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June’s here, school’s out, and Summer Reading’s started! With warmer weather here to stay for a while, it’s easier to plan some fun outdoor activities. One of the great things about Idaho is the bounty of options for outside summer fun. And right here at the library is a great place to start looking. We don’t just have books for you to check out, but all kinds of kits and activities to choose from! Want to try some outdoor sports, but don’t feel like buying a bunch of equipment? Here at the library we have a few activity kits for you to try. Find a park nearby and try out our Baseball Kit. In it you’ll find a bat, a few balls, a helmet, and a mitt to get started with. This is just one example of some of the kits on offer at the library, so come check one out today! If you’re interested in a trip to Boise, did you know we have a park passport to the Idaho Botanical Gardens? The pass gets a group of five into the garden and comes with a map and a sheet of guidelines and information about the pass itself. Or if you’d like a little more adventure than a garden, there are tons of books about the different hiking trails throughout Idaho. This book, Hiking Idaho, is just one example of what you can find here. Hopefully some of these options are helpful and you find a fun new activity this summer!

Outreach has been a rollercoaster and wonderful ride this spring season! I feel like we have been everywhere, but I will try to organize and condense the information so that we can share our experiences serving our community! Farmway Village Farmway village has invited us to many fun events, and my favorite in spring was the Egg Drop celebration at the beginning of April! Even though it was cold and windy, we still had a lot of fun hanging out with families, having some food, and watching the kids create fun contraptions to protect their eggs from breaking! Everyone was able to get involved, and lots of other community members came to this event. Thank you, especially, to the Caldwell Housing Authority staff for securing our canopy so that we had shade from the wind and rain! We can't wait for the next event. We are still offering library card signup at the Farmway community center during our monthly program, as well as some fun activities for the kids! Stop by and say hello! Homebound Delivery Homebound delivery is as busy as ever! We are expanding every month, adding in new patrons, and getting our books delivered to those who need our services! If you or someone you know is in need of our homebound services, fill out our online application, call the library, or stop in and ask some questions about this service! We deliver books every Tuesday afternoon, so you may see us driving around your neighborhood during that time. Thanks to Friends of the Library for our nifty bags! Library Tours and Family Nights We have had some great times doing tours for schools and family nights for some preschool classrooms. It's always a joy to see kids excited about the library and all that we have to offer, as well as great to see the parents and introduce everyone to ways that they can incorporate reading into a daily lifestyle! Thanks to all the teachers who have reached out to organize these events and get their families and students involved. We are always so happy to have your support and enthusiasm for libraries and reading! Book Readings and Senior Center Visits We have begun to do some programs back out at the care centers again, starting with a book reading for Aspen Creek Senior Living. What a joy it is to read some books out loud to these residents and to spend some time with the community. We are hoping to be able to do more readings soon at more locations, so stay tuned! School Outreach Thanks to all the schools that invited us out to do presentations, be a part of their events, and allowed us to offer library card sign ups at their locations. We talked about library services, and summer reading (which is right around the corner!) We ran STEM activities, went to literacy night, and offered free books at kindergarten registration. We even got to have fun at a school carnival. I feel like we almost know everyone in Caldwell at this point! Special Events Last but not least, we did some really fun special events with other community partners such as the Caldwell YMCA, Rediscovered Books, The Idaho Commission for Libraries, and Boise public library. We love our community partners and always feel honored to be invited places as well as be able to share what the library has to offer at these events. Summer Summer is on the way and we will be off having new adventures soon. We hope we see you around and if you see us, stop by and say hello. We always want our community to know that we are out and excited to share what the library has to offer to all ages and all types of people. See you around!

