Summer Reading Challenges Kids to Build a Better World

Registration for Summer Reading Fun at the Forsyth County Public Library began last Friday, May 26, but it’s this week’s Kick-Off Carnivals that will really get local kids excited about summer reading programs.

Three Free, Family-Friendly Carnivals

Acrobat and entertainer Cameron Tomele will take a break from his shows at The Georgia Renaissance Festival to appear at the Cumming and Hampton Park branches this week.

And, with the larger space and higher ceilings, he can bring two of his acrobatic friends along for two fun-filled Barely Balanced shows at the Kick-Off Carnival hosted by the Post Road and Sharon Forks branches at Forsyth Conference Center on Friday.

Register to Read

“Last summer, about 6,000 kids, teens, and adults registered to participate in the summer reading program and they read more than 60,400 books,” says Program Manager Laura Bradley.

“Each person who registers to participate and completes a summer reading goal will be entered in a raffle drawing for some great prizes: Stars & Strikes gift baskets and gift cards for kids, AMC Theaters gift cards for teens, and adults could win an Apple iPad mini,” explains Bradley.

Library cardholders can register online or at the Ask Us desk of any FCPL branch. Forsyth residents that do not yet have a library card can sign up for a card and for the summer reading program at the same time by visiting the library.

Build a Better World Challenge

The theme of this summer’s program is “Build a Better World” and the library has some pretty specific ideas on the ways everyone can contribute to making the world a better, cleaner, kinder place.

“Each week this summer we’ll be posting challenges on our Facebook Page. We’ll be asking patrons and followers to do simple things that brighten someone’s day, show gratitude for others, help someone in need, or just keep the bonds of our community strong,” explains Bradley.

The first challenge will be announced next week on the FCPL Facebook Page and patrons can join in the challenge by posting photos and comments with the hashtags #BuildABetterWorldChallenge and #FCPLstories and by tagging the library on social media.

Build a Better Library Card

Time is running out on the opportunity for kids to design the library’s new card for children. Entries for the My First Library Card Art Contest must be submitted by June 30.

Entry forms are available online and at the Ask Us desk inside all FCPL branches and winning designs will be selected in two age groups: Pre-K through 5th grade and 6th through 12th grade. Pride will also be part of the prize, as the winners see their creations printed on My First Library Cards when the designs are unveiled in August.

For more information on the Summer Reading Kick-Off Carnivals, the Build a Better World Challenge, or to view a full schedule of summer events, please visit www.forsythpl.org.

Staff Picks - Cookbooks

Cravings by Chrissy Teigan


Leslee Peltier-Joseph
Cataloging Specialist

Library Limelight: Dave Safstrom, Facilities Technician, Library Headquarters

Library Limelight is intended to be a quick read to help FCPL patrons get to know our librarians and staff.  We hope you enjoy learning about the people who make our libraries great!

David Safstrom
Facilities Technician
Headquarters (HQ)

Where is your hometown?

I was born in Hallelujah Junction, California in the back seat of a 1952 Oldsmobile Ninety Eight. I spent most of my growing up years in the western suburbs of Chicago, but did my last year of high school in Doraville, Georgia.

How long have you been at FCPL?

9 years

What other jobs have you had at FCPL?

Collection Support Aide (CSA)

Why did you choose to work in a library?

Initially I wanted a nice part time job and heard from my wife that the Forsyth County Public Library was a good place to work, and it still is. 

Describe your job in five words or less.

Electrified, Moving, Fasten-ating, Fluid, Cool

Or: Do this, do that, whatever

What is unique about your job?

In our library system I have the privilege to visit each of our locations and provide support to our library team in a diverse array of opportunities; facilities maintenance is number one, but I get to help in many ways only limited by the imagination of the library team.

What is your favorite part of your job?

Working with a great group of people is number one, but I also enjoy the variety of things I get to do.

What’s the most interesting place you’ve lived or traveled?

I enjoyed living in the beautiful and fragrant Pacific Northwest. But the most interesting place was the Monterey Peninsula in California. There is such a variety of things to see and do there. The quaintness of Carmel by the Sea and Pacific Grove; the beauty of the ocean views along Route 1 through Big Sur; the agricultural workings in the Salinas Valley; and of course the drive through Pebble Beach.

What are your hobbies?

If working around the house can be considered a hobby, then that would be it.

What are you reading right now?

Lee Child’s series featuring Jack Reacher

Paper books, eBooks, or audiobooks?

Paper; never had a battery go dead on one yet!

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

Thank you to all of our employees, volunteers, and patrons for helping to keep our libraries vibrant, working, and relevant for our community!

#ShelfLife - May 26, 2017

Yesterday was National Wine Day, so it seems appropriate that we should offer a (virtual) toast of thanks to the patrons who played along with our Throwback Thursday posts of some very old-school filmstrips and shared some of the books they loved reading back in the day.

