What I’m Reading: January 2022
It's the start of a new year, and already my resolution to only check out 5 books at a time has completely failed. If you're curious about some of the…
Author Spotlight: JRR Tolkien
Today is JRR Tolkien's 130th birthday! In addition to creating the magical world of Middle Earth, including all the fearsome and friendly creatures that inhabit it, Tolkien has created many…
Reading Challenge 2022
As the year draws to a close, it's time to start thinking about our goals for next year. Are you going to get active? Clean the house? Learn a new…
Westlake Porter Public Library Art Gallery
This month Westlake Porter Public Library welcomes the artwork of Westlake City School Students as part of The Reflections program. There are currently 26 original pieces of art displayed in…
Favorite Folk and Fairy Tales
I love, love, love folk and fairy tales! These classic stories of good and evil, clever heroes and brave heroines have been entertaining people for centuries. Whether you hear them…
Crafting for Mental Health – Finding a Balance
When I started looking for scientific/medical resources espousing the mental health benefits of crafting, I found primarily anecdotal evidence. This anecdotal evidence was mostly about knitting and crocheting and some…
A Closer Look: Kaleidoscope by Brian Selznick
I confess: I passed by this book many times before I ever took note of it. The cover is an extremely close picture of an eye, so close that it…
NASA STEM Kids Virtual Event – Airplanes: Exploring Flight with Airplane Adventures
Parents and adult caregivers with kids ages K-4 are invited to register for a NASA STEM Kids Virtual Event – Airplanes: Exploring Flight with Airplane Adventures. Here's the information from…
STEAM WEEK: Bread Pets
“Good bread is the most fundamentally satisfying of all foods; and good bread with fresh butter, the greatest of feasts.”American Chef James Beard (1903-1985) What's is a Bread Pet? You've heard of…
Even More Lesser Known Works by Classic Authors
If you liked The Scarlet Pimpernel, then try The Old Man in the Corner by Emmuska Orczy I've mentioned The Scarlet Pimpernel in a few of my previous posts (you can…
More Lesser Known Works by Classic Authors
There are some writers who are almost universally acknowledged as "classic". Arthur Conan Doyle, GK Chesterton Jane Austen, Mary Shelley...When you hear these names, you automatically associate them with the…
Jim Hawkins and Long John Silver: Readings on Treasure Island
Few tales of adventure quite compare to Robert Louis Stevenson's classic swashbuckling story, Treasure Island. I was introduced to Long John Silver, Jim Hawkins, and Billy Bones as a child,…
Lesser Known Works by Classic Authors
I'm always on the hunt for a new classic. And of course what I mean by that is a classic that I've not heard of before (or at least one…
Relaxing Reading with Laid-Back Camp
We're all stressed right now. I'm stressed, you're stressed, the people behind us in traffic are stressed... So when it comes to reading, I sometimes just really want something uplifting…
Container Gardening: Beautiful Gardens in Small Spaces
Spring is here, summer is fast approaching, and it's time to get out into the garden! Whether you have a house with a huge, sprawling yard or a tiny apartment…
Poem in Your Pocket Day: April 29
Poem in Your Pocket Day takes place every year during National Poetry Month. Poem in Your Pocket Day 2021 is on on Thursday, April 29th. This is a fun day to share…
Autism Acceptance Month: #OwnVoices
April is Autism Acceptance Month. You may remember my blog post from last year. (If not, that’s a good place to start with general autism reads). This year I want…
Literary Orphans For Tweens and Teens
Back in December, I shared a reading challenge that I created for staff (and am now sharing with all of you!) Throughout the year, I’d like to include a list of blog…
YA Book Bracket
March Madness is here and we're pitting some of the most widely read Young Adult fiction novels against each other - and you decide the winners! Starting March 16th, check…
What’s In a Name?
Back in December, I shared a reading challenge that I created for staff (and am now sharing with all of you!) Throughout the year, I'd like to include a list…
Staff Picks You’ll Love (Part 18)
Welcome once again to another round of Staff Picks! To see what we talked about last time, check out Part 17 here! Our selection this time features titles recommended by…
Fun Games for Card Sharks of All Ages
I love a good game of cards. It started early, when I would play gin rummy and UNO with my grandparents, and even now, I still enjoy a good game…
Introducing the 2021 Newbery Award Winner!
A few years ago, I started reading all the Newbery award winners, going all the way back to 1922 (once I finish, I plan on going back and reading the…
Let It Snow!
These books, recommended for kids in grades 3-6, are celebrations of the cold and snow that can be enjoyed while staying warm and snug inside! Snow One Like You by…