A Manga for Every Mood
The one thing I really love about manga (Japanese comic books), is that like any other medium of writing, there's something for every mood. Whether you want a dark tale…
Nostalgic Showcase Presents: Television Show Anniversaries
Nostalgic Showcase Presents is joining in on the 250th birthday celebration of the United States of America with our own yearlong landmark celebrations of our favorite toys, movies, characters, and…
Award-Winning Books: Reading by Prize
Wanting to try something new? I've learned that a good place to look for fresh, new book recommendations is Award Winners and their longlisted peers! Many of these awards are voted on…
The Baby-Sitters Club Turns 40!
The Baby-Sitters Club is a series that brings back wonderful childhood nostalgia for me. There are many series in the books that follow 7 girls on their baby-sitting jobs, friendships,…
Teen Foodies: Let’s Try Corn Dogs
Every year I try to attend one of the many local fairs or festivals in the area in the summer months, an annual tradition I always look forward to. There's…
Teen Foodies: Let’s Try Waffle Cones
Close your eyes and step back in time. It's 1904, during the St. Louis World's Fair; a seven month spectacular expedition of the world's biggest, newest, and impactful innovations, inventions,…
Nostalgic Showcase Presents: Animated Anniversaries
Nostalgic Showcase Presents is joining in on the 250th birthday celebration of the United States of America with our own yearlong landmark celebrations of our favorite toys, movies, characters, and…
Celebrate America’s 250th Birthday With a Patriotic Read!
On Saturday, July 4th, 2026 the United States of America will be celebrating it's 250th Birthday. As our country celebrates this monumental Birthday it's important to look back at the…
Teen Foodies: Let’s Try Key Lime Pie
Nothing is better in the hot summer heat than a cold, sweet treat to cool down. You might immediately run to the freezer for an ice pop, popsicle, or a…
Uncover Your Family History!
Census forms, marriage records, as well as naturalization papers and military records help researchers and the curious alike to open up their family's past and provide new and surprising details about their ancestors.
Make a Red, White and Blue Dish to Share This Summer!
What is an Independence Day celebration without food? The USA’s national birthday party usually includes grilled burgers, hot dogs or maybe ribs – and other delectables. But for this year,…
Our Founding Fathers and Mothers
Learning about the men and women who helped found this country In 1776 Britain's thirteen North American colonies declared their independence from Great Britain. This was the culmination of years…
Cat’s Picks! Look for Constellations
Friendly reminder: If you read this blog post or look for constellations in the night sky, it counts towards an activity badge for Summer Library Challenge. Make sure you go back to Beanstack or talk to a staff…
Share a Smile in Your Community with Dear Elders
Earlier this month, I wrote a blog post about one of my very favorite hobbies: letter writing. And today, I wanted to take that idea a step further and talk…
April is Card and Letter Writing Month!
One of my absolute favorite hobbies (ever since I was a little girl) was writing letters to friends and family. There was something so much fun about choosing a nice…
April Is Fair Housing Month
What is Fair Housing Month? In the aftermath of the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. riots gripped many of America's largest cities. During that time President Lyndon B. Johnson…
The 2026 Winter Olympics: Gold Medal Reads You’ll Want To Jump and Fall Right Into
This February marks the Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, Italy from February 6-22, 2026. The Paralymics will be held in Italy from March 6-15, 2026. I always get so excited…
Learn a New Hobby in January!
January is the fresh start of a brand new year and their is no better way to kick of the year than by learning a new hobby. Not sure where…
Celebrating Cover Artists
Can a book be judged by its cover? Well... yes. In fact, there is an entire industry of artists whose primary job is to convey something about the story within,…
Your 2026 Reading Challenge!
It's time once again for your annual WPPL Reading Challenge! As someone who regularly reads over 200 books a year, I'm always looking for new books or new ways to…
Paper, Stamps, and Glue: The Art of Collage
My kitchen table looks like an art-class nightmare. Three teetering stacks of assorted paper pads to my left, a large box full of assorted scraps, buttons, and tissue paper in…
31 Spine-Tingling Books I Want to Read This Halloween
I love Halloween time! Spooky stories, plastic pumpkins, scary skeletons...I love it all! And every year, I like to stock up on spooky books to help me get into the…
Popular Mystery Subgenres
One of the most fun parts of my job is offering tips in Reader's Advisory to my coworkers. For those of you unsure what Reader's Advisory is, that's the process…
Health Highlights: the Importance of 988
988 Day September 8 is the 2nd Annual 988 Day. This is a day set aside during Suicide Prevention Awareness Month (also in September) to raise awareness about the National…