Staff Picks

You Can't Handle the Truth!

Novels that feature scenes in a courtroom

With television shows like Law and Order and How to Get Away with Murder bringing in amazing ratings, it would be no stretch to say that the average person enjoys fiction about the law. We all like to pretend we are involved in the case by defending the accused, piecing together clues, or even acting as a juror or judge handing down the final decision. We sit waiting until to the end of the episode to see what the truth will ultimately be.

The Monster's Point of View

Retelling a popular story from an alternate character’s point of view has become popular lately.

The Giants Before Hillary

Hillary Rodham Clinton, presumptive Democratic presidential nominee stands on the shoulders of Giants. Women fought for political rights centuries before Clinton.Their struggles speak to the political and sexist variances that have occurred within the 20th and 21st centuries. The positive moments of progressive equality for women’s rights are simply that, moments. Demanding that these moments become permanent fixtures in the lives of all women is what Shirley Chisholm stressed.

On Your Mark, Get Set, Read!

Picture Books That Get You Moving

Handy Tech Manual

Digital Entertainment for Seniors

Are you a senior interested in digital entertainment and need help getting started? Check out My Digital Entertainment for Seniors by Jason Rich.

Monster Mash

Scary and Fun Picture Books Featuring Lovable Monsters!

If there is a super cute thing in the world I love, so cute they make me happy and sick, they are picture books about monsters! Whether it is a toddler Frankenstein or a dirt monster in your plumbing or a fuzzy wolf living in your walls, I love them all! These are my most favorite and fun titles that can be enjoyed by both children and adults due to their unique illustrations or rhymes. Some may be scarier than others, so reader beware (to have some fun)!

Spooky Shorts

Short horror reads: A list of scary stories 100 pages or less

Several years ago, I read that haunted houses are popular in Japan during the summer. One of the reasons being that the shiver which fear can send down your spine is a welcome relief from the extreme heat of summer. The idea was so novel to my way of thinking that it stuck with me. After all, in America, October is the time for haunted houses. So, in honor of the rising temperatures, here are some scary/creepy/unsettling/terrifying stories that can be read in one day to help keep you cool. Many of these stories are found in larger collections.

Picture Books About Self-Control

Control, emotional management, and patience

Here are some picture books about managing our feelings and self-control. It's Hard to Be Five by Jamie Lee Curtis

Prince

Celebrate and remember the legend and icon: Let's Go Crazy: Prince and the Making of Purple Rain by Alan Light

Adults

On the Spectrum

Teen Reads Featuring Protagonists with ASD

These five books feature protagonists on the autism spectrum. According to the Centers for Disease Control, about 1 in 68 children has been identified with autism spectrum disorder. Reading about autistic characters will foster acceptance and help teens understand and value the experience of their friends with autism. The stories demonstrate the similarities between people on the spectrum and typically developing teens, while portraying autistic characters in a positive light and remaining true to experience.