bcplweb

Home » Articles by bcplweb (Page 2)

2022 Seed List

2022 Seed Offerings

Below is a list of the BCPL Seed Library’s offerings for the 2022 season. Click on any seed for a photo and description; on that page, be sure to scroll down to “Links” where you can learn more about each seed’s growing information. You can also browse all of our seeds in the Library’s online catalog, by searching “BVD seed“.

With your Bensenville Community Public Library card, you may borrow up to five packets consisting of no more than two of each variety of seed. Please note that seeds are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

In Honor of Black History Month: 20 Must Read Young Adult Novels!

By bcplweb Booklists, Booklists

Every February, people in the United States celebrate the achievements and history of African Americans as part of Black History Month.

Take a look at this list, compiled by our Youth Services Department, that highlights young adult novels!

All of the titles featured here we have in our collection. To see if an item is available to check out or place on hold, click the cover image or button to the right of the description.

The Hate U Give

by Angie Thomas

Our #1 recommendation for Black History Month is already a classic. This stunning novel is inspired by the activists of Black Lives Matter. Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend, Khalil, at the hands of a police officer. He was unarmed. Soon afterward, his death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the streets. Some cops and the local drug lord try to intimidate Starr and her family. What everyone wants to know is: what really went down that night?

Concrete Rose

by Angie Thomas

In the prequel to The Hate U Give, Maverick Carter is a force to be reckoned with. If there’s one thing seventeen-year-old Maverick Carter knows, it’s that a real man takes care of his family. As the son of a former gang legend, Mav does that the only way he knows how: dealing for the King Lords. With this money he can help his mom, who works two jobs while his dad is in prison. Life’s not perfect, but with a fly girlfriend and a cousin who always has his back, Mav’s got everything under control. Until, that is, Maverick finds out he’s a father. But when King Lord blood runs through your veins, you can’t just walk away. Loyalty, revenge, and responsibility threaten to tear Mav apart, especially after the brutal murder of a loved one. He’ll have to figure out for himself what it really means to be a man.

Punching the Air

by Ibi Zoboi & Yusef Salaam

This incredible novel-in-verse based on real life events is a must-read for everyone! This story will move you to your core and inspire you to dig deeper into prison reform. Amal Shahid has always been an artist and a poet. But even in a diverse art school, because of a biased system he’s seen as disruptive and unmotivated. Then, one fateful night, an altercation in a gentrifying neighborhood escalates into tragedy. “Boys just being boys” turns out to be true only when those boys are white. Suddenly, at just sixteen years old, Amal is convicted of a crime he didn’t commit and sent to prison. Despair and rage almost sink him until he turns to the refuge of his words, his art. This never should have been his story. But can he change it?

Kingdom of Souls

by Rena Barron

So much of YA fantasy is set in European-inspired worlds, and while we love it, we are always craving something more. Rena’s West-African inspired high fantasy gives us the magic we need this Black History Month. Born into a family of powerful witchdoctors, Arrah yearns for magic of her own. But each year she fails to call forth her ancestral powers, while her ambitious mother watches with growing disapproval. There’s only one thing Arrah hasn’t tried, a deadly last resort: trading years of her own life for scraps of magic. Until the Kingdom’s children begin to disappear, and Arrah is desperate to find the culprit. She uncovers something worse. The long-imprisoned Demon King is stirring. And if he rises, his hunger for souls will bring the world to its knees… unless Arrah pays the price for the magic to stop him.

Let Me Hear a Rhyme

by Tiffany D. Jackson

Brooklyn, 1998. Biggie Smalls was right: Things done changed. But that doesn’t mean that Quadir and Jarrell are cool letting their best friend Steph’s music lie forgotten under his bed after he’s murdered—not when his rhymes could turn any Bed Stuy corner into a party. With the help of Steph’s younger sister Jasmine, they come up with a plan to promote Steph’s music under a new rap name: the Architect. Soon, everyone wants a piece of him. When his demo catches the attention of a hotheaded music label rep, the trio must prove Steph’s talent from beyond the grave. As the pressure of keeping their secret grows, Quadir, Jarrell, and Jasmine are forced to confront the truth about what happened to Steph. Only, each has something to hide. And with everything riding on Steph’s fame, they need to decide what they stand for or lose all that they’ve worked so hard to hold on to—including each other.

On the Come Up

by Angie Thomas

Sixteen-year-old Bri wants to be one of the greatest rappers of all time. Or at least win her first battle. As the daughter of an underground hip hop legend who died right before he hit big, Bri’s got massive shoes to fill. But it’s hard to get your come up when you’re labeled a hoodlum at school, and your fridge at home is empty after your mom loses her job. So Bri pours her anger and frustration into her first song, which goes viral . . . for all the wrong reasons. Bri soon finds herself at the center of a controversy, portrayed by the media as more menace than MC. But with an eviction notice staring her family down,

Bri doesn’t just want to make it—she has to. Even if it means becoming the very thing the public has made her out to be.

Dread Nation

by Justina Ireland

When families go missing in Baltimore County, Jane McKeene, who is studying to become an Attendant, finds herself in the middle of a conspiracy that has her fighting for her life against powerful enemies. Jane McKeene was born two days before the dead began to walk the battlefields of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania– derailing the War Between the States and changing the nation forever. Now laws like the Native and Negro Education Act require certain children attend combat schools to learn to put down the dead. Jane is studying to become an Attendant, trained in both weaponry and etiquette to protect the well-to-do. But it’s not a life Jane wants. When families around Baltimore County begin to go missing, Jane is caught in the middle of a conspiracy… and the restless dead are the least of her problems.

Not So Pure and Simple

by Justina Ireland

What does it mean to be a “real man?” Lamar Giles tackles this subject and more in this masterful contemporary, a perfect add to any TBR at any time. Del has had a crush on Kiera Westing since kindergarten. And now, during their junior year, she’s finally available. So when Kiera volunteers for an opportunity at their church, Del’s right behind her. Though he quickly realizes he’s inadvertently signed up for a Purity Pledge. His dad thinks his wires are crossed, and his best friend, Qwan, doesn’t believe any girl is worth the long game. But Del’s not about to lose his dream girl, and that’s where fellow pledger Jameer comes in. He can put in the good word. In exchange, Del just has to get answers to the Pledgers’ questions…about sex ed. With other boys circling Kiera like sharks, Del needs to make his move fast. But as he plots and plans, he neglects to ask the most important question: What does Kiera want? He can’t think about that too much, though, because once he gets the girl, it’ll all sort itself out. Right?

