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Happy New Year!

We've said goodbye to 2020 and are looking forward to the good things that 2021 has to bring. And that means a lot of great events and activities at the library as well. A lot of them will still be virtual, and a few will be in person, but they all offer a chance to be entertained, learn something new or do something you may not have done before. Here's a snapshot of what's coming up this month:

NEA Big Read: Wichita launches this Saturday, Jan. 9, with a virtual kickoff event 2:30-4 p.m. on KPTS Channel 8 or KPTS.org and you can pick up your *free* copy of this year's book, Circe, by Madeline Miller, at the front desk or drive-thru window, also beginning Jan. 9. Read more about the Big Read farther down in this newsletter.
A new youth services brochure is out, detailing all the great programs available for kids and teens, as well as new at-home story time guides available on the library website under the Kids & Teens tab.
Looking for a way to up your reading game a little bit? Join one of the three book clubs hosted by the library. They are open to anyone who would like to come and may help you find your next favorite book. See more information farther down in the newsletter.
Our yoga series continues, led by Miss Alyssa. Look for the yoga poster farther down in this newsletter for dates and which sessions will be virtual and which will be in person (limited space available).

Be sure to follow the library on Facebook and Instagram, and subscribe to our YouTube channel so you hear about events that are happening. Be sure to check our pages regularly for updates!

My Favorite Things by 16 Derby Artists

The Derby Arts Council is proud to present “My Favorite Things,” an exhibit showcasing the incredible talent of Derby artists. Works by 16 artists from Derby are featured in the High Wall Gallery and will be on display through the end of January.

This show is a perfect opportunity for the people of Derby and the surrounding area to see the level of artistic talent that resides in the community. Several artistic mediums are on display including photography, graphite, printmaking, oils and acrylics.

Derby artists included in the show are: David Birmingham, Shirley Carrick, Bill Fales, John Gabor, Gary Genge, Skip Kreibach, Sheila Maksimowicz, Marcia Scurfield, Linda Slack, Cass Smith, Linda Smith, Betty Thompson, Rita Tillison, Barney Tull, Mark Ward, and Karon Watson.

The Pollinator
by Marcia Scurfield

Time to Go
by John Gabor

Library holiday closures this month

The library will be closed Monday, Jan. 17, in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

Looking for someplace to discuss books? We've got you covered!

We have three active book groups here at the library that are open to everyone. If you love to read and talk about the books you read, pop in to one or more of the book groups!

Bemused Biblipohiles — meets at 1 p.m. Jan. 6. The title for January is The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix. *The book club will meet in person in the Community Room.

Hauntingly Good Reads — meets at 7 p.m. Jan. 11. The title for January is Midnight Riot by Ben Aaronovitch. *This month, the book club will meet via Zoom. Please contact Cori Dodds at cori@derbylibrary.com for a link to the meeting.

Joyful Page Turners — meets at 6 p.m. Jan. 28. The book chosen for January is Let Him Go by Larry Watson. The book club will meet in person in the Community Room.

Bemused Bibliophiles meets during the day and reads popular books that have been on the bestseller list. Hauntingly Good Reads meets in the evening and explores all kinds of books that have a supernatural/magical/unexplainable kind of bent—we look far beyond the traditional vampires, ghosts and witches.

Joyful Page Turners is the most enduring book club at the library—it's been meeting regularly since May 2000! Books selected for this book club include just about everything: classics, modern bestsellers, non-fiction, and more.

Click the red "Read More" button below to visit the book club page on the library website, where you can find lists of books each book club has read.

It's time for this year's NEA Big Read: Wichita!

We are excited to partner once again with Wichita Public Library for the annual NEA Big Read. We're providing tons of great programming, along with all the Big Read partners in the Wichita area. Scroll down the page just a little bit to learn more about our teen art show, a fantastic take-home murder mystery box for teens and adults, and special events planned just for the younger set.

Adults can join us for a mythological movie series, on Tuesdays, with family friendly flicks showing at 6 p.m. on Jan. 12 and 26, and Feb. 9. Movies for the grown-up crowd will show at noon on Jan. 19 and Feb. 2 and 16. Book discussions will take place at the Lodge on Jan. 28 and Feb. 5.

