Blog Entries

Tracy Loves Juvenile Nonfiction – Round 3: Impactful Books

by Tracy Briseño

Have you read a book that stayed with you? That you kept coming back to in your mind, and brought up in conversation with others? There are several juvenile nonfiction books that have had a long-lasting impact on me.

“Freedom Walkers” by Russell Freedman is a great place to start. I remember learning about the Civil Rights movement when I was younger but it was a very general. Reading “Freedom Walkers” opened my eyes to how long the Montgomery Bus Boycott actually lasted and how many people made it possible. Freedman does a great job telling about the impa... Read Full Blog

Book Club Picks

by Cathy Cooney

If you’re looking for something cool to do inside on hot summer days, you could always start a book club! And if you do, Ames Public Library has a Book Club Collection to help (though you don’t have to be in a book club to borrow books from it).

Our Book Club Collection highlights titles across a variety of genres that are great for discussion. For each title in the collection, we have several copies of the physical book (usually 12 or more) plus a copy of every other format that’s available—which may include audiobook, large print, e-book, and e-audiobook.... Read Full Blog

Visit a Park, Visit the Library

by Anastasia Tuckness

Ames is a city of parks. The convergence of Ioway Creek and the South Skunk River in South Ames results in many square feet of floodplain, not always great for commercial development but excellent green space for parks! Ames boasts 38 parks covering over 1220 acres that have been developed over many years. Brookside Park celebrates its 100th anniversary next year! And new parks and green spaces spring up often—we recently discovered the new shared use path along Ioway Creek/South 5th Street from South Grand Avenue extending to half a mile east of South Duff Ave... Read Full Blog

Fantastic Filipino Inspired Fantasy Reads

by Ben Schrag

I grew up loving fantasy books. Fantasy represented an escape from the ordinary. It represented the feeling that no one was too small for a big adventure. But, over time, that initial spark grew dull. Genre tropes became tired and repetitive. I almost gave up on fantasy books altogether. But, thankfully, I work at a library with lots of books at my disposal!

Today I want to highlight a few that I’ve discovered that share a common thread. These fantasies are all by Filipino authors!

The first is a middle grade book, “Marikit and the Ocean of Stars” b... Read Full Blog

Get Grilling!

by Chelsie Gohlmann

Summer is the season of vibrant flavors, outdoor gatherings, and the irresistible allure of grilling. As the days grow longer and the sun shines brighter, it's the perfect time to explore new recipes and refine your culinary skills. Whether you're a seasoned grill master or a kitchen novice, the right cookbook can transform your summer meals into unforgettable feasts. Here’s a look at some must-have cookbooks that will inspire you to make the most of the season's bounty.

“Rodney Scott's World of BBQ: Every Day Is a Good Day” by Rodney Scott
“Rod... Read Full Blog

The Books of Summer

by Seth Warburton

School is out and so is the sun; it’s summer!  It’s time to partake in the long-standing tradition of reading something frivolous.  There are books too gleefully violent for February, tomes too wantonly erotic for December, and titles so unserious that someone as discerning and successful as you just couldn’t possibly spare them the time to read.  But now that it’s socially acceptable to wear white trousers, everyone gets a free pass.  That’s not smut in your hand; in June, it’s a beach read. 

Summer is the time for slacking and r... Read Full Blog

“I Survived” Summer Reading at the Library

by Jill Philby

June is right around the corner, and Ames Public Library has exciting news!

First, save the date of June 24.  Why? Because Lauren Tarshis, author of the kid-favorite “I Survived” chapter book series, will be visiting Ames Public Library!

Each “I Survived” book tells the story of a young person who experiences, and lives through, an amazing event from history. The books tell the stories of everything from the San Francisco earthquake and the destruction of Pompei, to September 11 and the Battle of D-Day. Perfect for elementary school rea... Read Full Blog

Tracy Loves Juvenile Nonfiction – Round 2: Biographies

by Tracy Briseño

I have always loved biographies. I love learning about people and the time they live in. I think it is a really interesting glimpse into other’s thoughts and decisions within the context of place and history.

