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Dragon Award Nominees

Here are some of this year’s Dragon Award nominees. The Dragon Awards are given to books, shows, comics, movies, and games that fans adore. These awards focus on media that, like a dragon, their inner fire rises above the others, and once released, inspires respect from all who witness its fortitude. Check out some of this year’s nominees at the library!

 

Best Science Fiction Novel Nominee

The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Inspired by H.G. Wells’ The Island of Doctor Moreau, this follows Carlota Moreau, a young woman living in a luxuriant estate safe from the conflict of the Yucatán peninsula. It also follows Montgomery Laughton, an outcast who assists Doctor Moreau with his unusual experiments. They all live in a balanced world until the arrival of Eduardo Lizalde, the son of Dr. Moreau’s patron. Check out this clash of historical fiction and science fiction.

 

 

 

Best Fantasy Novel Nominee

The Atlas Paradox by Olivie Blake

In this sequel to the Atlas Six, follow six magicians given the opportunity of a lifetime where two paths lie ahead. Alliances will be tested in the Society of Alexandrians, a secret society with world-changing power. Will the society preserve the world as we know it, or are they destined to destroy it?

 

 

 

Best Young Adult / Middle Grade Novel Nominee

The Golden Enclaves by Naomi Novik

The much-anticipated conclusion for The Scholomance trilogy is here! One rule about Scholomance hall, don’t talk about what you’ll do when you get out. Well, they’re finally out. And everything has gone wrong. The enclave war is on the horizon, and everyone that was previously saved is on the verge of being killed. And now, the only solution… run back in?

 

 

 

Best Science Fiction or Fantasy TV Series, TV or Internet Nominees

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

Set a decade before Star Trek: The Original Series, Strange New Worlds follows the crew of the USS Enterprise, led by Captain Christopher Pike. This series chronicles the crew’s adventures as they explore the galaxy and set out on missions a decade before the original series takes place.

 

 

 

Star Trek: Picard

Jean-Luc Picard is enjoying his retirement from the Starfleet when a young woman, Dahj, appears, and she could have connections to his past.

 

 

 

 

Best Science Fiction or Fantasy Movie Nominees

Everything Everywhere All At Once

When an inexplicable multiverse rift appears, an eye-opening adventure through parallel realities begins for Evelyn Wang, and it could not have come at a better time. Her relationship with her husband is on the rocks, her relationship with her father is in tatters, and her relationship with her daughter is imperfect at best. And not to mention, her laundromat business is at risk of failure.

 

 

 Puss in Boots: The Last Wish

Puss in Boots, the beloved hero, is back and he’s down to the last of his nine lives. To restore all of his lives he must pluck up his courage and venture into the Dark Forest to find the legendary Wishing Star. Find out if he has what it takes to outsmart the unstoppable Big Bad Wolf and get his life back on track.

 

 

 

Books about Kindness

Our Summer Reading theme this year is “All Together Now!”

Here are a few highly recommended children’s books that promote kindness. These books explore themes of empathy, compassion, friendship, and the importance of treating others with kindness. You can also see books about kindness and acceptance on display in front of the circulation desk at the library.

 

The giving tree / by Shel Silverstein

 

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein (grades preK-3)

A young boy grows to manhood and old age experiencing the love and generosity of a tree which gives to him without thought of return.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last stop on Market Street / words by Matt de la Peña ; pictures Christian Robinson

 

Last Stop on Market Street words by Matt de la Peña ; pictures Christian Robinson (grades preK-3)

On Sundays, CJ and his nana ride the bus across town to their stop on Market Street. But today, CJ’s not happy about it. Today, he’s wondering out loud why they have to wait in the rain and why they don’t have a car like his other friends. But it’s Nana who opens young CJ’s eyes and shows him the real beauty in the world around them – the spirit of the bustling city, the music in everyday life, and the magic of their often overlooked neighbors.

 

 

 

 

The invisible boy / by Trudy Ludwig ; illustrated by Patrice Barton

 

The Invisible Boy  by Trudy Ludwig ; illustrated by Patrice Barton (grades k-4)

Meet Brian, the invisible boy. Nobody in class ever seems to notice him or think to include him in their group, game, or birthday party . . . until, that is, a new kid comes to class. When Justin, the new boy, arrives, Brian is the first to make him feel welcome. And when Brian and Justin team up to work on a class project together, Brian finds a way to shine.

 

 

 

 

 

Each kindness / Jacqueline Woodson ; illustrated by E.B. Lewis

 

Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson ; illustrated by E.B. Lewis (grades k-3)

Chloe and her friends won’t play with the new girl, Maya. Every time Maya tries to join Chloe and her friends, they reject her. Eventually Maya stops coming to school. When Chloe’s teacher gives a lesson about how even small acts of kindness can change the world, Chloe is stung by the lost opportunity for friendship, and thinks about how much better it could have been if she’d shown a little kindness toward Maya.

