National Book Festival

The annual National Book Festival starts tomorrow, and this year it is completely virtual, giving you an opportunity, without leaving your couch,  to hear from authors like Leigh Bardugo, Jason Reynolds, Ibram X. Kendi, Saeed Jones, Bill and Melinda Gates, and many more. For all events and livestreams, go to www.loc.gov/bookfest. 

Recommended Summer Reading for EHS Students

The books on this list are not required summer reading,  but some that your teachers and librarians have enjoyed this year. We hope you like them!

Reading During Quarantine

Even a pandemic can't stop Eastchester Eagles from grabbing a good book! Look at us go!

YA Authors Rally for Black Lives

Update: If you missed watching this live, here's the link.

Some of your favorite authors including Jason Reynolds, Kwame Alexander,  and Jacqueline Woodson will be participating in this virtual rally tomorrow. See below for more information. 

Two Books for Blackout Tuesday

Can You Draw An Ickabog?

J.K. Rowling has literally dug a book out of her attic. The Ickabog slumbered in a dusty box for ten years, and has now been awakened! A children's book, it is being released online a chapter at a time on the official Ickabog website.  Children ages between the ages of 7 and 12 are invited to submit illustrations that may eventually find their way into the print edition, scheduled for release in November.

What Did Hemingway Read?

In 1919, Shakespeare & Co. opened in Paris as a bookstore and lending library. Books in English were expensive to buy, so  famous American expatriate writers, including Ernest Hemingway, borrowed books instead. According to this article in The Guardian, Hemingway borrowed more than 90 books, from P.T. Barnum’s autobiography to Lady Chatterley’s Lover, which he checked out for eight days in September 1929 – the year D.H. Lawrence’s novel first appeared in France, 30 years before it was published in the U.S. 

If Hemingway was late returning his books, he would receive this card with an image of exasperated Shakespeare himself.

May the Odds Be Ever in Your Favor

Today's the day, Tributes! Today is the official release day of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, the prequel to The Hunger Games. The book takes place 64 years before the events of The Hunger Games, and at least one familiar character will be prominently featured. Happy summer reading!

Dracula's Birthday

On this day in 1897, Bram Stoker's Dracula was published. The book has been enormously influential ever since, and has inspired everything from movies to Broadway plays to the Twilight series and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. 

Words, Words, and More (Dutch) Words

The Dutch are letting their creativity shine in the lexicography of the pandemic. CNN reports that 700 new words have been added to the Coronawoordenboek, including gems like huidhonger (skin hunger: a longing for human contact while in isolation, druppelcontact (spray-contact: the exchange of little droplets when coughing or sneezing), and toogviroloog (blather virologist: one who spreads false or unsubstantiated information about the virus). 

May 2 is a day that lives in the hearts of all Harry Potter fans, and although we missed acknowledging the actual anniversary of The Battle of Hogwarts (we will not make that mistake again), I'm about to make it up to you.  

Spotify is releasing a new chapter of Book 1, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone,  every week. Each chapter will be read by a different wizarding world actor, and chapter one is being read by Daniel Radcliffe! The audio version is free on Spotify, and videos will be released on harrypotterathome.com.

Other narrators include Stephen Fry, Eddie Redmayne, with more readers being announced soon. Chapters will be released through mid-summer. 

Stay fly, Eagles, and enjoy escaping to Hogwarts with Harry, Ron, Hermione and the rest of the crew. 

Alice in Wonderland...In Art

This week marks the 155th anniversary of the publication of Alice in Wonderland. Here is a collection of artists' interpretations of the classic work. Stay fly, Eagles!

Another Virtual Book Fest

The Everywhere BookFest is happening tomorrow and Saturday, and features author appearances, panel discussions, giveaways and more! Keynote speakers are Gene Yuen Lang (American Born Chinese and Saints and Boxers) and Nic Stone (Dear Martin and Odd One Out). Many of your favorite authors will be dropping in as well. You can see the full schedule here. Stay fly, Eagles!

NOVL (sic) Couch Fest

Hey, all you YA fans! We know you are missing your book clubs, author appearances, and all the book festivals that normally occur around this time of year. The people at Little Brown feel you, and are holding a NOVL Couch Fest all week with giveaways, booktalks, author chats and more. You can get the full rundown of events here. 

Book Con Read-A-Thon

Some of your favorite YA authors will be reading live and answering questions on Saturday from 12-7:00 pm. Here's the schedule (subject to change). Watch and participate at facebook.com/BookCon. 

Stay fly, Eagles!

How To Get A Public Library Card When The Libraries Are Closed

With a public library card, you have access to free ebooks and audio books. Normally, you would have to go to the library to get a card, but while the libraries are closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, you do have other options.

According to Tracy Wright, the director of the Eastchester Public Library, once you fill out the online application (select your home library from the drop down menu, and please use a parental e-mail if you are under 18), you will receive an email with your new library card number. If your email is blocked, you will receive a call. Please note that since the library is closed, the call will be coming from Johnson Chaco, not the library itself. 

Also, the New York Public Library is offering library cards to all New York State residents through the Simply E app. 

Any library card will grant you access to Hoopla or Libby, and with those apps you can "check out" ebooks or audio books. Keep reading, and stay fly, Eagles!

Difficulty Concentrating? You're Not Alone!

These are tricky times, indeed. I thought I would have finished at least three books by now, since we've been closed for three weeks, but I actually abandoned one book and am only halfway through another. But I discovered this is not unique, even for people who make their living in the literary world. Everybody seems to be having more difficulty concentrating. This week, BookRiot published this helpful guide if you need some alternative ways to occupy your mind. 

Stay fly, Eagles!