PreK-MS: End of Summer Adventures

Joanna Ho

ISBN: 9781339005546

Publisher's Synopsis:

Mindy isn't like the other classic milk tea flavors, with their sensible straws and varying shades of brown. Instead, Mindy shines with her green, white and red colors. Worried about not being milk tea enough, Mindy decides to dive into their history so she can be less different. As she and her friends embark on this journey, they make a surprising discovery about the truth behind milk tea that could change the town forever...

MrsK's Review: Fantasy

How sweet is your tea? Little Boba tea is totally, and wonderfully sweet. Mindy arrived in Milk Tea; a town steeped in tradition. Yet, Mindy was not easily soothed. Although she was the first that was beginning to "look" different, Mindy decides to begin a research project. Searching through the Milk Tea town library, Mindy discovers how the Milk Teas came from various continents. Each tea ingredient had unique qualities. Unfortunately, most adult teas had forgotten. Will the presentation that Mindy and her friends created help the adults to understand the truth about the special qualities of each tea?

This is an adorable picture story that will bring inspiration and fun discussions to every family or classroom story time. End the story with a Milk Tea tasting,

MrsK

Meet the Author:

 

 Joanna Ho Bradshaw is the author of Eyes that Kiss in the Corners (HarperCollins, Jan 2021), Playing at the Border: A Story of Yo-Yo Ma (HarperCollins, Fall 2021), and One Day (Winter 2023). She is a writer and educator with a passion for anti-bias, anti-racism and equity work. She holds a BA in psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, and a master’s from the Principal Leadership Institute at Berkeley. She has been an English teacher, a dean, the designer of an alternative-to-prison program, and a professional development mastermind. She is currently the vice principal of a high school in the Bay Area, where she survives on homemade chocolate chip cookies, outdoor adventures, and dance parties with her kids. Keep your eyes open for more books to come!

 Meet the Illustrator:

 Amber Ren: Spending the first half of her life in China and the second half in America, Amber is heavily influenced by her bicultural background. She enjoys animation and illustration from both the East and the West, and her diverse interest and cultural background are evident in her work. Amber graduated from CalArts in 2015.

Amber is currently working in the animation industry and illustrating picture books during her free time. Her debut picture book BECAUSE written by Mo Willems is a New York Times Best Seller. Since then, she has illustrated five more picture books and three book covers. Her work was featured in The Eric Carle Museum's first online exhibition, ART in Place: Social Distancing in the Studio.

 Muon Thí Van

ISBN: 9781338822045

Publisher's Synopsis:

You Make the World is a fantastical journey between a father and son and the self-discovery of the love and power within. Throughout their adventure together, the father describes his son's contagious energy and range of strong emotions as having the same intensity and beauty as the natural world. Muon Thí Van's acclaimed lyrical style shines in this poetic affirmation of one's own power. Award-winning illustrator duo, Phung Nguyen Quang and Huynh Kim Lien's stunning art captures the magic of imagination. Together, this book is a work of art in every sense of the way and truly sings from the pages.

"The sun makes the world hum.

The clouds make the world blue.

The wind makes the world wild.

The rain makes the world new..."

MrsK's Review: Fantasy/Family

During a father and son camping trip, the wonder of nature helps the boy to see how the world shines with a special uniqueness. Growing into the "sight" of goodness all around is a precious treasure. Beautifully crafted, the nature trip brings a heartwarming discovery, one in which many children have yet to understand.

Do they know that when "they yell... the world around them trembles?"  Or when they cry "the world around them remembers?" Imagine the depth of discussions that your family and/or class can have from this boy's discoveries. Every child makes the world whole; do they know that truth? 

Let's share this truth, once the story is completed have them create a picture of them and which of the characteristics they want to "plant" into their world...

MrsK

"But you know what else makes the world?

You."

Meet the Author:    

Muon Thị Văn loves to read books of all shapes and sizes. She first began reading yellow-spined hardbacks about a certain girl detective before graduating to longer novels and then picture books (it’s true, she doesn’t remember reading picture books as a young child). So, few books reflected her formative experiences, though, that she desired to bring new and different stories into the world.

Christy Mandin

ISBN: 9781339023373

Publisher's Synopsis:

Garden Glen was afraid of the dark. Each night when the sun went down, all the lights in town turned on. The houses shone like the noon sun. Every house except for Millie Fleur La Fae's, of course.

Millie Fleur knows there are enchanting things that can only be glimpsed in the dark. But ever since she moved to Garden Glen, her nighttime friends are nowhere to be found.

Determined to welcome the dark back to town, Millie Fleur bakes delicious moon pies and plants a sweet-smelling moon garden. But before the nighttime creatures will return, Millie Fleur must convince the townspeople to be brave and turn out the lights.

"Garden Glen was afraid of the dark."

MrsK's Review: Reality Fantasy

Every house was "as bright as the midday sun." Except for Millies, her house was mysterious because her house had a secret. When her moon garden showed signs of a struggle, her mother took out the light from the streetlight. As the town grumbles, Millie makes a few visits complete with moon pies in hand. That's when the creatures of the night begin showing up at her house.

Do you know the creatures of the night? The spiders, crickets, or katydids? Do you know which plants scent the night with goodness, plants like moonflowers, sugarplums, and twilight tulips? 

Step into Millie's night garden, you might discover a small area at your place that needs a nightly destination,

MrsK

"Behind my gates lies a world you've been missing."

