Check Out These Podcasts for Kids!

It’s a gray, drizzly day, and I think most of us would love nothing more than to curl up with a good story. If you have little ones, then you definitely understand this feeling! To celebrate the (unofficial) end of summer, we’re sharing our favorite kid-friendly podcasts that will keep the family entertained (and save you from having to read Green Eggs and Ham for the thousandth time!). Enjoy, and happy listening!

Stories:

Bedtime FM Podcast: Do your children like listening to bedtime stories? Story Time has lots of great stories for everyone to listen to. Each story is usually less than 20 minutes long, hopefully just long enough to keep your toddler, preschoolers, and little ones engaged. Story Time is a free fortnightly audiobook podcast for children ages 2-12.

Barefoot Books Podcast: Discover a weekly selection of award-winning children's stories and songs from Barefoot Books. We are an independent publisher specializing in carefully crafted books, gifts and digital content for children that combine the best of the present with the best of the past to educate our children as the caretakers of tomorrow. These classic children’s stories, fairy tales, poems and songs tap into the wisdom of many cultures, while never forgetting that childhood is a time for fun.

International Tales:  A great collection of multi-lingual audio stories in German, English, Spanish, French and Farsi (Persian). We strive to entertain children, stimulate the imagination, improve language skills and promote virtues through the art of storytelling. 

Stories Podcast: The Stories Podcast was created to provide family-friendly content to families on the go, Always free, the podcast is a great way to entertain kids on the go and limit screen time while encouraging imaginations.

Learn something new:

But Why – A Podcast for Curious Kids: But Why is a show led by you, kids! You ask the questions and we find the answers. It's a big interesting world out there. On But Why, we tackle topics large and small, about nature, words, even the end of the world.

Tumble Science Podcast For Kids:
Tumble is a science podcast for kids, to be enjoyed by the entire family. We tell stories about science discoveries, with the help of scientists!  Join Lindsay and Marshall as they ask questions, share mysteries, and share what science is all about.

Brains On!:

Brains On! is a podcast featuring science and kids produced by MPR News and Southern California Public Radio. We ask questions and go wherever the answers take us. Sometimes that means talking to a food scientist or a snake handler, other times that means putting on a play about sound waves or writing songs about sleep. A different kid co-hosts each episode. We talk to them about the interesting stuff they’re doing and the things they think about. It’s a science lesson for your ears!

More Good Movies You Might Have Missed...

Attention Downton Abbey and Sherlock Fans!

For those of you anxiously awaiting the next installment, Downton Abbey, Season 6 will be released on DVD on January 26.  And for those of you who can't get enough of Benedict Cumberbatch in Sherlock, a special treat awaits you in January! While Season 4 of Sherlock has not yet finished production, the special Victorian episode, Sherlock:The Abominable Bride, will be released on DVD on January 12.  If you're going through withdrawal waiting for these highly anticipated shows, feast your eyes and ears on these excellent British period pieces in our collection:

        Indian Summers

Season 1

Set against the sweeping grandeur of the Himalayas and tea plantations of Northern India, this epic drama tells the rich and explosive story of the decline of the British Empire and the birth of modern India, from both sides of the experience.

Starring: Henry Lloyd-Hughes, Jemima West, Julie Walters, Nikesh Patel

      Arthur and George

World-famous author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in this three-part adaptation of Julian Barnes' acclaimed novel follows the separate but intersecting lives of two very different men: a half-Indian son of a vicar who is framed for a crime he may or may not have committed, and Doyle, who investigates the case.

Starring:: Martin Clunes, Arsher Ali, Charles Edwards, Hattie Morahan, Art Malik

           Home Fires

Season1

Bitter rivals fight for control of the Women's Institute in a rural English town as it struggles with the onset of World War II. Separated from husbands, fathers, sons and brothers for years at a time, some permanently, they find themselves under extraordinary pressures in a rapidly fragmenting world.

Starring: Samantha Bond, Francesca Annis, Claire Calbraith, Ed Stoppard, Claire Rushbrook

More Good Movies You Might Have Missed...

