Search Results

I hear families coming into the kids’ section nearly every day excited to check out books about dinosaurs, the Titanic, or Minecraft, among other fascinating non-fiction subjects.... but sometimes those smiles dim as they approach our non-fiction shelves and find themselves confronted by books in a seemingly random order. Of course, I’ve gotten very good at answering the age-old question: “Where are your dinosaur books?” Annoyingly, there isn’t a good short answer to give kids who ask that question, because the short answer is, “The dinosaur books are in the 567s,” and of course that raises a whole bunch of new questions: "Where are the 567s? What are the 567s? What about the 566s and 568s? What are all these numbers doing in a library? I don’t want to have to do math! I just want a T. Rex book!" "I don't want to do math! I just want a T. Rex book!" In Amherst, MA, you can find this gorgeous church, the Emily Dickinson residence (now a museum) , the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art , and the library where the Dewey Decimal System was developed . If you were there between 2021 and 2024, you could have found me, too! And when I hear those questions, I say… Let me introduce you to a fun little thing called the Dewey Decimal System.  It's a classification scheme which establishes an order for the placement of nonfiction books on library shelves. It was developed nearly a century and a half ago by Melvil Dewey, who at the time was working at the Amherst College library in Amherst, Massachusetts. Coincidentally, I did my undergrad about a mile and a half from there, but spent all three years unaware of all the library history that surrounded me in that town… I was really missing out. Check it out for me, if you're ever there? Anyway, Dewey published his classification system in a pamphlet in 1876, back when that was how cool new ideas were shared. Imagine what he could have done with a TikTok account and a smartphone ring light! Over the next few decades his system caught on, and today it is the most widely-used library organization system in the world. The basic premise of the Dewey Deci mal System is that each book gets a number according to the discipline or field of study it falls into, and then libraries shelve books in that order for ease of browsing. There are ten classes, which determine the number in the hundreds’ place—so we have 000s, 100s, 200s, and so on to the 900s. Each class is divided into 10 divisions (so, the 100s, 110s, 120s...) and then the divisions are divided even further into sections (120, 121, 122 and so on). For further detail, a cataloger might add a decimal point and any amount of trailing numbers to clarify. For example, we have a book about T. Rex in the kids’ section by Natalie Lunis, called A T. Rex Named Sue: Sue Hendrickson's Huge Discovery . Its call number—the combination of numbers, letters, and words on a sticker on its spine—is J 567.9129 LUNIS. At first that sounds like gibberish, right? Let me explain. Found a dino book! The J in this call number indicates that it is in our “juvenile” collection: it's a kids’ book. The inclusion of the author’s last name, LUNIS, helps to distinguish it from other books with the same subject, which might have the same Dewey number. And speaking of that numerical monstrosity, we can dissect 567.912 as follows:  500 Science 560 Fossils & Prehistoric Life 567 Fossil cold-blooded vertebrates 567.9 Reptilia 567.91 Dinosaurs, by family 567.912 Saurischia 567.9129 Tyrannosaurus As you can see, the addition of decimal points allows us to get super specific about the subjects of books. This helps, for example, when a reader is looking for one particular book, but is open to reading other books about that subject as well. Someone might ask me for A T. Rex Named Sue , and if it’s not checked in, I can still show them where it would be shelved and many of the books near it will also be about dinosaurs. “Okay, Erica,” I hear you saying now. “I get that the numbers are useful, and I kinda get the concept of how they work, but how do I know where to start finding books about trains? LEGO? The National Hockey League? Greek mythology?!” There are a lot of gray areas and how a book is catalogued can be pretty subjective, so the catalog computer is a big help (as is your local librarian!). As a start, here are the disciplines / fields of study covered by each Dewey class. And because I can’t resist sharing my favorite books, I’m also going to recommend a book from each Dewey class. Behold! Erica’s Crash Course: Dewey Decimal System  reading list! (Unlike our Summer Reading Challenge , this challenge has no prize... but if you read them all, I will give you a crisp high five and my everlasting respect and appreciation.) 000s: Computer science, information, & general works 027.4794 ORLEAN: The Library Book by Susan Orlean 100s: Philosophy & psychology J 155.433 ZELINGE: A Smart Girl's Guide to Liking Herself -- Even on the Bad Days by Laurie E. Zelinger 200s: Religion J 201.3 WILLIAM: Amazing Immortals: A Guide to Gods and Goddesses Around the World by Dinah Williams 300s: Social Sciences 370.9 EWING: Ghosts in the Schoolyard: Racism and School Closings on Chicago's South Side by Eve L. Ewing 400s: Language 409 DOREN: Babel: Around the World in Twenty Languages by Gaston Dorren 500s: Science J 540.92 MARSHAL: Sisters in Science: Marie Curie, Bronia Dluska, and the Atomic Power of Sisterhood by Linda Elovitz Marshall 600s: Technology 636.8 SHAW: Cats of the World by Hannah Rene Shaw 700s: Arts & Recreation 794 EVANS: The World of Minecraft: A Visual History of the Global Phenomenon by Edwin Evans-Thirlwell 800s: Literature 814.6 GREEN: The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet by John Green 900s: History & Geography J 940.5486 FLEMING: The Enigma Girls: How Ten Teenagers Broke Ciphers, Kept Secrets, and Helped Win World War II by Candace Fleming Bonus!! 921: Biography J 921 DEWEY ONEILL: The Efficient, Inventive (Often Annoying) Melvil Dewey by Alexis O’Neill

