Library Blog

Children’s Librarian, Ellen O’Dell, recommends The Blue Zones Kitchen by Dan Buettner.

The recipes in The Blue Zones Kitchen cookbook are the perfect remedy for those with wanderlust!

Be transported to island communities like Ikaria, Greece, or the tropical beaches of the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica. This cookbook explores the typical recipes in the world’s “Blue Zones,” or places with an extraordinarily long life expectancy.

The author, Dan Buettner, spends quality time with families in each region, observing the people and their habits while carefully documenting the food that they eat.

Buettner says of Blue Zones, “These people don’t live longer because of supplements, pills, or hocus-pocus antiaging serums. They do so because their surroundings nudge them into the right behaviors.” In addition to eating whole foods and simple meals, Buettner notices that people often cook and enjoy their meals together.

When cooking at home, I prioritize healthy meals that come together efficiently. A few recipes require a long prep time, but many take less than an hour. My new favorite dishes include Summer Pasta from Sardinia, Italy, and the Gallo Pinto from Costa Rica. I can prepare both of these dishes quickly on a weeknight, plus they make plenty of leftovers. Once the colder weather arrives, I look forward to revisiting this cookbook and making some Minestrone! These meals emphasize using whole foods, fresh produce, and herbs.

Many of these recipes are vegetarian – or even vegan! – and require minimal ingredients, making them simple and budget-friendly. While some cookbooks may call for spices or other items not commonly used in my kitchen, I already had most of the items for these recipes. If you check out The Blue Zones Kitchen, you can look forward to beautiful photography, interesting stories, and inspiration to try healthy new recipes.

Find The Blue Zones Kitchen in print here.

Diana Tellez-Muños recommends the Cabinet of Wonders in the new Wood River Museum of History and Culture

The Wood River Museum of History and Culture has been welcoming visitors for a delightful month, and the Cabinet of Wonders exhibit has undeniably left its mark, inspiring a sense of awe and curiosity among all who have ventured inside.  

The Cabinet of Wonders invites visitors to discover history by opening the doors and drawers of a fanciful cabinet that holds a great variety of regional history artifacts.  

Uncover the history held within, such as an interactive vintage washing machine, transporting you to an era where the simple act of laundering clothes becomes an avenue for newfound appreciation of today’s modern conveniences. Encounter a phonograph and let the melodies of the past transport you, offering a captivating auditory glimpse into bygone melodies. Appreciate the fashions of different eras and immerse yourself in the evolution of fashion and witness how each garment tells a unique story of the cultural and societal influences that shaped its creation. 

For young adventurers and budding historians, the exhibit’s interactive displays and kid-friendly installations offer an educational playground of discovery. 

 The Cabinet of Wonders never fails to instill a profound sense of wonder. Even after you’ve unraveled its treasures, the journey doesn’t reach its conclusion; instead, it beckons you to return. With each visit, the Cabinet unveils new treasures telling more of Central Idaho’s history.  

The Wood River Museum of History and Culture and its Cabinet of Wonders is a splendid haven for enriching family time while delving into the captivating history of Central Idaho. The interactive displays easily captivate young and old alike, while kindling an undeniable curiosity that lingers long after your visit. The Museum offers an immersive experience that seamlessly weaves education and entertainment, leaving an indelible mark that ignites an unquenchable thirst for further exploration. 

Director of Philanthropy, Carter Hedberg, recommends Paris: Secret Gardens, Hidden Places and Stories of the City of Light by Mary McAuliffe. 

Bonjour mes amis!  

I have been a Francophile since childhood. By the fifth grade, I had established a lasting relationship with my French pen pal; I studied a semester in Paris while in college; and have visited France as often as my budget and schedule allowed.

I love Paris and I adore this enchanting new travel book, Paris: Secret Gardens, Hidden Places and Stories of the City of Light by historian and author Mary McAuliffe.  

This is not your typical travel book. It doesn’t simply offer brief snippets describing the greatest hits of Paris, nor is it filled with lots of glossy color photographs. Instead, it is a thoughtful, well-written, and detailed book that invites the reader on a journey below the surface of the City of Lights …

Each chapter focuses on a different neighborhood or arrondissement of Paris and recommends a location to begin your exploration of that area. For example, the chapter, The Heart of Paris, McAuliffe has you descend the steep steps from the Pont Neuf bridge on the western tip of lle de la Cite´ to an oasis she treasures, the Square du Vert-Galant. She then continues to describe this tiny triangular park lushly and vividly, including the type of experience you are likely to encounter if you visit. She also provides the history of the area filled with fascinating anecdotes that bring it to life. Your journey progresses as you move to the next location on this historic island situated in the middle of the river Seine. And so, each lovely chapter goes on.  

McAuliffe also includes stunning black and white photos which evoke a since of nostalgia and romanticism and compliment her narrative and writing style. She concludes with this sentence, “And it is here that I will leave you, to enjoy the peace and beauty of this spot, and to continue your own explorations of the secret gardens, hidden places, and stories of Paris.” This is a book I wish I had had on my first visit to Paris and will definitely bring with me for my next.  

À la prochaine! 

Find Paris: Secret Gardens, Hidden Places and Stories of the City of Light in print here.

Children’s and Young Adult Library Director DeAnn Campbell recommends Anna at the Art Museum by Hazel Hutchins. 

The Wood River Museum of History and Culture is open across the street at 580 Fourth Street East, kitty-corner from the entrance to the Children’s Library. If you haven’t been, plan to make a visit. Children are welcome and will find fun and engaging thins to explore.  

Before you make a visit, you may want to check out Anna at the Art Museum by Hazel Hutchins & Gail Herbert, illustrated by Lil Crump. In this picture book, Anna goes to an art museum. She is disappointed by the hushing and shushing and the no touching. There is even no eating. After a while, she finds herself quite bored. Then she sees a half-open door. And…

Anna gets invited inside for a behind-the-scenes sneak peak, and that changes everything.  

At the Wood River Museum of History and Culture there are also some rules. But there are also some sneak peaks. Open a door in the Cabinet of Wonders and see what you find. Draw a picture or tell us your story on a luggage tag in the How Did You Get to Sun Valley? exhibit. Try typing on a typewriter, like Hemingway did. Find that a museum has order, but also wonder. Come, step inside.  

Find Anna at the Art Museum in Picture Books here.