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Sorry for the long delay since my last movie post! There’s a lot going on as we wrap up the year at the Library. Rest assured that even when I can’t find the time to post, I’m ALWAYS adding new titles to the collection. If you have any time to relax and watch a movie during the holiday, here are some  interesting new titles you might enjoy:

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl

  

A uniquely funny and moving story about Greg, a high school senior who avoids deep human relationships as a way to safely navigate the social mine field that is teenage life. In fact, he describes his best friend Earl, with whom he makes short-film parodies of classic movies, as being 'more like a co-worker.' But when Greg's mom insists he spend time with Rachel, a girl in his class who has just been diagnosed with cancer, Greg discovers just how powerful and important true friendship can be.

Starring: Thomas Mann, Olivia Cooke, Molly Shannon, Nick Offerman, Connie Britton, Rj Cyler. 

Rated PG-13, 2015.  Drama.

True Story

After journalist Michael Finkel is fired from The New York Times for embellishing a story, he learns that accused murderer Christian Longo has been claiming to be him. Hoping this story will save his career, Finkel begins interviewing Longo in prison. But soon, the men find themselves in an eerie game of cat and mouse in this psychological drama.

Starring: James Franco, Jonah Hill, Felicity Jones, Maria Dizzia, Ethan Suplee, Robert John Burke, Gretchen Mol, Byron Jennings

Rated R, 2015.  Drama.

Mr. Holmes

In 1947, an aging Sherlock Holmes returns from a journey to Japan, where, in search of a rare plant with powerful restorative qualities, he has witnessed the devastation of nuclear warfare. Now, in his remote seaside farmhouse, Holmes faces the end of his days, with only the company of his housekeeper and her young son, Roger. Grappling with the diminishing powers of his mind, Holmes comes to rely upon the boy as he revisits the circumstances of the unsolved case that forced him into retirement.

Starring: Ian McKellen, Laura Linney, Milo Parker, Hiroyuki Sanada, Hattie Morahan, Patrick Kennedy, Roger Allam, Philip Davis, Michael Culkin

Rated PG, 2015.  Drama.

Let me know what you think! 

Jill

Falling Leaves, Biomes, and Ecosystems!

It's November! Time to put on sweaters, throw around footballs, give thanks... and prepare for the elementary schools' annual project on biomes and ecosystems.

Never fear! Your library has a great collection of books on biomes and ecosystems available in-house for you to read and check out! However, these books may become scarce as the season goes on and they begin to get checked out. To help, you can find several reference copies of books at the Children's Desk starting today. These books can be used in the library, scanned, or photocopied, but not checked out.

In addition, the instructors at Children's Services have compiled a list of helpful, free resources for South Brunswick students to use in the library and at home. Library Databases may require you to sign in with your library card number and your PIN (which can be accessed by visiting or calling Borrower Services).

Library Databases: 
Salem Press: Click on "Biomes and Ecosystems" in the lower left corner of the screen. Includes articles and diagrams on a number of specific biomes and ecosystems along with references and citations

Facts on File: A number of excellent, helpful articles and support materials including diagrams, videos, and glossaries.

The World Almanac: Scroll to the bottom of the page for "Biomes". Includes in-depth but easy-to-read articles on each biome and it's geography, geology, wildlife, and future.

TrueFlix: Includes the entire TrueBook for each ecosystem free to read, online. Related videos are linked along with the book for further comprehension.

Other Helpful Resources:
University of California Museum of Palentology: Long-form articles full of information about each biome and ecosystem.

MGB.net: The Missouri Botanical Garden website offers clear, concise information on each ecosystem including reference links to further online resources.

More Good Movies You Might Have Missed...

Hi Everyone,

It's too hot and sticky to be outside so  grab an iced tea and plop down on the couch with one of these new films recently added to the library's ever-growing collection:

Dear White People

Starring Tyler James Williams, Tessa Thompson, Teyonah Parris, Brandon P. Bell, Kyle Gallner, Dennis Haysbert

A sharp and funny comedy about a group of African-American students as they navigate campus life and racial boundaries at a predominately white college. A sly, provocative satire about being a black face in a white place.

2014, rated R. Comedy.

Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem

Directed by Ronit Elkabetz, Shlomi Elkabetz
Starring Ronit Elkabetz, Simon Abkarian, Roberto Pollack, Evelin Hagoel

An Israeli woman seeking to finalize a divorce (gett) from her estranged husband finds herself effectively put on trial by her country's religious marriage laws, in this powerhouse courtroom drama.

