This new biographical fiction work about Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, the author of The Little Prince, is a stirring tribute to the flyer, flying, and deep friendship in disturbing times.
Willodeen
Willodeen by Kathrine Applegate
For years, Willodeen’s village has relied on hummingbears to attract tourists, but they aren’t coming anymore. A beautifully woven tale of the fragility and the inter-connectedness of nature for upper elementary readers.
Find it in NEW J FIC App
The True Cost
This DVD takes viewers around the world, from high-end fashion runways to slums and factories, looking at the human, environmental, and financial cost of the clothing we wear. A sobering look at the fashion industry and the cost of consumerism.
Winter Read Exhibits 2022
From The Library Foyer, through the Stacks, to Children’s Library, and on to the Gold Mine Thrift Store, exhibits and displays celebrate the rivers that run through our lives and our relationships to them.
This year’s Winter Read is Norman Maclean’s novella A River Runs Through It. Set on Montana’s Blackfoot River 100 years ago, this short novel invites us to think about the changing landscapes of family, rivers, and the west. In this spirit, we invite you to explore the following exhibits and displays:
Reel Legends: Fly-fisherwomen of the Wood River Valley
Location: Library Foyer
The new Library Foyer exhibit celebrates the great fly-fishing tradition in the Wood River Valley as seen through the eyes of four women who have earned the badge of Reel Legends on our local waters.
The four women featured in this exhibit were lured to our local waterways for varied reasons. Yet each connects to the pursuit with great passion and reverence for the natural splendor that fly-fishing immerses them into. Join us in exploring, through object and word, the reasons these Reel Legends are called to the water with rod in hand. We celebrate their spirited pursuit of our local waters and gladly bend an ear to hear their fishing stories.
The Floating World of Grant McClintock: A Photographic Exhibit
Location: In the Stacks, outside the Idaho Room
Somewhere during his five decades as a professional photographer, Grant McClintock’s name became synonymous with fly fishing. This status is largely due to the success of two collaborative books featuring “flywaters” of the West.
A passionate fly-fisher since young adulthood, McClintock took on an idea that was sparked at a gathering of friends. Mike Crockett describes the moment as “a pleasant cocktail hour” with the McClintocks in Ketchum. They later enlisted Jack Hemingway, another avid Wood River Valley fly-fisher, in what would become Flywater (1994).
Fish through the Eyes of Youth
Location: Children’s Library
Colorful trout hang suspended in tissue paper water as part of our children’s art project in conjunction with the Winter Read of A River Runs Through It. Our young patrons lent their skills in creating the diverse kinds of fish, some realistic, some imaginative. An authentic spey rod (courtesy of Susanne Connor) and creel basket (courtesy of Juliette Gutierrez) are also on display in the case, located outside the Children’s Library.
Historic River Photographs
Location: Gold Mine Thrift Store
Historic images from the Jeanne Rodger Lane Center for Regional History Collections bring the Winter Read to life in the Gold Mine. Six images, including Clayton Stewart at Silver Creek (pictured above), allow shoppers to connect with and enjoy the spirit of the Winter Read and the rivers that run through our lives.
Learn more about the Winter Read here.
Digging into Groundhog Day
Top 7 Things You May Not Know + Fun Groundhog Titles at The Library
we’ll have six more weeks of winter . . .maybe!
Pretty much everyone knows about Punxsutawney Phil and his propensity for predicting the weather in Pennsylvania.
And pretty much everyone who sheltered in place during the global pandemic had at least an inkling of the Groundhog Day phenomenon – referenced from the 1993 Bill Murray film – where day after day seemed to be exactly the same.
But … can you answers THESE fun questions about groundhogs and their biggest day of the year?
1. How Often Does Punxsutawney Phil Get the Weather Forecast Right?
Answer: 30% of the time.
If the groundhog sees his shadow on February 2, it’s because the sun is shining and the weather is cold, therefore he dives back into his burrow for another six weeks to wait until spring really shows up. If it’s cloudy outside, that means now shadow. The clouds insulate us against the chill, and the warmth tells the groundhog that spring will come early.
2. How Do You Pronounce “Punxsutawney”?
Answer: puhngk·suh·taa·nee.
3. How Many People Show Up at Gobbler’s Knob, Pennsylvania, Each Year on February 2?
Answer: 40,000.
4. How Deep Do Groundhogs Burrow?
Answer: Groundhogs burrow as deep as six feet deep into the earth to escape the winter freeze.
