FAIRY TALE RETELLINGS Do you have a high schooler that loves the idea of fairy tales for their age? Then you will want to check out the Once Upon a Time series. Authored by several authors (Cameron Dokey is a main one), these books are a clean option for YAers! My girls loved this series during their high school years and consistently grew our collection anytime they could!

VALENTINE'S DAY READS There are some really fun, sweet reads for the middle grade age range! My oldest daughter especially loved They Candymakers series. Wendy Mass does a fantastic job of telling the story from multiple character's view points. The Dragon With the Chocolate Heart is a perfect fit if you have a child that enjoys a bit of fantasy mixed into a chocolatier's story.

VALENTINE'S DAY READS I would be remiss if I didn't include one of the most romantic authors ever to grace the pages of a book in our Valentine's Day collection. Jane Austen captures the heart of romance in a way that is unparalleled. in literature. Not only are her stories fantastic to read, but keep your eyes open as you read other romance books. You'll find pieces of her creativity borrowed and added into new stories.

VALENTINE'S DAY READS There are so many great picture books to enjoy during Valentine's Day! From Nate the Great and his mysteries to how Valentine's Day came to be to some fun Bernstein Bear Adventures! You won't go wrong with any of these great stories to help celebrate the holiday!

VALENTINE'S DAY BOOKS You can't go wrong with Fairy Tales for Valentine's Day reads! There are so many beautifully illustrated editions that you can really enjoy sharing with your children! Here are a few of our favorites!

MY STINKY SUMMER by Paul Meisel Want to learn a few facts about the stink bugs that show up in your windows or buzzing around your indoor lights when the weather starts to warm up a little? Even though it's titled My Stinky Summer by Paul Meisel, this book will take you through the life cycle of these annoying and potent insects. The story is humorously written in diary form. Illustrations are bright and fun to examine.There is lots of additional information in the end pages if you haven't gotten enough by reading the book!

PRESIDENTS DAY READS Want to learn a little more about Ronald Reagan? These two reads are great for high school age students.

PRESIDENTS DAY READS These are some of our favorite chapter book reads on presidents.

PRESIDENTS READS These are some of our favorite reads for Presidents Day for the elementary age. Grover Cleveland, Again especially is a favorite!

PRESIDENTS READS Even though Presidents Day is a couple of weeks away, Abraham Lincoln's birthday is February 12. Therefore, I am posting books about presidents as our first February Collection! Pictured here are some great reads on George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Abe Lincoln

THE DARK THIRTY: SOUTHERN TALES OF THE SUPERNATURAL by Patricia C. McKissack. Illustrated by Brian Pinkney. Celebrating Black History Month can take on many different forms. You can focus on important points in history, read biographies, study art, music, sports, etc. I happened to come across a book of ghost stories that I picked up for something different. The Dark Thirty: Southern Tales of the Supernatural by Patricia C. McKissack is a Newbery Honor Book. Named for the thirty minutes before dark sets in and the ghosts come out, this book is a collection of your typical specter sightings generally because of abuse in life. Stories of runaway slaves, KKK, denying passage on a bus on a freezing night are some of the beginnings of these ghostly tales. Overall I found them to be tingly for the age group but not gory. However, there is one that gave me a red flag. I draw a line between ghosts and evil spirits. One story, entitled The Gingi, is about a lady who brings home a small statue that is inhabited by a very evil witch. All kinds of strange things start happening in her home. She uses a talisman to try and protect her family. This definitely pushed me too far. I don't believe in ghosts, because I believe in once dead always dead - soul goes to either Heaven or Hell. However, I very much believe in spiritual warfare around us which has a very evil side and a very clear good side. That would be my difference between them!

SOMEBODY LOVES YOU, MR. HATCH by Eileen Spinelli. Illustrated by Paul Yalowitz. Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch by Eileen Spinelli is my favorite all-time Valentine book. Mr. Hatch is the type of person that nobody notices. He follows the same pattern day in and day out. One day, unexpectedly, a package arrives. Inside is a box of chocolates and a note that says, "Someone loves you!" Suddenly, Mr. Hatch's entire outlook on life changes. He spends time with people and makes friends. But then he finds out the package was never meant for him. Get ready for some great discussion!