June Book Clubs at Newton Public Library
Join us for June 2026 book discussions at Newton Public Library! In June, we’re introducing a new “Breakfast Book Club” that will meet at 9:30 a.m. on fourth Saturdays, June through September. See below for more info! These friendly gatherings are open to the public, no registration needed. Books are available to borrow about a… Read More » The post June Book Clubs at Newton Public Library appeared first on Newton Public Library.
Join us for June 2026 book discussions at Newton Public Library! In June, we’re introducing a new “Breakfast Book Club” that will meet at 9:30 a.m. on fourth Saturdays, June through September. See below for more info! These friendly gatherings are open to the public, no registration needed. Books are available to borrow about a month before each discussion. You’re welcome to check out any or all of the book club picks and read along with us, whether or not you can attend. To sign up for an email list with the latest book club announcements and reminders, click here and check “Book Discussions” when you fill out the form. Here’s what we’re reading in June. These selections are available now: Prime Suspects Book Club – 5 p.m. Wednesday, June 3 Jurassic Park, by Michael Crichton. An astonishing technique for recovering and cloning dinosaur DNA has been discovered. Now humankind’s most thrilling fantasies have come true. Creatures extinct for eons roam Jurassic Park with their awesome presence and profound mystery, and all the world can visit them—for a price. Until something goes wrong. . . . Nonfiction Book Club – 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 9 The Lost City of Z, by David Grann. In 1925, the legendary British explorer Percy Fawcett ventured into the Amazon jungle, in search of a fabled civilization located deep in the deadly wilderness. He never returned. In this masterpiece of narrative nonfiction, journalist David Grann tells the epic story of Fawcett’s quest for this “Lost City of Z,” as he unravels the greatest exploration mystery of the twentieth century. Cozy Crimes Book Club – 6:30 p.m. Thursday, June 11 Track of the Cat, by Nevada Barr. Anna Pigeon has fled New York and her memories to find work as a ranger in the country’s national parks. In the remote backcountry of West Texas, however, she discovers murder and violence. Fellow park ranger Sheila Drury is mysteriously killed, presumably by a mountain lion. But the deep claw marks Anna finds across Drury’s throat, and the paw prints surrounding the body, are too perfect to be real. Eager to prevent the needless slaughter of her beloved cougars, Anna can’t let the matter rest. Boundless Bookworms – 6:30 p.m. Thursday, June 18 Less, by Andrew Sean Greer. When failed novelist Arthur Less gets an unwelcome wedding invitation from his ex-boyfriend of nine years, he casts around for any excuse to skip town. On his desk is a series of invitations to half-baked literary events around the world. What could possibly go wrong? A series of picaresque adventures follow, including scrapes with death, scrapes with destiny, and a desert-island encounter with the last person on earth he wants to face. Somewhere in there: he will turn fifty. Sugar & Spice Book Club – 6:30 p.m. Thursday, June 25 The Song of Achilles, by Madeline Miller. Achilles, “the best of all the Greeks,” son of the cruel sea goddess Thetis and the legendary king Peleus, is strong, swift, and beautiful, irresistible to all who meet him. Patroclus is an awkward young prince, exiled from his homeland after an act of shocking violence. Brought together by chance, they forge an inseparable bond, despite risking the gods’ wrath. When all the heroes of Greece are called upon to lay siege to Troy, Achilles joins their cause, and torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus follows. Breakfast Book Club – 9:30 a.m. Saturday, June 27 Standing in the Rainbow, by Fannie Flagg. The time is 1946 until the present. The town is Elmwood Springs, Missouri, right in the middle of the country, in the midst of the mostly joyous transition from war to peace, toward a dizzyingly bright future. Fannie Flagg gives us a story of richly human characters, the saving graces of the once-maligned middle classes and small-town life, and the daily contest between laughter and tears. The post June Book Clubs at Newton Public Library appeared first on Newton Public Library.
Bestselling children’s author Gordon Korman to visit Newton Public Library
Gordon Korman, the bestselling author of “Swindle,” “The Fort,” “Ungifted” and more than 100 other books for young readers, is coming to Newton Public Library at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 28. The event, in the library’s INTRUST Room, is free and open to readers of all ages — adults and children alike. Tickets are available… Read More » The post Bestselling children’s author Gordon Korman to visit Newton Public Library appeared first on Newton Public Library.