The Caldwell Public Library is excited to introduce our newest digital resource, hoopla! Hoopla  is a digital content platform for libraries, much like Overdrive/Libby . Just like those platforms, you can borrow eBooks, audio books, magazines, and comics/manga directly to your phone, tablet, or computer. But hoopla  also offers music, TV, and movie streaming all for free under one convenient app. The only card number you have to put in to access everything is the one on your library card! The TV and movie selection is excellent and one of the main reasons we wanted to offer the service. With the ubiquitous use of streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney Plus, it was important to us that we offer a convenient and modern method of video lending to supplement our physical collection of DVDs and Blu-rays. Afterall, a library isn't just a repository of books, but a free access point for all sorts of media and art. Not only does it greatly expand the number of titles we can offer because we're not bound by shelf space, but it allows us to offer some older or more obscure titles that would simply not be possible to circulate physically. But how does it work? Hoopla  titles are instant access. Unlike Libby , which treats most titles like physical items and limits access to one patron at a time, hoopla offers simultaneous access. Basically, you're given seven lending credits every month which you can choose to use as you see fit. Hoopla can be accessed on PC or via an Android  or iOS  app. Many standalone streaming devices are also supported including Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Samsung TV, Roku , and Chromecast. Multiple devices can be logged into from the same account, and there’s a kid's mode that limits content access behind a PIN. Hoopla is an excellent addition to our digital collection that has something for everyone. Often, if it's not on Libby, it's on hoopla . Sign in, borrow something new, and find out what all the hoopla is about!

Welcome to Summer! Where the weather is hot and so is our summer reading program! I wanted to get some information out about how our summer reading program works and answer a few common questions as well! Q: Is the program only for kids or certain ages? A. Nope! This is for ALL ages! Adults and Teens included! Q: How exactly does the program work? A: During the summer months, you set a goal for each day. This can be a chapter, an hour of reading; any goal that pushes you to read more during the summer, AND we will give you a NEW book to start with! Each day you complete the goal; you mark off a splash spot on your tracking log. After 15 days, you can come in to receive your Half-way Prize , and at the end of 30 days, receive your Completion Prize! Summer Reading Log Q: What if my kids aren't old enough to read on their own yet? A: No worries! Reading to your kiddos counts! It counts for both their reading log and yours! Q: I'm not really the best reader, but I do like audiobooks, does that work for goal setting? A: Yes! Reading comes in all forms! You can set goals with audiobooks as well! Q: Can I read books that aren't designated for my age range? Or pick prize books that aren't for my age range? A: Yes! we have categorized books and prizes by suggested age range, but we recognize there is a lot of crossovers with both prize books and raffle prizes. Q: Hold up, there's a raffle? A: Yes! When you sign up you receive a raffle ticket, as well as at the halfway mark, completion, and at our summer reading specials on Wednesday mornings and Monday evenings. Below are just some of our June prizes! Our first raffle drawing will be June 30th, and we will have a second drawing for more prizes at the end of July. Here's a look at just some of the fabulous raffle prizes! Q: Is there a different tracker for different age ranges? A: No, the same tracker is used for all ages; very easy and user friendly for everyone. You can also track online with Beanstack . Q: Can I sign up my kids or family members if they are not in person with me? A: We discourage this as it makes book selection and sign-up statistics more difficult. We want every individual to be able pick a book that they love! Q: Can I sign up and then come back later to choose my book? A: I would advise you to come when you have at least 20 minutes to choose a book - you may not need all 20 minutes, but we will not award books at a later time . You may also browse some of our available titles ahead of time on LibraryThing . Keep in mind, our inventory changes rapidly. Q: How exactly does this work for adults, or why are adults included? This seems like it should be geared towards children. A: I can understand how a reading program can seem geared towards children, although, there are so many benefits behind adults reading as well. Reading is a proven stress reliever and lowers blood pressure. Reading helps protect against reduced memory, reasoning, learning, and attention. Reading regularly is linked to longevity with life and health overall. Reading increases your skills in empathy and communication, as well as improving mental strength. Reading is also a way to set a foundation with your family, spend time with them, and we want to incentivize reading for adults as well. Q: What if I miss a day for my daily goals I've set? A: It's okay! The goals are NOT consecutive days, just days that you complete them! Q: If I set a goal for a chapter a day, and I read 2 chapters in a day, does that mean I can mark off more than 1 spot? A: Unfortunately, it is a maximum of 1 spot to mark off per day. Q: This sounds great! So where do I sign up? A: You can sign up in person at the library or online at: SUMMER READING | Caldwell Public Library | United States Shoot us a comment if you have any other questions and we look forward to having you join us for Summer Reading!