Relient K is a good band and I’m not ashamed to say it. Welcome to another Freegal album review where I tell you all about the totally sweet music you can access with your Caldwell Public Library card. If you’ve never heard of Freegal despite reading all of my reviews, you can learn all about it right here. Christian Punk seems like a bit of an oxymoron, but this is Christian pop-punk and let's face it, pop-punk is about as dangerous as staying out past curfew or drinking milk that smells a little funny. Yeah, some of the lyrics are cheesy and occasionally preachy, but show me a pop-punk band that’s completely dairy free. I’m not interested in a secular vs. religious music debate because it’s all just music to me. If I can enjoy Black Metal’s sometimes cringey obsession with Satan I can handle a little bit of Jesus music. That said, Relient K’s third album, Two Lefts Don’t Make A Right… But Three Do is a banger of an album that deserves a place in the pop-punk pantheon. Where to begin? Firstly, the production on this album is totally decent. Everything hits like you want it to on a pop-punk release. Drums are tight and loud, with mellow cymbals and an articulate kick. The bass is tucked into the mix nicely and doesn’t overwhelm the low end. The vocals are upfront and clean with just a little bit of air and the backing vocals are blended nicely. My only complaint is that there isn’t enough guitar! It’s there, and the tone is good, but I need chunkier guitar! The album kicks off with “Chap Stick, Chapped Lips, And Things Like Chemistry”, an upbeat and inviting opener that sets the overall tone of the record. Bouncy lyrics and classic punk beats speed the track along as singer Matt Thiessen delivers some now hilariously dated lines about using all his “daytime minutes." “In Love with the 80's (Pink Tux to the Prom)” is another notable track that utilizes an 80’s sounding synth to accompany a very retro, tongue in cheek chorus. The band explores a more dynamic arrangement for this song that emulates the feel of an authentic tune from the era but retains a uniquely pop-punk feel. The last song I’ll mention is “College Kids." Full of fast paced energy, “College Kids” feels almost prophetic as it tears through the trappings of higher education. “Someone please save us, Us college kids! What my parents told me Is what I did! They said go to school and Be a college kid! But in the end I questioned why I did!” This track is an absolute blast that proves Relient K can rock just as intensely as any of their peers. It never fails to get me pumped up. If you're looking for a pop-punk group that's goofy, family friendly, but still rockin', look no further than Relient K. Plus, Relient K has released 11 studio albums to date, so if you enjoyed this release there's a lot more to explore!

If you’re a punk, Indie, or alternative rock fan of any sort you’ve probably heard of the Descendents. Often credited as helping kick off the pop-punk craze on the West coast in the early 90’s, the Descendents were among the first to infuse Hardcore with infectious pop minded melodies and more personal lyrical themes. How does this relate to today’s review? Allroy Sez… is the debut release from ALL, a group formed from the remaining members of the Descendents when their lead singer left the group to pursue his graduate degree. In short, ALL is Descendents minus Milo. Welcome to another Freegal album review! If you don’t know about the library’s free music streaming service, you can read all about Freegal here. For an album released in 1988, Allroy Sez… sounds remarkably modern in much of the song writing. Paradoxically, the album is also very grounded in 80’s production techniques that anchor the record to a very specific moment in time. What you get is an album that is clearly anticipating the breakout of pop-punk and laying the groundwork for its breakthrough, while still displaying it’s 80’s punk rock roots. The album kicks off with the up-tempo and extremely melodic “Pretty Little Girl”. The incredible guitar sensibilities of Stephen Egerton are immediately on display with a flurry of runs and licks that tie the various phrases of the song together. There’s rarely a moment on the album where the guitar takes a rest from its almost frantic pace, but it never steps on the toes of the other elements and still manages to maintain a strong power chord foundation. Singer Dave Smalley’s voice cuts right through the high energy instrumentals to deliver very clear and upfront vocal melodies. He projects a lot of presence and energy while still remaining intelligible and more importantly on key. A killer opening track and an excellent introduction to ALL’s sound, “Pretty Little Girl” is a great song through and through. “Just Perfect” is another standout track. Featuring a chorus that will live rent free in your head for the rest of your life, the song illustrates just how darn good ALL is at blending bubblegum pop with punk attitude. Karl Alvarez’s mad bass skills are on full display with accents and counter melodies weaving through the song in unexpected and pleasant ways. It’s not often that a bass line gets stuck in your head, but I think I can hum “Just Perfect” from start to finish. If Allroy Sez… tickled your fancy then you’re in luck, the band went on to record a total of eight studio albums, albeit with minor lineup changes from time to time. My personal favorite is ALL’s sophomore release featuring new singer Scott Reynolds, Allroy's Revenge. Reynolds’ vocal performance and styling has a lot in common with Smalley’s, but Reynolds' delivery has a bit more grit and punk rock edge.

