Talking Books Talk

Have you ever told yourself, “This year, I'm going to read more books”? Do you want to encourage yourself to read outside your comfort zone? Are you looking to challenge yourself?

Several reading challenges exist online, some with various prompts to get you reading outside your box, others with a numbered reading goal to reach, but all with the goal to get you reading more. Yes, we know we're already nearing mid-February, but it's still early in the year and a perfect time to get started. Try yourself with any one of these challenges we've rounded up from the multitude across the Internet. 

Remember, if you need help to find books to fit your challenge prompts or just need help finding your next read, the Kansas Talking Books' team of readers' advisors are just a call (1-800-362-0699) or email (ktb@ks.gov) away. We are happy to help you with any of your reading or library needs.

Reading Challenges:

Book Riot's 2025 Read Harder Challenge - use the 24 prompts provided to read outside your comfort zone.

The StoryGraph's Genre Challenge 2025 - read outside your normal genres with this list of prompts for both fiction and nonfiction genres.

2025 Goodreads Reading Challenge - set your goal to read x number of books this year and use the tips and prompts new this year to reach your goal.

2025 Barnes and Noble Book Challenge - challenge yourself to read 52 books, one for each week, fitting the one simple prompts provided which include a couple of possible books matching the prompt as a starting point.

Beat the Backlist - focus on clearing out your to-be-read (TBR) list with this challenge using the prompts provided.

Booklist Queen's 2025 Reading Challenge - read as many books as you can this year, maybe even one per week, with the 52 prompts provided to expand your reading selection.

2025 PopSugar Reading Challenge - use these prompts as inspiration for choosing your next read.

2025 NoveList Reading Challenge - use the monthly prompts to inspire you pick something different for your next read:

• January: Mix things up with a genre blend.
• February: Fall in love with an LGBTQIA+ romance.
• March: Stay up to date with a book about current social issues.
• April: Read a book with neurodivergent characters.
• May: Enjoy a larger-than-life cinematic book.
• June: Lighten up with a funny or whimsical graphic novel.
• July: Enjoy a chilling summer with must-read horror.
• August: Read a cli-fi, solarpunk, or hopepunk book.
• September: Read a book set in the decade you were born.  
• October: Try an award-winning audiobook or graphic novel. 
• November: Tempt your tastebuds with a culinary read.
• December: Go meta with books about books.

Kansas Talking Books Summer Reading - while not a reading challenge, find book recommendations each week focused on a different theme between June 2 and August 1. Find out more on our website.

Check out January's top BARD downloads in Kansas! If you aren't yet a BARD user, you can learn more at the NLS BARD website. If BARD isn't a good fit for you, we are still happy to mail books and magazines directly to your home. Just drop us a line at KTB@ks.gov or call 800-362-0699. Happy reading!

Most popular Kansas BARD user audiobook downloads January 

• DB125080 The Boyfriend by McFadden, Freida.
• DB125159 Raised by Wolves by Patterson, James & Raymond, Emily.
• DB124996 In Too Deep by Child, Lee & Child, Andrew.
• DB125278 Haunted by White, Randy Wayne.
• DB125480 To Die For by Baldacci, David.
• DB124695 Ward D by McFadden, Freida.
• DB124746 The Waiting by Connelly, Michael.
• DB122801 The Housemaid is Watching by McFadden, Freida.
• DB120063 James by Everett, Percival.
• DB123601 A Home for Hannah by Davids, Patricia.
• DB125318 The Grey Wolf by Penny, Louise.
• DB124686 Framed: Astonishing true stories of wrongful convictions by Grisham, John & McCloskey, Jim.
   

Most popular Kansas BARD user audio magazine downloads from January 2025. 

• Atlantic Monthly January, 2025
• The Week January 17, 2025
• The New Yorker December 23, 2024
• Guide Posts February, 2025
• The Week December 27, 2024
• AARP Magazine and Bulletin October, 2024
• Mother Jones January, 2025
• Atlantic Monthly December, 2024
• Discover November, 2024
• The New Yorker January 13, 2025

• New York Times Book Review January 05, 2025

   A full list of available magazines can be found on the NLS Website. 