 

 

 

 

 

The golden rule / by Ilene Cooper ; illustrated by Gabi Swiatkowska

 

The Golden Rule by Ilene Cooper ; illustrated by Gabi Swiatkowska (grades preK-3)

Grandpa explains that the golden rule is a simple statement on how to live that can be practiced by people of all ages and faiths, then helps his grandson figure out how to apply the rule to his own life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you plant a seed / words and paintings by Kadir Nelson

 

If You Plant a Seed words and paintings by Kadir Nelson (grades preK-3)

If you plant a carrot seed . . . a carrot will grow. If you plant a lettuce seed . . . lettuce will grow. But what happens if you plant a seed of kindness . . . or selfishness? Award-winning author-illustrator Kadir Nelson presents a resonant, gently humorous story about the power of even the smallest acts and the rewards of compassion and generosity.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Be kind / Pat Zietlow Miller ; illustrated by Jen Hill

 

Be Kind by Pat Zietlow Miller ; illustrated by Jen Hill (grades preK-3)

When Tanisha spills grape juice all over her new dress, her classmate contemplates how to make her feel better and what it means to be kind. From asking the new girl to play to standing up for someone being bullied, this moving and thoughtful story explores what a child can do to be kind, and how each act, big or small, can make a difference or at least help a friend.

 

 

 

 

 

The big umbrella / Amy June Bates ; cowritten with Juniper Bates

 

The Big Umbrella by Amy June Bates ; cowritten with Juniper Bates

By the door there is an umbrella. It is big. It is so big that when it starts to rain there is room for everyone underneath. It doesn’t matter if you are tall. Or plaid. Or hairy. It doesn’t matter how many legs you have. Don’t worry that there won’t be enough room under the umbrella. Because there will always be room. Lush illustrations and simple, lyrical text subtly address themes of inclusion and tolerance in this sweet story that accomplished illustrator Amy June Bates cowrote with her daughter, Juniper, while walking to school together in the rain.

 

 

 

A sick day for Amos McGee / written by Philip C. Stead ; illustrated by Erin E. Stead

 

A Sick Day for Amos McGee written by Philip C. Stead ; illustrated by Erin E. Stead (grades preK-3)

Friends come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. In Amos McGee’s case, all sorts of species, too! Every day he spends a little bit of time with each of his friends at the zoo, running races with the tortoise, keeping the shy penguin company, and even reading bedtime stories to the owl. But when Amos is too sick to make it to the zoo, his animal friends decide it’s time they returned the favor.

 

 

 

 

The lion & the mouse / Jerry Pinkney

 

The Lion & the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney (grades preK-3)

In this wordless retelling of an Aesop fable, an unlikely pair learn that no act of kindness is ever wasted. After a ferocious lion spares a cowering mouse that he’d planned to eat, the mouse later comes to his rescue, freeing him from a poacher’s trap.

 

 

 

 

Kindness makes us strong / Sophie Beer

 

Kindness Makes Us Strong by Sophie Beer (preK)

This joyful board book shows various children as they extend kindness in all kinds of situations: on the playground, at lunchtime, on a bike path, and on a neighborhood street.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have you filled a bucket today? : a guide to daily happiness for kids / by Carol McCloud ; illustrated by David Messing

 

Have you filled a bucket today? by Carol McCloud ; illustrated by David Messing (grades preK-4)

Using a simple metaphor of a bucket and a dipper, author Carol McCloud illustrates that when we choose to be kind, we not only fill the buckets of those around us, but also fill our OWN bucket! Conversely, when we choose to say or do mean things, we are dipping into buckets. All day long, we are either filling up or dipping into each other’s buckets by what we say and what we do. When you’re a bucket filler, you make the world a better place to be!

 

 

 

Wonder / R.J. Palacio

 

Wonder by R.J. Palacio (grades 3-8)

August Pullman was born with a facial difference that, up until now, has prevented him from going to a mainstream school. Starting 5th grade at Beecher Prep, he wants nothing more than to be treated as an ordinary kid–but his new classmates can’t get past Auggie’s extraordinary face. R.J. Palacio has called her debut novel “a meditation on kindness.” Beginning from Auggie’s point of view and expanding to include his classmates, his sister, her boyfriend, and others, the perspectives converge to form a portrait of one community’s struggle with empathy, compassion, and acceptance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Summer Getaways

Ahh, summer.  Whether you’re taking a vacation or staying put this summer, these books will satisfy your wanderlust.  Just click the book covers to place a hold!

