Whether you are traveling far from home or staying local this year, the New Orleans Public Library has a whole world of resources to accompany you on your journey.
For kids and adults alike, make sure to take advantage of the Library’s digital resources: Libby, Hoopla, and CloudLibrary. Available as apps, these three e-resources allow users to check out e-books and e-audiobooks, making it easy to bring a stack of books along with you on your travels without taking up any extra space in the suitcase. By setting the “audience” search filter to juvenile, young adult, or general content, it’s easy to find exactly the material you want.
For kids looking to explore the world around them, be sure to check out books from the Enchantment of the World series from our collection. With a different country featured in each book, this series contains clear text and gorgeous, full-color pictures. Simply search our online catalog (catalog.nolalibrary.org) for “Enchantment of the World,” and let the armchair travel begin.
Middle grade readers shouldn’t miss out on The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera. Petra, the protagonist of this impossible-to-put-down sci-fi novel, doesn’t just travel on Earth: she travels to an entirely new planet.
For readers looking for something a little closer to home, Clean Getaway by Nic Stone is the tale of a road trip that main character Scoob never expected to happen. When he’s grounded by his strict dad, and his grandma swings by in a brand-new RV to offer him a Spring Break vacation after all, he can’t say no. But, what he gets when he says yes is more than Scoob bargained for.
Teen readers looking for realistic fiction might want to check out Elizabeth Acevedo’s novel in verse Clap When You Land. Set in both the Dominican Republic and New York, Clap When You Land tells the story of half-sisters Camino and Yahaira who are unexpectedly drawn together by tragedy, even as they’re separated by an ocean.
Fantasy-lovers can “check in” to Emily J. Taylor’s new novel Hotel Magnifique, which takes place in an enchanting hotel that is constantly on the move and, below its magical surface, full of treacherous secrets.
Finally, the Library’s Culture Pass program allows cardholders to reserve tickets to local attractions, including the Audubon Institute, the WWII Museum, the New Orleans Museum of Art, and many more, so that staying here in New Orleans can include just as much fun and exploration as heading out of town. Visit culturepass.nolalibrary.org for details and to reserve your pass today.
August Smith is a youth services librarian at Robert E. Smith Library.