Author: alamancelibraries

Beanstack is a digital platform and mobile app that helps people of all ages track their reading and stay motivated. It’s often called a “Fitbit for reading” because it uses fun features like badges, streaks, and community challenges to encourage daily reading.

Beanstack offers reading challenges that turn reading into a fun game. It’s helpful for people who want to start reading again, parents who want to track family reading, or anyone with a specific reading goal. Alamance County Public Libraries offers the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten challenge, which encourages you to read any book to your newborn, infant, or toddler, aiming for 1,000 books before they start kindergarten. You can repeat books, and there are family activities to make reading more engaging. Families win prizes for reading 250, 500, 750 and 1000 books, which can be picked up at any library in the county.

The Summer Reading Program is a reading challenge offered during the summer, letting you track reading during summer break. Parents and kids can join in and even win prizes. Beanstack tracks your reading time and gives you online badges to show your progress. As in previous years, participants will win a book for reading their first 90 minutes, and another prize for every 90 minutes beyond that. Children can pick a prize from the prize box, and teens and adults win raffle tickets for great prizes.

Outside the challenges, the app can track how long you have been reading and set reading timers to help you manage your time. It will also keep track of the days you read with a statistic board called My Stats. It will record your book titles, book reviews, and highlights over the years you use the app. You can also turn on a friendly reminder notification about fun facts about reading.

Beanstack is an excellent tool for readers, whether you’re looking to encourage your family to read more or want to establish new reading habits in the New Year. Beanstack provides the support and features to help you succeed. Start your reading journey today by signing up on the Beanstack website or downloading the app.

Download the app on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

Sharada F.M. is a Library Assistant at Graham Public Library Children’s Department.

Join us for our spring Local Author Fair! Celebrating 100 Years of Library Service.

Calling all book lovers and local authors! Meet talented writers from our community at the Local Author Fair, hosted by the Mebane Public Library, a day dedicated to books, storytelling, and local creativity, as we celebrate 100 years of library service in Alamance County.

Saturday March 21, 2026 at Mebane Public Library from 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. A schedule of author reading will be shared closer to the event date.

What to expect at the event:

• Meet & Support Local Authors
• Purchase Signed Copies of Books
• Enjoy Live Author Readings & Discussions
• Network with Fellow Book Lovers

Author readings and panel discussions will be moderated and emceed by the Toastmasters of Mebane, providing a welcoming, well-structured environment that helps authors share their stories with confidence.

Interested in participating as an author?

Have questions? Read the FAQ for details.

For more information, email twright@alamancelibraries.org or call (919) 563-6431.

-Tracy W. is a reference librarian at Mebane Public Library

ACPL will be closed for the holiday break from December 24–27, 2025. Stock up on books ahead of time so you can keep reading! Here are some recommended titles to enjoy alongside the festivities.

Good Spirits by B.K. Borison

If you’re looking for a fun fantasy with a sprinkle of holiday charm, this book is for you. Good Spirits by B.K. Borison is a fresh take on the classic novella A Christmas Carol. Ghost of Christmas Past Nolan Callahan has no desire to exist until he meets Harriet York. Suddenly, he finds himself wishing for a future. Available on Libby.

The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter

The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year is a locked-room murder mystery. Snowed in at an isolated mansion, cozy mystery writer Maggie and thriller author Ethan face a chilling murder. Unsure if they can trust each other, they follow each clue as the storm deepens, drawing them closer to the truth and to each other. Available on Libby.

One Last Gift by Emily Stone

For anyone carrying grief through the holiday season: One Last Gift follows Cassie and Tom, who lost their parent young and spent the next twenty years relying on each other. When Cassie loses her beloved brother, she discovers an envelope he left behind, one that sends her on a heartfelt Christmas scavenger hunt through London, guiding her through memory, love, and healing.

The Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan

The Christmas Bookshop is a short, cozy feel-good read. After being laid off, Carmen is out of options and dreading Christmas with her perfect sister, Sofia, especially with a second baby on the way. When she finds herself in front of a shabby old bookshop on the streets of Edinburgh, Carmen sees a chance for a fresh start. But can she bring new life to the shop before Christmas?

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

The Frozen River is a gripping murder mystery set in Maine, 1789. When the Kennebec River freezes over, revealing a man trapped in the ice, midwife Martha Ballard is called to examine the body. Used to the secrets hidden behind closed doors, she records every birth and death in her diary. Entries from her private notes are revealed and later become the center of a dangerous scandal. Available on Libby.

-Ana A. is the Marketing Coordinator for Alamance County Public Libraries.

Every month, the library system orders new books. Most books find their readers, but here are few that are still waiting for that first checkout!

