The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

From the publisher: "It has been fifty years-and millions of readers-since the world was first introduced to Milo and his adventures in the Lands Beyond with Tock, the Humbug, and the captive princesses Rhyme and Reason. Now we have a remarkable 50th anniversary edition to honor this universally adored and deeply influential novel.  This special edition  [includes] brief essays from esteemed authors, educators, and artists, including Philip Pullman, Suzanne Collins, Jeanne Birdsall, Mo Willems, and several others; photos of the author and illustrator at the time of writing and today on the two-color endpapers; [and] the 35th anniversary essay by Maurice Sendak." That's what the publisher has to say. Here's what I have to say: If you or your child haven't yet read this book, please please please do yourself a favor and do so right away! It's the kind of book that will stick with you for a lifetime. I read it [mumble mumble] years ago and it is still one of my all time favorites. -Randy

The Family Fang by Kevin Wilson

From Library Journal: 'Caleb and Camille Fang are performance artists who set up unsettling situations in public places. Their two children, Annie and Buster, have been trained from birth to participate in these events. As they mature the children realize that their lives are not exactly normal. Their attempts to break away from their parents are unsuccessful until their parents disappear. Is it a stunt or a tragic accident? Even Annie and Buster can't say for sure. Wilson, who won the 2009 Shirley Jackson Award for his story collection, Tunneling to the Center of the Earth, tells his madcap story with straight-faced aplomb, highlighting the tricky intersection of family life and artistic endeavor. All fiction readers will enjoy this comic/tragic look at domesticity."

The Ultimate Guide to Growing Your Own Food by Monte Burch

Growing your own food is a hot topic today because of the high cost of transporting food long distances, the heightened problem of diseases caused by commercially grown foods, and concerns of the overuse of chemicals in mass food production. Many people ”from White House executives to inner-city kids ”have recently discovered the benefits of homegrown vegetables and fruits. Community gardens, and even community canning centers, are increasingly popular and have turned roof-top gardening into a great and healthy food source. And on a smaller scale, some plants can even be grown in containers for the smallest backyard or patio. The possibilities for growing your own food are endless! The Ultimate Guide to Growing Your Own Food informs you how to grow all types of vegetables, fruits, and even grains on your own land or in any small space available to you and your family. Also included is information on specific health benefits, vitamins, and minerals for each food, as well as detailed instructions for fall and winter food growing. Learn how to grow for your family, harvest and store all types of home-grown produce, and find joy in eating foods planted with your own hands.

The Watch by Joydeep Roy-Bhattacharya

From Publishers Weekly: "When a vicious firefight erupts after the Taliban attack a mountainous, remote American military garrison, Combat Outpost Tarsandan in the Kandahar province of Afghanistan, the American forces suffer heavy losses, including their popular Lt. Nick Frobenius. Then Nizam, a legless Pashtun girl, scuttles up on the "bleak wasteland" battlefield with a request to bury her slain Pashtun brother according to the tenets of their faith. The straitlaced leader, Capt. Evan Connolly, rejects her claim that her brother wasn't a Taliban commander and orders the obstinate, proud girl to leave. Her refusal triggers a bizarre, poignant two-day standoff between the girl and the U.S. military, during which the Americans begin to doubt their purpose in Afghanistan. The officers and GIs, seeing the folly of their mission, lobby Connolly to give the body, which the U.S. military plans to use for anti-Taliban propaganda purposes, to Nizam for a proper interment. Seamless time shifts illuminate the well-drawn stories of many soldiers, the most thorough of which is assembled from the journals kept by Lieutenant Frobenius, a classics scholar. Every war spawns its major literary works, and Roy-Bhattacharya's powerful, modern take on the Afghanistan armed conflict resonates with the echoes of Joseph Heller, Tim O'Brien, and Robert Stone."

EarthFlight by John Downer

From Publishers Weekly: "Using a variety of techniques including hang-gliders, "bird-shaped model gliders," and bird-mounted cameras to capture footage of birds in flight, veteran BBC wildlife photographer Downer and his crew spent three-and-a-half years collecting footage for what would become the BBC series EarthFlight. Here, he shares truly stunning images from the program, accompanied by commentary. The photos-of cranes gracefully soaring over the Chateau de Chenonceau in France's Loire Valley, an African eagle beneath a rainbow, migrating geese, tens of thousands of flamingos nesting in South Africa and Kenya, pelicans gobbling up grunion in Mexico's Sea of Cortez, bats seething from Texan caves, gannets in search of food plunging into the Scottish seas, and the brilliantly colored Australian budgies -offer extraordinary glimpses of wildlife on every continent (but Antarctica) from a perspective rarely-if ever-seen before. Though the photos are spectacular, the final chapter might be the most remarkable aspect of the book, as Downer details how he and his team captured these amazing shots, as well as discussing the many obstacles they faced. A genuine treasure, Downer's work must be seen to be truly appreciated."

