We are excited to announce a new program series, Neighbors, that aims to build connections and facilitate cultural exchange in our growing and diverse community. Neighbors events are inter-generational programs created by library staff in cooperation with people from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds who live in the Henrico area. We would love for you to join us and connect with your neighbors through engaging programs for all ages at our libraries and online.

So many of the fairy tales that we read are based on folk tales from around the world. Folk tales are a great way to connect with others across time and different cultures. They are fun stories that highlight many beautiful aspects of being human in ways that everyone can find relatable. Providing children with books that highlight a diverse group of characters is important as it promotes empathy and inclusion.

Summer Reading finished on August 15, and while we are sad it is over, we hope you enjoyed the challenge as much as we did! It was great to see your reviews, connect with you on social media, and read lots of amazing books.

A novel in verse can be free-form, a specific style of poetry, or have poetic structures and devices embedded within. Because of the format, novels in verse can often feel more approachable than traditional prose, using emotion and form to further appeal to the reader. Novels in verse can encompass any genre, and often present a different style of creative expression than is typically found in books. You just might feel inspired to create your own verse too. Happy reading!

Escape the late summer doldrums by reading some great books in translation. Reading books originally written in other languages can provide insight to experiences that were previously unavailable to English speaking readers. Explore the wide world of literature with these excellent translated works.

August is Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month. The American Academy of Ophthalmology reminds everyone to schedule a routine eye exam to have your children fitted with the correct prescription or protection, depending on their needs. Although starting to wear glasses is disconcerting to some children, remember that many of our favorite book characters wear glasses!

There are less than two weeks left for our Summer Reading program, the One Henrico Reading Challenge. If you haven’t already signed up, it isn’t too late! Simply visit henricolibrary.org/summerreading and get started on a bunch of reading fun. If you’ve already completed your reading challenge, prize books are currently available in limited quantities at our Fairfield, Libbie Mill, Tuckahoe, Twin Hickory, and Varina libraries.

Movies and soundtracks are like two peas in a pod, but we’d argue that books and music make a great pair too! What better way to amplify the environment, characters and mood of a story than listening to music while reading? Below you’ll find our picks for YA book and music pairings.

As a genre, fantasy has a little something for everyone… urban fantasy for a grittier experience, high fantasy for purists, portal fantasy for the adventurous, and more. In times of stress, fantasy can capture your attention, allowing you to escape into the story. From sentient cities to time traveling romance to magically enhanced Kung Fu, the titles below are a diverse offering of delights for adult readers.