February Is Black History Month:  A message from pbs.org

Here at Catty Library we are always looking for “partners” in the pursuit of excellence in literature and  life-long learning. The Public Broadcasting Service, PBS, is a major contributor to those goals through excellence in network programming.  With that in mind, the opinion of the folks at PBS is worth noting:  “There are certain African American authors that everyone should read.

They are poets, playwrights, novelists and scholars, and together they helped capture the voice of a nation. They have fearlessly explored racism, abuse and violence as well as love, beauty and music. While their names and styles have changed over the years, they have been the voices of their generations and helped inspire the generations that followed them. What follows is a list of prominent Black authors who have left a mark on the literary world forever.”

Maya Angelou, James Baldwin, Amiri Baraka, Octavia Butler, W.E.B. DuBois, Ralph Ellison, Alex Haley, Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, Richard Wright, as well as the pre-eminent Toni Morrison.

“Nobel Prize and Pulitzer Prize winning novelist Toni Morrison is considered the voice of African American women. Growing up in an integrated neighborhood, Morrison was not fully aware of racial divisions until her teenage years. Dedicated to her studies, she went on to earn her master’s degree before moving to Howard University to teach. It was in the 1960s when Morrison became an editor at Random House that she began to write.

While she had published The Bluest Eye in 1970 and Sula in 1973, The Song of Solomon was the book that set her on the course of literary success. It became the first work by an African American author since Native Son by Richard Wright to be a featured selection in the Book-of-the-Month Club. The publication of Beloved in 1987 is considered to be her greatest masterpiece and won several awards, including the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.”

The Trustees and the Staff of The Public Library of Catasauqua thank the African American literary community for the  quality and scope of its  contribution to literature and knowledge, enriching life’s experiences for all. Come see our display of the works of African American authors, novels and non-fiction.

NEW BOOKS
FICTION:
“House of Secrets,” V.C. Andrews
“The Immortalists,” Chloe Benjamin
“The Wife Between Us,” Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen
“Lilac Girls,” Martha Hall Kelly
“Big Little Lies,” Liane Moriarty
“City of Endless Night,” Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
“Before We Were Yours,” Lisa Wingate

NON-FICTION:
“Jefferson’s Daughters: Three Sisters, White and Black in a Young America,” Catherine Kerrison
“Bringing Columbia Home: The Untold Story of a Lost Space Shuttle and Her Crew,” Michael Leinbach and Jonathom Ward
“Brave,” Rose McGowan; “Jackie, Janet and Lee
“The Secret Lives of Janet Auchincloss and Her Daughters, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Lee Radziwill,” J. Randy Taraborrelli

CHILDREN’S:
DK Eyewitness Books- Forensic Science; DK Eyewitness Books- Sharks
“I Survived the Children’s Blizzard, 1888,” Lauren Tarshis.

YOUNG ADULT:
“This Is Where It Ends,” Marieke Nijkamp

Each month, the Library team puts their heads together to buy the most interesting, most informative books that are sure to please the most people- the young and the not-so-young!
Along with the New York Times Bestsellers, we also check out “Best Picks” from other sources like Amazon and People magazine. We look for works of fiction and non-fiction that are well-written and that are informative and, most of all, interesting. We always strive to choose works to represent both sides of an issue. You can count on us to have a wide variety of topics and authors to choose from. That’s a promise!

Almost as important to us (well, maybe, just as important!) is our commitment to bring you programs that will enlighten, inform and amuse. January brings two new, on-going programs to the Library. Every first Tuesday from 10:30 to 11:30, 3-5 year olds may enjoy free play with blocks in our spacious auditorium. Our “Blocks Party” is a program that is sponsored by the State Library to encourage creativity in young children. As for something for the whole family, every last Saturday morning of the month from 10:30 to Noon, the Library invites your whole family to get together for a family-oriented movie. This month on January 27th, at 10:30am, we will feature “Cinderella” starring Lilly James as Cinderella with an all-star cast of Hollywood actors, rated PG.

As you may know, the Library has partnered with Hartzell’s Pharmacy to host a continuing series of “Health Talks.”
On Wednesday, January 24th at 6:00pm Dr. Vincent Hartzell will present “Understanding Your Medications.” Learn how to manage your medications and what questions to ask your pharmacist and physician. There you have it! Something for the very young, something for the whole family and something for every adult who would like to better manage their health needs. See you at the Library!