We had a great time wandering through the stacks and reminiscing as we gathered up copies of The Westing Game, Sweet Valley High: Ten Years Later, and traditional print and graphic novel versions of The Baby Sitters Club. But the most popular throwback of the week was definitely Deenie by Judy Blume. We had to wait on a copy to be returned so we could snap a photo, so it's still a favorite among young readers!

Thank you all for sharing the favorite books of your youth and for taking a stroll with us down memory lane.

If you're looking for something new to read over the holiday weekend, please check out the FCPL Goodreads Group. Our Instagram team will be back online after the holiday and please remember that all FCPL branches will be closed on Monday, May 29 in observance of Memorial Day.

Today is National Wine Day! Until we're off the desk, we'll be serving as your book sommelier (that's a thing, right?). Here are our vino-themed recommendations, "poured" from the bottom to top: HE SAID BEER SHE SAID WINE by Marnie Old, THE BILLIONAIRE'S VINEGAR: THE MYSTERY OF THE WORLD'S MOST EXPENSIVE BOTTLE OF WINE by Benjamin Wallace, THE SAUVIGNON SECRET and THE BORDEAUX BETRAYAL by @ellencrosbyauthor, DANDELION WINE by Ray Bradbury, and WINE FOR THE CONFUSED hosted by John Cleese. #ShelfLife #bookstagram #nationalwineday #vino #wine #amreading #loveaudiobooks #raybradbury #johncleese

A post shared by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on May 25, 2017 at 12:44pm PDT

Last week we asked all the 80s and 90s kids to share the books they remember most from their childhood. One patron mentioned DEENIE by @judyblume. Originally published in 1973, today's young readers continue to enjoy the book. Check it out for your young reader! Thank you all for walking down memory lane with us this week. As promised, we'll reveal the second filmstrip surprise we unearthed from the archives last week in just a moment. #tbt #ShelfLife #judyblume #kidlit #tweenreads #teenreads #1970s #1980s #1990s #70s #80s #90s #90skids #bookstagram #amreading #librariesofinstagram

A post shared by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on May 25, 2017 at 7:48am PDT

Last week we asked all the 80s and 90s kids to share the books they remember most from their childhood. One patron mentioned The Baby-Sitters Club series by Ann M. Martin. We loved those books, and they're still popular today. In fact, some of them have even been adapted into graphic novels by @goraina for a whole new generation of readers to enjoy. Check them out for your young reader (or for yourself, we won't judge!). #ShelfLife #kidlit #1980s #1990s #80s #90s #90skids #thebabysittersclub #annmmartin #rainatelgemeier #graphicnovels #bookstagram #amreading #librariesofinstagram

A post shared by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on May 24, 2017 at 11:59am PDT

See a penny, pick it up... All day long you'll have good luck. Today is Lucky Penny Day! Even if you don't find one to bring you luck today, we've got something else for all you lucky parents who are figuring out what to do with your kids when school ends this Friday: Besides coming into the library to register for Summer Reading, or to attend one of our awesome Kick-Off Carnivals, you can also check out our collection of DVDs for kids! Check out a few for your next road trip, vacation, or for family movie night. #LuckyPennyDay #ShelfLife #angelinaballerina @katharine_holabird #helencraig #DVD #kids #summervacation #schoolsoutforsummer #childrensbooks #librariesofinstagram

A post shared by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on May 23, 2017 at 7:10am PDT

Last week we asked all the 80s and 90s kids to share the books they remember most from their childhood. One patron mentioned the Sweet Valley High series by Francine Pascal. We loved following the lives of twins Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield back in the day! And, while browsing our catalog in search of books from that era, we found SWEET VALLEY CONFIDENTIAL: TEN YEARS LATER. Ten years after graduating high school, Jessica betrays Elizabeth, forcing her to flee across the country to New York. Always the "good" twin, Elizabeth is about to turn the tables and get revenge. Check it out and enjoy a "class reunion" with these memorable characters. #ShelfLife #tbt #1970s #1980s #1990s #sweetvalleyhigh #francinepascal #bookstagram #teenreads #librariesofinstagram

A post shared by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on May 22, 2017 at 12:27pm PDT

Last week we asked all the 80s and 90s kids to share the books they remember most from their childhood. One patron reminded us about THE WESTING GAME by Ellen Raskin, a Newbery Medal winner in 1979, in which the mysterious death of an eccentric millionaire brings together an unlikely assortment of heirs who must uncover the circumstances of his death before they can claim their inheritance. If you haven't read it, there are several copies available at FCPL. Place a hold on one with your library card at www.forsythpl.org. #ShelfLife #tbt #1970s #1980s #1990s #thewestinggame #ellenraskin #mystery #bookstagram #teenreads #librariesofinstagram

A post shared by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on May 22, 2017 at 12:01pm PDT

We’re getting a head start on the holiday weekend with a little old school fun, as promised last week. Check out this filmstrip and cassette tape recording of CAPS FOR SALE: A TALE OF A PEDDLER, SOME MONKEYS, and THEIR MONKEY BUSINESS by Esphyr Elobodkina. Every child of the 70s and 80s knows the joy of walking into a dark classroom and seeing a filmstrip projector: storytime! #tbt #ShelfLife #storytime #1970s #1980s #kidit #childrensbooks #elementaryschool #filmstrip #cassettetape #capsforsale #esphyrslobodkina

A post shared by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on May 25, 2017 at 7:52am PDT

The Reading Without Walls Summer Reading Challenge

READING WITHOUT WALLS encourages students and adults to read a variety of books with different themes, diverse authors and content, formats, settings, characters, and subjects. The program was created by cartoonist and National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, Gene Luen Yang.

