If there's one thing the "Windy City" is known for, it's the ability of Chicagoans to adapt to changes in the weather. It's always one of the most popular topics of conversation around town. With rising ocean levels, forest fires and drought dominating coverage of changing climate patterns in other parts of the country, sometimes…
Quiz: Snow in Books, Movies and Music
Whether you love it or hate it, snow is a major part of Chicago winters. It also features heavily in books, movies, TV shows and music. Test your knowledge of snow in pop culture with our quiz…
CPL Librarians Select Winners of 2019 Teen Mock Book Awards
Teen librarians from across the city came together to discuss some of 2019's very best teen titles yesterday, in celebration of the annual American Library Association's Youth Media Awards. The ALA awards will be announced January 27; in the meantime, check out some of our staff favorites. Mock Printz Award for Literary Excellence Winner: If…
Stories Told in a Single Day: Teen Fiction
Every February, a strange and mythical event all about possibility comes around. Whether predicting the seasons or living stuck on repeat, Groundhog Day has become a cultural symbol of the power of a single day. These teen novels all take place over the course of one single day, either packed with life-changing events or reliving…
Exploring Environmental Restoration on Chicago’s Southeast Side
This year's One Book, One Chicago selection, The Sixth Extinction by Elizabeth Kolbert, really blew me away. For the first time, I encountered the idea that millions of years in the future all that will remain of our human world is an archaeological stratum for some potential, post-human species to excavate. And that's regardless of whether…
Leaping Lizards and Other Animals That Jump
Leaping lizards, it’s a leap year! 2020 is the fifth leap year in the 21st century, and it means an extra day this February. In honor of the jump from February to March, check out these fiction and nonfiction books about animals that leap for young readers . Jump! Jump along with a frog, a…
Top Picks: John Grisham Books
Happy birthday, John Grisham! This award-winning, bestselling novelist has much to celebrate as he turns 65 on February 8. Grisham published his 40th book, The Guardians, this past fall. While you'll want get your hands on his latest legal thriller, here are my top picks from his prolific career. Going down memory lane, I checked…
Kawaii Crafting: Supercute Japanese-Inspired How-To Books
Kawaii is a term from Japanese pop culture that describes cuteness. It comes from the Japanese phrase kao hyushi, which refers to a glowing face; hence, many kawaii images are blushing. Smiling (and sometimes blushing) sushi, cats, tacos, cacti, and pineapples are very characteristic hypercute kawaii images. Cartoons like Hello Kitty and Pusheen would also…
Pizza, Pizza, Pizza! Books for Kids
On a cold winter day, there's nothing better than enjoying some warm comfort food. So on February 9, I'll happily indulge in an all-time favorite as I celebrate National Pizza Day. Maybe your favorite is thin crust or Chicago's own deep dish. Whatever it may be, you can enjoy these books featuring all kinds of…
Modern Retellings of Fairy Tales in Teen Fiction
Fans of teen fiction and fantasy, rediscover classic stories when you check out these modern retellings of myths and fairy tales. Alpha Goddess is a retelling of the myth of Rama and Sita with a love triangle dissimilar to the original epic. The Language of Thorns is a beautiful book featuring dark retellings of fairy…
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