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Because why fall in love when there's no dragon to ride?

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ICPL Recommends

Toto book cover
Toto book cover

Toto

Hyewon Yum

jE Yum
Kids, Picture Books

A little girl, self-conscious about her birthmark named Toto, worries her school friend will see her differently when her birthmark is revealed but is pleasantly surprised by her friend's reaction.

Hyewon Yum is one of my favorite author illustrators and her new story is a delight! Be sure to check out all of her other books and the Hazel Westgate Collection in the Children's Room to see one of her beautiful originals. -Casey

Save our souls : the true story of a castaway family, treachery, and murder book cover
Save our souls : the true story of a castaway family, treachery, and murder book cover

Save our souls : the true story of a castaway family, treachery, and murder

Matthew Pearl

910.452 /Pearl
History

In this true story, on December 10, 1887, the Walker family's shark fishing boat was split in two by a storm, and they awoke in the morning on an island inhabited by a ragged man named Hans who seemed helpful but had a dark secret.

Save Our Souls is a shipwreck survival book. It has all the elements of a thrilling adventure--being lost at sea, foraging on a deserted island (in this case one of the Midway Islands), and faction-based mutiny. But there is a twist. Someone is already on the island that makes things far more complicated--he knows the island, but why is he there by himself? And there is also the context of the late-19th century. Pearl deftly explains the economics and politics of a European shark fishing boat in the middle of the Pacific.It is a fascinating read. -Anne M

Waifs and Strays book cover
Waifs and Strays book cover

Waifs and Strays

Helen Harper

OverDrive Audiobook
Fantasy, Romance

Nobody is just a cat lady. Kit McCafferty's life is quiet, unremarkable, and filled with cat hair. In the magical city of Coldstream, located on the border between Scotland and England, Kit is viewed as little more than mildly eccentric and mostly harmless. She passes her days caring for her...

I haven't picked up a Helen Harper novel for a few years, but I used to burn through her books like nobody's business. Her characters are cheeky and irreverent, getting into all sorts of hijinks and having a range of magical abilities. She is one of my favorite urban fantasy writers, and while the person reading her audiobooks has a rather thick alto brogue, it is well worth training your ear for a listen. -Melody

A sorceress comes to call book cover
A sorceress comes to call book cover

A sorceress comes to call

T. Kingfisher

SCIENCE FICTION Kingfisher, T.
Fiction, Fantasy

"From New York Times bestselling and Hugo Award-winning author T. Kingfisher comes A Sorceress Comes to Call--a dark reimagining of the Brothers Grimm's "The Goose Girl," rife with secrets, murder, and forbidden magic. Cordelia knows her mother is . . . unusual. Their house...

The characters in this book really shine, especially Hester. I love that one of the co-protagonists is a grumpy, disabled old woman, and that she uses her wit and cleverness to win the day. There are some real moments of horror in this book as well, and they were vivid enough to make me shiver. -Chelsea

Smelly Peggy book cover
Smelly Peggy book cover

Smelly Peggy

Helen Stephens

jE Stephens
Kids, Picture Books

Meet Peggy--a very naughty dog who gets into a lot of trouble. Some of the things she loves doing: leaping on the bed in the morning and sticking her hairy bottom in Dad's face. Sweeping her human family off their feet with her favorite sticks. And most of all, rolling in everything stinky and...

Pet owners will be charmed and feel seen while reading this funny book about all the ways Peggy, an adorable terrier, is naughty and annoying. Interactive text makes the book a great read-aloud, as does the straight-shooter narrator, a red-haired little girl, who frankly discusses gross doggy behaviors. The highlight of the bright, fun illustrations are the dog's adorable facial expressions on each page. -Anne W

Balatro. book cover
Balatro. book cover

Balatro.

VIDEO GAME Switch Balatro

"Balatro is a hypnotically satisfying deckbuilder where you play illegal poker hands, discover game-changing jokers, and trigger adrenaline-pumping, outrageous combos"--Container.

This is highly addictive and unique poker-themed roguelike with a low learning curve, great for long flights. It also won Best Independent Game, Best Debut Indie Game, and Best Mobile Game, and was nominated for Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2024. Playing on the Nintendo Switch might be a more mindful option, if you find that you get addicted to phone games easily. -Annie

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Book to Art Club: Art from Her Heart, Folk Artist Clementine Hunter. Tuesday, Feb. 25. 4 to 5 p.m. Storytime Room. Iowa City Public Library.
Let's Talk Books: Celebrity Memoirs. Tuesday, February 25. 7 to 8 p.m. Online event. Iowa City Public Library.
Weekly Storytime. Chinese Bilingual Storytime, Mondays, 10:30 a.m. Spanish Bilingual Storytime, Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m. StoryJAM, Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m. Stories & More, Thursdays, 10:30 a.m. Book Babies, Fridays, 10:30 a.m. Family Storytime, Saturdays, 10:30 a.m. Iowa City Public Library.
Iowa City Public Library. English Conversation Group. Every Friday, January 10 to May 30. 10 a.m. to noon. Meeting Room E.
Get Making with Creativebug. Iowa City Public Library.
Staff Picks Just for you - get recommendations on what to read next. Iowa City Public Library.
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