Featured Columns Archives

Between the Bookends, Image by Ylanite Koppens from Pixabay

Between the Bookends: 4 Books We Read in July 2022

August 1, 2022July 31, 2022Sophie Brown

In this month’s Between the Bookends, Sophie reviews 4 books including a YA dystopian thriller and a memoir from one of her favorite singers.

Be the Artist: Charles Schulz and His Charlie Brown

July 31, 2022July 30, 2022Lisa Tate

Charles Schulz used his alter ego, Charlie Brown, to turn the ups and downs of childhood into a comic strip loved around the world.

The Saga Continues: ‘Shadow of the Sith’ by Adam Christopher

July 29, 2022July 28, 2022Sophie Brown

In ‘Shadow of the Sith’ by Adam Christopher, we follow Luke Skywalker and his old friend Lando Calrissian as they take on a new mission.

Be the Artist: The Infinite Dots of Yayoi Kusama

July 17, 2022July 16, 2022Lisa Tate

Yayoi Kusama took on the art world one dot at a time. Try this family-friendly way of celebrating her famous Infinity Rooms.

Be the Artist: Who Was Ub Iwerks?

July 2, 2022July 2, 2022Lisa Tate

Ub Iwerks was not as famous as Walt Disney, but he helped create the most iconic character in animation. Let’s create a “mouse” of our own.

Between the Bookends: 5 Books We Read in June 2022

July 1, 2022June 30, 2022Sophie Brown

This month’s Between the Bookends includes contemporary middle grade, fantasy YA, and a look at the history of women in video games.

Be the Artist: The Macabre Magic of Tim Burton

June 19, 2022June 18, 2022Lisa Tate

Tim Burton has created darkly unique worlds for 40 years. This family project will build worlds and characters on simple paper napkins.

Be the Artist: The Giant “Small World” of Mary Blair

June 5, 2022June 4, 2022Lisa Tate

Mary Blair was a driving force behind the famous Disney attraction “It’s A Small World.” Here’s a project to add her look to your own world.

Between the Bookends: 4 Books We Read in May 2022

June 1, 2022May 31, 2022Sophie Brown

All four books featured in this month’s Between the Bookends include some level of queer representation to help kick off Pride Month.

The Saga Continues: ‘Brotherhood’ by Mike Chen

May 10, 2022May 9, 2022Sophie Brown

‘Brotherhood’ by Mike Chen is published today; it is set shortly after ‘Attack of the Clones’, during the very early stages of the Clone Wars.

Between the Bookends: 5 Books We Read in April 2022

May 1, 2022April 29, 2022Sophie Brown

This April, Sophie and Scott picked up a varied selection of books and hope you find something to enjoy from this month’s reviews.

The Saga Continues: ‘Thrawn Ascendancy: Lesser Evil’ by Timothy Zahn

March 4, 2022March 3, 2022Sophie Brown

‘Thrawn Ascendancy: Lesser Evil’ completes Timothy Zahn’s latest trilogy but failed to inspire me and ended up feeling like a slog to the end.

Between the Bookends: 4 Books We Read in February 2022

March 1, 2022March 2, 2022Sophie Brown

In this month’s Between the Bookends column, Sophie and Scott share four books they read during February 2022.

The Saga Continues: ‘The High Republic: The Fallen Star’ by Claudia Grey

February 8, 2022February 7, 2022Sophie Brown

‘The Fallen Star’ by Claudia Grey is the next installment in The High Republic saga and follows on from the events of ‘The Rising Storm.’

Between the Bookends: 7 Books We Read in November 2021

December 1, 2021December 1, 2021Sophie Brown

It’s the final Between the Bookends of 2021 and Sophie shares seven books that helped her transition from Spooky Season to the holidays.

Between the Bookends: 7 Books We Read in October 2021

November 1, 2021November 1, 2021Sophie Brown

As Spooky Season wanes and the Holidays kick off in earnest Sophie, Nivi, Lisa, and Scott have been reading a wide variety of books.

Be the Artist: the Mind’s Eye of Automatism and Allover Painting

September 13, 2021September 12, 2021Lisa Tate

Let your mind open up to create some surreal and imaginative creations with Allover painting and Automic Drawing

Between the Bookends: 8 Books We Read in August 2021

September 1, 2021August 31, 2021Sophie Brown

As summer draws to an end, Sophie, Scott, and Amy are excited to share eight of the books they have been enjoying recently.

Between the Bookends: 6 Books We Read in July 2021

August 1, 2021July 30, 2021Sophie Brown

In this month’s Between the Bookends, Sophie explores a wide range of non-fiction and picks up some interesting fiction too.

Be the Artist: The Vibrant World of the Fauvists

July 19, 2021July 19, 2021Lisa Tate

A pair of artists first created their “wild beasts” in the early 1900s. Try this fauvism inspired DIY to make familiar heroes even wilder.