Did you know that reading fiction increases empathy and emotional intelligence? According to research, reading fiction can help children put themselves in other people's shoes. And I think encouraging empathy for all types of people can make the world a better place. Want a place to start? Here are some great children's books featuring Muslim [...]
Are you looking for ways to interest your kids in family history? We are having Family History for Kids at the Galena Digital Library on Tuesday, March 26, 2019. Click here to register and find out more about it! This class will include a make your own family tree craft. If you'd like to get [...]
The Color of Lies by C.J. Lyons (2018; 336 pages) Ella is a teen with synesthesia - a rare medical condition that scrambles the senses and allows Ella to see colors that reveal people's true emotions. She uses this attribute to suss out when people are lying, however she admits it is not always correct. [...]
I’m a pretty big J.R.R. Tolkien fan, but most of the books published under his name are pretty complex and inaccessible. After readers finish The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, which tell the story of the end of the Third Age of Middle Earth, the natural place to go seems to be The [...]
A great contemporary graphic novel for fans of Smile. Jordan Banks loves art and would give anything to go to the art school of his dreams, but his parents think the key to his success will be attending an elite private school on scholarship. Not only is Jordan the new kid, but he's the new [...]
How to Love a Jamaican by Alexia Arthurs (2018), 239 pages On the shelf - On Libby/Overdrive Have you ever read a book more for convenience than because of actual interest? Do you ever judge books by their cover? This may seem like a terrible way to select your next read, but sometimes this [...]
I so often hear from people when they find out I work at the Library, “I used to read, but I just can’t find the time.” As strange as this may sound coming from the Library Director, I had stopped reading as well. Not because I didn’t love reading, but after a full day of [...]
As winter winds down, I find myself craving a bit of fun and sparkle, and I doubt I'm alone in that. Jessica Khoury delivers in Last Of Her Name, her sixth book for young adults, a 400-page space opera that poses the age-old question: what if Anastasia, but in space? Stacia Androvna, 17, has grown [...]
Have you checked out one of our Lucky Duck books yet? This is a special collection of bestsellers and popular books with long hold lists to help you get your hands on the books you want faster. Lucky Duck books check out for 7 days and don't take holds or renewals so they can be [...]
I just finished reading Orphan Island by Laurel Snyder (2017, 269 pages) for a class discussion. I chose this book because it was praised by Kelly Regan Barnhill, the author of another book I read and loved. At first, I thought it was a delightful fantasy novel about an island and the mysteries of what [...]
