Staff Picks
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The Year of Billy Miller
A 2014 Newbery Honor Book
A New York Times BestsellerAward-winning, nationally bestselling author Kevin Henkes introduces second-grader Billy Miller in this fast-paced and funny story about friendship, sibling rivalry, and elementary school. The Year of Billy Miller includes black-and-white art by Kevin Henkes and is perfect for fans of the Ramona books; Frindle, by Andrew Clements; and the Clementine series.
The New York Times declared: "Henkes's delightful story is restrained and vivid . . . forgoing the overdramatic or zany, it shows the substance, warmth and adaptability of beautifully common family love." When Billy Miller has a mishap at the statue of the Jolly Green Giant at the end of summer vacation, he ends up with a big lump on his head. What a way to start second grade, with a lump on your head! As the year goes by, though, Billy figures out how to navigate elementary school, how to appreciate his little sister, and how to be a more grown up and responsible member of the family and a help to his busy working mom and stay-at-home dad. Newbery Honor author and Caldecott Medalist Kevin Henkes delivers a short, satisfying, laugh-out-loud-funny school and family story that features a diorama homework assignment, a school poetry slam, cancelled sleepovers, and epic sibling temper tantrums. This is a perfect short novel for the early elementary grades.
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Unicorn Time Machine
With heartfelt storytelling and an honest exploration of friendship, the newest collection in the enchanting Phoebe and Her Unicorn series continues to explore the relationship between a vain but enchanting Unicorn and a confident, happy misfit girl.
In this exciting new collection of Phoebe and Her Unicorn comics, 10-year-old Phoebe Howell and her magical unicorn best friend, Marigold, enjoy a series of fantastical adventures. Phoebe goes back in time to meet her father as a kid and makes some surprising discoveries. Marigold reveals that she sometimes puts the world on mute, a power that Phoebe quickly learns is easy to overuse. And at the Unicorn Award Ceremony, the pair launch a campaign to get Marigold the highest honor. It's all part of the unique bond within one of the most memorable friendships in recent comics history. -
The Daily Sniff
An adorable pup uses his nose to help others in this latest from storytime darling Jane Cabrera.
Ted loves to trot around town and get his latest fill of local news by sniffing everything!
One day Ted smells something stinky. Is it the dumpster? No. The fish market? No. Ted tries to find the smell with no luck. Until he returns home, that is. Ted finds a lost baby skunk! He'll have to use his nose to reunite the family.
Beloved storyteller and illustrator Jane Cabrera's vivid and textured acrylic paintings are filled with joyful cuteness and warmth. The skunks are cleverly hidden throughout the art. After reading, children can go back and find them. This delightful celebration of good deeds and community is perfect for curling up in a cozy spot and sharing one-on-one.
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The Night Librarian: A Graphic Novel
Night at the Museum meets The Land of Stories in this thrilling new graphic novel adventure series in which two siblings, a mysterious Night Librarian, and a motley cast of book characters try to save the New York Public Library
Twins Page and Turner know about the magic a library holds—they’ve been going to their beloved New York City public library for years, especially since their parents are always traveling for work.
But a secret mission involving their dad’s rare and valuable edition of Bram Stoker’s Dracula uncovers a world they’ve never known, featuring a mysterious Night Librarian, famous heroes (and villains) that have broken free from classic books, and an epic battle to save the library from total destruction. -
Me and Other Bunnies
Mo Willems, #1 New York Times bestselling, award-winning author-illustrator creates a hare-larious picture book about bunnies.
There are ME bunnies.
There are YOU bunnies.
There are US bunnies . . . and WE bunnies . . . and THEM bunnies.
There are a lot of bunnies in Me and Other Bunnies. -
Bear's Lost Glasses
Bear can't find his glasses. He must have left them at Giraffe's house.
On the way over, Bear sees all kinds of animals he didn't notice last time: an elephant, a crocodile, a flamingo, a deer. And who's this long spotty snake lying on Giraffe's deckchair?