Meet the Author:

  

Kirk Cameron

ISBN: 9781955550529

Publisher's Synopsis:

Ironically, one of the lies culture tells your children is that the love of self should be their single most important priority. But, what about teaching them the hard lesson about Christ's higher, self-sacrificial love? In Kirk's new book, on the topic of loving your enemy, Stewart the Giraffe dreams of beating Asher at the Hive Haven Fair. But, when an unexpected accident ruins Stewart's chances, it's how Asher reacts that changes everything!

"Doohickeys, doodads, and doozits galore...

all spin, sputter, and soar."

MrsK's Review: Reality Fantasy

Young Stewart the giraffe was in awe at the Hive Haven Invention Fair. Until his family ran into Asher's fox family. Their families have fought for so long, no one remembers what started the rivalry. With an intensity to beat each other, the science fair became chaotic when Grandpa Foxes scooter goes out of control.

Stewart's invention is ruined... until Asher makes a few adjustments. As the judges come into view the two families are not pleased... could this be a moment of kindness make the difference for both families?

This story is a unique invention of scientific wonders woven with human kindness. As with every Brave book, there are discoveries to be made within the story, Brave challenges beyond the story. As well as brave discussion points to bridge the gaps of friends vs. enemy's epidemic within today's society.

What invention could your reader create?

MrsK

Meet the Author:

 Kirk Cameron is a Christian, producer, actor, television and film icon, loving husband, and father. In addition, Kirk has had a big impact on our society through films like Fireproof, The Homeschool Awakening, and Lifemark. Kirk has also been one of the main BRAVE authors on the Freedom Island Tour doing story hour readings at local libraries. The Fox, the Fair, and the Invention Scare is Kirk's third book with BRAVE!

Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver

ISBN: 9780545498586

Publisher's Synopsis:

Billy Broccoli is new to the neighborhood and wants cool friends and a spot on the baseball team more than anything. But the one thing he never wanted is his own personal ghost. So imagine his surprise when he ends up sharing a room with Hoover Porterhouse, a funny ghost with a whole lot of attitude.

When an obnoxious school bully sets out to demolish Billy, the Hoove comes up with a plan for revenge. It’s all in the Hooves’ Rule Number Forty-Two: Stay cool. And like it or not, Billy and the Hoove have to stick together if Billy ever wants to get in style, get even, and conquer the school.

MrsK's Review: Gr. 3-4 Humor

Meet Billy who is in 6th grade. He tries to be friendly, yet most of the kids at school aren't ready to accept the new kid in town. Billy's mother, stepfather, and stepsister, Breeze, moved when his mother become the principal at Moorepark middle school. This year's SOC, Speak Out Challenge, will be demonstrating something special that they can do. The only idea Billy can do is recite the alphabet backwards in 15 seconds or less. How cool is that!

Hoove has many rules for living life. For example, #16 is to always keep yourself sharp... you never know who might be looking." Not exactly a bad rule, yet Hooves' not really someone who can be seen given he is a fourteen-year-old ghost whose been dead for ninety-nine years. Hoove has a very important assignment. He must do his best with Billy, or he will never have the chance to visit every famous baseball field in the nation. Hoove has a better idea, one that will make Billy more popular than anything any other kid in 6th grade could do. Billy could read a few students' mind! Of course, Hoove would be the hidden success secret. Caution, Hoove doesn't play "second fiddle" to anyone. Will he get it right and stick to it with Billy?

With silly play on words, crazy stunts, and an "unreal" friendship this novel brings giggles, shaking of the head eye rolls, and many "no... don't" warnings to Hoove. Enjoy this zany journey,

MrsK

Meet the Authors:

 

Mr. Winkler is deeply committed to children's welfare and works with numerous children's groups. He is involved with The MacLaren Children's Center (a facility for abused children), The National Committee for Arts for the Handicapped, The Special Olympics, and The Los Angeles Music Center's Very Special Arts Festival, as well as numerous teenage alcohol and drug abuse programs. He is a founding member of the Children's Action Network, a non-profit organization that sponsors informational briefings for writers, producers and directors on children's issues and serves as a clearinghouse for the entertainment industry on children's issues.

Lin Oliver is an American writer, producer, and the co-founder of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. During the 1990s and early 2000s, she wrote and produced a number of works for television and film, notably the 1990s television show, Harry and the Hendersons. As an author of books for children, Oliver began collaborating on the Hank Zipzer series with actor Henry Winkler in 2003. They next created the prequel series Here's Hank, the Ghost Buddy series, and the Alien Superstar series.

Rebecca Stead

ISBN: 9781250380470

Publisher's Synopsis:

When a mysterious little free library (guarded by a large orange cat) appears overnight in the small town of Martinville, eleven-year-old Evan plucks two weathered books from its shelves, never suspecting that his life is about to change.

Evan and his best friend Rafe quickly discover a link between one of the old books and a long-ago event that none of the grown-ups want to talk about. The two boys start asking questions whose answers will transform not only their own futures, but the town itself.

"Justice must be done in the end."

MrsK's Review: Gr. 4-5 Mystery/Fantasy

Mortimer is a fascinating cat, he is loyal, compassionate, and missing his sister Petunia. He isn't happy when his cart of old books was being taken outside, "it was all he had left of his first home." It had been twenty years since the fire. Why were they destroying his library cart? Once the cart was moved outside and his beloved books were placed on it, Mortimer chose to leave the comfortable house to become the guardian of the mysterious little free library, as well as the areas mice. As cats usually are, he is cunning and will use his knowledge about the Martinville library fire to find a solution for revealing the truth.