The Voting Booth

by Brandy Colbert

Marva Sheridan was born ready for this day. She’s always been driven to make a difference in the world, and what better way than to vote in her first election? Duke Crenshaw is so done with this election. He

just wants to get voting over with so he can prepare for his band’s first paying gig tonight. Only problem? Duke can’t vote. When Marva sees Duke turned away from their polling place, she takes it upon herself to make sure his vote is counted. She hasn’t spent months doorbelling and registering voters just to see someone denied their right. And that’s how their whirlwind day begins, rushing from precinct to precinct, cutting school, waiting in endless lines, turned away time and again, trying to do one simple thing: vote. They may have started out as strangers, but as Duke and Marva team up to beat a rigged system (and find Marva’s missing cat), it’s clear that there’s more to their connection than a shared mission for democracy.

Felix Ever After

by Kacen Callender

Felix Love has never been in love—and, yes, he’s painfully aware of the irony. He desperately wants to know what it’s like and why it seems so easy for everyone but him to find someone. What’s worse is that, even though he is proud of his identity, Felix also secretly fears that he’s one marginalization too many—Black, queer, and transgender—to ever get his own happily-ever-after. When an anonymous student begins sending him transphobic messages—after publicly posting Felix’s deadname alongside images of him before he transitioned—Felix comes up with a plan for revenge. What he didn’t count on: his catfish scenario landing him in a quasi–love triangle….But as he navigates his complicated feelings, Felix begins a journey of questioning and self-discovery that helps redefine his most important relationship: how he feels about himself.

Black Enough

edited by Ibi Zoboi

This author lineup is unmatched. This collection of unflinching stories about being young and Black in America is one of the best YA anthologies to hit shelves, ever. Black is…sisters navigating their relationship at summer camp in Portland, Oregon, as written by Renée Watson. Black is…three friends walking back from the community pool talking about nothing and everything, in a story by Jason Reynolds. Black is…Nic Stone’s high-class beauty dating a boy her momma would never approve of. Black is…two girls kissing in Justina Ireland’s story set in Maryland. Black is urban and rural, wealthy and poor, mixed race, immigrants, and more—because there are countless ways to be Black enough.

Monster: A Graphic Novel

by Walter Dean Myers, adapted by Guy A. Sims

Monster is the ultimate classic, an ever-important story that opens up conversations about what “justice” often looks like for black teenagers. The graphic novel adaptation is just as utterly stunning and the perfect read for Black History month. Monster is a multi-award-winning, provocative coming-of-age story about Steve Harmon, a teenager awaiting trial for a murder and robbery. As Steve acclimates to juvenile detention and goes to trial, he envisions how his ordeal would play out on the big screen. Guy A. Sims, the acclaimed author of the Brotherman series of comic books, collaborated with his brother, the illustrator Dawud Anyabwile, in this thrilling black-and-white graphic novel adaption of Monster.

The Black Flamingo

by Dean Atta

We LOVE poetry, and this author’s background as an acclaimed poet and performer is evident in his debut YA novel! Start reading this lyrical Stonewall Book Award Winner now. Michael is a mixed-race gay teen growing up in London. All his life, he’s navigated what it means to be Greek-Cypriot and Jamaican—but never quite feeling Greek or Black enough. As he gets older, Michael’s coming out is only the start of learning who he is and where he fits in. When he discovers the Drag Society, he finally finds where he belongs—and the Black Flamingo is born. Told with raw honesty, insight, and lyricism, this debut explores the layers of identity that make us who we are—and allow us to shine.

Pride

by Ibi Zoboi

Zuri Benitez has pride. Brooklyn pride, family pride, and pride in her Afro-Latino roots. But pride might not be enough to save her rapidly gentrifying neighborhood from becoming unrecognizable. When the wealthy Darcy family moves in across the street, Zuri wants nothing to do with their two teenage sons, even as her older sister, Janae, starts to fall for the charming Ainsley. She especially can’t stand the judgmental and arrogant Darius. Yet as Zuri and Darius are forced to find common ground, their initial dislike shifts into an unexpected understanding. But with four wild sisters pulling her in different directions, cute boy Warren vying for her attention, and college applications hovering on the horizon, Zuri fights to find her place in Bushwick’s changing landscape, or lose it all.

Opposite of Always

by Justin A. Reynolds

When Jack and Kate meet at a party, bonding until sunrise over their mutual love of Froot Loops and their favorite flicks, Jack knows he’s falling—hard. Soon she’s meeting his best friends, Jillian and Franny, and Kate wins them over as easily as she did Jack. But then Kate dies. And their story should end there. Yet Kate’s death sends Jack back to the beginning, the moment they first meet, and Kate’s there again. Healthy, happy, and charming as ever. Jack isn’t sure if he’s losing his mind. Still, if he has a chance to prevent Kate’s death, he’ll take it. Even if that means believing in time travel. However, Jack will learn that his actions are not without consequences. And when one choice turns deadly for someone else close to him, he has to figure out what he’s willing to do to save the people he loves.

A Blade So Black

by L.L. McKinney

The first time the Nightmares came, it nearly cost Alice her life. Now she’s trained to battle monstrous creatures in the dark dream realm known as Wonderland with magic weapons and hardcore fighting skills. Yet even warriors have a curfew. Life in real-world Atlanta isn’t always so simple, as Alice juggles an overprotective mom, a high-maintenance best friend, and a slipping GPA. Keeping the Nightmares at bay is turning into a full-time job. But when Alice’s handsome and mysterious mentor is poisoned, she has to find the antidote by venturing deeper into Wonderland than she’s ever gone before. And she’ll need to use everything she’s learned in both worlds to keep from losing her head… literally.