NEW BOOKS

FICTION:
“Robicheaux,” James Lee Burke
“The Wanted,” Robert Crais
“The Woman in the Window,” A.J. Finn

NON-FICTION:
“I Will Find You: Solving Killer Cases from My Life Fighting Crime,” Joe Kenda

CHILDREN’S FICTION:
“Wishtree,” Katherine Applegate;
“The Wolf, the Duck and the Mouse,” Mac Barnett
“The Princess and the Pony,” Kate Beaton
“The Wild Robot,” Peter Brown
“The Littlest Viking,” Alexandra Penfold
“Uni the Unicorn,” Amy Krouse Rosenthal
“Echo,” Pam Munoz Ryan
“Escargot,” Daska Slater
“Webster: Tale of an Outlaw,” Ellen Emerson White
“An Elephant and Piggie Biggie!” Mo Willems

COMING SOON

FICTION:
The Wife,” Alafair Burke; “Look for Me,” Lisa Gardner
“The Great Alone,” Kristin Hannah
“Night Moves,” Jonathon Kellerman
“Still Me,” Jojo Moyes
“Fifty Fifty,” James Patterson and Candice Fox

NON-FICTION:
“Wallis in Love: The Untold Life of the Duchess of Windsor, the Woman Who Changed the Monarchy,” Andrew Morton
“Murder Beyond the Grave,” James Patterson
“Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House,” Michael Wolff

“Tiny Tim’s Holiday Message”

For those of us who may not be familiar with Charles Dickens’ classic work A Christmas Carol, the last words on the last page read, “God Bless Us Every One,” spoken by  young Tiny Tim, a crippled boy, who is the heart and soul of Dickens’ Christmas message.  If you are not familiar with A Christmas Carol, you may be familiar with the expression, “Bah, Humbug!” spoken often by the mean and miserly  Ebenezer Scrooge.  Suffice it to say that no matter how awful Scrooge is to everyone, especially Tiny Tim’s father, who works for Scrooge, Tiny Tim remains a cheerful, loving child.  Scrooge does, of course,  get his due, in the form of the ghost of his dead partner and the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come. Transformed by those visions, Scrooge comes to embody the spirit of Christmas generosity. That is what most folks feel is Dickens’ message.  Yet, let us not forget that Dickens chose to end his masterpiece with this essential holiday message to every one of every faith:   “God Bless Us Everyone!”   The Board of Trustees and the Staff of the Public Library of Catasauqua wish everyone a joyous Holiday Season and  a very, very Happy New Year.

Speaking of the New Year, here at the Library we will be hosting Hartzell’s Pharmacy’s  newest “Health Talks” on “Understanding Your Medications,” January 24^th at 6pm.  Dr. Vincent Hartzell, Pharmacist and President of Hartzell’s Pharmacy, will discuss the important role medication plays  in managing disease, as well as how to organize your medications and how to recognize medication side effects and allergies.  As always, Hartzell’s will offer free blood pressure screenings, and the Library will provide healthy refreshments. Registration is appreciated, but not required: 610-264-4151.

The New Year brings two new programs to the Library.  Beginning January 2^nd  and every first Tuesday to follow, children aged 2-5 are invited to a  “Block Party!”  Yes, literally, a Block Party featuring dozens and dozens of blocks in all shapes and sizes waiting to be put together to become whatever a child sees in his or her imagination.  Along with the blocks we have a huge assortment of  figures of animals as well as people of all nationalities, cars and trucks and just about everything you can think of to create a child’s dream universe. Bring your young children to the Library for an hour of creative play  from 10:30 to 11:30 every first Tuesday of the month.  Just when you thought the Library programming was wonderful enough, beginning January  27^th and every last Saturday of the month at 10:30 am, the Library will be showing a family friendly movie in our auditorium.  So, keep in mind the first Tuesdays and the  last Saturdays of each month for family friendly programs to delight the very young as well as the whole family.  Oh yes, you can bring a friend!