Gordon Korman, the bestselling author of “Swindle,” “The Fort,” “Ungifted” and more than 100 other books for young readers, is coming to Newton Public Library at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 28. The event, in the library’s INTRUST Room, is free and open to readers of all ages — adults and children alike. Tickets are available now at the library’s front desk. “We are thrilled to bring Gordon Korman to Newton,” said Sara Rickard, children’s librarian at Newton Public Library. “His books are funny, his characters are relatable, and he builds his stories around great ‘what if’ questions. What if your teacher were a robot? What if humans could be cloned? Our Korman book display has been hard to keep stocked for months.” Korman published his first novel, “This Can’t Be Happening at Macdonald Hall,” with Scholastic when he was 14 years old. His 30 million-plus books in print include the Swindle mysteries, The Hypnotists and titles in The 39 Clues series. Kansas readers may also know him from the William Allen White Children’s Book Award, chosen by student voters and administered by Emporia State University: his novel “The Fort” won the 2025 award in the grades 6-8 category, and “Restart” took the same category in 2020. The April 28 library event anchors a three-day Newton visit that also includes eight presentations at local schools. School librarians have been building toward the visit since last fall, using Korman’s books in read-alouds and book clubs, with additional copies purchased by Newton Public Library for both school and library collections. Korman’s visit is funded by the Florence Bessmer Foundation. Florence Bessmer, a lifelong Newton resident and former teacher, established the foundation on her 101st birthday to support the library’s work with children. The children’s library inside the current Newton Public Library building is named in her honor. Overseen by an independent board of trustees the foundation has donated more than $1.6 million for books and children’s media, as well as children’s programming and related resources, since 1979. Last year, it brought award-winning educator and musician Jim Gill to Newton. “Florence Bessmer’s generosity is what makes this possible,” Rickard said. “Generations of Newton kids have grown up with books and programs funded by her foundation, and bringing Gordon Korman to town is part of that ongoing investment.” Free tickets for the April 28 event are available at the Newton Public Library front desk. Copies of Korman’s books are also available for checkout, and Faith & Life Bookstore will have books for sale at the event. The post Bestselling children’s author Gordon Korman to visit Newton Public Library appeared first on Newton Public Library.
Join us for May 2026 book discussions at Newton Public Library! These friendly gatherings are open to the public, no registration needed. Books are available to borrow about a month before each discussion. You’re welcome to check out any or all of the book club picks and read along with us, whether or not you… Read More » The post May Book Clubs at Newton Public Library appeared first on Newton Public Library.
Join us for May 2026 book discussions at Newton Public Library! These friendly gatherings are open to the public, no registration needed. Books are available to borrow about a month before each discussion. You’re welcome to check out any or all of the book club picks and read along with us, whether or not you can attend. To sign up for an email list with the latest book club announcements and reminders, click here and check “Book Discussions” when you fill out the form. Here’s what we’re reading next month (and on April 23). These selections are available now: Sugar & Spice Book Club – 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 23 Ready or Not, by Cara Bastone. Eve Hatch lives for surprises! Just kidding. She expects every tomorrow to be pretty much the same as today. She loves her cozy apartment in Brooklyn that’s close to her childhood best friend Willa, and far from her midwestern, traditional family who has never really understood her. While her job is only dream-adjacent, it’s comfortable and steady. She always knows what to expect from her life . . . until she finds herself expecting after an uncharacteristic one-night stand. TALK Book Discussion – 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 5 The Midnight Library, by Matt Haig. Join us for the final discussion in our spring 2026 TALK series, led by special guest Rachel Epp Buller. Dr. Buller is professor of visual arts and design at Bethel College. Burdened with regrets, Nora finds herself in a space between life and death: The Midnight Library. Each book contains a version of Nora, a life story that could have existed if she had made different choices. Before her time runs out, Nora must decide for herself what is important, and why life is worth living. Prime Suspects Book Club – 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 6 Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone, by Benjamin Stevenson. Everyone in my family has killed someone. Some of us, the high achievers, have killed more than once. I’m not trying to be dramatic, but it is the truth. Some of us are good, others are bad, and some just unfortunate. Of course there’s also the little matter of a serial killer known as the Black Tongue who gets mixed up in all this, and $267,000 in cash. Nonfiction Book Club – 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 12 Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here, by Jonathan Blitzer. A history of the disastrous humanitarian crisis at the southern border told through the lives of the migrants forced to risk everything and the policymakers who determine their fate. Blitzer argues that the immigration crisis is the result of decades of misguided policy and sweeping corruption. Weaving the stories of Central Americans whose lives have been devastated by chronic political conflict and violence with those of American activists, government officials, and politicians, Blitzer reveals a layered picture of this vast and unremitting conflict. Cozy Crimes Book Club – 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 14 Arsenic and Adobo, by Mia P. Manansala. When Lila Macapagal moves back home to recover from a horrible breakup, her life seems to be following all the typical rom-com tropes. She’s tasked with saving her Tita Rosie’s failing restaurant, and she has to deal with a group of matchmaking aunties who shower her with love and judgment. But when a notoriously nasty food critic (who happens to be her ex-boyfriend) drops dead moments after a confrontation with Lila, her life quickly swerves from a Nora Ephron romp to an Agatha Christie case. Boundless Bookworms – 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 21 Normal People, by Sally Rooney. At school Connell and Marianne pretend not to know each other. But when Connell comes to pick his mother up from her housekeeping job at Marianne’s house, a strange connection grows between the two teenagers. Throughout their years in college, they stray toward other people and possibilities but are always magnetically, irresistibly, drawn back together. Sally Rooney explores the subtleties of class, the electricity of first love, and the complex entanglements of family and friendship. Sugar & Spice Book Club – 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 28 Crazy Rich Asians, by Kevin Kwan. When Rachel Chu agrees to spend the summer in Singapore with her boyfriend, Nicholas Young, she envisions a humble family home, long drives to explore the island, and quality time with the man she might one day marry. What she doesn’t know is that Nick’s family home happens to look like a palace, that she’ll ride in more private planes than cars, and that with one of Asia’s most eligible bachelors on her arm, Rachel might as well have a target on her back. The post May Book Clubs at Newton Public Library appeared first on Newton Public Library.