"Reading is a fantastic way to open your minds and hearts to new people, places, and ideas," says Yang. "Through reading, I've met new friends, learned new facts, and become a better person."

Visit the Sharon Forks Library to browse
staff recommendations for #ReadingWithoutWalls.

Join the Challenge

Anyone can participate in READING WITHOUT WALLS simply by finding something new and different to read, such as:

• Reading a book about a character who doesn't look like you or live like you
• Reading a book on a topic you don't know much about
• Reading a book in a format that you don't normally read for fun, such as a chapter book, a graphic novel, a book in verse, or an audiobook

Share Your #ReadingWithoutWalls Story

Look for weekly recommendations from the FCPL staff on Facebook and Instagram, then share the books you're reading with the hashtags #fcplstories and #readingwithoutwalls.

Free Activity Kit for Young Readers

If you'd like to share the READING WITHOUT WALLS challenge with young readers, download this Activity Kit from www.readingwithoutwalls.com.

Summer Reading Fun Begins Friday at Local Libraries

Prevent the “summer slide” and build a better world when you register to participate in Summer Reading Fun at the Forsyth County Public Library beginning this Friday, May 26.

Register to Read & Win Prizes

Registration for the Summer Reading Fun program will open on the library’s website on the last day of school. Library patrons can also visit their local branch to sign up during the library’s regular hours on Friday, and throughout the summer.

“We’re very grateful to the FCPL Friends and Advocates for their continued support of the summer reading program and their commitment to make sure that each child and teen who sets and reaches a summer reading goal will receive a prize book of their choosing,” says Program Manager Laura Bradley.

Bradley added that the Friends and Advocates also donated AMC movie gift baskets for teen readers and Apple iPad Mini tablets for adult readers in the grand prize raffles at each of the library’s four branches. Stars and Strikes donated prize packages for the children’s grand prize raffles. All participants that set and reach their summer reading goal will be entered in the grand prize drawings.

Final Week of Outreach to Schools

This week also wraps up the library’s outreach program with schools in Forsyth County until the start of the 2017-2018 academic year.

“Our Youth Services team strives to visit local elementary schools and preschools throughout the year, but the weeks leading up to the launch of Summer Reading Fun are especially important,” says Bradley.

Members of the library’s Youth Services team visit classrooms and assembly events with puppet shows, skits, and storytime activities to help kids find the fun in reading and to get them excited about summer at the library. Students are encouraged to register for Summer Reading Fun to keep their literacy skills sharp over the summer months.



Library staff also visit local middle schools to talk with tweens and teens about summer activities at the library. Vikki Doerr, a Youth Specialist from the Post Road Library, visited DeSana Middle School last week.

“We set up a fun game of Plinko trivia in one of the busy hallways and passed out bookmarks with information about summer programs at the library for students their age. We heard lots of students talking about the programs they’re looking forward to, and we’re looking forward to seeing them in the library this summer,” said Doerr.

Kick-Off Carnivals

It’s become a tradition to begin the summer with a series of Summer Reading Kick-Off Carnivals, and this summer includes a special treat with feats of daring acrobatics from Cameron Tomele and Barely Balanced. Other kid-centric Carnival activities include games, crafts, balloon artists, and raffle prize drawings.

The Cumming Library will host its Kick-Off Carnival on Wednesday, May 31 from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The Hampton Park Library’s Carnival will be held on Thursday, June 1 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

The Post Road and Sharon Forks branches will host a combined Summer Reading Kick-Off Carnival on Friday, June 2 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. To accommodate the expected crowds, the event will be held at the Forsyth Conference Center, 3410 Ronald Reagan Blvd., Cumming.

Admission to each of the Summer Reading Kick-Off Carnivals is free and all ages are welcome to attend.

Summer Storytimes & Performances

The theme for this year’s summer reading program is “Build a Better World,” and each branch will present weekly storytimes for children ages 0 – 24 months, ages 2 – 5, and ages 4 – 8. Rising 3rd through 5th graders are invited to weekly Summer STEAM Team programs to conduct experiments, make art, and build models as they practice science, technology, engineering, art, and math skills.

Library branches will host dozens of theatrical performances, animal encounters, craft, and cultural programs for children, teens, and adults throughout the summer. Comedian and magician Ken Scott will return to the library for seven riotously funny finale performances at the end of July.

