As the world became enveloped in a universal uncertainty as COVID cases increased by the minute globally, there was one thing that I and many others could count on: the release of Animal Crossing: New Horizons for the Nintendo Switch. The long-awaited addition to the Animal Crossing franchise resulted in previously closed GameStop stores being opened back up for midnight releases, and everyone counted down the hours until they could log onto their Switches and get ready for their island getaway. For those who are unfamiliar with Animal Crossing, it is a series of games released by Nintendo in which you play as the one human character in a world entirely inhabited by animals. What makes Animal Crossing different from many existing games is that there’s no end goal to the game. You have different tasks that you can complete, like collecting bugs for villagers or donating fish and fossils to the museum, but the game doesn’t ever really end.

While Animal Crossing has always been a popular game, the massive amount of people collectively playing during quarantine surprised me. I think that Animal Crossing ended up being the perfect quarantine game because of its “island getaway” theme. You’re meant to think of the game as a vacation away from your life, but it ended up being more of a literal escape, in my opinion. While our world was being continually closed off through quarantine requirements and changes to work and school, and the grocery store turning into a battlefield, it was a relief to be able to log onto a virtual island and have my concerns only revolve around planting flowers and chatting with my islanders. It was not only relaxing gaming, but almost necessary gaming, in my mind. Even though I couldn’t go out to school or work, or hang out with my friends in person, I could do the next best thing, which was living a
virtual island life.

Although I’ve gone back to living an almost-identical life prior to COVID, I still visit my Animal Crossing island for some much needed getaways. Sometimes, I just don’t have the energy or mental bandwidth to focus on completing a quest-oriented game like The Legend of Zelda, or participate in a high intensity multiplayer game like Fortnite. In those cases, it’s nice to curl up with a game like Animal Crossing and unwind from a long day.

The rise of “cozy gaming,” as it is referred to, has added a much-needed corner to the gaming world. While the gaming community can be seen as intimidating territory, with games that require a certain skill level to play them or some games just having too-competitive a vibe, cozy games provide a friendly alternative to mainstream gaming.

Along with the popularity of Animal Crossing, there are many other similar games, in that there’s no specific end goal or strict requirements that you have to follow in order to move on in the game. You’re free to do whatever you want, and to play for as little or as long as you want. Cozy games are a great option for those who are maybe hesitant about starting to play video games, or who might be intimidated by some of the more action-focused mainstream games that are available. Another cozy game that I like to play is Stardew Valley, which can be described as a more reality- based version of Animal Crossing. In Stardew Valley, you play as a character who has
inherited their grandfather’s farm and leaves their soulless corporate office job to become a farmer in the magical, mysterious Stardew Valley. There are lots of different things you can do in Stardew, like fish, mine for ore, plant crops, and go exploring. There is also the option to romance one of the villagers, if you’re looking to spark your virtual love life. There are cozy games ranging from the magical, like Little Witch in the Woods, to the mundane, like the upcoming indie game Lake, where you play as a postal worker who delivers mail to residents of a lakeside town.

For those who like the appeal of cozy gaming and want to find more media that emulates the warm, cozy feeling of being the main character in a sleepy town full of unique/eccentric characters, there are some books that fit that aesthetic. For fans of Animal Crossing, the Wildwood trilogy by Colin Meloy takes place in the woods of Portland, Oregon, where two human children are on a search for a baby brother amidst a cast of anthropomorphic forest creatures. For fans of Stardew Valley, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society follows author Juliet Ashton who visits the island of Guernsey during WW2 in search of the subject of her next book, and gets to know the island’s quirky residents, all while corresponding with one of the island’s residents via letters.

Dina Delic is the Assistant Children’s Librarian at the Morrill Memorial Library in Norwood, MA. Look for her article in the August 5, 2021 issue of the Transcript and Bulletin.

When the weather gets warm, my thoughts turn to traveling. I love to break from some of my regular routines and hit the road. Whether I’m returning to places I’ve enjoyed before or discovering new wonders, I love that feeling I get when I lock my front door and step off on my next adventure. In between adventures I enjoy reading about places to explore, looking at photographs of places I want to visit, watching movies and television shows filmed in exotic locations, and listening to music from all around the world. My family clearly knew me when this last father’s day when they gave me The Bucket List: 1,000 Adventures Big & Small edited by Kath Stathers. When you search our catalog for guidebooks to outdoor recreation, Stathers’ book is one of the first results – out of 124 titles at this moment in time. Clearly there are a LOT of adventures to be had!

