Wonderful New Picture Books

We have added some amazing picture books to our collection in the last few months! Many of these are from authors and illustrators who are the superstars of children’s literature – well-loved by parents and librarians everywhere. Others were created by authors who may be new to you, but whose work you’ll certainly want to start following. Here are some of my favorites, but you’ll want to come to the library and explore all the other great items on the “New” shelf.

Tessa Takes Wing by Richard Jackson

 

How can you keep from smiling when you see this adorable baby? Have you ever wondered what babies do when everyone else is asleep? If you are not familiar with Richard Jackson, I also recommend his books All Ears, All Eyes and This Beautiful Day.

 

 

A Parade of Elephants by Keven Henkes

 

 

 

A Parade of Elephants is every bit as charming as the rest of Kevin Henkes’ picture books. You may know him as the author of Lilly’s Purple, Plastic Purse, but he’s written a long list of both picture books and chapter books for kids. For your older kids, check out Junonia and The Year of Billy Miller.

 

The Snowy Nap by Jan Brett

 

 

Jan Brett is another author whose books are always popular. The Snowy Nap reintroduces the title character from Hedgie’s Surprise (written in 2000) and is a perfect book to snuggle up with on a cold day. Brett continues her practice of using border illustrations to give a hint of what’s coming on the next page.

 

 

I loved I’ll Wait, Mr. Panda by Steve Antony, so I was delighted to see another book about Mr. Panda. Who can resist another cute bedtime story?

 

Giraffe Problems by Jory John

 

 

 

 

 

The creative team that brought us Penguin Problems in 2016 is back with a story of a giraffe who can’t figure out what to do with his long neck!

 

Chomp Goes the Alligator by Matthew Van Fleet

 

 

 

 

Chomp Goes the Alligator is sure to become a favorite of preschoolers. It features counting, rhymes, and a movable alligator jaw!

The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson

 

 

 

 

 

The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson is perfect to share with any child who has ever experienced being different or outside of a group. Woodson’s words are always affirming and the illustrations by Rafael Lopez are vibrant and expressive.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interrupting Chicken and the Elephant of Surprise by David Ezra Stein

 

 

The “Interrupting Chicken” is back! In this follow-up book, the young chicken is enjoying books with an “elephant of surprise”! This is one of those great picture books for kids who may be old enough to read independently, but who can really enjoy the humor caused by this misunderstanding.

 

Do You Believe?

It’s a Polar Express Celebration

All Aboard the Polar Express!
The Local History Library @ The Depot invites you to a celebration of the book, “The Polar Express” written by Chris Van Allsburg.

Parents and children alike can enjoy the movie presentation of this classic on Saturday, December 8, at 1:00 PM while enjoying Polar Express treats and crafts. The event is free of charge and all are welcome. Who knows…..perhaps we will have a special visitor from the North Pole! Pajamas are perfect for this adventure but are not necessary!  The doors will open at 12:30 PM.  To ensure seating, please come early.

Do you believe?

Polar Express 

The Local History Library @ The Depot

 510 Second Street

 Saturday, December 8, 2018

 1:00 PM

Fall in Love

It’s that time of year again. The leaves are changing colors and falling off the trees. The weather is getting colder, and the days are shorter. What better time is it than to fall in love? Currently there is a FALL IN LOVE display upstairs in the adult fiction area with some amazing historical romances waiting to be checked out and read!

 

Historical Romance

Highland Hearts by: Hannah Howell

The Conquest by: Jude Deveraux

The Texan’s Reward by: Jodi Thomas

Do You Want to Start a Scandal? by: Tessa Dare

The Brat by: Lynsay Sands

A Matter of Temptation by: Lorraine Heath

A Taste of Sin by: Connie Mason

The Wicked Deeds of Daniel Mackenzie by: Jennifer Ashley

Duchess by Design by: Maya Rodale

When the Rogue Returns by: Sabrina Jefferies

Wilde in Love by: Eloisa James

 

Amish Romance

The Scent of Cherry Blossoms by: Cindy Woodsmall

Healing Hearts by: Beth Wiseman

Abiding Mercy by: Ruth Reid

The English Son by: Wanda Brunstetter

Love Bears All Things by: Beth Wiseman

A Daughter’s Dream by: Shelley Shephard Gray

Always Close to Home by: Jerry S. Eicher

The Amish Bride of Ice Mountain by: Kelly Long

First Impressions by: Sarah Price

Marrying Jonah by: Amy Lillard

Huckleberry Hill by: Jennifer Beckstrand

Adoring Addie by: Leslie Gould

 

 

Contemporary Romance

Texas Fierce by: Janet Dailey

You Say it First by: Susan Mallery

Island of Glass by: Nora Roberts

Mine by: Katy Evans

Against All Odds by: Danielle Steel

Me Before You by: Jojo Moyes

Secrets in Summer by: Nancy Thayer

The Bourbon Kings by: JR Ward

The Master by: Kresley Cole

The Little Paris Bookshop by: Nina George

First Comes Love by: Emily Giffin

 

 

Paranormal/Supernatural Romance

Even Vampires Get the Blues by: Katie MacAlister

Lover Eternal by: JR Ward

Demon’s are a Girl’s Best Friend by: Linda Randall Wisdom

The Night is Forever by: Heather Graham

Power Game by: Christine Feehan

The Cursed by: Alyssa Day

Immortally Yours by: Lynsay Sands

Son of No One by: Sherrilyn Kenyon

Crave the Night by: Lara Adrian

Enchanting the Lady by: Kathryne Kennedy

Time’s Convert by: Deborah Harkness

Carpe Librum!

