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Olympic games originated in ancient Greece around the 6^th century BCE, occurring every four years as do our modern Olympics. The first Olympics started with a foot race, but, as more sports were included, the games expanded to cover four days with a fifth for a closing ceremony (Britannica, 2024). However, the Olympics ended in the late 4^th century CE and were revived after much interest in the 19^th century. In both ancient times and our modern world, truces are observed throughout the Olympic Games so that the athletes and people from around the world can come together as a symbol of peace.

There are many sports included in the Summer Olympics. Here are just a few of the sports: archery, basketball, beach volleyball, diving, equestrian, cycling, golf, swimming, and much more. You can find a complete list on the Olympics website: https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/sports. We’ve gathered a list of books about sports included in the Olympics. Learn about these sports and the individuals associated with them.

Don’t miss a single book from this list: they are all available on BARD, Braille and Audio Reading Download web-based download repository. The National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled and Kansas Talking Books provide BARD so that our patrons have access to almost all the digital audio and braille books and magazines in the collection. These books can be downloaded in about a minute with a couple of taps using BARD Mobile on an Android or Apple smart device. You can also download books from the website or BARD Express desktop application (Windows only) to a flash drive that will play using the USB port on the side of the digital talking book machine. If you would like more information, contact our office by phone at 1-800-362-0699 or by email at KTB@ks.gov.

Sources

Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2024, June 28). ancient Olympic Games. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/sports/ancient-Olympic-Games

Sakavitsi, K. (2024, January 11). The history of the Olympic Games. Olympics. Retrieved August 5, 2024, from https://olympics.com/en/news/the-history-of-the-olympic-games

Paris 2024 Olympic sports. (n.d.). Retrieved August 5, 2024, from https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/sports

Swimming

DB 56039 Gold in the water: the true story of ordinary men and their extraordinary dream of Olympic glory by P. H. Mullen

Chronicles the arduous years of training of the 2000 U.S. Olympic swim team that led to victory in Australia. Follows coach Dick Jochums and his athletes, including two asthmatics who overcame their medical problems to succeed. Some strong language. For senior high and older readers. 2001.

DB 118959 The watermen: the birth of American swimming and one young man’s fight to capture Olympic gold by Michael Loynd

"In the early twentieth century, few Americans knew how to swim, and swimming as a competitive sport was almost unheard of. That is, until Charles Daniels took to the water. On the surface, young Charles had it all: high-society parents, a place at an exclusive New York City prep school, summer vacations in the Adirondacks. But the scrawny teenager suffered from extreme anxiety thanks to a sadistic father who mired the family in bankruptcy and scandal before abandoning Charles and his mother altogether. Charles's only source of joy was swimming. But with no one to teach him, he struggled with technique-until he caught the eye of two immigrant coaches hell-bent on building a U.S. swim program that could rival the British Empire's seventy-year domination of the sport. Interwoven with the story of Charles's efforts to overcome his family's disgrace is the compelling history of the struggle to establish the modern Olympics in an era when competitive sports were still in their infancy. When the powerful British Empire finally legitimized the Games by hosting the fourth Olympiad in 1908, Charles's hard-fought rise climaxed in a gold-medal race where British judges prepared a trap to ensure the American upstart's defeat. Set in the early days of a rapidly changing twentieth century, The Watermen-a term used at the time to describe men skilled in water sports-tells an engrossing story of grit, of the growth of a major new sport in which Americans would prevail, and of a young man's determination to excel." -- Provided by publisher. -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

Gymnastics

DB 23706 Mary Lou: creating an Olympic champion by Mary Lou Retton

The popular winner of gymnastics competition in the 1984 Olympics tells how it is possible to achieve excellence in any field. Her message is that natural ability is only half the battle; hard work and mental toughness are equally important. Includes chapters by both coach and pupil.

DB 91675 Letters to a young gymnast by Nadia Comaneci

Reflections on her career by the legendary gymnast who was the first person to score a perfect 10. 0 in Olympic competition. Topics covered include dedication, strength, courage, pressure, goals, dreams, triumphs, challenges, and love. Pays particular attention to living under a totalitarian regime as a celebrated figure. 2004.

Basketball

DB 107588 Coach K.: the rise and reign of Mike Kryzewski by Ian O’Connor

Biography of Mike Krzyzewski, known worldwide as "Coach K," who led the Duke basketball program for more than four decades. The author had unprecedented access to Krzyzewski's best friends, closest advisers, fiercest adversaries, and generations of his players and assistants. Strong language. Commercial audiobook. 2022.

