Poetry: It’s for Adults Too (Even After April)
by Clelia SweeneyYou 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
Memorable Memoirs of Differently-Abled Experiences
by Cathy CooneyWhen 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
To Be or Not to Be…Read
by Tracy BriseñoMy TBR (To Be Read) pile is out of control. Somehow, I always have more books that I want to read than time to read them. So, I’m looking for a plan for 2024.
I have already joined the 12 to Try Reading Challenge and am enjoying broadening my reading from “Ooh, this looks interesting.” And “I love everything else this author wrote.” to seeking out new perspectives and challenging myself to explore more broadly. I am particularly pleased that the 12 to Try challenge is so flexible and I can try things in any order. If you decide to join the challenge, you m... Read Full Blog
Reading Challenges to Get Through the Winter
by Clelia SweeneyIt’s getting to be that time of year again. Winter holidays are here, the air is cold, night falls fast. People are spending more time inside, and coziness is a must. There is no better season to get some serious reading done.
The Icelanders have Jolabokaflod, a winter holiday tradition where people give books as gifts and spend Christmas Eve reading, hot beverage in hand. This practice originated during World War II because paper was one of the few goods not rationed for the war effort. Books became the default holiday gift and the trend has persisted. A... Read Full Blog
Try 12 To Try: APL’s Newest Reading Challenge!
By Cathy CooneyI love browsing and scooping up a few new favorites in my go-to genres: romance, mystery, historical fiction, fantasy. I think everyone gravitates toward books we already know we’ll enjoy. But the library contains many different and amazing choices! This year, join the 12 To Try Reading Challenge for Adults to push the boundaries of your literary comfort zone.
Unlike our winter and summer reading programs, this challenge features 12 unique prompts to focus your year of reading. September’s challenge is to read fiction featuring LGBTQIA+ characters. You could cho... Read Full Blog