Pamela Martinez

What’s New at Smiley you ask? I’m so glad you asked! The Youth Services Department is excited to announce nine newly acquired book kits for our Library of Things, consisting of six Mental Wellness (two in Spanish, four in English) and three STEAM Kits (English) available for check-out! The Mental Wellness backpacks are provided to you through a grant from California State Library. The STEAM kits were purchased from Penworthy Books.

These are the subjects for the Mental Awareness kits:

• Grief
• Bravery
• Anger
• Kindness
• Spanish – Kit de Sentimientos
• Spanish – Kit de Ansiedad

and the STEAM-to-Go:

• Paw Patrol Phonics
• Sensory Explorer
• Trucks and Tools

You will find these kits in the Young Readers’ Room, hanging on hooks near the Computer Table Station.

With a valid library card, a borrower is able to check out one backpack or kit for two weeks with no renewal ability (one per family).

Each kit comes with a label attached to the backpack listing all contents inside.

Each kit comes with an explanatory, laminated sheet to help you maximize the use of the kit with your child.

We’ll be excited to see which kit you decide to check out first!

~ Pamela Martinez, Senior Librarian, Youth Services

The dawn of a New Year is just a few sleeps away, so some questions may loom for you… ‘what books will I read next year? There were such great ones in 2024…what will strike my fancy for 2025?’ Great questions! I’m glad you asked. As of this writing, all of these books are available, on the New Book shelf in the Young Readers’ Room. Let me shed some light on some of these titles that have come in.

Series: Spy School by Stuart Gibbs. The newest book in the series (volume 12) is “Spy School Goes Wild.” The book is on the shelf, ready for the next patron. You may ask, “What could possibly go wrong for Ben when he is cast into an extremely dangerous wilderness?” Well, if you know Ben and the shenanigans he gets himself into, then you’re in for an exciting, if not, exhilarating, read.

Some of you may recall reading the chapter book series Whatever After by Sarah Mlynowski. The first book was published back in 2012 and the last one, volume 17, will be published next summer. For those of you who enjoy reading graphic novels, I have great news: the first title of the series “Fairest of All” has been written as a graphic novel. The artwork was created by Anu Chouhan. Please let the Youth Services Crew know if you liked the original version – print only – or the graphic novel version.

If you’re a fan of Rachel Renee Russell’s series Dork Diaries series, you’re in for a treat with the sixteenth volume entitled “Tales from a NOT-SO-Bratty Little Sister.” What could a NOT-SO-Bratty little sister actually do to upset Nikki so much? Have you ever kept a diary…that little, secret book hidden away so absolutely no one could ever find it, let alone, read it? Well, Brianna may have found this delightful literature and wouldn’t give it back. Check out the latest Dork Diaries book and read about the tomfooleries these two get into.

The Bad Guys are back at it in the nineteenth volume, “The Serpent and the Beast,” written by Aaron Blabey. Will Cedric and Wolfie find themselves in such a predicament that this could be the last installment in the series? Goodness, No! The twentieth volume will be released in early January, so quickly come to check out volume 19 from the New Book shelf and be ready for the next volume, “One Last Thing.”

 

One more graphic novel series has been added to the collection: “Dog Man Big Jim Begins” was added to our New Book shelf in early December. This thirteenth installment in the Dog Man series will bring some knowledge of the characters from the previous books to light. Big Jim is so caring…and oh, those space Cuties! Check out the newest Dog Man book today.

Back to school week has arrived! Some students are beginning a new era of their school experiences. Perhaps a new school, a new teacher, and new friends are on the horizon. To help navigate these new experiences, here are just a few of the school-themed books we have on hand to help your student adjust to new surroundings. The Youth Services Crew is always happy to offer more titles for you as well!

Here are a few picture books for the younger readers you may like to check out. Llama Llama Back to School written by Reed Duncan will have youngsters eager to head back to school tomorrow!  Kids have had a nice summer break, so how do parents gear up the excitement for the kids to get prepared for school? Llama Llama’s mama is reminding him that school is starting up soon…what’s a llama to do? Check this one out to find out if Llama Llama is school ready.

Libby Loves Science States of Matter by Kimberly Derting will have students excited about science class! Libby and her friends are learning about matter and experiments when a new student enters the class. Will Libby and her friends be able to survive the melting ice cream incident? Check this out quickly and enjoy a cool scoop of ice cream as a treat!

Diary of a Minecraft Zombie Back to Scare School is written by Zack Zombie. Seventh grade was a breeze for Zombie. But how will eighth grade be for a successful seventh grade graduate? Filled with humor and perhaps a couple of scary zombie moments, check this book out and have a good old-fashioned scare!

Isabel and her Colores Go to School written by Alexandra Alessandri will have kids excited to get to school as quickly as possible! Isabel is nervous about starting a new school. But as many new kids find out, friendships are easy to make. And with Isabel’s keen sense of drawing pictures, the language barrier can’t stop instant friendships. Check out Isabel’s story today.

Poor David has got his work cut out for him with the dastardly twins, who happen to be his neighbors. David is excited to start school to get a break from the Romero twins, but lo and behold, new triplets who are quite menacing are now students in his school. What is David going to do? Check out Twins vs. Triplets Back-to-School Blitz by Jennifer Torres right away and find out if David is able to fend off all of these obnoxious siblings.

Summertime is fast approaching…which means: more time to read! The Youth Services Crew would love to have all of the books checked out this summer…let’s clear those shelves and retain our reading levels throughout the summer; maybe even increase those reading levels!

