Fresno County Library Bookshelf: Celebrate Chinese New Year
The Fresno County Library’s Bookshelf column shares suggestions for books, music, and other items, and provides information about library programs.
Top 5 Most Requested Books
▪ “NYPD Red 4,” by James Patterson and Marshall Karp
▪ “When Breath Becomes Air,” by Paul Kalanithi
▪ “My Name Is Lucy Barton: A Novel,” by Elizabeth Strout
▪ “Blue: A Novel,” by Danielle Steel
▪ “Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up,” by Marie Kondo
New Arrivals
▪ “Sensationally Sugar Free: Delicious Sugar-Free Recipes for Healthier Eating Every Day,” by Susanna Booth. Here’s a comprehensive game plan that shows how to avoid sugar and keep everything tasty – even ice creams and desserts!
▪ “Three-Legged Horse,” by Russ Hall. Justin Bodean is a 15-year-old trying to make his way in the wild west, armed with a treasure map, the humble steed mentioned in the title, and an unending supply of grit and luck.
▪ “I Am Your Judge: A Novel,” by Nele Neuhaus. Hofheim, Germany, is being hit by a string of stealthy, senseless murders. Detectives Pia Kirchhoff and Oliver von Bodenstein are hot to catch the killer – and get to the bottom of the bloodbath.
Celebrating the Chinese New Year
▪ “Chelsea’s Chinese New Year,” by Lisa Bullard. For younger readers: Watch a girl and her family prepare for the festivities, with information on traditional foods, customs and the Chinese zodiac.
▪ “Phoenix Claws and Jade Trees: Essential Techniques of Authentic Chinese Cooking,” by Kian Lam Kho. The author first explains how to tackle techniques (such as steeping and frying) and then gives recipes for many mouth-watering dishes.
▪ “The New Year Dragon Dilemma,” by Ron Roy. Teenagers visiting San Francisco turn into amateur detectives when Miss Chinatown disappears in the middle of a parade! Scattered clues make this an exciting adventure, even for armchair readers.
Events
▪ “Reflections of a Drought”: Fresno County residents describe their experiences during the recent water crisis in this new documentary. This film is a joint production of the Library and Cal Humanities (visit www.calhum.org). 6:30-7:30 p.m., Monday, Feb. 8, at the Selma Branch Library (details, 559-896-3393); 6:30-7:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 11, at the Mendota Branch Library (details, 559-600-9291).
▪ Friends of Auberry Library Mardi Gras Celebration: Come listen and dance to Zydeco band Lonesome Jem and the Lunatics, featuring a special guest appearance by the Sierra High Jazz Band and Mountain Choral Company. 7-8:30 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 9, at the Auberry Branch Library. Details: 559-855-8523.
This is a weekly column written by the Fresno County Public Library staff. Events are usually free. Visit fresnolibrary.org, or call 559-600-6227 for details.
This story was originally published February 6, 2016 at 1:17 AM with the headline "Fresno County Library Bookshelf: Celebrate Chinese New Year."