Accessibility Tools

Web Accessibility plugin by DJ-Extensions.com
Skip to main content

Author: marybethadams

Cover of Back to School by Wanda E. Brunstetter. Young girl in a blouse and long skirt swinging on a tree swing, in front of a hill and a white school building. Cover of Back to School by Wanda E. Brunstetter. Young girl in a blouse and long skirt swinging on a tree swing, in front of a hill and a white school building. Cover of Back to School by Wanda E. Brunstetter. Young girl in a blouse and long skirt swinging on a tree swing, in front of a hill and a white school building. Cover of Back to School by Wanda E. Brunstetter. Young girl in a blouse and long skirt swinging on a tree swing, in front of a hill and a white school building. Cover of Back to School by Wanda E. Brunstetter. Young girl in a blouse and long skirt swinging on a tree swing, in front of a hill and a white school building. Cover of Back to School by Wanda E. Brunstetter. Young girl in a blouse and long skirt swinging on a tree swing, in front of a hill and a white school building. Cover of Back to School by Wanda E. Brunstetter. Young girl in a blouse and long skirt swinging on a tree swing, in front of a hill and a white school building.

Back to School

Written by marybethadams on . Posted in Book Reviews.

Back to School

If you have kids heading back to school this month, you know it can be a time of anxiety and excitement. This collection of books will help your student get through those back-to-school jitters!

Cover of Back to School by Wanda E. Brunstetter. Young girl in a blouse and long skirt swinging on a tree swing, in front of a hill and a white school building.
Cover of Back to School, Backpack! by Simon Rich. The central figure is a green backpack, its zipper making a frowny face, holding on to closet doors and refusing to come out.
Cover of Back to School is Cool! by Jim Jenkins. Pinky Dinky Doo is on the right side, with a piece of chalk, and the words appear on the chalkboard. There also is a dog holding an index card with the author's name on it.
Cover of Louise The Big Cheese and the Back-to-School Smarty-Pants by Elise Primavera. Louise in standing in the center of the illustration, with a diploma over her head. Books with a globe on top are to her right, and books with a dog sitting on top are to her left.
Cover of Tiny Goes Back to School by Cari Meister. Large dog is surrounded by smaller dogs and a young child.
Cover of Llama Llama Back to School by Anna Dewdney. Llama's coat is halfway off/on, and he's wearing his backpack. His friend has his backpack on and is smiling.

Back to School by Wanda E. Brunstetter – Brunstetter is a popular Amish romance writer who also writes an adorable series of books for elementary school readers! In this book, Rachel is happy to be back in school, but not so happy that Orlie is there, making her life miserable. Kids will see themselves in Rachel as she tries to get along with a classmate that is just, well, ornery!
Back to School, Backpack! by Simon Rich – Going back to school is exciting, but it also can make you anxious. Backpack isn’t sure he’s ready for the crowded halls, scary bathrooms, and lonely cafeteria tables at school. Kids will identify with Backpack as he names some of the fears they have about school. This would be a great conversation-starter with your young child about their fears!
Back to School is Cool! by Jim Jenkins – This is an easy reader, so young readers will feel accomplished when they read this book to themselves. Pinky Dinky Doo’s little brother is nervous about school starting, so Pinky tells him about her worst hair day ever, which happened to be on picture day. Pinky’s reassuring words will help kids feel more comfortable about starting school.
Louise the Big Cheese and the Back-to-School Smarty-Pants by Elise Primavera – Louise wants to be the best this year, and make straight As. But she has the hardest, toughest teacher ever. Will that end her dreams to make the grade? This illustrated chapter book will delight students, whether they are overachievers like Louise or not!
Tiny Goes Back to School by Cari Meister – This Level 1 easy reader uses simple wording to tell a compelling story. Tiny the dog is having trouble obeying commands, like sit and come. Tiny’s family decides to send him back to school, but will Tiny ever learn? Kids who struggle with certain skills will identify with Tiny and be motivated to keep trying!
Llama Llama Back to School by Anna Dewdney – Llama Llama isn’t ready for summer to end – he’s loved backyard camping and picnics and time to play with his friends. He’s nervous about school starting again, but with the help of his momma and his friends, maybe it will be alright. This beloved character will make young kids feel understood if they’re nervous about school, too.

