'movies'

How many of you read The Happy Hollisters by Andrew E. Svenson under the pseudonym Jerry West? A series about a group of siblings that had fun adventures and solved mysteries. As a kid, I devoured them. So…did I read them to my kids and recommend them to my grandchildren?

Nope.

They were written at a different time, my youth. No one pointed out to the author or publisher that their biases were showing. There are all kinds of explanations I could share as to why that happened and how it was allowed. Important information and valuable to consider especially by a librarian, but isn't at the forefront of a lot of readers’ minds when choosing the next book.

Recommending a book is a gift. If a friend, sibling or teacher highly praises a book, it comes to mind when picking a title to read on the way to Grandmother’s house. Adults like it when Oprah or Reese Witherspoon put together a list, they start at the beginning and read from 1-10. If every 4th and 5th grader wants a Percy Jackson or Diary of a Wimpy Kid book because their friends are reading them, then only a limited number of kids will have their first choice. Others will have to find another title. How do they choose?

This is where personalized recommendations come into play. Library staff are super fantastic at suggesting similar titles. Please ask. We also have Staff Picks marked throughout the library if browsing is your approach. Find out what friends are reading and of course, ask Grandma (or Uncle, Cousin, Neighbor) what she read at your age. Be careful with the age reference unless you’re under 14. Remember you can be the one offering a suggestion. Yes, there are plenty of lists online professionally put together. All good places to start.

So do any of my childhood favorites show up in my children’s hands? I’ll be honest. Not many. There are all kinds of new books that I want to read and share, children’s, junior and adult varieties. Have you tried Elbow Grease by John Cena? This is about an electric car. Those didn’t even exist when I was little. The Fog Catcher’s Daughter by Marianne McShane. Monsters in the Briny by Lynn Becker. This one is for the grandchild that might like a little scare.

What about the rest of the family who need recommendations? 

• Dark Earth by Rebecca Stott is a good fantasy story with a strong sense of family. 
• Look! What Do You See? An art puzzle book by Bing Xu is a fun way to discover common American songs done in Chinese calligraphy. Great to share with curious elementary and older.
• I enjoyed Wolf Children. An anime DVD that reminded me of my sister and me. Please don’t tell. 
• An oldy but goody is Tracing Your Family History: The complete guide to locating your ancestors and finding out where you came from by Lise Hull. It explains the process so easily. 
• As we fill up on all of our favorite foods, my family will turn to how we’re going to eat better next year. I enjoyed Fix It with Food by Michael Symon. That recommendation will definitely sneak into the mix.

P.S. Swapping books during the holidays is great fun, too!

From books to film to tv shows, the annual San Diego Comic Con always has exciting news for fans of science fiction, fantasy, and comic books--and this year was no exception! So while you wait for the next Marvel blockbuster or want to dive deeper into the ever expanding world of Star Wars, the library has you covered.

Book-to-Screen adaptations were also announced! Here are the books on our shelves that will be coming to a screen near you:

Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur

by Amy M. Reeder & Brandon Montclare
Disney+ | TV-Y7 | Winter 2022

After 13-year-old super-genius Lunella accidentally brings ten-ton T-Rex (Devil Dinosaur) into present-day New York City via a time vortex, the BFF duo works together to protect the city's Lower East Side from danger. // Junior Graphic Novel, Superheroes, Action // Also in e-book

The Silmarillion

by J.R.R. Tolkien
Amazon | TV-14 | September 2, 2022

Amazon's "Ring of Power" series, set thousands of years before the events of J.R.R. Tolkien's 'The Hobbit' and 'The Lord of the Rings', will follow characters both familiar and new as they confront the long-feared re-emergence of evil to Middle-earth. // Epic Fantasy, Adventure

The Gray Man

by Mark Greaney
Netflix | PG-13 | Now streaming

When a shadowy CIA agent uncovers damning agency secrets, he’s hunted across the globe by a sociopathic rogue operative who's put a bounty on his head. Starring Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans, this film adapts the first book of Greaney's The Gray Man series. // Fiction, Thriller

The Sandman

by Neil Gaiman
Netflix | TV-MA | Now streaming

After years of imprisonment, Morpheus—the King of Dreams—embarks on a journey across worlds to find what was stolen from him and restore his power. // Graphic Novel, Fantasy, Supernatural, Horror

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

Theatrical | Not Yet Rated | March 2023 

Based on the popular role-playing game, this movie set in the campaign setting of the Forgotten Realms follows a charming thief and a band of unlikely adventurers embark on an epic quest to retrieve a lost relic. Want to explore the Forgotten Realms before the movie drops? Read Starlight Enclave by R.A. Salvatore. // Fantasy, Adventure

New to the game? Check out our D&D guides and manuals to get started.

