Chester NH Public Library

05/31/2026

Summer Reading is coming Monday June 29th! 🤗 📖 ☀️

I'm a year-round reader, but I still love to think of summer reading.
When I was a kid, I went to the public library's summer reading programming.
And I spent a lot of time in a tree fort in our backyard, happily lost in books.
I hope (for kids and adults) that you all have a hammock, a tree fort, a library or a quiet nook where you can give yourself over to summer reading.
P.S. Every book is better if you read with a dog (or (okay!) a cat) at your side.

Here are a few books I have been reading and recommending:

Noodles on a Bicycle, by Kyo Maclear and Illustrated by Gracey Zhang
This is a fantastic read-aloud and also features mesmerizing, kinetic art. The impossible happens right before our eyes. Plus, it begins and ends with noodles.

Fireworks written by Matthew Burgess, illustrated by Cátia Chien
Winner of the Caldecott Medal and a love letter to summer. Radiant, beguiling, timeless.

The Peter Rabbit Library by Beatrix Potter
These books charmed me as a kid, and I find them just as beguiling as an adult.
Perfect for curling up and reading in a tree house, or on a front porch.

Birdy by N. West Moss
This novel about Birdy and her brother Mouse is a book about loving the world, and learning to let yourself be loved in return.

For adults:
Whistler by Ann Patchett
What can I say? Ann is the best there is. This book will make you believe in the world again.

Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant by Anne Tyler
Published in 1982, I remember reading it on the beach in Florida. I revisited it early this summer for the first time, and I realized I have carried the book in my heart for all of those years. Definitely worth revisiting.

05/29/2026

We’ve been hard at work in the dirt all week here at the Chester Public Library, gardening and preparing the Sarah St. Jean Memorial Garden. Sarah St. Jean was a friend of the library who sadly passed away and we’re dedicating our garden to her. We will be holding a memorial garden presentation to honor her with the exact date for the event to be determined, stay tuned for updates 💐🌱

05/29/2026

Have you ever wondered how you can help the Chester Public Library? Well you can learn more about how to help us continue to offer amazing programs & services to you our patrons! Just swipe through to learn how & find even more information about it on our website by clicking on the Help Your Library tab ✨

05/24/2026

I just finished Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth this morning and immediately had to jump on here, even though it’s Sunday, and tell everyone about it because WOW… this book was phenomenal!

Mabel may come across as a grumpy curmudgeon at first, but underneath it all she is incredibly endearing, lovable, witty, and genuinely funny. I completely fell in love with her character. The story had heart, humor, mystery, and so many moments that made me smile.

If you love character-driven books with quirky personalities, emotional depth, and a touch of suspense, I highly recommend picking this one up. One of those rare books that stays with you long after the final page!

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ~Kandy

“Mad Mabel follows the story of Mabel, an older woman in a small Australian town who has earned a reputation for being difficult, nosy, and more than a little eccentric. Most people keep their distance, assuming she’s simply a grumpy troublemaker. But when strange events begin unfolding around her neighborhood, Mabel becomes unexpectedly entangled in uncovering the truth.

As the story unfolds, readers discover there’s far more beneath her prickly exterior. Through humor, heartbreak, unlikely friendships, and a growing mystery, Mabel’s fiercely loyal and compassionate side slowly shines through. The novel beautifully balances suspense with warmth and wit, exploring themes of loneliness, community, aging, and how quick people can be to misjudge others.”

05/22/2026

Bring your little ones for stories, songs, and crafts with Miss Jen! We’ll be meeting on the lawn as long as weather permits. No registration is required for story time. We hope to see you there! ☀️

05/20/2026

Do you love Mahjong? Well we do! Come join us every Friday from 1-4 PM to play or learn to play. New members are always welcome! 🀄️✨

05/20/2026

05/18/2026

“Imagine that you just found out that aliens have chosen your world for their next intergalactic game show and everyone you know is instantly crushed to death. You are going to have to fight for your survival through a dungeon full of monsters, traps, and other ‘crawlers’ also fighting for their survival.

Don’t worry though! You’re not completely alone as you’ve brought along your cheating ex’s show cat. Her name is ‘Princess Donut the Queen Anne Chonk’ and she is your new side-kick in this nightmare. Oh, and you’re not wearing any pants as you didn’t have time to grab any! And the whole universe is watching your every move. No pressure!

I would whole-heartedly recommend this book if you are a lover of irreverent and dark humor, satire, literary role-playing games like DND, blowing things up, sarcastic AI, horror comedy, or you just love a good intergalactic adventure! I have not laughed this hard in a very long time. If you are easily offended by language, gore, nudity, or goblin shenanigans then don’t even consider this book!”

Stop by the Chester Public Library today to check out Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman and the next two books in the series today!

05/18/2026

If you’re looking for a book that truly pulls you in and stays with you long after the last page, Theo of Golden by Alan Levi is absolutely worth the read. I read a ton of mystery novels, and I was really craving a story I could sink my teeth into — this was it! This book is beautifully written, heartfelt, thought-provoking, and impossible to put down. I highly recommend this one… it will restore your faith in humanity.

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ~ Kandy

At its heart, the story follows Theo, a quiet and mysterious man living in the small town of Golden, whose unexpected friendships and acts of kindness slowly transform the people around him. It’s a moving story about grief, healing, second chances, and the incredible impact one person can have on a community. Equal parts emotional, inspiring, and uplifting, this is one of those rare books that reminds you there is still goodness in the world.

05/18/2026

🌱🪴FREE plants at the library! Leftover from the plant sale! Hurry over and grab them while they last! 🌱 🪴