If You Like: Action-Packed Thrillers

Victim #8 by Traci Hunter Abramson

This is book 2 in the Luke Steele series. Military aide Luke Steele and FBI Special Agent Amberlyn Reiner work together to solve the murder of an American journalist in Instanbul. Was it the work of a serial killer, or was the journalist killed for secret information that is now in the hands of an enemy? In their investigation, they discover a plot to kill the President and start a nuclear war, and only they can stop it by going undercover to meet with a Russian source.

If You Like: Sci-Fi Quests with Staffs

The king must die by Kemi Ashing-Giwa

Newearth began as a gift from aliens to allow Earth’s peoples to survive on another planet, but its terraforming is failing. Fen works as a mercenary bodyguard and is entangled with the complex politics of the empire. The Sovereign kills her fathers and threatens her life. She takes her quarterstaff and goes off to find the last of her parents’ rebellion group. Part of that group is Alekhai, the Sovereign’s heir, who has a plan that will either save the empire or lead to its doom. Which is more dangerous – the ruthless Sovereign or the insurgents challenging him?

If You Like: Time Traveling Romances

The maid of Sherwood Forest by Siân Ann Bessey

Mariah Clinton puts on a medieval dress at a costume shop and is instantly transported to Nottingham. Her background as an archer and a sous-chef helps her blend in and work in the kitchen. Her skill with a bow and arrow and belief in her self-worth attracts the eye of the very handsome Robin Hood. She’ll have to decide if she’s willing to give up modern-day London for passion and danger with Robin and his outlaws.

If You Love: Historical Mysteries with a Dash of Royalty and Baking

Revenge, served royal by Celeste Connally

It’s 1815, and the Ton are flocking to Windsor Castle for a week of celebrations, including a patisserie competition by the best bakers from their staff. Lady Petra can’t wait to see her Aunt Ophelia, meet with Sir Rufus Pomeroy and see his cookbook for the Queen, and serve as a judge for the contest! But a dead body puts paid to all of her excitement. Her lady’s maid’s brother is accused of the murder but proclaims his innocence. When poisoned tea almost kills her, Petra knows that the killer is still at large, and she must solve the case before someone else dies.

If You Love: Black Girl Magic, Demons, and Steamy Romance

Son of the morning by Akwaeke Emezi

Galilee Kincaid knows she is adopted, but not who (or what) she is. When she meets Lucifer Helel, she instantly knows that he’s not human, and that he is as dangerous as he is sexy. His lieutenant Leviathan is determined to keep them apart, because he’s convinced that she’ll bring death and destruction to Hell and beyond. Will she accept the power she has gained through her connection to Kincaid magic and her unknown heritage?

If You Love: Heart-Wrenching Family Dramas

Palaver by Bryan Washington

A mother and son slowly reconnect when she arrives on his doorstep in Toyko after many years of little contact between them. The mother’s missteps may have been born out of concern and love, but they wounded her son. He may have a found family in Japan, but he hasn’t been really happy after cutting off his family. They have a chance to heal themselves and each other, if they can find their way forward together.

Mary Beth A. is the Community Engagement Librarian for Alamance County Public Libraries.

Kazuki, Miya. Ascendance of a bookworm [light novel] : I’ll do anything to become a librarian. [United States] : J Novel Club, 2019-.

If you have ever wanted to spend all day surrounded by books, then you will love the main character’s personal mission to do the same! 

Ascendance of a Bookworm by Miya Kazuki was my introduction to light novels and is one of my favorite series to read. The author does a great job at showing Myne’s determination and ability to push through setbacks that inevitably arise when she is scheming up a way to make or read books. It starts off very slow, but the worldbuilding grows along with the main character’s knowledge of her new world.

A librarian in modern day Japan named Urano dies and gets reincarnated as Myne, a sickly five-year-old child. She soon discovers that her beloved books are impossible to obtain in a world where only nobles can afford to access them. She decides that the only possible solution is to create books herself!

The first book describes her troubles at getting used to a new family, friends, and a world where modern technology doesn’t exist. She realizes that her main obstacle isn’t that everyone around her can’t read, but the mysterious illness that no one can figure out.

As the series goes on, she finds out the cause of her sickness and learns that the nobles not only have books but can use magic as well. Her desperate need to read a book constantly lands her in trouble with every noble she meets. 

This series is perfect for those who love magical worlds and supporting a bookworm’s chaotic way to gain her own library. 

Kayla H. is a Library Assistant at May Memorial Library.

Curl up with your favorite little kid to read these beautiful books about winter holidays!

Williams, Nyasha. Once Upon a Kwanzaa. Philadelphia : Running Press Kids, 2025.