Library to mark America 250 with ‘Declaration Conversation’
July 4, 2026, will mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. To kick off its observances of America 250 – the United States Semiquincentennial – Newton Public Library will host a public reading and discussion of the Declaration of Independence on Tuesday, Feb. 3, at 6:30 p.m. Members of the community are invited… Read More » The post Library to mark America 250 with ‘Declaration Conversation’ appeared first on Newton Public Library.
July 4, 2026, will mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. To kick off its observances of America 250 – the United States Semiquincentennial – Newton Public Library will host a public reading and discussion of the Declaration of Independence on Tuesday, Feb. 3, at 6:30 p.m. Members of the community are invited to attend and participate in this “Declaration Conversation,” made possible by Humanities Kansas. The event will be facilitated by Anne Hawkins, a Kansas historian who has published numerous articles and given hundreds of historical talks and presentations across the state. “America 250 is a chance to step back and ask what these words have meant, and what we want them to mean now,” said Sam Jack, Newton Public Library’s adult librarian. “By reading the Declaration together and talking about it in a respectful space, we’re inviting the community to reflect on the ideals it names and the challenges that have followed.” Following an introduction by Hawkins, Newton High School speech and debate students will read excerpts from the Declaration of Independence. Hawkins will then lead a community discussion about the Declaration, its meaning, and its impact. “Hearing the Declaration in the voices of students is a reminder that our country’s story belongs to the next generation, too,” said Jack. “Their participation will help bring the text to life and set the tone for a conversation that welcomes everyone.” The Declaration Conversation is free and open to the public; no registration is needed. It is part of Humanities Kansas’s “Declaration at 250” activities, which also include a statewide tour of the “Declaration 1776: The Big Bang of Modern Democracy” traveling exhibition. The exhibition will be on view at North Newton’s Kauffman Museum, Nov. 14 through Dec. 31, 2026. For more info on “Declaration at 250,” go to www.humanitieskansas.org. For more on America 250 programs and events across the state, visit www.travelks.com/kansas-250. The post Library to mark America 250 with ‘Declaration Conversation’ appeared first on Newton Public Library.
In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Newton Community for Racial Justice (NCRJ) invites you to participate in two interactive escape room experiences exploring Dr. King’s life, legacy, and vision for justice. Participants will work together to solve puzzles, uncover hidden stories, and reflect on how Dr. King’s message continues to challenge and… Read More » The post MLK Day Escape Room Challenge appeared first on Newton Public Library.
In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Newton Community for Racial Justice (NCRJ) invites you to participate in two interactive escape room experiences exploring Dr. King’s life, legacy, and vision for justice. I Have a Dream: Unlocking the Vision focuses on the words, imagery, and hope of Dr King’s iconic speech. The Journey Toward Justice traces his life’s work – from early influences to civil rights action, including his historic visit to Bethel College. Participants will work together to solve puzzles, uncover hidden stories, and reflect on how Dr. King’s message continues to challenge and inspire us today. Though walk-ins are welcome, registration is recommended to reserve your preferred time. Families are encouraged to participate; best suited for ages 5 and up. Sign up for one or both escape rooms. Use the links below to register for your preferred time(s) on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026. I Have a Dream: Unlocking the Vision 10-10:30 AM 10:45-11:15 AM 11:30 AM-12 PM 12:15-12:45 PM 1-1:30 PM 1:45-2:15 PM 2:30-3 PM The Journey Toward Justice 10-10:30 AM 10:45-11:15 AM 11:30 AM-12 PM 12:15-12:45 PM 1-1:30 PM 1:45-2:15 PM 2:30-3 PM The post MLK Day Escape Room Challenge appeared first on Newton Public Library.
