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Summer reading is here! It's the most hectic, most fun time of the year at our libraries, and we can't wait to share this summer of learning, exploring, and having a blast with you. In addition to our kids' programming, the months ahead also offer "Book BINGO" for adults, regular meetings of the BECL Book Club, online happenings, and so much more. Read on to get all the details, and don't forget to stop by the library today to stock up on books, books, and more books!

2021 SUMMER READING PROGRAM

Explore "Trails & Tales" with the Blue Earth County Library System this summer! Children of all ages are invited to take part in exciting outdoor events and virtual programming, pick up weekly Take-and-Make "Creat10" project kits, and—of course!—read or be read to as much as they can, earning prizes for their reading achievements. Browse the events below, visit our website, or come by the library to learn more and register for all the fun to come!

Summer Reading Events at Sibley Park
All events will take place at 10:30am at Shelter #3

June 8 : Arn Kind’s Pirate Adventures
June 10: The Reptile and Amphibian Discovery Zoo
June 16: Library in the Park
June 22: “Tales Away” with Toby Klauenberg
June 24: The University of Minnesota's Raptor Center
June 29: Dazzling Dave Yo-Yo Master
July 8: Music with Maud Hixson
July 13: Remarkable Reptiles with Jim Gerholdt
July 20: Peter Bloedel’s Perpetual Variety Show
July 22: Library in the Park
July 27: Robert and Lynn Halbrook's Comedy Magic Show
July 29: Library in the Park: Summer Reading Celebration

Summer Reading Events in Lake Crystal
All events will take place at 1:00pm in the park by the library

June 10: The Reptile and Amphibian Discovery Zoo
June 22: “Tales Away” with Toby Klauenberg
June 29: Dazzling Dave Yo-Yo Master
July 8: Music with Maud Hixson
July 13: Remarkable Reptiles with Jim Gerholdt
July 14: Library in the Park
July 20: Junk Funk Drumming
July 27: Robert and Lynn Halbrook's Comedy Magic Show

Summer Reading Events in Mapleton
All events will take place at 3:30pm in the park by the library

June 10: The Reptile and Amphibian Discovery Zoo
June 22: “Tales Away” with Toby Klauenberg
June 29: Dazzling Dave Yo-Yo Master
July 8: Music with Maud Hixson*
July 13: Remarkable Reptiles with Jim Gerholdt
July 20: Junk Funk Drumming*
July 21: Library in the Park
July 27: Robert and Lynn Halbrook's Comedy Magic Show*

*Please note that these events will begin at 4:00pm.

Summer Reading Events at the Blue Earth County Library in Mankato

June 15, 10:30am: Kids' Comic Workshop with author Trisha Speed Shaskan and author-illustrator Stephen Shaskan. Ages 7-13. Limit of 20 participants.
June 17, 10:30am: Teen Writing Workshop with author Kirstin Cronn-Mills. Limit of 20 participants.
July 15, 6:00pm: Hasse Family Petting Zoo in the parking lot

Summer Reading Virtual Events

June 7–13: Oliver’s Animal Adventures – Lynx
June 12–18: Caricature Drawing Workshop
June 14–20: Oliver’s Animal Adventures – Kinkajou
June 21–27: Oliver’s Animal Adventures – Python
June 28–July 4: Oliver’s Animal Adventures – Guinea Pig
July 1–8: Carol McCormick’s “Reading Colors Your World”
July 5–11: Oliver’s Animal Adventures – Tortoise

LIBRARY ACTIVITIES & SERVICES

Blue Earth County Library Book Club

Tuesday, June 29 at 6pm

This month, our book club will discuss Kristin Hannah's The Great Alone. In this #1 New York Times bestselling novel, a desperate family seeks a new beginning in the near-isolated wilderness of Alaska only to find that their unpredictable environment is less threatening than the erratic behavior found in human nature. Call 507-304-4001 to request a copy of the book and visit our events calendar for the Zoom link.

