Library News
Book bundles for kids are here!
In late December our new children's book shelves were full to capacity, so we asked our readers via social media to help us get them out into circulation and you responded!

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Can We Be Friends?
With charming, colorful illustrations, this heartwarming picture book in rhyming text asks an age-old question--can we be friends?
Take a journey exploring five unexpected animal friendships! This adorable picture book, based on real-life stories, showcases popular duos like Mzee the tortoise and Owen the hippo and Koko the gorilla and her kittens, as well as lesser-known ones like Kumbali the cheetah and Kago the dog. Includes backmatter.
A list of the unlikely animal friendships from around the world and introduced to young animal fans in Can We Be Friends?:
1. Owen the hippo and Mzee the tortoise (Kenya)
2. Kumbali the cheetah and Kago the dog (Virginia, USA)
3. Themba the elephant and Albert the sheep (South Africa)
4. Koko the gorilla and kittens (California, USA)
5. Ben the dog and Duggie the wild dolphin (Ireland)
This sweet picture book supports children as they learn about empathy and kindness.
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The Library Bus
Author Bahram Rahman grew up in Afghanistan during years of civil war and the restrictive Taliban regime. He wrote The Library Bus to tell new generations about the struggles of women who, like his own sister, were forbidden to learn.
It is still dark in Kabul, Afghanistan when the library bus rumbles out of the city. There are no bus seats--instead there are chairs and tables and shelves of books. And there are no passengers--instead there is Pari, who is nervously starting her first day as Mama's library helper. Pari stands tall to hand out notebooks and pencils at the villages and the refugee camp, but she feels intimidated. The girls they visit are learning to write English from Mama. Pari can't even read or write in Farsi yet. But next year she will go to school and learn all there is to know. And she is so lucky. Not long ago, Mama tells her, girls were not allowed to read at all.
Brought to life by the pensive and captivating art of award-winning illustrator Gabrielle Grimard, The Library Bus is a celebration of literacy, ingenuity, and the strength of women and girls demanding a future for themselves.
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Dragonfly
We can fly straight up or down, backwards or forwards, stop and hover, make hairpin turns—at top speed or in slow motion. And we've been on Earth for around 300 million years. Strong graphic art and rhythmic text packed with interesting facts to capture imaginations.
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Primer
Primer introduces a brand-new superhero with a colorful array of superpowers. Ashley Rayburn is an upbeat girl with a decidedly downbeat past. Her father is a known criminal who now sits in federal prison, but still casts a shadow over Ashley's life. Ashley has bounced from foster home to foster home and represents a real challenge to the social workers who try to help her-not because she's inherently bad, but because trouble always seems to find her. Ashley's latest set of (presumably short-term) foster parents are Kitch and Yuka Nolan. Like Ashley, Kitch is an artist, while Yuka is a geneticist working for a very high-level tech company that's contracted out to work for the government and the military. And it's Yuka's latest top-secret project that has her concerned. Developed for the military, it's a set of body paints that, when applied to the wearer, grant them a wide range of special powers. Fearful that this invention will be misused, Yuka sneaks the set of paints home. Ashley comes home from school one day with her new friend Luke and, thinking that the Nolans have purchased a surprise gift for her upcoming birthday, finds the set of paints. It isn't long before she realizes that she's stumbled upon something much bigger...and a lot more dangerous. Although she uses her newly discovered powers for good, it's not long before the military becomes wise to what happened to their secret weapon. And this spells big trouble not only for Ashley, but for her newfound family and friends, as well.
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Science Comics: Rocks and Minerals
Leave no stone unturned with Andy Hirsch's Science Comics: Rocks and Minerals, the latest volume in First Second’s action-packed nonfiction graphic novel series for middle-grade readers!
In this volume, join a crystal-crazy fanboy and a famous rock hunter on a geological journey that will take them to the summit of a volcano, deep within the earth, and even into outer space! They'll learn about the unstoppable forces that shape our planet and they might even pick up a gemstone or meteorite along the way.