DB 116763 When the game was war: the NBA’s greatest season by Rich Cohen

"The 1980s were a transformative decade for the NBA. Since its founding in 1946, the league had evolved from a bruising, earthbound game of mostly nameless, underpaid players to one in which athletes became household names for their thrilling, physics-defying play. The 1987 season was the peak of that golden era, a year of incredible drama that featured a pantheon of superstars in their prime-the most Hall of Famers competing at one time in any given season-battling for the title, and for their respective legacies. In When the Game Was War, bestselling author Rich Cohen tells the story of this incredible season through the four teams, and the four players, who dominated it: Larry Bird and the Boston Celtics, Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers, Isiah Thomas and the Detroit Pistons, and a young Michael Jordan and his Chicago Bulls. Taking the reader from rural Indiana to the southside of Chicago, suburban North Carolina to rust-belt Michigan, Cohen explores the diverse journeys each of these iconic players took before arriving on the big stage. Drawing from dozens of interviews with NBA insiders, Cohen brings to vivid life some of the most colorful characters of the era-like Bill Laimbeer, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Danny Ainge, and Charles Oakley-who fought like hell to help these stars succeed. In the decades since, the NBA has grown into a multi-billion-dollar organization, with rabid fans all over the globe. For anyone who longs to understand how the NBA came to be the cultural juggernaut it is today-and to relive the magic and turmoil of those pivotal years-When the Game Was War brilliantly recasts one unforgettable season and the four transcendent players who were at the center of it all." -- Provided by publisher. -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

DB 93941 The mamba mentality: how I play by Kobe Bryant

The former basketball star, who retired in 2016 after playing for the Los Angeles Lakers for twenty years, discusses his career. He shares details of his workout schedules, mental preparations, and technical descriptions of how he approached the game. Bestseller. 2018.

Cycling

DB 109033 Two wheels good: the history and mystery of the bicycle by Jody Rosen

"The bicycle is a vestige of the Victorian era, seemingly at odds with our age of smartphones and ride-sharing apps and driverless cars. Yet we live on a bicycle planet. Across the world, more people travel by bicycle than any other form of transportation. Almost anyone can learn to ride a bike--and nearly everyone does. In Two Wheels Good, journalist and critic Jody Rosen reshapes our understanding of this ubiquitous machine, an ever-present force in humanity's life and dream life--and a flash point in culture wars--for more than two hundred years. Combining history, reportage, travelogue, and memoir, Rosen's book sweeps across centuries and around the globe, unfolding the bicycle's saga from its invention in 1817 to its present-day renaissance as a "green machine," an emblem of sustainability in a world afflicted by pandemic and climate change. Readers meet unforgettable characters: feminist rebels who steered bikes to the barricades in the 1890s, a prospector who pedaled across the frozen Yukon to join the Klondike gold rush, a Bhutanese king who races mountain bikes in the Himalayas, a cycle-rickshaw driver who navigates the seething streets of the world's fastest-growing megacity, astronauts who ride a floating bicycle in zero gravity aboard the International Space Station. Two Wheels Good examines the bicycle's past and peers into its future, challenging myths and cliche´s while uncovering cycling's connection to colonial conquest and the gentrification of cities. But the book is also a love letter: a reflection on the sensual and spiritual pleasures of bike riding and an ode to an engineering marvel--a wondrous vehicle whose passenger is also its engine." -- Provided by publisher. -- Some descriptions of sex, strong language, some violence. Commercial audiobook. 2022.

Golf

DB 67147 The match: the day the game of golf changed forever by Mark Frost

Recreates a 1956 California golf match, arranged on a bet by millionaires Eddie Lowery and George Coleman, that pitted amateurs Harvie Ward and Ken Venturi against professionals Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson and changed golf from amateur pastime to career sport. Details the evolution of the game in America. 2007.

DB 113478 The greatest game ever played: Harry Vardon, Francis Ouimet, and the birth of modern golf by Mark Frost

"THE GREATEST GAME EVER PLAYED is the story of Francis Ouimet and Harry Vardon, who in pursuit of their passion for a game that captivated them as children, broke down rigid social barriers that made their sport accessible to everyone on both sides of the Atlantic and beyond, positioning golf as one of the most widely played games in the world. Ouimet and Vardon were two men from different generations and vastly different corners of the world whose lives, unbeknownst to them at the time, bore remarkable similarities, setting them on parallel paths that led with a kind of fated inevitability to their epic battle at Brookline years in the future. This collision resulted in the 'big bang' that gave rise to the sport of golf as we know it today. For Mark Frost, Francis Ouimet and Harry Vardon represent everything that's right about sports in general and sportsmen in particular; gentlemen, champions, teachers, leaders, and each in their own quiet way, heroes. In THE GREATEST GAME EVER PLAYED, Frost attempts to create penetrating studies of both of these men, along with over dozens of the game's seminal figures, within the dramatic framework offered by the tournament when they finally met, one of the most thrilling sports events in history, the 1913 U.S. Open." -- Provided by publisher. -- Commercial audiobook.