The patient Giraffe finds Bear's glasses--right where glasses always get lost, perched on his head. Then Bear takes Giraffe to meet these wondrous animals that he found on the way.
Leo Timmers' details are full of expression and humor--the angle of Giraffe's neck and lift of his eyebrows, hiding his skepticism as he helps his friend, the dear, artless bear.
Through an ingenious telling of this classic comical situation, Leo Timmers shows us how to enjoy the world through different eyes.
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Something Good
In need of a bad day remedy? One girl's terrible day takes an unexpected--and extraordinary--turn when she comes upon a pair of magic socks.
Blah. Nothing good ever happens to me.
This morning a little girl wakes up with a chicken on her head. (Ouch.) Then she finds worms in her cereal (after she's had a few bites--yuck!). Then she realizes, too late, that her boots are full of mud. Ack! Then her best friend ignores her, a big hole appears where it wasn't yesterday, and it starts to rain--cold rain, of course. Could this day get any worse? When a mysterious gift shows up out of nowhere, wrapped in a bow, the girl dares to wonder if it could finally be something good. Get ready for a high-flying tale as the beloved creator of Wild Honey from the Moon brings his signature deadpan humor, quirky charm, and appealingly simple text to a fantastical adventure sure to turn even the worst days around. -
Counting to Bananas
A hilarious, mostly-rhyming picture book about a banana and narrator who can't quite agree on what their book is about. Perfect for fans of Mo Willems' We Are in a Book and Adam Rex's Nothing Rhymes With Orange!
"Mo Willems fans will give this book one, two, three, four, five stars!" --Parents
"Tillotson's rib-tickling debut is not to be missed!"--Kirkus
When a narrator starts filling this story with fruit, Banana can’t wait to step into the spotlight. The book is called Counting to Bananas, after all. But as more and more fruits (and non-fruits) are added to the story, Banana objects. When will it be time for bananas?!
With laugh-out-loud text from debut author Carrie Tillotson and brought to life by illustrator Estrela Lourenço this is the story of a banana and narrator who have very strong opinions about what should (and should not!) be in this book.
The perfect next read for fans of Jory John and Pete Oswald's The Bad Seed series, as well at Ryan T. Higgins' Hey, Bruce!
Praise for Counting to Bananas:
A 2022 Oregon Spirt Book Award Honor Book
A Texas Library Association 2×2 Reading List Selection
A 2024 Beehive Book Award Nominee
An Oregon Book Award Finalist
A School Library Journal 2022 Undies Case Cover Award Winner
A 2023 Red Bud Read Aloud Award Nominee
An Amazon Best Children’s Books of 2022 So Far pick
An Amazon Editor’s Pick
An Oregon-authored Great Summer Read
"In the tradition of Mac Barnett’s Count the Monkeys, Tillotson’s rib-tickling debut is not to be missed . . . Lourenço’s digitally created illustrations of cartoon fruit with faces and expressive animals are bright, dynamic, and foolish. Fruity fun for everyone." --Kirkus -
Mouse and His Dog: A Dogtown Book
An Instant NEW YORK TIMES and Indie Bestseller!
Mouse lives in Dogtown, a shelter for real dogs and robot dogs, where the kibble is plentiful, and the rafters hide a secret community of mice. His unlikely best friend is Buster, a big-hearted real dog who attracts trouble like a burr to fur.
Determined to help Buster find his forever home, even if means losing his best pal, Mouse embarks on a bold quest with three of Dogtown’s “unadoptables”: Buster, Stewie--a huge, lovable dog whose ex-owner said he was mean, and Smokey--a robot dog hardwired with a smoke alarm he can’t control.