Long Way Down

by Jason Reynolds

Fifteen-year-old Will—has a cannon, a strap, a tool, a gun—shoved in the back waistband of his jeans. See, his brother Shawn was just murdered. And Will knows the rules. No crying. No snitching. Revenge. That’s where Will’s now heading, with that gun shoved in the back waistband of his jeans, the gun that was his brother’s gun. He gets on the elevator, seventh floor, stoked. He knows who he’s after. Or does he? As the elevator stops on the sixth floor, on comes Buck. Buck, Will finds out, is who gave Shawn the gun before Will took the gun. Buck tells Will to check that the gun is even loaded. And that’s when Will sees that one bullet is missing. And the only one who could have fired Shawn’s gun was Shawn. Huh. Will didn’t know that Shawn had ever actually USED his gun. Bigger huh. BUCK IS DEAD. But Buck’s in the elevator? And so it goes, the whole long way down, as the elevator stops on each floor, and at each stop someone connected to his brother gets on to give Will a piece to a bigger story than the one he thinks he knows. A story that might never know an END…if WILL gets off that elevator.

Children of Blood and Bone

by Tomi Adeyemi

If you’re looking for a book where the world, the characters, and the magic are rich and captivating, then this is the book for you. We anticipate seeing Children of Blood and Bone in required reading roundups everywhere. We know it’s on ours. Zélie Adebola remembers when the soil of Orïsha hummed with magic. Burners ignited flames, Tiders beckoned waves, and Zélie’s Reaper mother summoned forth souls. But everything changed the night magic disappeared. Under the orders of a ruthless king, maji were killed, leaving Zélie without a mother and her people without hope. Now Zélie has one chance to bring back magic and strike against the monarchy. With the help of a rogue princess, Zélie must outwit and outrun the crown prince, who is hell-bent on eradicating magic for good.

Buried Beneath the Baobab Tree

by Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani

Based on real-life experiences of Nigerian girls kidnapped by Boko Haram, Buried Beneath the Baobab Tree sheds new light on the victims’ perspectives. It implores readers to see the victims as more than just a number and tells a side of history that not many people know. A new pair of shoes, a university degree, a husband—these are the things that a girl dreams of in a Nigerian village. And with a government scholarship right around the corner, everyone can see that these dreams aren’t too far out of reach. But the girl’s dreams turn to nightmares when her village is attacked by Boko Haram, a terrorist group, in the middle of the night. Kidnapped, she is taken with other girls and women into the forest where she is forced to follow her captors’ radical beliefs and watch as her best friend slowly accepts everything she’s been told. Still, the girl defends her existence. As impossible as escape may seem, her life—her future—is hers to fight for.

Dear Martin

by Nic Stone

In a debut told in the view of a young Black male living in today’s America, Nic Stone boldly takes on the topics of police brutality and racism—something that doesn’t exist only in Black history, but unfortunately in today’s world as well. Justyce McAllister is top of his class and set for the Ivy League—but none of that matters to the police officer who just put him in handcuffs. And despite leaving his rough neighborhood behind, he can’t escape the scorn of his former peers or the ridicule of his new classmates. Justyce looks to the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for answers. But do they hold up anymore? He starts a journal to Dr. King to find out. Then comes the day Justyce goes driving with his best friend, Manny, windows rolled down, music turned up—way up, sparking the fury of a white off-duty cop beside them. Words fly. Shots are fired. Justyce and Manny are caught in the crosshairs. In the media fallout, it’s Justyce who is under attack.

Want more recommendations?

You can check out all of our online booklists (for kids and for adults), or reach out to us! Our staff is ready and willing to make reading, listening, or viewing recommendations to you! Email us at reference@benlib.org or contact us via our online form!

Happy Lunar New Year 2022! | Picture Books

By bcplweb Booklists, Booklists

The Lunar New Year falls on February 1st, and it’s the Year of the Tiger!

Tied to the Chinese lunar calendar, the holiday was traditionally a time to honor household and heavenly deities as well as ancestors. It was also a time to bring family together for feasting. Check out this list picture books all about Chinese (Lunar) New Year, hand-picked by our Youth Services Department staff!

All of the titles featured here we have in our collection. To see if an item is available to check out or place on hold, click the cover image or button to the right of the description.

Chinese New Year Colors

by Rich Lo

This bilingual color concept book celebrates a rainbow of traditional objects seen during the Chinese New Year. Hóng is the color of explosive firecrackers! Jīn is the hue of lucky coins. Zŏng is the shade of sweet peanut puffs. Welcome to the festivities of the Chinese New Year, where symbolic gifts, foods, and objects come together in a celebration of beautiful colors. This vibrant, simple, and highly graphic bilingual book is the perfect introduction to Chinese and English words for colors as it honors one of the biggest holidays around the world.

Nian, the Chinese New Year Dragon

by Virginia Loh-Hagan

An illustrated retelling for young readers of the Chinese folktale about a dragon that threatens a village each spring and Mei, the young girl who is destined to defeat him.

Mulan’s Lunar New Year

by Natasha Yim

It’s the Lunar New Year, which just happens to be Mulan’s favorite festival! There is a lot to do to prepare for this important celebration, and for the first time, Mulan is old enough to help out. But everthing Mulan does seems to turn out wrong.

Maisy’s Chinese New Year

by Lucy Cousins

Spending Chinese New Year with her friend Tiger, Maisy learns about traditional symbols, shares a delicious cultural feast and exchanges lucky red hongbao envelopes before listening to a story about the holiday and staying up late to watch a fireworks display.

Ruby’s Chinese New Year

by Vickie Lee

As Ruby travels to her grandmother’s house to bring her a gift for Chinese New Year, she is joined by all of the animals of the zodiac. Includes the legend of the Chinese horoscope and instructions for crafts.

The Great Race: Story of the Chinese Zodiac

by Christopher Corr

Celebrate Chinese New Year and learn how every animal earned its place in the Chinese zodiac by taking part in the Great Race! Discover who will come first to win the ultimate prize, and find out why Cat will never forgive his friend Rat in this ancient folk tale that has been passed from generation to generation.

Curious George Dragon Dance

by Adah Nuchi

George, Marco, and their new friend Lily get to dance in the dragon costume during the Chinese New Year parade.

Bringing in the New Year

by Grace Lin

A Chinese American family prepares for and celebrates the Lunar New Year. End notes discuss the customs and traditions of Chinese New Year.

This Next New Year

by Janet S. Wong

A family prepares to celebrate the Lunar New Year and looks forward to the good luck they hope it will bring.