Rowing

DB 77138 The boys in the boat: nine Americans and their epic quest for gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics by Daniel Brown

Recounts the accomplishments of nine working-class athletes from the University of Washington who beat elite teams at home and abroad and won the gold medal for rowing at the 1936 Nazi-orchestrated Berlin Olympics. Bestseller. 2013.

Surfing

DB 78134 The world in the curl: an unconventional history of surfing by Peter J. Westwick

A sociological history of surfing, from its ancient roots in the Hawaiian islands to its move from counterculture popularity into the middle-class mainstream. Discusses the best places to catch a big wave, technological improvements to surfboards and wetsuits, and environmental concerns. 2013.

Fencing

DB 57237 By the sword: a history of gladiators, musketeers, samurai, swashbucklers, and Olympic champions by Rich Cohen

British Olympic fencer details the history of sword fighting from ancient Egyptian times to the twenty-first century. Includes anecdotes about noted warriors, politicians, and actors who wielded the sword; ponders the sociology of dueling--including cheating; and details the art of blade making. Some violence. 2002.

Boxing

DB 82525 The domino diaries: my decade boxing with Olympic champions and chasing Hemingway’s ghost in the last days of Castro’s Cuba by Brin-Jonathan Butler

Writer, filmmaker, and avid boxer Butler traveled to Cuba to write about the national boxing team. This memoir weaves in his personal experiences visiting Havana over the years with stories about Cuban athletes who forgo wealth to remain on the island. Some strong language and some descriptions of sex. 2015.

DB 24209 The black lights: inside the world of professional boxing by Thomas Hauser

The author follows superlightweight boxer Billy Costello during a three-month period ending November 3, 1985, when he successfully defended his World Boxing Council crown. Offers a vivid portrait of the life of a professional boxer. Some strong language.

Tennis

DB 89048 Unstoppable: my life so far by Maria Sharapova

A memoir from tennis champion Maria Sharapova. Maria arrived in Florida from Russia with her father at the age of seven; neither spoke any English. She recounts her youth spent training, her first win at Wimbledon at seventeen, and her fight to get back on the court. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2017.

DB 104721 The master: the long run and beautiful game of Roger Federer by Christopher Clarey

A sportswriter profiles the Swiss-born tennis legend, based on his reportage of Federer's long career and interviews with his subject and the many rivals he played against, such as Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2021.

