The Traverse des Sioux Library Cooperative will host its Tween and Teen Battle of the books on Aug. 5, 2023 at the St. Peter Community Center. Book Battle is now accepting applications. You can apply at the New Ulm Public Library or on our website at www.newulmlibrary.org. Just scroll down on the library’s home page and click on the poster for the event in your age range. You have until May 27 at noon to apply and space is limited. Tweens (ages 9-12) and teens (ages 13 -18) who are accepted will receive four books to keep. You will be notified when your books arrive at the library for pick-up. Read the books through June and July. You will be placed on a team according to where you live. Those teams will compete in a trivia game based on the books that have been given out at the beginning of June. Each team member of the winning tween and teen team will receive a $25 gift Amazon gift card. There will be fun activities and door prizes as well. The tweens program will take place from 10 a.m. until 11:30 a.m.

The teen’s program will begin at 12:30 p.m. and end around 2 p.m. The St. Peter Community Center is located at 600 S 5th St. in St. Peter. Spectators are welcome.

Even if your child isn’t old enough for Battle of the Books, we can offer them plenty of reading material. “The Loud Librarian” by Jenna Beatrice is a charming picture book about Penelope who is chosen to be the student-librarian for the week. Penelope’s been dreaming about this day for a while and practicing at home. She can alphabetize, she can push a book cart, she can sticker a due date sticker like no one else. She is friendly, helpful, and a booklover, but her one huge flaw is, Penelope is LOUD. How can she realize her dream of being a librarian if she can’t use a library voice in the library? This is a wonderful book about finding your strengths and using your weaknesses to your best advantage.

Do you remember when you were a child and you found life with your parents to be unfair? They got the larger serving of everything, they won every race (unless they let you win), and you had very limited choices. You can relive that feeling with the characters in Jacob Grant’s new picture book, “NO FAIR!” Pablo laments how unfair it is that his dad makes all the choices, wins every race, and gets larger portions. Dad takes the complaints in stride and explains that there is a reason he makes all the choices, and that he doesn’t always win. In the end Pablo learns that it’s okay that it’s unfair sometimes, because sometimes it is! If you recognize Pablo and his dad it’s because you read NO PANTS! Another great picture book by Grant.

Please ask at the children’s desk if there is something you’re looking for and can’t find right away; we’re here to help. Check out our monthly calendar of programming, too. We offer a variety of activities for all ages, from story time to STEAM classes for all grades. You can find more information on our website at www.newulmlibrary.org on the Library Events page.

The library is located at 17 N. Broadway and is open to the public Monday to Thursday 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.