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IT’S STILL PRIDE MONTH FOR A FEW MORE DAYS! So, let’s explore a personal favorite genre of mine: Queer Horror. The idea of horror quite frequently focuses on the out of the ordinary, or the thing that is out of place. And, when you grow up feeling the same way, it makes sense to identify with creatures like Frankenstein’s monster or Dracula, creatures that were not asked to be but are and must adapt to a world that is unwelcoming. In honor of pride month, here are some new works that exemplify the idea that what goes bump in the night isn’t always the thing you should fear.

The Starving Saints by Caitlin Starling is not for the faint of heart. Three women, Ser Voyne, a war hero, Phosyne, an ex-nun, and Treila, a survivor, are trapped within the walls of a sieged castle. Along with all the other town folk, soldiers, and king, they are barricaded within with dwindling supplies and no hope for rescue from the outside world. People are starving and the three women are out of time to find a solution. But a miracle happens and the patron saint of the city arrives, bringing food and salvation. But the three women do not see a happy ending coming, they believe tragedy has arrived. Visceral and dark, Starling creates another stellar horror entry.

In Hungerstone by Kat Dunn, Lenore has been married to steel works magnate Henry for ten years. She prides herself on being the model wife in spite of the loss of her parents at a young age and having to fight tooth and nail in order to secure a proper and convenient marriage. Henry, a man with money but no status, and Lenore, a woman with status but no money, find in each other a solution to their problems. After ten years though, the relationship wains as no children are produced and Lenore finds the confines of society are beginning to tighten. On the way to their new estate in Nethersaw, the pair meet the sickly and sickeningly beautiful Carmilla, whom Lenore endeavors to bring back to health. But deep secrets are revealed in Nethersaw and Lenore finds herself fighting for her life against foes outside as well as in. Gothic and alluring, Dunn reworks the story of Carmilla into a new sumptuous read.

Jo Kozak finds herself looking to standout in art school in Mallory Pearson’s Voice Like A Hyacinth. Jo is in the final year of art school along with her friends Caroline, Finch, Amrita, and Saz. The group is devoted to each other and take on an us vs. everyone else stance. The problem? The end of the year is capped off with a group showing and the best student of the year is given a chance to have a solo show, gain notoriety, and an almost guaranteed career. Only one will get the spot and with doubt and anxiety mounting, the friends turn to otherworldly means to improve their chances. But all things cost, and when their lecherous teacher is sacrificed for their benefit, the girls must reckon with their choices and fight to keep their friendship from being torn apart. Pearson’s work is reminder that the road of ambition is paved with blood, sweat, and tears.

None of those sound interesting? There are so many more, like Awakened by A.E. Osworth about a malicious AI and the coven of witches trying to stop it. Or The Lamb by Lucy Rose, a novel about a mother whose appetite for meat goes a little too far. So many wonderful books and so little time! Enjoy these books and remember the library is for everyone.

June is audiobook appreciation month. Please visit A.K. Smiley Public Library to check out our variety of audiobook options!

Physical audiobooks in the library include audio compact discs, MP3 discs, and Playaway devices. Compact discs (audiobooks and music) are playable on CD or DVD players, your car’s audio system, or your computer (if there is a CD player option).

MP3 discs may be listened to on MP3 players, CD players with MP3 capabilities, and desktop and Mac computers, or files can be transferred to a portable music player.

Playaway devices are small self-contained recordings that you listen to by connecting earphones (disposable earbuds are available on request), or plugging into speakers or your car speakers from the universal headphone jack on the unit. They are easy to use, are hands-free, and very portable. Plug in your headphones, place the device in your pocket, and listen while walking, exercising, or for entertainment while doing mundane tasks. Electronic audio items are also available through our website, www.akspl.org, and can be downloaded through Libby/OverDrive to your computer, tablet, or phone. Please check our website for instructions.

Our audio items are available in both fiction, non-fiction, and music. Plan a visit to our beautiful library soon to browse the selections or check our catalog online on our website (www.akspl.org) before you arrive.

Happy listening!

 

Hear ye! Hear ye! Now that I have your undivided attention, I am pleased to tell you that A.K. Smiley Public Library has added some new movies and television series to the collection to check-out for free! Here are some of the new DVDs that are available to check out.

For fans of international films, we have the Japanese film Drive My Car and Korean films The Host, Escape, Train to Busan, Peninsula, and Memories of Murder.

If Sci-fi is more your thing, then you will be happy to know that we have Prometheus, Alien Covenant, and Alien Romulus. These films are part of the Alien franchise, starring Sigourney Weaver.

For fans of Westerns, we have the television series 1883 and 1923, both are a continuing story of the popular television series Yellowstone (which we also have).