Most popular Kansas BARD user braille book downloads from January 2025 

• BR25214 What Every Blind Person Needs You to Know: A handbook for friends, family and colleagues of the visually impaired by Hunt, Leanne.
• BR24484 The Chicken Bible: Say goodbye to boring chicken with 500 recipes for easy dinners, braises, wings, stir-fries, and so much more by America's Test Kitchen.

Today is Kansas Day, celebrating the day Kansas was admitted into the Union in 1861 as the 34th state. In honor of this day, we've pulled a list of the top ten most popular books in the past 5 years that are about Kansas and recorded by your very own Kansas Talking Books library through efforts of staff and volunteers. These books cover a variety of topics, people, and events in Kansas history with a popular paranormal western included. Make one of these local interest books your next read.

1. DBC06570 It happened in Kansas: remarkable events that shaped history by Sarah Smarsh

It Happened in Kansas features over 25 chapters in Kansas history. Lively and entertaining, this book brings the varied and fascinating history of the Sunflower State to life. Some violence.

2. DBC17284 Flint Hills cowboys: tales from the Tallgrass Prairie by James F. Hoy

The Flint Hills are America's last tallgrass prairie, a green enclave set in the midst of the farmland of eastern Kansas. Known as the home of the Big Beef Steer, these rugged hills have produced exemplary cowboys -- both the ranch and rodeo varieties -- whose hard work has given them plenty of material for equally good stories. Adult.

3. DBC17310 Peggy of the Flint Hills: a memoir by Zula Bennington Greene

"Peggy of the Flint Hills" was a beloved Topeka newspaper columnist, dispensing common sense and uncommon insight six days a week for 55 years. But her true masterwork was this little memoir, now seeing publication for the first time--a breathtakingly rich recollection of her childhood in the Ozark foothills and her young adulthood in the Kansas Flint Hills. With a full heart and a matchless memory, Peggy writes of the people and places that shaped her, offering readers a crystalline window into a long-gone world.

4. DBC14923 Notorious Kansas bank heists: gunslingers to gangsters by Rod Beemer

Bank robbers wreaked havoc in the Sunflower State. After robbing the Chautauqua State Bank in 1911, outlaw Elmer McCurdy was killed by lawmen but wasn't buried for sixty-six years. His afterlife can be described only as bizarre. Belle Starr's nephew Henry Starr claimed to have robbed twenty-one banks. The Dalton gang failed in their attempt to rob two banks simultaneously, but others accomplished this in Waterville in 1911. Nearly four thousand known vigilantes patrolled the Sunflower State during the 1920s and 1930s to combat the criminal menace. One group even had an airplane with a .50-caliber machine gun. Join author Rod Beemer for a wild ride into Kansas's tumultuous bank heist history. Some strong language and some violence.

5. DBC06565 Of grave concern: Ophelia Wylde series, book 1 by Max McCoy

The Civil War is over, and many a young widow has turned to spiritualism to contact their husbands on 'the other side.' But Ophelia Wylde won't be fooled twice. After wasting her money on a phoney psychic, she decides if she can't beat 'em, join 'em. She leaves New Orleans and heads West, selling her services as a spiritual medium who speaks to the dead. By the time she reaches Dodge City, business is booming. Except for a handsome but skeptical bounty hunter named Jack Calder, no one suspects Ophelia of running a con game--until an unfortunate 'reading' of a girl who's still living exposes her to a town full of angry customers. As punishment, the mob drags Ophelia to Boot Hill and buries her alive in a fresh grave overnight. That's when the dead start speaking. To her. For real. And for dead people, they've got lots to say. Contains some descriptions of sex, some strong language, and some violence.

6. DBC08730 Harvey Houses of Kansas: historic hospitality from Topeka to Syracuse by Rosa Walston Latimer

Starting in Kansas, Fred Harvey's iconic Harvey House was the first to set the standard for fine dining and hospitality across the rugged Southwest. In 1876, the first of Harvey's depot restaurants opened in Topeka, followed just a few years later by the first combination hotel and restaurant in Florence. Fred Harvey and the Harvey Girls introduced good food and manners to the land of Bat Masterson, Wyatt Earp and raucous cattle drives. In her third book on the Harvey House legacy, author Rosa Walston Latimer goes back to where it all began in this history of hospitality from the Sunflower State.

