Hey readers,
Are you missing the library during quarantine? In this blog, I'll share some resources for reading at home. I'll also share information about what's new and upcoming, so you can make a reading list for when things get back to normal.
Be well!
Mrs. MacMillan
Exciting news for fans of J.K. Rowling! She has written a new fairytale (and no one is too old for fairytales!), which will be released in seven installments here.
I suppose as a librarian I shouldn't admit this, but during these stressful times, sometimes I just can't concentrate on reading a book. When reading feels like a chore, rather than let my mind turn to mush, I've been listening to a lot of podcasts. I think sometimes, just like when you were a little kid, it helps to have someone tell you a story.
I'm sharing some of my favourites here, but I'm interested in what you have to say. Do you listen to podcasts? What are your favourites? Email me at roxanne.macmillan@gnspes.ca, and I'll share your suggestions here.
I love folklore, and the scarier the better! Lore presents real life scary stories, examining the origins of myths and legends from vampires, to werewolves, to ghosts and more.
The title says it all! Stuff You Should Know covers a huge range of topics, giving you an overview about how things work. Ever wonder how dogs perceive time? Listen to find out.
Each year YALSA (Young Adult Library Services Association) conducts a vote, so teens can choose the top ten books of the previous year. This years list of nominations includes a number of titles that are available in our school library (keep in mind for when we get back), but many of them are also available as eBooks or audiobooks. Check the Halifax Public Library website to see if the books are available.
Here are a few titles that look interesting to me!
"Hannah's a witch, but not the kind you're thinking of. She's the real deal, an Elemental with the power to control fire, earth, water, and air. But even though she lives in Salem, Massachusetts, her magic is a secret she has to keep to herself. If she's ever caught using it in front of a Reg (read: non-witch), she could lose it. For good. "
Available in ebook and audiobook format at HPL.
"Norris Kaplan is clever, cynical, and quite possibly too smart for his own good. A Black French Canadian, he knows from watching American sitcoms that those three things don't bode well when you are moving to Austin, Texas."
Available in ebook and audiobook format at HPL, and at the RLJH library.
"All Freddy Riley wants is for Laura Dean to stop breaking up with her. The day they got back together was the best one of Freddy's life, but nothing's made sense since. Laura Dean is popular, funny and SO CUTE ... but she can be really thoughtless, even mean. Their on-again, off-again relationship has Freddy's head spinning — and Freddy's friends can't understand why she keeps going back. "
Available in ebook format at HPL.
While schools are out, Audible is offering free access to a selection of audio books and stories for teens and children. You can stream to your laptop or mobile device.
I would recommend that you not only check out the Teen selections, but explore the Folk & Fairy Tales, and Literary Classics, as well as the selections recommended for younger readers. Perhaps a shorter story might be more manageable if this is your first time listening to an audio book.
Audible also offers a small selection of French titles (26 books) which might be of interest to immersion students. Although the choice is limited, there are some classic stories available, which you might not otherwise choose to read.