Save money on energy costs!

Courtesy of the Red Wing Sustainability Commission, the library now has 6 brand new Thermal Leak Detectors by Black & Decker. These devices allow you to check for leaks around windows, doorways, electrical outlets, and more. Finding and sealing these leaks could save you hundreds of dollars in energy costs every year!

The Red Wing Public Library also has Power Check Meters provided by Xcel Energy. The Power Check Meters allow you to plug in an appliance and determine what appliances in your home are using the most energy, how much each one’s operating costs are for you, and which appliances are outdated and in need of replacement. By helping you reduce your energy usage, the Power Check Meters will help you save money, conserve natural resources, and reduce the emissions in your local power plant!

Author Laura Childs to speak at the library

The Friends of the Red Wing Public Library are pleased to sponsor a talk by New York Times bestselling Minnesota writer Laura Childs, author of the Tea Shop, Scrapbook and Cackleberry Club mystery series. The talk, this Saturday at 10am in the Library's Foot Room, is free and open to the public. Please come join us!

The Return of Captin John Emmett by Elizabeth Speller

From Library Journal: "Laurence Bartram is a young widower grappling not only with the loss of his young wife and infant son but also with a return to normalcy after his service in World War I when he receives a letter from Mary Emmett, the sister of a boyhood friend, asking him to look into her brother's supposed suicide. He is as intrigued by Mary herself as he is by her letter, and his investigations uncover a series of crimes and help Laurence confront his own horrendous memories of the war. An absorbing mystery set in postwar London, Speller's literary debut is brimming with historical details of the period and doesn't shy away from war's atrocities. World War I history buffs will enjoy this mystery, as will fans of period pieces set in London. Readers who like Jacqueline Winspear's Maisie Dobbs series will enjoy this as well."

The Race for What's Left by Michael Klare

From Publishers Weekly: "In this meticulously researched account of the coming shortage of natural resources, journalist Klare describes the impact this scarcity will have on the future of the human race. In levelheaded prose, he tells how a rising need for fuel, industrial metals, minerals, and farmland will create a dearth with global environmental, political, and financial implications. Even now, tensions are simmering, with governments skirmishing and large corporations ruthlessly competing for control over dwindling reserves. Moving through the catalogue of precious materials, Klare summarizes the extreme explorations that have already begun, from the Arctic to the Sahara and the dark canyons at the bottom of the ocean. As accessible sources are depleted and more risky endeavors become the only way satisfy demand, devastating catastrophes like the explosion at BP's Deepwater Horizon rig will only multiply. But an aggressive race for what's left isn't a long-term strategy, Klare reminds us. What's needed is a "race to adapt"-an attempt to find a sustainable approach to extraction and consumption that will benefit us all."

Imagine: How Creativity Works by Jonah Lehrer

From Library Journal: "In his new book on creativity, Lehrer presents captivating case studies of innovative minds, companies, and cities while tying in the latest in scientific research. He recounts the sometimes surprising origins of hugely successful inventions, brands, and ideas (e.g., the Swiffer mop, Barbie doll, Pixar animation) and reveals unexpected commonalities in the creative experiences (e.g., the color blue, distractedness, living abroad). The book combines individual case studies with broader psychology to provide new insights into creativity. Many of Lehrer's insights are based on emerging scientific practices and are thus fresh and especially applicable to modern life. He emphasizes innovative companies and experimental approaches to education and includes historical factoids that reveal the backstories of everyday items."

Coming soon!

Get your request in now, because this book is sure to be popular! Robert Goolrick, author of A Reliable Wife, has just released his second book, Heading out to Wonderful. Publishers Weekly says "Goolrick’s tale of doomed love resonates like a folk ballad, with the language of the Blue Ridge Mountains and its people giving this novel its soul. Just after WWII, 39-year-old veteran Charlie Beale arrives in smalltown Brownsburg, Va., hoping for a brighter future. He offers his services to the local butcher, Will Haislett, and works his way into the good graces of Haislett’s family, especially five-year-old Sam. But even as Charlie finds acceptance, he remains apart in Brownsburg: he attends services in every church before finally finding redemption in an African-American Episcopal service; he buys up more land than he needs; and he makes a big mistake by falling for Sylvan Glass, the young wife of wealthy, old, vulgar Harrison Glass, who bought Sylvan at 17 “like a head of cattle.” Sylvan, an outsider like Charlie, dreams of Hollywood, while Charlie simply yearns for a place to call home. Goolrick tells their story from multiple perspectives, most poignantly that of Sam’s, a boy trying to make sense of the unfolding tragedy. Like any good ballad, the narrative builds slowly to its violent climax, packs an emotional punch, and then haunts readers with its quintessentially American refrain."