2014, not rated. In Hebrew, French and Arabic with English subtitles.

A Most Violent Year

Starring Oscar Isaac, Jessica Chastain, David Oyelowo, Alessandro Nivola, Albert Brooks

The tale of an immigrant and his family trying to live the American Dream and expand their business amidst rampant violence, urban decay, and corrupt city officials during one of the most dangerous years in the city's history.

2014, Rated R. Drama.

Enjoy!

Jill

More Good Movies You Might Have Missed...

Hi Everyone,

Did you know that the library gets in new movie titles almost every week? We get all  the latest blockbusters as well as indies, foreign movies and art house favorites.Check out these new noteworthy additions to the collection: 

Big Eyes

Directed by Tim Burton, starring Amy Adams, Christoph Waltz, Krysten Ritter, Jason Schwartzman.

Walter Keane became a worldwide celebrity and talk show fixture in the 1950s after he pioneered the mass production of prints of big-eyed kids, and used his marketing savvy to sell them cheaply. Unfortunately, he claimed to be the artist. That role was played by Margaret, his shy wife. The ruse broke up their marriage and led to a divorce and a dramatic courtroom battle to prove authorship of the paintings. 2014, rated PG-13. Drama.

Love is Strange

 

Directed by Ira Sachs, starring John Lithgow, Alfred Molina, Tatyana Zbirovskaya, Olya Zueva, Jason Stuart, Marisa Tomei, Charlie Tahan, Cheyenne Jackson.

Ben and George finally tie the knot in an idyllic wedding ceremony in lower Manhattan. But when George loses his job, the couple must sell their apartment and temporarily live apart until they can find an affordable new home. George moves in with two cops who live down stairs, Ben lands in Brooklyn with his nephew, his wife, and their teenage son. While struggling with the pain of separation, they are challenged by the tensions and capricious family dynamics of their new living arrangements. 2014, rated R. Drama.

 Rosewater

Directed by Jon Stewart (The Daily Show), starring Gael Garcia Bernal, Kim Bodnia, Dimitri Leonidas.

Journalist Maziar Bahari is detained by Iranian forces who relentlessly interrogate him under suspicion that he is a spy.  Maziar Bahari was imprisoned, interrogated, and beaten in Iran for 118 days in 2009 on charges that he was attempting to stage the overthrow of the Iranian government.  Adapted from Bahari's 2011 book "Then They Came for Me: A Family's Story of Love, Captivity and Survival" (co-written with Aimee Molloy, written into a screenplay by Jon Stewart.

Enjoy!

Jill Eisner 
Information Services

What To Watch Now That Downton Abbey Is Over...

by Jill Eisner 

Information Services

For all of you who currently going through Downton Abbey Withdrawal Syndrome, the library owns a lot of other interesting British period pieces that might catch your fancy. Here are some recent additions to the collection:

    Mr. Selfridge

Starring: Jeremy Piven, Frances O'Connor, Zoe Tapper, Tom Goodman-Hill, Amanda Abbington, Katherine Kelly, Poppy Lee Friar

Emmy Award-winning actor Jeremy Piven stars as American entrepreneur and colorful retail magnate Harry Gordon Selfridge. Pioneering and reckless, with an almost manic energy, Harry Selfridge created a theater of retail for early 1900s Londoners where any topic or trend that was new, exciting, entertaining-or sometimes just eccentric-was showcased. Based on the book Shopping, Seduction and Mr. Selfridge by author Lindy Woodhead. (Series)

 Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries

  

Starring: Essie Davis, Nathan Page, Hugo Johnstone-Burt

Miss Phryne Fisher, private detective, sashays through the back lanes and jazz clubs of late 1920s Melbourne, fighting injustice with her pearl-handled pistol and her dagger sharp wit. Phryne has a knack for being in the right place at the right time, and she's usually armed with the right weapon. Aided by her maid, Dorothy 'Dot' Williams, Phryne ventures from the city's mansions to its brothels, gaining admirers and enemies along the way. (Series)

   Parade’s End

Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Rebecca Hall, Rupert Everett, Adelaide Clemens, Miranda Richardson, Roger Allam