This month’s Freegal review may be the least obscure, most mainstream album I’ve looked at on this blog. It’s the most pop leaning to be sure which will probably hurt my street cred. I guess this is just my way of selling out. Welcome to another Freegal album review, a blog series where I highlight awesome music available for our patrons to stream. If you’re not familiar with Freegal, it's a free music streaming service available to Caldwell Public Library card members. You can read more about Freegal here. For better or worse, Good Charlotte drastically changed the face of pop-punk with their 2002 release, The Young and the Hopeless. Critical reception of Good Charlotte’s sophomore album was somewhat mixed with Rolling Stone only awarding it two stars. Many reviewers were critical of the album's production, with some arguing that the sleek pop sheen was a poor attempt to elevate what was ultimately a derivative and uninspired pop-punk cash in. However, record sales and radio charts told a much different story, with many of the album’s singles crossing charts and the album itself eventually reaching triple platinum status in sales. The Young and the Hopeless is a tightly produced album that fully embraces the pop side of pop-punk. Every element works. Each layer adds depth and substance to the sound, elevating the songs and refining the presentation. When a chorus hits, it hits hard. Eric Valentine is credited as producer, and he pulls out all the stops. If you compare The Young and the Hopeless to Good Charlotte's debut album sonically, it's like night and day. I’m usually one to argue that less is more, or to favor a more organic or raw approach, but Good Charlotte sounds best with all the extra adornments. This album is packed with hits. “The Anthem”, “Lifestyles of the Rich and the Famous”, “Wondering”, and “Girls & Boys” are all absolute killer tracks and insidious earworms. The layers of vocal harmonies flow like sweet honey across a soundscape of crunchy guitars, tight drum lines, and heavy bass. These tracks continuously evolve, with slight variations, additions, and openings that carry the listener through. The common critique of shallow lyricism is often leveled at The Young and the Hopeless, but what really counts at the end of the day are the hooks and this album has them in spades. That’s not to say that the album is devoid of substance, but it doesn’t try hard to be something it’s not. Often heartfelt, the lyrical themes are direct and relatable. Exactly how a pop album should come across. The Young and the Hopeless once felt like a guilty pleasure that I had tried to avoid, but twenty years later it’s a pop-punk classic that’s guaranteed to have me singing along. It’s shocking to realize just how much time has passed since Good Charlotte's heyday. Their greatest hits are approaching classic rock status and my pants seem to keep getting higher, but It seems The Young and the Hopeless will endure. Do you have fond memories of this album or are you discovering it for the first time? Good Charlotte’s follow up, The Chronicles of Life and Death is a worthy successor for anyone that enjoyed this release and I highly recommend giving it a listen. That is, if you’re a poser like me.

Oh, poetry. It takes me back to my high school and college days when I was so enraptured with the power of words. Personally, I love the relationship between poetry and music the most, but I also love art made around words. For instance, I love to create abstract art with song lyrics integrated into a painting or a drawing. Words have such power over me, even if I seem to forget - or take it for granted on a day to day basis. Where are you on your poetic journey? Are you familiar with all the classics, or are you just getting started? Do you have favorite poems that stand out to you, or favorite poets? Do you like the simple complexity of a haiku, or do you prefer rhyming verses? Does free verse catch your eye? Maybe deeply personal poetry that rings out social truths is what moves you. Whatever your preference, we have it at the library! Read on and I will share with you some of my favorite poets as well as some resources to get your started on the topic. My Faves Edgar Allen Poe, Jewel, Dylan Thomas, John Trudell, and T.S. Eliot are some of my favorite poets, with Edgar Allen Poe as my all time favorite poet and short story writer. Below are listed some of my favorite poetry books that you can find in our catalog: The Poetic Works of Edgar Allen Poe A Night Without Armor Dylan Thomas Selected Poems The Poems of T.S. Eliot To conduct your own search through our catalog, try this key word search: "classic poetry." Or you could also try the more general search: "poetry." Poetry Collections Looking for a more general overview of poetry? Check out some of these books below to ease into different themes: English renaissance Poetry : a Collection of Shorter Poems from Skelton to Johnson Idaho in Pictures and Poetry Poetry tine : An Inspirational Collection of Acrostic and Traditional Poems The Ecopoetry Anthology To look for your own search of our catalog, try the key word search: "poetry collections." Scroll through pages and pages to find all your options! If something looks more like what you were interested in, retype the search with the new genre/collection name and see what comes up! Books About Poets Interested in learning more about the poets themselves? Below are some suggestions to get you started. Poets, just like other artists, often lead unconventional lives and so the biographies can be very entertaining. Edgar Allan Poe : a critical biography Emily Dickinson's gardening life : the plants & places that inspired the iconic poet William Blake vs. the world Working