Music + Science = Inspiration! NPL presents STEMusic Live
At 1 PM on Monday, June 9, a Grammy-nominated artist will be in concert at Newton Public Library! Earlier this year, librarian Sam Jack interviewed Roy Moye III for a feature in East Wichita News & WestSide Story. Read on to learn more about Moye and his mission to inspire the next generation of scientists… Read More » The post Music + Science = Inspiration! NPL presents STEMusic Live appeared first on Newton Public Library.
At 1 PM on Monday, June 9, a Grammy-nominated artist will be in concert at Newton Public Library! Earlier this year, librarian Sam Jack interviewed Roy Moye III for a feature in East Wichita News & WestSide Story. Read on to learn more about Moye and his mission to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers – then come to “STEMusic Live!” Kids ages 4+, and their grown-ups, are invited, no registration required. As a college student at Wichita State University, Roy Moye III had two big passions, in two disparate fields. One was aerospace engineering, his field of study. Born in Germany to a father serving in the U.S. Army, Moye took his first plane ride at three weeks of age and doesn’t remember a time when he wasn’t enthralled by aviation. The other was music, especially gospel and R&B. During college, he started to sing in talent shows and showcases, and he started to record himself and put his artistic creations out into the world. <img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="683" height="1024" src="https://www.newtonplks.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/image_123923953-683x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-11120" style="width:283px;height:auto" srcset="https://www.newtonplks.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/image_123923953-683x1024.jpg 683w, https://www.newtonplks.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/image_123923953-200x300.jpg 200w, https://www.newtonplks.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/image_123923953-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://www.newtonplks.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/image_123923953-1200x1800.jpg 1200w, https://www.newtonplks.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/image_123923953-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https://www.newtonplks.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/image_123923953-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https://www.newtonplks.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/image_123923953-scaled.jpg 1707w" sizes="(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px" /> Soon after he earned his degree in 2015, Moye found a way to combine his artistic and scientific pursuits, starting down a path that led to his creation of a STEM education and entertainment company, STEMusic, a few years later. (STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and math.) “At that time, I was working in the community with an organization called Real Men, Real Heroes, which is now called Heroes Academy,” Moye said. “For about 10 years, I was heavily engaged there, leading fourth- and third-graders as their lead teacher, and meeting every Monday night. “One of the nights, volunteering, I was asked to do a math activity. I said, ‘Whoa, that seems crazy, because I’m not really friends with math, even though I have a math minor.” Moye suspected that his kids would not be super into a math activity, either. He needed to get creative. “These are predominantly young Black boys I was mentoring,” said Moye, who is Black and also has Puerto Rican and Mexican ancestry. “I decided to remix a popular song at the time, which was ‘Watch Me Whip, Watch Me Nae Nae.’ I remixed it as, ‘Watch Me Solve the Equation,’ and that’s how I started the lesson.” Moye’s performance caused an immediate shift in the energy of the room, with boys racing up to the blackboard to work on math problems. “I just saw a level of engagement that was inspiring – and I was relieved, because they ended up doing the activity instead of saying no, they didn’t want to do it,” Moye said. “I said to myself, ‘Something happened in that room that was special, and you should do something with it.’” Moye spent his first six years after college working as a design engineer at Spirit Aerosystems, then shifted to Spirit’s recruitment division, leading the company’s college internship program and focusing on his mission of bringing more people of color into STEM and engineering. At the same time, he continued to work on music that would engage kids and spread the gospel of STEM. In 2019, Moye released STEMusic’s debut, “STEMusic: The EP.” The EP’s title track, “We Call It STEMusic,” still opens Moye’s live shows. It features an engaging beat and a high-impact R&B sound. “Experiments in the lab, designing to be better than the past. Calculations and equations galore. Code it up, code it up, now it’s in the app store,” Moye sings. “Everywhere we go, people gotta know. We gon’ make it flow: We call it STEMusic.” <img decoding="async" width="931" height="1024" src="https://www.newtonplks.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/IMG_8719-931x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-11122" srcset="https://www.newtonplks.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/IMG_8719-931x1024.jpg 931w, https://www.newtonplks.