Mary Beth Adams is the Community Engagement Librarian for Alamance County Public Libraries. You can reach her at madams@alamancelibraries.org.

Cover of The Four Agreements. Four panels with plants in them, background is orange in each, with a green cross in between the four panels. Cover of The Four Agreements. Four panels with plants in them, background is orange in each, with a green cross in between the four panels. Cover of The Four Agreements. Four panels with plants in them, background is orange in each, with a green cross in between the four panels. Cover of The Four Agreements. Four panels with plants in them, background is orange in each, with a green cross in between the four panels. Cover of The Four Agreements. Four panels with plants in them, background is orange in each, with a green cross in between the four panels. Cover of The Four Agreements. Four panels with plants in them, background is orange in each, with a green cross in between the four panels. Cover of The Four Agreements. Four panels with plants in them, background is orange in each, with a green cross in between the four panels.

The Four Agreements

Written by marybethadams on . Posted in Book Reviews.

Cover of The Four Agreements. Four panels with plants in them, background is orange in each, with a green cross in between the four panels.

Ruiz, Miguel. The Four Agreements. San Rafael, Calif.: Amber-Allen Pub., 2012. [Carlsbad, Calif.] : Hay House ©1997.

Miguel Ángel Ruiz Macías, better known as don Miguel Ruiz, is a Mexican author. The most popular of his works “The Four Agreements, has been translated in 52 languages. A phenomenally written book, describing the source of self-limiting beliefs that humans make with themselves that causes their own needless suffering and robs us of joy. Based on ancient Toltec Wisdom, The Four Agreements offer new simple life goals that can radically and rapidly transform our lives. Short read, easy to follow along this book would be perfect for many ages and many stages. From the young adult just piecing the puzzles together to the grandparents reflecting on the legacy they are leaving behind. The Four Agreements is a must read for anyone committed to living life fully!!

These agreements can be found in various places (sometimes worded in different ways) from religious scriptures to universal laws.

  • Be Impeccable with Your Word: Move with integrity; Say only what you mean.
  • Don’t Take Things Personally: This agreement is a superpower. What others say & do is a projection of their own reality.
  • Don’t Make Assumptions: Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really what.
  • Always Do Your Best: Though your best will change at different times, simply do your best and you will avoid self-judgement self-abuse and regret

 My favorite thing is that the agreements will put the responsibility back on us (the individual) accountability is at the forefront and that I appreciate.

Nicole Givens is the Children’s Programming Coordinator for Alamance County Public Libraries. You can reach her at ngivens@alamancelibraries.org.

The Golden Spoon

Written by marybethadams on . Posted in Book Reviews.

“The Golden Spoon,” Maxwell, Jessa. New York : Atria Books, 2023.

Content Warning: Sexual assault, child abandonment, anxiety/panic attacks.

Cover of The Golden Spoon. Picture of a spoon - the top of it is a manor house.

If you love baking competitions and cozy mysteries with an edge, this is the book for you!

Every year for the last ten years, Betsy Martin has invited bakers to her estate for a baking competition. She envisions something less cutthroat than most cooking and baking shows on television for her show, but this year, the network has thrust a co-host, Archie, on her, who hosts one of those cutthroat shows. The six contestants are all home bakers, and the Golden Spoon competition ensures that one of them will go home with a contract for a cookbook and great national exposure. Betsy gets something, too – enough money to keep her estate afloat for the next year.

At first, everything goes well, but when it is time to taste the breads on Day 1, we find out that one contestant used salt instead of sugar (was it an accident, or did someone switch his canisters?). On Day 2, one contestant’s fruit filling for her pie is burnt because a burner was turned up all the way, and another contestant realizes his orange extract that he brought from home has been switched out for gasoline. Someone isn’t playing fair. Then on Day 3, someone finds a dead body, and everyone is a suspect.

Each chapter is narrated by a different person, from the contestants to the hosts, and this provides a fuller picture of what’s going on that you would have with just one narrator. The descriptions of the bakes will make your mouth water!

This mystery is fun to read, but also deals with some serious topics. There is mention of sexual assault, child abandonment, and panic attacks. However, the book also focuses on friendship and coming together when hardship hits, and the ending is just wonderful.

Mary Beth Adams is the Community Engagement Librarian for Alamance County Public Libraries. She can be reached at madams@alamancelibraries.org.