Library Column for December 13, 2017

@ Your Library

Take some time this week to escape the holiday bustle and enjoy a good story either in written or visual form. Stop by the library and see what we have to offer or check out the online options through both Overdrive for e-books and audiobooks and Hoopla for audiobooks, e-books, graphic novels, movies and tv series.

Books make wonderful gifts. Here are some new books and timeless classics that will be read again and again and many can be shared with multiple generations. Astronaut Scott Kelly has written Endurance A year in space, a lifetime of discovery for adults and My Journey to the Stars for younger readers. These would make great books for any space aficionados on your gift list. Scott Kelly is an identical twin and both are employed by NASA. These are fascinating looks at the life of an astronaut, the study of humans in space and more. While we are looking at the world of science be sure and take a look at Theodore Gray’s three books about the building blocks of science in Molecules, The Elements and Reactions. All three contain breathtaking illustrations, incredible facts and will be loved by anyone interested in the basics of science.

The movie “The Princess Bride” was released thirty years ago and the book The Princess Bride by William Goldman has been republished with full color illustrations by Michael Manomivibul. This would make a great family read-aloud followed by sharing the movie together.

Do you struggle with how divided our country is? Looking for a gift for that someone on your list you don’t always see eye to eye with? Then try television journalist Dan Rather’s new book. What Unites Us is a collection of original essays in which he celebrates our shared values and what matters most in our country, showing us what patriotism looks like.

Do you need a gift for someone who loves to travel? Lonely Planet has a wonderful new book for the outdoor person. Lonely Planet’s Atlas of Adventure is a wonderful way to discover a world of thrilling outdoor activities from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe and 150 countries in between. Or try their Epic Drives of the World for 50 great road trips across the globe.

A great gift idea for a kid in your life is the gift of time. Give them Good Housekeeping’s Kids Cook! along with a certificate for a monthly cooking date and spend time each month cooking together. Kids learn lots of different skills by cooking and enjoy spending time with adults who love them.

National Geographic produces beautiful coffee table books for adults but also spectacular and fun books for kids. They have a series called “Weird but True” that is fun, silly, occasionally gross and always entertaining. The newest title in the series in Christmas and it contains awesome facts about Christmas and the winter season. The youngest recipients on your list will like Hey, Baby! with adorable baby animals from all over the world.