Teens and their adults enjoy a Beyond Words class at HCLS Miller Branch.
by Megan B.
You may already know and love Beyond Words, our monthly program that kicked off in January 2024 at HCLS Miller Branch, created especially for adults and teens with developmental and intellectual disabilities. As Peg Prentice, the visionary behind the program and Instructor and Research Specialist at Miller, puts it: “Beyond Words is not just a class; it’s an invitation to celebrate the joy of discovery and the magic of shared experiences while creating personal connection and growth.” And clearly, the community agrees! Thanks to amazing support and lots of happy participants, Beyond Words now runs monthly at the East Columbia, Central, and Savage branches too.
After seeing the joy and connection that Beyond Words has brought to adults and teens, and recognizing a real need for similar inclusive fun for younger kids, Peg and the awesome Miller team got to work on something extra special.
Introducing…Beyond Words Junior! This exciting new class is just for children ages 6–11 with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Each month will bring a fresh, engaging theme to spark imaginations and create lasting memories. Beyond Words Junior is all about fun, friendship, and celebrating every child for exactly who they are.
Fantasy & Fairy Tales! Wednesday, September 3 | 6 – 7 pm HCLS Miller Branch Explore a world of whimsical wonder…think castles, dragons, magical creatures, and maybe even a sprinkle of fairy dust. Ages 6-11 with adult.
Mark your calendars and get ready for an unforgettable adventure! Register here.
Megan B. is a Children’s Instructor and Research Specialist at HCLS Miller Branch. She is constantly curious and loves to learn new things.
“I had actually DONE IT. I had made horses appear!!!” Neko Case recalls a defining moment described as “a bit of magic” from her childhood. Neglected by young parents who left her home alone from a too-early age, she was constantly hungry for food and companionship. One day, while desperately yearning for a horse, she makes not one but two horses appear before her eyes, a visualization she describes as “a real arrival to a real place.” In drawing these beasts from her imagination, Case establishes a sense of self and a creative identity that proves comforting.
She says that today, at age 52, she, “can still see the horses clear as day.” An early scene from Case’s new memoir, The Harder I Fight The More I Love You, it is one of many pictures drawn from memory that illustrates a fierce bond with nature and longing for connection in a world in which she felt unwanted. Today, she is a critically praised Grammy-nominated artist and has recently been welcomed back to the Grand Ole Opry after being banned in 2001 after taking her shirt off (playing an outdoor festival on a sweltering day, she found herself delirious and stripped down to her bra to avoid heatstroke).
I discovered Neko Case in 2005 when my friend Amanda tipped me off to her. Encouraging me to give her a listen, she said the name of Case’s third album like a command: Blacklisted. So I listened. The opening song Things That Scare Me hooked me from the start with its dark country twang and noir vibes (Case mentions the recently departed David Lynch as a strong influence). By the second song, “Deep Red Bells,” the saturated images of her haunted world gave me chills and had me fully converted:
The red bells beckon you to ride A handprint on the driver’s side It looks a lot like engine oil and tastes like being poor and small And Popsicles in the summer
Case details her traumatic childhood, starting out poor and small outside Bellingham in Northwestern Washington State. She recalls communing with the velvety-tracked ferns outside the trailer she shared with her mom and dad as she lay on the ground to “pet the soft dots” for hours. Throughout the book, she speaks reverently of animals and nature as wondrous beings, benign and free of ill-intent, unlike the adults in her life. Looking back on a short stint in her early childhood when the family lived near Cocoa Beach, FL when her dad was in the Air Force, Case recalls encounters with crabs, “little magicians of harmless danger, their black eyes atop long stalks like cartoon exclamation points.” This kind of vivid imagery, familiar to fans of her music, injects her prose with sound and color, conjuring up a sort of real-life fairy tale.
