Hi!  This is Rachel Malay, director at the Port Library in Beloit. In addition to the books, audiobooks, and video games the library owns, did you know we have a small selection that changes every 8 weeks?  Shelved in special sections, these rotating materials check out just like our other materials – except that if you see something you think you might like, check it out before it’s gone!  This is my last review of rotating collection materials available for checkout through October 7th. If you've heard an interesting rotating collection title during my reviews, come in soon before the current rotating books are rotated out!

Some of my listeners may be familiar with the classic children’s picture book Harold and the Purple Crayon, wherein Harold takes his purple crayon and draws his own world, and what he draws comes to life.  But what about a scenario where the drawing instrument itself is responsible for creating a world?  Then you get the story in The Pencil by Allan Ahlberg and illustrated by Bruce Ingman.  One day, a lonely pencil quivered, shivered, and started to draw.  First comes a little boy who immediately demands to be named.  The pencil names him Banjo.  After Banjo comes Bruce the dog, Mildred the cat, and whole landscape to play in.  But after playing a long time the boy, dog, and cat are hungry.  They can’t eat though, because whatever the pencil draws is in black and white!  So the pencil draws Kitty the paintbrush who brings everything to life in color.  Things are wild, crazy, and fun until an accident with Sebastian the ball forces the pencil to draw an eraser.  However, this eraser doesn't want to follow the rules and erases everything and nearly rubs out the pencil!  How will the pencil get out of this mess?  And what about Banjo the boy, Bruce the dog, Mildred the cat, Kitty the paintbrush, Sebastian the ball, and the rest of the world?  Come check this rotating book out soon, before the library’s rotating collection is changed out.

You can get the book reviewed here and more great titles in both our permanent and rotating collection to watch, read, listen to, or play with at the Port Library at 1718 N. Hersey in Beloit, on the North Campus. This is director Rachel Malay, saying “Thanks for checking us out!”

The Pencil by Allan Ahlberg, illustrated by Bruce Ingram
ISBN: 9780763660888, 48 pages, illustrated
Rotating, Children's Picture Book Fiction

Hi!  This is Rachel Malay, director at the Port Library in Beloit. In addition to the books, audiobooks, and video games the library owns, did you know we have a small selection that changes every 8 weeks?  Shelved in special sections, these rotating materials check out just like our other materials – except that if you see something you think you might like, check it out before it’s gone!  My reviews for the next 2 weeks will be of rotating collection materials available for checkout through October 7th. 

Cozy mysteries are like the “light” version of a classic murder mystery.  The focus is usually on the relationships in the book, rather than the murder or suspect.  The action usually takes place in a small town, or is confined to one neighborhood.  Murder on a Starry Night by Sally Goldenbaum is a great example of this.  It is the third in the Queen Bees Quilt series, but the beginning of the book includes an illustrated cast of characters and labeled map to bring the reader up to date.  The library’s copy is also in large print.

Set in the fictional Kansas college town of Crestwood, our story starts with the murder of a quiet, middle aged stargazer named Ollie Harrington.  Why anyone would want to kill a gentle soul like Ollie is unthinkable.  After his death, Ollie’s sister comes to turn the family mansion into a Bed & Breakfast, and the Queen Bee Quilters are tasked with making quilts for the new bedrooms.  This gives the leader of the quilters – Portia “Po” Paltrow, the perfect opportunity to investigate the death.  Although a murder is what moves the plot along, readers will no doubt be just as interested in the accounts of the daily lives of the other 7 ladies in the Queen Bee quilting group.  If you find you like this author be sure to ask about our interlibrary loan services.

You can get the book reviewed here and more great titles in both our permanent and rotating collection to watch, read, listen to, or play with at the Port Library at 1718 N. Hersey in Beloit, on the North Campus. This is director Rachel Malay, saying “Thanks for checking us out!”