For more information, or to view a full schedule of events, please visit www.forsythpl.org.

Staff Picks - Two Blue Doors Series by Hillary Manton Lodge

A Table by the Window by Hillary Manton Lodge

Readers get an up-close and personal look at the restaurant world with its demands, creations and how this close-knit French-Italian big family does life. I quickly bonded with this quirky and lovable bunch in the mix of food and fun, along with well-timed humor with a transparent cast. The author throws in a splash of romance and cleverly stirs in a surprising mystery to solve as the D’Alisa family morns the loss of their 90-year-old grandmother.

Juliette’s grandmother left her a French oak cutting service. While cleaning in the nooks, and remembering their good times, she finds a picture of her youthful grandmother with a handsome man who looks like her brother Nico. Who was this handsome young man? Where did he fit into her grandmother’s life? Why didn’t she tell anyone about him? Juliette flies off to Italy in hopes of discovering more clues there.

I could identify and felt right at home with the family get togethers where food was the star of the show. This is how the D’Alisa family felt about food, “When we eat together, when we set out to do so deliberately, life is better, no matter what your circumstances."

I enjoyed quotes like that which started each chapter. To my surprise each chapter had recipes which had simple directions and easy to find ingredients. Delightful bonus features make A Table by the Window just the thing to bring to a book club meeting.

Reservations for Two by Hillary Manton Lodge

This story starts right where the other left off. Neil McLaren and Juliette D’Alisa are in France visiting family and tracking down the identity of a man in a picture Juliette found among her Grand-mere’s belongings. While having fun in Paris; this couple uncovers a box filled with Juilette’s Grand-mere’s old letters written during 1938-1939. Thrilled at their discovery they head to Italy for her Grandpa’s 80th birthday bash.

Juliette says to Neil, “Of course I want you there. Are you sure you’re ready for sixty-two Italians fueled up on espresso and cake?”

“You know I’m only in it for the cake.”

This author has skillfully interlaced heart-felt letters Juliette’s Grand-mere wrote to her sister, Cecilia; while she was attending pastry school in France. These letters add depth of emotion and creates a rich plot twist to Juliette’s family history.

Yes, I was up late wondering what else Juliette would discover about her family past and present; and how the opening of the new restaurant would go. I really liked Juliette and how these surprises were affecting her. The author does a great job of keeping the suspense and drama flourishing in both story lines.

This novel has ten discussion questions to help create lively discussion with your group and there are many yummy recipes you can make for that special meeting night.

Together at the Table by Hillary Manton Lodge

Together at the Table hit a home run in my heart. This author showed readers a side of her writing style we didn’t see in the other books. I feel she saved the best for last!

I relished my time with this French-Italian family who love each other. Their passion for food (creating it; eating it and sharing it with others) brings them together in special ways. This novel (like the others) has many delicious recipes sprinkled thru out. The reader is brought alongside the characters as they experiment with food and create new dishes. The mystery talked about in the first two books is solved in a unique way. The author seamlessly weaves together the past and present as the D’Alisa learn about how the family endured the unimaginable conditions of WWII.

Hillary Manton Lodge pens a humorous, witty, insightful, heart-rending story I couldn’t put down. This book would make a great book club pick as the author has provided twelve discussion questions to help generate lively conversation, plus there are also many recipes to help create a yummy and fun meeting time.

Nora St Laurent
Collection Support Aide

#ShelfLife - May 19, 2017

We're going back in the day with some old school posts on our #ShelfLife feed this week.

First, a brown-haired version of the classic Barbie doll appeared with Kimberley Tait's debut novel, Fake Plastic Love.

Then, we unearthed a filmstrip and cassette tape copy of Max's Chocolate Chicken by Rosemary Wells as we were reorganizing the programming workroom for Summer Reading. We bet you haven't seen that unless you were in elementary school or sitting in a library storytime in the late 1980s.

Since we're having such fun, let's keep going! What books or stories do you remember most from childhood? We'd especially like to hear what 80s and 90s kids remember about visiting the library. Leave a comment below or use the #fcplstories hashtag to tell us all about it on Instagram.

Until next week, enjoy living the #ShelfLife!

Library Journal describes FAKE PLASTIC LOVE by @theladygatsby as a “painfully accurate portrayal of the disillusionment and disappointment that many twentysomethings experience after college.” Follow two friends to Manhattan and see how one spends long hours in a cubicle doing ambitious work while the other fabricates a life designed to impress strangers on the internet when this debut novel from Kimberley Tait arrives on library shelves this week. #ShelfLife #amreading #debutnovel #womensfiction #millenials #friendship #librariesofinstagram #bookstagram #kimberleytait #fakeplasticlove @flatiron_books #flatironbooks

A post shared by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on May 18, 2017 at 6:55am PDT