Evan never expected to find what looked like a box on a pole outside of the Martinville's History House. Upon a closer inspection, what looked like an old library cart with glass doors surprisingly had old library books inside. With that orange cat, his mom called Goldie lying underneath it. Why would someone put old books outside? Who did this? Well, why not take a book like the sign stated. So, Evan took two books. Little did Evan know he would be caught up in a mystery that would involve those two books.

Ms. Scoggins once was the Librarian; she remains Mortimer's favorite house mate because her hugs are gentle. Ms. Scoggins takes care of Al and Mr. Brock and of course Mortimer. She dislikes mice, dirty spaces, and things that she has little control over. Nothing has been easy since the fire, especially for Mr. Brock. She knows their time is running out.

Al was the assistant librarian before the library burnt down. She and Ms. Scoggins, as well as Mr. Brock, the old patron from the library were living in the Martinville History House. Ever since the fire on 11/5/1999, they had taken up residency at the History House. It was a perfect place to reside, especially since tour hours were few and far between, which meant that Al doesn't disappear very easily, so she waits hidden in different areas. The three of them took up very little space and everything is always back in space before the tour hours, so their existence has become routine and only Al does their errands.

With the help of Rafe, Evan's best friend, they begin putting pieces of the Martinville fire together. He had to discover who started it, especially since the trail of clues are leading to his father! Now that he read the old book from the mystery box, How to write a Mystery Novel by Edward McClelland, and the only person who checked the book out was H. G. Higgins. Evan strongly believes it was the well-known mystery writer who started the fire at the library.

Will Evan and Rafe discover the truth about the fatal fire of unknown origins? With well-crafted characters, baffling twists and turns, this "romping" mystery will keep you readjusting who set the fire, are you ready to put the pieces together?

MrsK

"Being a Great Reader means feeling something about books...

Books don't get used up... they get powered by the readers...

didn't they?"

Meet the Author:

 Rebecca Stead is the New York Times bestselling author of When You Reach Me, Liar & Spy, First Light, Goodbye Stranger, Bob, and, most recently, The List of Things That Will Not Change. Her books have been awarded the Newbery Medal, the Boston Globe/Horn Book Award for Fiction and the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize. Rebecca lives in New York City, where she is always on the lookout for her next story idea

Ben Costa & James Parks

ISBN: 9781665910699

Publisher's Synopsis:

Coop Cooperson lives in the Land of Eem, a fantastical realm where many different species live together and there is always more magic to be discovered by those up to the task. The Dungeoneer Academy trains future explorers with classes like Dungeons and Mazes, Creatures and Critters, and Swords and Sorcery.

Coop believes in the academy’s mission and the Dungeoneer’s Code, but being the only human student can make it difficult to fit in—sometimes he wonders if he really belongs. Lucky for Coop, his best friend Oggie the bugbear has his back, as do the two other members of their exploring team, Daz the boggart and Mindy the imp. They have to rely on each other more than ever as the test for their Junior Dungeoneer Badges looms closer.

If Coop and his friends fail to run the final gauntlet in the fungal jungle, they will have to leave the academy. As future dungeoneers, they know to expect the unexpected, but nothing could prepare them for the adventure in store.  

"This book you are reading... is... my personal adventure journal.

... Oggie draws all the pictures.

So, if you're up for a wild ride..."

MrsK's Review: Gr. 4-6+ Fantasy/Adventure

Meet Coop, he is currently in training at the Dungeoneer Academy. He is the only human ever to be admitted to the academy. Talk about feeling like the odd one out! Not every recruit is accepting of Coop's uniqueness.

Coop's team includes Oggie the large bugbear, who is the best artist. Mindy is an imp who is always prepared with a pack full of all things, she is a genius. Then there is Daz, she is a boggart and the most skilled. The newest recruit will be a Mushrum known as Tymbo or more accurately known as "the Tymbos." The team will be pushed beyond endurance, threatened by unfortunate choices, and possibly lost forever.

The academy's staff includes their coach Quag who is their "hardy" gauntlet instructor. Mr. Fang is an inkpot spider that serves as their librarian, as well as the one that pops out in the most unnerving sections of their maze assessments. Blorf is their cook... a bit like a boar... with less than dead meals. Professor Clementine is their passionate historian who believes the past will help them "plan for the future." There is always so much to learn, to cherish. Headmaster Munchowzen the ancient explorer the academy's preservationist. 

Then of course there would be those that want to have glory but are not necessarily learning kindness. Zeek who is a goblin, nasty attitude who schemes chaos.  Axel is a very large Dratch which enjoys mocking others and disrespects those in authority. 

Which team... which individual... will succeed? Does the Cungeoneer's Code hold the secrets long held by generations as guidelines to be followed for the greatest adventures, or can you "pass" the Final Gauntlet without tenets? Maybe the warning to combine your talents is linked to four strategies of success!

Within the books journey, you will meet different species, uncover lost treasures, and obviously there be monsters, ruins, mazes, and unknowns that could cause your time to come to an end.

Enjoy a rollicking turn of these pages,

MrsK

"... you also need to be prepared to run for your life!"

Meet the Authors:

Welcome to Land of Eem! The official website of Ben Costa and James Parks, creators of Dungeoneer Adventures, Rickety Stitch and the Gelatinous Goo, and tabletop roleplaying game, Land of Eem.

