Books that Mom will Love

To all of the moms, aunts, godmothers, and mother figures out there, wishing you all the happiest Mother’s Day this weekend. In honor of the holiday, we’ve compiled a list of books highlighting the different aspects and perspectives of motherhood. Check them out!

A River of Stars
By Vanessa Hua

Holed up with other mothers-to-be in a secret maternity home in Los Angeles, Scarlett Chen is far from her native China, where she worked in a factory and fell in love with the married owner, Boss Yeung. Now she’s carrying his baby. To ensure that his child—his first son—has every advantage, Boss Yeung has shipped Scarlett off to give birth on American soil.

Read Book | Download


That Kind of Mother
By Rumaan Alam

Like many first-time mothers, Rebecca finds herself both deeply in love with her newborn son and deeply overwhelmed. Struggling, she reaches out to Priscilla to become her son’s nanny. When Priscilla dies unexpectedly in childbirth, Rebecca steps forward to adopt the baby. But she is unprepared for what it means to be a white mother with a black son. As she soon learns, navigating motherhood for her is a matter of learning how to raise two children whom she loves with equal ferocity, but whom the world is determined to treat differently.

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The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls
By Anissa Gray

Althea Butler, the eldest sister and substitute matriarch, is a force to be reckoned with and her younger sisters, Viola and Lillian, have alternately appreciated and chafed at her strong will.

They are as stunned as the rest of the small community when Althea and her husband are arrested. As Althea awaits her fate, Lillian and Viola must come together in the house they grew up in to care for their sister’s teenage daughters.

Read Book | Download | Listen

Make sure to add these books to your reading list!

Baby Teeth
By Zoje Stage
Read Book | Download | Listen
Becoming
By Michelle Obama
Read Book | Download | Listen
Class Mom
By Laurie Gelman
Download
Down Came the Rain
By Brooke Shields
Read Book | Download
How Not to Hate Your Husband After Kids
By Jancee Dunn
Read Book | Download
Mom & Me & Mom
By Maya Angelou
Read Book |Download | Listen
Room
By Emma Donoghue Download | Listen
The Mothers
By Brit Bennett
Read Book | Download | Listen

Get your Head in the Game!

Video Games are new to the Enoch Pratt Free Library. With options available for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One gaming systems, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Stop by your nearby branch to find out more information.

Whether you are new to gaming or advanced, check out our picks!

Jurassic World: Evolution
PlayStation 4 | Xbox One
Kingdom Hearts III
PlayStation 4 | Xbox One
Madden NFL 19
PlayStation 4 | Xbox One
NBA 2K Playgrounds 2
PlayStation 4 | Xbox One
Resident Evil 2
PlayStation 4 | Xbox One
Spyro: Reignited Trilogy
PlayStation 4 | Xbox One
The LEGO Movie 2
Switch | PlayStation 4 | Xbox One
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Switch
Street Fighter: 30th Anniversary Collection
PlayStation 4 |
Switch | Xbox One
Paw Patrol on a Roll
PlayStation 4 |
Switch | Xbox One
Nickelodeon Kart Racers
PlayStation 4 |
Switch | Xbox One
Just Dance 2019
PlayStation 4 | Switch | Wii | Xbox One

What’s Hitting the Shelves for Kids this May

We’re excited about new books joining the Children’s collection at the Pratt. Make sure you and the family stop by your nearby branch to check them out!

A Computer Called Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Helped Put America On The Moon
By Suzanne Slade

Award-winning author Suzanne Slade and debut artist Veronica Miller Jamison tell the story of a NASA “computer” Katherine Johnson—made famous by the film Hidden Figures.

Check it out here.

Caterpillar Summer
By Gillian McDunn

This beautifully written, emotional debut tells the story of a girl, her special needs brother, and the summer they will never forget.

Read it here.

The Strangers
By Margaret Peterson Haddix

Readers, don’t miss out on this thrilling adventure filled with mysteries and plot twists aplenty in this absorbing series about family and friendships. Perfect for fans of A Wrinkle in Time and The City of Ember!

Check it out here.

Also new this month:

The Little Guys
By Vera Brosgol

Check it out.
Don’t Let Them Disappear
By Chelsea Clinton

Check it out.
Puddle
By Richard Jackson

Check it out.

May the Fourth be with You!

Star Wars fans, our day is almost here! If you are looking for ways to celebrate May 4th, you won’t have to go to a galaxy far, far away. Just stop by one of our nearby branches for a Star Wars-themed event or activity.

The Edmonson Avenue Branch has a fun day planned with a scavenger hunt, DIY activities, and more scheduled throughout the day. The Patterson Park Branch is screening the latest Star Wars Movie, Solo: A Star Wars Story, at 1pm. Don’t forget to bring snacks and your light saber! Also, the Washington Village Branch is joining in on the fun; stop by to participate in spaced-themed crafts starting at 3:30pm.

If you‘re not caught up on the franchise, there’s no need to worry. Here’s a list of some of the Star Wars books and movies available at Enoch Pratt Free Library. Check them out!

Watch:

Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope
Check out the DVD
Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Check out the DVD
Star Wars: The Clone Wars, The Complete Season 1
Check it out here

Read:

Lando: Star Wars
By Charles Soule
Read here
Ahsoka: Star Wars
By E.K Johnson

Read here
Catalyst: A Rogue One Novel
By James Luceno
Read here

For Young Readers:

The Empire Strikes Back Read Along Storybook
Read here
Return of the Jedi Read Along Storybook
Read here


Fine & Poe Team Up! A Star Wars Read Along (Level 1)
Read here

Big changes coming to our Hampden Branch!

We’re excited to announce that the Pratt’s Hampden Branch is getting a makeover. Starting May 18, the Hampden Branch will be closed for major renovations. The 119-year old library is getting a modern day update that will also keep the historic charm of the building that we all love.

Those in the neighborhood can look forward to the addition of a meeting room in the basement. The new room will double the floor space of the branch! We’ll also be updating the restroom facilities. Notably, the Pratt will make the branch more accessible to those with disabilities by adding a ramp to the entrance of the branch. With all of these changes, we are expecting the project to take 2 years to complete.

New Ramps
New Meeting Room

Not to worry, you still will be able to access the library’s services. The Pratt Library will be partnering with the Hampden Family Center to provide:

• Weekly storytimes for children
• A book collection and pick-up location for holds
• Computer training & assistance
• Library programming

Find out more about the Hampden Family Center here.

Don’t forget, that you can always access the Pratt’s digital resources including Overdrive,Hoopla, and RBdigital whenever you want. Ebooks, Audiobooks, Music, Movies, Magazines, and more are just a click away.