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Our Fav rite Reads 2025

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The Jailhouse Lawyer

Calvin Duncan and Sophie Cull

Calvin Duncan’s story is so inspirational and a great example of using your abilities to help others. Imprisoned for decades for a crime he didn’t commit, Duncan followed his interests and became an inmate counsel at a federal prison.

Genre: Non-Fiction

Adult

Recommended for patrons who like: reading about historical events and the law.

Solid Gold Murder

Ellen Byron

Solid Gold Murder is the second book in a new series titled A Golden Motel Mystery and is complete with an interesting cast of characters in an unusual setting, including Bud the Bear.

Genre: Mystery / Thriller / Suspense

Recommended for patrons who like: cozy mysteries and eclectic characters.

Return to Sender

Craig Johnson

In the latest installment of the Longmire series, Craig Johnson once again delivers a gripping, atmospheric mystery set against the rugged, untamed backdrop of Wyoming. Fans of both the books and the Longmire television series will find much to love in this newest chapter, which pairs Johnson’s signature blend of sharp storytelling with the haunting solitude of the Wyoming landscape.

Genre: Mystery / Thriller / Suspense

Recommended for patrons who like: books by Robert B. Parker.

A Botanist’s Guide to Rituals and Revenge: A Saffron

Everleigh Mystery

Kate Khavari

A Botanist’s Guide to Rituals and Revenge is the fourth installment of Khavari’s Saffron Everleigh Mysteries, which is written as a historical mystery set in postWorld War I academia that features a strong female protagonist.

Genre: Other

Recommended for patrons who like: historical mystery fiction, strong female leads, and the World War 1 period.

Adult On the Hippie Trail: Istanbul to Kathmandu and the

Making of a Travel Writer

Rick Steves

A story of a young Rick Steves and friends who travel from Istanbul to Kathmandu, formerly known as the Hippie Trail. Their adventure, which was very rough at times, allowed them to experience the cultures as they were. On a small budget, they spend the summer in some very interesting places. Rick recently wrote this story based on the journal that he had written at the time of his journey, which happened to be the last year of the Hippie Trail. A very interesting read.

Genre: Non-Fiction

Recommended for patrons who like: traveling and adventure.

The Favorites: A Novel

Layne Fargo

This novel is a modern retelling of Wuthering Heights by way of Daisy Jones and the Six. Despite being nearly 500 pages, it absolutely flies by as it is a split point of view between Katarina Shaw telling her own story and excerpts from a documentary being made about her. The short chapters also make it incredibly bingeable. The novel does retain the gothic suspense of Wuthering Heights, which is actually oddly suited to the professional ice skating world, and I had fun picking out the references to the classic!

Genre: Fiction

Recommended for patrons who like: Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid, watching Olympic ice skating, and well-written contemporary fiction novels with plenty of romance and suspense.

Three Days in June: A Novel

Anne Tyler

Anne Tyler tells a good story, not overly complicated but with enough drama to keep it unique and interesting. Her characters tend to be more ordinary than many typical protagonists, and some you may not really like – at first. Like author Grady Hendrix, who sprinkles some of his not-so-likable characters in the story, her characters surprise you and really redeem themselves. The best of humanity shines through in the most unexpected and sometimes ordinary but meaningful ways.

Genre: Fiction

Recommended for patrons who like: short reads, award-winning authors, and low-key drama.

It Rhymes With Takei

George Takei

The artwork is beautiful, and George Takei’s story is heartfelt and funny. It Rhymes with Takei is about being true to yourself and finding the courage and resilience to be yourself.

Genre: Graphic Novel

Adult

Recommended for patrons who like: autobiographies, graphic novels, and positive endings.

The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau: A Novel

Kristin Harmel

This book was another heartbreaking story by Kristin Harmel. She really does a fantastic job in researching the topic and time period. I have read a lot of historical fiction about World War II, but this is another story of how people overcome and change through tragedy.

Genre: Historical Fiction

Recommended for patrons who like: historical fiction that immerses you in the novel’s time period and makes you feel all the feels.

Hidden Nature

Nora Roberts

Nora Roberts is a great storyteller and my go-to author. Whenever I am in a reading slump, I turn to her. Her suspense novels give you just enough details to keep you curious, yet with just enough twists to keep you guessing. I really liked the “bad” couple in the novel. Their logic and reason for killing people were, at times, almost believable. I really liked the main character, Sloan, who I found to be a strong, smart, capable female main character.