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and it feels like something we should talk about more openly and honestly. I’ve come to realize that everyone—and I mean everyone —is fighting battles we often know nothing about. As a society, we've not always been welcoming to the idea of discussing our struggles, seeking help, or even learning the basic tools to cope with mental health challenges. The good news is, we’ve come a long way. Today, there are more resources than ever before. Support systems, therapy options, and communities exist to help us find structure, healing, and a way back to ourselves when life becomes overwhelming. There’s no universal roadmap for life. No rulebook says you need to be at a certain place, act a certain way, or achieve specific things to be loved, accepted, or supported. Wherever you are in your journey, please remember: you are not alone. People care. Help is out there. I've included some books that have really helped me realize that it's okay to not be okay sometimes, and some additional resources below: Where to start : a survival guide to anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges But what will people say?: navigating mental health, identity, love, and family between cultures Are u ok?: a guide to caring for your mental health The hilarious world of depression National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

In the last year or so I've read some excellent books and discovered some new favorite authors . These are not those books. While I didn't hate the experience of reading any of these titles, I can't recommend them to anyone. Salvation Day Terrorists kidnap a group of privileged young adults in order to hijack a ghost ship with a horrific past. Sounds cool right? Tired plot, okay characters, and trite horror themes drag the experience down. Alright, that's probably a bit harsh. The author works hard to build rounded and believable characters and a near future sci/fi setting that feels real and lived in, but we spend more time rehashing every character's tragic past than we do advancing anything of interest in the narrative. I think this book could work, but it doesn't do anything to distinguish itself or innovate. Ringworld The 1970 Nebula Award winning sci-fi novel featuring the titular mega-structure that would inspire the Halo series , Larry Niven's Ringworld is a more interesting concept than it is novel. Populated with flat, uninteresting characters that are annoying at the best of times, Ringworld's explorers are frequently reduced to singular personality traits; the feline alien is always aggressive, the four-legged herbivore is constantly cowedly, and our main human protagonist is an arrogant misogynist. There's a lot of fun to be had as our unlikely crew journeys across the ring encountering strange flora, fauna, and ominous ruins. Unfortunately, the novel lacks a compelling narrative, and a lot of the plot feels like aimless filler. I can see the appeal, but this is one classic I'd leave on the shelf. The Pink Agave Motel: and other Stories I'll bail on a book. If I'm not feeling it, I won't finish it, and I almost quit on this one. The book opens with a collection of hit or miss short stories before it gets to the meat and potatoes, The Pink Agave Motel itself. Forget about a plot synopsis because I can't recall much happening other than our main character pining over some dude we know nothing about. The content here is not for the faint of heart, but the shock value of many of the stories feels cliche and tired. There are some really unique ideas sprinkled throughout, but all in all much of the book reads like bad fan fiction complete with editing issues and typos. Wake up and open your eyes I'm still torn on this book. I really want to like Wake up and open your eyes but the disjointed structure and shifting perspective are making that hard. Widespread demonic possession through things like sensationalized 24hr news networks, mommy bloggers and health influencers, social media, and even viral children's songs is a really cool and creepy idea. However, what we end up with is a story without much direction that kills off nearly every character by the end. The author makes some prescient points about our relationship to modern media, but it never crystalizes into a compelling theme. I still enjoyed this book more than the others on this list for what it's worth.

