Library Blog

I have a complicated relationship with JK Growling – not with the bear herself, of course (she’s my BFF!), but with her name. First, a bit of history: When I began working at the Ames Free Library, back in the Fall of 2019, I found a slightly mangy, decidedly grumpy, and hugely adorable bear…

This Summer, families can "Read Beyond the Beaten Path" and play Nature Bingo! We have five themed bingo cards waiting for you in the Children's Room: Flora, Fauna, Sky, Water, and Rainbow. You can check off at least one square on each card by reading a book from the list on the back of your bingo…

This Summer, families can "Read Beyond the Beaten Path" and play Nature Bingo! We have five themed bingo cards waiting for you in the Children's Room: Flora, Fauna, Sky, Water, and Rainbow. You can check off at least one square on each card by reading a book from the list on the back of your bingo…

This Summer, families can "Read Beyond the Beaten Path" and play Nature Bingo! We have five themed bingo cards waiting for you in the Children's Room: Flora, Fauna, Sky, Water, and Rainbow. You can check off at least one square on each card by reading a book from the list on the back of your bingo…

This Summer, families can "Read Beyond the Beaten Path" and play Nature Bingo! We have five themed bingo cards waiting for you in the Children's Room: Flora, Fauna, Sky, Water, and Rainbow. You can check off at least one square on each card by reading a book from the list on the back of your bingo…

This Summer, families can "Read Beyond the Beaten Path" and play Nature Bingo! We have five themed bingo cards waiting for you in the Children's Room: Flora, Fauna, Sky, Water, and Rainbow. You can check off at least one square on each card by reading a book from the list on the back of your bingo…

This past week, we lost two Children's Book greats: Eric Carle (The Very Hungry Caterpillar) & Lois Ehlert (Chicka Chicka Boom Boom). Both were prolific authors & illustrators whose work will live on in the imaginations of children (& adults!) for generations to come. Here are some…

Welcome to Miss Jess Suggests! In each episode of this series, Head of Youth Services Jessica Block recommends great books for you to try (plus some bonus titles!). Different episodes will focus on one interest level or age group, so if you don't hear about something "just right" for your reader,…

As described on their website, Alex Gino “loves glitter, ice cream, gardening, awe-ful puns, and stories that reflect the diversity and complexity of being alive.” Check out Alex’s website to learn more about them and their books. Alex’s stories give middle school readers a gentle look at the life…

School is back in session, leaves are changing, pumpkins are showing up on everyone’s doorsteps… what else is new? Books kept being published even as we quarantined safely at home throughout the spring and summer, so now that we’re open for browsing, there’s plenty of good stuff for you to check…

All summer we’ve been retelling Folk and Fairy Tales in our storytimes.* We also have a whole collection of Folk Tales in our picture book area, with retellings of folk and fairy tales from around the world – from the most popular to the most obscure. In fact, they’re being moved to a more…

This month, our spotlight is on picture book author Todd Parr! Todd’s books are very simple and in many ways each book is alike – but all are completely irresistible! Todd uses bright two-dimensional illustrations to spread positive messages on a variety of topics. His books are silly but relatable…

Currently Reading: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott Reader: Alyisha Wasilewski  Image retrieved from: https://www.kobo.com/ie/en/audiobook/little-women-162   Genre: Juvenile Fiction Format: Audiobook Bibliographic Citation: Alcott, L.M. (1868; 2011). Little Women (K. Reading, Narr.) [Audiobook…

This month we’re introducing you to Margaret Peterson Haddix. Ms. Haddix’s work features adventure and mystery, creating riveting, suspenseful stories for older elementary and middle school readers that you won’t want to put down. Her brand-new book was just published on April 7 and isn’t even in…

Our first featured author spotlight is on Kate Klise, AFL favorite and frequent visitor! Each summer, Ms. Klise visits Easton and stays in the library’s own Queset House. She offers writing workshops for all ages, and sometimes might even get a little of her own writing done during her stay! Ms.…

I'm going to give it to you straight: you may never find another series like the Harry Potter books. They are cornerstones for modern literature that create a detailed world of right and wrong in the most amazing, descriptive way. They are such a cultural phenonenon that children have been waiting…

I don't know if it's the relatable female characters, the realistic but cringe-inducing plots, or the brightly colored format, but Smile and Sisters by Raina Telgemeier are real hits. Raina has been turning the  beloved Baby-Sitters Club books into graphic novels, she wrote and illustrated Drama,…

The first book in the Goosebumps series was published in 1992 and they are still going strong! Since then, R.L. Stine has even published a few spinoffs like HorrorLand and Haunted Library, but at some point it is just time to move on! For you Goosebumps lovers, here are your Next 5 Books:   Dying…

I Survived the Hindenburg Disaster, 1937 by Lauren Tarshis came out this week, and I know there are a lot of kids in and around Easton looking forward to it! Historical fiction can be a really interesting genre, and adding the thriller element of disastrous events can make it all the more exciting…

Recently, the leader of a Daisy troop asked for help with finding a good book for each of the petals that the girls will earn, so I put together this little list and realized that she may not be the only one with this need. Here you will find five books for each of the attributes that the petals…

I know many kids in Easton are fans of the Percy Jackson books, and I absolutely agree! I love Percy Jackson so much that I made my mom read them--and you know what? She loves them too! Percy Jackson transcends the normal juvenile fiction demographics and there are so many books in the series that…

Diary of a Wimpy Kid is a favorite of a lot of kids around here, and it's no wonder why! The books are funny, they have awesome line drawings, and the main character is totally relatable. But what happens when you've read all of them... twice? Don't worry! Here are your Next 5 Books!   The Loser…