Recent Posts

December 2024 Staff Picks

Enjoy some of your holiday free time by checking out one of the books the Kansas Talking Books staff have been reading recently.Michael Lang, DirectorDB 122602 The witchstone by Henry H. Neff "Meet Laszlo, eight-hundred-year-old demon and Hell's least productive Curse Keeper. From his office beneath Midtown, he oversees the Drakeford Curse, which involves a pathetic family upstate and a mysterious black monolith. It's a sexy enough assignment--colonial origins, mutating victims, et cetera--but Laszlo has no interest in maximizing the curse's potential; he'd rather sunbathe in Ibiza, quaff martinis, and hustle the hustlers on Manhattan's subway. Unfortunately, his division has new management, and Laszlo's ratings are so abysmal that he's given six days to shape up or he'll be melted down and returned to the Primordial Ooze. Meet Maggie Drakeford, nineteen-year-old Curse Bearer. All she's ever known is the dreary corner of the Catskills where the Drakeford Curse has devoured her father's humanity and is rapidly laying claim to her own. The future looks hopeless, until Laszlo appears at the Drakeford farmhouse one October night and informs them that they have six days--and six days only--to break the spell before it becomes permanent. Can Maggie trust the glib and handsome Laszlo? Of course not. But she also can't pass up an opportunity to save her family, even if it means having a demon as a guide ... Thus begins a breakneck international adventure that takes our unlikely duo from a hot dog stand in Central Park to the mountains of Liechtenstein, a five-star hotel in Zurich, and even the time-traveling vault of a demonic crime boss. As the clock ticks down, tough-as-nails Maggie and conniving Laszlo will uncover a secret so profound that what began as a farcical quest to break a curse will eventually threaten the very Lords of Hell." - (dust jacket) -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook.DB 124700 Playground by Richard Powers "Twelve-year-old Evie Beaulieu sinks to the bottom of a swimming pool in Montreal strapped to one of the world's first aqualungs. Ina Aroita grows up on naval bases across the Pacific with art as her only home. Two polar opposites at an elite Chicago high school bond over a three-thousand-year-old board game; Rafi Young will get lost in literature, while Todd Keane's work will lead to a startling AI breakthrough. They meet on the history-scarred island of Makatea in French Polynesia, whose deposits of phosphorus once helped to feed the world. Now the tiny atoll has been chosen for humanity's next adventure: a plan to send floating, autonomous cities out onto the open sea. But first, the island's residents must vote to greenlight the project or turn the seasteaders away." -- book jacket -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook.Dylan Calhoon, Patron Services Manager DB 124757 On earth as it is on television by Emily Jane "First Contact stories have never been as intoxicating and fun as in Emily Jane's novel of the sudden arrival-and equally sudden departure-of spaceships above Earth"-- Provided by publisher. -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook.Jason Brinkman, Production ManagerDB 42315 The lady in the lake by Raymond Chandler A swaggering businessman hires hard-boiled Philip Marlowe to find his wife, who has been missing for a month. She sent her husband a note to say she was running off to remarry, but her "intended" denies seeing her. When a woman's body is pulled from the lake where the wife had been staying and the caretaker's wife also turns out to be missing, Marlowe begins expertly piecing the puzzle together. Some strong language and some violence.Ryan Lauber, Library AssistantDB 119147 Gods of the Wyrdwood by R. J. Barker "Cahan du Nahare is known as the forester a man who can navigate the dangerous Deepforest like no one else. But once he was more. Once he belonged to the god of fire. Udinny serves the goddess of the lost, a goddess of small things; when she ventures into the Deepforest to find a lost child, Cahan will be her guide. But in a land where territory is won and lost for uncaring gods, where temples of warrior monks pit one prophet against another Cahan will need to choose the forest or the fire-and his choice will have consequences for his entire world." -- Provided by publisher. -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook.Maggie Witte, Outreach LibrarianDB 97443 The bromance book club by Lyssa Kay Adams Baseball player Gavin Scott's marriage is in trouble, and to fix things, he's going to need some assistance. He finds a secret book club of other men who have used romance novels to fix their own relationships, and they agree to help him win back his family. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2019.DBC02962 The man who invented Christmas: how Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol rescued his career and revived our holiday spirits by Les Standiford With warmth, wit, and good cheer, Standiford shows how the unlikely success of "A Christmas Carol" revitalized Charles Dickens's languishing career and revived the celebration of the near-forgotten Christmas holiday....