Groundhog tunnels can be as long as 30 feet, with separate rooms for sleeping, food storage, and – ahem – toilet needs. Their sleeping quarters are always below the frost line, where it’s safe and cozy to hibernate during the freezing months of winter.
5. What Time Do Groundhogs Get Up in the Morning?
Answer: 7:00 a.m.
Groundhogs have an internal timeclock that wakes them up every morning at 7:00 a.m. Despite the fact that they sleep way below ground, where the sun doesn’t reach, somehow groundhogs know when’s it’s 7:00 a.m. and time to rise and shine.
6. Why Do Groundhogs Poke Out Their Heads in February and Then Return to Hibernation for 4-6 More Weeks?
Answer: To find a sweetheart.
Yep, groundhog males will roam away from their tunnels to look for a mate. . .just to get to know her a bit. The male may be invited to visit the female’s winter den, but only for courtship purposes. Mating happens later, in the spring, when a window of time opens up that will allow the babies to find food and fatten themselves up before the next winter sets in. In the meantime they each go to their respective winter homes until the sun comes out for good in March.
7. Where Do Groundhogs Live?
Answer: North America.
While Groundhog Day has its origins in German folklore, it was a bear that was predicting the weather in Germany on Candlemas (February 2, halfway between the Winter and Spring Solstices). German immigrants brought the Candlemas tradition to Pennsylvania in the mid-eighteenth century, but they opted for a smaller, gentler creature to predict the coming of spring. Hence, Groundhog Day, which has been celebrated at Gobbler’s Knob, Pennsylvania, for over a hundred years.
Bonus: What is a Groundhog’s Favorite Food?
Answer: Burrow-itos!
Source: Wendie Old, author of The Groundhog Day of Facts and Fun, who also provided the factoids in this blog.
Groundhog Titles at The Community Library
In print, film, and picture books, you’ll find these “groundhog” titles to help shoo away the winter chill for six more weeks. Dig into all the groundhog titles at The Community Library here.
Groundhog Day (the movie)
Television weatherman, played by Bill Murray, gets stuck in February 2, 1992, reliving the same day over and over. Nothing he tries gets him out of the time loop. But the more Phil relives the same day, the more he’s forced to look at other people’s lives, and something unusual happens: he begins to care about others. Produced by Columbia Pictures; Adult DVFeatureFilms DV FIC GRO.
The Groundhog Day Book of Facts and Fun
This book of facts and fun provides plenty of information about groundhogs and the origin of Groundhog Day. Groundhog riddles and ideas for throwing a Groundhog Day party are included. By Wendie Old; Juvenile Non-Fiction J 394.26 OLD.
Groundhog’s Dilemma
After Groundhog announces six more weeks of winter, half his animal friends are disappointed, while the other half are excited. Each animal asks Groundhog to make his prediction in their favor the following year. Rather than being truthful about the fact that he just “calls it like he sees it,” he leads them to believe he can control the weather, accepting their gifts of food and favor. By Kristen Remenar; Picture Books J EASY REM.
Gretchen Groundhog, It’s Your Day!
It’s almost Groundhog Day, and the town of Piccadilly is all a-buzz because Gretchen Groundhog won’t show herself. This is her first year, and she’s too shy to come out. Only when the town historian’s daughter shares records from the town’s history does Gretchen begin to see that for everyone, the first time is the hardest. Full-color illustrations. By Abby Levine; Picture Books J EASY LEV.
Go to Sleep Groundhog!
Poor Groundhog just can’t sleep. He tosses. He turns. Finally, he gets out of bed and goes exploring. Outside his burrow he finds amazing sights he has never seen before: glowing jack-o’-lanterns, gobbling turkeys, and sparkling holiday lights. But shouldn’t Groundhog be in bed? With no sleep how will he be able to get up for his big day? By Judy Cox; Picture Books J EASY COX.
Groundhog’s Day Off
In this humorous Groundhog’s Day picture book by the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Office: A Day at Dunder Mifflin Elementary, it’s the day before the big event . . . and the Groundhog goes on strike. By Robb Pearlman; Picture Books J EASY PEA.
“Lucero” by Yuyi Morales
De la creadora de Sonadores, exito de ventas de The New York Times, nos llega una historia conmovedoramente hermosa acerca de crecer, empoderarse y encontrar la propia voz.
Celebrated Latino author, Yuyi Morales, portrays a fawn in a beautiful, but sometimes dangerous and frightening world. This is a lovely story of power, connection, danger, and beauty.
