Author elianahcls

The book cover shows four whales in dark-blue silhouette, facing in opposite directions against a lighter blue ocean background. One whale is emitting a breath, which turns into a long white line that connects all four of them together. The title and subtitle of the book are inscribed in white across their bodies.

The Sea-Ringed World: Sacred Stories of the Americas

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The book cover shows four whales in dark-blue silhouette, facing in opposite directions against a lighter blue ocean background. One whale is emitting a breath, which turns into a long white line that connects all four of them together. The title and subtitle of the book are inscribed in white across their bodies.

By Eliana H.

November is Native American Heritage Month, and I’d like to share a special book in honor of that observance. I am writing this post at the Elkridge Branch, and before I begin sharing the information about the book, I’d like to acknowledge the history of the land we are occupying. 

We want to respectfully honor the Susquehannock Confederation who governed, lived, farmed, and hunted on the land now called Howard County. Their nations conceded into land treaties in 1652 and 1661 after English colonizers ended their generational governance and stewardship of the land Howard County is built upon. This practice of land acknowledgement is to honor and respect the indigenous inhabitants both from the past and the present. 

Native Americans are part of our present as well as our past, still living in communities around the Americas despite the atrocities that have been committed against them. While none of us has the power to go back and change the course of history, we can make a step toward greater shared understanding through the power of stories. One source for stories from various Native American traditions is The Sea-Ringed World: Sacred Stories of the Americas by María García Esperón, illustrated by Amanda Mijangos, and translated by David Bowles. 

I noticed this book on our new children’s nonfiction shelf, and I had to pick it up. I was eager to increase my understanding of some of the mythology of the groups that lived here for thousands of years before Europeans arrived. I read the tales aloud to my 10-year-old child, and we were both captivated by the narratives, which were very new to us. As with any mythology, the stories in The Sea-Ringed World explore essential questions of humanity: What is our place in the universe? What are the origins of this world? What happens when we move out of this life? And many others.

Before you begin reading the stories in this volume, I encourage you to peruse the back matter a bit. A note about transcription of Indigenous terms is followed by a pronunciation guide, which is especially helpful if you are reading aloud. In addition to those, you will find “A Quick Guide to Cultures,” along with a map of those cultures, a glossary (including more pronunciation help!), and a bibliography. 

Even if you do not make it through all of the narratives contained in The Sea-Ringed World, it is worth exploring at least a few. Be sure to pause on the striking tricolor illustrations that adorn many of the pages. 

Extra note: I was especially glad for the background knowledge provided by this book when I read Gods of Jade and Shadow!

Eliana is a Children’s Instructor and Research Specialist at the Elkridge Branch and co-chair of the HCLS Equity Committee. She loves reading, even if she’s slow at it, and especially enjoys helping people find books that make them light up. She also loves being outside and spending time with friends and family (when it’s safe).

The book cover depicts a little girl in a blue print nightgown and ponytails with pink ribbons, in bed with her pink teddy bear. She has hands on her hips as if she is confronting the six monsters surrounding her, whose expressions range from menacing to goofy to friendly.

Mostly Monsterly

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By Eliana H.

Does your family have monsters on the mind? If you’re looking for inspiration for wacky Halloween costumes or just want to enjoy some cute, silly monster stories, look no further. Here are a few of my favorite monstrously fun picture books. 

Monsters Go Night-Night by Aaron Zenz

The book cover depicts a blue monster with orange hair and a dragon-like tail and a smaller orange monster bouncing with gleeful smiles above two white pillows and some white feathers, as if having a pillow fight at a slumber party.

Be prepared for your little one to beg you to read this over and over again. Each page presents a question of how monsters get ready for bed with multiple answer options. Your little one may be surprised, even if you are not, by what monsters use in familiar bedtime routines. 

The book cover depicts a little girl in a blue print nightgown and ponytails with pink ribbons, in bed with her pink teddy bear. She has hands on her hips as if she is confronting the six monsters surrounding her, whose expressions range from menacing to goofy to friendly.

Monster Trouble! by Lane Fredrickson 

Poor Winifred Schnitzel has some trouble with monsters. They keep pestering her at bedtime, keeping her awake, and nothing she tries works to trap them or scare them away! Until one night, Winifred is so exhausted that she’s half-asleep and tries something completely different. Check out this fun, rhyming book to see what you might be able to do to get rid of any monsters bothering you! 