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/IMG_8719-273x300.jpg 273w, https://www.newtonplks.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/IMG_8719-768x845.jpg 768w, https://www.newtonplks.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/IMG_8719-1200x1320.jpg 1200w, https://www.newtonplks.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/IMG_8719-1396x1536.jpg 1396w, https://www.newtonplks.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/IMG_8719-1862x2048.jpg 1862w" sizes="(max-width: 931px) 100vw, 931px" /> Moye soon joined a collective of children’s music artists from all over the country. “I got some mentors, and I was like, ‘Oh wow, I’m a children’s music artist!’” he said. “That was around the time George Floyd was murdered, so there were a lot of conversations around what this family music collective wanted to do in response to that, for the youth. “What happened was a spinoff from that more general collective to become 1 Tribe Collective, a collective of Black family and children’s music artists. When that spinoff happened, we got into a conversation over Zoom, all 26 of us, and we decided that we wanted to make an album that speaks to our young Black kids. Talking about justice, yes, but also talking about other topics like playing in the park, STEM concepts, and other things.” Moye wrote a track for the collective’s debut compilation album, titled “Black Lives Made STEM History,” and hyping inventors and scientists from the Black community. The album was released on June 19, 2021, the first Juneteenth to be declared a federal holiday. “And a couple of months later, we found out our producers submitted it for the Grammy Awards, and it was nominated for a Grammy for best children’s music album, which was phenomenal,” Moye said. “It was a wild moment. I did not know that creating STEMusic would lead to going to the Grammys and getting that experience in April of 2022.” Moye’s performing career continued to grow, and in September of last year, he finally left Spirit to make STEMusic his full-time gig. Since then, he has performed for audiences in Chicago, Houston, Kansas City, Phoenix, Atlanta and Wichita, among other locations. “As I’m speaking to you right now, I’m getting ready to go on a mini-tour to San Diego and Austin,” he said in February. “It’s all exciting, just to continue to spread what STEMusic is all about.” Moye’s high-energy shows typically last about 45 minutes and include a mix of music and audience-participation activities. The goal is to get kids excited about STEM, and also to raise their awareness that the subjects they study in school are gateways to a profusion of career choices in science, industry and design. “You’re introducing them to something they’ve never heard of before. Like, ‘Oh, I didn’t know that mechanical engineers design cars. I love cars!’ It’s a cool way to open up their world a little bit, and I also think it means something that it comes from someone who looks like them,” Moye said. During a show he presented in Kansas toward the end of last year, Moye told his young audience that they were going to do a math activity – the “M” in STEM. One boy in the front row was not having it. “He was like, ‘Boooo!’ There were some people clapping, but he vocally said ‘boo.’ I engaged with him and said, ‘You know what, I actually feel the same way. It’s not my favorite thing, if I’m being honest. But what if we make a deal? What if we do the math song first, and I show you what the math activity is, and you can judge from that,’” Moye recalled. “The very first line of the song is, ‘Me and math haven’t really been friends, but can I tell you, that’s not where this story ends.’ When I said that line, I said it straight to him. I could see that he felt seen by those lyrics.” The math song led into a high-energy activity, adding and subtracting using giant dice that the kids tossed around. “The gym always goes crazy. And this kid, every single problem, he was solving them and yelling the answers, like, ‘It’s 12, it’s 24.’ It really showed me the power of combining STEM and music,” Moye said. “A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down. It did for me in my life, and it does for boys doing math lessons.” Moye is currently working on a new album, “STEMusic Takes Flight,” with a focus on the science of flight and airplanes. He feels called to keep doing this kind of work. “It’s not about trying to be a ‘hero’ or do something incredible. I’m going to keep doing what I’m called to do, which is to stand up for those who may not be able to stand up for themselves. To make sure that the young Black and brown kids grow up knowing that there’s so much opportunity. Sometimes that opportunity has to be fought for, sometimes that opportunity has to be demanded, and what better way to show them that than through my actions and what I’m committed to doing with the power of STEMusic?” Learn more about Moye and listen to his music on his website, www.TheSTEMusic.com. The post Music + Science = Inspiration! NPL presents STEMusic Live appeared first on Newton Public Library.
Join us for book discussions during the month of April at Newton Public Library! These friendly gatherings are open to the public, no registration needed. Books are available to borrow about a month before each discussion. You’re welcome to check out any or all of the book club picks and read along with us, whether… Read More » The post April Book Clubs at NPL appeared first on Newton Public Library.