7. DBC05083 Time's shadow: remembering a family farm in Kansas by Arnold J. Bauer

Arnold Bauer grew up on his family's 160-acre farm in Goshen Township in Clay County, Kansas, amidst a land of prairie grass and rich creek-bottom soil. His meditative and moving account of those years depicts a century-long narrative of struggle, survival, and demise. A coming-of-age memoir set in the 1930s to 50s, it blends local history with personal reflection to paint a realistic picture of farm life and families from a now-lost world. Contains some strong language and some violence.

8. DBC06579 Shadow on the hill: the true story of a 1925 Kansas murder by Diana Staresinic-Deane

On Decoration Day in 1925, John Knoblock returned to his Kansas farm to find his wife slaughtered on the kitchen floor. Within hours, dozens of lawmen, family members, well-meaning neighbors and gawkers paraded through the Knoblock farmstead, contaminating and destroying what little evidence was left behind. A small team of inexperienced lawmen, including a newly elected sheriff who had never run a murder investigation, attempted to reconstruct and solve the most gruesome murder in the history of Coffey County, Kansas. Adult. Some violence.

9. DBC08676 The border between them: violence and reconciliation on the Kansas-Missouri line by Jeremy Neely

The author recounts the exploits of John Brown, William Quantrill, and other notorious guerrillas, as well as the stories of everyday people who lived through the conflict that marked the terrible first act of the American Civil War. He then examines how emancipation, industrialization, and immigration eventually eroded wartime divisions. Some violence.

10. DBC02420 And hell followed with it: life and death in a Kansas tornado by Bonar Menninger

Detailed account of the June 1966 tornado in Topeka, where property damage of $100 million made it the most destructive in U.S. history up to that time. Some violence and some strong language.

January is a fresh start to a new year. Wondering what our staff is reading this month? Some of us are rereading some of our favorite comfort reads while others are reading new books. Check out what we're reading and see if any of these will be your next read.

Michael Lang, Director

DB 119203 Orbital by Samantha Harvey

"A slender novel of epic power, Orbital deftly snapshots one day in the lives of six women and men hurtling through space-not towards the moon or the vast unknown, but around our planet. Selected for one of the last space station missions of its kind before the program is dismantled, these astronauts and cosmonauts-from America, Russia, Italy, Britain, and Japan-have left their lives behind to travel at a speed of over seventeen thousand miles an hour as the earth reels below. We glimpse moments of their earthly lives through brief communications with family, their photos and talismans; we watch them whip up dehydrated meals, float in gravity-free sleep, and exercise in regimented routines to prevent atrophying muscles; we witness them form bonds that will stand between them and utter solitude. Most of all, we are with them as they behold and record their silent blue planet. Their experiences of sixteen sunrises and sunsets and the bright, blinking constellations of the galaxy are at once breathtakingly awesome and surprisingly intimate. So are the marks of civilization far below, encrusted on the planet on which we live." -- Provided by publisher. -- Commercial audiobook.

DB 124838 Blood test by Charles Baxter

"In this fresh take on love and trouble in the American heartland, Brock Hobson, an insurance salesman and Sunday-school teacher, finds his equilibrium disturbed by the results of a blood test. Baxter, a master storyteller, brings us a gradually building rollercoaster narrative, and a protagonist who is impertinent, searching, and hilariously relatable. From his good-as-gold, gentle girlfriend to the excessively macho subcontractor guy his ex-wife left him for, not to mention his well-raised teenage kids, now exploring sex and sexuality, the secondary characters in Brock's life all contribute meaningfully to the drama, as increasing challenges to his sense of self and purpose crash over him. The final battle--no spoilers, but there is one--couldn't be more delightful, as this quick and bracing novel reminds us to choose the best people to love, accept the ones we love even if we didn't choose them, and love them all well"-- Provided by publisher. -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