Family Friendly Audio Described Movies

Kansas Talking Books' Audio Described MoviesDid you know Kansas Talking Books has audio described movies, in both DVD and VHS formats, you can borrow from our library absolutely free? Note, however, that we do not provide DVD, VHS, or combination players. Audio described movies are movies that have a special audio track that runs while the movie or show is playing that describes what is happening on screen, such as what the characters are wearing, the action taking place, the setting, and other information, without interrupting the dialogue or speaking of the characters/narrators. We have all kinds of movies and shows from superheroes to westerns to biopics to comedies and more.But since this time of year is all about the warmth of family and friends, we've gathered a list of some family friendly movies perfect for all ages to watch this season. To get a complete list of movies available or to learn more about requesting any of these movies and loan periods, please contact our machine clerk, Nataly Renfro, at 1-800-362-0699 ext. 3 or 620-341-6283.DVDBig Hero 6 (2014)A special bond develops between plus-sized inflatable robot Baymax and prodigy Hiro Hamada, who together team up with a group of friends to form a band of high-tech heroes.Clifford the Big Red Dog (2021)When Emily Elizabeth meets a magical animal rescuer who givers her a little red puppy, she never anticipated waking up to find a 10-foot hound in her New York City apartment. With her mother away on business, Emily and her uncle set out on an adventure.Encanto (2021)The Madrigals live hidden in the mountains of Colombia in a charmed place called the Encanto. The magic of the Encanto has blessed every child in the family with a unique gift – except Mirabel. However, she may be the only hope after she discovers that the magic is now in danger.Frozen (2014)When Queen Elsa accidentally uses her power to curse her home in infinite winter, her sister Anna teams up with a mountain man, his playful reindeer, and a snowman to save the day.The Grinch (2018)When the Whos decide to make Christmas bigger and brighter, the disgruntled Grinch realizes there is one way to gain peace and quiet. With help from Max, the green grump hatches a scheme to steal Christmas.How to Train Your Dragon (2010)Hiccup is from the island of Berk, where fighting dragons are a way of life. His progressive views and weird sense of humor make him a misfit, even though his father is chief of the clan.Mary Poppins Returns (2018)Now an adult with three children, Michael Banks learns that his house will repossessed. His only hope is to find a missing certificate that his father left him. Just as all seems lost, Mary Poppins arrives to save the day.Minions (2015)Minions Stuart, Kevin, and Bob are recruited by Scarlet Overkill, a supervillain who, alongside her inventor husband Herb, hatches a plot to take over the world.Moana (2016)In Ancient Polynesia, when a terrible curse incurred by the Demigod Maui reaches Moana's island, she answers the Ocean's call to seek out the Demigod to set things right.Mr. Popper's Penguins (2011)Mr. Popper is a successful businessman who gets an unexpected present: six penguins. Soon Popper's rambunctious roommates turn his swank New York apartment into a snowy winter wonderland - and the rest of his world upside down.Ralph Breaks the Internet (2019)Video game bad guy Ralph and fellow misfit Vanellope von Schweetz must risk it all by traveling to the World Wide Web in search of a replacement part to save Vanellope's video game. In way over their heads, Ralph and Vanellope rely on the citizens of the internet to help navigate their way.The Secret Life of Pets 2 (2020)Max the terrior encounters canine-intolerant cows, hostile foxes, and a scary turkey when he visits the countryside. Luckily for Max, he soon catches a break when he meets Rooster, a gruff farm dog who tries to cure the lovable pooch of his neuroses.VHSBeauty and the Beast (1991)This animated adaptation of the fairy tale received six Academy Award nominations.Beethoven (1992)Your family will fall in love with the big-hearted, wet-nosed star of this fetching canine comedy hit.Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, Snoopy and the entire Peanuts gang learn the true meaning of Christmas in this animated classic.A Christmas Carol (1984)Charles Dickens' holiday classic in which a bitter old man discovers the true meaning of Christmas.Cinderella (1950)An enduring rags-to-riches story of a beautiful girl who, with the help of her fairy godmother, has all of her dreams come true.Finding Nemo (2003)Marlin is a paranoid Clown Fish searching for his young son, Nemo. This computer-animated comedy features the voices of Albert Brooks and Ellen DeGeneres.Home Alone (1990)An eight-year-old is accidentally left at home during a family Christmas vacation. He rigs booby-traps for two bumbling burglars.How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)Celebrate the holidays with Jim Carrey as the Grinch in this live-action remake of the Dr. Seuss tale, narrated by Anthony Hopkins.Lilo and Stitch (2002)A young Hawaiian orphan adopts an unusual pet named Stitch, which turns out to be a notorious, extraterrestrial fugitive.Mary Poppins (1964)Julie Andrews stars as the irrepressible nanny who soars out of the London skies and into the hearts of everyone she encounters. Dick Van Dyke also appears.Miracle on 34th Street (1947)Does Santa Claus really exist? A child's faith is tested in this holiday classic starring Natalie Wood, Edmund Gwenn, and Maureen O'Hara.Polar Express (2004)On Christmas Eve, a mysterious train visits Billy in the middle of the night, promising to take him to the North Pole for a visit with Santa. Tom Hanks appears as the train's conductor.Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1993)Christmas is canceled until a shunned reindeer with a glowing nose guides Santa's sleigh on Christmas Eve.Santa Claus (1994)Mistaking Santa Claus for an intruder, Tim Allen causes the jolly old elf to tumble off his roof. A legal technicality requires him to be Santa's permanent replacement.Sister Act (1992)Whoopi Goldberg stars as a sassy lounge singer who witnesses a brutal murder by her gangster boyfriend. Force to hide in a convent, she disguises herself as a nun.Toy Story (1995)This computer-animated film brings a child's room full of toys to life. From Disney-Pixar, Toy Story features the voices of Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Don Rickles and Annie Potts.Streaming Services Audio Described MoviesNot only does the Kansas Talking Books library provide audio-described movies, but most streaming service platforms have many audio described movies and shows. Here is a list of some family friendly holiday movies available through these platforms. If you would like to find more, please visit The Audio Description Project's curated list of Christmas-themed movies.NOTE: Kansas Talking Books DOES NOT provide subscriptions to any of these streaming services. You must subscribe to them yourself if you are not already.Apple TV+A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)"Depressed at the commercialism he sees around him, Charlie Brown tries to find a deeper meaning to Christmas." – from IMDB. CBS Animated Movie; Rated TV-GMariah Carey's Magical Christmas Special (2020)"Faced with a holiday cheer crisis, the North Pole knows there's only one person who can save the day: Santa's great friend Mariah Carey. The Queen of Christmas creates a fabulous and star-studded spectacular to make the whole world merry!" – from Apple TV+. Rated TV-GSnoopy Presents: For Auld Lang Syne (2021)"After find out her grandmother won't be visiting for Christmas, Lucy decides to cheer herself up by throwing the ultimate New Year's Eve party. Meanwhile, Charlie Brown tries to fulfill one of his resolutions before midnight." – from IMDB. Apple Animated Movie; Rated TV-GDisney+An Almost Christmas Story (2024)“Moon, a curious young owl, finds herself trapped in a Christmas tree destined for Rockefeller Plaza in New York City. Trying to escape the city, Moon befriends a lost little girl named Luna. Together, they embark on an adventure.” – from IMDB. Short Disney Animated Movie. Rated PGA Christmas Carol (2009)“Ebenezer Scrooge, a miserly old moneylender is visited by three Christmas spirits on Christmas Eve. Scrooge embarks on a journey of self-redemption to mend he miserly ways.” – from IMDB. Rated PGMickey saves Christmas (2022)"Mickey, Minnie and their pals attempt to celebrate the perfect Christmas at their snowy cabin; when Pluto causes Santa to lose all the presents on his sleigh, the friends travel to the North Pole on a quest to save Christmas." – from IMDB. Rated TV-GNoelle (2019)"Santa's daughter must take over the family business when her father retires and her brother, who is supposed to inherit the Santa role, gets cold feet." – from IMDB. Rated GThe Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)“Scrooge, an old miser who dislikes Christmas, is visited by spirits who foretell his future and share secrets from his past and present, which helps change his view on life.” – from IMDB. Rated GThe Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)“Jack Skellington, king of Halloween Town, discovers Christmas Town, but his attempts to bring Christmas to his home causes confusion.” – from IMDB. Rated PGNetflixA Boy Called Christmas (2021)“In this origin story of Father Christmas, an ordinary boy--with a loyal pet mouse and a reindeer at his side--sets out on an extraordinary adventure to find his father, who is on a quest to discover the fabled village of Elfhelm.” – from IMDB. Rated PGChristmas with You (2022)“Follows a pop star who's got a career burnout and escapes to a small town where she finds not only inspiration but a shot of love.” – from IMDB. Rated TV-PGDolly Parton's Christmas on the Square (2020)"Seasonal cheer comes to a screeching halt when a cold-hearted woman tries to sell her hometown's land. Can music, magic and memories change her mind?" – from IMDB. Rated TV-PGJingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (2020)"An imaginary wold comes to life in a holiday tale of an eccentric toymaker, his adventurous granddaughter, and a magical invention that has the power to change their lives forever." – from IMDB. Rated PGKlaus (2019)“A simple act of kindness always sparks another, even in a frozen, faraway place. When Smeerensburg's new postman, Jesper, befriends toymaker Klaus, their gifts melt an age-old feud and deliver a sleigh full of holiday traditions.” – from IMDB. Rated PGThat Christmas (2024)“It's an unforgettable Christmas for the townsfolk of Wellington-on-Sea when the worst snowstorm in history alters everyone's plans, including Santa's.” – from IMDB. Rated PGThe Christmas Chronicles (2018)“The story of sister and brother, Kate and Teddy Pierce, whose Christmas Eve plan to catch Santa Claus on camera turns into an unexpected journey that most kids could only dream about.” – from IMDB. Rated PGPrime VideoBeethoven's Christmas Adventure (2011)“A Christmas Elf accidentally takes off in Santa's sleigh, crash lands in a small town, and loses the magic toy bag. Beethoven must rescue the Elf, recover the bag from greedy crooks, and return the sleigh to Santa in time to save Christmas.” – from IMDB. Included with Prime; Rated PGCandy Cane Lane (2023)“A man is determined to win the neighborhood's annual Christmas decorating contest. He makes a pact with an elf to help him win--and the elf casts a spell that brings the 12 days of Christmas to life, which brings unexpected chaos to town.” – from IMDB. Included with Prime; Rated PGIt's a Wonderful Life (1946)“An angel is sent from Heaven to help a desperately frustrated businessman by showing him what life would have been like if he had never existed.” – from IMDB. Included with Prime; Rated PGSanta Claus is Comin' to Town (1970)“A mailman reveals the origin of Santa Claus.” – from IMDB. Included with Prime. Rated ALLWhite Christmas (1954)“A successful song-and-dance team become romantically involved with a sister act and team up to save the failing Vermont inn of their former commanding general.” – from IMDB. Rated 13+...