But Mouse is just a mouse, and the world is big and complicated. How’s a little guy supposed to find homes for the dogs he loves? -
Impossible Creatures
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Two kids race to save the world’s last magical place in the first book of a landmark new fantasy series, from “a writer with an utterly distinctive voice and a wild imagination.” (Philip Pullman, author of The Golden Compass)
*This spectacular book features foil and embossing on the jacket, full-color designed endpapers, red stained edges, and a red case cover with gold stamping.*
“An instant classic from one of the most gifted storytellers of our time, Impossible Creatures is an astonishing miracle of a book.” —Katherine Applegate, Newbery Medal Winner for The One and Only Ivan
A WALL STREET JOURNAL BEST CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE YEAR • A PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, KIRKUS REVIEWS, AND SHELF AWARENESS BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR
The day that Christopher saved a drowning baby griffin from a hidden lake would change his life forever.
It’s the day he learned about the Archipelago—a cluster of unmapped islands where magical creatures of every kind have thrived for thousands of years, until now. And it’s the day he met Mal—a girl on the run, in desperate need of his help.
Mal and Christopher embark on a wild adventure, racing from island to island, searching for someone who can explain why the magic is fading and why magical creatures are suddenly dying. They consult sphinxes, battle kraken, and negotiate with dragons. But the closer they get to the dark truth of what’s happening, the clearer it becomes: no one else can fix this. If the Archipelago is to be saved, Mal and Christopher will have to do it themselves.
Katherine Rundell’s story crackles and roars with energy and delight. It is brought vividly to life with more than 60 illustrations, including a map and a bestiary of magical creatures. -
All the Best Dogs
For anyone who loves a dog--and anyone who loves a laugh, comes this sensitive (and silly!) story about growing up and mending fences. An enduring message of friends, community, and the joy of pets.
Ask anyone who has a dog and they’ll tell you that their dog is the best. Really, truly, the best dog in the world. Theirs is the best dog that ever lived, ever, ever, in the history of the known universe.
Welcome to the dog park! It’s a playground for dogs in the big city. Here, four sixth graders (and their dogs!) overlap on one hilarious and important June weekend.
Ezra needs to find his lost dog.
Cup-Cup needs a friend. (She also needs to learn to walk on a leash.)
Mei-Alice wonders if anyone will ever understand her.
Panda wonders what will happen if she breaks the rules.
Kaleb is covering up a terrible mistake.
Grover and Lottie are making lots of terrible mistakes. (Some of them are disgusting.)
And Jilly needs to make a new life in a new place.
On this almost-summer weekend, a series of surprises, mishaps, and misunderstandings will end up changing all of their lives. -
And Then, Boom!
A gripping new novel in verse by the author of the Printz Honor-winning Starfish, featuring a poverty-stricken boy who bravely rides out all the storms life keeps throwing at him
Joe Oak is used to living on unsteady ground. His mom can’t be depended on as she never stays around long once she gets “the itch,” and now he and his beloved grandmother find themselves without a home. Fortunately, Joe has an outlet in his journals and drawings and takes comfort from the lessons of comic books—superheroes have a lot of “and then, boom” moments, where everything threatens to go bust but somehow they land on their feet. And that seems to happen a lot to Joe too, as in this crisis his friend Nick helps them find a home in his trailer park. But things fall apart again when Joe is suddenly left to fend for himself. He doesn’t tell anyone he’s on his own, as he fears foster care and has hope his mom will come back. But time is running out—bills are piling up, the electricity’s been shut off, and the school year’s about to end, meaning no more free meals. The struggle to feed himself gets intense, and Joe finds himself dumpster diving for meals. He’s never felt so alone—until an emaciated little dog and her two tiny pups cross his path. And fate has even more in store for Joe, because an actual tornado is about to hit home—and just when it seems all is lost, his life turns in a direction that he never could have predicted. -
Dog vs. Strawberry
A dog and a strawberry find themselves nose to stem in this hilarious picture book that's perfect for dog lovers. An epic battle ensues—who will come out on top?
A PUBLISHERS WEEKLY BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR
Welcome to the Greatest Race of All Time!
Give it up for our reigning champion, the one-and-only DOG!
And let’s have a hand for her opponent: the formidable STRAW-BER-RYYYY!