Nataly Renfro, Machine Clerk

DB 122854 The black bird oracle by Deborah Harkness

"Diana Bishop journeys to the darkest places within herself--and her family history--in the highly anticipated fifth novel of the beloved #1 New York Times bestselling All Souls series. Deborah Harkness first introduced the world to Diana Bishop, Oxford scholar and witch, and vampire geneticist Matthew de Clairmont in A Discovery of Witches. Drawn to each other despite long-standing taboos, these two other-worldly beings found themselves at the center of a battle for a lost, enchanted manuscript known as Ashmole 782. Since then, they have fallen in love, traveled to Elizabethan England, dissolved the Covenant between the three species, and awoken the dark powers within Diana's family line. Now, Diana and Matthew receive a formal demand from the Congregation: They must test the magic of their seven-year-old twins, Pip and Rebecca. Concerned with their safety and desperate to avoid the same fate that led her parents to spellbind her, Diana decides to forge a different path for her family's future and answers a message from a great-aunt she never knew existed, Gwyneth Proctor, whose invitation simply reads: It's time you came home, Diana. On the hallowed ground of Ravenswood, the Proctor family home, and under the tutelage of Gwyneth, a talented witch grounded in higher magic, a new era begins for Diana: a confrontation with her family's dark past, and a reckoning for her own desire for even greater power-if she can let go, finally, of her fear of wielding it"-- Provided by publisher. -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

Ryan Lauber, Library Assistant

DB 94475 Mistborn by Brondon Sanderson

In the prisons of the Lord Ruler, Kelsier discovers he has the powers of the Mistborn. A brilliant thief, Kel recruits a team from the underworld's elite to challenge the Lord Ruler. It's a long shot, until Kel finds the ragged girl Vin, a half-skaa orphan like him. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2006.

Jason Brinkman, Production Manager

DB 123864 The fellowship of the ring: being the first part of the lord of the rings by J. R. R. Tolkien

"Frodo Baggins, a young hobbit, sets out on a perilous journey to the Cracks of Doom, along with a band of warriors from different kingdoms, to destroy the Dark Lord's Ring of Power."-- WorldCat. -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

DB 123865 The two towers: being the second part of the lord of the rings by J. R. R. Tolkien

"Frodo and his Companions of the Ring have been beset by danger during their quest to prevent the Ruling Ring from falling into the hands of the Dark Lord by destroying it in the Cracks of Doom. They have lost the wizard, Gandalf, in a battle in the Mines of Moria. And Boromir, seduced by the power of the Ring, tried to seize it by force. While Frodo and Sam made their escape, the rest of the company was attacked by Orcs. Now they continue the journey alone down the great River Anduin-alone, that is, save for the mysterious creeping figure that follows wherever they go."-- Goodreads. -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

DB 123866 The return of the king: being the third part of the lord of the rings by J. R. R. Tolkien

"Presents the adventures of the little hobbit Frodo Baggins and his trusty companion, Sam as they journey from Middle Earth to the land of the Shadow in a final reckoning with the evil power of Sauron."-- From publisher. -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

Maggie Witte, Outreach Librarian

DB 113965 The Wager: a tale of shipwreck, mutiny and murder by David Grann

"On January 28, 1742, a ramshackle vessel of patched-together wood and cloth washed up on the coast of Brazil. Inside were thirty emaciated men, barely alive, and they had an extraordinary tale to tell. They were survivors of His Majesty's Ship the Wager, a British vessel that had left England in 1740 on a secret mission during an imperial war with Spain. While the Wager had been chasing a Spanish treasure-filled galleon known as "the prize of all the oceans," it had wrecked on a desolate island off the coast of Patagonia. The men, after being marooned for months and facing starvation, built the flimsy craft and sailed for more than a hundred days, traversing nearly 3,000 miles of storm-wracked seas. They were greeted as heroes. But then ... six months later, another, even more decrepit craft landed on the coast of Chile. This boat contained just three castaways, and they told a very different story. The thirty sailors who landed in Brazil were not heroes - they were mutineers. The first group responded with countercharges of their own, of a tyrannical and murderous senior officer and his henchmen. It became clear that while stranded on the island the crew had fallen into anarchy, with warring factions fighting for dominion over the barren wilderness. As accusations of treachery and murder flew, the Admiralty convened a court martial to determine who was telling the truth. The stakes were life-and-death-for whomever the court found guilty could hang. The Wager is a grand tale of human behavior at the extremes told by one of our greatest nonfiction writers. Grann's recreation of the hidden world on a British warship rivals the work of Patrick O'Brian, his portrayal of the castaways' desperate straits stands up to the classics of survival writing such as The Endurance, and his account of the court martial has the savvy of a Scott Turow thriller. As always with Grann's work, the incredible twists of the narrative hold the reader spellbound." -- Provided by publisher. -- Some violence. Commercial audiobook. Bestseller.