Genre: Mystery / Thriller / Suspense

Recommended for patrons who like: stories with twists and turns and books by Nora Roberts.

Behooved

M. Stevenson

I got this book because I was curious what a “romantasy” is like. While I like the fantasy genre, I have heard negative things about romantasy novels. But I was surprised. The premise was quite interesting, and while it read like many of the fantasies I’ve read, I found the characters more diverse and relatable.

Genre: Romantasy

Recommended for patrons who like: romance and fantasy.

Adult

Shield of Sparrows

Devney Perry

I couldn’t put this book down – I would listen to it when I could and read it when I couldn’t listen to it. The plot was so good, and the twists at the end were mind blowing. The characters were likable, and the world building was great.

Genre: Romantasy

Recommended for patrons who like: romance and fantasy.

Harlem Rhapsody

Victoria Christopher Murray

Harlem Rhapsody is an amazing story about Jessie Redmon Fauset, a significant figure in the Harlem Renaissance. I love discovering historical fiction, but reading about WWII and the Civil War can get little boring, so this was a pleasant surprise!

Genre: Historical Fiction

Recommended for patrons who like: historical fiction.

Raising Hare: A Memoir

Chloe Dalton

Loved the information about hares, gardens, and country life in England. And the hare doesn’t die at the end!

Genre: Non-Fiction

Recommended for patrons who like: animals, feel-good stories, and quick reads.

Immortal

Sue Lynn Tan

In this sweeping tale, Liyen, a young ruler with a kingdom on the cusp of war, must choose between her duty to her people or to her own heart. It is magical and exciting while still being rooted in the universal feelings of love, honor, and doing the right thing.

Genre: Romantasy

Recommended for patrons who like: romance and fantasy, epics rooted in folklore and cultural narratives, and sword fighting.

Big Dumb Eyes: Stories From a Simpler Mind

Nate Bargatze

Adult

Nate Bargatze is the king of clean comedy. I highly recommend listening to this as an audiobook because it is narrated by the author and reads just like his stand-up comedy. This collection of essays about his life and observations had me laughing the whole way through. If you need a quick pick-me-up, this is it!

Genre: Non-Fiction

Recommended for patrons who like: stand-up comedy, humor, and memoirs.

The House of My Mother: A Daughter’s Quest for Freedom

Shari Franke

I’m suggesting House of My Mother as one of the best reads of 2025 because it offers a detailed look behind the headlines of a high-profile case. Shari Franke brings both emotional insight and clarity to a story that many only knew in fragments. I appreciated how the book uncovered the complex realities at the heart of the narrative. Whether you’re familiar with the case or not, Franke’s voice and perspective make for a deeply engaging read.

Genre: Biography / Memoir

Recommended for patrons who like: true crime, memoirs, and in-depth non-fiction that challenges assumptions.

Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man)

Jesse Q. Sutanto

This is a sequel to Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers. I loved the first one, especially the audiobook, and this one is just as good.

Genre: Fiction

Recommended for patrons who like: spunky characters, unlikely heroes, found family stories, cozy mysteries, and a sprinkling of magical realism.

Adult Mask of the Deer Woman

Laurie L Dove

This was excellent. The main character is half-indigenous and half-white, returning to the reservation she remembers little of as she grew up elsewhere. It is both gritty fiction and a fascinating mystery about a very real danger to young women on reservations. Well written and a worthy book.

Genre: Fiction

Recommended for patrons who like: life on the reservation, mysteries, and authors like Tommy Orange and Sherman Alexie.

Kills Well With Others

Deanna Raybourn

This is a funny depiction of a squad of female assassins. They are soon to be retired, but they all have a lifetime of skills and experience. The female characters ring true. The takeaway from this book, which is the second in a series after Killers of a Certain Age, is that age doesn’t equal useless, forgetful, or only sore joints. I think that more people need to see powerful seniors to use as role models as they themselves age.

Genre: Mystery / Thriller / Suspense

Recommended for patrons who like: fast-paced spy novels.

War at Home: A Novel

Troy R. Ray

Troy T. Ray is a great local storyteller. The book takes one back to a wonderful, imaginative childhood before technology, where thirteen-year-old Mark and his friends get into all sorts of shenanigans, including trying to solve a local murder mystery. I have never laughed so hard from a book as I have from this book.