Join us for book discussions during the month of April at Newton Public Library! These friendly gatherings are open to the public, no registration needed. Books are available to borrow about a month before each discussion. You’re welcome to check out any or all of the book club picks and read along with us, whether or not you can attend. To sign up for an email list with the latest book club announcements and reminders, click here and check “Book Discussions” when you fill out the form. Prime Suspects Book Club – 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 2 The Big Nowhere, by James Ellroy. Los Angeles, 1950 Red crosscurrents: the Commie Scare and a string of brutal mutilation killings. Gangland intrigue and Hollywood sleaze. Three cops caught in a hellish web of ambition, perversion, and deceit. Danny Upshaw is a Sheriff’s deputy stuck with a bunch of snuffs nobody cares about; they’re his chance to make his name as a cop…and to sate his darkest curiosities. TALK About Literature in Kansas – 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 3 Firekeeper’s Daughter, by Angeline Boulley. Join us for the second installment of our spring TALK series! Thanks to support from Humanities Kansas, the guest leader for our discussion of Firekeeper’s Daughter will be Linda Lewis. For more information on this spring’s TALK series, click here. Strange New Worlds Book Club – 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 8 Record of a Spaceborn Few, by Becky Chambers. Centuries after the last humans left Earth, the Exodus Fleet is a living relic, a place many are from but few outsiders have seen. Humanity has been accepted into the galactic community, but those who have not yet left the fleet’s ships for alien cities fear that their carefully-cultivated way of life is under threat. When a disaster rocks the Exodan community, those who still call the fleet their home can no longer avoide the question: What is the purpose of a ship that has reached its destination? Nonfiction Book Club – 12 p.m. Friday, April 11 The Demon of Unrest, by Erik Larson. Master storyteller Erik Larson offers a gripping account of the chaotic months between Lincoln’s election and the Confederacy’s shelling of Fort Sumter—a period marked by tragic errors and miscommunications, enflamed egos and craven ambitions, personal tragedies and betrayals. Lincoln wrote that the trials of these five months were “so great that, could I have anticipated them, I would not have believed it possible to survive them.” Big Read Community Discussion – 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 17 Sitting Pretty: The View From My Ordinary Resilient Disabled Body, by Rebekah Taussig. Growing up as a paralyzed girl during the ’90s and early 2000s, Rebekah Taussig only saw disability depicted as something monstrous, inspirational, or angelic. None of this felt right; and as she got older, she longed for more stories that allowed disability to be complex and ordinary, uncomfortable and fine, painful and fulfilling. Writing about the rhythms and textures of what it means to live in a body that doesn’t fit, Rebekah reflects on everything from the complications of kindness and charity, living both independently and dependently, experiencing intimacy, and how the pervasiveness of ableism in our everyday media directly translates to everyday life. Sugar & Spice Book Club – 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 24 Part of Your World, by Abby Jimenez. After a wild bet, gourmet grilled-cheese sandwich, and cuddle with a baby goat, Alexis Montgomery has had her world turned upside down. The cause: Daniel Grant, a ridiculously hot carpenter who’s ten years younger than her and as casual as they come—the complete opposite of sophisticated city-girl Alexis. And yet their chemistry is undeniable. Bringing Daniel into her world is impossible, and yet she can’t just give up the joy she’s found with him either. With so many differences between them, how can Alexis possibly choose between her world and his? TALK About Literature in Kansas – 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 6 The Removed, by Brandon Hobson. Join us for the final installment of our spring TALK series! The guest discussion leader for our discussion of The Removed will be Tim Bascom. For more information on this spring’s TALK series, click here. Prime Suspects Book Club – 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 7 Celine, by Peter Heller. Establishing an excellent record as a missing-persons tracker who specializes in reuniting families to make amends for a loss in her own past, Celine searches for a presumed-dead photographer in Yellowstone only to be targeted by a shadowy figure who would keep the case unsolved. By the best-selling author of The Dog Stars. Nonfiction Book Club – 12 p.m. Friday, May 9 Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands, by Kate Beaton. Katie heads out west to take advantage of Alberta’s oil rush-part of the long tradition of East Coasters who seek gainful employment elsewhere when they can’t find it in the homeland they love so much. Katie encounters the harsh reality of life in the oil sands, where trauma is an everyday occurrence yet is never discussed. The post April Book Clubs at NPL appeared first on Newton Public Library.
Celebrate Florence Bessmer Day with a free concert for preschoolers and their families by award-winning musician Jim Gill, 6:30 p.m. Friday, April 4! Pick up your free tickets at the front desk starting March 17. Jim is well-known for celebrating active play. In concert, he strums energizing rhythms on his banjo while everyone sings, dances and… Read More » The post March Kids Events at NPL appeared first on Newton Public Library.
