Et Cetera

  Finding Winnie                      By Lindsay Mattick                              Children's Easy Picture Book                              True Story of Winnie the Pooh                              Photographs Included                              Reviewed by Connie Bennett                                        I know that some of you will see this as "cheating", since it a children's book, and only one book at that, but I sincerely hope you read and enjoy this book and then share the story!  It truly is "for all ages"!           I'm assuming that everyone is familiar with Winnie the Pooh, who has been a children’s favorite for decades.

Roll the Wagons                    William Heuman                                                 Large Type                                                 Western                                                 Reviewed by                                                 Connie Bennett          Readers of Westerns, I have a new offering for you, and as an added bonus, it's a large type edition!  After reading this review, I'm sure you'll want to grab up this one!          It all starts out on a sweltering hot day at 2:09 PM, on a trip with a freight-hauling company, Rocky Mountain Freighting.

 Lending a Paw                      By Laurie Cass                                                Large Print                                                Fiction                                                Mystery                                                Reviewed By                                                             Connie Bennett          This time around, I looked for something light-hearted and easy to read.

Christmas BellsBy Jennifer ChiaveriniHistorical Fiction/BiographyReviewed by Connie Bennett         Although this book claims to be a work of fiction, it has so many references to the very thoughts and attitudes of world-famous writer and poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, that I would personally consider it more of a biography.

HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS: We’re now accepting applications for our 2023 Alliant Energy Innovation Scholarships! Is there a problem in your community you think you could solve using STEM? Write a short essay about it and you may be one of 25 seniors we recognize to help reach your academic goals. Learn more and apply before Feb. 15 https://bit.ly/3UCNfuF To apply, CLICK HERE!To encourage innovation and creative problem solving, Alliant Energy offers a scholarship program for students pursuing a career in business, applied sciences, technology, engineering and math fields upon high school graduation.

 During the holiday season and as year-end approaches, many people are thinking about how they can give back to their community. Giving to a fund of the Benton County Community Foundation, an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, is an easy way to make a year-end gift that impacts the community and supports the causes you care about.

Echo                   By Pam Muñoz Ryan                                              Junior Fiction                                              History; Music                                              Large Type                                              Reviewed by                                              Connie Bennett     Oh, my goodness, where to begin?  To think that I couldn't connect with this book- that I stopped halfway through, and very nearly didn't finish at all!   After all of that, this has become one of my all-time favorite books!  To say that it was an easy read would be untrue, and yet, as I reread portions and came to the part as yet unread, in an attempt to finish this time, I couldn't put the book down.

Easy Picture Books                                             Winter/ Holidays                                             Reviewed by                                             Connie Bennett     What parent or grandparent hasn't heard the plaintive request to "read me a story"?  Especially at this time of year when outside is cold and icy, and Daddy proclaims that "it isn't good snow for making snowballs", children seem to innately crave a warm lap or chair, and a wintry book!  I've gathered three that caught my eye, that were heartily recommended by our Children's Librarian, Kellie Roberts.

I’m Glad My Mom DiedBy Jeannette McCurdyReviewed by Connie Bennett, Vinton Public Library ClerkBiographyThis book has been heavily hyped by the media, and oft-requested in the last few months at the library. In my opinion, it has no redeeming qualities.Jeannette McCurdy, in case you didn’t know, was a small-time child star on a couple of Nickelodeon programs (“iCarly” and “Sam and Kat”).

The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl                      By Stacy McAnultyJunior FictionCurrent EventsReviews by Connie Bennett & Isabel Silver     This book was highly recommended to me by a young friend, Isabel Silver, who told me it was "very, very good, and be sure to tell them that!"  Ever obedient, I have complied.