We’ve been friends since the 2nd grade, and love making stuff together. It all began in grade school, drawing superhero comics with crayons and construction paper. In high school, we spent hours making wacky homemade movies, and then as college roommates, we came up with the idea that would become Rickety Stitch and the Gelatinous Goo, our first published graphic novel series in 2017.

We love fantasy and strive to craft tales that celebrate the adventures of unlikely heroes. We grew up playing tabletop roleplaying games, creating countless characters and collaborative worlds with our pals. It’s a pastime that’s paved the way for our creative careers, and we still play with the same friends to this day.

Holly Jackson

ISBN: 9780593374207

Publisher's Synopsis:

Lights. Camera. Lies.

18-year-old Bel has lived her whole life in the shadow of her mom’s mysterious disappearance. Sixteen years ago, Rachel Price vanished, and young Bel was the only witness, but she has no memory of it. Rachel is gone, long presumed dead, and Bel wishes everyone would just move on.

But the case is dragged up from the past when the Price family agree to a true crime documentary. Bel can’t wait for filming to end, for life to go back to normal. And then the impossible happens. Rachel Price reappears, and life will never be normal again.

Rachel has an unbelievable story about what happened to her. Unbelievable, because Bel isn’t sure it’s real. If Rachel is lying, then where has she been all this time? And – could she be dangerous? With the cameras still rolling, Bel must uncover the truth about her mother, and find out why Rachel Price really came back from the dead . . .

From world-renowned author Holly Jackson comes a mind-blowing masterpiece about one girl’s search for the truth, and the terror in finding out who your family really is.

"What do you think happened to your mother?"

MrsK's Review: Gr. 7-HS Mystery/Crime

Meet Bel, currently she is literally in view of the camera. A documentary about the mysterious disappearance of her mother is being replayed from the view of the only witness. The problem is, Annabel was found in her car seat. Just how much can Bel even know? She was only two when her mother disappeared.

Mr. Tripp is the man who found the car, and of course, Bel. Amazingly, he is also her homeroom teacher.

Charlie is Bel's dad. For sixteen years, he has been a dutiful father, he's been Bel's rock. They enjoy bacon sandwiches, ... What he does know, if Rachel ever came back, he would let her know just how much he loves her... "before any questions, those can come later."

Carter is Bel's cousin; she is destined to be a ballerina. Her father Jeff is Charlie's brother. Carter's family only lives a few houses from Bel. Even though she is younger than Bel, Bel is her confidant. Will she be ready for the truth that this documentary is about to reveal?

Finally, the car scene on Route 2, would be reenacted. The filming was weird. They hired a lady to play the part of Rachel, and Bel would be interviewed in the back seat... which is her worst part of her toddler experience, back seats caused to much anxiety. Ash was already to begin filming some behind the scenes shots. Since the beginning mess up on the first day of shooting, Ash has been the one avenue for Bel. Most of this filming Bel can keep her emotions out of the Q & A discussions. She didn't have memories with her mom; she was too young. Of course, there are pieces that are uncomfortable, yet Charlie will always be there to help her through the rough parts.

That is until... the moment that Rachel reappears! Will truth take them to a new closer? How do you accept a mother into your life when she was presumed dead? How does the family come together for a final filming for the documentary? Where has Rachel been for 16 years?

So many twists and turns... with a special warning... once you Rachel returns there is no stopping of page turning... expect a late night to the end!

Enjoy,

MrsK

"The truth didn't make sense. But it was the only thing that did.

Rachel Price was back, and Bel had lost her mind."

Meet the Author:

 Holly Jackson was born in 1992. She grew up in Buckinghamshire and started writing stories from a young age, completing her first (poor) attempt at a book aged fifteen.

'A Good Girl's Guide to Murder' is a YA Mystery Thriller and her debut novel. She lives in London and aside from reading and writing, she enjoys binge-playing video games and pointing out grammatical errors in street signs.

   

Seasoned Readers Summertime Retreats

Kate Carlisle

ISBN: 9780593201459

Publisher's Synopsis:

Brooklyn has been happily settling into married life with her hunky husband, security expert Derek Stone, when a little black book arrives in the mail on a quiet Saturday afternoon. The book is a rare British first edition of Rebecca, and inside, Brooklyn finds a note from her old friend Claire Quinn, asking her to restore it to its former luster. The two women met while working as expert appraisers on the television show This Old Attic. Brooklyn appraised books on the show and Claire's expertise was in antique British weaponry, but they bonded over their shared love of gothic novels.

The day after the book arrives, Claire shows up at Brooklyn and Derek's home--in disguise. She believes her life is in danger, and as soon as Derek sits her down and questions her, Claire reveals that in the last few weeks she has experienced two near-fatal attacks, along with weird notes left in her mailbox, hang-up phone calls, and one very scary car chase. She's afraid that her past is catching up to her. When Claire was only nine years old, she witnesed several men, one of whom was her father, planning a terrible crime. And now it seems that she's been followed, bringing the threats against her literally to Brooklyn's doorstep. Can Brooklyn page through the clues to keep her friend's past from destroying their future?

"How can I make you whole again? 

How can I improve your life?"

MrsK's Review: Bibliophile Mystery

Meet Brooklyn a bookbinder who specializes in rare book restorations. She and her husband, Derek, has just returned from a trip to Dharma. Even though she was preparing to begin repairing the latest book in need of repair, her husband informed her that someone has sent her a book from Oddlochen, Scotland. What brought momentary joy became one of the most "life-threatening" journeys for both of them.