My most recent adventure found me exploring some parts of Maine that were new to me (and some I’ve been to many times). I spent a couple of nights in Brunswick (less than a three hour drive away), and enjoyed walking around the Bowdoin College campus. I highly recommend the Museum of Art there. Completed in 1894, the building was designed by architect Charles Follen McKim, who also designed the older part of the Boston Public Library in Copley Square. From the interesting new entrance onward my visit to this museum was a treat. The bottom level is currently displaying recent acquisitions and modern/contemporary art and the upper level has some ancient art, classical European art, and American art. The museum has a good mix of different types of art, and is a very manageable size – I didn’t need more than an hour or so to appreciate what was on display. There are comfortable places to sit if a piece grabs your attention and you want to spend more time as well.

Brunswick is just over 30 miles / 50 minutes (by car) away from Boothbay Harbor. I’ve also ridden my bicycle on a longer route, but that was a number of years ago and I don’t recall how long it took. If you are so inclined, bicycling across Maine is a great adventure. There are miles and miles of quiet back roads, Acadia National Park has carriage paths that are great for all riders including less-confident / inexperienced folks, and the Park Loop Road is fun if you’re up for a little more adventure. I biked that loop on the eve of an epic trip that started there in Bar Harbor and ended in Boston, but I digress.

On my most recent visit to Maine I met some friends and we walked around the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. This is a special place where I could spend a lot of time. The collection of flowering plants was a delight to see and smell. I enjoyed dreaming about where I could find room in my small garden for some of my favorites. The butterfly house had a few of these beautiful creatures and the staff inside were very helpful in identifying both the flora and the winged inhabitants. The five giant  trolls distributed throughout the gardens were clearly a big attraction for many of the visitors, and everyone in my group thought they were a lot of fun to walk around and discover. Danish artist Thomas Dambo designed these truly mammoth recycled-wood sculptures in an effort to help us “discover new ways to lose—and find—yourself” in the Maine forests. If you plan to visit the gardens, make sure to purchase tickets in advance. They limit how many people can enter at any given time, but once you’re in you can stay as long as you like (as long as you leave before they close).

As spectacular as the giant trolls and the gardens were, if I have to choose a favorite activity from my recent visit to Boothbay Harbor I would not hesitate to pick Cap’n Fish’s Audubon Puffin And Scenic Cruise. We purchased tickets in advance and arrived at Pier 7 early enough to be the second party in line to get on the boat, so we were lucky enough to get the best seats on the boat – on the top deck, in the front, just outside the Captain’s cabin. We spent 45 minutes or so cruising out across the harbor, watching harbor porpoises gracefully breach the surface in gentle arcs, listening to a tour guide from the National Audubon Society talk about the birds and marine animals out there. Then we arrived at a small, low-lying island near the edge of the harbor that is home to the most southern colony of Atlantic puffins. We learned all about Project Puffin, which just this summer celebrated the 40th anniversary of the return of Atlantic Puffins to this island, which was their historic home until hunted to extinction back in the days when it was a real point of pride to wear a literal feather in your cap. We spent a good hour circling around and around the island, watching these adorable creatures before turning back for a beautiful return trip, past the three lighthouses and gorgeous shorelines of Boothbay Harbor.

There are so many places to explore within just a few hours of driving. Then there are our trips further afield. As I write this I’m preparing to fly to Colorado for a few days to see family I haven’t seen since before the pandemic locked us all down. I know others who have flown elsewhere in the country, and a co-worker who just today flew down to the Carribean. It’s time to figure out where to go next! Here at the library we have lots of travel guides for you to check out and we are happy to help you explore any destination that strikes your fancy. When you want a book to carry with you on our travels, ebooks are a great, light-weight option. You’re probably carrying your phone, so put a couple on there just in case! There are nearly 9,000 Travel ebooks on hoopla, so chances are very good that there is something there for you. Hoopla also has streaming travel videos to help inspire and inform you about some new places to explore.

In a future column I look forward to sharing some ways I like to pass the time while traveling to and from places near and far. There are so many audiobooks and podcasts to explore, and more music than any of us can ever listen to in a lifetime. Until then, I wish you and yours a very happy summer filled with the perfect mix of adventure and relaxation. One word of advice: let’s spend more time LIVING and only as much time planning as absolutely necessary! As John Lennon reminded us, “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.”

Clayton Cheever is the Director of the Morrill Memorial Library in Norwood, MA. Look for his article in the July 22, 2021 issue of the Transcript and Bulletin.