ITALY – One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle

When Katy’s mother dies, she is left reeling. Carol wasn’t just Katy’s mom, but her best friend and first phone call. She had all the answers and now, when Katy needs her the most, she is gone. To make matters worse, their planned mother-daughter trip of a lifetime looms: two weeks in Positano, the magical town Carol spent the summer right before she met Katy’s father. Katy has been waiting years for Carol to take her, and now she is faced with embarking on the adventure alone.

But as soon as she steps foot on the Amalfi Coast, Katy begins to feel her mother’s spirit. Buoyed by the stunning waters, beautiful cliffsides, delightful residents, and, of course, delectable food, Katy feels herself coming back to life.

 

 

 

 

The Villa by Rachel Hawkins

As kids, Emily and Chess were inseparable. But by their 30s, their bond has been strained by the demands of their adult lives. So when Chess suggests a girls trip to Italy, Emily jumps at the chance to reconnect with her best friend.

Villa Aestas in Orvieto is a high-end holiday home now, but in 1974, it was known as Villa Rosato, and rented for the summer by a notorious rock star, Noel Gordon. In an attempt to reignite his creative spark, Noel invites up-and-coming musician, Pierce Sheldon to join him, as well as Pierce’s girlfriend, Mari, and her stepsister, Lara. But he also sets in motion a chain of events that leads to Mari writing one of the greatest horror novels of all time, Lara composing a platinum album––and ends in Pierce’s brutal murder.

 

 

 

 

SOUTH CAROLINA – Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen

Right off the coast of South Carolina, on Mallow Island, The Dellawisp sits—a stunning old cobblestone building shaped like a horseshoe, and named after the tiny turquoise birds who, alongside its human tenants, inhabit an air of magical secrecy.

When Zoey comes to claim her deceased mother’s apartment at the Dellawisp she meets her quirky and secretive neighbors, including a young woman with a past, two estranged middle-aged sisters, and a lonely chef, and three ghosts. The sudden death of one of Zoey’s new neighbors sets off a search that leads to the island’s famous author and to a long-estranged relative of the sisters.
Each of them has a story, and each story has an ending which hasn’t yet been written.

 

 

 

 

HAWAII – The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren

Olive is always unlucky: in her career, in love, in…well, everything. Her identical twin sister Ami, on the other hand, is probably the luckiest person in the world. Her meet-cute with her fiancé is something out of a romantic comedy (gag) and she’s managed to finance her entire wedding by winning a series of Internet contests (double gag). Worst of all, she’s forcing Olive to spend the day with her sworn enemy, Ethan, who just happens to be the best man.

Olive braces herself to get through 24 hours of wedding hell before she can return to her comfortable, unlucky life. But when the entire wedding party gets food poisoning from eating bad shellfish, the only people who aren’t affected are Olive and Ethan. And now there’s an all-expenses-paid honeymoon in Hawaii up for grabs.

 

 

 

 

FLORIDA – Beach Town by Mary Greer Kay Andrews

Greer Hennessy needs palm trees.

As a movie location scout, picture-perfect is the name of the game. But her last project literally went up in flames, and her career is on the verge of flaming out. Greer has been given one more chance, if she can find the perfect undiscovered beach hideaway for a big-budget movie. She zeroes in on a sleepy Florida panhandle town called Cypress Key. There’s one motel, a marina, a long stretch of pristine beach and an old fishing pier with a community casino-which will be perfect for the film’s explosive climax.

There’s just one problem. Eben Thibadeaux, the town mayor, completely objects to Greer’s plan. A lifelong resident of Cypress Key, Eben wants the town to be revitalized, not commercialized. After a toxic paper plant closed, the bay has only recently been reborn, and Eb has no intention of letting anybody screw with his town again. But Greer has a way of making things happen, regardless of obstacles. And Greer and Eb are way too attracted to each other for either of them to see reason.

 

 

LONG ISLAND – Same Time Next Summer by Annabel Monaghan

Beach Rules:
Do take long walks on the sand.
Do put an umbrella in every cocktail.
Do NOT run into your first love.

Sam’s life is on track. She has the perfect doctor fiancé, Jack (his strict routines are a good thing, really), a great job in Manhattan (unless they fire her), and is about to tour a wedding venue near her family’s Long Island beach house. Everything should go to plan, yet the minute she arrives, Sam senses something is off. Wyatt is here. Her Wyatt. But there’s no reason for a thirty-year-old engaged woman to feel panicked around the guy who broke her heart when she was seventeen. Right?

