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Coming to a screen near you

As daylight fades and temperatures fall, Minnesotans naturally spend more time in front of their screens. Broadcasters respond with fuller seasonal lineups—including a fresh crop of movies and series adapted from classic and contemporary books available at the New Ulm Public Library. Check out this list, with descriptions from the publishers, if you want to read a book that inspired directors: “The Love Hypothesis” by Ali Hazelwood. “A fake relationship between scientists meets the irresistible force of attraction.” “Verity” by Colleen Hoover. Colleen Hoover books ...

Happier, Healthier Kids

I have recently received some requests for parenting books, so I thought I would highlight a few recent additions to our collection. Puddle Jumper Parenting is a new term for me. What is Puddle Jumper Parenting? It is raising kids that are resilient and are willing to take risks. As Brandon Webb says in Puddle Jumpers: Powerful Mental Techniques from a Navy SEAL Performance Coach and Father of Three by Brandon Webb (649.1 Webb), “Your kid doesn’t need to be perfect. They just need to be brave enough to jump.” Human Raised: Nurturing Connection, Curiosity & Lifelong Learning in ...

Recent Reads

There have been so many great releases this summer, and the trend will continue into fall. Here are a few that I’ve enjoyed recently. It’s the summer of 2000, and AJ Graves and Noah Drew are stuck working together at the local video rental store. Noah is the youngest of a family of legendary actors; his aunt and uncle just happened to star in AJ’s favorite show. AJ ends up joining Noah for acting lessons, and the two have immediate chemistry. Their attraction grows over the summer until Noah disappears suddenly. Over their early careers – Noah as an actor, AJ as a writer – ...

 How to help a struggling reader

I love reading, I am sure that comes as no surprise. You'd be hard pressed to find a librarian who dislikes reading. I love curling up with a book on a chilly morning. I love falling asleep with a book at night. I love stolen moments of the day reading, when I should really be doing something else. I read on planes, trains, and in the car as long as I’m not driving. I read in restaurants, coffee shops, and in waiting rooms. I read fiction and non-fiction from the adult shelves and the children’s room. I love young adult fiction and biographies about almost anyone. I must confess, ...

This is Not an Article About Matt Damon

This summer Matt Damon transformed himself into Odysseus in Christopher Nolan’s film adaptation of The Odyssey. Reports show that purchases of the poem have increased by 76% as compared to last year’s sales. Interest in journeying deeper into Greek mythology has noticeably increased with more adaptations and translations being added into the collection and circulating. You may be inspired to craft your own “personal syllabus,” a way to guide yourself through individual learning. Last year this became a trend as people were nostalgic about having a curriculum to follow and ...

Top Picks for Fall

In the book publishing industry, fall is the biggest and busiest season. It’s a busy season at the library, too. Check out the following list of books—with reviews from the publishers—to start building your hold list before these popular titles arrive at the library. Hollow Bones by Jodi Picoult. “Moving between past and present, Hollow Bones is an epic story of the lies we tell ourselves as we write the narratives of our lives, the plans we design to protect ourselves at the worst moments, and the ties that bind mothers and daughters.” Off the Reservation by Stephen Graham ...