As we are all well aware, COVID drastically limited our entertainment options for what seemed an eternity; on the bright side many of us discovered new interests or rediscovered old ones. I’ve always had an interest in birdwatching, in part due to my family’s influence. Together with gardening, birds have formed a common thread in our conversations for as long as I can remember. Phone calls and other communiqués routinely include bird sightings. My sister took the interest to a professional level, becoming a wildlife biologist/ornithologist. An unexpected consequence of her practicing bird call recognition within earshot is that to this day, when I hear certain birdcalls, such as the distinctive “Peter, peter, peter,” I automatically murmur the name of the species under my breath (Tufted Titmouse.)

Being cooped up at home with nothing to do during the shutdown, I turned my focus once again to this favored pastime. On my daily walks birds seemed to be out in force even as people were not, and without traffic noise their calls could be heard more clearly. Happening upon a bird that I didn’t recognize, I returned home and looked it up in my copy of the National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds, Eastern Region, which has taken up residence on my counter. Soon after, I put up a feeder so that the birds would come to me. They were so quick that I longed to catch a better glimpse, so I purchased affordable binoculars online that perform above par.

I am told that birdwatching is not the same as birding, although I’ve seen the terms used interchangeably. I gather that the difference is largely a matter of intensity; extra points go to those who travel to see more birds and thus grow their life lists (a record of birds seen in one’s lifetime.) I am unconvinced that these terms are as distinct as some claim. Turning a pleasurable pastime into a competitive sport misses the point, although it does make for memorable TV moments on shows like Northern Exposure.

Branching out beyond my field guide, I searched the library’s online catalog for bird-themed offerings from naturalist author Sy Montgomery and discovered the 2021 release, The Hummingbirds’ Gift: Wonder, Beauty, and Renewal on Wings. As someone who is delighted by this nearly ethereal creature but has yet to see one in her own yard I can hardly wait to delve into this book –  but wait I must, until the people who had the foresight to place holds before me are done. I look forward to learning more about this remarkable species and its champion, Brenda Sherburn, who rescues abandoned hummingbirds and cares for them until they are able to return to the wild.

In the meantime, I’ve appeased myself with Montgomery’s book Birdology: Adventures With a Pack of Hens, a Peck of Pigeons, Cantankerous Crows, Fierce Falcons, Hip Hop Parrots, Baby Hummingbirds, and One Murderously Big Living Dinosaur. As the rather lengthy subtitle suggests, Montgomery looks at seven diverse species to exemplify an array of aspects distinct to being a bird, and to point out the qualities that birds and people share. Those who have read and liked her other works will be charmed by this one as well.

In my search I also discovered The Bedside Book of Birds: An Avian Miscellany, compiled by Graeme Gibson. This book is a gorgeous collection of bird-inspired artwork and literature, the breadth of which demonstrates the deep fascination that we collectively have for our feathered friends. Gibson discloses that he came to his interest in birds fairly late in life. His transition from bemusement at sensibly-clad people actively pursuing bird sightings to someone who would undertake assembling this compendium with ‘the zeal of a convert’ (his words, not mine) happened on a trip to the Galapagos, when a chance sighting of an albatross on stormy seas imparted the nearly mystical sense of receiving a gift from above. Gibson captures that sense of wonder in a collection of whimsical drawings, photos, essays and poems that span from ancient Egypt to the present. Similar in format (but off-topic here) is Gibson’s Bedside Book of Beasts.

One recent morning as I made my way to the library, I saw a bird standing in the road ahead, but the driver in front of me did not. My gut tightened as I witnessed the hit and run: the desperate last-minute hop followed by a flurry of feathers swirling in the wind. I slowed and prepared to swerve around anything that might be on the road, to avoid adding insult to injury. Then I was amazed to see the bird emerging from beneath the SUV; in a mad burst of its wings it caught the wind and gained purchase in a tree at the side of the road. Birds are built for flight, their bones are hollow and they have sacs of air throughout their bodies. These facts might give the impression of a fragile constitution, yet I had seen one plucky being go toe-to-toe, or more accurately wing to wheel, and live. Birds are full of surprises, many of which are explored in David Allen Sibley’s What It’s Like to Be a Bird: From Flying to Nesting, Eating to Singing – What Birds are Doing and Why, a fascinating look at the gamut of their behavior. Sibley’s initial idea was for an all-ages guide that included essays about bird behavior, but the more he learned the more interesting the entries became until finally they comprised the bulk of the book. These essays can be read individually and don’t need to be read in order. Sibley notes that this isn’t meant to be a complete guide but rather to impart an appreciation of the larger notions of instinct and survival.