Derek is a security expert who is charming, considerate, and the one man you would want around when so many mysterious and murdering situations are part of your everyday life. 

Alex is a former CIA operative who has her own business. She enjoys baking some of the "tastiest" cupcakes any friend in need would appreciate. As a neighbor who just happens to be as dangerous as Derek, obviously joins the hunt for those who are in a violent "race" to steal Rebecca.

Gwyneth is someone that worked with Derek. Why would she be sending Derek a book? It should have come for Brooklyn. Even though a first, British, signed edition of Rebecca is beyond value, a suspense novel is not necessarily a gift that Derek would be interested in. Until... 

Claire once worked on a television show that featured treasured heirlooms, she and Brookly once shared a bookish comradery. It's a while since they were in contact with one another. Claire is an antique weaponry specialist. Why is she at their door looking for Derek? 

Inspector Lee can be cynical, yet she is fair with precision instincts and will do what is needed to get these killers before anyone else succumbs. 

Could a book in need of repair really cause murderers to begin showing up? Would any of Derek's Interpol contacts be of assistance? Will they locate Gwyneth? Why would an "odd and dramatic" gothic mystery be so important that killers would travel to and from Scotland? Evidently, it is true... 

"Books can kill!"

"It's all about the book. Every time Brooklyn and Derek are dragged into something dangerous... well let's just say... even owning a book could cost you! 

With excellent story-weaving threads, perfectly crafted characters, many moments of playful bantering, an intriguing Victorian castle by the Loch, and cryptographic codes... this book will fulfill your hours with every page turned.

MrsK

Meet the Author:

 Golden Heart and Daphne du Maurier Award winning author Kate Carlisle spent over twenty years working in television production as an Associate Director for game and variety shows, including The Midnight Special, Solid Gold and The Gong Show. She traveled the world as a Dating Game chaperone and performed strange acts of silliness on The Gong Show. She also studied acting and singing, toiled in vineyards, collected books, joined a commune, sold fried chicken, modeled spring fashions and worked for a cruise ship line, but it was the year she spent in law school that finally drove her to begin writing fiction. It seemed the safest way to kill off her professors. Those professors are breathing easier now that Kate spends most of her time writing near the beach in Southern California where she lives with her perfect husband.

A lifelong love of old books and an appreciation of the art of bookbinding led Kate to create the Bibliophile Mysteries, featuring rare book expert Brooklyn Wainwright, whose bookbinding and restoration skills invariably uncover old secrets, treachery and murder. Kate is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers and Romance Writers of America. She loves to drink good wine and watch other people cook.

Jenn McKinlay

ISBN: 9780425242186

Publisher's Synopsis:

Lindsey is getting into her groove as the director of the Briar Creek Public Library when a New York editor visits town, creating quite a buzz. Lindsey’s friend Beth wants to sell the editor her children’s book, but Beth’s boyfriend, a famous author, gets in the way. When they go to confront him, he’s found murdered—and Beth is the prime suspect. Lindsey has to act fast—before they throw the book at the wrong person.

"There is nothing better than sharing..."

MrsK's Review: Mystery + Book about Books

Meet Lindsey, the director of the Briar Creek Library. Currently she is learning to knit during the "crafternoon" book club. The book club is discussing du Maurier's Rebecca and its comparison to Jane Eyre. Lindsey knows what is like to find out that there's another woman in a relationship. She will be the one who will help Beth uncover the truth about Rick's true identity.

Violet is a retired actress who volunteers at the Briar Creek Community Theater. She will be stepping in for Beth. As a Little Red Hen storyteller, she will captivate the fun of Storytime even when her young audience lets her know "she stinks."

Beth is the perfect children's librarian. If I was back in the classroom/library, I would take her Mrs. Potts Storytime into a real book-stomping experience. Currently, Beth has just finished her picture book. Given that her boyfriend, Rick, is an author, she was hoping he would help her get her treasured story published, yet that unfortunately becomes a challenge... especially since he is found dead! Now Beth is determined to find out "who" she was really dating.

Finally, there's Ms. Cole, the librarian who has lived out her life in Briar Creek. As with every older and steadfast librarian, well let's be kind and just say she is very set in her ways of how all employees should be following the protocol and steps that were designed years ago. I wonder, will Lindsey's kindness create a new measure of possibilities to Ms. Cole's daily routines?

Sydney is an editor, which just happens to be Rick's editor. A friend of the library mentioned Beth's book and set up a lunch date for Beth to discuss publishing her book. Unfortunately, this editor believes that Beth is not the author of the picture book she's looking at. Why would an editor have such a strong reaction to an author's manuscript? What does she know? Will she be willing to reveal "who" Rick really is?

Can anyone resist the joy of discovery when you first enter a public library. So many books, quiet contemplations, whispering discussions, the enticing book spines... just awaiting its newest reader.

Match a library + a reader and add a dash of murder. 

Is there a better way to curl up in your favorite spot for an evening of sleuthing?

MrsK

"Perhaps no place in any community 

is so totally democratic as the 

town library.

The only entrance requirement...

is interest."

Lady Bird Johnson

Meet the Author:

 Jenn is the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of several mystery and romance series. She is also the winner of the RT Reviewers’ Choice Award for romantic comedy and the Fresh Fiction award for best cozy mystery. A TEDx speaker, she is always happy to talk books, writing, reading, and the creative process to anyone who cares to listen. She lives in sunny Arizona in a house that is overrun with books, pets, and her husband’s guitars.