I’ve always been someone who feels things deeply; I used to think it was a curse to be more sensitive than others, but I did eventually find my people, and honestly, my people were poets. What started in grade school with Dr. Suess continued into middle school with Shel Silverstein, and Shel Silverstein turned into Shakespeare and Edgar Allen Poe in high school. From there my love for poetry branched out to Mary Oliver, Maya Angelou, Olivia Gatwood, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, John Keats, Robert Frost, Walt Whitman, Margaret Atwood, Emily Dickenson and the list goes on. I have come to understand that poetry feels like it’s not for everyone, but the truth is, it is for everyone. We all need connection, a place of understanding, validation, relatability, and someone to tug at our heart strings on occasion and to essentially say, “I get it, and I’m here”. I get excited each April to see not only the resources and expressive ways to showcase poetry, but a chance to again dive into my favorites and share them with the world. So much of our culture is deeply rooted in poetry and we don’t even know it. When we see a cartoon or sitcom where someone says “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways”, that beautiful sentiment is just the opening line of the poem: “How Do I Love Thee? (Sonnet 43)” from Elizabeth Barrett Browning in 1845. If you thought the opening line was beautiful, the rest of the Sonnet speaks of a love that feels like it doesn’t exist in this world. Robert Frost taught us to go against the grain and take the road less traveled. Maya Angelou taught us to still rise when the world is cruel and beats us down. Mary Oliver reminds us to slow down, appreciate a summer day and to ponder what we want to do with our one wild and precious life. Langston Hughes inspires us to hold on to our dreams. And Edgar Allan Poe? Well, he’s just a genius with his prose. There’s poetry for everyone. There are even books on how to read poetry, understand poetry, and how to write poetry. Some of my favorites are listed below. I have also included a quick poem I wrote about my love of poetry books! See? Poetry is for everyone!   The Poetry of Robert Frost: The Collected Poems How to Read a Poem: and Fall in Love with Poetry 100 Essential Modern Poems by Women Writing Personal Poetry: Creating Poems from your life experiences You can learn more about National Poetry Month here: www.poets.org "Books about poetry, pages unfold, Stories of words, both timid and bold. They whisper of muses, of thoughts unspoken, Of dreams and desires, or hearts broken.  In their spines, a world takes flight, Of rhyme and verse, of day and night. Each book a portal, a journey, a key, Unlocking the soul, setting it free.  So come find a friend, come heal your heart, Visiting those feelings that tear you apart. Need someone to understand? No need to look, Everything you need is in a poetry book."

The party gasped as the Wizard's Illumination spell cast a brilliant light into the oppressive gloom of the dungeon's once splendid throne room. The Thief let out a slow admiring whistle, "there it is!" The thick, stale air carried ominous notes of brimstone and blood as the Half-Orc barbarian approached the dusty bones of the once proud king, his steadfast hand reaching slowly for the glittering crown adorning the ancient skull. "Roll for initiative", declared the GM as the great stone doors slammed shut behind them and something deeper in the darkness of the room growled. Tabletop role-playing games have been capturing adventurous minds of all ages for more than fifty years. A lot has changed since Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson published the first edition of Dungeons & Dragons way back in 1974 . What hasn't changed is the genre's ability to foster imagination, collaboration, and good ol' fashioned fun. Getting into table-top games can seem overwhelming with the multitude of different systems, campaigns, and various manuals for players and GMs. But TTRPGs at their core require little more than pen, paper, and dice once the general rules of a system are understood. There are many different TTRPG game systems but the most popular two are Dungeons & Dragons and Pathfinder . Both games play very similarly and have many published campaigns or adventures for players to take on. One player takes on the role of the Dungeon Master (DM) or Game Master (GM), while the others play adventuring characters within the game world. The GM guides the events of the game within the world, including things like monster encounters, non-playable character interactions, and quests for the party members to engage with. For a starting group, there are three recommended types of books within each system that will guide play and help everyone learn the rules. These are commonly a GM guide , Player guide , and a campaign to play. Between the two rule books and campaign, the group has everything necessary to run a game. However, Dungeons & Dragons has a few excellent "starter sets", that include the basic rules, a short adventure, character sheets, and even all the dice necessary for a small group to play conveniently combined into a box set. There's no easier way to get started! Aspiring adventures need look no further than the library to start their quest. We carry many of the necessary rule books for the common game systems as well as books on campaigns, monster manuals, world building, character creation, and much more! We even have one of those nifty starter sets I talked about earlier. There's also a lot of free content online for the major game systems including some simplified versions for younger players and even a completely free game system called Basic Fantasy . Happy adventuring!

