Bingeworthy TV: Avatar: The Last Airbender

“Water... Earth... Fire... Air. Long ago, the four nations lived together in harmony. Then everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked. Only the Avatar, master of all four elements, could stop them. But when the world needed him most, he vanished. A hundred years passed and my brother and I discovered the new Avatar, an airbender named Aang. And although his airbending skills are great, he still has a lot to learn before he's ready to save anyone. But I believe Aang can save the world.”

This is a lot of pressure for a twelve-year-old boy who just came out of an iceberg. Aang, the last of the airbenders and title character of Avatar: The Last Airbender, has been encased in suspended animation for a hundred years. During that time, a war has raged and the Fire Nation has committed genocide against the Air Nomads, leaving Aang as the last of his people. In order to restore balance to the world, Aang has a year to master the remaining three elements. In each nation there are individuals who can “bend” or control their element through psychokinetic martial arts. The avatar is the only person who can master all four elements and is tasked with maintaining peace and order in the world and acting as mediator between humans and spirits.

Aang sets out on his flying bison, Appa, with his new friends Katara and Sokka to find the water, earth, and fire bending teachers so that he can realize his potential as the Avatar and end the war before it is too late. As awesome as this responsibility is, Aang is still a child and finds plenty of time to have fun and get into all kinds of shenanigans while evading and a couple times escaping Fire Nation custody. This show is fun for the whole family; children and adults alike will be riveted by Aang’s adventures, heartbreaks, and transformation into a young man with the weight or the world on his shoulders.

~Becca, Technical Services

#ComicWednesdays: CatStronauts Mission Moon by Drew Brockington

Do you love cats? How do you feel about outer space? I love cats and I also love space, so CatStronauts Mission Moon by Drew Brockington was perfect for me.

The world is in an energy crisis! Worldwide blackouts have alerted the President that the world is running out of power. Since switching to battery-use only is not a long-term solution, he consults the World's Best Scientist who comes up with a plan. Build a solar plant on the moon! Sending the CatStronauts to the moon is their best bet for clean, renewable energy. (I wish it worked like this in the real world.) Our CatStronauts are the commander Major Meowser, pilot Waffles, inventor Blanket, and science officer Pom Pom. We follow them as they train for their mission and blast off to save cat-kind!

Cat. Astronauts. CatStronauts. I feel like I don't even need to say anything else, because that sounds so awesome on its own. This comic is perfect for all ages.There's a lot of puns and funny imagery to keep younger kids interested, but there are some jokes for older folks too. (The Neil Armstrong cat cameo comes to mind.) Basically, if you like cats, space, or both cats and space, check out CatStronauts Mission Moon. And then check out CatStronauts Race to Mars. Be on the lookout for CatStronauts Space Station Situation in October.

- Libby, Youth Services

#ComicsWednesday: Bad Machinery: The Case of the Team Spirit by John Allison

This week I want to tell you about Bad Machinery Vol. 1: The Case of the Team Spirit by John Allison. Bad Machinery started and continues as a web comic. It is the successor to his earlier comic, Scary Go Round. Bad Machinery follows a group of schoolchildren in the town of Tackleford, England. Charlotte, Jack, Shauna, Linton, Mildred, and Sonny solve crimes around town. This is the first case they all tackle together, and it involves the Tackleford City Football Club (that's a soccer team to us Yanks), a curse, and a nice old lady named Mrs. Biscuits.

Bad Machinery is relatable on many levels. The experience in middle school is almost universal, which makes this a great read for the 12-and-up set. The kids deal with bullies, mean teachers, and clueless parents. Allison's humor is dry and, at times, surreal. The witty banter between these kids is honestly laugh-out-loud funny. Read this book in public at your own discretion and don't say I didn't warn you when you get shushed for snorting when you try to hold in a laugh. When you're done with this one, there are five more in print. You can get The Case of the Good Boy, The Case of  the Simple Soul, The Case of the Lonely One, The Case of the Fire Inside, and The Case of the Unwelcome Visitor here at Carnegie-Stout. To read past that, you'll have to hit up the website.

- Libby, Youth Services

#ComicsWednesday: The Nameless City by Faith Erin Hicks & Jordie Bellaire

A city, built on a mountain pass, constantly invaded and claimed for the surrounding nations, each nation calling it something different. The people who live in the city call it the Nameless City, and the invaders who try to give it names are outsiders.

The current nation to occupy the City are the Dao. Kaidu, our hero, is a Dao boy who comes to the city to meet his father and train for the military. Kaidu is more of a dreamer than a fighter, and his father is a scatterbrained military strategist. Kaidu sneaks out of the palace and meets a headstrong girl named Rat. Rat is a girl of the City, and she runs like the wind. Kaidu and Rat become unlikely friends, and when the City they both love is endangered, they stand together to fight injustice.

I really enjoyed this book. I've been a fan of Faith Erin Hicks since I first read The Adventures of Superhero Girl. The Nameless City introduces us to a lushly imagined world, full of relatable characters and thought-provoking situations. At its heart, this is a story about friendship in the face of adversity, and it is incredibly enjoyable.

Hicks' drawings and Bellaire's coloring are seamless. The color palette and the story reminded me of the world of Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra. If you're a fan of those shows, then you will enjoy The Nameless City. The second book in the series, The Stone Heart, comes out next month. I can't wait!


-Libby, Youth Services.

#MCM Man Crush Monday- Carlos Arturo Torres

Who is Carlos Arturo Torres? He's a designer who's making some children's lives much more exciting.

Photo from http://www.wired.com/2015/07/lego-makes-everything-bettereven-prosthetic-kids/?mbid=nl_72815.

Torres created Iko, a prosthetic arm that can be customized with Legos, allowing children to make their arms look however they want and help them feel more comfortable and have fun while wearing the prosthetic. It's a great step in a field where 3-D printers are already making strides in how prosthetic limbs look. It's an awesome idea and for that, Carlos Arturo Torres is our Man Crush.

Read about Carlos and Iko here.

Interested in health and science? Take a look at some of our newer books on those subjects.

Eat. Nourish. Glow.: 10 Easy Steps for Losing Weight, Looking Younger, and Feeling Healthier by Amelia Freer

Genomic Messages: How the Evolving Science of Genetics Affects Our Health, Family, and Future by George Annas, J.D. and Sherman Alias, M.D.

No Sweat: How the Simple Science of Motivation Can Bring You a Lifetime of Fitness by Michelle Segar, Ph. D

The Nurses: A Year with the Heroes Behind the Hospital Curtain by Alexandra Robbins