Wednesday, June 19, 2024

June books of the Month Celebrating Pride month "Redwood and Ponytail" by K.A Holt

June's book of the month is Redwood and Ponytail by K.A. Holt. Published in 2019 in the queer middle-grade fiction genre.  K.A Holt has written 13 books, a picture book, and helped with a few Adult anthologies. She has dedicated her career to making sure children and adults know that anyone can be a main character in a book.  She has written many award-winning middle-grade novels that show readers that they are not alone in their struggles. 

This book is a little hard to read at first as it is in text or column format. So the first couple of pages are a bit difficult. Redwood and Ponytails is about two girls who are opposite in every way but they find themselves drawn to each other.  We get to meet Kate and Tam. Tam is a tall athletic tom-boy type of girl. While Kate is the peppy cheerleader. They meet at the start of their 7th-grade year. While their friendship is a Surprise to both of them they find they want to spend more and more time with each other. The book goes Over relatable topics like when Tam starts to ignore her other friends to spend more time with Kate all the while Kate is struggling to keep up with her busy schedule. 

Filled with drama and balance Redwood and Ponytail is a good read filled with confidence and unconditionally queer-positive love. I loved that Tam was comfortable with queerness before realizing her feelings for girls and that even if she is often mistaken for a boy she is confident in who she is and is still learning. 

To read this book and learn more about other Books Written by K.A Holt and K. A her self visit https://kaholt.com



















Wednesday, June 12, 2024

Do you know about the Explore MORE 2024 Passport Program for your family? You Should!

Start your adventure now till August 31st, 2024. Visit multiple participating libraries in the MORE system of Libraries to collect passport stamps and get the chance to win prizes! Explore beautiful communities with unique local businesses, parks, and museums. Wherever your adventure takes you, bring the library with you! There are three grand prize bundles and nine other prizes to reward your adventurous travels! A travel bundle, a backyard bundle, and a campfire bundle. One of these could be your for participating. 

This program is perfect for families looking for something to do over the summer. The MORE system has over 40+ locations in Wisconsin counties. If you don't see a book you want you can have it sent to your local library! The MORE system of libraries can send books to other Libraries in the system. So even if you can travel you can still get the book you want. 

How to become an explorer?

Stop by any participating MORE library to pick up your passport or visit https://iflsweb.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/passportfordownload.pdf  To download your passport. 

Rules and Regulations:

  • Visit any MORE library to get a passport stamp.
  • Only one stamp or code per patron per library except for: Bruce Area Library, Hawkins Area Library, Rusk County Community Library in Ladysmith, Ogema Public Library, Park Falls Public Library, and Phillips Public Library (Rusk and Price counties). Visiting one of those libraries in person gets you two stamps!
  • Visit up to five libraries outside of the MORE library system and get credit for one stamp per library!
  • For every ten stamps you collect, go to a MORE library and get an entry form for a chance to win prizes. You may enter up to five times. The drawing will be on September 16, 2024. Winners will be notified using the contact information on their entry form. The staff of the IFLS Library System and MORE libraries are not eligible to win.

Questions?

Contact any MORE library or email Rebecca Kilde at kilde@ifls.lib.wi.us

Visit the link below to get more information about Prizes and the MORE passport system. Below is also a Directory of participating libraries. 

https://www.ifls.lib.wi.us/exploremore2024/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR0P4fuuvjKLHEbhFmW1Ht0IrwdyWj6HUzpobbLBt5iek_XzBancnH4fVhY_aem_AdmBC_QeOGzFYsJxViR_Rmk15hlP0NlGjKQtA6BUnInyaqhV66iy-WTRaIenMtf16rsx8vlvGbYx1jKEMUT448hk

Go Directly to a Library Website

links open in a new tab.

Barron County Libraries

Barron Public Library

Cameron Public Library

Chetek – Calhoun Memorial Public Library

Cumberland – Thomas St. Angelo Public Library

Rice Lake Public Library

Turtle Lake Public Library

Chippewa County Libraries

Bloomer – G.E. Bleskacek Family Memorial Library

Cadott Community Library

Chippewa Falls Public Library

Cornell Public Library 

Stanley – D.R. Moon Memorial Library

Dunn County Libraries

Boyceville Public Library

Colfax Public Library

Elk Mound Community Library

Menomonie Public Library

Sand Creek – Clarella Hackett Johnson Public Library

Eau Claire County Libraries

Altoona Public Library

Augusta Memorial Public Library

Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC) Academic Library Open to the public! CVTC joined MORE last year, and is the only academic library in the MORE system.  They serve students, faculty and staff. Community members are welcome as well. 

Eau Claire – L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library

Fairchild Public Library

Fall Creek Public Library

Pepin County Libraries

Durand Community Library

Pepin Public Library

Pierce County Libraries

Ellsworth Public Library

Elmwood Public Library

Plum City Public Library

Prescott Public Library

River Falls Public Library

Spring Valley Public Library

Polk County Libraries

Amery Area Public Library

Balsam Lake Public Library

Centuria Public Library

Clear Lake Public Library

Dresser – Geraldine E. Anderson Village Library

Frederic Public Library

Luck Public Library

Milltown Public Library

Osceola – Wilberg Memorial Public Library

St. Croix Falls Public Library

Price County Libraries

Ogema Public Library

Park Falls Public Library

Phillips Public Library

Rusk County Libraries

Bruce Area Library