Genre: Historical Fiction

Recommended for patrons who like: Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns.

A Terribly Nasty Business: A Beatrice Steele Novel

Julia Seales

This crafty mystery has lots of goofy humor. It takes a satirical spin on Jane Austin’s England while maintaining the charm of the historical setting.

Genre: Mystery / Thriller / Suspense

Recommended for patrons who like: books by Jane Austin, the Lily Adler Mystery series by Katharine Schellman, and goofy humor.

Everything Is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection

John Green

Adult

The story of a young man named Henry is woven throughout this digestible overview of the history – scientific and social – of tuberculosis. It was enlightening and heartbreaking, and it was told in the typical voice and style of John Green – if you follow him online in any way. Green’s passion and advocacy for global health initiatives jump off the page in a relatable and inspiring way.

Genre: Non-Fiction

Recommended for patrons who like: digestible books on history, health, and science and books by John Green.

The Sinners All Bow: Two Authors, One Murder, and the Real Hester Prynne

Kate Winkler Dawson

The Sinners All Bow is an interesting true-crime exploration of the 1832 death of Sarah Maria Cornell, a case that inspired The Scarlet Letter. Blending historical research, modern forensic insights, and engaging storytelling, the author uncovers overlooked truths while shedding light on 19th-century society, literature, and justice.

Genre: Non-Fiction

Recommended for patrons who like: true crime, American history, and literature that tells the story of little-known but important chapters in America’s past.

For the Love of Plants: Over 150 Plants to Bring Joy to Your Garden and Your Life

Adam Frost

The Adam Frost segments of the BBC TV program Gardeners’ World never disappoint, and in book form, he brings the same charming, reassuring, and thoroughly British style. This book is a sweet wander through his personal garden, with reflections and practical tips in equal measure.

Genre: Non-Fiction

Recommended for patrons who like: gardening and meandering through other people’s gardens.

Dinner with King Tut: How Rogue Archaeologists Are Re-Creating the Sights, Sounds, Smells, and Tastes of Lost Civilizations

Sam Kean

I’ve always loved archaeology, and this book is chock-full of it! Spanning from the Ancients in Europe to Africa, Polynesia, the Americas, China, and Viking Europe, this book is an archaeology fan’s dream to bring back and try things from times long past.

Genre: Non-Fiction

Recommended for patrons who like: archaeology, ancient Rome and Egypt, Vikings, the Aztec Empire, history, and learning something new.

The Game Is Murder

Hazell Ward

It’s a clever, meta-cracking mystery full of wonderful surprises every chapter!

Genre: Mystery / Thriller / Suspense

Recommended for patrons who like: Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson.

Heartwood: A Novel

Amity Gaige

Told through multiple perspectives, Heartwood tells the story of a woman who goes missing while hiking the Appalachian Trail over the course of several months. You’ll suspect everyone of a crime, but never guess the ending!

Genre: Mystery / Thriller / Suspense

Recommended for patrons who like: psychological thrillers.

Head Cases: A Novel

John McMahon

Head Cases follows a group of misfit FBI agents who make up the Patterns and Recognition (PAR) Unit. Gardner Camden of PAR is searching for a serial killer whom he has thought was dead for years. You’ll meet the genius cast, baggage and all, as they search and try to protect themselves along the way.

Genre: Mystery / Thriller / Suspense

Recommended for patrons who like: police procedurals.

Adult Earth

Gods: Writings From Before the War

Taras Prokhasko

Earth Gods gathers and translates several of Taras Prokhasko’s early works, including short stories, essays, and, my personal favorite of the book, the novella The UnSimple. Set mostly in the Ukrainian Carpathians, this collection of writings explores everyday life, memory, and the quiet power of nature and tradition through simple, effective prose. This simplicity, however, allows Prokhasko’s writings to be gentle and observant at one moment, yet profound, mysterious, and reflective at the next. It ultimately offers a unique and critical glimpse into the culture and landscape of Western Ukraine, one that is rarely seen or available in the English language.

Genre: Fiction

Recommended for patrons who like: learning and reading about Eastern Europe, especially Ukraine.

When the Moon Hits Your Eye

John Scalzi

When the Moon Hits Your Eye is a funny but serious look at what people do when the world is about to end, all because the moon turned into cheese.