Every volume of Science Comics offers a complete introduction to a particular topic—dinosaurs, the solar system, volcanoes, bats, robots, and more! Whether you're a fourth grader doing a natural science unit at school or a thirty-year-old with a secret passion for airplanes, these graphic novels are for you! -
How to Be a Virus Warrior
Danny Dino is not feeling well. What can he do to protect himself and others from getting sick? Dr. Pterosaur tells Danny Dino and his friends how to prevent the spread of germs and viruses through correct hand washing, and other useful tips. Can you do the seven-step super hand wash just like Danny Dino?
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H Is for Home
Homes can be square or round or even stand on stilts. But no matter what a home looks like, home is where you are loved. The characters of Sesame Street take readers around the world to learn more about how kids live across the globe.
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Feel the Fog
Discover the wonder and science behind fog in this stunning and immersive nonfiction picture book from award-winning author and photographer April Pulley Sayre.
Damp and drippy, misty and mysterious…fog is fascinating. Step inside this natural phenomenon and see how fog is formed, how it clears away, and why it feels chilly. Young readers will love this lyrical and gorgeously photo-illustrated exploration of these clouds that come to visit. -
A Thousand Questions
Set against the backdrop of Karachi, Pakistan, Saadia Faruqi’s tender and honest middle grade novel tells the story of two girls navigating a summer of change and family upheaval with kind hearts, big dreams, and all the right questions.
Mimi is not thrilled to be spending her summer in Karachi, Pakistan, with grandparents she’s never met. Secretly, she wishes to find her long-absent father, and plans to write to him in her beautiful new journal.
The cook’s daughter, Sakina, still hasn’t told her parents that she’ll be accepted to school only if she can improve her English test score—but then, how could her family possibly afford to lose the money she earns working with her Abba in a rich family’s kitchen?
Although the girls seem totally incompatible at first, as the summer goes on, Sakina and Mimi realize that they have plenty in common—and that they each need the other to get what they want most.
This relatable and empathetic story about two friends coming to understand each other will resonate with readers who loved Other Words for Home and Front Desk.
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Awesome Physics Experiments for Kids
Get kids fired up about physics―fun and easy science experiments for ages 10 to 13
What attracts goo to a balloon? Can you cook s'mores using energy from the sun? These at-home science experiments let kids get their hands dirty and find out. Created by board-certified science teacher Dr. Erica Colón, this kid-friendly physics book offers an interactive approach to fundamental concepts like electricity, heat, and sound so kids can get a jump on learning and discover just how fun physics really is.
This book of physics for kids includes:
- 40 Awesome experiments―Inspire kids to learn about topics like force, buoyancy, and flight with fun and educational activities that they'll want to try again and again.
- Easy-to-find materials―Experiment whenever inspiration strikes using common and inexpensive materials readily found at home.
- Step-by-step instructions―Full-color photos and simple instructions give kids the confidence to experiment on their own.
Let kids discover how birds fly, why lightbulbs light up, and what causes ice to form with 40 fun physics experiments they can do at home.
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The Unadoptables
Neil Gaiman meets Hans Christian Andersen in this delicious fairy tale full of mysterious spirits, daring escapes, and a beautiful message about the power of found families.
In all the years that Elinora Gassbeek has been matron of the Little Tulip Orphanage, not once have the Rules for Baby Abandonment been broken. Until the autumn of 1880, when five babies are left in outrageous circumstances; one in a tin toolbox, one in a coal bucket, one in a picnic hamper, one in a wheat sack, and finally, one in a coffin-shaped basket.
Those babies were Lotta, Egg, Fenna, Sem, and Milou. And although their cruel matron might think they're "unadoptable," they know their individuality is what makes them special--and so determined to stay together.
When a most sinister gentleman appears and threatens to tear them apart, the gang make a daring escape across the frozen canals of Amsterdam. But is their real home--and their real family--already closer than they realize? -
Exploring the White House: Inside America's Most Famous Home
#1 New York Times bestselling author Kate Andersen Brower shares a special inside look into the most famous home in America--and the lives of hardworking staff members and first ladies who've maintained it.