DB 110541 A merry little meet cute by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone

"Bee Hobbes (aka Bianca Von Honey) has a successful career as a plus-size adult film star. With a huge following and two supportive moms, Bee couldn't ask for more. But when Bee's favorite producer casts her to star in a Christmas movie he's making for the squeaky-clean Hope Channel, Bee's career is about to take a more family-friendly direction. Forced to keep her work as Bianca under wraps, Bee quickly learns this is a task a lot easier said than done. Though it all becomes worthwhile when she discovers her co-star is none other than childhood crush Nolan Shaw, an ex-boy band member in desperate need of career rehab. Nolan's promised his bulldog manager to keep it zipped up on set, and he will if it means he'll be able to provide a more stable living situation for his sister and mom. But things heat up quickly in Christmas Notch, Vermont, when Nolan recognizes his new co-star from her ClosedDoors account (oh yeah, he's a member). Now Bee and Nolan are sneaking off for quickies on set, keeping their new relationship a secret from the Hope Channel's execs. Things only get trickier when the reporter who torpedoed Nolan's singing career comes snooping around--and takes an instant interest in mysterious newcomer Bee. And if Bee and Nolan can't keep their off-camera romance behind the scenes, then this merry little meet cute might end up on the cutting room floor." -- Provided by publisher. -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

DB 115206 Fourth wing by Rebecca Yarros

"Enter the brutal and elite world of a war college for dragon riders from USA Today bestselling author Rebecca Yarros. Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life among books and history. Now, the commanding general-also known as her tough-as-talons mother-has ordered Violet to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become the elite of Navarre: dragon riders. But when you're smaller than everyone else and your body is brittle, death is only a heartbeat away ... because dragons don't bond to "fragile" humans. They incinerate them. With fewer dragons willing to bond than cadets, most would kill Violet to better their own chances of success. The rest would kill her just for being her mother's daughter-like Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and ruthless wingleader in the Riders Quadrant. She'll need every edge her wits can give her just to see the next sunrise. Yet, with every day that passes, the war outside grows more deadly, the kingdom's protective wards are failing, and the death toll continues to rise. Even worse, Violet begins to suspect leadership is hiding a terrible secret. Friends, enemies, lovers. Everyone at Basgiath War College has an agenda-because once you enter, there are only two ways out: graduate or die." -- Provided by publisher. -- Explicit descriptions of sex, some strong language, violence. Commercial audiobook. Bestseller.

It is with delight that we bring you these recommendations from one patron to another as a start to the new year. This patron, Donna, is an avid reader who has shared with the Kansas Talking Books staff read-alike recommendations: that is, books, series, or authors you might like if you've read x. What makes these recommendations so awesome is that she has read these books, and she is a patron just like you. Be on the look out for more of Donna's recommendations throughout the year!

So, if you're searching for something new to read, check out Donna's read-alike recommendations and happy reading!