Genre: Sci-Fi / Fantasy

Recommended for patrons who like: cheese, humor, and apocalyptic fiction.

Accomplice to the Villain

Hannah Nicole Maehrer

Accomplice to the Villain is a fun and character-filled romp through what is good and what is villainry.

Genre: Romantasy

Recommended for patrons who like: frogs with signs and true good triumphing over the perception of good while laughing.

50 Plants That Changed the World

Stephen A. Harris

50 Plants That Changed the World really makes you think about how plants and human history are intertwined.

Genre: Non-Fiction

Recommended for patrons who like: Around the World in 80 Plants by Jonathan Drori.

Adult

Buckeye: A Novel

Patrick Ryan

Buckeye is a character-driven story of a fictional Ohio town and the secrets that can’t stay buried.

Genre: Fiction

Recommended for patrons who like: intricately portrayed characters and masterful prose.

Blind Date with a Werewolf

Patricia Briggs

Blind Date with a Werewolf is a delightful collection of five short stories centered on a series of questionable dates. Each tale offers its own twist on romance and supernatural mischief, while allowing a secondary character to step into the spotlight as the main protagonist.

Genre: Sci-Fi / Fantasy

Recommended for patrons who like: urban fantasy, paranormal romance, character-driven stories, quick reads, humor, awkward dates, werewolf charm, and the Mercy Thompson and Alpha & Omega series by Patricia Briggs.

The Librarians

Sherry Thomas

Library setting done right: The setting is more than decorative – the library itself becomes a character, along with an ensemble cast whose backstories unfold as the story progresses.

Genre: Mystery / Thriller / Suspense

Recommended for patrons who like: library-based stories, workplace ensembles, and found-family dynamics.

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Little Pieces of Light

Emma Scott

Little Pieces of Light grabs hold from the first page. It beautifully explores love, loss, grief, healing, and acceptance, featuring characters so genuine that you can’t help but root for them.

Genre: Fiction

Recommended for patrons who like: romance, books with alternating narratives, and books by Emma Scott.

Meet Me at Blue Hour

Sarah Suk

Meet Me at Blue Hour is a little science fiction because of the part about erasing and restoring memory, but it is also a love story about a boy and a girl who were best friends.

Genre: Fiction

Recommended for patrons who like: cute little love stories.

The Floating World

Axie Oh

Adult

The Floating World was a fun romp through a new fantasy world, where a giant floating city presides over the eternally dark Under City that has grown up in its shadows. Ren and Sunho, the two main characters, are both delightful, and you can’t help but root for their quiet romance. Ren hides from a past that haunts her, and Sunho tries to remember a past that eludes his memory. Neither of them could imagine that their futures would bring them up to the very heights of the Floating World itself in this retelling of the Korean Celestial Maidens myth.

Genre: Adventure

Recommended for patrons who like: Shadow & Bone by Leigh Bardugo, Studio Ghibli films, and the Final Fantasy video game series.

The Summer I Ate the Rich

Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite

The Summer I Ate the Rich is a great suspense/horror novel for young adult readers. Steeped in Haitian folklore, it offers a great new look at the zombie genre.

Genre: Horror

Recommended for patrons who like: Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion and the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer.

Teen

The Otherwhere Post

Emily J. Taylor

This dark fantasy mystery follows a determined girl on a quest to clear her father’s name after he’s blamed for a catastrophic magical event. It felt like a fresh and original take on the magical-mystery genre, with strong writing and well-crafted plotting that kept me engaged throughout.

The Otherwhere Post” has great characters and world-building. I enjoyed the academic setting and found the magical system to be extremely creative and interesting.

Genre: Fantasy / Mystery

Recommended for patrons who like: dark academia, fantasy, romantasy, and mystery.

All Better Now

Neal Shusterman

This suspenseful, interesting story explores how a virus that makes everyone happy may not be a good thing. And the teens get to be the heroes!

Genre: Sci-Fi / Fantasy

Recommended for patrons who like: dystopian and speculative fiction.

A Forgery of Fate

Elizabeth Lim

This book features an interesting, well-crafted fantasy world inspired by Asian folklore. The characters are well-rounded, and the adventure is engaging.

Genre: Fiction

Recommended for patrons who like: well-crafted fantasy worlds, adventure, and folklore.

