SJPL Recommendation News: October 2024

Welcome Back!

Welcome, or welcome back, to SJPL's Rec News, an occasional publication featuring recreational and recommended reading from our SJPL Librarians. Last month, opens a new window, we took a look at some curated lists to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, which spans the first half of October in addition to the last two weeks of September; as well as several lists featuring collections of Short Stories to build excitement and help find inspiration for the Fall Into Fiction contest. We will get to read the winners of the Fall Into Fiction, opens a new window contest later in October, but until then we have a number of reads to keep you busy.

October Holidays to Read All About

October is a busy month with many fun and important holidays arriving weekly. There's the Swedish observance Kanelbullens Dag (that's Cinnamon Bun Day!) on October 4, South Korea celebrating Hangul Day October 9, National Coming Out Day on October 11, Indigenous People's Day on October 14, Global Cat Day on October 16, and Filipino-American Heritage Month as well as National Book Month being celebrated throughout October. October celebrations herald the beginning of the end-of-year holiday season, and we have several booklists to help us get a readin' for the season. Here are an assortment of lists or suggested reads to help get you started for these observances:

• For Kanelbullens Dag, try making a true kanelbulle using Anna Brones' recipe from Fika: the Art of the Swedish Coffee Break, opens a new window
• In the spirit of Hangul Day, which celebrates the Hangul (Korean) alphabet invented by king Sejong the Great, try a book from our YA Fiction inspired by K-Pop and K-Dramas, opens a new window, or some great YA Historical fiction set in Korea, opens a new window by author June Hur.
• For Coming Out Day, SJPL has all sorts of lists highlighting LGBTQIA+ authors and characters!, opens a new window
• We have lists for Children, opens a new window, Teens/YA,, opens a new window and Adults, opens a new window featuring Indigenous voices for Indigenous Peoples' Day.
• We also have lists for Filipino-American Heritage Month for Children, opens a new window, Teens/YA, opens a new window, and Adults, opens a new window!
• Try a work of Debut fiction for Teens/YA, opens a new window or Adults, opens a new window to celebrate the newly published authors adding to our libraries for National Book Month.

Halloween at Your Library

Yet, despite these myriad monthly celebrations in October, for many of us one holiday comes to the forefront of our mind this time of year. October is the month where many of us dust off our witches hats, cut holes in our sheets, put our hands in hidden bowls of peeled grapes, and purchase anatomically incorrect creature skeletons. Yes, I'm talking about Halloween, so never fear (or, actually, do fear, in the spirit of the holiday), we have plenty of recommendations to help you get "sbooky" this month, as well. Plus, as always, the library will celebrate Halloween, opens a new window in style with a variety of events, including the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library's annual tradition, the Halloween Program & Costume Parade, opens a new window, which this year falls on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, at 4:00pm.

Books for Halloween

Tricks 

• Scary Stories (for grades ~3-7), opens a new window
• YA/Teen Horror, opens a new window
• Horror (for Adults), opens a new window

Treats 

• Halloween Picture Books (for young children), opens a new window

SJPL Picks: Quick Links

If this month's featured reads aren't quite what you're in the mood for, or you're looking to expand your browsing further, try checking out any and all of the lists from our librarians on our SJPL Picks team. All our lists will be labeled "SJPL Picks" or "SJPL Recommends".

• Recommended Reading (landing page), opens a new window
• Adult Picks, opens a new window
• Teen Picks, opens a new window
• Kids Picks, opens a new window
• Picks en Español, opens a new window

SJPL 5forU

If you're looking for further recommendations and aren't in the mood to browse, let us do the browsing for you! San José Public Library's 5forU team offers personalized recommendations via email. You can also fill in the profile on someone else's behalf and we can find just the right titles - perfect for caregivers looking to recommend books to their children, for book clubs stumped on what to discuss next meeting, or if you're hoping to give the gift of literature. Just fill in the profile and we'll do the rest - and remember, the more information you give us in the profile, the better and more tailored your recommendations will be! Hearing exactly why you love or hate a book gives us more clues to find your new favorite- it just so happens to be what we love to talk about, too, so don't hold back. Ready to begin your 5forU journey?

Start your 5forU Request!