The book cover depicts a blue monster with pink horns and four sharp teeth, wearing a black and white striped shirt and running with arms outstretched.

There’s a Monster in Your Book by Tom Fletcher 

Part of a series of interactive titles, this book comes with its own monster. Oh no! What do we need to do to get rid of it? Follow the directions on each page together and see if you can get this (actually very cute and friendly-looking) monster out of your book. 

The book cover depicts a one-eyed green monster with a red mouth and three teeth, holding a blue bowl of mac and cheese that also has a red mouth and three teeth on the side.

The Monster Mac & Cheese Party by Todd Parr

Todd Parr is a favorite author and illustrator with a very distinctive style and many, many books under his belt. I was excited to see this new one hit the shelves, especially in time for spooky season. A range of different monster-y creatures bring their own twists on macaroni and cheese to The Monster Mac & Cheese Party – no humans allowed! But if the book makes you hungry for some people-friendly macaroni and cheese, check out the recipes at the back to try making your own. 

The book cover depicts a red monster with a little at its side in bed, clutching the bedcovers and looking up and to the side as if frightened.

Love Monster and the Scary Something by Rachel Bright 

Even though Love Monster followed all his usual bedtime routines, he can’t fall asleep. Then, he hears some spooky sounds coming into his house and finds himself even MORE awake! What could that scary something be? What will Love Monster do?

The book cover depicts a child in a monster costume, seated cross-legged and reading a book cloud to a large group of varied monsters, mummies, witches, ghosts and dragons who are arrayed behind. Branches with a few leaves and the moon are above in a night sky.

I Will Read to You by Gideon Sterer 

Another new title that’s a perfect fit for our monstrous menu, this book calls to mind Where the Wild Things Are but with a child who encourages calm rather than clamor. As a mother offers to read to her child, he asks her about who takes care of the monsters! Then, the two walk together to a spot where they summon creatures of all kinds to come and listen to a bedtime story. Mother is supportive and proud, then the two head home for the human child’s turn to be read to. A very sweet perspective on monsters, perfect for your big-hearted little one.

Eliana is a Children’s Instructor and Research Specialist at the Elkridge Branch and co-chair of the HCLS Equity Committee. She loves reading, even if she’s slow at it, and especially enjoys helping people find books that make them light up. She also loves being outside and spending time with friends and family (when it’s safe).

The cover depicts three of the witchlings - one with a worried expression who is wringing her hands, one with a smug expression with arms crossed, and one wide-eyed, facing forward. There are buildings with peaked roofs and turrets in the background, and the eyes of the Nightbeast are superimposed over the starry night sky.

Summer Reading Adventures: Friendship Stories

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By Eliana H.

Some of you may have already collected your finisher prizes for our Summer Reading Adventure. If you have, congratulations! Great job reading and completing activities. It’s not too late to visit one of our branches to collect your prize if you haven’t. They are available through Thursday, August 31, as long as supplies last. If you’re still working on finishing those last few reads, I have a highlight for you from each of our elementary lists. This time, I’m focusing on friendship stories. 

Grades K-1: 

Amy Wu and the Warm Welcome by Kat Zhang (also available as an e-book)

The cover depicts an array of children and a white kitten, holding a gold and white banner with the book's title written in fuschia.

This book offers a beautiful beginning, showing ways to say “welcome” from around the world even before the title page. Amy is excited to see a new student join her class, but he doesn’t talk at all during the school day, even when she tries very hard to make him feel welcome. When she sees him light up and talk away to his little sister – in Chinese – she’s surprised to see how different he is! Amy thinks hard and comes up with an idea of another way to make him feel welcome. Check the book out to see if Amy succeeds, and be sure to explore the craft idea and note from the author.

Grades 2-3: 

How to Test a Friendship by Theanne Griffith

The book cover shows three students working on a science project involving a miniature ecosystem under a dome, with books and a microscope on a table in front of them. One of them holds an Erlenmeyer flask and another holds a pencil and a booklet that says "STEM notes." All three are wearing t-shirts with science motifs - two have rockets, planets, and stars, and the third has a diagram of an atom.

