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Can your nerves handle it? This list features horror and ghost tales from the adult and young adult fiction collections.

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ICPL Recommends

Santa's first Christmas book cover
Santa's first Christmas book cover

Santa's first Christmas

Mac Barnett

j394.2663 Barnett
Kids, Picture Books

Santa returns home to the North Pole Christmas morning and, thanks to his loyal elves, gets to experience the magic of Christmas for the first time with a perfect tree, treats and presents.

A beautiful story accompanied by beautiful illustrations - sweet and simple with a few laugh-out-loud moments - a new Christmas classic. As a librarian, I rarely recommend purchasing books, but this one should be part of your family's Christmas traditions for years to come. -Anne W

The café at the edge of the woods book cover
The café at the edge of the woods book cover

The café at the edge of the woods

Mikey Please

jE Please
Fantasy, Humor, Kids, Picture Books

"Rene and Glumfoot are ready to serve very fine cuisine at the café at the edge of the woods. But when their first customer, an ogre, demands pickled bats and battered mice, Rene is ready to give up! She can't possibly serve such rubbish. Or can she? With a little bit of compromise,...

What a debut! This one had me in stitches. With perfectly paced rhythm and rhyme, and hilarious illustrations, Mikey Please's first solo book will be a read-aloud favorite, especially for littles who enjoy icky humor. -Casey

The unwedding book cover
The unwedding book cover

The unwedding

Allyson Braithwaite Condie

FICTION Condie Allyson
Mystery

"Ellery Wainwright is alone at the edge of the world. She and her husband, Luke, were supposed to spend their twentieth wedding anniversary together at the luxurious Resort at Broken Point in Big Sur, California. Where better to celebrate a marriage, a family, and a life together than at one...

Ellery Wainwright is trying to get away from her mess of her life by taking the vacation to a resort in Big Sur she originally planned to take with her now ex-husband to celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary they never made it to. She knows that this isn't going to be a great vacation--but better her on her own than her ex with his new girlfriend. Unfortunately, there is a wedding also scheduled for this same weekend. But Ellery doesn't get too much time to fester in her self-loathing and unhappiness--the groom is murdered. And there is a storm cutting off access to a resort. Anyone could be the murderer and anyone could be their next victim. Super fun read! -Anne M

Lone Wolf gets a pet book cover
Lone Wolf gets a pet book cover

Lone Wolf gets a pet

Kiah Thomas

jREADER Thomas Kiah
Early Readers

Grumpy Wolf wants jellybeans, and it seems that the only way he can get some is to win the local Best Pet Competition, but first he has to find a pet who will cooperate.

The store is out of jellybeans, so Wolf embarks on an elaborate scheme to win jellybeans in a local contest. Find out what happens in this hilarious and entertaining book! (The only thing I didn't like about it was having to read the word "wolf" over and over, a word that doesn't exactly roll off the tongue, especially because I tend to incorrectly pronounce it as "woof." Yes, I also say "pellow" instead of "pillow" - it's the way I was raised, sorrrryyyyyy!) -Anne W

Ultimate Spider-Man book cover
Ultimate Spider-Man book cover

Ultimate Spider-Man

Jonathan Hickman

COMIC Spider-Man Ultimate 2024
Graphic Novels

"After the events of ULTIMATE INVASION, the world needs a hero. Step forward, Peter Parker! But this is an older, wiser web-slinger -- one who balances his costumed duties with his responsibilities as a husband and a father. That's right, Peter and Mary Jane are married with kids! The...

I'm really enjoying this new iteration of Ultimate Spider-man. Peter as an adult, married with kids, figuring out how to be a superhero? Great stuff! Also, the Green Goblin being his pal is a fantastic twist on their dynamic. Make sure you read "Ultimate Invasion" first for all the set-up. -Brian

Star trek. Lower decks. Season 1 book cover
Star trek. Lower decks. Season 1 book cover

Star trek. Lower decks. Season 1

DVD TV Star Trek, Lower s. 1

Follows the exploits of the low-ranking support crew on one of Starfleet's least important ships in the year 2380.

This is a really funny show that shows the real work done on a starship which hilariously contrasts with the glorified bridge crews of previous shows. -Mykle

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What is Good for Your Heart Is Good for Your Brain: A Brain Wellness Book Club. Oct 24, Oct 31, Nov 7, Nov 14. 12 - 1 p.m. Meeting Room D. Iowa City Public Library. Book cover: "#1 New York Times Bestseller Outlive: The Science & Art of Longevity by Peter Attia, MD with Bill Gifford.
Book to Art Club. Watercolor Pumpkin & Cat. Tuesday, October 22, 4 to 5 p.m. Storytime Room. Iowa City Public Library.
Sunday Fun Days! Bat Finger Puppets, October 13, 2 to 4 p.m. Storytime Room. Handprint Leaves, October 20, 2 to 4 p.m. Storytime Room. Wood Spoon Halloween Craft, October 27, 2 to 4 p.m. Storytime Room. Iowa City Public Library.
Teen Knitting & Crochet Hangout. Every Monday weekly through November 18th. 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the Teen Space. Iowa City Public Library.
Chess Butterflies. Sundays 12:15 to 1:45 p.m. Storytime Room. Iowa City Public Library.
Community Writing Center. Iowa City Public Library. Coralville Public Library. Kirkwood Community College. Iowa.
The Iowa Libraries Adventure Pass Program
Get Making with Creativebug.
Staff Picks Just for you - get recommendations on what to read next
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