What's New

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.

“You may find me to be a bit hasty in my congratulations, Miss Austen, yet I cannot contain my enthusiasm! I must wish you a most felicitous semiquincentennial celebration, the 250th anniversary of your birth!”

Miss Austen is, of course, the beloved novelist, Jane Austen, and this dispatch is my poor attempt to honor Austen through imitation of her style, while showcasing, unfortunately, none of her iconic and ironic brilliance. Though her birthday is not until December 16, we, fans around the world, “Janeites,” have been celebrating all year long.

If you have not read any of her core novels—of which there are only six—I recommend you pick up one. It doesn’t matter which one; I happened to have read first, “Northanger Abbey,” a satire of gothic novels, and fell in love instantly with Austen’s masterful and subtle use of humor and wit. Austen’s novels are not all about love and romance, but are primarily about the social realities behind sentimental, romantic façades.

The publication of “Sense and Sensibility” came first in 1811; “Pride and Prejudice” followed in 1813, “Mansfield Park,” 1814, and “Emma,” 1815. Though separate works, “Persuasion” and “Northanger Abbey” were published together posthumously in 1817 by Austen’s brother, Henry, and it was he who named each novel.

In the years since her death at age 41, respect for her work has only grown, snowballing into the 21st century to such popularity that imitation and reimagining of her novels and writing style have come as flattery in its most sincere forms.

Books published this year are no exception. Coming to Smiley Library soon is a celebratory collaboration of ‘love letters’ from writers, actors, critics, and scholars alike, “Encounters with Jane Austen: Celebrating 250 Years.” The anthology features a vibrant mix of short stories, essays, interviews, and poetry contributed by over 30 writers and artists. It presents a delightful blend of both contemporary and classic works, accompanied by humorous illustrations and timeless quotes from Jane Austen herself.

Another tribute arriving in 2025 in a fresh format for our featured author is “The Novel Life of Jane Austen: A Graphic Biography,” a very approachable introduction for Austen novices and a textured, detail-packed delight for those already familiar with her life. Acclaimed Austen scholar Janine Barchas and New York Times bestselling graphic novelist Isabel Greenberg combine their talents to create this wonderfully unique glimpse into the novelist’s world with Jane as the heroine.

Greenberg’s sparkling illustrations in a muted blue-gray-yellow color scheme burst into vivid reds and purples when Austen imagines scenes in her novels. Told in three parts (Budding Writer 1796-1797); Struggling Artist 1801-1809; and Published Author 1811-1817), all the settings and scenarios presented are based upon the historical record, including the clothing, architecture, decor, and Regency locations.

For those of us who have read and enjoyed Miss Austen’s work so much that we seem to ache for ‘more Austen!,’ Rebecca Romney has brought us a gift in “Jane Austen’s Bookshelf: A Rare Book Collector’s Quest to Find the Women Writers Who Shaped a Legend.” Romney herself is the rare book specialist who investigates eight of Austen’s contemporaries, women authors who inspired her, yet who have seemed to slip into anonymity—Frances Burney, Ann Radcliffe, Charlotte Lennox, Hannah More, Charlotte Smith, Elizabeth Inchbald, Hester Lynch Thrale Piozzo, and Maria Edgeworth.

Romney provides an overview of the publishing world in Regency England, addressing the restrictions of gender and social attitudes impacting women authors. We learn of these featured writers’ lives and works, while Romney highlights Austen’s artful references in her novels to these writers she admires. Book lovers may wish to delve into the comprehensive appendix which may well lead to the joyful addition of even more Austen-like titles to their TBR (to-be-read) list.

I will take my leave of you now, dear readers, with a few more titles with which to enhance the J.A. festivities. I surmise that you may not have read “Lady Susan,” an epistolary novella written by Austen circa 1794, published in 1871. There are her unfinished novels, “The Watsons” (1804) and “Sanditon” (1817; recently completed by anonymous writer “Another Lady.”) Do you know of “Jane Austen’s Letters,” a compilation of her letters to others as an adult? Look for “Jane Austen,” the 1913 biography by great-nephew William Austen-Leigh (yes, we have the 1913 edition!).

It may be time to explore Miss Jane’s juvenilia collection (written in her youth between 1787 and 1793) with “Love and Freindship and Other Youthful Writings.” The misspelling in the title is among several in these works, only endearing Jane Austen to us even more. Cheers to another 250 years, Miss Austen!

Teresa Letizia is, obviously, a full-time Janeite, fitting around that her position as part-time library specialist at A.K. Smiley Public Library, 125 W. Vine St., Redlands.

 

November is here, and with it another chance to celebrate Native American Heritage Month. This month is dedicated to remembering the past, embracing the present, and thinking about how to improve the future of the generations of those that occupied these lands. These latest works take a look at these writers perspectives on their heritage and how we can try to make the world a better place for everyone.

My Life: Growing up Native in America is a collection of essays and poems written by individuals chronicling their own experiences as Native American children. All show a great understanding of how being a child and searching for identity is complicated by the world’s perception of native culture. They don’t shy away from intersectionality as well, how gender, sexuality, and additional racial identities impacted their upbringing. Each one shows a new perspective and shows how allowing varied voices to shine only adds to the dialog and does not take away from it.

Joseph Lee’s Nothing More of This Land: Community, Power, and the Search for Indigenous Identity is a book about where one finds home. The work recounts the history of the Wampanoag people who reside on the island known as Martha’s Vineyard. Lee spent his summers as a child on the island, attending camps focused on continuing cultural heritage and spending time with family. As the years pass, Lee wonders how this existence, being a part of a culture but not residing solely on cultural lands, affects one’s identity. Lee begins his contemplation, first through his own experiences, then his family’s, then his community’s. All of this in an attempt to understand how where you come from helps you to become who you are.

The incredibly hilarious Tiffany Midge is back with her latest work entitled The Dreamcatcher in the Wry. During the pandemic, when everything seemed frozen, Midge was not just observing the current state of our society, she was critiquing and tearing to shreds, literarily, of course. From animal attacks, to identity politics, to humans being unable to think of the greater good, Midge takes a look at it all and calls on us to reflect. The work is funny and timely and is a great perspective on the state of the world.

We Survived the Night by Julian Brave NoiseCat is not so much a memoir but a vulnerable reveal of the inner self. Working against the forced erasure of so much knowledge and history, NoiseCat traveled across the continent in order to reclaim what was lost. He highlights stories, myths, and the triumphs of a people that for so long were ignored. By reclaiming the narrative, NoiseCat is also able to strengthen his own voice and identity. Through his own personal struggles, he is able to gain insight into the strength of his community.

Visit your local library and give these books (and more) a read. Happy Native American Heritage Month!

–Ciara Lightner is a Library Specialist at A.K. Smiley Public Library.