Painting is “Snow” Much Fun!!

How would you rate your painting skills? Basic? Intermediate? Advanced? Doesn’t matter, I just want to have fun??  No matter your skill level, this workshop at the Aurora Library is for YOU! Join us on Thursday, December 6, from 6 – 8 pm, as we spend an evening of painting fun. We will transform a wine glass into an adorable snowman candle holder. You can pick the wine glass style and the pattern you want to tackle. While it is drying, enjoy some refreshments and a little holiday music. When you are finished, we’ll add a battery-operated tea light to top off the candle holder. Doesn’t the evening sound like snow much fun? Registration is required and space is limited, so stop in the Aurora Library or call 812-926-0646 to register.

Celebrate the Season!

 

We’ve got the Christmas spirit here at the library and we are ready to Celebrate the Season! Join us at Aurora or Dillsboro to kick off the holiday season on Saturday, December 1, from 10:30 am – 1:30 pm, to make ornaments, listen to stories and enjoy refreshments. There will be plenty of holiday cheer to get you in the mood. No reservations are necessary—just bring your holiday spirit!

 

                                Continue reading “Celebrate the Season!”

Gifts to Melt Your Heart

Aurora Public Library District is kicking off the holidays in late November with a fun make it-take it workshop at the Dillsboro Branch. Join us on Tuesday, November 27, from 4 pm – 6 pm for an afternoon of fun as we make a decorated gift jar of Christmas-themed soy wax melts. We’ll make mini wax melts in fun shapes and wonderful scents. While they are setting up, we will decorate a jar to hold the melts and make a gift tag. You’ll have one adorable gift checked off your gift-giving list by the end of the workshop! Space is limited, so reserve your spot today by calling the Dillsboro Branch Library at 812-954-4151.

Awesome Audiobooks

You probably already know that you can download digital titles right to your smartphone or tablet with OverDrive, but did you know about the extensive audiobook collection available for download on the Indiana Digital Download Center? One of my favorite things to do is to download audiobooks right to my phone so I can listen to them while I’m driving or working around the house; it’s so convenient to have books right on my phone, which I already take with me everywhere anyway.

If you’re new to OverDrive and aren’t sure where to start, please stop by one of the branches in the Aurora Public Library District or give one of them a call so we can walk you through the process. The first thing you’ll need to set up with your account is a pin number, which you might already have. This number is what you type in when you renew your books online. If you aren’t sure if you have a pin — or if you’ve forgotten it — a staff member can set up a new one for you in seconds.

Whatever you’re in the mood for, OverDrive has it. You can search by title, author, genre, new releases, and titles available now. I really enjoy listening to memoirs because they are usually read by the author.

If you’d rather listen to audiobooks on CD, we also have a large collection of those for you to check out as well. At the Aurora branch, the audiobooks on CD have recently moved upstairs into what was formerly the Paperback Room when paperback fiction books were integrated into the regular fiction collection. You can browse the selection by stopping by either the Aurora or Dillsboro branches, or by searching our catalog online. If there’s an audiobook we don’t have that you’d like to listen to, you can always put a request in through Interlibrary Loan.

If you aren’t sure what audiobook to try first, I recommend listening to a book you’ve already read. That way, you know what happens already so if you find yourself zoning out, you won’t be missing anything. Many library patrons read the book and listen to the audiobook simultaneously, which can be helpful for you to be able to flip back and forth if you do miss or forget something. You can be immersed in the story wherever you go when you just can’t put the book down.

It seems like people either really love listening to audiobooks or they really hate it. I think that anyone can love an audiobook if they have an awesome narrator. Even if you don’t think you’ll like listening to someone read to you, or you’ve tried audiobooks before and can’t seem to get into them, I encourage you to try just one more time. Ask any of the staff at the Aurora Public Library District for recommendations! We’d be happy to help!

Happy Listening!

What Public Libraries Do – Part 2

Since the 1980s, Public Libraries across America have been providing free computer and Internet access to community members. The Aurora Public Library District is no exception. In 2017, our public computers were used by library patrons 4,678 times and we had 7,295 people use our Wi-fi connections. The Library District remains committed to providing this access to all members of our community. We see everyday the growing need for computer access, not only for looking up information, but also for applying for government or state benefits, applying for jobs, filing tax returns, staying connected through social media and email, and a variety of other activities.

You can access our Computer and Internet Policy at: https://eapld.org/about/policies/. Anyone age 18 or older may use the public computers with a library card, and visitors to our area may use a computer by showing a photo ID. Children and youth under age 18 are required to have a parent or guardian signature to use a computer. The Library District does have a content filter on the public computers to comply with the federal Computer and Internet Protection Act (CIPA).

If you need help at one of our public computers, just ask at the circulation desk! Staff members can assist with many things, although we can’t give you medical, legal, or tax-related advice. If you are interested in taking a computer class or in getting some individual instruction, let us know. We are hoping to be able to offer more training in the near future.