It’s Chinese New Year

by Richard Sebra

Presents an introduction to the Chinese New Year holiday and discusses its traditions, including family meals, remembering loved ones, decorating with the color red, and giving gifts.

How to Catch a Dragon

by Adam Wallace

A real, wily dragon winds through streets in China, eluding the traps set by a group of children during the Chinese New Year celebration.

Lunar New Year

by Hannah Eliot

Introduces lunar new year, describing the food, decorations, and activities of the holiday.

Goldy Luck and the Three Pandas

by Natasha Yim

One Chinese New Year, her mother sends Goldy Luck to the pandas next door with a plate of turnip cakes, but the pandas are out and disaster follows. Includes a recipe for turnip cakes and an explanation of Chinese New Year.

Want more recommendations?

January is National Tea Month

By bcplweb Booklists, Booklists, What's New

After water, tea is the most popular drink in the world. Whether you’re enjoying it in a steaming mug at morning break, a quiet afternoon respite cuppa, or a soothing moment at day’s end taken from a delicate porcelain cup… tea is a delicious indulgence. This popular beverage can be enjoyed hot or cold, and though mostly grow in Asia, tea is enjoyed and celebrated in many forms and in many countries. From chai, mate, Earl Grey, matcha or bubble… Tea is always a good idea!

All of the titles featured here in this booklist we have in our catalog or in our eBook collections. To see if an item is available to check out or place on hold, click the cover image or button to the right of the description.

Victoria, the Essential Tea Companion

Serves up history and lore, advice on brewing the perfect pot and best of all, menus for eight themed parties, from a children’s tea to a bridal shower. More than 100 recipes cover sandwiches, scones, tarts, cakes, savories, breads, and biscuits, as well as flavored teas both hot and iced, and honeys, spreads, and jams.

The Afternoon Tea Collection

Afternoon tea is a celebration of all things delightful, delectable, and tastefully appealing. This beautifully illustrated book features everything that makes the afternoon teatime experience special: lovely small sandwiches, yummy scones, delicate tarts, and other tasty treats.

Making Your Own Gourmet Tea Drinks: Black Teas, Green Teas, Scented Teas, Herb Teas, Iced Teas, and More

Offering more than 100 heart-warming recipes that include such tasty delights as Raspberry Tea. Apricot Iced Tea, Strawberry Tea Shake, Cinnamon-Cranberry Iced Tea, Rum-Cider Tea, Grand Marnier Tea, Cocoa-Mint Tea Shake, and Iced Creme de Menthe Tea. Now you can enjoy all of the best gourmet tea drinks right in the comfort of your own home.

The Tea Enthusiast's Handbook

In this authoritative guide, veteran tea professionals Mary Lou and Robert J. Heiss provide decades of expertise on understanding tea and its origins, the many ways to buy tea, and how to explore and enjoy the six classes of tea (green, yellow, white, oolong, black, and Pu-erh). Additional advice on steeping the perfect cup and storing tea at home, alongside a gallery of more than thirty-fi ve individual teas with tasting notes and descriptions make The Tea Enthusiast’s Handbook a singular source of both practical information and rich detail about this fascinating beverage.

Tea & Treachery

by Vicky Delany

In this charming new cozy mystery series from national bestselling author Vicki Delany, a New York City expat-turned-Cape Cod tea shop owner must solve the murder of a local real estate developer to help her feisty grandmother out of a jam . . .

A Cuban Girl's Guide to Tea and Tomorrow

by Laura Taylor Namey

For Lila Reyes, a summer in England was never part of the plan. The plan was 1) take over her abuela’s role as head baker at their panadería, 2) move in with her best friend after graduation, and 3) live happily ever after with her boyfriend. But then the Trifecta happened, and everything, including Lila herself, fell apart. Worried about Lila’s mental health, her parents make a new plan for her: Spend three months with family friends in Winchester, England, to relax and reset. But with the lack of sun, a grumpy inn cook, and a small town lacking Miami flavor (both in food and otherwise), what would be a dream trip for some feels more like a nightmare to Lila…until she meets Orion Maxwell. A teashop clerk with troubles of his own, Orion is determined to help Lila out of her funk, and appoints himself as her personal tour guide.

For All the Tea in China How England Stole the World's Favorite Drink and Changed History

by Sarah Rose

A dramatic historical narrative of the man who stole the secret of tea from China

In 1848, the British East India Company, having lost its monopoly on the tea trade, engaged Robert Fortune, a Scottish gardener, botanist, and plant hunter, to make a clandestine trip into the interior of China—territory forbidden to foreigners—to steal the closely guarded secrets of tea horticulture and manufacturing. For All the Tea in China is the remarkable account of Fortune’s journeys into China—a thrilling narrative that combines history, geography, botany, natural science, and old-fashioned adventure.

Disguised in Mandarin robes, Fortune ventured deep into the country, confronting pirates, hostile climate, and his own untrustworthy men as he made his way to the epicenter of tea production, the remote Wu Yi Shan hills. One of the most daring acts of corporate espionage in history, Fortune’s pursuit of China’s ancient secret makes for a classic nineteenth-century adventure tale, one in which the fate of empires hinges on the feats of one extraordinary man.

Want more recommendations?

2022 Board Agendas

By bcplweb Board Agendas

We miss you, Betty!

By bcplweb Booklists, Booklists, What's New

Born on January 17, 1922 in Oak Park, Illinois, Betty White is best known for playing Rose Nylund on the popular TV series The Golden Girls, but is also recognized for her roles on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Hot in Cleveland.

With eight decades of working in the entertainment industry both in front of and behind the camera, Betty was and will forever be a pioneer and legend.

All of the titles featured here in this booklist we have in our collection. To see if an item is available to check out or place on hold, click the cover image or button to the right of the description.

Betty White: 100 Remarkable Moments in an Extraordinary Life

by Ray Richmond

A photography-rich retrospective of the most significant events and achievements of one of America’s most loved and endearing stars.

Everything I Need to Know I Learned from Betty White: 100 Years of Wisdom from the First Lady of Television

by Juliana Sharaf

Betty White provides answers to the questions we all face with gentle wisdom and the occasional kick in the pants.

