LibraryPoint Blog
Looking for a new read? Check out these five popular and brand-new adult titles that have hit the shelves this month. To see more fresh titles, check out our recent arrivals page.
Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman
Neil Gaiman has long been inspired by ancient mythology in creating the fantastical realms of his fiction. Now he turns his attention back to the source, presenting a bravura rendition of the great northern tales. In Norse Mythology, Gaiman stays true to the myths in envisioning the major Norse pantheon: Odin, the highest of the high, wise, daring, and cunning; Thor, Odin's son, incredibly strong yet not the wisest of gods; and Loki—son of a giant—blood brother to Odin, and a trickster and unsurpassable manipulator. Gaiman fashions these primeval stories into a novelistic arc that begins with the genesis of the legendary nine worlds and delves into the exploits of deities, dwarfs, and giants. Once, when Thor's hammer is stolen, Thor must disguise himself as a woman—difficult with his beard and huge appetite—to steal it back. More poignant is the tale in which the blood of Kvasir—the most sagacious of gods—is turned into a mead that infuses drinkers with poetry. The work culminates in Ragnarok, the twilight of the gods and rebirth of a new time and people. Through Gaiman's deft and witty prose emerge these gods with their fiercely competitive natures, their susceptibility to being duped and to duping others, and their tendency to let passion ignite their actions, making these long-ago myths breathe pungent life again. (catalog summary)
Get Your Garden Off to a Great Start!
If you're like me, you're looking forward to warm weather, flowers, and delicious homegrown produce. You can give your garden a head start by sprouting and growing seedlings indoors. Horticulturist Holly Schemmer will take the mystery out of starting vegetables, herbs, and flowers from seed. Seed selection, sowing techniques, materials, and timing will be discussed and demonstrated to give you the skills to grow your own spring garden plants. We guarantee you'll go home with a green thumb.
Would you like to earn the 3D printer badge? Sign up today and you can learn hands on how to use a 3D printer independently at training sessions offered at the England Run Branch, Fredericksburg Library, and Porter Branch.
"I was unhappy for a long time, and very lonesome, living with my grandmother. Then it was that books began to happen to me, and I began to believe in nothing but books and the wonderful world in books — where if people suffered, they suffered in beautiful language, not in monosyllables, as we did in Kansas." (From The Big Sea, one of Hughes’ autobiographies)
February’s guest reader is Daisy Howard-Douglas, an educator, author, storyteller, and community treasure. She spent years as a teacher in Richmond schools, but she always maintained a strong connection with her childhood. Raised in the island town of Morgan City, Louisiana—and truly raised by a village—"Miss Daisy" enjoys sharing stories that draw on her wonderful early years, surrounded and supported by people in different generations.
Attention, teachers and caregivers of preschoolers and kindergartners. Learn how to promote motor, music, social, and pre-literacy skills by incorporating creative activities into your classroom routines. Join us at our latest Grow a Reader workshop.
Tuesday, February 21, 2017, 7:00-9:00 at the England Run Library
Snow date: February 28th, 2017, 7:00-9:00
Sign-up begins February 1. Call 540-899-1703, and ask for the Youth Services Desk.
Want to learn more about our Grow A Reader program? It's all about early learning and getting ready to read. We have great resources for you here.
The 2017 Youth Media Awards, announced in January, include several awards for teen literature. Read about the winners and honorable mentions below. The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) also creates multiple booklists each year for young adults, that usually have a specific theme. Check them out and read some of the winners.
The ALSC (Association for Library Service to Children) media awards are announced every January during the American Library Association Midwinter Meeting. Read about the winners and honorable mentions below. The Youth Media Awards, announced in January include several awards for teen literature as well.
2017 Newbery Medal Winner
The Newbery Medal is awarded for the most outstanding contribution to children's literature the previous year.
The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill
Every year, the people of the Protectorate leave a baby as an offering to the witch who lives in the forest. They hope this sacrifice will keep her from terrorizing their town. But the witch in the forest, Xan, is kind and gentle. She shares her home with a wise Swamp Monster named Glerk, and a Perfectly Tiny Dragon, Fyrian. Xan rescues the abandoned children and delivers them to welcoming families on the other side of the forest, nourishing the babies with starlight on the journey. One year, Xan accidentally feeds a baby moonlight instead of starlight, filling the ordinary child with extraordinary magic. The acclaimed author of The Witch's Boy has created another epic coming-of-age fairy tale destined to become a modern classic.
Who doesn’t love a good story? While history books abound, a great way to learn about another time period is to pick up a novel set in the past. Good historical fiction not only tells a compelling story but also focuses on the people, events, and details of daily life in that time period. Any novel or short story that takes place in the past, usually more than 50 years before the author wrote it, is considered historical fiction. A selection of historical fiction novels that are well-told and evocative of their time periods are on these two lists: History in Fiction and Novel History.
Need a break from Hollywood special effects blockbusters? Want to travel the world without leaving town? Join us at England Run Branch for a series of international films Saturdays in February, 2:00–4:00. These will be shown in their original language with English subtitles.
February 4, we'll head to Denmark for a very special meal with Babette's Feast. In a remote village in 19th-century Denmark, a French refugee, Babette, is taken in at the local pastor's house as a servant. When the stern pastor dies, his daughters decide to commemorate the 100th anniversary of his birth with a dinner. With Babette in charge of the meal, the little community will get the meal of their lives! Rated G
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