in the dark ; reflections of a poet of the barrio Want to do your own search on poets? Try the key word search: "poet biography." You can also look up some of your favorite poets by name and add in the word: "biography," after or before their name and see what comes up! Your Journey Your poetic journey belongs to you. The library is here to point you in the direction of the poetry section and leave you to it to explore the options in front of you. We can also help you look up poets that you are interested in exploring and help you find the right resources for school or personal reading preferences. I have been known to browse collections of modern poetry after reading an interesting blog or article on a particular up and coming author, or going back to some classics such as in the Shel Silverstein's Where the Sidewalk Ends. Order them through our library catalog, or even see if we have them in a digital version. I wish you luck in your poetry adventures!

What better way to know spring is slowly approaching than the rain showers April brings. With weather like this, all I'd like to do is curl up on my couch with my cats and read a good book. So for the fine month of April, I'd like to mention a few books I've enjoyed over the years on days where you can't do much outside. I tend to veer towards reading science fiction or fantasy. Both of my parents are huge nerds, so I've fallen in love with those genres. Around this time last year I settled in on a particularly gloomy day to read a childhood classic I had never gotten around to reading, A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin. The world was immediately intriguing and I quickly moved through the other books in the series. I think I read four of the books in that series in about two days. For some science fiction flavor, I'd recommend checking out Leviathan Wakes by James S.A Corey. It's the start of the series that the TV show The Expanse is based on. And after watching the show then reading the books, I'd definitely recommend giving the books a shot. While the show is great, it adds some unnecessary drama and conflict that isn't present in the books. Give both a shot and let me know what you think! If the rain means you don't want to head over to the library in person, both books I mentioned are available digitally through Overdrive and Libby, as either an ebook or eaudiobook. Don't forget to check out the catalogue for anything that might interest you!

Winter has been cold and full of sporadic snow, yet we still were able to visit some fun locations and bring our library services to surrounding neighborhoods! Read up below on some of the adventures outreach services had this winter. Night Light Parade Thanks to the dedication of my coworkers, we were able to deck our outreach van out in lights and participate in the 2022 Night Light Parade! The theme was Christmas at the Movies, and we found some really fun costume pieces to wear while we walked next to the van. Every year we are blown away by how much the community is happy to see us in the parade, and this year was no exception. We really love being a part of the city events and look forward to the 2023 parade! Did you attend this event? I hope you got a chance to wave and say hi! Storytimes - Preschools and Laundromat We have been having a lot of fun visiting some preschool classrooms for a storytime once a month. We sing songs, read books, and work on learning concepts such as spelling, rhyming, counting, and shape recognition. Sometimes I will bring my ukulele, Plucky, and sing a few songs with the classroom as well! This last time I brought Plucky he got two song requests...I hope I learn them before the next visit! We also do a laundromat storytime once a month at our literacy center, located at the Get the Funk Out Laundromat in Caldwell. These storytimes are more of a one-on-one experience at this time, and we can read up to 3 books during a visit! See our calendar for future dates for this program and come by and enjoy some stories. School Visits We have been delighted to be invited to some school events as well. STEM nights, math nights, and literacy nights were all a blast to be a part of. We brought library information, free books to giveaway to families, and other fun things like a literacy activity or a math activity. Partnering with Caldwell School District and MOSAICS this winter has been wonderful, and we love connecting with the families and supporting the children and their learning adventures. Homebound Delivery Services and Senior Center Visits Through all of the events we still make sure that we deliver items out to all of our homebound residents throughout Caldwell once a week. We drop off items to care centers as well as straight to doorsteps. If you or a loved one is in need of homebound delivery services, please fill out the application online or pick one up at the library. If you have more questions, feel free to call, email, or chat with us and we will be happy to help. Off-site programs Our team is gearing up to provide some regular off-site programming, and one place that has been having a great time receiving programs is the Farmway Village community. They have been enjoying programs such as arts and crafts and STEM activities. If you are in the area please come by and do an activity with us! The program is geared for 0-12, but we always bring information for all age groups and are available to talk about other library services if you have questions. We are also offering library card signups at this off-site program, just bring your photo ID and proof of address and we can sign you up! We have also been visiting the Caldwell senior center for a monthly tabling and we love being able to talk to our senior residents and listen to some great music before lunchtime! We highlight all of our library services, such as library programs, our digital collection, the community pantry, and also the Talking Book Service. Come by our table and chat about what our library has to offer, or just to say hello! Each time we go it is wonderful to connect with these amazing community members. Thanks for always supporting our library services. We love being able to be out in the community and support our schools, be a part of city events, help the preschoolers learn and foster a love of reading, and support our senior communities. The outreach team puts their heart and soul into creating these programs and we are passionate about our community. See you around town!