Heather Fawcett

ISBN: 9780593724729

Publisher's Synopsis:

Cambridge professor Emily Wilde is good at many things: She is the foremost expert on the study of faeries. She is a genius scholar and a meticulous researcher who is writing the world's first encyclopaedia of faerie lore. But Emily Wilde is not good at people. She could never make small talk at a party--or even get invited to one. And she prefers the company of her books, her dog, and the Fair Folk.

So when she arrives in the hardscrabble village of Hrafnsvik, Emily has no intention of befriending the gruff townsfolk. Nor does she care to spend time with another new arrival: her dashing and insufferably handsome academic rival Wendell Bambleby, who manages to charm the townsfolk, get in the middle of Emily's research, and utterly confound and frustrate her.

But as Emily gets closer and closer to uncovering the secrets of the Hidden Ones--the most elusive of all faeries--lurking in the shadowy forest outside the town, she also finds herself on the trail of another mystery: Who is Wendell Bambleby, and what does he really want? To find the answer, she'll have to unlock the greatest mystery of all--her own heart.

"Yet within these pages, like specimens threaded with pins

and trapped behind glass...

is every species of faerie yet encountered by man..."

MrsK's Review: Fantasy

Emily is not an easy character to figure out, especially since she tries to be self-sufficient with a streak of stubborn focus that leads to many difficulties. Granted, I knew nothing about fairies beyond Tink. Yet, spending a lifetime exploring the "Hidden Ones," their cultural homelands, their folklore, and some of their magic explains Emily's newest exploration of Hrafnsvik, Ljosland (a five-day journey from London). Though she is an excellent researcher, a scholar from Cambridge, and an authority on Dryadology, she is not at ease around people. Emily is at her best with her books, research, as well as her devotion of her quest in completing the first encyclopedia of faeries.

Shadow is Emily's faithful companion and protector. With what appears to be an "accusatory resignation," he will be more than an overgrown... slightly blind... boarhound.

Finn is the landowner's son. He is kindhearted, willing to help Emily in the rough weather of winter (especially with the wood-cutting), and the one who will gather the villagers when Emily is in dire straits. Finn's understanding of the "Wee Folks" is that they are child sized. The "Brownies" are the ones that involve themselves in the lives of mortals (thefts, curses, or blessings). The "Trouping Fae" is those who travel in groups, especially the winter ones. Then there are the "Tall ones," who are more than unkind to the humans. Finn will be the one who introduces Emily to Aud, the village headwoman.

Bambleby is Emily's coworker, co-author, and prolific professor at Cambridge. Even though he appears entertaining, there is much about him that Emily doesn't trust. Self-assured and extremely knowledgeable about the most unknown Fae behaviors, he tends to tell Emily what she shouldn't do. Why he has decided to come and "stay" with her is beyond what Emily wants. He has an extreme way of irritating her to the point of distraction. Will he try to be the sole author of her research? Will he be a guardian over Emily or will Emily be his guardian? 

Aud, the headwoman in the village. Displease her, and everyone will follow her decision. She is more than wise; she knows firsthand the way of the Faes. She is wise about healings and curses. Will she encourage the village to welcome Emily and discuss their stories of the Hidden Ones, or will she shun Emily? She will be needed for Emily to be accepted and out of danger.

Poe is the first brownie that Emily meets in Ljosland. He admires Emily's coat and becomes willing to barter with her for his fresh baked bread (a staple that her landlord doesn't have any chef ability other than burnt). Poe's tree is not far from where Emily is staying. He has met Bambleby and isn't comfortable around him. Poe will be instrumental in the knowledge about the hidden ones. As he fellowships with Emily, he becomes the most endearing of characters.

Throughout the weaving of the story, you will be delighted that Emily has provided foot notes to educate you about all things dealing her faerie research. For a reader like me, this proved beneficial, especially on the pages in which your mind swirls around the lore of the Hidden Ones. A brilliant addition to Emily's research is the inserted tales from the village. These are delightful folklore that helped you stay connected to the thread that the village knows life with the Hidden Ones.

If fantasy, folk tales, and fairies have been your reading destination. You can't miss this series. If you once enjoyed Disney's Tink or Lady Cottington's Fairy Album or Fairies by Brian Froud and Alan Lee, then you will want to add this series to your forever shelf...

MrsK

"The forest has a different quality now, girded with winter.

It no longer dozes among its autumn finery...

but holds itself in tension, watchful and waiting."

"A faerie stone with a crack running down it, has been spent and is thus harmless.

An intact stone should be left untouched..."

Meet the Author:

 I'm the author of books for adults and children, including Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries, Even the Darkest Stars, Ember and the Ice Dragons, The School Between Winter and Fairyland, and more.

Leanne Morgan

ISBN: 9780593594391

Publisher's Synopsis:

From dealing with your mean teenage daughter to rebelling against the latest diet trend, America’s newest standup sensation packs a hilarious punch with her real talk about what it’s like to be a regular woman today. For a long time, no one pulling the strings in the comedy world thought that an over-fifty woman from rural Tennessee could make it in the industry. But Leanne Morgan has defied the odds, reaching millions with her musings on menopause, Weight Watchers, and her opposites-attract relationship with her husband, Chuck. In her charming, Southern-accented voice, Morgan brings readers inside her quest to find her calling after so many years trying to figure out what that meant. Along the way, she discusses everything from growing up as a butcher’s daughter, to her strategy for landing a husband with health insurance, to the glories of aging and the comfort of wearing big old grannie panties. Equal parts warm and hilarious, this book is a must-read by one of comedy’s rising stars—reminding you that every time life leaves you asking, “What in the world?”, something good is going to come out of it someday.