Betty & Friends: My Life at the Zoo

by Betty White

A lifelong animal welfare advocate, Betty White offered intimate and funny stories about her animal friends at the zoo with wonderful anecdotal photos.

Here We Go Again: My Life In Television

by Betty White

One of the hardest-working actresses of any era, her sense of humor and perennial optimism saw her through half a century of industry changes and delighted millions of fans.

If You Ask Me (and of Course You Won’t)

by Betty White

Drawing from a lifetime of lessons learned, seven-time Emmy winner Betty White’s wit and wisdom take center stage as she tackled topics like friendship, romantic love, aging, television, fans, love for animals, and the brave new world of celebrity.

Want more recommendations?

Christmas Crafting and Baking

By bcplweb Booklists, Booklists

‘Tis the season for joy and spending special time with our family and friends! Here’s some books that will get you crafting and baking and spending some time making merry together!

No-Bake Gingerbread Houses for Kids

by Lisa Turner Anderson

Building a fabulous gingerbread house is as easy as 1-2-3. All the houses in this book are made from graham crackers, cookies, ice cream cones and waffle bowls. Just assemble, frost and decorate!

Kids Make Christmas

by Pia Deges

From tree decorations and games to pretty gifts and delicious cookies, the projects cover a wide range of different crafts. Everything is simple to make for kids of all ages, with most of the projects requiring no previous skill. There are also craft ideas for New Year’s Eve with instructions for party hats and confetti.

Fun Christmas Crafts to Make and Bake: 60 Festive Projects to Make with Your Kids

by Annie Rigg & Catherine Woram

Provides instructions for over sixty kid-friendly, Christmas-themed projects, including potato print wrapping paper, snow globes, toffee apples, and easy fruit cake.

101 Christmas Ornaments

by Leisure Arts

Imaginative, simply made ornaments are great for dressing up windows, packages, mantel or table displays, and, of course, the Christmas tree. Four sections each showcase a unique style: Country Christmas, Cute & Clever, Trash to Treasure, and more.

Easy Holiday Origami

by Christopher L. Harbo

Flex those fingers and get ready to fold! Provides instructions and photo-illustrated diagrams for making a variety of easy holiday origami.

LEGO Holiday Ideas

by Elizabeth Dowsett

A collection of more than 50 different building ideas for LEGO Christmas decorations, gifts, and games.

Sweet Christmas: Homemade Peppermints, Sugar Cake, Chocolate-Almond Toffee, Eggnog Fudge, and Other Sweet Treats and Decorations

by Sharon Bowers

Provides one hundred recipes and projects for holiday treats for parents and children to make together, including peppermint fudge, chocolate Santa mice, sticky buns, and orange-butter pancakes.

Christmas Baking: Fun and Delicious Holiday Treats

by Mia Ohrn

The Christmas season is a magical time—sleigh bells ringing, puffy snow flurrying, a cozy fire crackling, and wonderful aromas coming from the kitchen as families make yummy Christmas treats. Christmas Baking will make the holiday season even more magical with fun and simple recipes that are sure to become Christmas traditions in every home.

A Christmas Cookcook

by Sarah L. Schuette

Spread some Christmas cheer with these quick and easy holiday treats. In just a few simple steps, you can make Blitzens Bagels, Mrs Claus Cookies, and much more. So grab your Santa apron and get in the kitchen!

The Snow Princess Cookbook

by Barbara Beery

Sparkling Ice Snow Cones, Savory Snowball Pasta and even Icicle Lollipops: bestselling author Barbara Beery has created the perfect cookbook for your little snow bunnies who like all things frozen and fun!

Want more recommendations?

Penny’s Picks: November 2021

By bcplweb Booklists, Booklists

Miss Penny from the Youth Services Department has hand-picked a selection of her current favorite books — and there’s something for a range of ages!

All of the titles featured here we have in our collection. To see if an item is available to check out or place on hold, click the cover image or button to the right of the description.

Lessons in Fusion

by Primrose Madayag Knazan

Sixteen-year-old Sarah (it’s pronounced SAH-rah, thank you) has a successful blog creating fusion recipes. When Sarah is invited to compete on Cyber Chef, a virtual cooking competition, her twists on her Baba’s recipes are not enough to pique the palate of the show’s producers. She is pushed to present dishes that represent her Filipinx culture, but these flavours are foreign to her since her parents raised her emphatically Jewish. To survive Cyber Chef and find her cultural identity, Sarah must discover why her mother turned her back on all things Filipinx, and learn the true meaning of fusion.

The Splendor

by Breeana Shields

When Juliette’s sister, Clare, returns from her birthday week at the magical hotel upon a hill, she comes back changed … Deeply unsettled, Juliette uses the last of her savings to book a stay at the Splendor and unravel its mysteries. Run by the talented young illusionist, Henri, the halls are full of magnificent delights and alluring distractions. Every wonder seems to twist Juliette’s attention away from the answers lurking just beneath the surface.

The Holiday Switch

by Tif Marcelo

Lila Santos is ready for her last winter break of high school. The snow in her small town of Holly, New York, is plentiful, the mood is as cozy as a fuzzy Christmas sweater, and she’s earning extra cash working at the local inn—AKA the setting of the greatest film of all time, Holiday by the Lake—while moonlighting as an anonymous book blogger. But her perfect holiday plans crash to a halt when her boss’s frustratingly cute nephew, Teddy Rivera, becomes her coworker. Lila is type A; Teddy is type “Anything but Lila’s Way,” and the two of them can’t stop butting heads over tangled icicle lights and messy gift shop merch. But when they accidentally switch phones one afternoon, they realize they’ve both been hiding things from each other. Will their secrets—and an unexpected snowstorm—bring these rivals together?

Battle of the Bands

edited by Lauren Gibaldi and Eric Smith

A collection of sixteen interconnected short stories about a high school’s battle of the bands competition, from such authors as Shaun David Hutchinson, Brittany Cavallaro, and Preeti Chhibber.

Eyes of the Forest

by April Henry

A bestselling fantasy author disappears — only his biggest fan believes he’s in danger and has the courage to uncover the truth in this fast-paced mystery with a chilling, psychological twist.

