Library AF

Sacramento Public Library and the American River Parkway Foundation are delighted to extend their collaboration and bring more book-based programming to the parkway in 2026.

I learned about nature journaling at a recent library conference and was thrilled to see how accessible and low stakes the activities were. We will have a brief introduction to nature journaling, do some warm-up exercises, spend some time journaling independently, followed by a wrap-up as a whole group. All materials will be provided.

Parking info TBD

Other business:

• This program will take place outdoors. You are encouraged to wear clothing and footwear that provide some protection and bring what you need to feel comfortable (water, hat, sunscreen, etc.).
• Bring a chair or blanket if you have one! Some seating will be available onsite.

We are thrilled to officially announce R.L. Stine's author visit to Sacramento! He will be in conversation with Mychal Threets on October 7 at the Crest Theater.

To prepare for his visit, the Library AF book group is doing a reader's choice challenge! Pick up any book in the Goosebumps universe and come ready to chat about your favorite titles.

I'm finally ready to dip my toe into the extraordinary literary world of Silvia Moreno-Garcia! Her works have consistently popped up on "best of" lists and "great book club selections," so I'm looking forward to cracking the spine on Gods of Jade and Shadow, a Goodreads Choice Award nominee for Favorite Fantasy (2019).

"The Mayan god of death sends a young woman on a harrowing, life-changing journey in this one-of-a-kind fairy tale inspired by Mexican folklore.

The Jazz Age is in full swing, but Casiopea Tun is too busy cleaning the floors of her wealthy grandfather’s house to listen to any fast tunes. Nevertheless, she dreams of a life far from her dusty small town in southern Mexico. A life she can call her own.

Yet this new life seems as distant as the stars, until the day she finds a curious wooden box in her grandfather’s room. She opens it—and accidentally frees the spirit of the Mayan god of death, who requests her help in recovering his throne from his treacherous brother. Failure will mean Casiopea’s demise, but success could make her dreams come true.

In the company of the strangely alluring god and armed with her wits, Casiopea begins an adventure that will take her on a cross-country odyssey from the jungles of Yucatán to the bright lights of Mexico City—and deep into the darkness of the Mayan underworld."

Synopsis from Goodreads.com

A few Library AF book group members might remember author Kate Murphy's first book, You're Not Listening, from a few years ago and the discussion that came of it. I was thrilled to see her second book pop up in the library's catalog! So much so that I asked our Collection Services Department to make a Book Group Kit, thus enabling us to borrow it for our meeting 😁 I look forward to rounding out the 2026 reading year with Why We Click: the Emerging Science of Interpersonal Synchrony.

"Why do you immediately click with some people while others just as inexplicably turn you off? Do people emit vibes? Is it possible to read a room? Are bad habits contagious?

Kate Murphy, author of the international bestseller You’re Not Listening, answers these and other fascinating questions in Why We Click, the first book that explores the emerging science and outsize impact of interpersonal synchrony, the most consequential social dynamic most people have never heard of. Interpersonal synchrony is the seemingly magical, yet now scientifically documented, tendency of human beings to fall into rhythm and find resonance with one another.

Not only do we subconsciously match one another’s movements, postures, facial expressions, and gestures; recent breakthroughs in technology have revealed we also sync up our heart rates, blood pressure, brainwaves, pupil dilation, and hormonal activity. The result is that emotions, moods, attitudes, and subsequent behaviors can be as infectious as any disease, and can have just as profound an impact on our health and well-being.

Interweaving science, philosophy, literature, history, business management theory, pop-culture, and plenty of relatable, real world examples, Why We Click explains why being “in sync,” “in tune,” “in step,” and “on the same wavelength” are more than just turns of phrase. From the bedroom to the boardroom and beyond, Murphy reveals with characteristic curiosity, concision, and wit how our instinct to sync with others drives much of our behavior and how our deepest desires—to be known, admired, loved, and connected—are so often thwarted in modern life."

Synopsis from Goodreads.com