Pick up your free copy of Circe by Madeline Miller beginning Jan. 9. Copies are available at the front desk and the drive-thru. For a complete list of Big Read events around the area, click on the big, red Read More button to visit the Big Read: Wichita website.

Library hours in January:

9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Monday-Thursday

9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Friday

9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday

Please wear a mask and social distance while visiting the library.

Five books that Amelia loved this year!

Olaf’s Frozen Adventure (Board Book) - Amelia is obsessed with all things Frozen. This book is directly from the Disney short with the same name. She loved reading the “O-af” book. She even fell asleep with it!

A Kitten Tale by Eric Rohmann – Who doesn’t love a kitten book?! Follow four little kittens as they go through the seasons. None of them have ever seen snow. Three of the kittens do not want snow to come, but the fourth kitten can’t wait! Amelia enjoyed seeing the kittens play in all the seasons, especially the snow. Every time we would get to the end, she would yell “Snow Mama!”

Babies in the Bayou by Jim Arnosky- If your child loves baby animals, this is the book for them. Amelia and I both loved looking at all the little babies and their parents that you would find in the Bayou.

Tiny T. Rex and the Very Dark Dark by Jonathan Stutzman- Two little dinosaurs face their fears about the dark dark. I really thought Amelia would enjoy this book because she usually likes dinosaurs. This book maybe for an older toddler, because the “Grumbles” and “Nom-bies” (dark shadow figures) scared her. She had absolutely no interest after the first reading.

This Is A Dog by Ross Collins – An excitable (but very lovable) dog has found his way into this book of animals, and he will *not* let any of the other animals share the spotlight. Dogs are far more important, after all! And when the other animals get angry, this dog comes up with a cunning plan to outwit them. -Amazon summary

I can’t even tell you how many times I read this, and am still reading this to Amelia. It’s a simple book to read, and after a few times, Amelia was able to read it herself. All the antics the dog does make Amelia giggle and say “What’s doggy doing?” Highly recommend this book!

The Arctic Fury
by Greer McAllister

First Line: In the front row sit the survivors.

Summary: Virginia Reeve has spent years as a guide for settlers trying to cross the mountains to California until one day she receives a request for a new adventure. Upon meeting her new benefactor she learns that she is going to be leading a group of women into the arctic to find the ships and crew of the Terror and Erebus. Many men have tried and now it is time to let women try to succeed where the men failed. However, not everything turns out like Virginia and her hopeful crew had planned.

My Thoughts: I went into this book really excited because I loved the author’s debut novel, The Magician’s Lie. And I am not saying I didn’t like the book. I did. I found the story interesting and the setting fascinating but it just didn’t have the same magic as her first book. I liked how the author linked several very tragic events together in one book. Virginia kept referring to the Very Bad Thing. I guessed early on what this was but I liked that twist. I definitely did a lot of reading on the internet to get better informed about the true events behind the story.

One thing that surprised me was that there was very little time in the book dedicated to the actual time on the ice of the arctic. But the descriptions were stunning. I cannot imagine trying to spend time, especially months in the winter, in the arctic. I could tell that the author did research on survival skills, the time period and life on the ice.

Release date: Dec. 1, 2020

Ashley's rating:

A Deadly Education
by Naomi Novik

First Line: I decided that Orion needed to die after the second time he saved my life.

Summary: The Scholomance is a school for wizards. However, this is not your ordinary school. There are no teachers, monsters lurk around every corner and allies are more important than friends. El has spent her years here trying to stay alive, literally. And even though she has extraordinary powers she has to keep them in check otherwise she could destroy the school and everyone in it. With her reputation as a dark wizard and her grumpy attitude she has never made any friends but that all changes when Orion Lake decides to save her life, again.

My Thoughts: This book was crazy! The first few chapters had so much information, world building and magic system in it that it nearly overwhelmed me but I stuck with it. It was worth it! There are many books that are trying to be like Harry Potter but this takes it to another level. Monsters creep out of every nook and cranny. The school is forever changing. Fellow students may try to ally themselves with you or kill you. No teachers or even any adults are in the school. And graduation is a life or death situation.

Everything about this book was different and exciting. I loved the ending. It was thrilling and fast paced. I wish it didn’t have to end but it gave such a good cliffhanger that I am eagerly anticipating the next book. It cannot come soon enough!

Release date: Sept. 29, 2020