This book wins for the most beautiful cover of the season! This book will help your family learn about the celebration of Kwanzaa through 8 families who are lighting the Kinara, sharing meals, and talking about the principles Kwanzaa celebrates – Unity, Self-Determination, Collective Work and Responsibility, Cooperative Economics, Purpose, Creativity, and Faith.

Snyder, Laurel. The Book of Candles: Eight Poems for Hanukkah. New York, NY : Clarion Books, an imprint of Harper Collins Publishers, 2025.

This book of simple poetry tells the story of celebrating Hanukkah through a child’s eyes.  Each poem shares a bit more about celebrating each of the eight nights, and why Jewish people say certain words or light the candles in a certain order. The illustrations feel warm, inviting everyone to join them in front of the menorah.

Rex, Adam. The 13^th Day of Christmas. [New York, New York] : Neal Porter Books, an imprint of Holiday House Publishing, Inc., 2025.

Singing the 12 Days of Christmas can be… well, boring. But this book about a young man receiving some strange gifts (who gives their boyfriend birds and a pear tree?) will make your kids (and you) laugh! It also shares a wonderful message about the true meaning of Christmas and the joy these gifts bring to the community.

Morris, Jordan. Merry Mittens: a Moontime Cats Christmas Story. Somerville, Massachusetts : Candlewick Press, 2025.

When cat friends sneak out to cause a little mayhem, they find a thief’s stash, complete with tinsel, a star, ornaments, and other items. But there’s also a special gift wrapped up in a box that needs a home where it will be loved. This book has a lot of great noise words that kids will love hearing read as well as great illustrations of cats!

Gross, Kelsey E. Winter: A Solstice Story. New York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, [2023].

This gorgeous book about the winter solstice in the forest will enchant your children, and you as well. The animals gather on the longest night of the year around a tree in the forest that is lit by the moon and the stars. The animals are there to share their message of hope and celebrate the solstice.

Kurpiel, Sarah. A Little Like Magic. New York : Rocky Pond Books, 2024.

A winter trip to an ice festival goes wrong when the young narrator loses her prized horse figurine. She didn’t want to go to that cold, uncomfortable festival anyway! But she and her mom go back the next night to see what the artists have created, and she finds the magic of winter.

Mary Beth A. is the Community Engagement Librarian for Alamance County Public Libraries.

As the leaves fall and the days get shorter, I always love curling up with a good book. This time of year, I often find myself reaching for folklore-inspired stories alongside a warm mug of cider or hot cocoa to fend off the impending chill. Here are some excellent folkloric books to check out this fall!

Nethercott, GennaRose. Thistlefoot. New York : Anchor Books, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, 2022.
One of my favorite characters from folklore is Baba Yaga and her strange house on chicken legs, roaming the forests of eastern Europe. In Thistlefoot, GennaRose Nethercott breathes new life into the tale through estranged siblings Isaac and Bellatine Yaga, who can’t believe
their luck when they receive a mysterious inheritance: a sentient house on chicken legs called Thistlefoot. Only, someone—or something—else is hunting it, relentlessly stalking the Yagas and the house across the country as they embark on a last-stitch tour of their family’s traveling puppet theater. Nethercott’s writing is lush and lyrical, balancing theatrical humor with the haunting darkness of the Yaga’s family history.
Content Warnings: Violence, Antisemitism, Fire, Mentions of eugenics, Genocide, Child
death

Novik, Naomi. Uprooted. New York : Del Rey, [2015].
Inspired by Polish folklore, Naomi Novik’s Uprooted weaves together elements of traditional fairy tales—an ancient wizard, a girl in a tower, a forest of dark magic— to create a story that feels both familiar and fresh. Young Agnieszka lives in a small village in a kingdom that borders the Wood, a forest of sinister magic that destroys villages and drives villagers mad. Their only protector from the Wood is the Dragon, a centuries-old wizard who lives in a grand tower… but his protection comes at a cost. Every ten years, the Dragon demands a sacrifice: a village girl, who will serve him for ten years. When the Dragon reluctantly selects Agnieszka to serve him during the Choosing, it leads her down a long, twisting road to discovering her own power. Uprooted leans into the darkness of old fairy tales and twists reader expectations connected to fairy tale tropes. A trip through the Wood
is not for the faint of heart….
Content Warnings: Death, Violence, War, Vomit, Sexual content

Saft, Allison. A Dark and Drowning Tide. New York : Del Rey, [2024].
Folklore meets fantasy romance in this story where an expedition is thrown off course when the leader is murdered. As the expedition pushes onward, two rival students must work together to uncover the identity of the murderer and locate a site long believed to be myth as even more dangers lie ahead: mythical monsters, forests that rearrange themselves at night, and simmering tensions among the remaining members of the expedition. At its core, A Dark and Drowning Tide is a love letter to Bavarian folklore and a confrontation of the prejudices that lie at the center of many fairy tales—perfect for fans of
Leigh Bardugo and Ava Reid.