There's something magical about spring gardening-the way the earth wakes up, bursting with new life and endless possibilities. The scent of fresh soil, the warmth of the sun, the rainy days, the tiny green shoots pushing through the ground fill me with joy and anticipation. I love carefully planting seeds; knowing that they will soon transform into vibrant flowers, lush vegetables, and fragrant herbs. For me, gardening is more than just a hobby; it's a celebration of renewal, growth and the simple pleasures of nurturing life. But it took me a while to get to those feelings; I did not start with a "green thumb" and to say I killed a few plants in my own process of growth is an understatement. Although, there were a few good reads and our Master Gardening class that helped me in my gardening journey and contributed to my newfound skill set. Here are some great books and resources that really helped me out. The Lifelong Gardener: Garden with Ease and Joy at any age The Ultimate Flower Gardener's Guide: How to combine shape, color, and texture to create the garden of your dreams Grow. Food. Anywhere: The new guide to small space gardening Low Maintenance Gardening Gardening without work: For the aging, the busy, and the indolent 101 Commonsense Gardening Tips What's Wrong with my Vegetable Garden? The Virgin Gardener: Everything the Beginner Needs to Know to Create, Maintain, and Enjoy a Garden Indoor Gardens The Complete Gardener's Guide In addition to these fabulous reads, we also have a Gardening class that is hosted by the Idaho Master Gardeners, every 2nd Thursday of the month from 7pm-8pm. Each month there is a new topic covering a variety of subjects throughout the year (i.e. microgreens, irrigation, weed identification, edible flowers, seed starting, etc.) and you can get their advice on your garden or lawn issues. If you would like information about our upcoming April class, please visit HERE . One more fabulous gardening service/bonus we have here is the Idaho Botanical Garden Library passport program! We have a passport that can be used at the Idaho Botanical Garden for admittance for up to 5 people during regular garden hours. This is a fabulous way to get inspiration and education for your own garden as well! You can look into reserving or checking out this passport HERE . Happy gardening everyone!

Learning how to play a new song can be an extremely rewarding experience. Whether you play guitar, drums, piano, or sing, mastering a new song is a great way to learn new techniques and improve your craft. If you're anything like me, you probably look up the basic chord changes of the track to get an idea of the general structure to work from. The next step is to listen and play along to get a feel for the timing, melody, and minor variations. However, sometimes the recorded part that I'm trying to learn starts to get in the way. I think I'm shredding this solo, but how can I tell when Mick Mars is playing over me? If only there were a recorded version of the song without the part I'm practicing. Lucky for me and you, Freegal has an entire series of backing tracks covering many different genres and instruments. If you haven't heard of Freegal, it's a free music streaming service that anyone with a Caldwell Public Library card can access. It's like having a free Spotify account from your library! You can read more about it here . Nothing makes practice more fun and engaging than playing or singing along with a full band. Want to rock out with Black Sabbath and practice "Iron Man" ? How about a backing track you can play flute to for "All I want for Christmas is You" ? Or maybe you just want to sing your heart out to some Lady Gaga . You can find all of these backing tracks and more on Freegal! Personally, I'm really excited to see Iron Maiden's "Phantom of the Opera" without guitar!