Calling all children of the 70s and 80s! You knew it was going to be a good day when you walked into a dark classroom and saw a filmstrip projector. We found the cassette audio recording and filmstrip for MAX'S CHOCOLATE CHICKEN by Rosemary Wells while we were reorganizing the programming workroom to prepare for Summer Reading. Come back next Thursday and see what else we found! #tbt #ShelfLife #storytime #1970s #1980s #rosemarywells #maxschocolatechicken #1989 #fcplstories #kidlit #childrensbooks #elementaryschool #filmstrip #cassettetape

A post shared by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on May 18, 2017 at 10:21am PDT

No one's ever told Eleanor that life should be better than fine. She struggles with appropriate social skills and tends to say exactly what she's thinking. Nothing is missing in her carefully timetabled life of avoiding social interactions, with weekends punctuated by frozen pizza, vodka, and phone chats with Mummy. Then everything changes, and the only way for Eleanor to survive is to open her heart. Be among the first to check out ELEANOR OLIPHANT IS COMPLETELY FINE by Gail Honeyman as it arrives on library shelves this week! #ShelfLife #amreading #womensfiction #chicklit #literaryfiction #romance #bookstagram #librariesofinstagram #gailhoneyman #debutnovel

A post shared by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on May 17, 2017 at 1:02pm PDT

Today is #NationalWalnutDay and we’re celebrating with some fascinating non-fiction books and cookbooks! Pictured here are THE TRIUMPH OF SEEDS: HOW GRAINS, NUTS, KERNELS, PULSES, & PIPS CONQUERED THE PLANT KINGDOM AND SHAPED HUMAN HISTORY by Thor Hanson, HOW TO EAT IN THE WOODS by Bradford Angier, and EAT LIKE A DINOSAUR by The Paleo Parents. #ShelfLife #thetriumphofseeds #thorhanson #howtoeatinthewoods @bdlev #bradfordangier #eatlikeadinosaur @realeverythingblog #walnuts #seeds #paleo #glutenfree #cookbook #nonfiction

A post shared by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on May 17, 2017 at 7:10am PDT

Wedding season is almost here! Check out TOSS THE BOUQUET: THREE SPRING LOVE STORIES, including ALL DRESSED UP IN LOVE by Ruth Logan Herne, IN TUNE WITH LOVE by @amymatayo.author, and NEVER A BRIDESMAID by Janice Thompson. #ShelfLife #amreading #weddings #weddingseason #tossthebouquet #fiction #inspirationalfiction #largetype #librariesofinstagram

A post shared by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on May 16, 2017 at 12:04pm PDT

Lit Chicks Book Club Wrap-up: Here Comes the Sun

This month the Lit Chicks Book Club at the Post Road Library discussed Here Comes the Sun by Nicole Dennis-Benn. Set in Jamaica, this book transported us to a warmer climate where the characters ate ackee for breakfast.

Reading about different cultures is eye-opening and can be enjoyable, but the content of this book is bleak. We agreed that the author did an excellent job of parceling out the details of traumatic events happening to the main characters. That kept us reading and added to the development of the characters, mostly women.

The written Jamaican Patois was a bit challenging to read and many of us found it easier to read some parts of the book aloud in order to understand. One book club member listened to the audiobook which she enjoyed immensely. When we looked at a sample of the written Patois she said, “Apparently, I made the right choice to listen to it!”

Our group lamented that there were no healthy relationships in this book at all. The men used the women and girls as sex objects and the women weren’t immune to cruelty, either. This characters in this book experience child abuse, prostitution, and brutality of all kinds. The characters were well-developed and even if we didn’t understand them or like them we had a good conversation about the sad complexities of their lives.

Join the Lit Chicks in June

Join Lit Chicks next month as we read and discuss Today Will Be Different (also available as eBook, eAudiobook, CD Audiobook, and Large Type) by Maria Semple, best-selling author of Where'd You Go, Bernadette.

We'll meet at the Post Road Library on Wednesday, June 14 at 10:15 a.m. Moms, register online and bring your little ones - our youth services staff will offer activities for them while you enjoy book club.


Kim Ottesen
Information Services Supervisor
Post Road Library

Book Buzz - a Book Club for Adults at the Cumming Library

Black Rabbit Hall by Eve Chase

For fans of Kate Morton and Daphne du Maurier, here’s a magnetic debut novel of wrenching family secrets, forbidden love, and heartbreaking loss housed within the grand gothic manor of Black Rabbit Hall.

Amber Alton knows that the hours pass differently at Black Rabbit Hall, her London family’s country estate, where no two clocks read the same. Summers there are perfect, timeless. Not much ever happens. Until, of course, it does.

More than three decades later, Lorna is determined to be married within the grand, ivy-covered walls of Pencraw Hall, known as Black Rabbit Hall among the locals. But as she’s drawn deeper into the overgrown grounds, half-buried memories of her mother begin to surface and Lorna soon finds herself ensnared within the manor’s labyrinthine history, overcome with an insatiable need for answers about her own past and that of the once-happy family whose memory still haunts the estate.

Stunning and atmospheric, this debut novel is a thrilling spiral into the hearts of two women separated by decades but inescapably linked by the dark and tangled secrets of Black Rabbit Hall.