The School Between Winter and Fairyland

by Heather Fawcett

Twelve-year-old Autumn, the beastkeeper at Inglenook School for Magicians, befriends Cai Morrigan the young magician prophesied to destroy the dragon suspected of devouring Autumn’s twin brother, and together they uncover the dark truth that lies at the heart of Inglenook School.

Daughter of the Deep

by Rick Riordan

In this story inspired by Jules Verne’s “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea,” Ana Dakkar, a freshman at Harding-Pencroft Academy, a five-year high school that graduates the best marine scientists, naval warriors, navigators, and underwater explorers in the world, makes astounding discoveries about her heritage and puts her leadership skills to the test against deadly enemies from a rival school.

The Troubled Girls of Dragomir Academy

by Anne Ursu

Marya Lupu’s parents has always believed that her older brother Luka is destined to be a sorcerer and make the family’s fortune, so when the day he is tested turns into a disaster, and the Guild declares that he has no magical talent, they find it easier to blame Marya for upsetting the test than admit the truth, and she is sent to the Dragomir Academy, a school for wayward girls–but a school where she finds friendship and ultimately discovers her own talents.

Tangled Up in Luck

by Merrill Wyatt

When seventh grade enemies research a missing set of jewels for a class project, they realize that the answers to the unsolved case might be much closer to home than they thought in this fun-filled mystery for fans of The Book Scavenger and Lemons . If you told Sloane Osburn and Amelia Miller-Poe that they’d be hiding in their town cemetery from an evil mastermind, they would have been hard-pressed to believe you. If you also told them that person was intent on beating them to a cache of long-lost jewels using nothing more than a slingshot and wicked aim, they’d have been sure you got your facts wrong. Finally, if you told them they’d be doing all of this as friends…well, they would have been sure you needed medical attention. Whether through serendipity (really, really good luck) or zemblanity (really, really bad luck), someone tricked their teacher into using their seventh-grade class to investigate the mystery of their town’s long-missing treasure. From there, things have escalated. Quickly. Now, the girls are stuck hiding behind a gravestone, dodging acorns (who knew acorns could be so threatening?), and just a few clues short of those jewels. It’s up to these enemies-turned-partners to uncover centuries-old clues to find the treasure at the end of this book before the mysterious person on their trail can get to it first…

Dust & Grim

by Chuck Wendig

Thirteen-year-old Molly doesn’t know how she got the short end of the stick — being raised by her neglectful father — while Dustin, the older brother she’s never met, got their mother and the keys to the family estate. But now the siblings are both orphaned, she’s come home for her inheritance, and if Dustin won’t welcome her into the family business, then she’ll happily take her half in cash. There’s just one problem: the family business is a mortuary for monsters, and Molly’s not sure she’s ready to deal with mysterious doors, talking wolves, a rogue devourer of magic, and a secret cemetery. It’s going to take all of Dustin’s stuffy supernatural knowledge and Molly’s most heroic cosplay (plus a little help from non-human friends) for the siblings to figure it out and save the day… if only they can get along for five minutes.

Want more recommendations?

New Historical Fiction

By bcplweb Booklists, Booklists, What's New

Radar Girls

by Sara Ackerman

An extraordinary story inspired by the real Women’s Air Raid Defense, where an unlikely recruit and her sisters-in-arms forge their place in WWII history.

Daisy Wilder prefers the company of horses to people, bare feet and salt water to high heels and society parties. Then, in the dizzying aftermath of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Daisy enlists in a top secret program, replacing male soldiers in a war zone for the first time. Under fear of imminent invasion, the WARDs guide pilots into blacked-out airstrips and track unidentified planes across Pacific skies.

This inspiring and uplifting tale of pioneering, unsung heroines vividly transports the reader to wartime Hawaii, where one woman’s call to duty leads her to find courage, strength and sisterhood.

The Show Girl

by Nicola Harrison

Nicola Harrison’s The Show Girl gives a glimpse of the glamorous world of the Ziegfeld Follies, through the eyes of a young midwestern woman who comes to New York City to find her destiny as a Ziegfeld Follies star.

It’s 1927 when Olive McCormick moves from Minneapolis to New York City determined to become a star in the Ziegfeld Follies. Extremely talented as a singer and dancer, it takes every bit of perseverance to finally make it on stage. And once she does, all the glamour and excitement is everything she imagined and more―even worth all the sacrifices she has had to make along the way.

Then she meets Archie Carmichael. Handsome, wealthy―the only man she’s ever met who seems to accept her modern ways―her independent nature and passion for success. But once she accepts his proposal of marriage he starts to change his tune, and Olive must decide if she is willing to reveal a devastating secret and sacrifice the life she loves for the man she loves.

Basil's War

by Stephen Hunter

Basil St. Florian is an accomplished agent in the British Army, tasked with dozens of dangerous missions for crown and country across the globe. But his current mission, going undercover in Nazi-occupied France during World War II, might be his toughest assignment yet. He will be searching for an ecclesiastic manuscript that doesn’t officially exist, one that genius professor Alan Turing believes may hold the key to a code that could prevent the death of millions and possibly even end the war.

St. Florian isn’t the classic British special agent with a stiff upper lip―he is a swashbuckling, whisky-drinking cynic and thrill-seeker who resents having to leave Vivien Leigh’s bed to set out on his crucial mission. Despite these proclivities, though, Basil’s Army superiors know he’s the best man for the job, carrying out his espionage with enough charm and quick wit to make any of his subjects lower their guards.

The Women of Troy

by Pat Barker

A daring and timely feminist retelling of The Iliad from the perspective of the women of Troy who endured it–an extraordinary follow up to The Silence of the Girls from the Booker Prize-winning author of The Regeneration Trilogy.

Troy has fallen and the victorious Greeks are eager to return home with the spoils of an endless war–including the women of Troy themselves. They await a fair wind for the Aegean.

It does not come, because the gods are offended. The body of King Priam lies unburied and desecrated, and so the victors remain in suspension, camped in the shadows of the city they destroyed as the coalition that held them together begins to unravel. Old feuds resurface and new suspicions and rivalries begin to fester.

Largely unnoticed by her captors, the one time Trojan queen Briseis, formerly Achilles’s slave, now belonging to his companion Alcimus, quietly takes in these developments. She forges alliances when she can, with Priam’s aged wife the defiant Hecuba and with the disgraced soothsayer Calchas, all the while shrewdly seeking her path to revenge.