Celebrate Florence Bessmer Day with a free concert for preschoolers and their families by award-winning musician Jim Gill, 6:30 p.m. Friday, April 4! Pick up your free tickets at the front desk starting March 17. Jim is well-known for celebrating active play. In concert, he strums energizing rhythms on his banjo while everyone sings, dances and spins along to his silly, inspiring musical games! The following morning, April 5, early childhood educators, librarians, and childcare providers are invited to a free workshop with Jim. KDHE approval pending. For more information and to register, click here. During the week of March 31-April 4, learn more about the resources available in the children’s area, thanks in part to the Florence Bessmer Foundation, with a scavenger hunt. Families can pick up a clue sheet at the front desk, and after completing the scavenger hunt, return it for a small prize. For Children Ages 0-5 Baby/Toddler Play Time (0-36 months) Wednesday, March 12, 9:30-11:00 AM, INTRUST Room Drop in for some fun with your babies and toddlers! A variety of play options will be set up around the room for you and your littlest ones to explore! No registration required. (There will be no Baby or Toddler StoryTimes on March 12). Winter StoryTime Session Ends March 14! Family (All Ages): Mondays, 6:30 PM Baby (0-18 months): Wednesdays, 9:30 AM Toddler (18-38 months): Wednesdays, 11 AM, & Thursdays, 9:30 AM Preschool (3-5 years): Thursdays & Fridays, 11 AM After a 2-week break, we will begin our Spring StoryTime Session on Monday, March 31. For Children in grades K-4 Read to a Dog with “Love on a Leash” (ages 5-9) Saturday, March 1, 11 AM-12 PM Stop by with your children to read a book or two with these therapy dogs (or just enjoy some pet-love). It’s a great way for early readers to practice reading aloud in a relaxed, comfortable environment. No registration required. Early Reader Book Club (for grades K-1) Thursday, March 6, 4-5 PM Children in grades K-1 investigate a fun picture book and follow up with a related activity. To ensure we have enough books for children to take home, registration is required. REGISTRATION FULL. Kids in the Kitchen (Grades 2-4) Thursday, March 13, 4-5 PM Facilitated by K-State Research & Extension, this program is designed boost kids’ nutrition and fitness awareness while teaching them how to prepare healthy snacks. This is the last of six sessions. REGISTER HERE. Stories and STEAM (Grades 2-4) Thursday, March 20, 4-5 PM Participants enjoy hands-on activities in science, technology, engineering, art and math! This month, we’ll do a float-your-boat challenge. REGISTER HERE. Also, check out this “Adult and Me” STEAM Workshop, hosted by Lori and Craig of STEAMwSeniors on Saturday, March 1, 1:30-3:30 PM, at the Newton Senior Center. First Chapter Book Chats (Grades 2-3) Thursday, March 27, 4-5 PM On the fourth Thursday of each month, we’ll discuss a new book from the First Chapter Book collection. This month, we’ll read The Infamous Ratsos, by Kara LaReau. Participants are encouraged to read the book ahead of time, and you can pick up a free copy at the front desk after you register. REGISTER HERE. If you have any questions, please feel free to email Sara, srickard@newtonplks.org. or call the library at 316-283-2890. The post March Kids Events at NPL appeared first on Newton Public Library.
March Book Clubs at Newton Public Library
Join us for book discussions during the month of March at Newton Public Library! These friendly gatherings are open to the public, no registration needed. Books are available to borrow about a month before each discussion. You’re welcome to check out any or all of the book club picks and read along with us, whether… Read More » The post March Book Clubs at Newton Public Library appeared first on Newton Public Library.
Join us for book discussions during the month of March at Newton Public Library! These friendly gatherings are open to the public, no registration needed. Books are available to borrow about a month before each discussion. You’re welcome to check out any or all of the book club picks and read along with us, whether or not you can attend. To sign up for an email list with the latest book club announcements and reminders, click here and check “Book Discussions” when you fill out the form. TALK About Literature in Kansas – 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 4 There There, by Tommy Orange. Join us for the first installment of our spring TALK series! Thanks to support from Humanities Kansas, the guest leader for our discussion of There There will be Gene Chavez. For more information on this spring’s TALK series, click here. Prime Suspects Book Club – 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 5 Triptych, by Karin Slaughter. In the city of Atlanta, women are dying—at the hands of a killer who signs his work with a single, chilling act of mutilation. This cunning madman is bringing together dozens of lives, crossing the boundaries of wealth and race. And the people who are chasing him must cross those boundaries too. Among them is Michael Ormewood, a veteran detective whose marriage is hanging by a thread, and Angie Polaski, a beautiful vice cop who was once Michael’s lover, before she became his enemy. Strange New Worlds Book Club – 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 11 Storm Front, by Jim Butcher. “My name is Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden. Conjure by it at your own risk. I’m a wizard. I work out of an office in midtown Chicago. As far as I know, I’m the only openly practicing professional wizard in the country. You can find me in the yellow pages, under Wizards. Believe it or not, I’m the only one there.” On the trail of a criminal, Harry ventures into Chicago’s dangerous underbelly, from mobsters to vampires, while he himself is under suspicion of crimes. Nonfiction Book Club – 12 p.m. Friday, March 14 Rogues, by Patrick Radden Keefe. Features that originally appeared in The New Yorker are brought together to form an enthralling, deeply human portrait of criminals and rascals, as well as those who stand up against them. Keefe explores the intricacies of forging $150,000 vintage wines, and he examines whether a whistleblower who dared to expose money laundering at a Swiss bank is a hero or a fabulist, among other bravura works of literary journalism. Boundless Bookworms – 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 20 Playground, by Richard Powers. Four lives are drawn together on the history-scarred island of Makatea in French Polynesia, whose deposits of phosphorus once helped to feed the world. Now the tiny atoll has been chosen for humanity’s next adventure: a plan to send floating, autonomous cities out onto the open sea. But first, the island’s residents must vote to greenlight the project or turn the seasteaders away. Set in the world’s largest ocean, this awe-filled book explores the last wild place we have yet to colonize. Sugar & Spice Book Club – 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 27 The Seven Year Slip, by Ashley Poston. One day, Clementine finds a strange man standing in the kitchen of her late aunt’s apartment. A man with kind eyes and a Southern drawl and a taste for lemon pies. The kind of man that, before it all, she would’ve fallen head-over-heels for. And she might again. Except, he exists in the past. Seven years ago, to be exact. And she, quite literally, lives seven years in his future. The post March Book Clubs at Newton Public Library appeared first on Newton Public Library.