FCPL's Book Buzz book club will discuss this fascinating novel on Thursday, June 8th at 1:30 p.m. and again at 6:30 p.m. at the Cumming Library.

A note for parents: Our Twilight Tales storytime runs concurrently with Book Buzz Twilight. Enjoy the book club while your child attends storytime nearby. Children must be old enough to attend storytime without a parent.

Joan Dudzinski
Collection Support Supervisor

#ShelfLife - May 12, 2017

We're looking forward to celebrating Mother's Day, so we're starting off this week's featured #ShelfLife selections with 25 books for preschoolers to read with their moms. If you'd like to bring a few of these books home for the big day, don't forget to stop by the library right away. All four FCPL branches will be closed on Sunday, May 14.

Readers of adult fiction and stories about families will want to check out Rakesh Satyal's second novel, No One Can Pronounce My Name. The author stopped by to say thanks for sharing the book on Instagram.

Patrons who prefer non-fiction will also find new materials to add to their to-be-read piles this week:

First, in honor of the recent start of baseball season, we're taking Dynastic, Bombastic, Fantastic: Reggie, Rollie, Catfish, and Charlie Finley's Swingin' A's off the bench and putting it on library shelves. Take this book out to the ballgame and enjoy a little Cracker Jack as you reminisce on baseball in the 1970s.

Second, City of Light, City of Poison: Murder, Magic, and the First Police Chief of Paris, a true crime book by Holly Tucker, takes us back to the late 1600s when Nicolas de La Reynie was appointed the first police chief of Paris and unearthed a tightly knit cabal of poisoners, witches, and renegade priests in the King's court.

Moms, we hope you'll find a quiet moment this weekend to enjoy a good book. Tell us what you're reading in the comments section and your book could be featured on our Instagram feed next week!

Celebrate Mother's Day by snuggling up with a story! Be sure to pick up your books from the library in advance of the big day, as our branches will be closed on Sunday, May 14. See the full list of 25 Books to Read for Mother’s Day on our 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten blog at goo.gl/7qWImF. . #ShelfLife #1KB4K #1000books #1000BooksBeforeKindergarten #kidlit #earlyliteracy #mothersday #moms #librariesofinstagram #fridayreads

A post shared by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on May 5, 2017 at 9:42am PDT

NO ONE CAN PRONOUNCE MY NAME by @rakeshsatyal, author of BLUE BOY, takes a funny and revealing look into the lives of people who must reconcile the strictures of their culture and traditions with their own dreams and desires. It’s a multigenerational novel about immigrants and outsiders – those trying to find their place in American society and within their own families. . Be among the first to check it out as it arrives on library shelves this week! #ShelfLife #NoOneCanPronounceMyName #fiction #family #bookstagram #igreads #librariesofinstagram

A post shared by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on May 11, 2017 at 12:11pm PDT

From a coauthor of the best-selling THE BASEBALL CODES, Jason Turbow’s DYNASTIC, BOMBASTIC, FANTASTIC is a rollicking narrative of the Oakland A’s during the early 1970s when the team won three straight championships under the leadership of such figures as Reggie Jackson, Catfish Hunter, Vida Blue, Sal Bando and Rollie Fingers. Be among the first to check it out as it hits library shelves just in time for the start of baseball season. . Who was your favorite baseball player when you were a kid? Leave a comment and let us know! . #ShelfLife #tbt #70s #jasonturbow #dynasticbombasticfantastic #baseball #Oakland #OaklandAthletics #bookstagram #book #nonfiction #true #truestory #reggiejackson #rolliefingers #catfishhunter #baseballcodes #takemeouttotheballgame #americanpastime #bookstagram #librariesofinstagram ⚾️🇺🇸

A post shared by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on May 11, 2017 at 6:24am PDT

It's Mystery Monday! Last week we shared THE SWEETNESS OF FORGETTING by Kristin Harmel and took you on a journey through the bakeries of Paris to unravel a mystery dating back to WWII. . Today, we're going even further back in time to the Paris of the late 1600s, when Nicolas de La Reynie was appointed the first police chief of Paris by King Louis XIV. CITY OF LIGHT, CITY OF POISON: MURDER, MAGIC, AND THE FIRST POLICE CHIEF OF PARIS by @hollytucker_ is a true-crime story of how La Reynie unearthed a tightly knit cabal of poisoners, witches, and renegade priests in the King's court. . Be among the first to check it out as CITY OF LIGHT, CITY OF POISON arrives on library shelves this week. #ShelfLife #mysterymonday #mysterymondays #bookstagram #amreading #paris #truecrime #nonfiction #france #paris #history

A post shared by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on May 8, 2017 at 12:10pm PDT