• Fans of William Bernhardt's Ben Kincaid series might also enjoy books by Barry Reed. These authors are both legal fiction but are more aligned than, say, with John Grisham and/or Lisa Scottoline.
• Fans of A Time to Kill by John Grisham might enjoy A Calamity of Souls by David Baldacci.
• Fans of Donna Andrews' Meg Langslow series might like Jess Lourey's PI Mira James series and the first book in the Riley Ellison series by Jill Orr.
• Theater Nights are Murder: Poppy McAllister, book 4 by Libby Klein is HIGHLY recommended for fans of Jana DeLeon's Miss Fortune series. It was hysterical. At the play's opening night, I laughed until I cried. Poppy has a cat, Sir Figaro Newton, who is quite the drama king. When he wants attention or to make a point, he just flops over as if he were reenacting a death scene. This book, with the senior center play, is by far the funniest of her books. Miss Fortune has Ida Belle and Gertie, while Poppy has her eccentric aunt along with three senior citizens, who are hysterical. I'm laughing again at the antics of dress rehearsal night.
• Fans of Avery Aames, Ellie Alexander, Winnie Archer, Ginger Bolton, Joanna Carl, Vivien Chien, Nancy Coco, Krista Davis, Maddie Day, Daryl Wood Gerber, Libby Klein, and Jenn McKinlay might also like the Sweet Bites series by Heather Justesen.
• Fans of Jana DeLeon's Miss Fortune series, Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum, Joanne Fluke's Hannah Swensen, and Liz Mugavero's Pawsitively Organic series might also like Julie Chase's Kitty Couture series.
• Fans of Patricia Cornwell and Kathy Reichs might like Lisa Black's Theresa MacLean series. *Disclaimer: I've only read a few of the Cornwell books and actually none of the Temperance books--just the TV show based on same books--only her young adult series. Thus, what I remember might not compute, but it is the best I can recollect. If you may think of others who write with medical detail, then Lisa Black is a good author. Maybe even Robin Cook, but his stand-alone books are more balanced with adjacent drama storylines instead of specifically forensics only, although to be fair, I've not yet enjoyed his forensic pathologist Laurie Montgomery series. (So much to read, so little time.)
• Fans of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series will love Adrienne Giordano's Lucie Rizzo series. In fact, there are enough zany moments in there to make fans of Jana DeLeon's Miss Fortune series also love the Lucie Rizzo series. One difference is the dog factor. However, I'm not particularly fond of dogs, yet I still thoroughly enjoyed the series.

Check it out, our top 10 talking books from 2024. How many have you read?

1. DB115520 The Cowboy's Mistletoe Christmas: Sweet Water Ranch, Book 1 by Jessie Gussman.

    

2. DB117604 Ties That Bind: Amish of Summer Grove, Book 1 by Cindy Woodsmall.

    

3. DB118079 Five Days in Skye: MacDonald Family, Book 1 by Carla Laureano.

    

4. DB118118 Hope in the Mountain River: Call of the Rockies, Book 2 by Misty M. Beller.

    

5. DB115858 The Cowboy's Marriage Mistake: Sweet Water Ranch, Book 11 by Jessie Gussman.

    

6. DB120470 The Peasant King by Tessa Afshar.

    

7. DB115697 Grizzly Killer: Day of Reckoning, Book 15 by Lane R. Warenski.

    

8. DB115590 Stairs of Sand by Zane Grey.

    

9. DB119879 I Heard a Fly Buzz When I Died : Emily Dickinson Mysteries, Book 2 by Amanda Flower.

    

10. DB118571 London Tides: MacDonald Family trilogy, Book 2 by Carla Laureano.

     

    All of these titles (and thousands more) can be downloaded today with BARD, the Braille and Audio Reading Download service. Need these titles mailed to you? We're here to help, call 800-362-0699 or email KTB@ks.gov. 

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, Director

DB 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 Manager

DB 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 Assistant

DB 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 Librarian

DB 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.

Kansas Talking Books' Audio Described Movies

Did 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.

DVD

Big 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.

VHS

Beauty 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 Movies

Not 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-G

Mariah 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-G

Snoopy 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-G

Disney+

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 PG

A 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 PG

Mickey 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-G

Noelle (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 G

The 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 G

The 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 PG

Netflix

A 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 PG

Christmas 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-PG

Dolly 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-PG

Jingle 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 PG

Klaus (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 PG

That 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 PG

The 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 PG

Prime Video

Beethoven'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 PG

Candy 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 PG

It'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 PG

Santa Claus is Comin' to Town (1970)

“A mailman reveals the origin of Santa Claus.” – from IMDB. Included with Prime. Rated ALL

White 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+

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.