Under the Same Stars

Libba Bray

Spanning three timelines in Germany and New York City, this unexpected mystery was both timely and entertaining.

Genre: Historical Fiction

Recommended for patrons who like: slow unfolding mysteries, great prose, and immersive settings.

Colette: The Solitary Bee

Jean-François Sénéchal

This picture book features beautiful illustrations that tells the story of Colette, a singular bee that wants to do everything on her own but eventually comes to see how important having friends can be.

Genre: Picture Book

Recommended for patrons who like: picture books by Jory John, such as The Smart Cookie and The Bad Seed

The Biggest Dog in the Book (Who’s the Biggest?)

Ben Lerwill

This beautifully illustrated book uses dogs to explore fun comparisons, keeping kids laughing from start to finish.

Genre: Picture Book

Recommended for patrons who like: any and all things relating to dogs and animals.

Norman and the Smell of Adventure

Ryan T. Higgins

This is a funny, tender story about friendship and adventures only a porcupine could get into.

Genre: Picture Book

Recommended for patrons who like: the humor of Ryan T. Higgins’ books, such as Bruce the Bear and Penelope Rex.

Children

Cranky, Crabby Crow (Saves the World)

Corey R. Tabor

A cranky, crabby crow just wants to sit on a wire and KAW. When his friends try to get him to join them, all he wants to do is be crabby, so his friends say. But, unbeknownst to all, Crow has bigger, world-saving fish to fry — he must protect planet Earth from an asteroid headed our way! Cranky, Crabby Crow explores perennial, age-appropriate social and emotional themes through Corey R. Tabor’s signature subtlety and silliness. AND includes a secret code.

Genre: Fiction

Recommended for patrons who like: books by Mo Willems and Jon Klassen.

The Worry-Worry Whale Made 32 Mistakes

Deborah Diesen

Through catchy rhymes, Worry-Worry Whale discovers that making mistakes is an essential part of the learning process.

Genre: Picture Book

Recommended for patrons who like: The Pout-Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen.

Poo Pile on the Prairie

Amy Hevron

Have you ever wondered what happens to animal poo piles? Maybe just me! I enjoyed seeing all that happens in the story and all the life just in this singular poo pile.

Genre: Non-Fiction

Recommended for patrons who like: reading about nature.

Bored Panda

Mike Bender

Bored Panda is about a panda who spends way too much time on his tablet. With no power, he cannot charge his tablet and soon becomes so so so bored. Though, he soon discovers other things to do!

Genre: Picture Book

The Poisoned King

Katherine Rundell

Children

My daughter and I loved the first book in the series, Impossible Creatures, and we are already hooked on its followup. The world and story are engaging, and it’s hard to put the book down at the end of a chapter.

Genre: Sci-Fi / Fantasy

Recommended for patrons who like: fantasy, adventure, new worlds, and great characters, as well as the Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling and The Fabled Stables series by Jonathan Auxier.

The Coziest Place on the Moon

Maria Popova

This book’s artwork is visually captivating, and its thoughtful message – that solitude can be warm and cozy – lingers long after reading. Alongside its emotional depth, it also presents factual information about the moon, making it both enlightening and heartwarming.

Genre: Picture Book

Recommended for patrons who like: appreciate the artwork and illustrations in picture books.

The Green Kingdom

Cornelia Funke

This is a great fantasy story set in New York City. Unlike a lot of fantasy books, this one takes place in our world. The author is a brilliant middle-grade author. This latest book features fun riddles to solve and dives into the magical world of plants.

Genre: Sci-Fi / Fantasy

Recommended for patrons who like: the Inkheart series by Cornelia Funke, How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell, and the Greenwild series by Pari Thomson.

The Midwatch Institute for Wayward Girls

Judith Rossell

This fun, adventure-filled mystery features short, fast-paced chapters, making it a quick and engaging read.

Genre: Adventure

Recommended for patrons who like: A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket and Mr. Lemoncello’s Library Olympics by Chris Grabenstein.

Children

Speechless: A Graphic Novel

Aron Nels Steinke

This funny, easy-to-read graphic novel will resonate with students in middle school experiencing the anxiety and pressures of the tween years.

Genre: Graphic Novel

Recommended for patrons who like: graphic novels by Kami Garcia, Raina Telegmeier, and Shannon Hale.