Today is also National Sleepover Day! So, we’re signing off for the evening with a few books to help our youngest patrons get accustomed to the idea of sleeping away from home. Sweet dreams, friends! . Pictured here are MAISY GOES ON A SLEEPOVER by Lucy Cousins, SLEEPOVER LARRY by Daniel Pinkwater, and CLIFFORD’S FIRST SLEEPOVER by Norman Bridwell. #ShelfLife #NationalSleepoverDay #1000booksbeforekindergarten #1000BooksB4K #earlyliteracy #preschool #kidlit #childrensbooks #toddlertuesday #amreading #librariesofinstagram📚💪✨👏

A post shared by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on May 9, 2017 at 1:15pm PDT

Today is National Shrimp Day! We're celebrating with these shrimp-themed books...and did you notice the ocean-themed display in the background? . EVERYDAY THAI COOKING by Katie Chin offers several recipes for shrimp, including one for Sizzling Rice Seafood Soup that puts a Thai twist on a familiar Cantonese favorite. . TIGER SHRIMP TANGO by Tim Dorsey (available in print and CD Audiobook in our collection) follows self-appointed Sunshine Sheriff Serge Storms and his perpetually self-bent sidekick as they chase down the shady characters behind a scam in sunny Florida. . SMART AND SPINELESS: EXPLORING INVERTEBRATE INTELLIGENCE by Ann Downer (open to the chapter on mantis shrimps) explores what it means to be smart as she observes invertebrates like the octopus, a bee, and a jellyfish exhibit surprising feats of problem-solving using brains the size of a sesame seed - or no brain at all! . #NationalShrimpDay #ShelfLife #seafood #bookstagram #shrimp #prawn #cooking #cookbook #fiction #nonfiction #oceans #science #food #thaicooking

A post shared by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on May 10, 2017 at 10:40am PDT

Today is National Have a Coke Day! While you’re enjoying a cold glass of Coca-Cola, check out these books and DVDs about this iconic part of Atlanta’s history - YOUR FRIENDLY NEIGHBOR: THE STORY OF GEORGIA’S COCA-COLA BOTTLING FAMILIES by Mike Cheatham, COCA-COLA: THIS HISTORY OF AN AMERICAN ICON written and produced by Jeff Martin, and COCA-COLA GIRLS: AN ADVERTISING ART HISTORY by Chris H. Beyer. #ShelfLife #NationalHaveACokeDay #cocacola #atlantahistory #atl #atlanta #georgia #localhistory #nonfiction #popculture #red

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Today is National Teacher Appreciation Day! We’re celebrating by reading A LETTER TO MY TEACHER by Deborah Hopkinson and reflecting on the ways our early experiences with teachers can inspire us to become educators, too. Thank you, teachers, for all the work you do and the love for learning you inspire in our children! #teacherappreciationday #ShelfLife #thankyou #amreading #librariesofinstagram📚💪✨👏

A post shared by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on May 9, 2017 at 7:27am PDT

Staff Picks - Teen Books

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Hollow City by Ransom Riggs

Library of Souls by Ransom Riggs






Leslee Peltier-Joseph
Cataloging Specialist

Adult Fiction - Audiobooks

An Irish Country Doctor by Patrick Taylor*

Librarians love receiving reading suggestions, too! One of my regular patrons recommended this audiobook to me and it was quite enjoyable. It's charming, full of humor, and a nice respite from the horrors of modern day radio/news. Plus, who doesn't love a good Irish brogue?! If you enjoy this one, there are many more titles in this series featuring your favorite characters from Ballybucklebo.

*Contains strong language

Meredith Causey
Information Services Supervisor

River of Words Exhibit Wraps Up Tour at Cumming Library

The Cumming Library hosted the River of Words exhibit in April, featuring art and poetic works from students all across Georgia. The art installation was a big hit with our patrons who truly enjoyed seeing a project that celebrated our community and the arts.

Patrons were able to create their own poetic works at our “Blackout Poetry Station” by taking a recycled book page and blacking out words until a poem emerged from the remaining words. We had quite a few participants and they created very beautiful poems. Patrons also signed our guest book and left short comments such as: “Awesome!”, “Terrific idea: Art in the Community.”, and “Beautiful – So Much Talent!”

We also had three generations of a family visit in preparation for next year. Their daughter was a winner for her school and they hope to see her work on the big wall next year. The Cumming Library was the last stop on this year's tour before it returns to the Georgia Center for the Book to be refitted with the 2017 winners.


Jennifer Anderson
Information Specialist
Cumming Library

Staff Picks - Born A Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah - Adult Non Fiction

Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah

I love watching Trevor Noah on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show so I was very interested in reading his autobiography, Born a Crime. It's an apt title since Noah was born in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1984, during the final year of apartheid when inter-racial relationships were banned. As a child of mixed race, Noah's mere existence proved evidence of a crime. (His mother is a black South African and his father a Swiss German.)

This inspiring memoir sheds light on racial segregation from the not-so-distant past. Stories of growing up amid violence and poverty are interspersed with candid accounts of Noah's youthful escapades. I particularly enjoyed reading about Trevor's mother and her extraordinary resilience.