How to Test a Friendship, the first title in the series Magnificent Makers, introduces readers to third graders Pablo and Violet, best friends who are looking forward to being in the same class and studying science, their favorite subject. When new student Deepak appears and starts making friends with Violet, Pablo is not very excited. But the three suddenly find themselves transported to the Maker Maze when they solve a riddle in science class. They must complete challenges to return to their world, but they will only finish in time if they work together. Can Pablo set aside his hard feelings toward Deepak so that they make it home in time? Do they know enough to solve the puzzles? If your young scientist is feeling inspired, be sure to take a look the STEM activities in the back to try at home! 

Grades 4-5: 

The Witchlings by Claribel A. Ortega 

The cover depicts three of the witchlings - one with a worried expression who is wringing her hands, one with a smug expression with arms crossed, and one wide-eyed, facing forward. There are buildings with peaked roofs and turrets in the background, and the eyes of the Nightbeast are superimposed over the starry night sky.

Readers who enjoy fantasy will love The Witchlings, offering another unique view of magic and the world by the author of Ghost Squad. It’s the night of the Black Moon Ceremony, when Witchlings are placed in their covens, and twelve-year-old Seven Salazar knows exactly where she wants to be: House Hyacinth, with her best friend Poppy. Instead, Seven’s worst nightmare comes true. She’s named a Spare, one of the three witches left over at the end of the ceremony, along with Thorn, who is new to town, and Valley, Seven’s long-time enemy. Spares are stripped of their magic and treated poorly, but Seven invokes the rarely used Clause of the Impossible Task. If she and the other Spares can accomplish the Impossible Task, they will complete their circle and become a true coven. When they learn they need to find and defeat the dreaded Nightbeast, Seven and her coven wonder what they’ve gotten themselves into. Little do they know, Seven, Thorn, and Valley will uncover even darker and more mysterious things lurking in their town of Ravenskill. They need to work together and learn to trust each other if they have any chance of success. Check out The Witchlings to discover whether they manage the impossible and overcome their own pasts and fears, as well as the dark powers working against them.

Be part of HCLS’ Summer Reading Adventures.

Eliana is a Children’s Research Specialist and Instructor at HCLS Elkridge Branch. She loves reading, even if she’s slow at it, and especially enjoys helping people find books that make them light up. She also loves being outside and spending time with friends and family (when it’s safe).

How to Keep House While Drowning by KC Davis

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by Eliana H.

I read – actually, listened to – How to Keep House While Drowning after a good friend shared repeatedly and enthusiastically how valuable it was to her. It’s pretty short, and I figured it was worth a look at least. Let me now tell YOU that it is certainly worth picking up. There is a line on page 6 that says, “If you are crying (or wincing internally) right now, this book is for you.” I will freely admit here that I was crying at that point, and this book was for me. 

If you have ever found yourself having a hard time keeping up with everything you feel like you should be doing, this book is for you, too. Everyone struggles sometimes. Our society puts ever-increasing demands on all of us, but it doesn’t necessarily provide the support needed to meet those expectations. For many of us, there are times where even basic tasks can feel overwhelming, especially if we struggle with ADHD, depression, or other challenges to executive functioning. 

Author KC Davis is a licensed professional therapist, and she is so gentle with readers of this book. Chapters are short, main points are highlighted, and a shortcut journey through the book is offered for those who do not have the capacity to go through the whole thing. But most of all, judgment is completely removed. Every situation Davis describes is explained as a legitimate challenge or obstacle, and she explicitly tells us early on that she does not think laziness exists. What a novel, generous concept! It should not be such an amazing thing to offer everyone grace and compassion when they are struggling, but Davis does so ably and authentically. 

The primary tenet guiding this book is this: “You don’t exist to serve your space; your space exists to serve you.” It’s that simple and that groundbreaking. When we can reframe our perspective on the relative value of our time and having a picture-perfect home, we can find space to prioritize what truly needs to get done, in what timeframe, and to what level. Concrete steps are offered to guide you through the process of managing care tasks – the term Davis uses to encompass the everyday business of caring for oneself and one’s belongings. Nothing is set in stone, and throughout the book, readers are encouraged to figure out what works for them. Everyone’s capacities and priorities are different, so no strategy works for all. But helpful suggestions and guidelines can give us a place to start, even when we are struggling. 

Even if you’re telling yourself “I’m not drowning,” it’s worth taking a look at How to Keep House While Drowning. Just a glance at the short appendices may give you some ideas for improving the functionality of your space, and you may find yourself wanting to see more of what the author has to say. You can borrow it in print, audiobook on CD, e-book, or e-audiobook. 

