

You can find it here!

Rock-a-bye Baby

by Leave a Comment

Submitted by Ms. Sue!

Rock-a bye Baby written and illustrated by Jane Cabrera. Rock a bye baby on the tree top, when the wind blows the cradle will rock. A familiar and popular lullaby is put to use in this beautiful story using woodland animals. Rock-a-bye squirrel cozy as can be. Baby Robin in a nook in the tree is as snug as can be. Caterpillar hangs, gently swaying and cocooned. While Owl in his hidey hole is as safe as can be. Spider in his delicate web is as sparkly as can be and Bat is nestled upside down as dark as can be. Rock-a-bye snake on the branch of the tree, coiled round and round and tight as can be. Little Mouse is under the roots; he gets rocked to and fro. Fawn is in the shade of the tree in sweet scented flowers. Bunny burrows under the tree and is hidden away warm as can be. Last of all is Baby: Happy as can be. See this book listed in our catalog

Also an Octopus

by Leave a Comment

Submitted by Ms. Tess!

Also an Octopus by Maggie Tokuda-Hall and Benji Davies starts like every story does: with nothing. It needs a character. Why not an octopus? Who plays the ukulele? And wants to travel to space in a shiny purple spaceship? Why not? But you can’t get a spaceship at the drug store. And the octopus isn’t a rocket scientist. And neither is his friend, the adorable bunny. The octopus is despondent. He’ll never get to travel to other galaxies. Or will he? When the octopus is sad, he plays his ukulele, “because music is good for the heart.” And when he plays, people come to listen, and some of those people are rocket scientists! Yes, it’s true! And you know what happens next? Well, that’s really up to you to decide. Because the ending of one story is the beginning of another, and everyone has what it takes to tell a story, because every story, like we said, starts with nothing! If you’ve got a little storyteller in your life, I’m sure they’ll love this book! See this book listed in our catalog

One Bear Extraordinaire

by Leave a Comment

Submitted by Ms. Tess!

In One Bear Extraordinaire by Jayme McGowan, Bear wakes up with a song in his head, as usual. See, Bear is a rambling musician, traveling through the forest, entertaining all the creatures there. But this song needs something unique. He’s not sure what it’s missing, so he goes looking for it! Along the way he meets a banjo playing fox, an accordion playing raccoon, and a fiddle playing rabbit. They all sound mighty fine making music together but there’s still something missing! The band meets a wolf pup who’s an aspiring musician. Bear unloads his supply of instruments, but none of them quite strike Wolf Pup’s fancy. But that night, when the band is gathered around a cozy campfire, jamming, they discover Wolf Pup is a great singer! And that’s just what the song needed! And now, not only does Bear have a great song on his hands, he’s also made some pretty great friends! See this book listed in our catalog

The Wheels on the Tuk Tuk

by Leave a Comment

Submitted by Ms Jill!

The Wheels on the Tuk Tuk by Kabir Sehgal and Surishtha Seghal, illustrated by Jess Golden. You probably know all the words to “The Wheels on the Bus” by heart, but what about the wheels on the Tuk Tuk? In big cities in India, tuk tuks (pronounced “Took Took”), also called motor rickshaws, are a common way to get around. This story in song follows one tuk tuk on its route. All sorts of people hop on and off, paying their fares with rupee coins as the three-wheeled vehicle zips up and down crowded streets, through markets full of vegetables, and past food shops selling tea and treats. The tuk-tuk-walla (the driver) makes his way carefully around cows sleeping in the road, dodges an elephant, and sees the festival fireworks of the Diwali holiday before finally parking his tuk tuk at home for the night. The bright, cartoonish illustrations are filled with details of life in a busy Indian city, and a glossary defines unfamiliar words. See this book listed in our catalog