Have you ever wondered what exactly goes on inside 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue? Sure, the president of the United States works and resides there, but do you know who helps keep this historic house running?
It's no simple task, especially when there are important state events and foreign dignitaries--in addition to presidential pups, mischievous children, and even a couple of ghosts. And its Residence workers and first ladies make sure everything is in check and running smoothly.
Featuring fascinating photos, fun facts, and memorable quotes from the residents and first ladies of the White House, Exploring the White House: Inside America's Most Famous Home is the perfect read for any curious kid!
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Once Upon an Eid
A joyous short story collection by and about Muslims, edited by New York Times bestselling author Aisha Saeed and Morris finalist S. K. Ali
Once Upon an Eidis a collection of short stories that showcases the most brilliant Muslim voices writing today, all about the most joyful holiday of the year: Eid! Eid: The short, single-syllable word conjures up a variety of feelings and memories for Muslims. Maybe it's waking up to the sound of frying samosas or the comfort of bean pie, maybe it's the pleasure of putting on a new outfit for Eid prayers, or maybe it's the gift giving and holiday parties to come that day. Whatever it may be, for those who cherish this day of celebration, the emotional responses may be summed up in another short and sweet word: joy. The anthology will also include a poem, graphic-novel chapter, and spot illustrations.
The full list of Once Upon an Eidcontributors include: G. Willow Wilson (Alif the Unseen, Ms. Marvel), Hena Khan (Amina's Voice, Under My Hijab), N. H. Senzai (Shooting Kabul, Escape from Aleppo), Hanna Alkaf (The Weight of Our Sky), Rukhsana Khan (Big Red Lollipop), Randa Abdel-Fattah (Does My Head Look Big in This?), Ashley Franklin (Not Quite Snow White), Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow (Mommy's Khimar), Candice Montgomery (Home and Away, By Any Means Necessary), Huda Al-Marashi (First Comes Marriage), Ayesha Mattu, Asmaa Hussein, and Sara Alfageeh.
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Lois Lane and the Friendship Challenge
From New York Times bestselling author Grace Ellis (Lumberjanes) and artist Brittney Williams (Goldie Vance) comes a new story about 13-year-old Lois Lane as she navigates the confusing worlds of social media and friendship.
It's the first day of summer break in the sleepy town of Liberty View, and young Lois Lane bursts onto the scene with what she knows is a sure-to-go-viral video channel. Okay, maybe her platform only receives two views a week (thanks, Mom), and maybe her best friend, Kristen, isn't quite as enthusiastic about social media, but when Lois sets her mind on something, there's no turning back.
At the end of the week, the big neighborhood barbecue and bike race will be the perfect backdrop to Lois and Kristen's #friendshipchallenge video. But when the girls find out the annual fireworks are missing, Lois doubles down on her efforts for fame, testing her friendship in ways she couldn't imagine.
With Kristen leaving for sleepaway camp after the barbeque and a new girl on the block taking all of Kristen's attention, will Lois be able to find the missing fireworks, celebrate the summer, and post the best #friendshipchallenge the internet has ever seen? Or will she have to face her challenges IRL?
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Adventure Time: Princess Bubblegum
A new collection of the most beloved stories about everyone’s favorite tough gum from Adventure Time - the incomparable Princess Bubblegum!
THE SWEETEST ADVENTURES AWAIT
Return to the Land of Ooo with this all-new collection of the most beloved stories about everyone’s favorite tough gum from Adventure Time—the incomparable Princess Bubblegum!
From traveling into space to dealing with pesky poltergeists, there’s nothing Bubblegum won’t do to save the day—even if Finn and Jake sometimes have to save her from her own good intentions! But no matter what happens, you can count on Princess Bubblegum to come through for her friends, because that’s a royal promise—and you can't break royal promises! Never, ever, never, no matter what, forever!
Collects stories from Adventure Time, Adventure Time Comics, and Adventure Time 2013 Special.