Eliana is a Children’s Research Specialist and Instructor at HCLS Elkridge Branch. She loves reading, even if she’s slow at it, and especially enjoys helping people find books that make them light up. She also loves being outside and spending time with friends and family (when it’s safe).

The picture shows a beige tree with green leaves against a pale pink background, surrounded by animals, including a wolf, a tortoise, a buffalo, and a beaver.

Animal Fun on the Summer Reading Lists

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The photograph shows a tiger bathing in a pool of water.
Photo by Jakob Owens on Unsplash.

By Eliana H.

Happy Summer! I’m hoping that you are enjoying lots of fun activities so far this summer, including some of our classes and events. When you’re ready for some quieter fun, of course we always encourage you to dive into a good book. Our Summer Reading Adventures last all summer long, so here are a few suggestions to check out and regain your momentum if the first burst of reading excitement has passed for your student. In particular, these are titles that many an animal lover will be excited to explore. 

K-1: 

Wutaryoo by Nilah Magruder 

The illustration shows the title creature, Wutaryoo, facing a group of animals in what looks like a conversation, against a green-blue sky. The animals include an elephant, a giraffe, a fox, a rabbit, a bird, a buffalo, and a wolf.

In this book, Wutaryoo is a mysterious creature. She doesn’t know her name, so when other animals come up and say “Wutaryoo?” it sticks. Since she can’t answer their question, Wutaryoo asks it back. And each animal tells her their story, of what kind of creature they are and how that type of creature came to be. More than anything, Wutaryoo wants to know her own story, who her people are, and where she came from. So, Wutaryoo sets off on a long journey to try to find out. She walks and swims and climbs and digs. She encounters even more different kinds of creatures and seeks answers for herself. Where does she go, and what does she learn? You’ll have to read the book to find out! 

2-3: 

Horace and Bunwinkle by PJ Gardner 

The illustration shows a dog and a pig, back-to-back, in front of a barn and a fence against a blue sky with fluffy white clouds. A female mallard is perched on one of the fenceposts.

Horace is a very proper Boston terrier who hates dirt and the outdoors. So when his person, Eleanor, moves to a farm called the Homestead, he is NOT excited. Just as he starts to come to terms with this new home, Eleanor adopts a piglet as Horace’s little sister and calls her Bunwinkle. The two couldn’t be more different, and they can’t understand each other at all. Eventually they begin to bond, especially when they start to watch a pet detective show together. Soon they discover a real mystery in their neighborhood when animals start to disappear! Can Horace and Bunwinkle, along with their friends, solve the mystery before it’s too late and one of them disappears?! Read along as Horace, Bunwinkle, and the whole cast of furry and feathered friends – each of whom has LOTS of personality – work together to figure it out. 

4-5: 

Rewilding: Bringing Wildlife Back Where It Belongs by David A. Steen, illustrated by Chiara Fedele 

The picture shows a beige tree with green leaves against a pale pink background, surrounded by animals, including a wolf, a tortoise, a buffalo, and a beaver.

Anyone with much interest in animals will know that, unfortunately, many are endangered. Whether due to habitat loss, over-hunting, or other human activities, people have made it impossible – or nearly so – for some animals and plants to thrive in the places they used to live. This book shares efforts that have been made around the world to help various wildlife make a comeback in the areas where they previously flourished. From toads to lynxes to carnivorous plants, learn about how people have worked to change the circumstances they face and support their success. Beautiful, realistic illustrations help readers envision the flora and fauna being described, and a “What Can You Do?” section at the end inspires action to accompany the learning. 

Eliana is a Children’s Research Specialist and Instructor at HCLS Elkridge Branch. She loves reading, even if she’s slow at it, and especially enjoys helping people find books that make them light up. She also loves being outside and spending time with friends and family (when it’s safe).

The black cover sports a silhouetted treeline and the eyes and upright ears of a fox, drawn in watercolors.

Author Event: The Nocturnals

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The black cover sports a silhouetted treeline and the eyes and upright ears of a fox, drawn in watercolors.

By Eliana H.

If you’ve ever taken an evening walk, you might have noticed signs of some animals that are active at night. Maybe you’ve heard an owl call or seen a bat winging its way through the sky. We call those animals nocturnal, and lots of fascinating nocturnal animals live in our neighborhoods and parks. You can learn more about some of them along with the process of writing a book from Tracey Hecht at our Author Works event on Wednesday, May 17, at 7:30 pm at the Elkridge Branch.