An epic story of love and betrayal, set during a formative period in British history, from the twilight years of the Edwardian era to the end of World War I. Based on the quartet of novels by Ford Madox Ford, this five-part miniseries was adapted for the screen by Tom Stoppard. (Series )

      The Paradise

   

Starring: Joanna Vanderham, Emun Elliott, Matthew McNulty

Set amidst the Victorian splendor of Britain's first department store, The Paradise is a rags-to-riches story of a young girl who falls in love with the intoxicating charms of the modern world. As Denise finds her feet as a lowly shop girl, she must navigate her way through power struggles, intrigues, and affairs. When the shop's dashing and reckless owner, John Moray, spots her talents, she knows she can use this opportunity to rise to great things. (Series)

If you like the selections listed above, check out some of these older titles:

Television Series

Bleak House

Daniel Deronda

Emma

The Forsyte Saga

Little Dorrit

Pride and Prejudice

To Serve Them All My Days

Upstairs Downstairs

Feature Films

Albert Nobbs

Atonement

Brideshead Revisited

Bright Star

Creation

Gosford Park

Impromptu

Jane Eyre

King’s Speech, The

Mansfield Park

The Mill on the Floss

Sense and Sensibility

The Young Victoria

Enjoy!

Jill

PARCC Resources at Your Library!

Looking for PARCC Resources? South Brunswick Public Library has books and study guides to help you get into tip top shape! 

If you’re looking for more, or if the books are checked out, don’t fret! We have several other resources for practice tests, activities, and sample questions! Our Learning Express database has resources specific to each grade level, just select “School Center” to get started! 

Need more? Check out our list below for even more resources to help you prep for the tests!

 

 

Practice Tests & Questions

• http://practice.parcc.testnav.com (Click the Test Preparations Tab to get started)
• http://lumoslearning.com/llwp/resources/common-core-parcc-practice-tests-and-sample-questions.html
• http://nextgen.apps.sparcc.org/home

 

Educational Games and Activities

• http://parccgames.com/

 

LANGUAGE ARTS:

• http://harcourtschool.com/menus/trophies/menu.html
• http://www.spellingcity.com/

 

MATH:

• http://www.mathchimp.com/
• http://www.ixl.com/

More Good Movies You Might Have Missed...

by Jill Eisner
Information Services

Hi Everyone,

Happy New Year!  Got a lot of great new movies coming in so keep your eyes peeled for the latest, hottest titles as you browse the shelves.  Start off the new year with some of these recent favorites:

 

The Sapphires

Starring Chris O'Dowd, Deborah Mailman, Jessica Mauboy, Shari Sebbens, Miranda Tapsell, Tory Kittles

Inspired by a true story, it's 1968, and four young, talented Australian Aboriginal girls learn about love, friendship, and war when their all-girl group the Sapphires entertains U.S. troops in Vietnam.  PG-13. 2012, Australia. Comedy/Drama. English.

The Trip to Italy

Starring Steve Coogan, Rob Brydon, Rosie Fellner, Claire Keelan

Once again two comedy buddies/rivals take a culinary road trip, retracing the steps of the Romantic poets' grand tour of Italy and indulging in some sparkling banter and impersonation-offs. The two enjoy mouthwatering meals in gorgeous settings from Liguria to Capri. Hilarious. Not Rated. 2014, UK. Comedy. English.

The Best Offer

Starring Geoffrey Rush, Jim Sturgess, Sylvia Hoeks, Donald Sutherland

When a mysterious heiress asks famed but unscrupulous art appraiser and auctioneer Virgil Oldman to evaluate her late parents' collection yet remains forever unseen behind closed doors, it ignites a spark of curiosity in the normally austere Virgil that soon grows into an all-out obsession. Before long everything in Virgil's carefully constructed life threatens to come apart as he delves ever further into the world of intrigue surrounding his enigmatic employer. Rated R. 2014, Italy. English.

Enjoy!

Jill

More Good Movies You Might Have Missed...

By Jill Eisner

Information Services

Happy Holidays Everyone!

When you're finally done with the frenzy of holiday shopping, gift-giving and family get-togethers why not relax with a cup of tea or hot cocoa and one of our popular new DVDs? The following titles are new additions to our collection that I think you might enjoy:

The Maze Runner

Starring Dylan O'Brien, Aml Ameen, Ki Hon Lee, Blake Cooper, Thomas Brodie Sangster, Will Poulter, Kaya Scodelario. 2014.

