What's New

The holiday season is almost upon us! The weather is getting colder and gifts need to be acquired. Instead of rushing out to the nearest store, try to make something for the person you care for. It will be a unique gift and will give you the chance to practice your crafting skills. Check out these new books to help you in your crafting endeavors.

If you have any Harry Potter fans in your life, try out From the Films of Harry Potter: The Official Book of Crochet Amigurumi by Juli Anne with Jody Revenson. This book shows how to make adorable creatures, characters, and magical items from the Harry Potter Universe. You could make an incredibly cute pygmy puff, a menacing troll or even the main character himself, Harry. Each item has a difficulty ranking so you can test your skills or relax with something a bit more fun. This book is accessible for new crocheters as it walks you through building your amigurumi creations but challenging enough for even the most seasoned fiber artists amongst us.

If the Muppets are more your style, try The Muppets Official Crochet Amigurumi by Drew Hill. Full of nostalgia and whimsy the book features your favorite characters to build, from Kermit and Miss Piggy to Clara the Chicken and Pepe the King Prawn. The book breaks down each Muppet into parts to better explain how each one is crafted in order to get them ready for showtime. It also features a guide to explain stitches and their abbreviations to help those newer to the craft. Every guide comes with a fun fact about each Muppet and colorful photos showing them getting into all sorts of shenanigans.

Like cats? Like knitting? Like the Victorian aesthetic? Believe it or not there is a book that combines all three. It is Victorian Housecats to Knit by Sara Elizabeth Kellner. The book begins with very thorough pattern notes as well as an introduction to the role of housecats in Victorian society. The book features cats in many poses to knit, from loafs to big stretches, and even creates the world in which these cats roam. There are even kittens to knit too. Every pattern is detailed in order to ensure the smooth construction of your giftee’s new houseguest. As in most 3d creations, knitting is done both in flat sections and in the round. While some projects are great for beginners, there are some that definitely pose a challenge for more experienced knitters.

Happy Holidays and happy crafting!

Horses, dogs, cows, and cats, oh, my! Smiley Library’s new book section has some interesting books about various animals and their connections to their human friends.

“The Horse: A Galloping History of Humanity,” a bestseller by Timothy C. Winegard, explores the human-horse relationship and the wide-ranging effect it has had on human history. Horse-lovers and history buffs will be enlightened by Winegard’s deep and broad narrative and revelations.

“Dogland: Passion, Glory, and Lots of Slobber at the Westminster Dog Show,” is authored by Tommy Tomlinson. His curiosity about dogs started a few years ago when he was watching a dog show competition and pondered whether or not those dogs, or pet dogs, were actually happy. He made it his mission to follow dog shows and dogs for a few years to see what he could discover. He shares his findings along with his sense of humor which makes for a fun read.

“Cowpuppy: An Unexpected Friendship and a Scientist’s Journey into the Secret World of Cows,” is by neuroscientist Gregory Berns. He actually has miniature zebu cow friends so don’t assume that this is strictly a scientific study. Heartwarming photographs of his bovine buddies help to keep the narrative interesting. However, there is plenty of science and detailed revelations involved as it is, after all, written by a scientist.

“Cats of the World,” written by “Kitten Lady” Hannah Shaw and photographed by her husband and professional photographer Andrew Marttila, is an international love story of all things cat and kitten. Feline lives, their companions, and their rescuers, are featured in thirty different countries in this beautifully photographed travelogue.

Teens, good news: I’m not dying. Well, I am, eventually, but for now, it seems my demise isn’t imminent. Why am I telling you this? For the last several months, I’ve felt an unmistakable heaviness in my chest and on my shoulders. The most logical explanation, of course, was that I was about to croak. As it turns out, there was no need for funeral arrangements…I was experiencing anxiety.

If you are feeling like this, I definitely advise a professional medical assessment (librarians aren’t trained to rule out real impending doom), but after I figured out the source of my discomfort, I did what any book-lover would do…I turned to my trusty Young Adult (YA) novels.

The YA titles below all feature characters who also experience anxiety in one form or another, and while the library does offer nonfiction and online resources with more instructional “how to deal” perspectives, these novels help in another way…they make you feel less alone.

In “How to Pack for the End of the World” by Michelle Falkoff, 16-year-old Amina is obsessed with, well, the end of the world. School shootings, democracy in peril, climate change, violent threats against her synagogue, these are all things keeping her up at night…like, all night…like, every night. When her parents decide to send her off to a private boarding school to help her re-set, little do they know she is going to connect with a like-minded gang of activists, whose doomsday preparation club uncovers a mystery none of them, despite their mutual fixations on the future, could have predicted.

In Jennifer Dugan’s “Verona Comics,” 17-year-old Ridley’s social anxiety is so intense that a mere “hi” from a pretty girl in an elevator can send him into panic attack mode. It doesn’t help that his domineering dad, the owner of comic store giant The Geekery, is forcing him to work FabCon, a massive comic convention that is frying his every nerve. But when he meets 16-year-old Jubilee at the FabCon Prom, the sparks that fly between them seem to make it all worthwhile. That is, until Ridley’s dad hatches a plot to take over Jubilee’s stepmom’s indie comic shop and enlists Ridley as a spy.

Ahhhhh! Star-crossed love interests, comics, and mental health? This is such a good one! It bounces back and forth between Ridley and Jubilee’s perspectives, and includes a diverse cast of characters who are as likeable as they are authentic. Two anxiety-laden thumbs up!

“You, Me, and Our Heartstrings” by Melissa See is another satisfying read if you’re in the mood for love with a side order of stringed instruments. Seventeen-year-old Daisy and Noah share a common goal: they want to get into Juilliard, the prestigious performing arts college. They’re both enormously talented musicians, and when they get paired to do a duet in their school’s holiday concert, they know this might be their shot to attract the notice of the Juilliard admissions team. Sounds like a slam dunk!