Author Tracey Hecht has written a critically-acclaimed children’s book series called The Nocturnals about a group of unlikely friends who are all animals active at night. Dawn, a serious fox; Tobin, a sweet pangolin; and Bismark, a pint-sized sugar glider, head off on fun-filled adventures in this middle-grade series, starting with The Mysterious Abductions. Early Reader books such as The Moonlight Meeting and The Slithery Shakedown introduce younger readers to these friends while presenting themes that encourage kindness, empathy, and bravery.

Participate on Wednesday evening in an interactive workshop to learn more about the animal science that inspired the books. You can also explore developing characters, creating author voice, and learning how books are made. Visit the children’s desk at HCLS Elkridge Branch before the workshop to collect a mask craft you can make that also reminds you what time the event begins. When you come to hear Tracey speak, you receive a bookmark, and if you’re lucky, you might win a plush fox or a Nocturnals activity book. The workshop is best for children ages 5 to 12 years. Books available for purchase and signing. 

About the Author

Tracey Hecht has written, directed, and produced for film. The American Booksellers Association chose The Mysterious Abductions—the first book in her critically acclaimed middle-grade series The Nocturnals—as a Kids’ Indie Next List pick. With the New York Public Library, she created a Read Aloud Writing Program that has since been used in more than 200 schools, libraries, and bookstores. When she isn’t writing, she can be found hiking, reading, or spending time with her family. Tracey currently splits her time between New York City and Oquossoc, Maine, with her husband and four children.

Eliana is a Children’s Research Specialist and Instructor at HCLS Elkridge Branch. She loves reading, even if she’s slow at it, and especially enjoys helping people find books that make them light up. She also loves being outside and spending time with friends and family (when it’s safe).

Three books propped upright by the bubble wall in the Elkridge Branch children's area: The Yeti Files, Aven Green, and J.D. and the Great Barber Battle

Fun with First Chapter Books

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Three books propped upright by the bubble wall in the Elkridge Branch children's area: The Yeti Files, Aven Green, and J.D. and the Great Barber Battle

by Eliana H.

At least once a week, typically more often, I walk a library guest over to my favorite children’s collection: First Chapter Books. Since you’re not at the Elkridge Branch visiting me in person, welcome to my virtual tour of this great option for young readers. 

A few things might lead us over to First Chapter Books. Maybe someone is asking about their second grader who has progressed past early readers but is still intimidated by the longer texts in Children’s Fiction. Perhaps a grown-up wants their child to read more than only graphic novels. Possibly a young reader is looking for some funny books, and they read quickly, so they want to know there are more book in the series waiting for them. Any of those requests are likely to prompt me to invite you to follow me as we head toward our First Chapter Book collection. 

You may be asking, so what is a First Chapter Book? First Chapter Books are chapter books, as you might have guessed, but they still have illustrations. The collection has a range of levels, but they all contain a bit less dense text than Children’s Fiction, where the rest of our chapter books live. Some have pictures on every page and maybe only a few sentences per page, while others may have a few pages of text before another illustration appears. First Chapter Books are not for a specific age. I’ve suggested the collection for readers throughout elementary grades. While all the books fit within a certain range of reading levels, they are not arranged by difficulty. As with most of our other collections, titles are shelved alphabetically by author name. Most of our First Chapter Books are part of series, so enthusiastic readers can continue to follow the adventures of favorite characters. Many of the books engage your sense of humor, and fantasy and magic are common themes as well. Plenty of options are available for children who want to read stories about kids just like them. 

So the next time you are looking for a fun book that won’t be too taxing for a fairly fluent reader, ask your friendly library staff member where you can find the First Chapter Book collection. If you have a reader between the ages of six and nine in your house who wants to talk about First Chapter Books with others, join me for Paragraph Pals, which meets monthly at the Elkridge Branch. You can register for our next meeting here starting March 2. 

Eliana is a Children’s Research Specialist and Instructor at HCLS Elkridge Branch. She loves reading, even if she’s slow at it, and especially enjoys helping people find books that make them light up. She also loves being outside and spending time with friends and family (when it’s safe).

And adult and child sit on the floor in the children's area and look at a book together.