At long last! The Pages Past Bookstore, run by our Friends of the Deep Valley LIbraries, will be reopening to the public on June 15, with hours to be determined soon. Check our website or give us a call at 507-304-4001 after June 15 to learn more. We can't wait to share old books and new discoveries with you soon!

Get "social" with us, why don't you? We're on social media—and if you are too, we'd like to be friends! Find the BECLS on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter to learn what new books are hitting our shelves, read recommended articles, participate in prize giveaways and other challenges, and get a little dose of the library from the comfort of your home (or phone).

Have you heard about our Books by Mail program? We provide postal delivery of books, audiobooks, movies, and other library materials at no charge to you, supported by MNRAAA and the CARES Act. Please reach out if you or someone you know would benefit from this service! Call 507-304-4001 or visit our website.

We've got game! Indoor and outdoor games are now available for checkout at the Mankato location, from classics like Clue and Scrabble to contemporary favorites such as Agricola, Carcassonne, and Settlers of Catan. Patrons can borrow up to three games per household for a one-week period. Start playing today!

Not sure what to read? You're in luck! Tell us what you love to read, and a librarian will create a customized list of titles for you! Forms are available for adults, kids, and homework needs. Ask a Book Nerd for a recommendation today!

STAFF PICKS

The Children's Blizzard | Melanie Benjamin

From the bestselling author comes a story of courage on the prairie, inspired by the devastating storm that struck the Great Plains, threatening the lives of hundreds of immigrant homesteaders.

"I just got done reading this book based on the famous blizzard of 1888, which hit the Midwest and killed several including many schoolchildren. It has been known as the Schoolhouse Blizzard."

— Janet

Who Will Pay Reparations on My Soul? | Jesse McCarthy

For readers of Teju Cole and Mark Greif, McCarthy’s essays portray a brilliant young critic at work, making sense of our disjointed times while seeking to transform our understanding of race and art, identity and representation.

"I loved these sharp, thoughtful, well-researched essays on books (Toni Morrison, Claudia Rankine), visual art (Velázquez, Kehinde Wiley), music (D'Angelo, trap music), and more."

— Mairead

NEW & NOTABLE BOOKS FOR ADULTS

Phase Six | Jim Shepard

A spare and gripping novel about the next pandemic–completed by the award-winning author before COVID-19 even emerged–that reads like a fictional sequel to our current crisis. A chamber piece of multiple intimate perspectives, the novel reminds us of the crucial bonds that form in the midst of catastrophe, as the characters learn what it means to provide adequate support for those they love. In the process, they celebrate the precious worlds they might lose, and help to shape others that may survive.

Crossing the River | Carol Smith

A powerful exploration of grief and resilience following the death of the author's son that combines memoir, reportage, and lessons in how to heal. Everyone deals with grief in their own way. For Carol Smith, a Pulitzer Prize nominated journalist struggling with the sudden death of her seven-year-old son, Christopher, the way to cross the river of sorrow was through work. Crossing the River is a beautiful and profoundly moving book, an unforgettable journey through grief toward hope, and a valuable, illuminating read for anyone coping with loss.

NEW & NOTABLE BOOKS FOR KIDS

Joy | Yasmeen Ismail & Jenni Desmond

The award-winning author-illustrator pair celebrate the love between a parent and a little one with this buoyant, rhythmic read-aloud. Simple, playful language captures the kitten’s irresistible energy, while cheerful mixed-media illustrations create a cozy world for all the adorable action. This story is pure joy.

The Tree in Me | Corinna Luyken

A stunning and sensitive portrait of the strength within each of us and the nourishment we receive from the natural world, by the New York Times bestselling creator of the acclaimed My Heart and The Book of Mistakes. Through poetic text and exquisite illustrations of children reveling in nature, this picture book explores the various ways we as human beings are strong, creative, and connected to others. Each of us is like a tree, with roots and fruit, and an enduring link to everything else in nature.

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

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Blue Earth County Library · 100 E Main St · Mankato, MN 56001-3501 · USA