The Peddler of Puddles

Beth Ferry Ferry’s story is imaginative, which is complimented by Lichtenheld’s cozy illustrations.

Genre: Picture Book

Recommended for patrons who like: clever, imaginative, and cozy picture books.

Bob the Vampire Snail

Andrea Zuill

This is a cute and funny story, perfect for the spooky season, that is a joy to read. It has a few jokes that parents and guardians will enjoy while reading it with their kids.

Genre: Picture Book

Recommended for patrons who like: vampires, humor, snails, and animals.

Make New Friends: A Picture Book

Joshua David Stein

Make New Friends focuses on feelings, attending a new school, making friends, and love and approval. It has a powerful message about friendship with illustrations that strongly support the storyline.

Genre: Picture Book

Recommended for patrons who like: reading about friendship.

Stalactite and Stalagmite: A Big Tale from a Little Cave

Drew Beckmeyer

Children

Beckmeyer tells a cute story between Stalactite and Stalagmite through millions of years. They meet several different creatures throughout time.

Genre: Picture Book

Recommended for patrons who like: learning about nature and rock formations and parents looking for a fun picture book to share with their kids.

Don’t Trust Fish

Neil Sharpson

The title says it all! A seriously funny book that will make you and your child laugh out loud.

Genre: Picture Book

Recommended for patrons who like: funny stories to share with their kids.

Zebra and Yak: The Backwards Alphabet Book

Paul Friedrich

This humorous picture book will help teach young readers the alphabet... backwards! No, seriously – Zebra and Yak thought they would have to wait until the end of the book to have their names called, but when Apple goes missing, they have to race through the backwards alphabet to try and save the day. This funny, entertaining picture book offers tons of fun “readaloud” opportunities.

Genre: Picture Book

Recommended for patrons who like: funny picture books, such as The Book with No Pictures by B.J. Novak.

Joan in the Cone

Billy Sharff

Joan in the Cone is a charming rhyming picture book about a dog named Joan who has to wear a cone after her trip to the vet. Not only is it a comical tale about a plucky puppy, but it also serves as a good talking point with children about overcoming challenges and finding new sources of joy in life.

Genre: Picture Book

Recommended for patrons who like: picture books about animals, especially dogs, and books that have fun rhyme schemes.

Children

Vampire Jam Sandwich

Casey

Lyall

As a big fan of not-so-spooky scary stories for children, I really enjoyed Vampire Jam Sandwich. This picture book reimagines the mythological vampire in a way that is extremely palatable for children — by introducing a vampire named Terrence who really, really loves jams and is conspiring to trick the reader into leaving it out for him. Very funny, and the art is very spooky cute, too!

Genre: Picture Book

Recommended for patrons who like: picture books like Creepy Carrots! by Aaron Reynolds.

The Zombees

Justin Colón

Justin Colón is one of my favorite picture book authors, and his latest release did not disappoint! The ZomBees is a perfect not-so-spooky picture book for kids about a swarm of zombie bees who infest an unsuspecting town on Halloween night. The book has a fun, rhyming narrative, and the combination of zombies and actual bees leaves plenty of room for fun comedic humor.

Genre: Picture Book

Recommended for patrons who like: books by Justin Colón, especially his 2024 release, The Quacken.

If You Want to Write a Story

Jeff Mack

If You Want to Write a Story is a fun exploration in teaching kids how to write their own story, encouraging them to come up with an idea and stick with it when things get hard to see where it leads them. This story would be a fun read-aloud for younger children, but I think writers of any age can easily relate to its message!

Genre: Picture Book

Recommended for patrons who like: picture books where the illustrations tell a slightly different story than the words, leaving you plenty of room to fill in the blanks when you read them together

How the Forest Feels: Sensory Play Nature’s Way

Wendi Silvano

How the Forest Feels is filled with imaginative, rhyming text and beautiful illustrations that use the five senses to explore nature and the connection between grandparents and grandchildren.

Genre: Picture Book

Recommended for patrons who like: object-based teaching, sensory play, and the outdoors.

Archibald and the Furry Dinosaurs

Suzanne Lang

Brought to you by the author of the Grumpy Monkey series, Archibald and the Furry Dinosaurs is a lighthearted tale about a bald dinosaur who searches for his hair. Suzanne Lang is one of my favorite children’s authors and definitely one to check out!