Last year, my daughter became enamored with reading about women scientists. She read through everything her teacher had and was working her way through her school library, too. We visited the public library together to pick out books and ended up taking home over 50 biographies, extending well beyond her original focus of female scientists. We read so... Read Full Blog

Tracy Loves Juvenile Nonfiction – And You Should Too

by Tracy Briseño

Years ago, I worked in youth services at the library. I was always excited when a kid would come in and announce “I don’t like to read”. I knew that they were giving me a chance. I knew they hadn’t found the right book yet. Challenge accepted! 

I would often take these kids over to the juvenile nonfiction section and start pulling out titles. I’d ask them about what they liked to do, what they liked to watch, what they liked to do outside. I’d assure them that they didn’t have to like anything I picked out. But I’d sort through – do they like weapons ... Read Full Blog

Poetry: It’s for Adults Too (Even After April)

by Clelia Sweeney

You might remember this rhyme from childhood:

“Keep a poem in your pocket, and a picture in your head, and you’ll never feel lonely at night when you’re in bed.”

The catchy stanza comes from Beatrice Schenk de Regniers, a 1900s children’s book author. I remember hearing it in elementary school, when we were given printed poems to keep in our actual pockets throughout April. If you memorized and recited your poem to a librarian, you got a prize. I remember sing-songing my way through “The Turkey Shot Out of the Oven” by Jack Prelutsky over an... Read Full Blog

Eclipse Time!

by Ellen Wanamaker

In a few days, millions of Americans will see a total solar eclipse. The path of totality will cross 15 states on April 8th. To see the spectacle in totality, Iowans will have to travel a few hours, but if you stay in Ames, you’ll still witness about 85% of the sun eclipsed by the moon’s shadow.

There are many ways to learn about eclipses prior to the big day. The “New York Times” website has an interactive map-filled article, published by Jonathan Corum on March 25, 2024. Ames Public Library cardholders have free access to the NYT online through our web... Read Full Blog

Parenting Problems and Answers at the Ames Public Library

by Danielle Ziegler

Although the Ames Public Library Youth Services department offers many books, storytimes, and activities for the younger crowd, we don’t want to forget about parents and guardians! Adults are welcome to use the youth department, whether getting great books for the young people in their lives or themselves. (But don’t forget that we also have an amazing Adult Services department!)

Parents and guardians should check out the Parenting Collection, located at the South side of the Library’s youth department. This small collection focuses on books to aide in ... Read Full Blog

Memorable Memoirs of Differently-Abled Experiences

by Cathy Cooney

When you visit the library this month, we hope you’ll stop by our book displays in the youth and adult areas featuring Disability Awareness Month. You’ll find books by, about, and for people who are deaf or hard of hearing or who have developmental, intellectual, mental, physical, or vision impairments. (Pro tip: Some of the featured books are perfect for the 12 to Try reading challenge category of memoirs by someone with neurodiversity or ability diversity. Find out more at amespubliclibrary.org/12totry.) Here are just a few of my recommendations!

“The Cou... Read Full Blog

Audiobooks for Everyone!

by Anastasia Tuckness

Driving around with children of varying ages, whether for a carpool or a family vacation, can be a big challenge! If Car Bingo or the License Plate Game aren’t doing the trick, try an audiobook. Finding a book that bridges all the kiddos in your car may be easier than you think—they can listen to and comprehend audiobooks that are significantly above their reading level, and a tween may be more apt to listen to (and secretly enjoy) a book they wouldn’t normally pick up because it seemed “too baby-ish.”

Adventure and humor are generally crowd favorites, and... Read Full Blog

Adventurous Adaptations

by Jillian Ocken

Sometimes it feels like there are no new stories. I complain as much as anyone about the latest remake of a remake, but I have to admit to enjoying a few recently recycled stories. There are even some upcoming adaptations I’m looking forward to.

The biggest recent success story for my family was “One Piece.” As far as manga to anime to live action adaptations go, it was surprisingly good. (I keep my expectations low on these, because they often recreate the source material scene-for-scene without being particularly well done.) It was a fun watch with good pacin... Read Full Blog