There’s a new program for adults that’s recently started at the library, a knitting and crochet social. People can bring in a craft they’re working on and chat with fellow crafters for a bit. If someone doesn’t have supplies of their own, the library has yarn, needles, and hooks needed to get started on something. Even if you’re just starting out, it’s easy to ask others for help or advice when everyone is together. Other libraries in the valley and across the country have similar programs, so I saw an opportunity to start one here at Caldwell! While there are a bevy of patterns online to find, if you like having the book in front of you the library has you covered. If you’re looking for some interesting new crochet patterns, take a look at Boho Crochet, 30 Hip and Happy Projects. Like to knit? Interested in new stitches? Try out 750 Knitting Stitches and see if any stitches strike your fancy. If you’re curious about starting to knit or crochet, then you’re in luck. Here at the library we also have some take-home kits with yarn, beginning books, and a few needle and hook sizes to start your journey. Personally, I crochet. My own journey with the craft has a start and stop history. My mom always tried to teach me growing up, but I never took to it. I gave both crochet and knitting a shot in college, but never quite found the time to focus on learning. It wasn’t until 2021 that I finally sat down, watched a few beginner videos, and fell in love with crocheting. Holding my first finished project in my hands, a little dice bag, felt amazing. Making anything and being able to see and feel the result is truly special, so I hope others interested in either knit or crochet stop by the social and find a passion.

When patrons are seeking book recommendations, I’m often asked what I like to read. Unfortunately, my science fiction and horror leanings are often at odds with their preferred reading habits, so my recent favorites aren’t always of much use. However, being a contributor to our blog allows me to reach a broader audience that may be more in tune with my reading preferences and gives me the opportunity to share some of my new discoveries. This month I’d like to highlight three excellent adult science fiction novels for your reading pleasure. Hyperion by Dan Simmons I was completely unaware of this sci-fi series by Dan Simmons, being familiar only with his horror themed work like The Terror. The premise caught my attention straight away. On a fringe planet in the Hegemony of Man a terrifying creature called the Shrike guards the mysterious alien artifacts known as the time tombs. On the eve of galactic war, seven pilgrims must travel to the remote planet Hyperion to find answers surrounding their strange experiences with both the planet and the Shrike itself, and hopefully prevent Armageddon. Thrilling and at times hilarious, Hyperion is the beginning of an epic adventure weaved from the very personal and bizarre experiences of the galaxy’s inhabitants. Cold Storage: A Novel by David Koepp The more I read Cold Storage the more I thought to myself, “this should be a movie.” So, it came as no surprise that author David Koepp is most notable for being the screenwriter for such blockbusters as Jurassic Park and Mission Impossible. Robert Diaz hoped that the deadly mutant fungus he and his partner locked away deep beneath a military repository would never again be disturbed. But decades after being locked away, Cordyceps novus has been unleashed into the facility, now turned into a personal storage site. A fast-paced gory adventure that’ll make your skin crawl, Cold Storage is as frightening as it is fun. The Thing in the Snow: A Novel by Sean Adams If I had to choose one word to describe this novel it would be cold. More literary fiction than science fiction, The Thing in the Snow still made this list because it’s just so strange. Part satire and part psychological thriller, the novel takes us deep into the middle of nowhere where Hart and his team of caretakers are entrusted with maintaining the now dormant Northern Institute. With such pressing tasks as sitting in every chair and shifting to a reasonable degree to test their strength, to placing golf balls on tables to ensure their levelness, nothing of note occurs to mark the passage of days until the thing in the snow appears. The best part of working in a library is finding a new book to read. While sorting through the new releases or digging through returns of well-worn gems, I’m always coming across something to add to my reading list. While we spend a lot of our time finding and recommending books to our patrons, the process is often reciprocal. The books people request and return frequently serve as recommendations for us, and more often than not I find my next read waiting for me in the book drop. So, while it may sometimes feel like my reading habits are out of tune with what interests our patrons, I have to remind myself that there’s more overlap than I realize.