 

 

 

GALAPAGOS ISLANDS – Enchanted Islands by Allison Amend

Inspired by the midcentury memoirs of Frances Conway, Enchanted Islands  is the dazzling story of an independent American woman whose path takes her far from her native Minnesota when she and her husband, an undercover intelligence officer, are sent to the Galápagos Islands at the brink of World War II.

Born in Duluth, Minnesota, in 1882 to immigrant parents, Frances Frankowski covets the life of her best friend, Rosalie Mendel, who has everything Fanny could wish for—money, parents who value education, and an effervescent and winning personality. When, at age fifteen, Rosalie decides they should run away to Chicago, Fanny jumps at the chance to escape her unexceptional life. But, within a year, Rosalie commits an unforgivable betrayal, inciting Frances to strike out on her own.

 

 

 

 

GREECE – The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak

Two teenagers, a Greek Cypriot and a Turkish Cypriot, meet at a taverna on the island they both call home. In the taverna, hidden beneath garlands of garlic, chili peppers and creeping honeysuckle, Kostas and Defne grow in their forbidden love for each other. A fig tree stretches through a cavity in the roof, and this tree bears witness to their hushed, happy meetings and eventually, to their silent, surreptitious departures. The tree is there when war breaks out, when the capital is reduced to ashes and rubble, and when the teenagers vanish. Decades later, Kostas returns. He is a botanist looking for native species, but really, he’s searching for lost love.

Years later, a Ficus carica grows in the back garden of a house in London where Ada Kazantzakis lives. This tree is her only connection to an island she has never visited – her only connection to her family’s troubled history and her complex identity as she seeks to untangle years of secrets to find her place in the world.

 

 

 

CALIFORNIA – Commonwealth by Ann Patchett

One Sunday afternoon in Southern California, Bert Cousins shows up at Franny Keating’s christening party uninvited. Before evening falls, he has kissed Franny’s mother, Beverly—thus setting in motion the dissolution of their marriages and the joining of two families.

Spanning five decades, Commonwealth explores how this chance encounter reverberates through the lives of the four parents and six children involved. Spending summers together in Virginia, the Keating and Cousins children forge a lasting bond that is based on a shared disillusionment with their parents and the strange and genuine affection that grows up between them.

 

 

 

 

 

ENGLAND – Watching You by Lisa Jewell

Melville Heights is one of the nicest neighbourhoods in Bristol, England; home to doctors and lawyers and old-money academics. It’s not the sort of place where people are brutally murdered in their own kitchens. But it is the sort of place where everyone has a secret. And everyone is watching you.

As the headmaster credited with turning around the local school, Tom Fitzwilliam is beloved by one and all—including Joey Mullen, his new neighbor, who quickly develops an intense infatuation with this thoroughly charming yet unavailable man. Joey thinks her crush is a secret, but Tom’s teenaged son Freddie—a prodigy with aspirations of becoming a spy for MI5—excels in observing people and has witnessed Joey behaving strangely around his father.

 

 

 

 

MEXICO – Mexican Gothic by Silvia Morena-Garcia

After receiving a frantic letter from her newly-wed cousin begging for someone to save her from a mysterious doom, Noemí Taboada heads to High Place, a distant house in the Mexican countryside. She’s not sure what she will find—her cousin’s husband, a handsome Englishman, is a stranger, and Noemí knows little about the region.

Noemí is also an unlikely rescuer: She’s a glamorous debutante, and her chic gowns and perfect red lipstick are more suited for cocktail parties than amateur sleuthing. But she’s also tough and smart, with an indomitable will, and she is not afraid: Not of her cousin’s new husband, who is both menacing and alluring; not of his father, the ancient patriarch who seems to be fascinated by Noemí; and not even of the house itself, which begins to invade Noemí’s dreams with visions of blood and doom.

 

 

 

 

US NATIONAL PARKS – The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

Alaska, 1974.
Unpredictable. Unforgiving. Untamed.
For a family in crisis, the ultimate test of survival.

Ernt Allbright, a former POW, comes home from the Vietnam war a changed and volatile man. When he loses yet another job, he makes an impulsive decision: he will move his family north, to Alaska, where they will live off the grid in America’s last true frontier.

 

 

 

 

 

CRUISE LINE – Shipped by Angie Hockman

Between taking night classes for her MBA and her demanding day job at a cruise line, marketing manager Henley Evans barely has time for herself, let alone family, friends, or dating. But when she’s shortlisted for the promotion of her dreams, all her sacrifices finally seem worth it.

The only problem? Graeme Crawford-Collins, the remote social media manager and the bane of her existence, is also up for the position. Although they’ve never met in person, their epic email battles are the stuff of office legend.