Things get dark in Case’s story when, as a second grader, her Dad abruptly informs her that her mother is dead. His story is that her mother has been “very sick” recently, which is news to Case, who recalls only a few doctor’s visits, nothing that seemed serious. Stunned with disbelief, she gets on with life as kids do, only to be told by her father a little more than a year later that her mother is actually alive and has been living in Hawaii to receive treatment for her illness. The explanation is that her mother left so that the family wouldn’t have to see her suffer. Case is so elated to have her mother back that she doesn’t really question the story until years later, and the family never speaks about it.
From these turbulent beginnings outside Bellingham, Case crisscrosses the state as she splits time between her parents, who have divorced. Whether with her mom or dad, she is left alone for hours at a time, an only child who finds connection to the music that she hears on the radio: Buffy Sainte-Marie, the Go-Go’s, and Blondie are among those whose records she listens to in her school’s library when the other kids are playing at recess. Music becomes Case’s comfort and escape. Putting on headphones and pressing play on her “lavender off-brand, gas-station Walkman” helps her drown out the noise of a menacing world occupied by depressed, neglectful parents and the ever-present threat of the Green River Killer, whose murders dominate the local news. When she leaves Washington to attend a fine arts college in Vancouver, BC, she starts playing drums in a punk band called Maow. Feeling comfortable behind the drum kit, she’s reluctant to sing and one day asks her bandmates which one of them should sing a song when one shoots back “YOU sing it!” And so she does. The rest is history.
Although she had loved to sing all her life, it took her a long time to consider herself a capital S singer. Throughout a 30+ year career spanning solo and collaborative albums with such bands as power pop dynamos The New Pornographers, Case has taken ownership of her voice—which ranges from a soaring clarion call to a soft, breathy lilt and is always uniquely her own. I tore through this page-turner of a memoir, enthralled by Case’s heartbreaking story told in her trademark voice. Case’s sense of humor and nuanced perspective help the reader process some of the darker elements of her past, which includes severe neglect and sexual abuse. Ultimately, this is an affirming tale about survival and the transformative power of art. I came away from the book with an enhanced appreciation for the strength underpinning Case’s voice, eagerly anticipating her future projects, which include a forthcoming album later this year as well as a musical adaptation of the 1991 film Thelma and Louise.
The Harder I Fight The More I Love You is available in print, e-book, and e-audiobook. Neko Case also publishes a Substack newsletter called Entering the Lung.
Holly is an Instructor & Research Specialist at HCLS Miller Branch. She enjoys reading widely, knitting sporadically, and baking as often as she gets the chance.
Have you ever visited the Howard County Library System Elkridge Branch? If you haven’t been in a while – or at all – you might not realize that it’s now the Elkridge Branch + DIY Education Center! DIY, which stands for Do It Yourself, is an area that we know a little something about at Elkridge. You can check out tools for building, gardening, crafting, baking, and exploring from our DIY collection. We have everything from cake pans to knitting needles to reciprocating saws. Visit HCLS Elkridge Branch and get ready to tackle your next home or garden project! In the meantime, take a look at the selected titles below for inspiration and ideas about crafting and creating of all kinds. Keep an eye on our social media to see even more related books to explore.
Llama loves to knit, and she decides to create something special and lovely but isn’t quite sure what it will be. As different animal friends join her, they are each inspired to make their own special projects. When Beaver declares that he likes to make things that are useful, Llama and her friends get creative deciding how their projects will be used.
Grace and Box by Kim Howard, illustrated by Megan Lötter
Grace loves playing with her pretend buddy Box, and she’s not about to let some wear and tear change that. This fun rhyming books makes a great read-aloud about imagination, crafty repairs, and all the joys of creative open-ended play time.
Hands can do so many things! In this charming picture book, author and cut-paper artist Nikki McClure follows a family as they notice a wide variety of activities that a pair of hands might do. From a play to a house to a safer neighborhood, readers are reminded of the many important parts of a community that hands can make.
Lou is a resourceful tween who dreams of creating a space of her own, away from the hubbub of her loving, extended family home. A talented woodworker, she sets out to build a tiny house, but finds it’s more difficult than expected. In this heartwarming story of community, Filipino culture, and perseverance, Lou learns about how to make a house a home.
