Archives for December 2025

There’s an argument to be made that animals are more common main characters than humans in children’s books. Think of your favorite book from when you were a kid. Is the main character an animal? A lot of mine happen to be mice… Wemberly, Lily, Angelina Ballerina. It’s always fun to see how the behaviors an animal has in nature inform their traits as a children’s book character. Cats are one of my favorite examples of this phenomenon: they’re usually aloof and anxious, yet they can be sweet and warm at their own discretion. These are a few books about animals and other creatures that are new to our collection in the Young Readers’ Room here at A.K. Smiley Library.

Accompany an earthling hedgehog named Re on his journey to a place where he can enjoy solitude in harmony in The Coziest Place on the Moon by Maria Popova. Re loves solitude, but the Earth can be a lonely place. Everything about this book is just so beautiful: the language, the themes, the illustrations, the connection between the characters. December is the perfect month to read this book: in the chaos of the holidays, the peaceful tranquility of the moon feels so welcome and necessary.

Lap Cat by Joren Cull is about a cat’s quest to find the warmest, most perfect lap in the land. Lap Cat will stop at nothing to reach this goal: Lap Cat will destroy; Lap Cat will become a menace to the town… Lap Cat will eventually learn his lesson and remedy his mistakes. Each character in this book has so much personality and the dialogue is so funny; it’s perfect to read aloud together with family. Cull’s illustrations are so much fun too, neon comics infused with medieval influences, and you’ll notice something new each time you flip through the book.

The story of a lighthouse keeper bear and a fish brought together by a colorful sail… Don’t Eat Eustace by Lian Cho follows these two characters as they become friends. The question looming throughout the story: will Bear or won’t Bear make Eustace into stew? It’s funny; it’s delightful; it’s heartwarming; and it’s strange.

Papilio follows its titular character through her stages of transformation from a caterpillar to a chrysalis to a butterfly. It’s written and illustrated by Ben Clanton (caterpillar), Corey R. Tabor (chrysalis), and Andy Chou Musser (butterfly). It’s such a sweet story, and Papilio is such an inspiration — she rolls with the punches of each new and unfamiliar stage of life, even in the face of danger. She learns that there is a solution to every problem as she finds her place in the world. But she’s also just happy to be alive, eat treats, and make friends.

I love nonfiction children’s books that are told as stories. In the World of Whales by Michelle Cusolito is a true story about a diver who was one of the first humans to witness a sperm whale birth. The diver shows the whales he isn’t a threat by mimicking their movements, and the result is an experience of mutual respect and curiosity. If you’re not already drawn in by this plot, just take a look at the cover. I’ve never not been blown away by the illustrations in a book about whales, and the beautiful blue textures and depth here are no exception.

Shibu’s Tail by Tess Thomas is about a shy cat with a very expressive tail. This tail is huge, poofy, and capable of morphing into Shibu’s big emotions. Embarrassed at just how expressive he is, Shibu tries suppressing his emotional expression, but this only causes his already big emotions to grow and grow. I read this book recently at Toddler Storytime, and if I’m being honest, the adults seemed more into it than the kids. Its main theme is fairly mature, a good reminder that will resonate with adults as well as children: your vulnerability can and will benefit you and those around you.

Come visit us in the Young Readers’ Room throughout this holiday season and look for a book or two on your favorite creature, or an animal you’re interested in learning about! We’re always happy to help you find what you’re looking for.

The holiday season has arrived and the Young Readers’ Room is ready with a plethora of holiday books and a couple of extra programs to suit your fancy.

The holiday book display can be found on the windowsills near the 900-book section as well as on a book cart nearby. We have Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa books available to check out. French, Spanish, and English language books adorn the cart with holiday magic.

A variety of picture books, early chapter books, non-fiction, chapter books, and recipe books are all a part of the mix.

You can peruse the windowsills and book cart to find the perfect holiday book to read to your children, or they may want to read one to you! The ever-popular A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens may be just the story you’re hoping to read this season. Or, you may go with Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas available in English, French or Spanish.

We also have the holiday CDs available along with the holiday DVD selection.

Book Buddies launched this month as well. Geared towards third to seventh graders, this month’s book selection is Spy School by Stuart Gibbs. Two meetings in the month of December will be held Wednesdays, December 3, and December 10, in the Assembly Room. Be sure to register your youngster by calling the Young Readers’ Room at (909) 798-7674. We look forward to a good read, fun activities, and snacks!

