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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?

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!

12/5/2022

Take a break from the hubbub of winter with an evening of fun indoor activities at the Campbell Library! License to Chill: Thursday, December 8 from 4pm-7pm. More information...

Before Austen Comes Aesop by Cheri Blomquist

The Children's Great Books and How to Experience Them // An in-depth examination of the Children's Great Books--the literature that has made the most profound impact on the lives of children throughout Western history. In addition to its invaluable chronological list of titles, from ancient times to the present, the book provides both students and their parents the guidance they need to read leisurely or study formally the Children's Great Books at home.

809.89282 BLOMQUIST

A Death in Door County  by Annelise Ryan

A Wisconsin bookstore owner and cryptozoologist is asked to investigate a series of deaths that just might be proof of a fabled lake monster in this first installment of a new mystery series by USA Today bestselling author Annelise Ryan.

Mystery RYAN Monster v.1

American Midnight  edited by Adam Hochschild

The Great War, a Violent Peace, and Democracy's Forgotten Crisis // A character-driven look at a pivotal period in American history, 1917-1920: the tumultuous home front during WWI and its aftermath, when violence broke out across the country thanks to the first Red Scare, labor strife, and immigration battles.

MH 973.91 HOCHSCHILD

I'm the Girl  by Laurie Cass

When sixteen-year-old Georgia Avis finds the dead body of thirteen-year-old Ashley James outside the gates of an exclusive resort, she teams up with Ashley's older sister Nora to find the killer.

Young Adult SUMMERS

If you need help accessing any of these titles or using front door pickup, email or call us and we will be happy to assist you!