National Library Week

Adamstown Area Library encourages everyone in our community to visit the library during National Library Week, April 23-29, to explore all we have to offer.

Most people know about the wealth of stories available at the library, from picture books and large print to audiobooks and eBooks. But there’s so much more to the story of libraries.

Libraries are welcoming spaces that bring communities together for entertainment, education, and connection through book clubs, storytimes, movie nights, crafting classes, lectures, and more. Adamstown Area Library offers a wide array of programs, classes and resources, as well as a Library of Things that includes children’s costume kits, baking kits, museum passes, musical instruments, and yard games.

And libraries play a critical role in the economic vitality of communities by providing internet and technology access, literacy skills, and support for job seekers and local businesses. Adamstown Area Library supports the communities of Adamstown, Denver, Brecknock, East & West Cocalico townships with services such as job fairs, resume assistance, and technology training.

If you haven’t checked out Adamstown Area Library lately, you’re missing the full story. Stop by for a visit to celebrate with us during National Library Week, April 23-29. Follow on Facebook @adamstownarealibrary and the hashtag #National Library Week to join the online celebration.

Here are a few of the things Adamstown Area Library offers:

Costume kits

Musical instruments

Yard games

Museum passes

Events and Programs for Adults

Children’s Storytimes and Events

Local history collection

Online access to magazines and newspapers

Online homework help

Job search assistance (online and in-person)

Technology assistance (by appointment and on the 2nd Friday of each month)

Summer reading programs

A brand-new 3D printer, Coming soon!

First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association and libraries of all types across the country each April.

Spring Thru Cocalico 2023

Scavenger Hunt Game Card

Frequently Asked Questions

Participating Businesses


SCAVENGER HUNT GAME CARD

Download Your Spring Thru Cocalico Scavenger Hunt Card Here

DIRECTIONS:  Images are located in the window of each participating business listed below.  Once found, indicate the letter associated with the symbol in the box provided.  Find as many or as few as you like and then come back to the library for a fun prize! 

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Why are you offering a scavenger hunt?  The Adamstown Area Library and Cocalico Cares wanted to be able to provide a fun Spring experience for our youngest community members.
  • Is the scavenger hunt free?  Yes!  The scavenger hunt is free and open to anyone.
  • Do I need to finish the scavenger hunt in one day?  No!  The Spring symbols will be located in participating business windows starting Monday, April 3rd and ending on Wednesday, May 31st at 8:00.  You are welcome to take a few days to find as many images as you like.
  • Do I need to find each of the images to receive my goody bag from the library?  No!  You do not need to find all the listed Spring symbols in order to claim your goody bag from the library.
  • Do I need to go inside the businesses to find the Spring symbols?  You are welcome to shop at the participating businesses, but the Spring symbols will be located on each business window.
  • When can I claim my goody bag?  Library staff will be on hand to distribute goody bags during library hours (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 9:30-8, Friday 9:30-5, Saturday 9:30-2).
  • If I play every day, can I get a goody bag each day?  No, so that we have enough goody bags for all the children participating, we will be handing out one goody bag per child while supplies last.  Children must also be present to receive a goody bag.
  • How do I enter the photo raffles?  You can enter to win a raffle prize by uploading a picture of yourself playing the scavenger hunt to the Cocalico Cares Facebook page by June 1st.

Participating Businesses

View Map

Adamstown Area Library – 110 W Main St, Adamstown | 484-4200 

Black Diamond Financial Group – 6 Jason Ave, Denver | 610-370-7855

The Cocalico Cat & Gingham Dog – 226 Main St, Denver | 336-8387

Countyline Mechanical – 80 W Main St, Reinholds | 216-0846

DelVal Golden Retriever Rescue – 60 Vera Cruz Rd, Reinholds | 484-4799

Denver Supply Hardware – 25 Main St, Denver | 336-2151

Dogwood Farm Market – 1124 Dogwood Dr, Reinholds | 336-1661

The House Mouse – 1 E Main St, Adamstown

The House on Willow – 40 Willow St, Adamstown | 484-5151

Little Cocalico – 20 N Ridge Rd, Reinholds | 327-9263

Refreshing Mountain Retreat – 455 Camp Rd, Stevens | 738-1490 (on door of Activities Pavillion)

Welcome Home Thrift & More – 2800 N Reading Rd Unit 430, Adamstown | 336-4104

Willow Creek Grocery, Denver – 240 Main St Suite C, Denver | 335-1665

Willow Creek Grocery, Reinholds – 30 Willow St, Reinholds | 484-1100

Tru by Hilton, Denver – 400 N Reamstown Rd, Denver | 336-5254