For the cinephiles out there who like to watch the Oscar-nominated films we have The Brutalist, A Complete Unknown, and Anora.

For Star Wars fans, we now have The Mandalorain available for check-out.

If you like a good scare, we have Black Phone, Wolf Man, and The Last Voyage of the Demeter.

Fans of the movies in the Marvel Universe will be happy to know that we have Captain America: Brave New World and Shang-Chi: Legend of the Ten Rings.

For fans of binge-worthy shows, we have The Penguin, Better Call Saul, Severance, Interview with the Vampire, Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha, and the newest season of Outlander.

If none of these selections sound appealing and you want something funny and uplifting, then I am pleased to tell you that we have the television series Ted Lasso.

So come and down and check out these DVDs!

The sun is out, the birds are singing, and the palm trees are swaying. It’s nearly summer in Redlands, California, and at Smiley Library, we all know what that means. It’s time again for the Youth Services Summer Reading Program, and we’re proud to announce that this year’s theme is Color Our World! This theme encompasses all modes of creativity and art – drawing, writing, painting, photography, music – anything and everything that makes our world a more colorful place.

Beginning with our kickoff event on June 10, Smiley Library will be hosting events and programs for families in the Assembly Room every Tuesday at 10:00am and in the Contemporary Club every Thursday at 10:00am and 2:00pm. These include concerts, magic acts, and art workshops (just to name a few) through July 31. Teens can look forward to programs on Wednesdays such as a clay handbuilding workshop (hosted by Redlands Pottery Project) and book club party (register to pick up a free copy of the book club books on or after June 10 while supplies last!). Registration is required for some of these events, so please call us at (909) 798-7674 or see our flyer for QR codes to register. For more details, check out our Instagram pages (@akspl_kids and @akspl_teens) or the children’s and teens’ pages on our website.

As for the reading component of the Summer Reading Program, children and teens from age 0-19 are welcome to participate. Zero – three-year-olds will earn stickers, while 4-19-year-olds will be reading to earn chances to win oodles of fun and exciting new prizes, such as giant Squishmallows for children and Instax cameras for teens.

All story times except Spanish Storytime will pause during this period, but don’t fret, because the good news is… you can have your own special story times at home with our book giveaways! We will be giving away many wonderful books for free after events every Thursday, a few of which I am about to preview for you here.

Speaking of making the world a more colorful place… Dear Bookstore by Emily Arrow does exactly that. It is a beautiful ode to books and the special, comforting, lovely places where they live. If you catch me crying at the desk in the Young Readers’ Room, this book is likely the culprit. Genevieve Godbout’s illustrations are absolutely lush: sprawling neon vines, twinkling stars, and playful animals against a lavender backdrop, all of which come together to perfectly complement Arrow’s words and showcase the magic to be discovered in books. Emily Arrow is also a songwriter and performer; this book is inspired by a song she wrote in 2017. She has a YouTube channel as well, filled with entertainment for kids, including songs and story times. Her next book Dear Library will be released in 2026, and will no doubt be just as extraordinary and whimsical.

If you’re a loyal patron of the Young Readers’ Room, surely you’re familiar with the illustrations of Jon Klassen. Thanks to Miss Kristina, we have FOUR standups of his art — see if you can spot them all the next time you visit us. The Wolf, The Duck and The Mouse is a fairy tale-esque story in that it is equal amounts funny, curious, and strange… and it may or may not end with a twist. It’s written by Mac Barnett and illustrated by Jon Klassen — the unstoppable duo also known for The Shapes Trilogy. The deadpan humor of their collaborative stories is always entertaining, and this book is no exception. The Duck and The Mouse have been gobbled up by The Wolf and are living in his stomach in a situation reminiscent of that of Pinocchio, Gepetto, and Monstro in Disney’s Pinocchio. Unlike Pinocchio and Gepetto, Duck and Mouse make the most of their time spent in their host’s stomach and even team up when he is in trouble.

These crayons need a union! The Day the Crayons Quit written by Drew Daywalt and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers is such a clever book, compiled of letters (of complaint, for the most part) written by crayons to their owner, Duncan. Yellow and Orange are no longer speaking to one another, Pink isn’t able to be himself, Green may be the only employee who’s satisfied with his job — this workplace is chaos. But Duncan is open to negotiating… it really does help you think about creative ways to use color, whether you’re an adult or a child. Once you fall in love with these crayons, explore more of their world with other books in our collection such as Love From The Crayons and The Crayons Love Our Planet.

All of these books are currently available to check out in the Young Readers’ Room at Smiley Library. We hope to see you at the library this summer!

Emily Windver is a specialist in the Youth Services Department at A.K. Smiley Library. She enjoys crafting, reading, and treating her crayons fairly and equally.