The Winter Reads online author series presents Julie Schumacher on Facebook Live at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb 7. Schumacher’s first novel, The Body Is Water, was an ALA Notable Book of the Year and a finalist for the PEN/Hemingway Award. Schumacher’s other books include the national bestseller Dear Committee Members, The Shakespeare Requirement, and The English Experience. This program will be streamed on our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/CarverCountyLibrary/live and available on our social media for a week after the program. This program was funded (in part or in whole) with money from Minnesota’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

The end of the year means one thing: best books of the year lists! Here are some best books according to the trade publication Library Journal. Note, as some of these are still on the bestsellers list so there might be a hold list. Many of these books can be found on the “Lucky Day” shelves with copies paid for by the Friends of the Library.

“ I Have Some Questions for You” by Rebecca Makkai. A successful film professor and podcaster, Bodie Kane is content to forget her past-the family tragedy that marred her adolescence, her four largely miserable years at a New Hampshire boarding school, and the 1995 murder of a classmate, Thalia Keith. Though the circumstances surrounding Thalia’s death and the conviction of the school’s athletic trainer, Omar Evans, are the subject of intense fascination online, Bodie prefers-needs-to let sleeping dogs lie. But when The Granby School invites her back to teach a two-week course, Bodie finds herself inexorably drawn to the case and its increasingly apparent flaws.

“ Only the Beautiful” by Susan Meissner. When she loses her parents in an accident, sixteen-year-old Rosanne is taken in by the owners of the vineyard where she has lived her whole life as the vinedresser’s daughter. She moves into Celine and Truman Calvert’s spacious house with a secret, however-Rosie sees colors when she hears sound. She promised her mother she’d never reveal her little-understood ability to anyone, but the weight of her isolation and grief proves too much for her. Driven by her loneliness, she not only breaks the vow to her mother, but in a desperate moment lets down her guard and ends up pregnant. Banished by the Calverts, Rosanne believes she is bound for a home for unwed mothers, and having lost her family, she treasures her pregnancy as the chance for a future one.

“ What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez” by Claire Jimenez. The Ramirez women of Staten Island orbit around absence. When thirteen year old middle child Ruthy disappeared after track practice without a trace, it left the family scarred and scrambling. One night, twelve years later, oldest sister Jessica spots a woman on her TV screen in Catfight, a raunchy reality show. She rushes to tell her younger sister, Nina: This woman’s hair is dyed red, and she calls herself Ruby, but the beauty mark under her left eye is instantly recognizable. Could it be Ruthy, after all this time? This is a vivid family portrait, in all its shattered reality, exploring the familial bonds between women and cycles of generational violence, colonialism, race, and silence, replete with snark, resentment, tenderness, and, of course, love.

All agesGames and Gatherings at Victoria: 3 – 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb 6. Get together to play a bunch of popular board games and card games. All ages are encouraged to come. Games provided. This project is made possible by the Charles J. Dahlke Grant Program.

Chaska Library Celebrates Turning 101 at Chaska: 3 – 5 p.m., Wednesday, Feb 7.Join us for a special birthday treat and presentation. Presentation will begin at 3:00 pm with treats to follow.

Thursday Night Games at Chaska: 3 – 7:00 p.m. Join us for game night! Games for all ages will be available to play. All games are first come first serve and must stay in the library.

Youth ProgramsTails for Reading at Chanhassen: 10.00 a.m. – noon. Saturday, February 3. Preschool and elementary school age children are welcome to read books aloud to specially trained therapy dogs to encourage confidence in reading. Presented by North Star Therapy Animals. Children read for a 15 minute session on a first come, first served basis. No registration required.

Let’s Clay: Tasty Treats with Parcel Arts at Chaska: 1 – 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3. Create your favorite treats out of colorful clay! Learn different sculpting techniques using oven-safe polymer clay. Add your treats to your favorite play scenes, trade and collect them with friends, or turn them into charms or a necklace with the provided materials! Registration required. Ages 10-18 only. This project was funded (in part or in whole) with money from Minnesota’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

101 Birthday Party at Chaska: all day. Monday, Feb. 5. Chaska Library is 101 years old! You might “spot” us in the children’s area with this fun scavenger hunt and children’s craft featuring dalmatians. Craft is recommended for ages 5-10.

Monday Funday online: Monday. Feb 5. Mondays are Fundays! We’ll read books, tell tales, sing songs, and more. Carver County Library Youth Services Librarians and special guests will lead the way! New content added monthly on the first Monday of the month. Visit our Facebook page, our YouTube channel at https://youtube.com/carvercountylibrary, or our Instagram page at for our latest programs.

Monday Funday presentations by MacPhail Music are funded in part with money from Minnesota’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Games and Gatherings at Victoria: 3 – 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb 6. Get together to play a bunch of popular board games and card games. All ages are encouraged to come. Games provided.

This project is made possible by the Charles J. Dahlke Grant Program.

Adult ProgramsYour Time for Body and Mind at Chanhassen: 6- 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb, 7. Nonprofit onelove.yoga will lead free weekly classes where you will learn foundational yoga, breathwork, meditation, and more. This mind to body connection helps to calm the nervous system. Expect an emphasis on simplicity, repetition, and ease of movement. Registration required.

Storytime InformationAt storytime, librarians engage in the five best practices of early literacy where we talk, read, sing, play, and write together. There are storytimes for babies, toddlers, and for all family members. No registration required. Storytimes normally last twenty to thirty minutes.

Storytimes at Chanhassen Sunday, 3:30 p.m., Family storytime.

Monday, 10:30 a.m., Toddler storytime

Tuesday, 10:30 a.m. and Wednesday, 10:30 a.m., Family storytime

Thursday, 10:30 a.m., Baby storytime

Storytimes at ChaskaTuesday, 10:30 a.m., and Wednesday, 10:30 a.m., Family storytime

Storytimes at VictoriaMonday, 10:30 a.m., Family storytime

Wednesday, 9:30 a.m., Baby storytime

Wednesday, 10:30 a.m., Family storytime

More information, visit us at www.carverlib.org or https://www.facebook.com/CarverCountyLibrary/,

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