Her Heart for a Compass

by Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York

From one of the most famous former members of the British royal family, Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York —a mesmerizing novel of a young noblewoman’s coming-of-age that richly details both high society and low in Victorian England.

Queen Victoria’s close friend, the Scottish Duke of Buccleuch, Lady Margaret Montagu Scott is expected to make an advantageous marriage. But Margaret is an impulsive and outspoken girl in a repressive society where women are, quite literally, caged in corsets and required to conform.

When Lady Margaret’s parents arrange a society marriage for her, she tries to reconcile herself to the match. But shortly before her betrothal is announced, Margaret flees, leaving her parents to explain her sudden absence to an opulent ballroom stuffed with two hundred distinguished guests.

Banished from polite society, Margaret throws herself into charitable work and finds strength in a circle of female friends like herself—women intent on breaking the mold, including Queen Victoria’s daughter Princess Louise. Margaret resolves to follow her heart—a journey of self-discovery that will take her to Ireland, America, and then back to Britain where she finds the life she was always meant to lead.

A bold and thoughtful story about a rebellious woman finding herself and her voice in an age of astounding technological change and great social unrest, Her Heart for a Compass is a delicious costume drama rich in atmosphere, history, and color.

The Kitchen Front

by Jennifer Ryan

From the bestselling author of The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir comes an unforgettable novel of a BBC-sponsored wartime cooking competition and the four women who enter for a chance to better their lives.

Two years into World War II, Britain is feeling her losses: The Nazis have won battles, the Blitz has destroyed cities, and U-boats have cut off the supply of food. In an effort to help housewives with food rationing, a BBC radio program called The Kitchen Front is holding a cooking contest—and the grand prize is a job as the program’s first-ever female co-host. For four very different women, winning the competition would present a crucial chance to change their lives.

Strongheart: The Lost Journals of May Dodd and Molly McGill

by Jim Fergus

In 1873, a Cheyenne chief offers President Grant the opportunity to exchange one thousand horses for one thousand white women, in order to marry them with his warriors and create a lasting peace. These women, “recruited” by force in the penitentiaries and asylums of the country, gradually integrate the way of life of the Cheyenne, at the time when the great massacres of the tribes begin.

After the battle of Little Big Horn, some female survivors decide to take up arms against the United States, which has stolen from the Native Americans their lands, their way of life, their culture and their history. This ghost tribe of rebellious women will soon go underground to wage an implacable battle, which will continue from generation to generation.

In this final volume of the One Thousand White Women trilogy, Jim Fergus mixes with rare mastery the struggle of women and Native Americans in the face of oppression, from the end of the 19th century until today. With a vivid sense of the 19th century American West, Fergus paints portraits of women as strong as they are unforgettable.

A Peculiar Combination

by Ashley Weaver

The first in the Electra McDonnell series from Edgar-nominated author Ashley Weaver, set in England during World War II, A Peculiar Combination is a delightful mystery filled with spies, murder, romance, and the author’s signature wit.

FIRST RULE: DON’T LOSE YOUR CONCENTRATION.
Electra McDonnell and her family earn their living outside the law. Breaking into the homes of the rich and picking the locks on their safes may not be condoned by British law enforcement, but with World War II in full swing, Uncle Mick’s locksmith business just can’t pay the bills anymore.

SECOND RULE: DON’T MAKE MISTAKES.
So when Uncle Mick receives a tip about a safe full of jewels in an empty house, he and Ellie can’t resist. All is going as planned―until the pair is caught red-handed. But instead of arresting them, government official Major Ramsey has an offer: either Ellie agrees to help him break into a safe and retrieve blueprints crucial to the British war effort, or he turns her over to the police.

THIRD RULE: DON’T GET CAUGHT.
Ellie doesn’t care for the major’s imperious manner, but she has no choice. However, when they break into the house, they find the safe open and empty, and a German spy dead on the floor. Soon, Ellie and Major Ramsey are forced to put aside their differences to unmask the double agent, and stop Allied plans from falling into enemy hands.

Want more recommendations?

Parish’s Picks: Baking Fun!

By bcplweb Booklists, Booklists

Hey hey… Parish is back with a new booklist! This time he’s selected some of his favorite activity and DIY books for kids and teens.

October is finally upon us, and what better way to celebrate a month of ghosts and ghouls, as well as another great fall season, with some baking! October and fall are the perfect time to fine tune your baking skills… with Halloween approaching, and soon other holidays that bring loved ones together, why not start the holidays with a little baked goodness? This booklist features some of Parish’s favorite cookbooks with tons of easy to follow recipes, and beautiful pictures.

The Big, Fun Kids Baking Book

by Food Network, Maile Carpenter | Grade: 4th-8th

An ultimate baking primer for beginners, written by the editors of the top-selling food magazine, shares more than 100 photographed recipes for everyday and special-occasion cakes, brownies and other baked favorites while providing fun ideas for customizations and alternatives to cakes.

From Parish: Food Network is one of my favorite channels to watch during my free time! This book is nicely written and put together. One of my favorite things about the book is the table of contents — it’s listed by cookies, bars, and cakes with pictures of each item. Readers who enjoy baking, and learning different ways to make cookies, or how many drops of food coloring to make a certain color will love this book.

The Ultimate Kids’ Baking Book

by Tiffany Dahle | Grade: 3rd-8th

Now your kids can bake their cake and eat it too (with a little help from mom and dad). There are so many reasons for a kid to celebrate and this book has desserts for every milestone, from First Day of School Smart Cookies and Family Road Trip Muddy Buddies to Fall Break Snickerdoodles and the Best Birthday Cupcakes.

From Parish: We all know the saying “don’t judge a book by its cover” well, I 100% judged this book by its cover! I’m a big donut guy and the pink sprinkled donuts looked so good, I just had to check this book out for its recipes! (Donut recipe is on page 69!) I highly recommend making the “Father’s Day Pretzel Bark” on page 109. I give it a 10/10.