It’s February! Here are some upcoming Newton Public Library children’s events to put on your calendar. Note: If you would like to get Sara Rickard’s monthly children’s library updates in your email inbox, fill out the form here and select “Children’s Services.” For School-Aged Children Winter Reading Challenge (ages 5-9) Children can still pick up… Read More » The post February Kids Events at NPL appeared first on Newton Public Library.
It’s February! Here are some upcoming Newton Public Library children’s events to put on your calendar. Note: If you would like to get Sara Rickard’s monthly children’s library updates in your email inbox, fill out the form here and select “Children’s Services.” For School-Aged Children Winter Reading Challenge (ages 5-9) Children can still pick up a book mark to keep track of their reading. Return it to the front desk by February 28 to be entered into a raffle for prizes. Read to a Dog with “Love on a Leash” (ages 5-9) Saturday, Feb. 1, 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Stop by with your children to read a book or two with therapy dogs (or just enjoy some pet love). It’s a great way for early readers to practice reading aloud in a relaxed, comfortable environment. No registration required. Early Reader Book Club (for grades K-1) Thursday, Feb. 6, 4-5 p.m. Children in grades K-1 get to investigate a fun picture book and follow up with a related activity. This month’s book is “Fluffy McWhiskers Cuteness Explosion,” by Stephen W. Martin. To ensure we have enough books for children to take home, registration is required. Click here to register. Kids in the Kitchen (Grades 2-4) Thursday, Feb. 13, 4-5 p.m. Facilitated by K-State Research & Extension, this program is designed to boost kids’ nutrition and fitness awareness while teaching them how to prepare healthy snacks. Our final session will be in March. Please register here. Stories and STEAM (Grades 2-4) Thursday, Feb. 20, 4-5 p.m. Participants enjoy hands-on activities in science, technology, engineering, art and math! This month, we’ll work with Ozobots! Please register here. Also, check out this “Adult and Me” STEAM Workshop, hosted by Lori and Craig of SteamwSeniors, on Saturday, Feb. 1, 9:30-11:30 a.m. at the Newton Senior Center! First Chapter Book Chats (Grades 2-3) Thursday, Feb. 27, 4-5 p.m. On the fourth Thursday of each month, we’ll discuss a new book from the First Chapter Book collection. This month, we’ll read Rabbit’s Bad Habits by Julian Gough & Jim Field. Participants are expected to read the book ahead of time, and you can pick up a free copy at the front desk after you register. Please register here. For Children Ages 0-5 Infant/Toddler Play Time (0-36 months) Wednesday, Feb. 12, 9:30-11 a.m. in the INTRUST Room. Drop in for some fun with your babies and toddlers! A variety of play options will be set up around the room for you and your littlest ones to explore! No registration required. (There will be no Baby or Toddler StoryTimes on February 12). Winter StoryTime Session: Jan. 13-March 14 Family (All Ages): Mondays, 6:30 p.m. Baby (0-18 months): Wednesdays, 9:30 a.m. Toddler (18-36 months): Wednesdays, 11 a.m., and Thursdays, 9:30 a.m. Preschool (3-5 years): Thursdays & Fridays, 11 a.m. If you have any questions, please feel free to email srickard@newtonplks.org, or call the library at 316-283-2890. The post February Kids Events at NPL appeared first on Newton Public Library.