In observance of America's Independence Day, the Albert Lea Public Library will close at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 2 and remain closed until Monday, July 6 at 10:00 a.m. The staff wishes everyone a happy and safe July 4th weekend!
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SilLy BoOkS for Bedtime!
Great, silly books stay great and silly no matter how old or new they are. Here are two that will be sure to have you and your children laughing at bedtime!
"Stand Back," Said the Elephant, "I'm Going to Sneeze" by Patricia Thomas - Elephant is going to sneeze and all of the jungle animals remember what happened to them last time! He sneezed so hard the zebra lost his stripes and the bear lost all his hair! See what happens when Elephant tries to keep from sneezing.
Animals Should Definately Not Wear Clothing by Judi Barrett - Learn all the (funny) reasons why it just wouldn't be good for animals to wear clothes. Like, if a hen wore pants, how would she lay the egg?
Murder at the Bad Girls Bar & Grill by N. M. Kelby
Fans of fun, whacky mysteries will like Murder at the Bad Girls Bar & Grill by N. M. Kelby is reminiscent of Carl Hiaasen - full of bizzare and strange, yet likeable and relateable, characters and based in Florida. (What is it about Florida?)
Other mysteries with kooky characters based in Florida: Dead End Job series by Elaine Viets, anything by Carl Hiaasen, Big Trouble by Dave Barry.
Just thinking about these cookbooks makes me hungry . . .
Everyone has a go-to cookbook for great recipes or new ideas. Here's a few we think you shouldn't miss:
- Everyday Food: Great Food Fast (great pictures and inspiring recipes)
- America's Best Lost Recipes (nostalgic recipes worth revisiting)
- Anything from the AllRecipes collection (tried and true!)
- Nigella Express (decadent and simple)
- Swedish Cakes and Cookies (mouthwatering sweets)
- Garlic Lover's Cookbook (recipes worth their weight in garlic)
- The Deen Family Cookbook (rich and yummy!)
- Joyce Lamont's Favorite Minnesota Recipes & Radio Memories (great regional food)
- Grandma's Favorite's: Over 350 Best-loved Recipes Handed Down Through the Generations (homecooking tried and true)
Have fun in the kitchen!
Almost as Good as a Visit to the Zoo
A great book has just arrived at the Children's Library! Life-Size Zoo: from tiny rodents to gigantic elephants, an actual-size animal encyclopedia by Teruyuki Komiya, Director of the Tokyo Ueno Zoo, "is an oversized book that brings readers face to face with a menagerie of creatures, from anteaters to zebras. Each spread features a laser-sharp, actual-size photograph of an animal’s body, usually its face, as well as a sidebar that lists a few basic facts in a whimsical, comic-panel format. The playful table of contents, designed as a cartoon aerial map of a zoo, and endpapers filled with full-body snapshots of the animals complete this innovative introduction to global creatures".
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie (A 1st Novel)
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley has been described as a combination of Sherlock Holmes and Harriet the Spy. Told from the perspective of Flavia de Luce, an 11-year-old with a penchant for poisons, this murder mystery is humerous and well-crafted. It is set in 1950's England and if full of interesting characters and will keep readers turning the pages.
Science Fiction Fan Website
SF Site is a site committed to Science Fiction books and their fans. It also features bios on favorite authors, such as Charles de Lint and Terry Pratchett.
New Sci-Fi to check out:
How to be a Savvy Crafter
Do you enjoy crafting but have too many of your goods on hand but you just can't stop? Maybe you should become a savvy crafter. Savvy Crafter's Guide to Success by Sandra McCall is an inspiring collections of ideas and experiences of other crafters who turned their craft into their business.
Don't forget to check the shelves in the 658s for more information on how to form a small business or entreprenuership.
Having Trouble Sleeping?
Lack of sleep can really affect us. Our bodies adjust to being sleep-deprived which leads to not functioning at a normal level. Here are just some suggestions on simple things you can do to get a good nights sleep.
* Try going to bed a half hour earlier.
* Exercise most days, even if it’s just a walk.
* No caffeine after 6:00 p.m.
* An hour before bed, avoid doing any kind of work that takes alert thinking.
* Adjust your bedroom temperature to be slightly chilly.
* Keep your bedroom dark. Even the light from a digital alarm clock can disrupt a sleep cycle.
* Keep the bedroom as tidy as possible. It’s not restful to fight through chaos into bed.
For more sleep-inducing strategies, check out one of these books or visit intent.com.
Insomnia Solution by Michael Krugman- 616.8 Kru
Sleep Disorders Mac Hirschkowitz- 616.849 Hir
Meat Eater or Vegetarian?
Is it no longer fun cooking for your family or company because you have to cook several meals, one for the vegetarians and one for the meat eaters? Take heart...award-winning author and chef, Peter Berley has written a book, The Flexitarian Table: inspired, flexible meals for vegetarians, meat lovers and everyone in between, that teaches you how to "prepare vegetarian and meat versions simultaneously without going to any extra trouble." To satisfy your curiosity, a flexitarian is: 1. A person who is mainly a vegetarian, but who occasionally eats fish or meat. 2. Someone who is not a vegetarian but enjoys meatless meals.
Summer Reading Program Sign-up
Crafty Kid- For children who read picture books or easy-readers, or for the younger ones who have books read to them.
Junior Artist- For children who
read chapter books on their own.
When you're having a bad day . . .
When you're having a bad day you should read Mouse Was Mad. Who knows the best way to be mad? Bear stomps. Hare hops. Bobcat screams. Mouse? He just can't get it right. But when he finds the way that works for him--still and quiet--he discovers that his own way might be the best of all. Linda Urban's story about self-expression is both sweet and sly, and Henry Cole's cast of animal friends is simply irresistible.