When you borrow books for free with your library card, sometimes you have to wait your turn, especially for new and popular titles. Some books have wait lists that are months long. Even if the book is worth the wait, we understand that waiting is far from anyone's favorite thing to do. That's where our Lucky Day Collection comes into play. This collection has popular and best-selling titles that do not have waitlist. How is this possible? Lucky Day books can't be placed on hold, and once they are checked out, they they can't be renewed. You can keep a Lucky Day book for 2 weeks, as opposed to the typical 4-week loan period for regular books. This helps to ensure that as many people as possible can access the books in this collection. To prevent the Lucky Day shelves from being cleared out, patrons are limited to borrowing 3 Lucky Day items at a time. Finding Lucky Day Books The best way to get your hands on a Lucky Day book is to visit the library and browse the collection in person. Lucky Day items are listed in our online catalog, so you can see if a book is currently on the Lucky Day shelf, but you won't be able to place a hold on that copy. You will have to come to the library to claim the Lucky Day copy. If someone beats you to it, you can try your luck next time you are in, or you can opt to join the waitlist for the regular copy of the book. Below is an example of what a Lucky Day book will look like in the online catalog. Because of the Lucky Day collection, you might see a book that is available at the library even though you are currently on the wait list for it. For example, I have been on the wait list for the ebook version of "Wrong Place, Wrong Time" by Gillian McAllister. I started 27th in line, and there are still 17 people ahead of me. The Libby App is estimating that I will have to wait another 8 weeks before it is my turn to borrow the book. However, when I was browsing the Lucky Day Collection at the library, I found the print version of the book on the shelf. That means I can choose to cancel my ebook hold and borrow the Lucky Day print version instead. The benefit is twofold - I don't have to wait to read the book, and the waitlist for the ebook is now shorter for everyone else in line. Lucky Day Ebooks and Audiobooks The Libby App, which allows you to borrow ebooks and e-audiobooks with your library card, has a similar feature to the Lucky Day Collection called "Skip the Line." Like the name suggests, the titles in this collection are available right away. You don't have to join a waitlist to borrow these books. Books in the Skip the Line collection can be checked out for 1 week. Most other books on the Libby App have a 2-week loan period. Skip the Line books can't be renewed or placed on hold. Both Skip the Line books and books that don't currently have a wait list will appear in the "Available Now" filter in Libby. To distinguish between books with an empty waitlist and Skip the Line books, look for the four leaf clover icon next to the borrow button. Books with this icon are Skip the Line books. Lucky Day Movies The library also carries Blu-rays and DVDs in our Lucky Day Collection. You will find popular movies and TV series in the collection. Just like the other Lucky Day items, you can't place a hold or renew movies from this collection. Blue-rays and DVDs can be checked out for one week before they are due. Next time you are at the library, stop by the Lucky Day bookshelf located right inside our main entrance. You might just find a book you have been longing to read and get to take it home without having to wait!

