July Staff Picks

Looking for a good summertime book? For library staff member Dennis, “summer means baseball” and he recommends checking out “The Baseball 100” by Joe Posnanski (796.357 Pos), which contains one expert’s pick for the 100 greatest players ever. And what else could evoke more summer vibes than the Beach Boys? In keeping with the summer theme, Dennis recommends the autobiography “I am Brian Wilson” (921 Wilson, B.): “Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys passed away last month at the age of 82. He is widely considered as one of the most innovative and significant song-writers of the 20th Century.” While you are at it, you can also check out the music CD “Pet Sounds” by the Beach Boys (CD 781.63), “released in 1966 and regarded as one of the most influential albums in music history.”

To learn more about summer and all of the seasons, Steph, our library naturalist, suggests reading “Earth Almanac: Nature’s Calendar for Year-Round Discovery” by Ken Keffer (508.7 Kef). From summer solstice to winter, each season features more than 90 informational entries with sidebars throughout with citizen science opportunities and details on special dates or holidays.

Thinking about getting a freshwater fish for a pet? Or maybe you’ve won a goldfish at the recent Strawberry Festival and are wondering how to care for it? Susanna found a lot of helpful information in “Focus on Freshwater Aquarium Fish” by Geoff Rogers (639.34 Rog), which “features big beautiful pictures and a brief introduction to each species.”

For the perfect summertime fiction book, Bryanna recommends “The Wedding People” by Alison Espach (FIC Espach). This funny and heartwarming New York Times Bestseller takes you to coastal Rhode Island, where the main character finds herself entangled in the middle of a destination wedding when her own life has fallen apart. Or visit the charming town of Hope Harbor, the setting of Dellie’s pick, “Sunrise Reef” by Irene Hannon (LP FIC Hannon) and get caught up in a summer romance by the sea.

For several of us here at the library, the season is always right for a good twisty mystery! Mary recommends the supernatural thriller “Hunted” by Darcy Coates (FIC Coates): “A woman goes missing while hiking in the remote Ashlough Forest. After law enforcement has quit looking for her, her brother and friends continue the search. They discover her disappearance wasn’t an accident.” For a political thriller, Brenda says “The First Gentleman” by Bill Clinton and James Patterson (FIC Clinton) is a “great collaboration of Clinton and Patterson with a riveting story of great characters. A female president is a nice touch! One chapter where President Wright outlines her plan to solve the nation’s debt crisis is outstanding!” And I highly recommend “She’s Not Sorry” by Mary Kubica (FIC Kubica), a psychological thriller following an ICU nurse who becomes wrapped up in the mystery of her brain-injured patient.

Finally, what about a game night to bring the family together this summer? Did you know that the library now has board games to check out? Christie recommends “Really Loud Librarians” (BOARD GAME Really). Pick your teams, pick a category, and get ready to get loud! Each game is around 20 minutes to finish. We also have Settlers of Catan, Trivial Pursuit, Ticket to Ride, and several more. Find them on the second floor of the library and check them out for 7 days with your library card.

This month’s Staff Picks can be found on display on the first floor of the library through the end of July. Several are also available digitally on our library’s free Libby app. Our regular open hours are Monday-Thursday 9am-9pm, Friday-Saturday 9am-5pm, and Sunday 1-5pm.