Taking road trips with the family is a time-honored summer tradition. What better way to engage the whole family while beating that “Are We There Yet” boredom than by listening to an audiobook together? June is Audiobook Appreciation Month, and whether you’re a new listener or an audiophile, we have an extensive, fun-filled audiobook collection to keep you entertained for miles. Read on to learn more about the joys of audiobooks, and to discover some of our favorite audiobooks from the library’s collection.

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage (AAPI) Month, and we are commemorating the occasion with a month full of programs and displays at the library. In our programs, you'll hear from Asian Americans in the Henrico community as they share their personal immigration experiences, learn about Japanese plants, gardening, and flower arranging, and discuss books and films with stories from Cambodia, India, and China. Read on to learn more about our upcoming programs and browse our list of recommended titles by AAPI authors and about AAPI Heritage!

Explore STEM concepts at the library! STEM, which stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, is a multidisciplinary and inquiry-based teaching approach that encourages hands-on learning to help students build critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills (Virginia Department of Education). Dive into the wonderful world of STEM with several regular programs for children, teens, and families at the library. Read on to find out more!

From Bebop to Big Band, Dixieland to Ragtime, Swing to Latin, Afro-Cuban to Cool: April is Jazz Appreciation Month! Head to the library with your little ones to learn more about jazz’s history, legends, and influence on music today. Discover the spirit of jazz by exploring books and music in the library’s collection or by attending one of our upcoming programs! Read on to learn more.

In this year’s All Henrico Reads title, The Many Daughters of Afong Moy by Jamie Ford, main character Dorothy Moy is a poet laureate who channels her pain and trauma into her art. Poetry remains a running theme throughout the novel, as Dorothy pays homage to other poets and their verses.

Feeling inspired, I gave myself a mission to read more poetry and to figure out why I liked it. Along the way I have discovered many amazing poets, poetry collections, and writers. The library is a great place to find new poets! April is National Poetry Month, and this month, we challenge you to do the same. Here’s how I did it.

Tap into your creative side! March is Youth Art and National Craft Month. In addition to events this March, the library offers art-centered programs all year-round to help foster creativity and self-expression in children and young adults. Whether it’s crafting, painting, or journaling, we offer something for everyone. No experience necessary! Read on to learn more about our upcoming programs and recommended resources.

And last but not least, we're sharing our favorite Adult picks! With unique titles that span across several different genres, it's our hope that this list offers a little something for everyone. Click through the links below to learn more about each title.

Our staff read a wide range of Teen titles this year including bone-chilling thrillers, adventure-filled fantasies, inspiring and educational nonfiction, heartwarming romances, historical fiction, coming of age tales, and so much more.

It's the end of the year, which means it's time to share our staff's favorite recently published titles. We're kicking this week off with our favorite Children's books, but stayed tuned as we share our Teen and Adult lists over the next few days! What are some of your favorite titles from this past year?