Reading is often an escape for me which may explain my predilection for science fiction. What better way to leave the drudgery of modern living than by imagining what the future may hold, good or bad. So, if you're feeling like you need some time away, try some of these amazing sci-fi reads! Of course, every title below is available from the library and accessible with that little marvel of technology, your library card ! Annie Bot Heart breaking and beautiful, Annie Bot explores self-determination and autonomy from the perspective of auto-didactic sex robot. We often conceive of or engage with non-human characters as a sort of mirror to our humanity. They become the surface upon which we explore the fundamental concepts of human experience, including its limits. The more human like Annie becomes, the harder it is to please her owner, Doug. Annie's journey from a blissful and dutiable companion to an empowered and determined individual is a powerful and inspiring transformation. Annie Bot shows that growth can be painful but ultimately necessary for our survival. Alien Clay If you only read one book on this list, make it this one! Adrian Tchaikovsky is the sci-fi writer of our time whose work transcends genre fiction to those lofty heights we call Literature. Banished by the Mandate to a work camp on the mysterious and bizarre alien planet Kiln, Professor Arton Daghdev hasn't lost his revolutionary zeal. In fact, Kiln's odd biology may hold the secret to the Mandate's downfall. Wildy imaginative, Alien Clay is as fun as it is profound. Revenant-X Reader reviews of David Wellington's second installment in the Red Space series are very polarized. Just like the first book, Paradise-1 , it seems people either love it or hate it. Honestly, I get it. These books are huge but extremely fast paced with chapters frequently flying by after only a couple pages. I really enjoyed the snappy shifts from one character's perspective to another, but I can see how some readers might get narrative whiplash. Picking up immediately from where the previous book left off, Alexandra Petrova of Firewatch and her crew continue their quest to discover what happened to the colonists of Paradise-1. What they find is equally awe inspiring and terrifying as the group battles the once human habitants and a malevolent alien presence.

Ringing in the new year with those dreaded New Year’s resolutions? I’m here to help! I asked some of my coworkers if they have any goals for this upcoming year and then found some excellent recommendations for some of the most common goals that we all have. Here’s a quick peak into our staff goals and some great resources for accomplishing them. “Washboard Abs” - Michael Body Sculpting Bible For Men: Featuring the 14 Day Body Sculpting Workout “I can’t think of anything, because I’m perfect” - Kellianne (in jest of course) Be Happy Without Being Perfect: How to Break Free from the Perfection Deception “How to not be single, but I also sometimes hate people”-Myself How To Date Men When You Hate Men “Survive. My hashtag life goal is to be a hermit” -June How to Survive Off the Grid “I want to be better at not killing all of my plants” -Erica How Not to Kill Your Houseplant: Survival Tips for the Horticulturally Challenged “I want to use my air fryer more, but for like quick and easy meals” -Leslie The "I Love My Air Fryer" Easy Recipes Book “How to fall asleep and stay asleep” -Darla Sleep Reimagined: The Fast Track to a Revitalized Life And for those of you who don't set New Year’s goals, here are some alternatives: Mind Magic: The Neuroscience of Manifestation and How it Changes Everything Get Out of Your Own Way: Overcoming Self-Defeating Behavior The Secret Happy reading and let's ring in the New Year with style...or, with great book finds!

It's that magical time of year again when friends and family gather to celebrate. And if you're anything like me, you'll need a campy holiday film to help you cope with it all . Yes, there's no more important holiday ritual than selecting the perfect auditory and visual background to escape into. When the conversation enters territory you'd rather avoid and you're on the verge of a food coma, you'll be thankful for the soft warm glow of these hilarious holiday comedies. And of course, all the movies listed here are available through the magic of your library card . The Muppet Christmas Carol We need to start some sort of petition. Why haven't the Muppets been adapted into more classic stories ? This is the DEFINITIVE version of the story and I'm willing to throw hands to defend that position. Hyperbole aside, this is a fantastic take on the classic Charles Dickenson story that is sure to please young and old alike. The music is infectious, the Muppets hilarious, and Michael Caine is an absolutely fantastic Scrooge. The Santa Clause Major spoiler alert: Santa falls off a roof and dies at the beginning of this film. It's not graphic or anything, but it still feels kinda messed up. How many Christmas movies kill Santa? Anyway, Tim Allen portrays your typical "too busy for Christmas" neglectful father that owns the roof that kills the fat man. In a strange twist (as if that wasn't strange enough) he puts on Santa's coat triggering the "Santa Clause" which dictates that he must now become the next Kris Kringle. The movie ends up being pretty heartwarming as our main man Tim Allen learns not only how to become Santa, but a more present and caring father. Elf Will Ferrell plays a human raised by elves at the North Pole on a quest to find his biological father. In the process of learning what it means to be human he must use his indomitable spirit to save Santa and Christmas. Will Ferrell is a joy as always, and the film's premise is a unique spin on an old trope. Not my favorite Christmas comedy, but a darn fine one that'll always elicit a chuckle. Can you tell I haven't been on the cutting edge of holiday movie releases? I guess I'm just a little nostalgic, but this time of year seems to bring that out in many people. Red One was pretty "meh" by the way. Happy holidays! See you in 2025!