BPL Staff Picks: February 2026Like this list

21 items

• The Magic Fish

  Nguyen, Trung Le,

  Add The Magic Fish to your for later shelf

  Teen Graphic Novel. I picked this up on a whim because I wanted to read a banned book, and I’m so glad I did. The art and story are both beautiful and I cried multiple times while reading it. - Veronica K, Central Library

• That's Not How It Happened

  a Novel

  Thomas, Craig (Writer),

  Add That's Not How It Happened to your for later shelf

  Fiction. A very funny debut novel from the co-creator of "How I Met Your Mother." The book takes on many themes, from marriage to family, and from the film industry to love and relationships. Fast paced and with many laugh-out-loud moments, it's…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• What Is Wrong With Men

  Patriarchy, the Crisis of Masculinity, and How (of Course) Michael Douglas Films Explain Everything

  Crispin, Jessa,

  Add What Is Wrong With Men to your for later shelf

  Nonfiction. Wow. The title says it all. In this fun (and funny) book, Crispin examines the breakdown of American patriarchy through the lens of Michael Douglas films of the 1980s and '90s. And I have seen them all! Even if you have not, the book…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Little Red and the Big Bad Editor

  Rector, Rebecca Kraft,

  Add Little Red and the Big Bad Editor to your for later shelf

  Children's Picture Book. The worlds of folklore and English composition collide in this fun retelling of the age-old classic! Little readers will learn the easy basics of writing thank-you notes to grandma while Red fends off the Big Bad Wolf. When…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Edinburgh Skating Club

  Sloan, Michelle

  Add The Edinburgh Skating Club to your for later shelf

  Historical Fiction. A cozy art mystery centered around the famous Scottish painting, "The Skating Minister." The book jumps back and forth between present day and 18th-century Edinburgh and examines gender roles, women's friendships, and love. -…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Witchwood Knot

  Atwater, Olivia

  Add The Witchwood Knot to your for later shelf

  Fantasy. I love sinister fairy fiction and this book delivers in spades! The main character, Winnie, is a delightful POV character---no-nonsense, full of lies, and possessed of a strong sense of justice papered over by trauma. Watching her and the…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• It Lurks in the Night

  Dass, Sarah,

  Add It Lurks in the Night to your for later shelf

  Teen Horror. Dass always does a great job of creating modern horror stories infused with mythology, and this story about a group of friends being stalked by a mysterious entity is no exception. I also thought this did a great job of balancing the…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Love, Dad

  Inspiring Notes From Fathers to Kids

  Warsh, Joel,

  Add Love, Dad to your for later shelf

  Children's Picture Book. A loving family sets the foundation for a child's life. A picture book full of warm messages from dads is a great way to enjoy time with your kid as you read to them. Celebrate family love this February! - Maggie L., Central…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Light Eaters

  How the Unseen World of Plant Intelligence Offers a New Understanding of Life on Earth

  Schlanger, Zoë,

  Add The Light Eaters to your for later shelf

  Nonfiction. Schlanger's examination of the controversial but growing study of plant intelligence is an accessible and revelatory look at how botanists have begun looking at the concept of consciousness, awareness, intelligence, agency... in plants.…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Amy Wu and the Lantern Festival

  Zhang, Kat, 1991-

  Add Amy Wu and the Lantern Festival to your for later shelf

  Children's Picture Book. I adore the "Amy Wu" picture book series, and this celebration of Lunar New Year might be my favorite in it! With fun facts about the holiday, beautiful art, lovable characters, and a sweet message, this book is a delight to…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Great Birthday Surprise!

  Wright, Tanya,

  Add The Great Birthday Surprise! to your for later shelf

  Children's Fiction. This new early chapter series is full of fun, whimsy, and imagination! I loved reading about Hairiette's creativity and positive attitude. This new series will be perfect for fans of Dory Fantasmagory, Junie B. Jones, and JoJo…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Hemlock & Silver

  Kingfisher, T.,

  Add Hemlock & Silver to your for later shelf

  Fantasy. I enjoyed this author's rich reinterpretation of the Snow White story. She takes a story we all know so well and gives it a twist to make it new and interesting. The pacing of the story and amount of action were just right for me. - Shane…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• North Sun, Or, The Voyage of the Whaleship Esther

  a Novel

  Rutherford, Ethan,

  Add North Sun, Or, The Voyage of the Whaleship Esther to your for later shelf

  Fiction. "North Sun" is one part traditional sea voyage novel, and one part mythical descent into the deep. With themes of predation and environmental exploitation, it recalls the past while offering a warning for the future. I know that I'll be…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Cold Eternity

  Barnes, S. A.,

  Add Cold Eternity to your for later shelf

  Horror. Look, I am a simple person. A book tells me it's about a cryogenics storage spaceship and I am there. "Cold Eternity" truly delivers on the suspense of strange noises rattling the walls of a deep space crypt! Our protagonist Halley was…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• When You Listen to This Song

  on Memory, Loss, and Writing

  Lafon, Lola, 1974-

  Add When You Listen to This Song to your for later shelf

  Biography/Memoir. There are ghosts in this book, and not only the specter of Anne Frank. Lafon pushes past mythology and comfort, circling around Frank's familiar story, until she reaches a heartbreaking personal reckoning. A remarkable meditation…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• ASAP

  Oh, Axie,

  Add ASAP to your for later shelf

  Teen Fiction. A light and enjoyable tale to help us get through the winter season. "ASAP" is a spin-off of the book "XOXO" and can be read as a standalone. It is perfect for readers who appreciate K-pop culture and second chances at love. - Valerie…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Puzzle Master

  a Novel

  Trussoni, Danielle,

  Add The Puzzle Master to your for later shelf

  Fiction. This suspenseful thriller involves a puzzle expert, a silent prisoner, and a conspiracy with the fate of humanity at stake. What a ride! Unbelievable! I highly recommend this one for folks who love puzzles, ciphers, and "The Da Vinci Code."…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Wild Seed

  Butler, Octavia E.,

  Add Wild Seed to your for later shelf

  Science Fiction. Butler is one of the all-time greats of science fiction, and this classic showcases her at the top of her game. Two African immortals---a shapeshifting healer and a body-hopping psychic---enter into a relationship that turns into a…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Shadow Life

  Goto, Hiromi, 1966-

  Add Shadow Life to your for later shelf

  Graphic Novel. A realistic look at an older Asian woman as she struggles with old age and Death coming to claim her. She fights back, and in the process, finds her first true love after fifty years apart. The story was fun, funny, sad, anxious, and…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Wild Dark Shore

  McConaghy, Charlotte,

  Add Wild Dark Shore to your for later shelf

  Fiction. As the caretakers of a remote island near Antarctica that is home to the world's largest seed bank, Dominic Salt and his three children are tasked with packing up the once-bustling research base when an unknown woman washes up on the shore.…Read moreRead more of this annotation