When Dog is handed a strawberry from the fruit bowl, she sizes it up, dances around it, and decides she is going to race the Strawberry--and win. She dashes left, then right, then--oh!-- over the couch in an attempt to outrun her opponent. Strawberry doesn't move, but that doesn't stop Dog from continuing the race. Eventually, it's neck-and-neck... until mom walks in to see what the fuss is about, and SPLAT!
Kids everywhere will recognize the rivalry at play here, and will laugh-out-loud at the bright, expressive illustrations and ridiculous scenarios from the award-winning creators of Cat Dog Dog. -
You Are Not Sleepy!
From New York Times bestselling and award-winning author-illustrator Mark Teague comes a funny bedtime picture book that is “storytelling hog heaven” (Publishers Weekly, starred review) about a pig who can’t go to sleep no matter how hard he tries!
Pig knows it’s time for a nap, but he just can’t fall asleep! He tries to catch that elusive shut-eye in a series of hilarious hijinks but can’t escape interruptions and distractions. Then, a rowdy friend arrives who also seems to be in need of sleep, and Pig has a flash of inspiration… Can his latest idea finally send them both to dreamland? -
What the Dinosaurs Did Last Night
From the creative parents who brought the world the web sensation "Dinovember" comes photographic proof of what toys get up to when the rest of the house is asleep.
You might have noticed weird things happening in your house. Unexplainable messes. Food all over the kitchen floor. Who could the culprits be? Dinosaurs! Boasting bright and hilarious photographs, along with a story written from the point of view of an older, wiser sibling, Refe and Susan Tuma's picture book documents a very messy adventure that shows just what the dinosaurs did last night.
Upcoming Events
Class/Workshop
You’re never too old or too young to experience something new.
Join Attorney Tracy Gibson in a workshop to learn the language and tools used in estate planning, such as wills, trusts, and powers of attorney. Learn the risks of estate planning shortcuts and the perils of Probate, and get tips a
Disclaimer(s)
Accessibility
Individuals requesting accommodation for disabilities should contact the Library's ADA Manager Stacey Bialek at 920-686-3008 or sbialek@manitowoc.org. Reasonable accommodations will be made as quickly as possible, often within a week.
Drop-In Employment Assistance: Department of Workforce Development staff will provide onsite services, including resume writing, assistance with online applications, assistance registering in Job Center of Wisconsin, and more!&nbs
The Manitowoc County Genealogical Society will be in the Manitowoc Collection every Tuesday from 3-5PM to help people with their genealogy research.
Can you tell cheddar from parmesan? Pizza from pretzel? Use your senses of sight, smell, and taste to identify different flavors of Goldfish crackers. This program is intended for children ages 5-11. No registration is required.
Disclaimer(s)
Accessibility
Individuals requesting accommodation for disabilities should contact the Library's ADA Manager Stacey Bialek at 920-686-3008 or sbialek@manitowoc.org. Reasonable accommodations will be made as quickly as possible, often within a week.
Unattended Children
Children under the age of 8 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times.
Storytime
You’re never too young for a great story!
Join us for 20 minutes of stories, songs, rhymes, bounces, parachute activities, and bubbles, followed by 20 minutes of playtime! Baby Storytime is recommended for developmental ages 0-2 and siblings are always welcome.
Disclaimer(s)
Accessibility
Individuals requesting accommodation for disabilities should contact the Library's ADA Manager Stacey Bialek at 920-686-3008 or sbialek@manitowoc.org. Reasonable accommodations will be made as quickly as possible, often within a week.
Unattended Children
Children under the age of 8 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times.
Storytime
You’re never too young for a great story!
Join us in singing, talking, reading, creating, and playing at this inclusive Storytime for families with preschoolers. Storytime focuses on concepts such as life skills, counting, colors, emotions, patterns, and the alphabet.
Disclaimer(s)
Accessibility
Individuals requesting accommodation for disabilities should contact the Library's ADA Manager Stacey Bialek at 920-686-3008 or sbialek@manitowoc.org. Reasonable accommodations will be made as quickly as possible, often within a week.
Unattended Children
Children under the age of 8 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times.