Reading Room Blog

Thanks for requesting a Book Match from the Central Rappahannock Regional Library. You asked us to match the Harry Potter novels, citing the adventure, fight against evil, political thinking, warfare, and drama. How about trying one of more of these:

Dune series by Frank Herbert
Set in the far future amidst a sprawling feudal interstellar empire where planetary fiefdoms are controlled by noble Houses that owe an allegiance to the Imperial House Corrino, Dune tells the story of young Paul Atreides (heir apparent to Duke Leto Atreides and scion of House

by Ted Kooser, U.S. Poet Laureate, 2004-2006

My father was the manager of a store in which chairs were strategically placed for those dutiful souls waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting for shoppers. Such patience is the most exhausting work there is, or so it seems at the time. This poem by Joseph O. Legaspi perfectly captures one of those scenes.

At the Bridal Shop

I am going to recommend some memoirs, some funnier than others, and also some novels that are based, somewhat, on the writers' lives.

Memoirs:
Angela's Ashes, by Frank McCourt: Listen to the audio recording read by the author, if you can. When he describes his father singing, McCourt sings the Irish songs for you. That added to my enjoyment of this wonderful book.

The Glass Castle, by Jeannette Walls

Thanks for requesting a Book Match from the Central Rappahannock Regional Library! You asked for series books with characters similar to Stephanie Plum, created by Janet Evanovich. Well! Here are some suggestions for funny heroines in series escapades:

Well-behaved women seldom make history, as historian Laurel Thatcher Ulrich famously said. Julie Cummins’ new book, “Women Daredevils, Thrills, Chills, and Frills,” introduces ten somewhat ill-behaved but admirable women to young readers.

In the runup to the announcement of the prestigious Newbery and Caldecott Award winners on January 26, libraries around the country are holding “mock award” meetings where participants discuss a short list of children’s books worthy of the prizes.

The two hundredth anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth has prompted a flood of new books for children.  Barry Denenberg's "Lincoln Shot: A President's Life Remembered" is the most striking.

Dr. Seuss's birthday on March 2 has become cause for celebration in libraries and schools across the land.  At the Central Rappahannock Regional Library, free festivities for kids will be held this Saturday and Monday at various branches.  Check librarypoint.org for details.

Bring your school-age kids to the library this Thursday to for a real treat as Megan Hicks, storyteller extraordinaire, tells humorous stories about greed, gratitude, and why you must never forget to thank the good fairy.  She’ll be at the Headquarters library at 4:30, and at 7:30 she’ll be telling civilian stories from the Civil War and World War II to teens and adults at the Salem Church Library.  Her appearances are the final events in this year’s Ardiena Ann Tromley Family Storytelling Series.

What’s the most popular picture book of all time? If you, like me, guessed “Goodnight Moon” or “The Cat in the Hat,” you’d be close, but wrong. The children’s picture book that has sold more than either of those classics is Eric Carle’s “The Very Hungry Caterpillar,” with more than 29 million copies in print.