NEW BOOKS

Adult Fiction:
“Promise Not to Tell,” Jayne Ann Krentz;
“Little Fires Everywhere,” Celeste Ng
“Dark in Death,” J.D. Robb
“Fall From Grace,” Danielle Steel
“Unbound,” Stuart Woods

Adult Non-Fiction:
Guinness World Records 2018,” Guinness World Records
“The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2018,” Sarah Janssen, Editor
“Let Trump Be Trump: The Inside Story of His Rise to the Presidency,” Corey R. Lewandowski and David N. Bossie
“All-American Murder,” James Patterson
Home Sweet Murder,” James Patterson
“Murder, Interrupted,” James Patterson
“Obama: An Intimate Portrait,” Pete Souza

Children’s Fiction: “The Magic Misfits,” Neil Patrick Harris
“Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth,” Oliver Jeffers
“We’re All Wonders,” R.J. Palacio

NEW DVD’S:
“A Dog’s Purpose,”
“Apollo 13,”
“The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel,”
“Heaven Is For Real,”
“Hidden Figures,”
“Lion,”
“The Shack,”
“Sully,”
“The Zookeeper’s Wife.”

Giving Thanks

“We must find time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives.”  –John F. Kennedy, The 35th President of the United States

“Thank you̕  is the best prayer that anyone could say. I say that one a lot. Thank you expresses extreme gratitude, humility, understanding.”  –Alice Walker, Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award Winner for The Color Purple

John F. Kennedy and Alice Walker remind us that saying thank you is good for the soul. If, right this minute,  you had the opportunity to say “Thank You” to someone who made a difference in your life,  who would that be?   Chances are you have a long list. I hope that somewhere on everyone’s long list of people to thank is a teacher, because, without a doubt,  teachers are in a position to make a difference in our lives.  I once heard a teacher say, “I have never known anyone who was sorry they tried their best.”  The opportunity to be our best is definitely something to be grateful for. And, every opportunity to be our best is an opportunity for growth and a blessing.

Like teachers, here in the Library, we are in the business of life-long learning.  To that end, we are grateful for the many individuals and organizations that have presented educational and entertaining programs.  To name a few: The Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group’s” Battle of the Books,”   Kelly Decker’s “All Things Google,” Rebecca Zukowski-Gillespie’s Disney Princess Story Times, Hartzell’s Pharmacy’s many “Heath Talks”,  North Penn Legal Services “Landlord Tenant Rights,” The Historic Catasauqua Preservation Association’s Walking Tour, The Lehigh Valley Storytelling Guild’s “Spooktacular,” Joe Carl’s “Until Help Arrives,”  and all our many, many Summer Reading Program presenters.

On behalf of the Trustees of the Public Library of Catasauqua and the Library Staff, you are wished a very Happy Thanksgiving and a Blessed Holiday Season.  Be sure to come to see us after December 6,^th when the Catasauqua Garden Club will have decorated the Library’s Christmas Tree.  Donations of canned goods for the Catasauqua Food Bank are gratefully accepted.

NEW BOOKS

Fiction:
“Secrets of Cavendon,” Barbara Taylor Bradford
“Tom Clancy Power and Empire,” Marc Cameron
“Uncommon Type: Some Stories,” Tom Hanks
“The Whispering Room,” Dean Koontz
“Year One (Chronicles of the One Series #1), Nora Roberts
“Past Perfect,” Danielle Steel

Non-Fiction:
“Hacks: The Inside Story of the Break-Ins and Breakdowns That Put Donald Trump in The White House,” Donna Brazile
“We Were Eight Years in Power: An American Tragedy,” Ta-Nehisi Coates
“Gold Dust Woman: The Biography of Stevie Nicks,” Stephen Davis
“Leonardo da Vinci,” Walter Isaacson
“Andrew Jackson and the Miracle of New Orleans: The Battle that Shaped America’s Destiny,” Brian Kilmeade and Don Yaeger
“Member of the Family: My Story of Charles Manson, Life Inside  His Cult, and the Darkness that Ended the Sixties,” Dianne Lake and Deborah Herman
“Bobby Kennedy: A Raging Spirit,” Chris Matthews
“Food Can Fix It: The Superfood Switch to Fight Fat, Defy Aging and Eat Your Way Healthy,” Mehmet Oz
“Wisdom of Sundays,” Oprah Winfrey

Children’s Fiction:
“Through Your Eyes: My Child’s Gift to Me,” Ainsley Earhardt and Ji-Hyuk Kim
“Everything is Mama,” Jimmy Fallon and Miguel Ordonez
“Madeline Finn and the Library Dog,” Lisa Papp
“Elvis Presley’s Love Me Tender,”  Elvis Presley and Stephanie Graegin (Illustrator)
“Creepy Pair of Underwear!” Aaron Reynolds and Peter Brown

Children’s Non-Fiction:
“Not So Different: What You Really Want to Ask About Having a Disability,” Shane Burcaw
“Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History,” Vashti Harrison

Lessons in Making the World a Better Place: Summer Reading 2017!

