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What do librarians and Tinder have in common? We’re both matchmakers! Though, instead of an awkward first date, you’ll get a potential new favorite book. 

Our staff are always eager to set you up with your next great read. Our displays are great ways to find new books that fit a certain theme, with a variety of tropes and themes to pick from. We also have book lists on the Libby app to help pair you with the perfect eBook or eAudiobook based on your previously read authors. Here are some other ways to find your next NFB (New Favorite Book).

Blind Book Recommendation:

The bookseller website Brilliant Books has put together this amazing list of book recommendations that allows you to pick a book based on your tastes. They have varying descriptions of the book with increasing amounts in detail. If there is a title that piques your interest, you can always check our catalog to see if we carry the book!

Twenty Questions Game:

Looking for a more personalized recommendation? Ask our librarians for help and we’ll ask you a series of questions to get a better idea of what you might like. There are so many sub genres, and it can be hard to find what you are looking for if you haven’t identified what you gravitate towards.

Don’t judge a book by its cover!

While it may be tempting to always reach for the shiny new arrivals with pretty covers, it can be a hit or miss method for choosing books. I recommend looking through the shelves and picking up some of the soft covered and well worn books that have creased pages. These books tend to be loved over the years by many different people, and I have read some of the most thought provoking and heartstring tugging books this way.

Read outside of your usual age level:

Nothing gets me out of a reading rut than reading books outside of the adult reading level. Whether it’s a popular Junior graphic novel, new middle grade fantasy series, or an old collection of nonfiction picture books, there’s just something about giving your brain a break and letting your curiosity about a subject grow! Plus it gives you some fun facts to tell at parties.

What book will you swipe right on next?

"Antarctica. You know, that giant continent at the bottom of the earth that’s ruled by penguins and seals."
- C.B. Cook, “Twinepathy”

Upon this planet we call home, one can find a great multitude of forms of life. From the birds in the sky to the creatures beneath the waves, the creatures that move upon the earth to the ones that move below it. They are everywhere. Some can be seen in certain places around the world more than others. One of these places is none other than the Antarctic continent.

Despite being one of the most inhospitable places in the world, the continent of Antarctica is teeming with a unique variety of wildlife. Skirting below and across the pack ice, the Leopard seal patrols the water of the continent in search of its prey. Meanwhile the Southern elephant seal comes ashore to rest and mate.

In the skies above the ice soar a multitude of avian species. From the Albatross to the Arctic and Antarctic terns, the South polar skua to the Antarctic petrel, many species of bird lay their eggs and hunt upon this continent. 

As the birds fly above the ice, below it in the depths a world awaits. Humpback whales and Blue whales fill the ocean depths with their songs, while the Orca hunts down its prey. But they are not alone. Antarctic krill make their way through the water in swarms while the Colossal squid lies in wait to ambush its own prey.

Though of all the creatures that inhabit the continent, none is more known worldwide…than the penguin. These flightless birds have long made the continent of Antarctica either their home or their breeding grounds. The Chinstrap and Adélie penguins are two such species that use the continent as their breeding grounds. However, there is one other species that is the most known of the penguins, and braves the harsh Antarctic winters to trek across the ice to their own breeding grounds: The Emperor penguin.

The continent of Antarctica has many wondrous creatures that call it home. The sounds echo throughout the mountains and valleys, constantly reaffirming that life is bountiful there. Keep watch for the next blog post in this series, where it will be based on the creatures of Africa!

“If Antarctica were music it would be Mozart. Art, and it would be Michelangelo. Literature, and it would be Shakespeare. And yet it is something even greater; the only place on earth that is still as it should be. May we never tame it.”
- Andrew Denton

More in this Series: Part 1: North America | Part 2: South America | Part 3: Europe | Part 4: Asia | Part 5: Australia

How many of you read The Happy Hollisters by Andrew E. Svenson under the pseudonym Jerry West? A series about a group of siblings that had fun adventures and solved mysteries. As a kid, I devoured them. So…did I read them to my kids and recommend them to my grandchildren?

Nope.

They were written at a different time, my youth. No one pointed out to the author or publisher that their biases were showing. There are all kinds of explanations I could share as to why that happened and how it was allowed. Important information and valuable to consider especially by a librarian, but isn't at the forefront of a lot of readers’ minds when choosing the next book.

Recommending a book is a gift. If a friend, sibling or teacher highly praises a book, it comes to mind when picking a title to read on the way to Grandmother’s house. Adults like it when Oprah or Reese Witherspoon put together a list, they start at the beginning and read from 1-10. If every 4th and 5th grader wants a Percy Jackson or Diary of a Wimpy Kid book because their friends are reading them, then only a limited number of kids will have their first choice. Others will have to find another title. How do they choose?

This is where personalized recommendations come into play. Library staff are super fantastic at suggesting similar titles. Please ask. We also have Staff Picks marked throughout the library if browsing is your approach. Find out what friends are reading and of course, ask Grandma (or Uncle, Cousin, Neighbor) what she read at your age. Be careful with the age reference unless you’re under 14. Remember you can be the one offering a suggestion. Yes, there are plenty of lists online professionally put together. All good places to start.

So do any of my childhood favorites show up in my children’s hands? I’ll be honest. Not many. There are all kinds of new books that I want to read and share, children’s, junior and adult varieties. Have you tried Elbow Grease by John Cena? This is about an electric car. Those didn’t even exist when I was little. The Fog Catcher’s Daughter by Marianne McShane. Monsters in the Briny by Lynn Becker. This one is for the grandchild that might like a little scare.

What about the rest of the family who need recommendations? 

• Dark Earth by Rebecca Stott is a good fantasy story with a strong sense of family. 
• Look! What Do You See? An art puzzle book by Bing Xu is a fun way to discover common American songs done in Chinese calligraphy. Great to share with curious elementary and older.
• I enjoyed Wolf Children. An anime DVD that reminded me of my sister and me. Please don’t tell. 
• An oldy but goody is Tracing Your Family History: The complete guide to locating your ancestors and finding out where you came from by Lise Hull. It explains the process so easily. 
• As we fill up on all of our favorite foods, my family will turn to how we’re going to eat better next year. I enjoyed Fix It with Food by Michael Symon. That recommendation will definitely sneak into the mix.

P.S. Swapping books during the holidays is great fun, too!