In this complete guide to making crafts from materials already found around the house, kids can find inspiration to give new life to old objects and entertain themselves (without a screen). Projects are divided up by materials used, including paper, plastic, metal, and fabric, with clear instructions and illustrations as well as suggestions for alternative materials if the primary one isn’t available. Find fun ways to clear up clutter with the ideas in Make It!.
Bea and Parker are just a few short weeks away from the comic convention and without costumes! Learn along with Bea and Parker how to make a budget friendly cosplay with an easy-to-find mix of materials, tools, and a lot of imagination. Then, check out other titles in the Maker Comics series.
Ben Fletcher has gotten himself into a bit of trouble, and he ends up deciding on a knitting class as the best option to perform the required community service. Even though it turns out not to be taught by the expected (good-looking) instructor, Ben discovers that he’s actually good at knitting, and it helps his anxiety. Will his family and friends – not to mention his enemies – judge Ben harshly for his new pursuit?
Even if you’re not too worried about zombies threatening anytime soon, this book will give you some great ideas and step-by-step instructions for projects to communicate, defend, and generate power. Use circuits, Arduino, and Raspberry Pi systems to prepare for a time when you might not have access to all your usual electronics. Maybe until the zombies come, you can hone your skills as you practice defending your room against pestering pets or bothersome siblings.
Thirteen-year-old Ashley Rayburn has bounced from one foster home to another, always finding herself in trouble along the way. When she stumbles upon a set of body paints that grant the wearer a multitude of superpowers, the government agency that created them comes after her to get them back. To protect her new family, Ashley has to make some hard choices while facing the shadows of the past.
This volume provides the reader with instructions to develop a natural landscape in the Chesapeake watershed region. A few of the principles the authors enumerate are to “reduce lawn, grow native plants, and welcome wildlife,” all laudable goals. This book may have more prose than some of our other gardening selections, but it still contains beautiful photos.
If you enjoy what could be described as “modernish eclectic,” a style that is very “in” now, then you will like this book. Think lots of wood, and lots of black and white, or a monochromatic color scheme. And of course, gorgeous photos!
This first in a series of mysteries introduces the Queen Bee Quilt Shop in Crestwood, Kansas, where a group of women have been gathering to make a quilt in honor of the shop owner’s anniversary. While out on her morning run, Po, the unofficial leader of the group, discovers a dead body right on the quilt shop’s doorstep. She and her friends are great at working together to make beautiful quilts, but can they combine their unique strengths and knowledge to find a killer? With a charming small-town setting, cast of quirky characters, and compelling who-done-it, A Patchwork of Clues not only has everything you could ask for in a cozy mystery, it also celebrates crafting, particularly the art of quilting, as a way of connecting with friends and building community.
Spring is here once again – and you know what that means? It’s the perfect time to share these wonderful gardening books with the children in your life. Gardening is a passion of mine for many reasons. It’s become a reliable place of peace and comfort, I get to see a variety of pollinator friends, and I have a permanent seat in a never-ending classroom. I like to encourage others not only to find a way to connect to nature but to look into all the methods and styles of gardening. My garden started with two or three potted plants. Over the past couple of years, my container deck garden has transformed into a whimsical fairytale oasis.
The Imaginary Garden by Andrew Larsen This story reminds us that our imagination can bring just as much wonder into our lives as anything we experience in the physical world. Join this adorable grandfather and granddaughter as they bring life into the most beautiful imaginary garden. As they paint- brick walls are built for vining plants to climb, crocuses are popping up as the first sight of Spring, and a robin eats a worm for lunch. Later, the granddaughter is left to care for the garden while her grandfather is away on vacation, and she’s determined to make him proud. Imaginary or not, gardens require hard work and a whole lot of love.