The Summer Reading 2017 “Build A Better World” themed programs introduced young patrons to the idea that even a child can make the world a better place and have fun doing so. Starting with the help of the members of the Catasauqua Garden Club, Summer Readers potted up a flower to take home, making their world a little more beautiful. Children learned about the moon in relation to our world, learning about what’s beyond. Brightly decorated birdhouses celebrated our feathered friends. Dr. Seuss’s lesson on the environment turned Bartholomew’s Oobleck into “slime,” to the delight of every child. Pirate stories were all about unity in song and action.

The Wildlands Conservancy taught us about respect for wildlife. Allentown Symphony’s hands-on instrumental “Petting Zoo” proved that music truly is the universal language. Fitness expert Jess showed us how to be a better, that is healthy, person. And meeting Officer Wiseman and Canine Officer Zora was a lesson in gratitude for keeping us safe. Children from the YMCA Summer Camp and St. Paul’s Day Care joined us for many of our programs. That made the world a better place because we shared special experiences and made new friends! Every day, the Library hopes to make your world a better place by encouraging your love of reading.

The Library has two September programs that we think you will not want to miss. For every one who remembers our Cinderella and Snow White story times, you will be happy to know that Rebecca Zukowski-Gillespie, Catasauqua’s own “Blondie, will be back as “Elsa” on September 25th at 6pm. She looks the part! She acts the part! She is “Elsa!” On a more serious note, Hartzell’s “Health Talks” takes on a very important subject. Sheila Nemeth, CarePatrol’s Certified Senior Advisor, along with Dominique Cipollone, Registered Pharmacist, will address the question of “Family Caregiving and When It’s Time to Get Help.” CarePatrol is a free service to help families find quality senior care. Sheila will provide information and advice on a variety of options including in-home care, independent living, assisted living and memory care. This is a program for those of us who face these issues now or expect we might in the future.

NEW BOOKS

Fiction:
Don’t Let Go” by Harlan Coben
“Enigma” by Catherine Coulter
“The Last Tudor” by Philippa Gregory
“The Girl Who Takes an Eye for an Eye” by David Lagercrantz
“Vince Flynn Enemy of the State” by Kyle Mills
“Haunted” by James Patterson and James O. Born
“Secrets in Death” by J.D. Robb
“The Good Daughter” by Karin Slaughter

Non-Fiction:
“Helter Skelter” by Vincent Bugliosi
“What Happened” by Hillary Rodham Clinton
“Killing England” by Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard

Juvenile:
“Minecraft: The Island” by Max Brooks

Children’s:
“Little Excavator” by Anna Dewdney
“What Do You Do With An Idea?” by Kobi Yamada

Through the generosity of the Trustees of the Harry C. Trexler Trust, the Library is now in the process of installing audial/visual equipment in the upstairs auditorium that will enable the Library to present educational and recreational presentations on subjects of interest to our patrons and to the community generally.
With that in mind, plans are being made to welcome non-profit organizations who wish to reach our service population. We look forward to being able to welcome large audiences for civic minded programs. And, at the top of the list of recreational activities is family movie nights, especially (You guessed it!) those movies based on books. Let us know which are your favorites!

The Trexler Trustees are also making it possible for the Library to improve the quality of our children’s fiction collections with award winning literature. We will be purchasing recent and previous works that have been recognized for Caldecott, Newbery, Coretta Scott King and Michael L. Printz medals. Additionally, the Library expects to add works that focus on the non-fiction areas of learning called STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. STEM based resources represent an initiative mandated by the State Library of Pennsylvania. Taken together, with attention to the arts as well, STEM based materials represent the basic areas of the K-12 school experience.

