August 18, 2020

A lot of events in the news recently, including that regarding institutional racism and the protests held by the Black Lives Matter movement and other groups, can bring up a lot of questions. It did for me, even as an adult. Why is this happening? What happened in the past, and how did we get here? Those questions got me thinking about other social issues we’re currently facing right now, including immigration and transphobia. Why is life hard for so many immigrants, when we’re an entire nation of them? What’s the difference between gender and sexuality? As you start to examine history, you start to see that it’s a story created and controlled by the winners of wars and other conflicts. This got me wondering...

Books Community E-books Education Reading Recommendations Teens

August 15, 2020

Found in a bright orange case, you may have checked out Playaways or Playaway Views in the past, which are similar to audiobooks. Or maybe a Playaway Book Pack, that allows children to listen to a book while following the worlds on the page. Now, MCPL is offering a fun new technology from Playaway: Playaway Launchpads! Similar to a tablet, Launchpads contain pre-loaded apps on a variety of subjects, including math, animals, puzzles and logic, learning foreign languages and more. These apps contain a mixture of learning-based games and activities, helping your child learn important concepts while having fun at the same time. Each Launchpad is geared for different age ranges and grade levels, which helps make...

Children Early Literacy Education Language Learning Learning Technology

July 31, 2020

Much like fairy tales, myths have been retold over many years. Sometimes there are different variations of a story, making it interesting to read and compare across the versions. Mythology is ripe for retellings, whether realistic, like Seven Deadly Shadows, fantastic, like The Never Tilting World, or with elements of science fiction, like The Dragon Pearl. Sometimes in order to get the full impact of a retelling, you need to know the original story, so consulting Edith Hamilton’s “Mythology” can be very helpful, as can Neil Gaiman’s recent retelling of Norse Myths. Enjoy the rich diversity of mythology that has influenced writers and authors for thousands of years.

Books Reading Recommendations Teens

July 25, 2020

July 31st is Harry Potter’s Birthday, and if you’re a fan like me, it’s a great excuse to celebrate all things Harry Potter! Since I became the Mosinee Branch Coordinator, I’ve tried to bring my love of the Harry Potter series to our branch. At the end of the July, we typically host a week-long celebration of crafts and activities (with costumes very welcome!) including a crowd favorite, wand making! While we can’t do our usual in-person programming this year, below are instructions on how to make your very own wand at home, along with some links for other activities to celebrate! Instructions for Younger Children (No Hot Glue Involved!) Supplies needed: Short stick,...

Adults Children Teens Tweens

July 18, 2020

Fairy tales are stories that we learn as children, but remember into our teen years and adulthood. How often do we hear about something being "a Cinderella story," or about something having a "fairy tale ending?" They're engrained in our culture and the way we see the world and tell stories.  Below, we're offering part two of our fairy tales (and fairy tale retellings) for adults. If you haven't already checked out Part 1 of our list, you should, and then take a look at the list below.   

Adults Books Reading Recommendations

July 17, 2020

Are you or your child running out of fun and engaging titles to read during the COVID-19 pandemic? Then call any of the nine Marathon County Public Library locations and we will hand-pick titles for you and your children! Need new read-alouds before bed for your baby or preschooler? We would love to prepare a stack of our story time favorites and new books for you by request via curbside pick-up! Have a tween that loves fantasy, or the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, and they've run out of books? We have a bunch of new titles we can pull and have ready for your child! Or maybe you need a good mystery or thriller for yourself? The great thing about the library is, books are free to check-out, so if you...

Books Children COVID-19 Libraries Reading Recommendations Tweens

July 16, 2020

What would a good fairy tale for an adult look like? Would it have poison apples, wicked witches and handsome princes? Maybe…It might. But it might not. It might be the essence of the fairy tale remolded to tell a different kind of story. Fairy tales are often viewed as “childish” or only for children, but the books on this list are for grown-ups with a taste for fairy tales, myths and magic.  Enjoy these retellings and reimaginings, and keep an eye out for part 2 of this list, coming soon! And if you're really a fan of the genre, check out Part 1 and Part 2 of our fairy tale retellings for teens, too! 

Adults Books Reading Recommendations

July 10, 2020

Book-to-movie adaptations have long been a sore spot and an area of contention for diehard bookworms. Some expect the movie or TV show to be exactly like the written source material, without straying at all, while others expect some changes to be made during the leap from page to screen. The idea that nothing can or should change is something I personally disagree with, because that expectation sets you up to be disappointed. There are things you can accomplish and convey in books that you cannot mimic in film, and vice versa. And let’s face it – if there was a movie adaptation made that quoted and followed the book it’s based on line-for-line, it would be hours long, probably feature scenes that would be...

Adults Books Movies

July 8, 2020

A few weeks back, we posted a list of fairy tail retellings for teens. These novels retold the stories of Sleeping Beauty, Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, and other famous tales in modern times, or with new twists to the stories. Since there were so many good recommendations to share, we had to split the list into two parts. Below, you'll find the second list, which features retellings for such tales as Little Red Riding Hood, The Frog Prince, Rumpelstiltskin, and others.  Enjoy these young adult and middle-grade (MG) novels that use fairy tales as the basis for the story, and let us know - what's your favorite fairy tale adaptation or retelling?​

Audiobooks Books E-books Reading Recommendations Teens Tweens

July 7, 2020

For many, summer weather plus quarantine means getting things done around the house. At my home, there’s always cleaning and gardening to be done, and one way I’ve found to entertain and engage my mind while tending to those tasks is listening to podcasts. This is a relatively new discovery for me, and I’ve learned that there are podcasts for nearly everything under the sun. But as a reader, the book podcasts hold the most interest for me. Content for book podcasts runs the gamut, from lively book discussions to author interviews to read-alouds. The following are some of my favorites. Try them out, or discover some of your own. If you have a favorite, let us know in the comments section. It’s a big book...

Adults Books Reading Recommendations Technology