Your online book world – reviews, talk and recommendations

One of the best things about reading books is hearing what others are saying and learning about new books on the horizon.
To get started, you can access a wealth of information on our website https://chescolibraries.org/books-movies-music and online with your library card. Take a look:
- Library Reads – a monthly list highlighting library staff picks from across the country
- Novelist Plus – recommended reads in fiction and nonfiction
- NextReads – Sign up to receive free monthly or bimonthly NextReads emails loaded with great book suggestions.
- Staff Picks – book recommendations by our library staff
For reviews in the The New York Times sign in here with your library card to access a wealth of book-related sections:
- Best Sellers
- Book Reviews
- Book Review Podcasts
- By the Book – Writers on literature and the literary life
- Children’s Books
- Crime – Roundups of crime novels by Marilyn Stasio in The New York Times Book Review
- Globetrotting – Sneak preview of books coming out in 2020 from around the world
- Now Read This – A book club from PBS NewsHour and The New York Times
Read book reviews on The Philadelphia Inquirer online or access the daily Philadelphia Inquirer here.
And on Flipster – access The New Yorker and the New York Review of Books

For more ideas and to reserve your next read, hop over to our digital collection of eBooks and eAudiobooks here.
Happy reading everyone!
Learn More About Tonight’s Super Pink Moon
Tonight’s moon will be a Pink Moon. This article explains that “this full moon is a supermoon. The term “supermoon” was coined by the astrologer Richard Nolle in 1979 and refers to either a new or full Moon that occurs within 90% of perigee, its closest approach to Earth in a given orbit.” Read the “Watch the Skies” section of the article to find out how to get the best visual of tonight’s rare moon.
eBooks for National Poetry Month
April is National Poetry Month! We have poetry Adult eBooks and eAudiobooks for you to enjoy. We also have Young Adult novels in verse and Kids poetry and books in verse.
Teen and Kids’ Update: British Library’s Harry Potter exhibition now available online
The British Library’s Harry Potter: A History of Magic exhibition is now available online for you to visit any time. This is the perfect opportunity to enjoy the Harry Potter series in a new, interactive way. Learn about the history of magic and its influence on J.K. Rowling’s wizarding world. Offered through Google Arts & Culture, the online exhibition can be accessed here. Enjoy!
Master Gardeners answer your gardening questions!
Have questions about gardening? The Chester County Master Gardener Program is still here to help while physical offices are closed! They’re operating their Garden Hotline remotely and are available to answer your gardening questions via email.
Also, starting on April 17th, expert Master Gardeners and Extension Educators from across the state will be answering questions during a new live show, “Garden Hotline LIVE.” You can submit a question or learn more about how to tune in by visiting the Garden Hotline page and scrolling down to the “Garden Hotline LIVE” section.
Happy gardening!
Kids’ Update: Going on a Bear Hunt!
Families around the country are taking walks in their neighborhoods for a little outdoor time. They’re also going on a Bear Hunt! If you take a walk in your neighborhood, you can go on a Bear Hunt, too! Many families are putting teddy bears in their windows. See if You can find one!
We’re going on a bear hunt. We’re going to catch a big one.
What a beautiful day! We’re not scared. Uh-oh!
Grass! Long wavy grass.
We can’t go over it. We can’t go under it.
Oh no! We’ve got to go through it!
Swishy swashy! Swishy swashy! Swishy swashy!
We’re going on a bear hunt … and then you can go through: a RIVER, a deep cold river (Splash! Splosh!) and MUD, thick, oozy mud (Squelch squerch!) and a FOREST, a big dark forest (Stumble trip! Stumble trip!) and a SNOWSTORM, a swirling, whirling snowstorm (Hooo wooo!) and a CAVE, a narrow gloomy cave (Tiptoe tiptoe!)
WHAT’S THAT!
One shiny wet nose! Two big furry ears! Two big goggly eyes!
IT’S A BEAR!
Quick! Back through the cave!
Tiptoe! Tiptoe! Tiptoe! … and all the way back until we
Get to our front door. Open the door. Up the stairs.
Oh no! We forgot to shut the door.
Back down stairs. Back upstairs.
Into the bedroom – in to the bed
Under the covers
I’m not going on a bear hunt again.
Keep your eyes open! Have fun!
The Youth Services Staff at the Chester County Library and Hankin Branch are presenting Virtual Storytimes beginning April 27th. They will be for three different ages groups — 0 to 2 Year Olds, 3 & 4 Year Olds, and 5 & 6 Year Olds. Registration is required via the Events Calendar at https://chescolibraries.org/. Virtual Storytimes are not registered as multi-week sessions; you will need to register for each storytime individually.
Virtual Theme Park Rides
Missing or postponing your spring break plans? You can experience many theme park rides while staying home. Here are a few of them:
Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure at Universal Orlando Resort
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Escape from the TARDIS: A Digital Escape Room
Are you a ‘Whovian’ (Doctor Who fan)? Are you a lover of puzzles? Check out our digital escape room, Escape from the TARDIS!

Teen Update: Online Magazines with Flipster
If you have a library card and an internet connection then you can access digital copies of some amazing magazines through Flipster. Most recent and older issues are available. Here are just a few of the over 80 magazines that are right at your fingertips:
Sports Fans – ESPN Magazine, Black Belt (world’s leading magazine of marital arts), Backpacker, Golf Digest
Aspiring Cooks – Bon Appetit, Clean Eating, Eating Well, Food Network Magazine, Allrecipes
Automobile Enthusiasts – Motor Trend, Hot Rod, Car & Driver
And still more . . . Sky & Telescope, National Geographic, Newsweek Global and, of course, you can always catch up on the latest celebrity gossip with People Magazine!

