Find Sanctuary in these Fabulous Fantasies: Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter and The Astral Library

17 Feb

Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter
by Heather Fawcett
Fan’s of Heather Fawcett’s Emily Wilde Series are in for a treat in her newest cozy fantasy, Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter. The novel is set in a fantastic Montreal during the 1920’s, where wizards are real and cause havoc with their constant dueling. Agnes’s cat shelter has been partially destroyed by one of these duels, leading to her needing to find a new home for the many furry guests. The growing cold of Winter creates an ever pressing need to find homes for them. When a refusal comes with a warning about another location, Agnes finds herself with a mysterious new landlord, who brings her into the world of magic. Agnes and the romantic interest for the story have a similar dynamic as Emily and Bambleby, but there is added depth in that Agnes is a widow who lost her husband suddenly. Also unlike Emily, Agnes has a sister and assistant who help her with her cats and have her back. This novel satisfies as a stand-alone but leaves open avenues for exploration of more of the charming world. If you are a cat fan, like me, you’ll will especially enjoy the story, there are many adorable felines to fall in love with. Fawcett is definitely becoming one of my favorite authors!

The Astral Library
by Kate Quinn
Another Fantasy that I loved was Kate Quinn’s The Astral Library. Quinn has written a number of popular and bestselling historical novels, but this is her first (and hopefully not last) foray into fantasy. As a child Alix Watson bounced from foster home to foster home after being abandoned by her mother and now that she is an adult, she is still struggling with three low paying jobs in an attempt to keep a roof over her head. When she stumbles into the magical Astral Library, a sanctuary amongst the worlds found in books, she feels blessed to have finally been chosen. But when forces attempt to destroy the library, Alix will travel across works of great literature, art and even through video games in order to save her new sanctuary. Fantasy fans will love the creative adventure and magical setting, historic fiction fans will love the historic details especially fashion related ones, romance fans will enjoy the sweet romance that unfolds, and readers of all types will delight in the many literary Easter eggs that Quinn has hidden throughout the work. This was a page turner that is perfect to curl up with on the snowy days that we’ve been having this winter.

Written by:
Aimee Harris
Information and Digital Services Manager

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Story Time At Home with I Got the Rhythm by Connie Schofield-Morrison

12 Feb

Develop your little ones early literacy skills with story time at home! Early literacy refers to the foundational skills that our little ones learn about reading and writing before they formally learn to read and write. By focusing on these  five aspects of early literacy – reading, writing, singing, talking, and playing – you can develop your little one’s early literacy skills.

I Got the Rhythm by Connie Schofield-Morrison

On a trip to the park with her mother, a young girl hears a rhythm coming from the world around her and begins to move to the beat, finally beginning an impromptu dance in which other children join her.This is a highly interactive book and is a great way to introduce elements of movement and play into your story times at home.

When reading the book, ask the your little one to complete an action with each sequence of the story: 

THINK, THINK (find your head) – BEAT, BEAT (find your ears) – BLINK, BLINK (find your eyes) – SNIFF, SNIFF (find your nose) – CLAP, CLAP (clap hands along to the beat) – SNAP, SNAP (snap or wiggle your fingers) – SHAKE, SHAKE (shake your hips) – KNOCK, KNOCK (find your knees) – STOMP, STOMP (stomp your feet) -TIP, TAP (tap your toes)

Read each page more than once to encourage your little one to participate in the action. 

This book has limited text on each page. Ways to extend your reading can include describing the city scenes outlined on pages or asking questions about the illustrations. How many friends do we see playing in the park? 

Is one of our friends chewing bubble gum? 

Point out the radio, the skateboard, the bench. 

Talk about the blue skies and the green grass and trees.

Movement and action in story time increases your little ones engagement, attention, and comprehension.

If you’re reading this story to a baby you can show baby the action that goes along with the story and tickle the corresponding body part on baby.

Learn more about story times at the library here: https://hobokenlibrary.org/kids/ 

Written by:
Valerie Coughlin
Youth Services Librarian

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