In today's podcast, Charlotte shares a fantastic read for kids ages 8 and up: The Luminous Life of Lucy Landry by Anna Rose Johnson.

Lucy, a spirited French-Ojibwe orphan, is sent to the stormy waters of Lake Superior to live with a mysterious family of lighthouse-keepers-and, she hopes, to find the legendary necklace her father spent his life seeking.

Find the title in the FVRL collection: https://fvrl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S21C1921211

In today’s podcast, Deanna tells us about Family Literacy Day 2025 and the contest we’re hosting at all 25 FVRL locations and online. Enter to win one of these two books celebrating this year’s theme: “Learn to Be Green, Together.” You can also borrow these titles from the FVRL collection.

Ride Beside Me by Lucy Knisley — A mother and son hop on their bike for a ride through the neighbourhood, joining friends and neighbours along the way. https://fvrl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S21C1926253

Mothering Earth: The Busy Family’s Guide to Saving the Planet by Julia Rockwell — Learn how sustainable living can simplify life, help us make healthier choices, and save the planet. https://fvrl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S21C1930012

Enter our contest online or at any FVRL location from January 6 to 31: https://m.cmpgn.page/cV3n6F

In this episode of Read Radio, listeners learn about Cue the Sun, an exploration of Reality TV.

From beloved New Yorker TV critic Emily Nussbaum comes a groundbreaking narrative detailing the fights, egos, drama and future presidents of reality television. Cue the Sun is a rollicking, deeply reported story about how the early reality TV business metastasized into an industry that now dominates entertainment in the United States. Starting in 1948, Nussbaum pulls back the curtain on the cultural meat grinder that created a generation-defining form of entertainment, examining shows from The Real World to Survivor to The Apprentice.

Find this title in the FVRL collection: https://fvrl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S21C1932317

In this episode, Brenna tells listeners about the middle school graphic novel Brave by Svetlana Chmakova.

In his daydreams, Jensen is the biggest hero that ever was, saving the world and his friends on a daily basis. But his middle school reality is VERY different — math is hard, getting along with friends is hard ... Even finding a partner for the class project is a big problem when you always get picked last. And the pressure's on even more once the school newspaper's dynamic duo, Jenny and Akilah, draw Jensen into the whirlwind of school news, social experiment projects, and behind-the-scenes club drama. Jensen's always played the middle school game one level at a time, but suddenly, someone's cranked up the difficulty setting. Will those daring daydreams of his finally work in his favour, or will he have to find real solutions to his real-life problems?

Find this title in the FVRL collection: https://fvrl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S21C1742606

In this episode of Read Radio, Margarita tells listeners about the gothic romance Gothikana by RuNyx.

An outcast her entire life, Corvina Clemm is left adrift after losing her mother. When she receives the admission letter from the mysterious University of Verenmore, she accepts it as a sign from the universe. The last thing she expects, though, is an old, secluded castle on top of a mountain riddled with secrets, deceit and death.

Find this title in the FVRL collection: https://fvrl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S21C1915498

Did you know you don’t have to wait until you’re a grownup to start cooking? In today’s podcast, Mieke shares five cookbooks for kids. They are full of easy recipes and come with great pictures!

Learn to Cook: 35 Fun and Easy Recipes for Children Aged 7 Years +

https://fvrl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S21C1880882

America’s Test Kitchen: The Complete Cookbook for Young Chefs

https://fvrl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S21C1775352

America’s Test Kitchen: The Complete Baking Book for Young Chefs

https://fvrl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S21C1802805

America’s Test Kitchen: The Complete DIY Cookbook for Young Chefs

https://fvrl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S21C1828791

America’s Test Kitchen: Cooking With My Dad, the Chef — by Verveine Oringer

https://fvrl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S21C1876923

Jessica reviews Rose Sutherland's historical novel, A Sweet Sting of Salt.

Once a young woman uncovers a dark secret about her neighbour and his mysterious new wife, she’ll have to fight to keep herself — and the woman she loves — safe in this stunning queer reimagining of the classic folktale The Selkie Wife.

Find this title in the FVRL collection: https://fvrl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S21C1926057

In this episode of Kids Read Radio, Sally tells listeners about a first chapter book mystery series by Dori Hillestad Butler: King and Kayla.

In King & Kayla and the Case of the Missing Dog Treats: Kayla makes special dog cookie treats for her friend’s new puppy, but they went missing and her dog King is the key suspect. But the facts just aren’t adding up! King and Kayla have to work as a team to gather facts, make lists and evaluate evidence to solve the mystery.

Find this title in the FVRL collection: https://fvrl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S21C1757175

November 2 to 8 is Climate Action Week. This week, public libraries are raising awareness of climate change-related challenges and emergencies facing our communities.

In today’s podcast, Chris and Jessica share some book suggestions that will help you become a climate action hero. These include:

• Cranky Uncle Vs. Climate Change: How to Understand and Respond to Climate Science Deniers by John Cook

• #EatMeatLess: Good for Animals, the Earth and All by Robin Asbell

•The Climate Change-Resilient Vegetable Garden: How to Grow Food in a Changing Climate by Kim Stoddart

• Intervention Earth: Life-Saving Ideas from the World’s Climate Engineers by Gwynne Dyer

Find these and other great resources in our Climate Action Week reading list: https://fvrl.me/caw2024

In this episode of Kids' ReadRadio, Jessica makes the BIG announcement you’ve all been waiting for: the 2024–2025 Reading Link Challenge book list! She introduces listeners to the main characters of each book and the stories you’re about to fall in love with. Ready, set, read!

The books are:

1. Accidental Trouble Magnet by Zanib Mian

2. The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau

3. Dogtown by Katherine Applegate and Gennifer Choldenko

4. Mortimer: Rat Race to Space by Joan Marie Galat

5. The Silver Arrow by Lev Grossman

6. A Rover’s Story by Jasmine Warga

The Reading Link Challenge competition is a partnership between local schools and public libraries that promotes a lifelong love of reading for children in Grades 4 and 5. In this award-winning program, students work in teams to read books and answer questions in a quiz-show format, earning points and advancing through four levels of friendly competition.

https://readinglinkchallenge.ca/index.html