When Thomas wakes up trapped in a massive maze with a group of other boys, he has no memory of the outside world other than strange dreams about a mysterious organization known as W.C.K.D. Only by piecing together fragments of his past with clues he discovers in the maze can Thomas hope to uncover his true purpose and a way to escape. Based upon the best-selling novel by James Dashner.  Rated PG-13. Sci-Fi/Thriller.

    Begin Again

Starring Keira Knightley, Mark Ruffalo, Adam Levine, James Corden, Hailee Steinfeld, Catherine Keener. 2014.

British songwriter Gretta is adrift in Manhattan after getting dumped by her philandering rock star boyfriend. While playing at an open mic night at a local bar, she is discovered by struggling music producer Dan. Sensing her songwriting potential, Dan pushes Gretta to sign with him and record an ambitious outdoors album all across the city. Rated R. Comedy/Drama.

         What If

Starring Daniel Radcliffe, Zoe Kazan, Megan Parker, Adam Driver, Mackenzie Davis, Rafe Spall, Lucius Hoyos, Jemima Rooper, Meghan Heffern. 2014.

A medical school dropout named Wallace who has been repeatedly burned by bad relationships. So Wallace decides to put his love life on hold. It is then that he meets Chantry an animator who lives with her longtime boyfriend Ben. Wallace and Chantry form an instant connection, striking up a close friendship. Still, there is no denying the chemistry between them, leading the pair to wonder, what if the love of your life is actually your best friend?  PG-13. Comedy/Drama.

Enjoy!

Jill

Cannoli Gelato @MieleUSA Fundraiser

by DianeWhitman
Information Services

Hi Everyone,

We enjoyed fine music, wine and food the first week in December at the annual Music, Merlot, and Miele Fundraiser. The fabulous kitchen at Miele was the setting for my cooking demo of  elegant Rosemary Skewers of Monkfish, Ciabatta, and Pancetta drizzled with a Balsamic Reduction, and our to-die-for Cannoli Gelato -  recipe follows - please give it a try!

This easy and impressive dessert would be perfect to serve with holiday baked goods and chocolates, which seem to mysteriously accumulate at this time of year...

Pistachios, Chocolate,  Candied Orange Peel, and Sesame Brittle were accompaniments

CANNOLI GELATO 

1.5 quarts of French Vanilla ice cream 

     (ice cream used to come in half gallons - now they are 1.5 quarts! - I recommend Breyers.)

1 1 / 3 cups good ricotta cheese 

     (recommend Italian brand Galbani, available at ShopRite - it's exceptionally smooth not grainy.)

3 ounces coarsely chopped bittersweet chocolate

     (I used Guittard chocolate bars, a good brand of chocolate makes a big difference!)

1 /  4 cup candied orange peel, diced

     (in the baking or seasonal aisle of the supermarket - or you can make your own.)

1 / 4 cup coarsely chopped pistachios,  preferably unsalted

1 / 2 tsp. vanilla

1 / 4 tsp. cinnamon

1. Chop or scoop the ice cream into pieces and let soften in a large bowl about 5 minutes, just until soft enough to mix.  

2. Add the ricotta and mix well.  This "deflates" the air in the ice cream and makes it more like Italian gelato.  

3. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well again, smoothing the top.  Cover with plastic wrap (to prevent ice crystals from forming) placed directly on the surface of the ice cream.  

4. Freeze 30 minutes or until very cold but not frozen solid; the gelato should be served soft and creamy, not rock hard. 

Have fun and serve with accompaniments like cookies, candied orange peel, brittle, and/or chocolates!
  

Note:  If making in advance and frozen hard, thaw in refrigerator for 20 to 30 minutes, or turn out onto a cutting board, then cut the gelato into pieces and mix for a minute or two until you get a soft-serve consistency.

Adapted from Restaurant Favorites at Home by the Editors of Cook's Illustrated Magazine.