Murder on a Starry Night by Sally Goldenbaum
ISBN: 9781933466071, 244 pages
Rotating Collection, Mystery

Hi!  This is Rachel Malay, director at the Port Library in Beloit. In addition to the books, audiobooks, and video games the library owns, did you know we have a small selection that changes every 8 weeks?  Shelved in special sections, these rotating materials check out just like our other materials – except that if you see something you think you might like, check it out before it’s gone!  My reviews for the next 3 weeks will be of rotating collection materials available for checkout through October 7th. 

By now all the area students are well into their fall semester back at school.  Our after school story time, Story Port, has an open registration all fall so if you’re still curious it’s not too late to check it out!  If your favorite early reader wants or needs more practice, the library has an entire section devoted to beginning readers, plus we always have a new selection with our rotating early reader section.

This week’s review is of a title for those just beginning to read.  Pup and Hound Hatch an Egg by Susan Hood tells a fun story in few words.  It’s spring on the farm, and Pup watches as new families spring up everywhere.  Pup wants to play with the new young ones, but each mama says no.  Baby lamb, kitten, filly, chick, and mouse are all too young to play.  So, Pup sadly walks down the lane to the edge of the woods where Hound comforts the lonely Pup. Just then Pup spies an egg!  Hound and Pup carefully roll the egg to Duck, and then to Hen but the egg is not theirs!  So, Pup and Hound cuddle the egg until with a crickety-crack the egg pops open!  It isn’t a duckling or a chick!  What is it?  Come to the library and check out the book to find out who and what Pup’s new friend is.

You can get the book reviewed here and more great titles in both our permanent and rotating collection to watch, read, listen to, or play with at the Port Library at 1718 N. Hersey in Beloit

Pup and Hound Hatch an Egg by Susan Hood
ISBN: 9781553379744, 32 pages with illustrations
Early Reader Rotating Collection

Hi!  This is Rachel Malay, director at the Port Library in Beloit. In addition to the books, audiobooks, and video games the library owns, did you know we have a small selection that changes every 8 weeks?  Shelved in special sections, these rotating materials check out just like our other materials – except that if you see something you think you might like, check it out before it’s gone!  My reviews for the next 4 weeks will be of rotating collection materials available for checkout through October 7th. 

If you’re too busy to sit and read a book, or on the road a lot, audiobooks are a good option.  The library’s collection isn’t infinite, so the librarians choose about a dozen books on CD every other month to supplement our selection.  Right now we have Rescue by Anita Shreve in an unabridged version for your listening pleasure.  Rescue tells the story of Peter, his ex-wife Shelia, and their daughter Rowan.  As a rookie paramedic, Peter pulled Shelia out of the wreckage of a car crash and the two fell in madly love, married, and had a daughter.  The story picks up eighteen years later.  Shelia is long gone, and Peter is having trouble pulling Rowan back on track to their ordered lives.  But then Shelia returns.  Is her presence a God-send, or will the unresolved problems from the divorce make things worse?  It’s always a good idea to select a compelling story to listen to in audiobook form – especially if you’re driving and need an antidote to boredom.  This title will keep you hooked to the action of the heart right through to the end.  At seven and a half hours, this title could definitely get you out to Denver, or even to Kansas City and back.  If a family drama is not your type of story, be sure to check out other rotating CD titles we have for science fiction, western, and inspirational stories.

You can get the audiobook reviewed here and more great titles in both our permanent and rotating collection to watch, read, listen to, or play with at the Port Library at 1718 N. Hersey in Beloit, on the North Campus. This is director Rachel Malay, saying “Thanks for checking us out!”


Rescue by Anita Shreve
ISBN:9781609413729, unabridged on 6 CDs, 7 1/2 hours
Adult Rotating Audiobooks

Hi!  This is Rachel Malay, director at the Port Library in Beloit.  In addition to the books, audiobooks, and video games the library owns, did you know we have a small selection that changes every 8 weeks?  Shelved in special sections, these rotating materials check out just like our other materials – except that if you see something you think you might like, check it out before it’s gone!  My reviews for the next 5 weeks will be of rotating collection materials available for checkout through October 7th.