Cozy Reads this Holiday Season

Let your heart be light this holiday season by reading one (or all; there are no restrictions) of these cozy reads. These are books that tell stories of relatable, sometimes quirky characters and the relationships they build between each other without much, if any, explicitly graphic content. The term cozy is probably most well-known when referring to cozy mysteries but has expanded to use with many other genres and books for all ages.Cozy reads may seem pretty straightforward with endings that finish all neat and tidy but the real strength of these books are the warm, close relationships, comforting messages, and mostly happy endings. Immerse yourself in these books whenever you have time or need a second to yourself, and let them brighten your holidays. Happy reading and warm wishes for this holiday season!DB 98951 The house in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune As a case worker at the Department in Charge Of Magical Youth, Linus Baker spends his days overseeing the well-being of children in government-sanctioned orphanages. He is unexpectedly given a highly classified assignment: travel to a remote island orphanage where six dangerous children reside. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2020.DB 110401 The very secret society of irregular witches by Sangu Mandanna "As one of the few witches in Britain, Mika Moon knows she has to hide her magic, keep her head down, and stay away from other witches so their powers don't mingle and draw attention. And as an orphan who lost her parents at a young age and was raised by strangers, she's used to being alone and she follows the rules...with one exception: an online account, where she posts videos "pretending" to be a witch. She thinks no one will take it seriously. But someone does. An unexpected message arrives, begging her to travel to the remote and mysterious Nowhere House to teach three young witches how to control their magic. It breaks all of the rules, but Mika goes anyway, and is immediately tangled up in the lives and secrets of not only her three charges, but also an absent archaeologist, a retired actor, two long-suffering caretakers, and...Jamie. The handsome and prickly librarian of Nowhere House would do anything to protect the children, and as far as he's concerned, a stranger like Mika is a threat. An irritatingly appealing threat. As Mika begins to find her place at Nowhere House, the thought of belonging somewhere begins to feel like a real possibility. But magic isn't the only danger in the world, and when peril comes knocking at their door, Mika will need to decide whether to risk everything to protect a found family she didn't know she was looking for." -- Provided by publisher. -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook.DB 111420 Legends & lattes: a novel of high fantasy and low stakes by Travis Baldree "Worn out after decades of packing steel and raising hell, Viv, the orc barbarian, cashes out of the warrior's life with one final score. A forgotten legend, a fabled artifact, and an unreasonable amount of hope lead her to the streets of Thune, where she plans to open the first coffee shop the city has ever seen. However, her dreams of a fresh start filling mugs instead of swinging swords are hardly a sure bet. Old frenemies and Thune's shady underbelly may just upset her plans. To finally build something that will last, Viv will need some new partners, and a different kind of resolve." -- Provided by publisher. -- Strong language, some violence. Commercial audiobook. Bestseller.DB 56114 Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery Anne, an eleven-year-old orphan, is sent by mistake to live with a lonely, middle-aged brother and sister on a Prince Edward Island farm in Canada. There she proceeds to make an indelible impression on everyone around her. Complete and unabridged text. For grades 5-8 and older readers. 1908.DB 22906 Where the wild things are by Maurice Sendak After being sent to bed without supper for misbehaving, Max puts on his wolf suit and sails away 'through night and day and in and out of weeks and almost over a year' to where the wild things are. An imaginative fantasy for grades K-3. Caldecott Medal 1964.DB 44101 The BFG by Roald Dahl Sophie is taken from her orphanage by a big friendly giant ("BFG") who enjoys "dream blowing"-- sending happy dreams to children with his magical trumpet. Together they devise a plan to save the world from nine people-eating "cannybull" giants. For grades 3-6.DB 31831 Stuart Little by E. B. White When Mrs. Little's second son is born, everybody notices that he is not much bigger than a mouse. In fact, they soon discover that he is a mouse! Because of his size, Stuart is always getting lost, but this is the least of his unique problems. For grades 4-7.DB 106691 Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe by Heather S. Webber Anna Kate returns to a small Alabama town to bury her beloved Granny Zee, owner of the Blackbird Café. Despite her best intentions, Anna is drawn to the town her mother fled. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2020.DB 84392 A man called Ove by Fredrik Backman Ove has always been a grumpy man, and when he loses his wife and his job, he decides to commit suicide. But a lively family of new neighbors and a stray cat might give Ove a reason to keep living. First published in Swedish in 2012. 