You will find some fantastic non-fiction books on our New Books shelf. The first title is: Owly, Tiny Tales written by Andy Runton. This is the fifth book in the graphic novel series Owly. This book features nine mini-stories in graphic novel form with all of the characters from the previous four books. These mini-stories are based on friendships that Owly has built, and also the friendliness that Owly’s friends show to him. The call number for this title is: J741.5 R875o5.

The second recommendation is also a graphic novel series: The Last Kids Comics on Earth: Too Many Villains! This volume two in this series written by Max Brallier and friends. Adding to the fun of the original series, this series of two books will also have you turning the pages quickly to find out what is going to happen next. Find this book under the call number: J741.5 B731L2.

The third recommendation for a non-fiction title is God’s Little Astronomer written by Tina Cho. You will find this book under the call number: J261.5 C451g. With the summer sky as clear as can be, your little astronomer will learn what to look for in the universe by reading this book, or you could read the book to your little astronomer! Young astronomers in the book will help to guide the reader through the galaxies with the illustrations and text. There are also scriptures from the Old and New Testaments included on each double-page spread.

My fourth recommendation for a non-fiction title this week is Make Your Mark: Make a Difference, A Kid’s Guide to Standing Up for People, Animals, and the Planet. This book is written by Joan Marie Galat and you can find it under the call number J303.4 G131m. Is your youngster wanting to make a difference in their world, become active for a cause? This book can help lay out a plan of action to start using their voice for a cause. Filled with fairly short chapters, these very helpful tips will have our youth standing up for good causes all around their schools and communities.

The fifth and final recommendation for your non-fiction reading this week is My First Sewing Machine 30 Fun Projects Kids Will Love to Make written by Carlie Bijasson. You can find this title under the call number J646.2 B489m. This book is separated into chapters of interest, such as For My Bedroom; My Clothes and Accessories; For The Kitchen, and a few others. Your young crafter can help spruce up their bedroom, clothes, and even your kitchen with fun, creative, and easy to follow projects. There are patterns included in the book as well. I’ll be excited to see the finished projects and hear about all of the sewing happening all around the city!

Our Summer Reading Program for kids ages 0 – 19 will kick-off on Thursday, June 20, at 10 a.m. in Smiley Park just outside the Library’s Young Readers’ Room. Please join us on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the mornings at 10 a.m. and in the afternoons at 2 p.m. for an enrichment program or entertainment show. You can find a flyer on our website: https://www.akspl.org/yrr/

Redlands Unified School District will be here to serve a free lunch to all kids, ages 0 – 18, each Tuesday and Thursday at 11 a.m. in the Park.

Be sure to sign up for the reading game this summer at our kick-off event or later. We have a wonderful program lined up and are excited to get it started! Each Thursday, after the morning entertainment, every child will receive a free book, while supplies last (books were purchased with California State Library Grant funds).

Spring break is in full swing! Check out some of these books in a series and read through as many as you can while school is out!  These series books can be found in our fiction book area, shelved under the authors’ last names.

Rick Riordan has done it again…this volume: The Chalice of The Gods is volume six in part of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. Folks may think their senior year is meant for making the most memories and making lifelong friendships.  Well, for Percy, things aren’t like that. Percy needs to ask for three recommendation letters, but to do so, he’ll need to complete three quests. Oh my, poor Percy. He is a tough kid, and he’s made it through the other five books, but what will happen in book six? (Insert biting fingernails in nervous gesture here). Guest appearances from Grover and Annabeth may be just what Percy needs to accomplish his goals.

The Kingdom Keepers Inheritance series written by Ridley Pearson is ready for you to check out volume two, Villains’ Realm.  Can Eli and his friends stop this next villain, Ursula, from ruining all of the Disney parks? Epcot Center is where this story begins, but Ursula has high hopes of creating Villains’ Realms worldwide. Eli and his friends MUST stop her; will they be able to surpass the evil with good? Check this book out to find out if Eli or Ursula was the victor.

Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams have done it again. With volume 29 in the Goddess Girls series, Elpis the Hopeful will continue to satisfy the fans of this series. Elpis, who starts the story as a bubble, yes, a bubble, is transformed into a girl with Principal Zeus’ help. The principal has high expectations for Elpis to maintain a healthy relationship with the human girls. Will Elpis be able to please the principal by becoming a girl, or will she be summoned back to exist as a bubble? Hmmm? This is a hard decision for Elpis to make…check out this next book of the series to find out what Elpis decided to do.

Kwame Mbalia has continued the story of Tristan in volume three of the Tristan Strong series, Tristan Strong Keeps Punching. Tristan is in seventh grade now and he’s gone off to Alabama for a nice, relaxing vacation with his grandparents. Or so he thinks it will be a relaxing vacation. Tristan unknowingly has launched a time war. Brer Rabbit and John Henry wind up in this volume with Tristan and engage in a battle to get Tristan back home. Will these folk heroes be able to assist Tristan enough to find his way home, or will Tristan wind up as the newest member of the folk hero story? Check this series out to read all about Tristan’s adventures.

Tracey West wrote volume 25 of the Dragon Masters series for us all to enjoy. Legend of the Star Dragon will whet your whistle with all things astronomy. With our upcoming eclipse in April, this volume of Dragon Masters will have you routing for Drake and all of the other Dragon Masters to stop the shadow dragon before it’s too late. Will the Shadow Dragon win this battle, or will Drake, the Star Dragon, and all of their cohorts save the world from pending darkness? Check out this volume to help route for Drake as well!