Last, but never least: Mark your calendars!
On Monday evening September 25th at 6pm, she’s back! Rebecca Zukowski-Gillespie, our own Blondie, will become “Elsa,” the beloved Disney heroine of Frozen. Those of you who have met Rebecca as Cinderella and as Snow White know that she does a fantastic job of retelling the Disney story and interacting with the children in character. This time it will be as “Elsa.”

On a different and very important note, our partner, Hartzell’s Pharmacy, will present the next “Health Talk” on September 28th at 6pm. Sheila Nemeth, Certified Senior Advisor, CarePatrol, will be speaking on the subject “Family Caregiving and When It’s Time to Get Help.” She will be assisted by a member of Hartzell’s professional pharmacy staff. CarePatrol is a free service to help families find quality senior care. And, don’t forget to check our Events for an up-to-date listing of Library activities.

NEW BOOKS

Fiction:
“Seeing Red,” Sandra Brown
“Down a Dark Road,” Linda Castillo
“Wired,” Julie Garwood
“Y is for Yesterday,” Sue Grafton
”The Identicals,” Elin Hilderbrand
“Crime Scene,” Jonathan Kellerman and Jesse Kellerman
“Any Dream Will Do,” Debbie Macomber
“The Store,” James Patterson and Richard DiLallo
“The Right Time,” Danielle Steel
“Barely Legal,” Stuart Woods and Parnell Hall

Non-Fiction:
“The Swamp,” Eric Bolling
“Understanding Trump,” Newt Gingrich
“I Can’t Make This Up,” Kevin Hart with Neil Strauss

Children’s Fiction:
“Mother Bruce,” Ryan T. Higgins
“A Big Day for Baseball (Magic Tree House Series #29),” Mary Pope Osborne
“We Are In A Book!” Mo Willems

It’s All About The Love of Reading!

The Library’s Summer Reading programs are all about giving our children a variety of educational and recreational experiences that will inspire and encourage them to become lifelong learners. It should come as no surprise that reading is the foundation of that process. According to the National Institute of Health, when children love to read they are more likely to love to learn. And, the experts tell us, children best learn to love reading when they can choose what they read.

That’s very important, because children will often read a book they like over and over again. That builds confidence. And, don’t worry if your child picks books that seem “too easy” or “too silly.” Again, important skills like vocabulary and comprehension are going to be strengthened, because that’s what children’s authors do: They build all those important skills into books on subjects that children love. The result is the perfect mix of having a great time learning what you need to learn!

Speaking of the love of reading, summer is the perfect time for everyone to catch up on their favorite authors.
We make every effort to have a really good selection of what’s on the New York Times Bestsellers lists. Next time you take out that new bestseller, be sure to check the stacks for the author’s previous works. You may have missed a goody from a while back.

As many of you already know, we have partnered with Hartzell’s Pharmacy to present “Health Talks.” Please join us on Thursday, July 20th, for “Health Talks: Supplements and Their Use,” presented by pharmacist Kamil Rudzinski. Medications, your food source and health issues can adversely affect the nutrient levels in your body. Learn how supplements may help you reach your health goals! Hartzell’s Pharmacy is dedicated to helping you maintain good health. Your attendance at this program automatically enters you in a drawing for a free starter supply of basic supplements. The Library will thank you with a chance to win a $15 gift certificate to the Bridge Street Family Restaurant.

NEW BOOKS:

Fiction:
“The Late Show,” Michael Connelly
“Nighthawk,” Clive Cussler and Graham Brown
“A Piece of the World,” Christina Baker Kline
“Tom Clancy: Point of Contact,” Mike Maden
“House of Spies,” Daniel Silva
“The Duchess,”Danielle Steel
“Beren and Luthien,” J.R.R.Tolkien

Non-Fiction:
“The Zookeeper’s Wife,” Diane Ackerman
“The Perfect Horse,” Elizabeth Letts
“Option B,” Sheryl Sanberg
“The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks,” Rebecca Skloot

Children Fiction:
“The Adventures of Captain Underpants,” Dav Pilkey
“Captain Underpants and the Big Bad Battle of the Bionic Booger Boy,” Parts 1 and 2, Dav Pilkey
“Captain Underpants and the Wrath of the Wicked Wedgie Woman,” Dav Pilkey

Children Non-Fiction: “She Persisted: 13 American Women Who Changed the World,” Chelsea Clinton and Alexandra Boiger