2013.DB 107924 Remarkably bright creatures by Shelby Van Pelt After Tova Sullivan's husband died, she began working the night shift cleaning at the Sowell Bay Aquarium. Tova becomes acquainted with curmudgeonly Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium. Marcellus knows more than anyone can imagine but wouldn't dream of lifting one of his eight arms for his human captors--until he forms a remarkable friendship with Tova. Some strong language. Commercial audiobook. 2022.DB 104764 A psalm for the wild-built by Becky Chambers Centuries ago, the robots of Panga gained self-awareness and disappeared into the wilderness. When Sibling Dex, a tea monk, meets Splendid Speckled Mosscap, a robot, they are the first person to encounter a robot in years. Dex and Mosscap travel through the woods together, engaging in philosophical conversation. Strong language. Commercial audiobook. 2021.DB 78978 The storied life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin When his most prized possession, a rare volume of poetry by Edgar Allan Poe, is stolen, bookstore owner A.J. Fikry begins isolating himself from his friends, family, and associates. Then he receives a mysterious package that compels him to remake his life. Strong language. Bestseller. 2014.DB 115232 The wishing game by Meg Schaffer "Make a wish. . . . Lucy Hart knows better than anyone what it's like to grow up without parents who loved her. In a childhood marked by neglect and loneliness, Lucy found her solace in books, namely the Clock Island series by Jack Masterson. Now a twenty-six-year-old teacher's aide, she is able to share her love of reading with bright, young students, especially seven-year-old Christopher Lamb, who was left orphaned after the tragic death of his parents. Lucy would give anything to adopt Christopher, but even the idea of becoming a family seems like an impossible dream without proper funds and stability. But be careful what you wish for. . . . Just when Lucy is about to give up, Jack Masterson announces he's finally written a new book. Even better, he's holding a contest at his home on the real Clock Island, and Lucy is one of the four lucky contestants chosen to compete to win the one and only copy. For Lucy, the chance of winning the most sought-after book in the world means everything to her and Christopher. But first she must contend with ruthless book collectors, wily opponents, and the distractingly handsome (and grumpy) Hugo Reese, the illustrator of the Clock Island books. Meanwhile, Jack "the Mastermind" Masterson is plotting the ultimate twist ending that could change all their lives forever. . . . You might just get it." -- Provided by publisher. -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook.DB 119077 Sophie Go's lonely hearts club by Roselle Lim "Newly minted professional matchmaker Sophie Go has returned to Toronto, her hometown, after spending three years in Shanghai. Her job is made quite difficult, however, when she is revealed as a fraud-she never actually graduated from matchmaking school. In a competitive market like Toronto, no one wants to take a chance on an inexperienced and unaccredited matchmaker, and soon Sophie becomes an outcast. In dire search of clients, Sophie stumbles upon a secret club within her condo complex: the Old Ducks, seven septuagenarian Chinese bachelors who never found love. Somehow, she convinces them to hire her, but her matchmaking skills are put to the test as she learns the depths of loneliness, heartbreak, and love by attempting to make the hardest matches of her life." -- Provided by publisher. -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook.DB 23625 The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg On a dark Christmas Eve, a boy who believes in Santa Claus boards a mysterious train, the Polar Express. He and the other children, still in their nightclothes, drink hot chocolate and sing carols as the train races through snowy landscapes carrying them to a huge city at the North Pole to visit Santa Claus. For preschool-grade 2 and older readers. Caldecott Medal. 1985.DB 85266 The city baker's guide to country living by Louise Miller After pastry chef Olivia Rawlings accidentally sets fire to the Boston supper club where she works, she heads off to visit her best friend in rural Vermont. Olivia gets a job at the local inn and finds herself falling for fiddle player Martin McCracken. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2016.DB 25892 Howl's moving castle by Diana Wynne Jones As the eldest of three daughters, Sophie Hatter knows that--according to fairy-tale convention--she's expected to fail first and worst when she sets out to seek her fortune. When the Ingarian countryside is threatened by both the moving castle of Wizard Howl and the schemes of the Witch of the Waste, Sophie finds a kind of courage and determination she's never known before. A magical fantasy for grades 6-9.DB 67526 The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows London, 1946. Writer Juliet Ashton corresponds with Dawsey Adams and other members of a literary society created as a front during the Nazi occupation of the British channel island Guernsey. Through letters, Juliet learns about their wartime experiences. Intrigued, Juliet sails to Guernsey, where she finds new inspiration. Bestseller. 2008.DB 89990 The story of Arthur Truluv by Elizabeth Berg Grieving widower Arthur eats lunch in the cemetery every day, to be near his wife's grave. There he meets troubled teenage Maddy, and the pair form a friendship that helps them both out of their isolation. Some strong language and some descriptions of sex. Commercial audiobook. 2017....

Kansas Talking Books News Update - Winter 2024

Catch up on the latest from Kansas Talking Books and the National Library Service for the Blind & Print Disabled. ...

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