Grayslake Library Blog

  Halloween is right around the corner, and what better way to celebrate than by enjoying a good, spooky story? This Thursday, October 6th, at 7:00pm , adults and teens are invited to join author William Pack for some Ghostly Tales (register here ). If you’re looking for more, we here at the Grayslake Area Library are happy to recommend titles featuring classic monsters for all ages! Frankenstein for Kids: Frankenstein (A Monstrous Parody) by Rick Walton What is the Story of Frankenstein? by Sheila Keenan Frankenslime by Joy Keller Frankenstein for Teens: The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein by Kiersten White Frankenstein for Adults: Frankenstein, or, the Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley Vampires for Kids: Bunnicula by Deborah Howe Vampirina Ballerina by Anne Marie Pace I Love My Fangs! by Kelly Leigh Miller Vampires for Teens: The Beautiful by Renée Ahdieh Vampires for Adults: Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice Zombies for Kids: The Last Kids on Earth by Max Brallier...

  Driving around last weekend, you may have noticed a number of Mexican flags being flown proudly. This is because Mexico celebrates its independence day on September 16. Many other Latin American countries hold this celebration in a relatively short span of time: September 15 is the independence day of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, and Chile celebrates on September 18. In 1968, President Lyndon Johnson proclaimed the week of September 15 to be National Hispanic Heritage Week, to celebrate the contributions of Latinx individuals to the US and Latin American countries. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan expanded the observance period to cover September 15 to October 15. As such, we here in the Americas have been honoring this observance for over five decades. Here at the Grayslake Library, we are proud to promote the works of Latinx creators, all of which you can access with your library card! Books for youth: Miss Quinces by Kat Fajardo Solimar by Pam Mu...

There are few things as empowering as a library card; this small, thin card is a key that opens up a whole new world of information, entertainment, and opportunities, all for free! September is National Library Card Sign-Up Month, and if you haven’t already got yours, we here at the Grayslake Area Library (GAPL) encourage you to come in and register today! Click here for more information. Library cards are for people of all ages; from newborns to great-great-grandparents, everyone is welcome! When you sign up for a library card, you are joining a diverse community of learners and explorers. What can you do with your GAPL card? We’re so glad you asked! Of course, you can check out books, movies, and other media, but did you know that we have puzzles and board games for all ages? Have you heard about our Library of Things ? This special collection hosts a wide variety of tools and kits, from Chromebooks and video game controllers to sewing machines and even telescopes! Skip the subscri...

Here at the Grayslake Library, it is our privilege to help you as you learn, grow, and explore, and to facilitate this we have acquired several new databases and tools that you can access for free with your GAPL library card. First up, we have Peterson’s Test and Career Prep . This resource is perfect for brushing up on academic skills, and of course, for preparing for tests, careers, job interviews, and more. It also provides tips and tricks for crafting eye-catching cover letters and resumes. Next up, we have Pressreader , an online newspaper database that grants access to publications across the country, including the Chicago Tribune. It also has several magazine titles, such as Newsweek, Good Food, and Variety. Fiero Code is a self-paced learning platform that teaches kids ages 8-18 the fundamentals of code. Languages the teaching tool has access to include, but are not limited to, HTML, JavaScript, and Python. And while you’re checking out the new databases, why not look at some ...

Sunday, June 19th is Juneteenth, a newly-recognized federal holiday, and a day set aside to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States. We are pleased to offer a wide selection of titles to read in honor of this day, from children’s books about the holiday itself, to hard-hitting adult titles exploring the African American experience. Opal Lee and What It Means to Be Free is a children’s book that tells the true story of a Texan woman who fought for recognition of this day in her home state. Juneteenth for Mazie is a title written and illustrated by award-winning author and artist Floyd Cooper. All Different Now tells the story of people who began their day as slaves, and ended it as free people. For adults, Four Hundred Souls is a collection of writings delving into the 400-year history of African Americans. The Warmth of Other Suns is about the exodus of millions of people from the southern states to the north. How to Be an Antiracist asks ...

  It’s June, and that means it’s time to celebrate Pride Month, held every year in honor of the Stonewall riots of 1969. These early protests by the LGBTQ+ community were instrumental in shaping the history of Pride in the US, and across the world. Whether you’re looking to learn more about the movement, or you just want to enjoy books and other media that are created by queer voices, we are happy to supplement your Pride Month with these titles and more. For younger readers, there are several titles that can introduce them to the movement. Stonewall: A Building. An Uprising. A Revolution by Rob Sanders is a good telling of the story that introduces readers to the people instrumental in the riots. Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag , also by Rob Sanders, goes into the history of the now iconic rainbow flag. For adults, there is a wide array of fiction titles that you can read to celebrate LGBTQ+ people. Might we suggest the book Detransition, Baby by Torrey Pete...

Happy spring! April showers bring May flowers–and vegetables, too! Whether you’re planting a beautiful bouquet or yummy veggies to eat, we are your one-stop-shop for resources when it comes to gardening. Looking to grow vegetables? We’ve got you covered, with books like Grow More Food or The Beginner’s Guide to Growing Great Vegetables . Want to know how animals and insects can be your allies? Check out Garden Allies .  Need to know what to plant when? Find titles on year-round gardening to help you pick timely seeds. Want to find out what grows locally? Look up books on Midwest gardening or, more specifically, what to sow in Illinois . We also have for you a number of magazines, from Better Homes and Gardens to Taunton’s Fine Gardening . If you have a Grayslake Library card, you also have access to our emagazines on Flipster , or books on gardening through Hoopla . There are a couple of organizations in and around Grayslake that are dedicated to gardening and harvesting. Check...