"Is there a more beautiful sight than thousands of darling,

women laughing so hard they wee-wee themselves?"

MrsK's Review: Reality Fiction/Humorous

Were you someone who took home economics back in the day? Do you talk enough for you and your spouse? Have you ever been to a convention or comedy hour in which it was pure wisdom that you were wearing a pad? If so, this could be the book that brings a smile, an outright laughing spree, or a moment in which you discover you really aren't as off balanced as others might think you are!

In her mid-fifties, Leanne has found her calling as a Grand Ole Opry and Netflix comedian. She has an unabashed outlook on life. She is a southern woman who has "ridden the roller coaster" of life. Family life on a ranch brought many skills, including stocking shelves, watching her daddy butcher their livestock, and sitting at the cash register to spin her tales.

She was influenced by Clorox TV ads, Vanna White's ability to turn those letters, and Paul Lynde's dazzling wit. In college, she was influenced by Erica Kane, crazy right? With a failed marriage she began searching for her future. With a degree and husband, what comes next... babies with maybe a side career in showbiz.

While Leanne begins believing in herself, she was still being a mom. Sometimes we are in a wait room for God's timing. Sometimes there's a reason that interrupts our journey, yet when all is aligned the past pathways always makes sense as we grow into our new seasons. As a mother of three, doing comedy clubs where college-aged kids enjoyed her take on life as a T-Ball mom and jokes about "confusing poop with chocolate" were funny.

This was a gift of joy and giggles. We all reach those seasons when we can get "stuck" in the corners of our minds. If you need an uplifting, straight talking discovery, you will enjoy these short passages of hope, can-do, and definitely relatable moments of truth. We aren't in this alone, sometimes it takes an honest voice to get us going for it...

MrsK 

"I needed to learn to be grateful for the valleys because

God had me there for a reason... and Hallelujah,

it gave me great stories to tell."

  
Leanne Morgan is a comedian, actress, writer, producer, wife, mother, and grandmama. Her first Netflix special, I’m Every Woman, was one of the most-watched specials on Netflix in 2023. Leanne has been named to the Forbes 50 Over 50 list and Variety’s 10 Comics to Watch list. When she’s not on the road, Leanne loves to be at home in Knoxville, Tennessee, with her husband, three children, two grandbabies, and beagle.

Jim Minick

ISBN: 9780312571429

Publisher's Synopsis:

"A truly inspiring story, in gorgeous prose, about one family's journey into blueberry farming. Delicious reading.", Naomi Wolf, author of "The End of America". The Blueberry Years is a mouth-watering and delightful memoir based on Jim Minick's trials and tribulations as an organic blueberry farmer. This story of one couple and one farm shows how our country's appetite for cheap food affects how that food is grown, who does or does not grow it, and what happens to the land. But this memoir also calls attention to the fragile nature of our global food system and our nation's ambivalence about what we eat and where it comes from. Readers of Michael Polland and Barbara Kingsolver will savor the tale of Jim's farm and the exploration of larger issues facing agriculture in the United States like the rise of organic farming, the plight of small farmers, and the loneliness common in rural America. Ultimately, The Blueberry Years tells the story of a place shaped by a young couple's dream, and how that dream ripened into one of the mid-Atlantic's first certified-organic, pick-your-own blueberry farms.

"They come to fill buckets and pans, canning jars, freezer bags,

pie crusts, and always the ever-waiting tongue. They come to visit

and eat, to sate the hungers of loneliness and body."

MrsK's Review: Memoir/Autobiography

Once in a while a book's cover attracts your attention and you pick it up to see what journey would await you. This wasn't a typical find, I wasn't considering it as a summer read, and yet since my days with Blueberries for Sal... my absolute favorite berry of the summer... and our garden's need for rejuvenation... this book came to our small-town home.

Meet Jim and Sarah... two young schoolteachers who purchased ninety aches of dirt. They began with six varieties of blueberries that would bloom throughout the summer of 1991. With grit and dreams of staying home and enjoying the "good life," they purchase land and moved to Floyd County, Virginia. Their farm had creeks, a spring, and a long history. Of course, a long history might suggest ready to farm, or it could mean that they would begin their first seasons with the same type of hard work that the early homesteaders experienced (this is when I began my delightful summer journey... a few chapters at a time... eating our own blueberries on our patio swing).

Preparing the land, falling trees, bees or no bees, watering systems, planting, all they knew with confidence was that their blueberries would be organic, pesticide free. The long-long days of prep began. So did their investigation with their neighbors, with other blueberry field owners, with many research items and hope that they could keep their newly planted bushes alive for their first season of pickers.

"The field...became the course work... so heavy and complex..." Tucked in between their story you will discover: choosing the type of blueberries; blueberry history, research about roots and fungi; the National Organic Standards; as well as my personal favorite insight... Henry David Thoreau's Faith in a Seed and Wild Fruits.

So much goodness in such a small fruit. Jim's writing entices you with every page turned. His and Sarah's passion for their blueberry fields lays dormant amongst a world "plugged in."  Treat yourself to an endearing journey that should not be over-looked... it is an essential summertime discovery,

MrsK

"The blooms, those beautiful hanging cups of white.

Oh, just for an hour to be a bumblebee and buzz through 

this fragrance-filled air!"