National Education Week & The Importance of Reading

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Two adults and two children sit on the modular sofa at the library, both children have books in their laps.
Library Life Savage Branch

by Eliana H.

When was the last time you read a book to a young child? Maybe it was a title you’ve read dozens of times, and the child was even saying some of the words along with you. You might be hoping they will get excited about something different soon. Perhaps it was a book you hadn’t read before, and you enjoyed discovering it along with them. Either way, you were helping that child’s brain develop just by reading to them.

We all want our children to be successful. While there may be a range of opinions on what that looks like and which tools are most helpful to support said success, research provides a few clear answers. One of those is that reading with children, from birth onward, sets them up for academic and later life success. Numerous studies have shown that reading with children from early in life encourages language development, as well as overall brain development. Children who are read to every day during their early childhood may enter Kindergarten having been exposed to over one million more words than their peers who were never read to. This increased vocabulary sets up those from a literacy-rich home for success from the start of their school careers.

Thankfully, you can find plenty of high-quality children’s books to borrow for free at any of our HCLS branches. If you bring a young child to one of our classes, you can even get a break from being the reader! Feel free to ask any of our staff for recommendations for books to read with your children. And don’t be afraid to let little ones choose some for themselves. For more suggested activities and materials to help children develop literacy skills, check out one of our Literacy Activity Kits. Or perhaps select a toy to borrow and act out a story you’ve read or created on your own. Whatever books or materials you select, read early and often with young children to set them up for success in school and beyond.

Eliana is a Children’s Research Specialist and Instructor at HCLS Elkridge Branch. She loves reading, even if she’s slow at it, and especially enjoys helping people find books that make them light up. She also loves being outside and spending time with friends and family (when it’s safe).

The title is depicted in leaves, in fall shades of red, orange, green, brown, and yellow, with leaves of similar shades falling and on the ground beneath.

Falling for Children’s Books

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by Eliana H.

I have to admit that fall is my favorite season. Having moved to Maryland from Texas as an adult, I continue to find joy and excitement in the crisp weather and beautiful colors that nature puts on display around these parts. It certainly isn’t the case everywhere! To help you savor the season with young people in your life, or just on your own, here are a few kid-friendly fall reads for you to enjoy.

The book cover depicts a white elephant eating an apple and a white mouse sitting astride another apple next to an overturned bucket of apples. An orange pumpkin is on the ground next to the elephant. The title, "Fall Friends," is on a sign behind them, and the sun is setting behind that with fall leaves on tree branches overhead as well as on the ground surrounding them.

Fall Friends by Mike Curato 

This seasonal installment in the Little Elliot series finds Elliot, an elephant, and his friend Mouse taking a fall vacation away from the city where they live. Escaping the hustle and bustle gives them the chance to slow down, enjoy what nature has to offer in the autumn, and make some new friends. A sweet, simple read that evokes common features that tend to be fall favorites, share this with a little one in your life and have a conversation about your favorite things to do this time of year! 

The cover is a photograph of fall leaves in shades of red, orange, and yellow against the backdrop of a blue sky.

Full of Fall by April Pulley Sayre 

Vibrant, detailed photography of fall sights pop in this appealing picture book, accompanied by simple text that immediately brings to mind real-life experiences. The words are poetic and powerful, perfectly pairing with full-page photos. Younger readers will stay engaged with the short text and can point out familiar sights in the pictures, but older readers can enjoy more in-depth discussions about the images and words chosen. Perhaps you will be inspired to take some photographs and make a personal version of this book. 

The cover depicts varying types of leaves, acorns, and a seed pod. The leaves are in fall colors of red, orange, yellow, green, and brown.

Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert 

Lois Ehlert is an author/illustrator near and dear to my heart, and Leaf Man is a beautiful example of her work. In the story, the narrator had a man made out of leaves who blew away. The illustrations throughout the book are made from leaves of all shapes, sizes, and colors combined to make everything from chickens to orchards to fish. Although the narrator isn’t quite sure where the leaf man has gone, a repeating phrase reminds readers, “a Leaf Man’s got to go where the wind blows.” After reading this one, you might find yourself joining your little one as you look for a leaf man – or other leaf shapes – while walking outdoors this autumn. 

The cover depicts someone in a yellow raincoat and blue hat and scarf sweeping a clear path through the leaves on the ground with a broom.