Baking with Kids

by Leah Brooks | Grade: 1st-5th

Get ready to measure, mix, and decorate! Baking with Kids is just the book you need to help teach children to bake. Show your children how to safely use basic equipment in the kitchen and explain all about the important ingredients they’ll need to make the most delicious baked goods. Recipes include muffins, scones, breads, pretzels, crackers, pizza dough, pie crust, cake, cookies, cupcakes, and more! Celebrated chef and instructor, Leah Brooks creates activities with simple step-by-step photo illustrations that will guide kids through each recipe and inspire creativity throughout. Put on your aprons–it’s time to get baking!

From Parish: I highly recommend this book to those looking for fun ways to bond with their family. This book isn’t only filled with fun recipes the whole family will love, but also gives pointers on how smaller hands can help with the recipe. A must checkout!

Easy Eats: A Bee and PuppyCat Cookbook

by Natasha Allegri | Grade: 6th-12th

Bee and PuppyCat from the popular YouTube series of the same name love to eat, well, almost everything. Their never-ending quest for their next meal or snack leads them on adventures through space and time. Make food magical with this Bee and PuppyCat cookbook of tasty recipes and cooking tips and tricks. For beginner or experienced cooks and intergalactic temp workers alike.

From Parish: Bee and PuppyCat is my favorite TV series. First, if you are a fan of Adventure Time, you’ll love Bee and Puppycat! One of my favorite things about this book is how they indicate how many servings a dish makes… using Puppycat icons!

The Pokemon Cookbook

by Maki Kudo | Grade: 6th-12th

Create delicious dishes that look like your favorite Pokémon characters — from desserts to pizza — with more than 35 easy, fun recipes. Make a Pokémon ball sushi roll, Pikachu ramen or mashed Meowth potatoes for your next party, weekend activity or powered-up lunchbox.

From Parish: Growing up around when Pokemon started, I couldn’t pass checking out a cookbook based on the show! Full of Pokemon puns, this book will teach you how to turn a normal salad into a Shaymin Green Salad (page36). Great book to push your creativity to the next level.

Disney Princess Cookbook

by Disney | Grade: 3rd-12th

Make learning how to cook fun and downright magical with inspiration from the Disney Princesses! Featuring simple step-by-step instructions and mouth-watering photos of each dish, this cookbook makes it easy to whip up enchanting treats, while enjoying captivating illustrations of the princesses and their friends.

From Parish: If you know a fan young or old who LOVES Disney princesses this is the book for them. All the current Disney princesses have a recipe that’s based on their movie, and a few recipes dedicated to their awesome companions. One of my favorite recipes from this book is the Sun Punch (page 103). This punch is supposed to represent a bright golden-yellow light similar to the lanterns used during the light the sky festival during Rapunzel’s birthday.

The Official Harry Potter Baking Book

by Scholastic | Grade: 3rd-12th

Delight in 43 tasty recipes inspired by the Harry Potter films! From Pumpkin Patch Pies to Owl Muffins, Luna’s Spectrespecs Cookies to Hogwarts Gingerbread, The Official Harry Potter Baking Cookbook is packed with mouthwatering recipes that will, dare we say.

From Parish: If you’re a fan of the Harry Potter series, you’ll love all the recipes inspired by the movie. One of my favorite recipes — which is easy to make — are the Wizarding Hats (page 22). Turning simple pigs in a blanket to delicious magical hats. This book will give anyone a taste of Hogwarts!

The Nerdy Nummies Cookbook

by Rosanna Pansino | Grade: 3rd-12th

The Nerdy Nummies Cookbook combines two things Rosanna Pansino loves: geek culture and baking. Her fondness for video games, science fiction, math, comics, and lots of other things considered “nerdy” have inspired every recipe in this book. You’ll find the recipes for many beloved fan favorites from her internet baking show of the same name, such as Apple Pi Pie, the Chocolate Chip Smart Cookie, and Volcano Cake; as well as many new geeky recipes, such as Dinosaur Fossil Cake, Moon Phase Macaroons, and the Periodic Table of Cupcakes.

From Parish: Rosanna Pansino’s Nerdy Nummies YouTube channel was one of my favorites to watch. All her recipes are inspired by video games, science fiction, math, and comics. Rosanna taught us ways to show and share our nerdy side with our friends! One of my favorite recipes is the video game controller cookies (page 150). Being a big gamer myself, I couldn’t pass up baking these delicious, cool cookies!

Super Good: Baking for Kids

by Duff Goldman | Grade: 4th-8th

From New York Times bestselling celebrity chef and host of Ace of Cakes and Kids Baking Championship Duff Goldman, this book teaches budding young bakers how to make dozens of crazy delicious concoctions–from confetti snickerdoodles to unicorn cupcakes to amazing dessert pizzas. With more than 35 delicious recipes and tons of fun fact-filled sidebars on everything from the science of yeast to the history of baking, Super Good Baking for Kids shows kids how to make treats that will amaze parents, delight friends, and make the whole family go “mmmmmm.”

From Parish: When I picked this book up a while ago, I checked it out because it was written by the Ace of Cakes himself, Duff Goldman. (If you haven’t seen any of his shows, I highly recommend you do!) This book is really nice for children who have an interest in baking and would like to master cakes. Duff does not only share really delicious recipes, but helpful hints and lessons during the process. Highly recommend those who have a cake interest or those who enjoy looking at good cakes!

The Unofficial Hocus Pocus Cookbook

by Bridget Thoreson | Grade: 5th-12th (parental guidance)

Since its debut in 1993, the movie has achieved cult-classic fame, with both children and adults as a loyal fanbase. Fans fall in love with the delightful, demonic and diva-esque Sanderson Sisters and the sleepy New England town they torment. Now you can conjure up your own spooky treats and bewitching drinks to celebrate Halloween, whether you’re attending a surprise rave in town, or just spending “a quiet evening at home.” is filled with over 60 recipes for fare inspired by everyone’s favorite witches and their spells, potions, and schemes. It is the ultimate must-have for fans of all ages—but don’t worry, no children were harmed in the test of these recipes.

From Parish: Can we really enjoy October if we don’t spend one day watching our favorite three witches put a spell on all of us? No, we can’t. The Unofficial Hocus Pocus cookbook is a great masterpiece that will satisfy any fan of the movie. Parents, if you’re picking this up for your child, please note that the last few chapters have adult drink recipes.

Want more recommendations?