The Chalk Girl by Carol O'Connell

From Library Journal: "It has been five years since O'Connell gave us a new novel in her Mallory series, but the action picks up only a few weeks after we last saw Mallory melting down in Find Me. Once again, a child is in jeopardy, one who may be a witness to a series of grisly crimes in New York's Central Park. Coco is an unusual child, but she charms even the antisocial detective Mallory, though her partner, Riker, and friend Charles Butler doubt how deeply she can care for the little girl. But Mallory, who predates both Dexter Morgan and Lisbeth Salander as an unlikely crime-stopping sociopath, does care for Coco-in her own violently protective way. As Mallory and Riker unravel the mystery, older crimes are uncovered, along with the ways adults repeatedly fail the children around them. O'Connell offers more than a suspenseful tale; she portrays a complex world of dark and light, corruption and love, in a New York City that retains its grittiness. Another must-read in a compelling and rich crime series."

The Quality of Mercy by Barry Unsworth

In 1753, the Liberty Merchant, a slave ship bound for Jamaica, tossed 83 Africans overboard on the pretext of illness and insufficient water available for them. In reality, the ship owner hoped for an insurance settlement for his loss of "property." Years later, this event becomes the subject of a court case in which the owner's son, set on avenging his father's lost fortune and eventual suicide, runs the mutinous crew to ground in the Florida Everglades and returns them to England for trial. In this pursuit, he is conflicted by a growing attachment to Jane Ashton, whose brother Frederick, an ardent abolitionist, is on the other side of this case, and he is equally distracted by his pending acquisition of a coal mine in which he plans to introduce new methods of efficiency for increased productivity and profits. Recalling the Amistad and the song "Amazing Grace," Unsworth's finely crafted plot brings together a vivid cast of seamen, miners, and landowners at a moment in history when crimes of property were considered more serious than crimes against persons and a more enlightened future lay just around the corner.

Summer reading is here!

Camp out at the Red Wing Public Library’s summer reading program with the age appropriate activities below. Earn daily coupons to Colvill Aquatic Center by reading or being read to 20 minutes a day for 7 days. You can pick up forms beginning on June 11 and earn your first coupon on June 18! Stop by or call the library service desk at 651-385-3645 for more information.

The Gods of Gotham by Lyndsay Faye

From Publishers Weekly: "Set in 1845 New York City, Faye's knockout first in a new series improves on her impressive debut, Dust and Shadow, which pitted Sherlock Holmes against Jack the Ripper. As Irish immigrants pour into the city, fleeing the potato famine in their homeland, Timothy Wilde, a 27-year-old former bartender, adjusts to life as a policeman in New York's newly formed police force. As one of the first to wear the copper star, Wilde soon discovers more than one unwelcome surprise. In short order on his lower Manhattan beat, he runs across an infanticide and the body of a 12-year-old Irish boy whose spleen has been removed. The investigation the novice detective launches into the boy's murder brings him deep into the heart of human darkness. Vivid period details, fully formed characters, and a blockbuster of a twisty plot put Faye in a class with Caleb Carr. Readers will look forward to the sequel."

Locavesting by Amy Cortese

From Library Journal: "With the recent crash of the financial markets, many investors are looking for new places to put their money. At the same time, many small businesses are finding it ever more difficult to get credit. Cortese, a former BusinessWeek editor, covers this current confluence, providing examples of how investing in local small businesses can be beneficial to all parties. Her examples include a brewpub in Austin, TX, with a multitude of "owners," an organic dairy farm in upstate New York that found "angel" investors through a sign they posted at their farmers market stand (almost getting themselves in trouble with the Securities and Exchange Commission along the way), and a former Iraq War veteran struggling to get funding to open a day-care center. Various types of funding methods are discussed, including cooperatives, credit unions, local stock exchanges, community development funds, public venture capital, and raising money through social networking. Timely and easy to read, this is a nice introduction to something many of us have never considered."

Doc by Mary Doria Russell

From Library Journal: "The author of such acclaimed speculative fiction as The Sparrow moves into the historical fiction arena with this novel about the Wild West. The titular protagonist is Doc Holliday, a participant in the legendary gunfight at the OK Corral, but Russell does not focus on this infamous event that defined Holliday's life in the eyes of the public. The story starts with Holliday's birth and his relationship with his mother, whom he idolized. She later dies of consumption, the disease that will kill Holliday. Holliday trains to be a dental surgeon, but illness prevents him from practicing. He then moves west to Dodge City to prevent his illness from progressing. This is the fateful move that brings him together with Wyatt Earp and his sometimes female companion and prostitute Maria Katarina Harony. Full of well-developed characters and rich historical detail, Russell's excellent novel will appeal to readers who enjoy a lively and vivid work of historical fiction or to Western buffs curious about this notorious character."