July is National Wildlife Month, so it’s the perfect time to read about some of my favorite characters—animals. I have a lifelong love for pretty much any kind of creature. Well, not snakes. I recognize their right to exist, but I’d prefer our paths not cross. Polar bears are amazing at the zoo, but they aren’t something I’d want to encounter in the wild either. I’m fascinated by giraffes, who just seem too good to be true. So, I’m looking forward to this month’s booklist and learning more about some animals big and small, and a bit more about how members of species form bonds with each other—even snakes, who can befriend each other all they want—away from me.
When you take a break from reading, we’d like to hear from you! As we celebrate 75 years of library service, FVRLibraries is planning for the future with a 5-year Strategic Plan and a 10-year Facilities Master Plan. These will guide how we grow, evolve, and serve our communities. From programs to spaces, we’re focused on meeting the changing needs of everyone we serve. We are asking our community to share your ideas, experiences, and hopes for the future of your library district. Your feedback will directly inform our path forward. Take our survey and/or join a community conversation. Learn more on our Strategic Priorities page. Or, sign up and pick up a paper survey at the library.
- Grizzly confidential : an astounding journey into the secret life of North America's most fearsome predator by Kevin Grange. This is a fast-paced, gripping story that educates, entertains, and gives a sneak peek into the secret life of a well-known species.
- Wild life : finding my purpose in an untamed world by Rae Wynn-Grant. An incredible journey spanning the Great Plains of North America to the rainforests of Madagascar, shedding light on our relationship and responsibility to the natural world.
- Of time and turtles : mending the world, shell by shattered shell by Sy Montgomery. This compassionate portrait of injured turtles and their determined rescuers invites us all to slow down and slip into turtle time.
- Meet the neighbors : animal minds and life in a more-than-human world by Brandon Keim. Honeybees deliberate democratically. Rats reflect on the past. Snakes have friends. Discover community and kinship in the animal world.
- Crossings : how road ecology is shaping the future of our planet by Ben Goldfarb. Wildlife is killed by cars on roads and highways every day in high numbers. However, highway engineers and conservationists are building bridges for mountain lions and tunnels for toads in an effort to save lives and open migration paths.
- Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton. Dalton bottle-feeds a baby hare that’s been displaced by a dog, and forms an ongoing relationship with it, reminding us that life’s most beautiful experiences happen when we least expect them.
Library tip of the month: Love getting bargains and supporting a good cause? Friends of the library groups have used book sales that benefit programs at the library. Find them under events in the menu above.