Pair With: My Garden by Kevin Henkes (also available as an audiobook on CD) This book reminds me of Alice in Wonderland as she sits amongst the flowers and describes her perfect world. While the flowers in this book won’t talk with you for hours, they do change colors just by thinking about it. Join an imaginative little girl as she tells you all about her dream garden – including a jellybean bush, invisible carrots, and glowing lantern strawberries.
A Peaceful Garden by Lucy London Join these two feline friends as they prepare, plant, and tend to their peaceful garden. This book is a great introduction to the joys of gardening through a simple yet sweet story that walks you through what the process might look like to get ready for your own garden. Throughout, you’ll see garden dwellers making an appearance, some that a lot of people try to deter from their space. This peaceful garden is all about making sure everyone knows they’re welcome and cared for. What will you grow in your peaceful garden?
Thank You, Garden by Liz Scanlon The illustrations show a diverse community of children and neighbors working together on a city garden. Through rhyme, you learn about what goes into making a garden so lovely – including the times that call for being silly and playing in water from the hose. This book does a great job of showing the rewards of hard work. While the text isn’t abundant in this story, the artwork tells you more than words ever could.
Pair with: Fox’s Garden by Princesse Camcam This wordless picture book utilizes mixed media in a dreamy way that will certainly spark a fulfilling discussion. It’s Winter, and Fox is looking for a safe and cozy place to have her pups after being chased out of a village. She comes across a greenhouse and nestles in. Soon, Fox and her pups are greeted by a young boy who gently places a basket of food on the ground before leaving them be. Fox and her pups repay the favor with a beautiful “thank you” waiting to be found in the boy’s bedroom when he wakes the next morning.
Tokyo Digs a Garden by Jon-Erik Lappano Tokyo lives in a small house between giant buildings. Skyscrapers and highways hold the space where hills and trees used to be. Tokyo is determined to help his grandfather have a garden despite the city “eating up the land” years ago. He meets an old woman who gifts him three beans that will become whatever is imagined of them during planting time. What happens next is a beautiful and fast-paced adventure showing how nature behaves in a city. Animals replace cars on the roads and streets become rivers. Will city life and wildlife be able to co-exist? This book is a thoughtful portrait of environmentalism and imagination. At first, this story might seem familiar – beans that you can wish on. I promise you’re in for a treat with this modern story that feels classic.
Florette by Anna Walker Mae moves to a new home in the city and is forced to leave her beloved garden behind. Once there, Mae starts to realize just how empty this new house feels without a garden to play in and butterflies to chase. She tries to recreate the wonder by drawing and painting flowers on the stacks of boxes filling every room. Realizing she has to search a bit further, Mae sets out on an adventure and finds a lush green botanical shop… but it’s closed. She waits, but the door never opens. In the distance, there’s a small green sprout in a crack between the building and sidewalk where Mae rescues her very own piece of the forest. Is there room for a garden in the city, after all?
Gardening for Beginners by Emily Bone Learning any new skill can be intimidating at first. This book is an excellent resource for any age and especially perfect for developing a new skill alongside the children in your life. I learned a great deal from this book when I first started gardening and was overwhelmed by information. This book has an easy-to-follow page design, and there is also a breakdown of how to interpret each section of the page in the beginning of the book. The visual appeal of this book makes the information more digestible and easier to retain.
Pair with: Flowers by Gail Gibbons Gail Gibbons is a favorite for a reason. This book is no exception for anyone interested in learning about flowers. It covers the basics of flower parts, growth, seed travel, pollination, and the various ways flowers are categorized.
I hope this assortment of gardening books brings some green, inspiration, and curiosity into your home. Gardening is for everyone and doesn’t have one look or motivating factor. I challenge you to grow something this year – whether it’s your family’s favorite tomato or melon, flowers for our pollinator friends, or your imagination.
Laci is a Children’s Instructor and Research Specialist at HCLS. They love a wide variety of music, spending time in the garden, Halloween, cats, and crafting. Their “to read” list is always full of graphic novels and picture books.
CHAPTER CHATS 