Wishing you great food, fun, and friendships this holiday season,

Diane

How to experience New York City and their incredible research library

Having just returned from a week-long visit to New York City for Thanksgiving, I thought I would share a few facts and tidbits I picked up along the way.  I am putting together a display for SBPL about South Brunswick artists George Segal and Leon Bibel, so one of the places we visited was the library!  They are currently in a state of upheaval and since we were finally able to navigate our way though, I thought I might let others know what we learned the hard way.

The main branch of the New York Public Library on Fifth Avenue between 42^nd Street and 44^th Street, called the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, (the big marble Beaux-Arts building with the lions Patience and Fortitude out front) is, in a quote from their website, “one of the world's preeminent public resources for the study of human thought, action, and experience -- from anthropology and archaeology, to religion, sports, world history, and literature.”  To explain the disarray that seems to be apparent, they also say, “The Library is restoring the Schwarzman Building to its original purpose of providing library services for ‘the free use of all the people’” which includes opening a new Children’s Center on the ground floor and offering more programs, indexes and online resources than ever before.  

The library is a perfect place for anyone to do research in their extensive collections but it is a closed stack library where you have to request the books you want from their catalog and they will be brought to where you are sitting to use while you are in the library.  However, for the last year, the magnificent Rose Main Reading Room and the adjacent Bill Blass Public Catalog room, where you would usually request your materials and sit to wait for the delivery, has been closed.  A part of the elaborate plaster ceiling fell and they are evaluating how they are going to make repairs.  (See their website at http://www.nypl.org/readingroomupdate for more information about the repairs).  In the meantime, they have places to sit in every other room in the library in order to accommodate all users. 

To access the General Research Division materials in person, while the reading room is closed, you have to complete a request slip and give it to the staff member seated at a small desk in Room 217 (or you can submit a request in advance on their website).   Before you can make the request, you need to have a NYPL card which you can apply for online or get from someone temporarily seated in the copy room on the second floor.  If you are not a resident of or employee in New York, you can apply for and receive a temporary card that can be used to reserve the books.  These cards are valid for up to 3 months.  Books in their other divisions, such as art and architecture, maps, photographs and rare books are accessed directly in the rooms where they are located.  A list of the divisions can be found at http://www.nypl.org/research-collections

For some fun facts about the library and its history, check out their description at http://www.nypl.org/about/locations/schwarzman/facts and for more about the building itself, see http://www.nypl.org/about/locations/schwarzman/facts.  

There is also a Library Shop (on the first floor) filled with fun books and gifts for the readers in your life. And during the Christmas shopping season, Bryant Park, situated behind the library, is set up with little “shops” featuring local crafts people selling a wide variety of handmade items. And surprisingly, since Bryant Park is actually located directly on top of the vast rooms that house the majority of the library’s books, they have put up an ice skating rink! I’m sure the library hopes they don’t spring a leak. And the tree in Bryant Park, that was lit up for the season on Tuesday, December 1st, is particularly beautiful!

So, if you are looking for place in New York City that you can visit for free, the library is a great destination.  And see if you can find their copy of the Gutenberg Bible, on display in a dark showcase in the third floor McGraw Rotunda.

More NYC “insider information” in this blog soon. 

More Good Movies You Might Have Missed...

By Jill Eisner
Information Services

Hi Everyone!

Winter weather's on the way just in time for Thanksgiving.  Be sure to stock up on some library DVDs in case you're snowed in! Here are a few of my picks for November:

Fat Kid Rules the World

A story for everybody who has ever needed to find their inner rock star. Set against the backdrop of the Seattle music scene it is a coming-of-age story about two dysfunctional teenagers searching for something more out of their completely hopeless existence. Troy Billings is fat. His life sucks. He's about to end it all by jumping in front of a bus, when Marcus Macrae, a charismatic punk rock superstar, tackles him to the ground and changes his life forever.

Directed by Matthew Lillard, starring Billy Campbell, Matt O'Leary

2013, rated R. 99 minutes. Comedy/Drama

Kill Your Darlings

A tale of friendship, love, and murder at Columbia University in the early1940s. This film recounts the pivotal year that changed Beat Generation poet Allen Ginsberg's life forever and provided the spark for him to start his creative revolution. Based on true events and characters.

Directed by John Krokidas, starring  Daniel Radcliffe, Dane Dehaan, Michael C. Hall, Jack Huston, Ben Foster, Elizabeth Olsen, Erin Darke.

