A Vacay from our Staycay and ALWAYS, ALWAYS book shopping!, by Lisa Lawrence

My daughter, Emily and I took a couple of days away from our staycation last week and went to the Dallas Arboretum. If you haven’t been GO!  Go while the fall displays and the pumpkin village are up.  IT’S AMAZING. Anyway, of course, we had to visit the giftshop. Me being... me, I found the books right away and took pictures of ones I thought we could use in the library. Yes, I am that person! (I know I should buy them from the Arboretum! Sorry! They are cheaper elsewhere!) So, they came in today from “Elsewhere.”

Hydrangeas: Beautiful Varieties for Home and Garden by author Naomi Slade and photographer Georgianna Lane. Lane’s photos speak volumes alone but Slade’s information on the cultivation, design, use as houseplants and gifts of these beautiful garden gems is incredible.  Hydrangeas are one of my favorites and I will definitely be using this as a resource. It would make a beautiful coffee table book also.

Taming the Potted Beast: The Strange and Sensational History of the Not-So-Humble Houseplant by Molly Williams.  The title caught my attention first. I thumbed through the interesting history of ancient houseplants to find advise and tips on growing my own indoor plants.  I have a slight addiction (the husband calls it an obsession) with houseplants so I know this will be on my list to read and reference.

I’m also a sucker for children’s books. I have to really watch that I don’t fill the library with picture books.  I found three children’s picture books in the giftshop but again they came from “Elsewhere.”

The Bug on the Rug by Sophia Gholz and illustrated by Susan Batori is one of the cutest picture books I have seen in a long while.  The pug, bug, and slug all learn to share the rug.  This will definitely be on my list for Story Time!

F is for Feather: A Bird Alphabet (Science Alphabet) by Helen Wilbur and illustrated by Andy Atkins is a wonderful book for children, as well, as adults. The information on birds and the aspects of their lives from feeding to migration and beyond is a must for anyone interested in nature.

And last but certainly not least, A Parliament of Owls by author Devin Scillian and illustrator Sam Caldwell.  This beautifully written book cleverly dives into the plural of animals.  This is a fun, informative book that old and young will enjoy.    A shiver of sharks, a tower of giraffes, and a Parliament of Owls led to a discussion among library staff about the unusual plurals of other creatures.  Here is a link for other animal plurals you might not know.

https://arapahoelibraries.org/blogs/post/names-for-groups-of-animals/

I hope you enjoy these books from our vacay from our staycay, delivered from “Elsewhere”.