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 MTL NEWSLETTEROCTOBER 2026 |
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At Morrison-Talbott Library, we believe everyone deserves
access to great books, movies, and more—no matter their situation. If you or someone you know can’t make it to the library due to illness, a medical condition, or mobility challenges, our Homebound Delivery Service is here to help. |
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Magic Hour
by Kristin Hannah
Deep in the Pacific Northwest lies the Olympic National Forest- nearly one million acres of impenetrable darkness and impossible beauty. Even in this modern age, much of it remains undiscovered and uncharted. From the heart of this old forest, a six-year-old girl appears. Speechless and alone, she can give no clue as to her identity, no hint of her past. . . . Until recently, Dr. Julia Cates was one of the preeminent child psychiatrists in the country, but a scandal shattered her confidence, ruined her career, and made her a media target. When she gets a desperate call from her estranged sister, Ellie, a police chief in their small western Washington hometown, she jumps at the chance to escape. In Rain Valley, nothing much ever happens-until a girl emerges from the deep woods and walks into town. She is a victim unlike any Julia has ever seen: a child locked in a world of unimaginable fear and isolation. When word spreads of the wild child and the infamous doctor who is treating her, the media descend on Julia and once again her competence is challenged. State and federal authorities want to lock the girl away in an institution until an identification can be made. But to Julia, who has come to doubt her own ability, nothing is more important than saving the girl she now calls Alice. To heal this child, Julia will have to understand that she cannot work alone and must look to others-the people in the town she left long ago, the sister she barely knows, and Dr. Max Cerrasin, a handsome, private man with secrets of his own.Then a shocking revelation forces Julia to risk everything to discover the truth about Alice. The ordeal that follows will test the limits of Julia's faith, forgiveness, and love, as she struggles to ascertain where Alice ultimately belongs. In her most ambitious novel to date, Kristin Hannah delivers an incandescent story about the resilience of the human spirit, the triumph of hope, and the mysterious places in the heart where love lies waiting.
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Mexican Gothic
by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
The acclaimed author of Gods of Jade and Shadow returns with a darkly enchanting reimagining of Gothic fantasy, in which a spirited young woman discovers the haunting secrets of a beautiful old mansion in 1950s Mexico--
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The Morrison-Talbott Library is celebrating several young reader’s achievements! Colette S, Addie S, Lennon C, and Corbin H have completed the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program! Congratulations to these kiddos and their families for reaching this remarkable milestone and sharing the joy of books together.
The 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten initiative is a fun, free, and engaging way to help children build early literacy skills. Any child who has not yet entered kindergarten can participate, and families can read at their own pace. While 1,000 books may sound like a lot, it’s more manageable than it seems. Reading just one book a night will complete the program in under three years; three books a night will finish it in about a year.
Participants track their reading progress by filling in stars on a recording sheet, each sheet represents 100 books. When a sheet is completed, families return it to the library to receive a special sticker and a new sheet. After all ten sheets are finished, readers are awarded a backpack filled with books and school supplies, a certificate of completion, and a spot on the library’s 1,000 Books Wall of Fame. Their accomplishment is also featured in the newspaper, on the library’s Facebook page, and in the library newsletter.
Signing up is simple. Families can visit the library to enroll, receive their information folder and recording sheets, and begin their reading journey right away. Even after reaching 1,000 books, families are encouraged to keep reading as there is always more to discover, learn, and enjoy! |
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Let Books Be. Protect the Freedom to Read – Banned Books Week 2026What is the difference between a book that is challenged versus a book that has become banned? A challenged book is the subject of a formal complaint requesting the removal of materials from public access but the institution decides to keep it accessible. However, if the material in question is successfully removed from shelves or a school curriculum, then the book becomes banned. As the world evolves and society struggles to adapt with new ways of thinking, it’s becoming more common for a book to face restrictions. Classic books (such as The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain) that are typically part of a school curriculum are often targets for censorship due to depictions of racism or language that was considered appropriate at the time of the book’s original publication. Common reasons a book would have been challenged in the past would include “being too scary” ( James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl) or the inclusion of talking animals ( Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White). Other books such as Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein (“encouraged children to break dishes instead of washing them”) and Junie B. Jones by Barbara Park (“improper use of the Queen’s English”) were challenged due to the protagonist’s lack of good behavior. A school district in Laytonville, California in 1989 challenged and restricted access to Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax because they were “worried the story depicted the logging and forestry industry in a negative light”. In recent years, those challenges have progressed to include complaints of explicit scenes ( Sold by Patricia McCormick), foul language or deal with deep topics such as gender identity ( Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo) and suicide ( The Perks of Being a Wallflowerby Stephen Chbosky). For more information regarding a person’s right to read under the First Amendment and how to support the OIF, check out the American Library Association’s website: https://www.ala.org/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/top10  |
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Celebrate National Friends of the Library Week! October 18–24 is National Friends of the Library Week, and there are two great ways to join the fun! Find your next great read at the Friends Book Sale on Friday, October 23, 12–5 PM and Saturday, October 24, 9 AM–3 PM. Then, help us plan what comes next! Join the Friends at their next meeting on Monday, October 26 at 6:30 PM at the library. The Friends support Morrison-Talbott Library through advocacy, fundraising, volunteering, and community involvement. Want to learn more or get involved? Fill out our quick interest form below! |
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