Content Warnings: Murder, Sexual content, Violence, Antisemitism

Sara D. is a Library Assistant at Graham Public Library.

With holidays and get togethers coming up, why not “invite” someone else to your celebrations? Here are some cookbooks from ACPL that will be a wonderful addition to your menus.

My Mexican Kitchen by Eva Longoria was inspired by her time traveling in Mexico for her show Searching for Mexico and trying all the cuisines that Mexican cooking can offer! Such finds were pollo asado (page 167), shrimp aguachile (page 105), and classic buñuelos (page 187). Eva also plays with Mexican flavors, rediscovering her love of food and her culture, making it a full circle moment.

For specifically plant-based dishes, try Radhi Devlukia-Shetty’s JoyFull where she presents a full Indian breakfast (pages 80-83) and her family’s masala chai (page 46), umm ali (page 276) an Egyptian bread pudding, and red lentil daal (page 123). Radhi just wanted to put forth a book that allowed those who read it and used the recipes given to transform their health through mindful habits and eating.

I Could Nosh by Jake Cohen is a collection of Jewish recipes that have been revamped to make it easier for every day convenience. There are recipes for kugel fries (page 98), a schmear smorgasbord (pages 54-59), and seasonal kashas (pages 176-185) among other tasty treats.

Famous TikToker, Barbara Costello, or Babs as her fans know her, wrote Every Day with Babs to give 101 family friendly dinners to easy access for your weekly meals. There are classic recipes like Bab’s famous chocolate chip cookies (pages 234-235), sheet pan snappy kielbasa with sauerkraut and potatoes (page 41), and Bab’s grandmother’s Greek chicken and potatoes (page 218). Bab’s takes her years as a mother, and now grandmother, to give more American twists on some recipes she grew up on and shares them with us with her cookbook.

Delicious Tonight is a cookbook by Nagi Maehashi with 150+ foolproof recipes to tackle on nights when you want something easy but delicious. Nagi has sections like “fastest meals” that includes things like halloumi burgers (page 66) and one-pan chorizo couscous (page 77). “Sunday suppers” that includes classics like slow-roasted lamb shoulder (page 251-253) and new options like Vietnamese pulled pork feast with options on how to serve it and what to serve with it (pages 282-289). And one whole section dedicated to Charlie, Nagi’s Chinese brown sauce to use in stir fires (pages 138-141 and other options in this section) and on porkchops (page 160).

Kardea Brown’s cookbook, The Way Home, is a celebration of food from the Sea Islands of South Carolina that are rooted in Gullah Geechee traditions and the base for Kardea’s Southern cooking. Such staples are Sea Island collard greens (page 52), red wine-braised oxtails (page 217), and Gullah gumbo (page 179). Some of her Southern classics have just the right amount of “oomph” to up your game if you’re feeling like you’re in a meal prepping rut!

Your Pasta Sucks: A “Cookbook” by Matteo Lane is the cookbook for those who kind of want a gossip session when making their pasta dishes. Matteo incorporates his humor alongside his limited (he says that himself!) culinary knowledge while sharing some family and learned recipes. Like the family meat sauce (pages 37-38), pasta alla Norma (pages 124-126),and Kate and Matteo’s Christmas raviolo (pages 69-70).

Kayleigh D. is a Library Technical Processing Assistant at May Memorial Library.

Get ready for school—one book at a time! Reading just 20 minutes a day can make a lifetime of difference. Join the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten challenge and make reading a fun, imaginative, and rewarding part of your family’s daily routine.

Why 1,000 Books? One thousand books might sound like a lot—but you’ve got this! Whether your child is three months or three years old, there’s no better time to start. Every book you share builds your child’s language, social, and emotional skills, strengthens creativity, and prepares them for kindergarten success. The goal is to work reading aloud into your regular routine, and let the magic of stories do the rest. 

How to Participate:

• Register Online: Create a free account on Beanstack to easily log your child’s reading progress.
• Track Your Reading: Record every book you read together.
• Keep Reading! Reach 1,000 books before kindergarten and watch your child’s love of reading grow.

Celebrate Milestones: Enjoy reading while earning badges and prizes along the way!

• 100 books – Free Book
• 250 books – Library Swag (Spritzer Bottle)
• 500 Books – Puzzle
• 750 Books – Flashcards
• 1,000 Books – Mini LCD Tablet

Tips: Count any books that are read to your child, no matter who reads the books. Children learn through repetition – you can read the same book multiple times. Books read at storytime count, too. Learn about storytimes.

Ana A. is the Marketing Coordinator for Alamance County Public Libraries.