What's love got to do with it? Well, pretty much everything if you are searching through our catalog! Hello and welcome to another love filled post this Valentines Day week! I am sticking to the same format as last year's post and doing a search for "Love" in our catalog. Let's see what there is out on the shelves at our library that would be interesting to check out for this holiday! Adult Fiction Love, by Doyle Roddy. Using the general keyword search "love" and then refining the search to only items available at Caldwell Public library, we land on this book as one of the top options. According to the jacket summary, "As two friends try to reconcile their versions of the past over the course of one night, Love offers a delightfully comic yet moving portrait of the many forms love can take throughout our lives." This book looks really interesting. It is set in a Dublin restaurant and is a conversation style novel recounting the history of a friendship between two men. Adult Non-Fiction It's all love: reflections for your heart & soul by Jenna Ortega. This short read is full of positivity and inspiration from the actress who's fame has exploded since the Netflix series Wednesday became a sensation. Using themes and quotes, Jenna Ortega then expands the words into a summary of how each reflection relates to her every day life. Some libraries have this catalogued as a teen non-fiction. Ours is in the general non-fiction area. Check this one out to gain some inspiration for your day to day life! Movie Love's enduring promise stars January Jones, Logan Bartholomew, Dale Midkiff, and Katherine Heigl and is one of many in a series of films from Janette Oke's Keepsake novel series. I cannot tell you how excited I am to watch this movie since I am a huge fan of January Jones and recently I have began a journey into western media. I may even expand out into watching the other films as well as read the books... Teen Your heart, my sky: love in a time of hunger by Margarita Engle. In the summer of 1991, the people of Cuba are starving. Liana and Amado find each other as they refuse to participate in "volunteer farm labor." Through a back and forth conversation written in the most interesting format of poetry to poetry, the two form a loving bond that gives them endurance to face the constant hunger they are endearing. With bits and pieces of Spanish added in and snippets of a time period in 1991 which the author's relatives have experienced, a story of love and hunger emerges. Music American Love by Jake Owen. This is a country album released in 2016 and features his #1 hit single American Country Love Song. According to an album review article written in 2016 by renownedforsound.com, "The record is furnished with huge country fireworks, intended to touch the soul and harbour a smiling warmth." The album cover art is adorable, Jake sits in a vintage VW van on a beachy landscape, looking like he doesn't have a care in the world. I feel like I need more vibes like these in my life. Kids music Kidz Bop. 37 popped up for our search that was refined to show only items at Caldwell Library, for kids, and as a music CD. It came up because some of the song titles feature the word "love" in it. I have not listened to Kidz Bop in a very long time, but if it seems like your style, we have it in stock! Children's picture book Love, by Matt de la Peña. This beautiful and deep book was really moving. The picture book has wonderful illustrations and shows how love shows up in our lives in various forms, constantly, from different people in our lives. The love of a mother, father, grandmother, community, and others manifest in various forms, creating a tapestry of support for our main character. Check out this book to see for yourself! Children's chapter book Faded love by John R. Erickson. This is the 5th book in the Hank the Cowdog series and I have never heard of it but was instantly amused by the fantastic expression that the dog has. This dog is on the case. He has suspicions and will figure it all out. A coworker of mine says that it was one of her favorite chapter books as a kid. After reading a few chapters, I thought it was really fun and I sort of wanted to finish reading the whole thing. Hank goes in search of Miss Beulah, who is his true love, after a series of annoying situations arise during his daily rounds. Too bad Plato the bird dog is also looking to hang out with Miss Beulah. Check this book out to see how everything turns out! Children's non-fiction I spy: I love you by Jean Marzollo. Who doesn't love a good I Spy book? Scavenger hunt style books and games are great for your young learners, and a lot of fun with sibling and parent participation as well! Being able to find items from the pages challenges their skills and encourages them to also pay attention to the world around them. Are you looking for more ideas to incorporate scavenger hunt style games in your every day learning activities? Check out this article from Scholastic about ways to encourage observation skills for the kiddos! More to explore! Want to try to find your own books based around the keyword search "Love?" Or maybe you want to try to find other topics based on just one or two keywords! Whatever you are curious about finding and learning, the catalog is a fun tool to utilize in your exploration. And don't worry, if you get lost, your librarians at Caldwell Public Library are available to assist you in finding the materials you are on the hunt for. Happy exploring and have a fun filled holiday week!