While the world seems to be opening up and we are once again able to enjoy human company, I’m glad I’ve resumed this relaxing pursuit and highly recommend birding as good, “cheep” fun for the whole family.

Kirstie David is the Literacy/Outreach Librarian at the Morrill Memorial Library in Norwood, MA. Look for her article in the July 15, 2021 issue of the Transcript and Bulletin.

Summer has officially arrived, folks, and here at the library our favorite way to celebrate summer is with a good reading contest. We often think first of summer reading programs for kids when we stop to think about reading contests, but summer reading is for adults and teens, too! The Morrill Memorial Library is here to keep you motivated with prizes and fresh challenges to fuel your summer reading.

Have you heard of Reader’s BINGO? We started summer and then winter Reader’s BINGO in 2015 and have offered the biannual contests ever since. We know that it’s easy to get stuck in a reading rut or hit analysis paralysis, and this friendly reading challenge is a fun way to stretch your reading habits and help you find titles you might otherwise have missed. The nuts and bolts of how to play BINGO and submit your sheets are spelled out on the game sheet, which can be picked up in person at the library or found on our website.

This article isn’t about the rules of BINGO. This article is about helping you WIN at BINGO with proven strategy tips from your friendly neighborhood librarians. Remember, you can always ask us for help finding title options, but for the adventurous reader who wants to strike out on their own, let’s explore this year’s challenges…

The BINGO sheet this summer has book categories ranging from “Read a novella” and “Read a Graphic Novel” to “Read an author’s debut book.” These squares give you enough guidance to narrow down the genre or type of book that will satisfy the challenge, while also leaving some wiggle room to find something you’ll like.

In the past I’ve heard from readers that they find it challenging to fill in the Graphic Novel square since they don’t like to read comic books. After a little conversation, I usually find that what they mean is they don’t care for stories about superheroes. Luckily, the graphic novel format has come a long way since Superman first landed on the scene, and there are some absolutely stunning and moving graphic novels depicting history and cultural experiences. Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi is a good introduction to graphic novels, plus there are many adaptations of classics like The Illiad and Great Gatsby; graphic novel enjoyment without a masked avenger in sight.

There are a few squares that are a little more whimsical, like “Read a book with a yellow cover” and “Read a book while you’re near a body of water.” I like to think of these squares as the reader’s secret weapon. Is there a book you really want to read but that doesn’t fit into one of the category squares, like your favorite author’s latest summer romance or thriller? Save these squares to fit those books! Do you read books from your child’s summer reading list or are you part of a book club? Count one of those titles towards “Read with a partner, friend, or family member.” As much as we want to challenge you to read more, we also try to find ways to fit the reading you’re already doing into the BINGO game.

Veteran BINGO players know that while some of the squares prompt the reader to read a book from a given genre, other squares are activity-based squares, like “Borrow from the Library of Things,” “Borrow a Museum Pass,” and “Watch a movie or TV series from the library, either on DVD or on streaming video.” Did you know we have museum passes for Norwood residents? Most passes are date-specific and you can reserve them in advance on our website. We’re very excited about our newest museum pass to the Hale Reservation in Westwood!

We also have lots of options for watching movies, TV shows, documentaries, and even recorded live concert performances. Many people are familiar with using hoopla digital and Kanopy to watch feature films, foreign films, and TV shows with their library card. We have brand new offerings as well including The Great Courses, Qello concert recordings, and Indieflix for a wide range of indie and feature films. You have instant access to these by opening the Libby app on your device, or visiting libbyapp.com on a desktop computer, and logging in with your library card number.

We hope you enjoy exploring these different BINGO categories on your own, but your librarians are also happy to offer up specific titles that will fit this contest. For instance, we have a display of books on the first floor designed to fit the square, “Read a book that was made into a movie,” and we have other BINGO-themed displays in the works, such as cookbooks to satisfy the square, “Take out a cookbook and make a recipe from it.” If you ever need help figuring out which book to read, just ask us! We love offering reading guidance. Facilitating literacy and literary pursuits is pretty much what we do. Happy reading!

Liz Reed is the Adult and Information Services Department Head at the Morrill Memorial Library in Norwood, MA. Look for her article in the July 8, 2021 issue of the Transcript and Bulletin.