Alicia Cavitt
Information Specialist

#ShelfLife - May 5, 2017

This week in the #ShelfLife has been full of color! The covers on several of this week's selections have been amazingly bold with neon yellow, popping pink, and perfect shades purple.

First, take a look at Infinite Tuesday. If you were a fan of The Monkees as a kid, you need to read this oh-so-interesting "autobiographical riff" by Michael Nesmith.

Then, check out the latest book from designer Moll Anderson, who stopped by our Instagram feed to say how happy she is to see Change Your Home Change Your Life with Color on our shelves.

We're wrapping up this week's book recommendations with a hidden gem plucked from our paperback shelves. Open up the sunset-purple cover and take a trip to Paris (and still avoid the airlines!) when you check out Kristin Harmel's The Sweetness of Forgetting.

Which of this week's #ShelfLife recommendations is going on your to-be-read list? What book have you found at the library lately that you want to recommend to other readers? Leave a comment below and your suggestion could be featured on our Instagram feed next week!

"If you knew you could change your life in one weekend and clear out the cobwebs of your past with color and a brush, would you do it?" asks designer and author @mollanderson in her book CHANGE YOUR HOME CHANGE YOUR LIFE WITH COLOR. Plunge into vibrant photos, color hints and tips, and cocktail recipes in hues to match your new décor! The book is on library shelves now, so stop by and check it out. #ShelfLife #pink #orange #green #mollanderson #interiordesign #diy #home #color #ChangeYourHomeChangeYourLifeWithColor #whatsyourcolorstory

A post shared by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on May 2, 2017 at 1:09pm PDT

SPOILS by Brian Van Reet is more than just a book about war, says fellow author Anne Enright. She describes the book as “a thriller that is not a thriller, but a grave and fierce description of the moral battlefield behind the headlines from Iraq.” Be among the first to check it out as SPOILS arrives on our shelves this month. #ShelfLife #bookstagram #amreading #fiction #warfiction #brianvanreet #leeboudreauxbooks #spoils @leeboudreauxbooks @littlebrown

A post shared by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on May 1, 2017 at 1:42pm PDT

This is your last chance to meet published memoir writers and learn how to get started on your own life story! Tonight's Forsyth Writes Together Workshop is the place to be if you want to find your writing style, figure out how to consistently get words on the page, and get your memoir published. We start at 6:30 p.m. at the Cumming Library. Get details at goo.gl/SgWNVA. . If you're looking for inspiration (or if you just love reading memoirs), check out INFINITE TUESDAY: AN AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL RIFF by Michael Nesmith. His career in music and television took him from starring in THE MONKEES to a celebrated run of albums as a solo artist and in the First National Band. He created the TV show POPCLIPS, a forerunner of what would become MTV, and produced the films REPO MAN and TAPEHEADS. . #ShelfLife #michaelnesmith #infinitetuesday #themonkees #amreading #fcplstories #forsythwrites #forsythreads #forsythwritestogether #librariesofinstagram #memoir #amwriting #amwritingmemoir #writingtips

A post shared by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on May 2, 2017 at 9:55am PDT

PHOTO ARK, a lush book of photography from @natgeo is a major cross-platform initiative and lifelong project by photographer @joelsartore to make portraits of the world's animals—especially those that are endangered. . Sartore intends to photograph every animal in captivity in the world. He is circling the globe, visiting zoos and wildlife rescue centers to create studio portraits of 12,000 species, with an emphasis on those facing extinction. He has photographed more than 6,000 already and now, thanks to a multi-year partnership with National Geographic, he may reach his goal. . #ShelfLife #wildlifewednesday #nationalgeographic #natgeo #joelsartore

A post shared by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on May 3, 2017 at 1:58pm PDT

Take an amazing journey from Cape Cod to Paris in THE SWEETNESS OF FORGETTING by @kristinharmel. This is a moving story to read with girlfriends or your neighborhood book club and our paperback copy includes a discussion guide with conversation starters. . At 36, Hope McKenna-Smith lost her mom to cancer, her husband to a much younger woman, and she’s losing her beloved French-born grandmother to Alzheimer’s. Hope embarks on a journey to unravel her grandmother’s secrets and uncover a seventy-year-old mystery. . #ShelfLife #fiction #paris #kristinharmel #mystery #cake #womensfiction #bookstagram #amreading #bookclub

A post shared by Forsyth County Public Library (@forsythpubliclibrary) on May 4, 2017 at 12:37pm PDT

Book Buzz - A Book Club for Adults at the Cumming Library - Thursday, May 11, 2017 at 1:30 p.m.

The Book of Unknown Americans by Christina Henriquez

In this book, you will find the stories of those who came to America in search of a better life. They came here legally from Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, and other places. Some came to become famous or rich, others for a special school for their daughter. They gave up everything they knew and loved - family, friends, home, jobs - and started new in Delaware. Join us to discuss The Book of Unknown Americans and how their lives intertwined for better or worse. Book Buzz Book Club at the Cumming Branch, 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 11th.