But, no! Of course not, fellow readers! What kind of boring novel would allow a slam dunk?

Unfortunately, besides orchestral talent, Daisy and Noah share something else in common: they’re both coming to blows with inner turmoil that could sabotage a stellar performance. Daisy has cerebral palsy, a condition she totally accepts, but wishes wasn’t the only thing people saw when they look at her. And Noah is trying to hide his immobilizing anxiety, fearing that he will never live up to his prodigy-filled family’s expectations.

What happens when two people come together, one who feels like the world only sees her disability, and the other whose disability is invisible to a fault? I’m going to need another set of thumbs because you know what? I’m putting two more up for this book.

Finally, if you’re looking for more immediate anxiety relief, don’t miss the “Calm Room” link, curated by Rosen Teen Health and Wellness, from the Teens’ page of the library’s website: www.akspl.org/teens. There you will find everything from relaxing waterfall sounds to guided meditations to live sea otter cams. Get ready to, temporarily at least, let a sea otter soothe you the way only a sea otter can. Most especially, teens, know that if you are experiencing anxiety, you are not alone. There are so many of us! Let these YA books, that don’t judge or demand, comfort you in their small ways, and gently guide you, like they did me, away from your imagined deathbed.

It is not uncommon for readers, even the most passionate ones, to find themselves in the dreaded reading slump. You read synopsis after synopsis and nothing sounds good to you or everything sounds the same. If this scenario sounds familiar to you, then let me introduce you to a genre of fiction that is getting very popular, “healing fiction.” This genre is already very popular in countries like Korea and Japan and is gaining popularity here amongst readers in the United States. I know you all are clamoring to know what “healing fiction” is. Well, simply put, healing fiction has themes of healing, friendship, comfort, empathy, and maybe a bit of magic in them. Here are a few new titles to get you started on reading this new genre of fiction.

The Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mai Mochizuki is about a coffee shop that has no fixed location and only appears when someone needs it at a crucial point in their lives. And did I mention the coffee shop is run by talking cats! Yup, talking cats. Aside from serving cakes, coffee, and tea, these cats also serve up astrological advice for those who are in need of guidance.

Marigold Mind Laundry by Jungeun Yun is about a woman named Jieun who magically brings into existence the Marigold Mind Laundry. It is here that customers who are seeking comfort in their lives tell her their unhappiest memories. Come and check out this novel and read about Jieun and her customers and how the power to heal oneself is in us all.

The Dallergut Dream Department Store by Miye Lee is a novel about a department store and the people who work there that sell dreams to humans and animals. At this dream store, one can “buy” dreams on flying, a favorite childhood memory, dreams of becoming famous, and even dreams of loved ones who have passed on. Come and check out this novel and read about how sometimes the simple act of dreaming can influence your life in the waking world.

If these titles have piqued your interest, then come and check them out at A.K. Smiley Public Library.

September was an eventful month for the Redlands Adult Literacy Program. On September 17, the Redlands City Council approved a proclamation declaring September 29, 2024 as “Adult Literacy Day in the City of Redlands.” Mayor Pro Tempore Paul Barich presented the proclamation to Diane Shimota, Adult Literacy Program coordinator, Chev Sotheavy, adult learner and author, and Don McCue, director of A.K. Smiley Public Library. Through this proclamation, the Council reaffirmed its recognition of the vital work done by the Redlands Adult Literacy Program along with all its volunteers and community partners and “called upon our residents to promote literacy efforts and education programs throughout our community.” Since 2010, the program has been providing free, confidential, one-to-one tutoring tailored to the specific needs of adult literacy learners. This past fiscal year, the program was able to serve 101 hardworking adult learners because of the support from 111 dedicated volunteers.

In addition to the “Adult Literacy Day” proclamation, the program celebrated publication of its seventh volume of original writing, Our Stories, A Collection of Writings. This collection has become a much-anticipated annual tradition within the program. Each year, adult learners are encouraged to capture in writing their personal journeys to literacy. Their contributions reflect a wide range of reading and writing levels. For some authors, the first step was simply dictating their stories to tutors and then working through the writing process with their tutors’ help. Other learners spent months rewriting multiple drafts until they were satisfied and ready to submit their work for publication. Regardless of literacy level, these adult learner-authors share a commitment to the learning process and are developing important literacy skills that will help them to better communicate in the workplace, with their families, and in the community.

To showcase this year’s volume – which features work from over 40 authors – the literacy program hosted a Celebration of Authors on September 29. An audience composed of approximately 150 family members, tutors, adult learners, and community members gathered to honor the newly-published authors and listen as they read their work aloud. The readings ranged from childhood memories and travelogues to powerful stories of survival and hope. One author who made a particularly strong impression was Sharhonda McLaurin with her poem, “I Told the Storm,” excerpted here:

I told the storm, I am aware of your tactics

Have seen your clouds try and block the sun

You have turned beautiful days into gloomy ones

Your wind blows past my window singing songs of defeat and my lips can’t help but sing along

I love sad songs on dark afternoons

I asked the storm why does it enjoy raining on my parade?

It never answered.

To read Ms. McLaurin’s poem in its entirety, as well as the work of other inspiring new writers, visit A.K. Smiley Public Library. Copies of Our Stories, A Collection of Writings, Volume 7 are now available for checkout.

If you are interested in learning more about volunteering with the Redlands Adult Literacy Program, please contact Diane Shimota, Adult Literacy coordinator, at (909) 798-7565 ext. 4110, or email literacy@akspl.org.

If you know of someone who needs help in reading and writing, please encourage them to take the first step in changing their life by contacting the Redlands Adult Literacy Program. Tutoring is free and confidential.