Meet the Author:

 Jim Minick is the author of five books, including the novel Fire Is Your Water (Ohio UP, 2017), and The Blueberry Years: A Memoir of Farm and Family (St. Martin’s, 2012), winner of the SIBA Best Nonfiction Book of the Year Award. Minick has also written a collection of essays, finding a Clear Path, two books of poetry, Her Secret Song and Burning Heaven, and he edited All There Is to Keep by Rita Riddle. His honors include the Jean Ritchie Fellowship in Appalachian Writing, and the Fred Chappell Fellowship at University of North Carolina-Greensboro. He has also won awards from the Southern Independent Booksellers Association, Southern Environmental Law Center, The Virginia College Bookstore Association, Appalachian Writers Association, Appalachian Heritage, Now and Then Magazine, and Radford University. His poem “I Dream a Bean” was picked by Claudia Emerson for permanent display at the Tysons Corner/Metrorail Station. Minick’s work has appeared in many publications including Poets & Writers, Oxford American, Orion, Shenandoah, Encyclopedia of Appalachia, The Sun, Conversations with Wendell Berry, San Francisco Chronicle, Appalachian Journal, The Roanoke Times, and Still. He completed an MFA in fiction from UNC-Greensboro, where he was Fiction Editor for The Greensboro Review. Currently, he teaches at Augusta University and in Converse College’s low-residency MFA program.

Miss Read

ISBN: 9780618219131

Publisher's Synopsis:

GOSSIP FROM THRUSH GREEN returns readers to the delightful English village, neighbor to Fairacre, for a golden summer. But this sleepy, pristine setting conceals a flurry of activity amongst the villagers. Rumor has it that Mr. Venables is considering retirement just as the village's teacher is about to make an important decision. Molly Curdle prepares for a new baby. The kindly vicar, Charles Henstock, works on his sermon -- quite unaware of the disaster that will overtake him. However, there is never any doubt that all will end well in this very English village.

"Taking tea is a highly civilized pastime, and fortunately

is still in favour at Thrush Green, 

where it has been brought to a fine art."

MrsK's Review: Fictional/Historical/Village Life

Almost everything you would want to know about this journey and its author is found in the above quote. Everything except for the purity of a delightful storyteller and her universally unique characters.

Venture with me... in the days of yesterday, Miss Read is a delightful narrator. She is gracious, steadfast, and very eloquent in her observations of her village and her village characters. She would never presume what her characters are thinking, yet she is profoundly insightful about their choices, their personalities, as well as their good-natured quirks.

In the peaceful village of Thrush Green, you will visit the Village school in which the Headmistress, Miss Watson is considering retirement and Miss Fogerty is considering the daily school matters, and Betty Bell is cleaning up the school day mess. 

On Lulling High Street, the three Lovelock sisters (Violet, Ada, and Bertha) are always delightfully entertaining during all afternoon teas. Set in their ways, always on the search for delightful household items, and very unique "treasure" like characteristics, these ladies are called to provide their village with their support.

Of course, the village's rector and his wife (Charles and Dimity) live in Thrush Green's most hideous Victorian eye sore. They are about to take a vacation and will be pondering how their future will be unfolding. St. Andrew's has Sexton Piggott, whose gloom can be felt by his congregation. His daughter Molly tries to look after him while taking care of her husband Ben and young George. If only Sexton Piggott wasn't so obstinate his digestion and personality might bring an answer to the prayers of many.

Every village must have their wise and aging "Tea Ladies," Winnie and Ella. Who else would gather others for tea? Who else would have the perfect recipes for tea delectables? Who else will, with concerned hearts, know what their village community is experiencing, thinking, as well as in need of guidance? These ladies are truly the dearest of friends and precious to all in Thrush Green.

Small town life is comforting, chaotic, supportive, and full of troubles. How could a vacation create a mishmash of chaos? Who are the temporary borders at Tulliver's? Will there finally be a proposal and wedding for two of the villagers? What will happen to the Village school if Miss Watson retires?

As Jan Karon has stated, "relish a visit to Thrush Green..."

MrsK

"Now, we'll just get this place to rights, and

have a quiet evening with our knitting..."

Meet the Author:

Dora Jessie Saint MBE née Shafe (born 17 April 1913), best known by the pen name Miss Read, was an English novelist, by profession a schoolmistress. Her pseudonym was derived from her mother's maiden name. In 1940 she married her husband, Douglas, a former headmaster. The couple had a daughter, Jill. She began writing for several journals after World War II and worked as a scriptwriter for the BBC.

She wrote a series of novels from 1955 to 1996. Her work centered on two fictional English villages, Fairacre and Thrush Green. The principal character in the Fairacre books, "Miss Read", is an unmarried schoolteacher in a small village school, an acerbic and yet compassionate observer of village life. Miss Read's novels are wry regional social comedies, laced with gentle humor and subtle social commentary. Miss Read is also a keen observer of nature and the changing seasons.

Her most direct influence is from Jane Austen, although her work also bears similarities to the social comedies of manners written in the 1920s and 1930s, and in particular the work of Barbara Pym. Miss Read's work has influenced a number of writers in her own turn, including the American writer, Jan Karon. The musician Enya has a track on her Watermark album named after the book Miss Clare Remembers, and one on her Shepherd Moons album named after No Holly for Miss Quinn.

In 1996 she retired. In 1998 she was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire for her services to literature. She died 7 April 2012 in Shefford Woodlands.

More of Miss Read

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