Sweep by Louise Greig, illustrated by Júlia Sardà 

Before he knows it, Ed’s bad mood has swept him away. It spirals out to get in the way of everything and everyone around him, and he feels stuck but isn’t sure what to do. Then, something changes, and Ed can see a way out and think about what he might do the next time he finds himself in a bad mood. The autumnal metaphor the illustrations provide make this the perfect time of year to use this title as a starting point to talk about big feelings and what we do with them. 

The title is depicted in leaves, in fall shades of red, orange, green, brown, and yellow, with leaves of similar shades falling and on the ground beneath.

Awesome Autumn by Bruce Goldstone 

In this nonfiction title, Goldstone offers a wealth of information to answer many questions from little ones about the season. Colorful photographs accompany facts about changes in nature and in the human world during fall. For younger readers, you can choose to share only some of the text, but older children may enjoy additional details. Readers of all ages can consider personal connections to what they see in the book. 

The cover depicts two children and a cat tumbling against the backdrop of a fall leaf.

Autumnblings by Douglas Florian 

Word play is another favorite of mine, and this slender volume of poems and paintings offers plenty. In simple, relatable poetry, Florian offers examples of some favorite forms. They may even inspire a budding poet. Even if no one in your house composes verses, point out some of the unique words used and talk about why they are special and why Florian may have chosen them. 

Eliana is a Children’s Research Specialist and Instructor at HCLS Elkridge Branch. She loves reading, even if she’s slow at it, and especially enjoys helping people find books that make them light up. She also loves being outside and spending time with friends and family (when it’s safe).

The book cover has the title and subtitle in stylized fonts with the effect of an old-time newspaper, superimposed above illustrations of a jeweled necklace and a hammer.

Conan Doyle for the Defense

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The photograph depicts an atlas and an old-fashioned brass lamp with a large white bulb, next to a misty window in a wooden frame. There is also a stoppered glass bottle in the foreground. The entire effect suggests a Victorian home or office.

By Eliana H.

Although I’ve enjoyed many a Sherlock Holmes adaptation in the form of film or television, or even spinoff books, I will admit that I haven’t read the original stories myself. I certainly don’t know a great deal about Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the famous creator of the residents of 221b Baker Street. I do, however, know quite a bit more now than before reading Conan Doyle for the Defense: The True Story of a Sensational British Murder, a Quest for Justice, and the World’s Most Famous Detective Writer by Margalit Fox. Nonfiction is not my usual wheelhouse, but I will admit my interest was piqued by the book’s cover and description, which happened to be available as an e-audiobook when I was looking for my next listen. (It is also available in print and as an e-book).

The book cover has the title and subtitle in stylized fonts with the effect of an old-time newspaper, superimposed above illustrations of a jeweled necklace and a hammer.

Many people have heard of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle as an author, specifically of the series of detective stories featuring Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson. His impact extends beyond those characters, though. Conan Doyle was trained as a physician himself, and he became enthusiastic about spiritualism in his later life. He also assisted with real-life criminal cases on occasion. One such situation is the focus of Conan Doyle for the Defense. That case involved an emigrant to Scotland who was wrongfully arrested, convicted, and imprisoned for a murder he did not commit. 

Oscar Slater was a German Jew who had traveled to different parts of the world before ending up in Glasgow, Scotland in 1901. Then, in December 1908, a wealthy spinster named Marion Gilchrist was brutally killed in her home in that city. A very tenuous connection was made to Slater, and the prevailing attitudes and crime-solving techniques of the time ensnared him firmly, leading to his conviction and imprisonment in His Majesty’s Prison Peterhead. Eventually, Conan Doyle was able to help win Slater his freedom. 

Fox’s descriptions of the case, the criminal justice system, and the Edwardian time period provided vivid images of the tale as it unfolded. Excerpts of court documents, letters written by Slater, and Conan Doyle’s own texts provide additional insight into the case. The print book includes maps and photographs, as well as extensive notes to support the text. Fans of Sherlock Holmes may be interested to learn more about Conan Doyle’s life and inspiration for his characters, and the miscarriage of justice highlighted in the book can provide a reminder for all of us that there is always more to a case than appears at first glance. 

Eliana is a Children’s Research Specialist and Instructor at HCLS Elkridge Branch. She loves reading, even if she’s slow at it, and especially enjoys helping people find books that make them light up. She also loves being outside and spending time with friends and family (when it’s safe).