2013, rated R. 103 minutes. Drama/Suspense/Thriller

Obvious Child

Donna Stern is a Brooklyn comedian who gets heartlessly dumped by her two-timing boyfriend. While trying to drown her troubles at the stand-up comedy club, she has a drunken one night stand with a cute young professional named Max (who's not even remotely her type) and ends up pregnant. Donna has to do what is expected of a 'responsible adult' just in time for the best/worst Valentine's Day of her life.

Directed by Gillian Robespierre, starring Jenny Slate, Jake Lacy, Gaby Hoffman, David Cross, Gabe Liedman.

2014, rated R.  84 minutes. Comedy

Happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy!

Jill

More Good Movies You Might Have Missed...

by Jill Eisner
Information Services

Hi Everyone,


If you like to get caught up in a thrilling drama, I highly recommend these selections from our Series section:

PRISONERS OF WAR - Seasons 1 and 2 (Hebrew title: Hatufim) Shout! Factory, 2010. Rated TV-MA For fans of Homeland: Prisoners of War is the Israeli version upon which Homeland is based. The story revolves around three Israeli soldiers captured for seventeen years and the lives they return to after being released. Season One begins with two soldiers and the remains of a third to the families they have been estranged from for so long. More realistic than Homeland, this gripping drama will have you on the edge of your seat throughout.   Starring Yoram Toledano, Yael Abecassis, Ishai Golan, Mili Avital, Assi Cohen, Adi Ezroni. In Hebrew with English subtitles.

	THE AMERICANS - Season 1 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, 2013. Not Rated Set during the Reagan-era, cold war 1980s, a pair of Soviet spies pose as an American married couple so they can spy on the U.S. government.  Keri Russell, Matthew Rhys, Holly Taylor, Keidrich Sellati, Noah Emmerich, Richard Thomas, Margo Martindale.

SHERLOCK - Seasons 1-3 British Broadcasting Corporation, 2009 - 2014. Not Rated A contemporary take on the classic Arthur Conan Doyle stories, Sherlock is a thrilling, funny, fast-paced adventure series set in present-day London. The iconic details from Conan Doyle's original books remain: they live at the same address, have the same names, and, somewhere out there, Moriarty is waiting for them. And so across three thrilling, scary, action-packed, and highly modern adventures, Sherlock and John navigate a maze of cryptic clues and lethal killers to get at the truth. Starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman.  Let me know what you think! Jill

Bite Club - New Foodie Book Club

Come to Bite Club TODAY, Tuesday, September 16!

The new #foodiebookclub at #sbpl14:

Bite Club is a new book club for people who love to talk about cooking and/or eating!  Each month we will discuss a new food theme and its corresponding cookbooks. Meetings will take place on the third Tuesday of each month from 7 to 8:30 in our Cafe (make two sharp rights after you enter the Library).

This is how it works:  Starting the 15th of the month, come to the Information Desk in the library to choose and take out ONE of the cookbooks we have set aside for you.  At home, peruse it, cook from it and and then come to the meeting on the following third Tuesday of the month to share your opinions and experiences.  (Return your book, and you can pick up the following month's selection at the Tuesday meeting.)

If you wish, bring in something you've made to the meeting; but please, don't feel obligated to bring something.  We just want you and your opinions to be there as a part of our "foodie" community!   We will provide a "bite" of something that we have made and you can weigh in with your instant review of what you're tasting. If you can, photograph your creations and we may post them on our blog.  If we have time, we may demonstrate a cooking technique or tip.

This book club is for you if you love talking about (thinking about, obsessing about?) good food.

September's theme:  Cooking Seasonally with the cookbooks of Alice Waters of Chez Panisse in California.

Waters' cookbooks give simple and delicious guidelines for preparing fresh local ingredients, perfect for the bounty of late August and early September.  

October's theme:  In Search of Flavor with the cookbooks of Ina Garten, the Barefoot Contessa

November's theme:  Classic American Cooking with cookbooks by America's Test Kitchen and Cook's Illustrated Magazine

December's theme:  Holiday Baking with various authors

Please join us as we get together with fellow foodies and talk about one of our favorite subjects!

Diane Whitman

Reference Librarian

#whitlibrarian