The Youth Services Department will be hosting a Holiday Karaoke Night on Wednesday, December 17, in the Contemporary Club. All ages are welcome to join us for an evening of singing, giggling, and snacking! Holiday and non-holiday songs will be available to choose from.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (rated PG) is the selection for the Holiday Movie Matinee to be shown on Sunday afternoon, December 21, at 2 p.m. in the Contemporary Club. All ages are welcome to attend this free matinee. Popcorn and juice will be served.

Happy holidays from the Youth Services Crew!

Pamela Martinez is Senior Librarian of Youth Services at A.K. Smiley Public Library.

The fall season has made its stormy presence known these last few weeks, and I, for one, welcome it. What better excuse to curl up on the sofa with a blanket, a cup of tea, and a spooky story to read? Whether you need a good book to hide in this holiday season, or a break from the doomscrolling, whatever the reason, consider some of these recent, thrilling true crime reads. You may be pleased to know I have also included a tea to pair with each of these reads, something to stave off the encroaching winter’s cold.

Lise Olsen’s aptly named “The Scientist and the Serial Killer: The Search for Houston’s Lost Boys” chronicles the investigation into the unidentified victims of the “Candy Man”—and you? You’re just along for the journey, getting swept up in the obsessions of a novice forensic anthropologist and dredged up memories. The identity of the serial killer who terrorized Houston from 1970 to 1973 is hardly a mystery; rather, his victims spin the yarn of unanswered questions. Five decades pass before then rookie forensic anthropologist Sharon Derrick discovers that box of assorted bones and belongings. It’s dismal and yet, not unlike Sharon; you can’t turn away from the inevitable truth. What begins as just a few boxes of skeletal remains, of long bones, muddied soles, and tattered clothes, grows and reveals real people. Boys with stolen lives. The book looks intensely at the case and the despair left in its wake. It’s heartbreaking, odious, and profoundly dreadful to experience a rich narrative of discovery, relief, grief, and loss. I cannot recommend this enough. I had a hard time putting this down. Written with care, compassion, and an exceptionally earnest tone, this read is perfectly complemented by a calming and contemplative cup of chamomile tea—nothing too punchy, giving you room to truly appreciate the depth of the tragedy.

Too intense? Perhaps such a concentrated dissection of the facts isn’t your cup of tea? Why not try out a more historical angle? Within the depths of Simon Read’s “Scotland Yard: A History of the London Police Force’s Most Infamous Murder Cases” is a journey into the convoluted path, more a winding tributary of the Thames than a straight road, that the nearly 200-year-old agency walked. Read is keen to explore the agency’s highs and lows; their failures and what they learned, and their triumphs and how they managed them. The book presents cases with vivid characters and an enticing but not unwieldy amount of detail. No clinical profiles of cases and criminals, simply the grisly stories of the cobbled streets of London and the macabre murders within its bounds. Read presents the cases that shaped Scotland Yard’s rocky start in a way that feels as if you were taking a personal midnight tour of foggy old London’s seediest streets with nothing but a gas lantern and your courage. You walk cobblestone paths of the 18th century into the rapidly evolving investigative techniques of the 20th century, and how Scotland Yard finally found its footing. Not too gruesome but still thrilling. For my recommendation here, what could be more apt to accompany you through the story of London’s premier detective force than a classic London fog? Ironically originating in Canada, a London fog requires Earl Grey tea, steamed milk, and just the smallest splash of vanilla. A treat to be sure.

If you are as of yet unconvinced, then how about an easy read from a likely familiar name to dip your toes into the genre? Did you know, bestselling author James Patterson dabbles in a smidgen of true crime here and there, example? In “The Idaho Four: An American Tragedy,” he worked with journalist Vicky Ward to provide a detailed account, following the investigation of the slaying of four University of Idaho Students in Moscow, Idaho. The news of the killings captivated the nation in 2022; everyone from internet sleuths to national news outlets had something to say. The publicity invited theories, suspicions, and rumors aplenty, but with the killer’s life sentence being handed down just a few short months ago, perhaps it’s time to find out what really happened that early November morning. Patterson and Ward deliver just that, detailing the investigation, the families’ experiences, and what we actually know about the tragedy. For this read, a classic, reliable, ubiquitous option is in order: a nice cup of black tea. Assam, English Breakfast, any you like.

Please look for these and many more fun reads at A.K. Smiley Public Library; we look forward to your patronage.

R.A. is a Library Specialist at A.K. Smiley Public Library who has little courage and many fears, perhaps due to their obsession with true crime stories.