Vampire Academy

by Richelle Mead
Peacock | TV-MA | September 15, 2022

In a world of privilege and glamour, two young women's friendship transcends their strikingly different classes as they prepare to complete their education and enter vampire society -- one as a powerful royal, the other a half-vampire guardian. // Fantasy, Drama

Interview with a Vampire

by Anne Rice
AMC | TV-MA | September 18, 2022

In the year 2022, the vampire Louis de Pointe du Lac lives in Dubai and seeks to tell the story of his life or afterlife to renowned journalist Daniel Molloy. Focusing more on the gothic romance aspects of the story than the horror, this adaptation of the book shifts the book's timeline from 1791 to the New Orleans Storyville red light district right at the turn of the 20th century. // Fantasy, Horror, Drama

Returning Shows:

A slew of returning shows based on books were also announced! Including:

• Good Omens by Neil Gaiman
  Also in e-audio
  A tale of the bungling of Armageddon featuring an angel, a demon, an 11-year-old Antichrist, and a doom-saying witch. // Supernatural, Fantasy
  (Amazon | TV-MA | Season 2: Winter 2022)
• Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan
  In a world where magic exists, but only some can access it, the evil Dark One pursues the reincarnation of The Dragon destined to stop him. // Epic Fantasy, Adventure
  (Amazon | TV-14 | Season 2: 2023; renewed for season 3)
• Locke & Key by Joe Hill & Gabriel Rodriguez
  Following their father's murder, three siblings move into a house filled with reality-bending keys. // Graphic Novel, Horror
  (Netflix | TV-14 | Season 3: Now streaming)
• Walking Dead by Joe Hill & Gabriel Rodriguez
  This popular zombie apocalypse series returns with a spin-off and a new mini-series in 2023. // Graphic Novel, Drama, Horror
  (AMC | TV-MA | 2023)
• Fire & Blood by George R. R. Martin
  Prequel to Game of Thrones, “House of the Dragon” focuses on the first to reign from House Targaren. // Epic Fantasy, Drama
  (HBO | TV-MA | Now streaming)

Combine the right story with animation and it can transport you to another world outside of the confines of reality. Animators and directors make a multitude of artistic choices--colors, lighting, character design, and even what type of animation to use--to how best to tell their story.

3D computer-generated imagery (CGI) is the go-to tool for today’s animated film market and it does have its place in storytelling. However, CGI it’s just one way to tell a story. Below are a few solid examples of the "original" 3D animation: stop-motion. 

Behind the scenes of Wallace & Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit

Stop-motion animation is photographed one frame at time, with physical objects (models, clay, and even legos!) that are moved between frames. When you play back the sequence of images rapidly, it creates the illusion of movement. I am continually amazed at the dedication and time it takes to create a finished story in stop-motion. From the tiniest quirk of an eyebrow to fast paced fight sequences, each element of motion is done by hand--frame by painstaking frame. In many cases, you can literally see the fingerprints of the artisans peppered throughout the work!

Behind the scenes of Kubo and the Two Strings

Interested in this art form? Stop by the library to check out these movies for yourself:

Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit

DVD | PG | 2006

One of my first introductions to stop-motion were Aardman Studio's original Wallace & Gromit shorts (which are also included on this disc). I instantly fell in love with their madcap antics, distinctly British humor, and the unique animation. Their first feature length film finds our bumbling hero and his competent sidekick on the chase of a mysterious Were-Rabbit causing havoc through out Tottington. A making-of behind the scenes rounds this feature out nicely.

If you are a fan of this style, checkout these other Aardman creations: Chicken Run (DVD | G | 2000), The Pirates! Band of Misfits (DVD | PG | 2012), and Early Man (DVD | PG | 2018).

The Nightmare Before Christmas

Blu-ray | PG | 2023

When Jack Skellington, Halloweentown's beloved pumpkin king, becomes bored with the same annual routine of frightening people in the "real world", he plots to bring Christmas under his control by kidnapping Santa Claus. Tim Burton's signature visuals and haunting catchy music make this a creepy cult classic perfect for Halloween or Christmas.

Love the Burton's creepy atmosphere? Also check out Frankenweenie (Blu-ray | PG | 2012) and James and the Giant Peach ( DVD | PG | 1996)

Coraline

DVD | PG | 2009

LAIKA's first feature length film about an adventurous girl who finds a parallel world behind a secret door in her new home. But little does she know that this idealized "perfect" world contains a dark and sinister secret. A true dark fantasy film, the stop-motion animation enhances is other-worldly feel and is a perfect fit for its chilling visuals.

Kubo and the Two Strings

DVD | PG | 2016

This captivating quest film is one of my favorites on this list. When 12-year-old Kubo accidentally summons a vengeful spirit from the past, he must battle gods and monsters--armed only with a magical instrument and the help of unexpected companions--to set things right. LAIKA’s stunning, beautiful animation features a foundation of hand-created stop-motion animation layered with just the right amount of CGI to give this film extra atmosphere and polish. Be sure to check out the special features to get an inside look at its incredible creation process. The scale of their rigs and models--both big and small--is astounding!

If LAIKA's captured your imagination as they have mine, check out their newest feature Missing Link (DVD | PG | 2019)