This laugh-out-loud book will tickle the funny bone of kids and grown-ups alike! It’s the kind of story you’ll want to read again and again – and it’ll have you giggling every single time.

Genre: Picture Book

Recommended for patrons who like: the Grumpy Monkey series by Suzanne Lang.

Squash & Pumpkin: #SquashGoals

G.G. McQueen

This is a heartfelt and cozy story about squash. The small details are adorable and add to the already sweet story.

Genre: Fiction

Recommended for patrons who like: fall, autumn, pumpkins, and heartwarming and funny stories.

The Bakery Dragon and the Fairy Cake

Devin Elle Kurtz

The sequel to the charming Bakery Dragon picture book, this title is even more delightful than the first one! We both loved how it had a stronger plot than the first book, with Ember, the Bakery Dragon, hired to make a cake for the fairy queen. There’s just one problem – Ember doesn’t know what a cake is... surely it’s some kind of bread, right? This book was so much fun and seems perfect to read aloud.

Genre: Picture Book

Recommended for patrons who like: Bakery Dragon by Devin Elle Kurtz and Knight Owl by Christopher Denise.

Cat Nap

Brian Lies

Cat pursues his prey through the museum, past lush paintings and intricately constructed 3-D artwork.

Genre: Picture Book

Recommended for patrons who like: seek-and-find books and masterfully illustrated picture books.

Children

Buffalo Fluffalo and Puffalo

Bess Kalb

The sequel to one of my favorite picture books, Buffalo Fluffalo and Puffalo, keeps everything that I loved about the first book, like its adorable art style and fun rhyming scheme, and it makes everything even cuter by adding the baby buffalo character, Puffalo.

Genre: Picture Book

Recommended for patrons who like: Buffalo Fluffalo by Bess Kalb and rhyming picture books.

Salamander Song

Ginny Neil

I would recommend Salamander Song because it is important to educate our children about the small creatures that live all around us. We have changed their world and they now need our help.

Genre: Picture Book

Recommended for patrons who like: nature.

Big Enough

Regina Linke

Big Enough is a tender and heart-warming story of a little boy overcoming his doubts and rising above his fears. Plus, the illustrations are absolutely beautiful!

Genre: Picture Book

Recommended for patrons who like: sharing beautiful and inspiring stories with children.

ReadersHappy Hour

Most recommended books from our Readers Happy Hour

Wednesdays on Facebook @ 6 p.m.

The Wedding People

by Alison Espach

It’s a beautiful day in Newport, Rhode Island, when Phoebe Stone arrives at the grand Cornwall Inn wearing a green dress and gold heels, not a bag in sight, alone. She’s immediately mistaken by everyone in the lobby for one of the wedding people, but she’s actually the only guest at the Cornwall who isn’t here for the big event.

Top 5!

My Friends by Fredrick Backman

Most people don’t even notice them— three tiny figures sitting at the end of a long pier in the corner of one of the most famous paintings in the world. Most people think it’s just a depiction of the sea. But Louisa, an aspiring artist herself, knows otherwise, and she is determined to find out the story of these three enigmatic figures.

A total of 1,117 recommendations made in 2025!

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans

Sybil Van Antwerp has throughout her life used letters to make sense of the world and her place in it. Most mornings, around half past ten, Sybil sits down to write letters - to her brother, to her best friend, to the president of the university who will not allow her to audit a class she desperately wants to take, to Joan Didion and Larry McMurtry to tell them what she thinks of their latest books, and to one person to whom she writes often yet never sends the letter.

James

by Percival Everett

A retelling of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, both harrowing and ferociously funny, told from the enslaved Jim’s point of view. When the enslaved Jim overhears that he is about to be sold to a man in New Orleans, separated from his wife and daughter forever, he decides to hide on nearby Jackson Island until he can formulate a plan. Meanwhile, Huck Finn has faked his own death to escape his violent father, recently returned to town.

The Eights by

Joanna Miller

Oxford, 1920. For the first time in its 1,000-year history, Oxford University officially admits female students. Burning with dreams of equality, four young women move into neighboring rooms in Corridor 8. Beatrice, Dora, Marianne, and Otto (collectively known as The Eights) come from all walks of life, each driven by their own motives, each holding tight to their secrets, and are thrown into an unlikely, unshakeable friendship.

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