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Book Clubs & ELL Talk Time

Reading becomes an even richer experience when it’s a shared one. Our book clubs are a great way to get readers of every age more comfortable discussing key themes in books. Whether you’re a new reader or a seasoned one with lots of favorite authors, we’ve got a place for you. Read on for more information on our many book club offerings, or search the catalog for titles available for your own book discussion group.

Dark wood shelves with books in the Claudia Ireland Room

Adventures in Books – Grades 1 to 3

Wednesdays Once Per Month at 4:30 p.m.

Monthly book club for children in grades 1 to 3. Grownups need to stay in the Library during the program. Please email Syntha at syntha.green@baldwinlib.org to register and get the book.

October 14: Rise of the Earth Dragon by Tracey West
November 11: The Secret Explorers and the Lost Whales by SJ King


Beyond the Book – Grades 1 to 3

Thursdays Once Per Month at 7:00 p.m.

Monthly nonfiction book club for children in grades 1 to 3. Grown ups must stay in the Library during the program. Please email Rosemary at rosemary.isbell@baldwinlib.org to register and get the book.

August 6: Dinosaur Lady: The Daring Discoveries of Mary Anning, the First Paleontologist by Linda Skeers
October 1: Cats vs Dogs by Elizabeth Carney
November 5: Shaped by Her Hands: Potter Maria Martinez by Anna Harber Freeman & Barbara Gonzales


Kids Graphic Novel Book Club – Grades 3 to 6

Mondays Once Per Month at 4:30 p.m.

Monthly book club for children in grades 3 to 6. Grownups must stay in the Library during the program if children are ages ten and under. Please email Josh at josh.campeau@baldwinlib.org to register and get the book.

August 17: Snapdragon by Kat Leyh
October 19: Ember and the Island of Lost Creatures by Jason Pamment
November 16: Lo and Behold by Wendy Mass


Mother/Daughter Book Club – Grades 4 to 6 and their moms

Tuesdays Once Per Month at 7:00 p.m.

Monthly book club for grades 4 to 6 and their moms. Please email Susan at susan.dion@baldwinlib.org to register and get the book.

August 11: Iceberg by Jennifer Nielsen
October 13: The Enemy’s Daughter by Anne Blankman
November 10: Candle Island by Lauren Wolk


Books and Bagels – Grades 4 to 6

Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m.

Monthly book club for children in grades 4 to 6. Grownups must stay in the Library during the program if children are ages ten and under. Please email Susan at susan.dion@baldwinlib.org to register and get the book.

August 25: The Good Thieves by Katherine Rundell
October 27: Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman
November 24: Scat by Carl Hiassen


Kids Cookbook Club – Grades 3 to 6

Mondays Once per Quarter at 6:30 p.m.

Grades 3 to 6. Choose a recipe from the cookbook to make and bring to share with everyone. Grownups must stay in the Library during the program if children are ages ten and younger. This book club meets once a quarter. Email Syntha at syntha.green@baldwinlib.org to register and get the book.

October 12: Delish: The How-To Cookbook for Young Foodies by Joanna Saltz


Moms Book Club

Wednesdays Every Other Month at 7:00 p.m.

Enjoy a night out at a special book club just for moms that meets every other month. Email Susan Dion at susan.dion@baldwinlib.org to register.

August 5: The Measure by Nikki Erlick
October 7: The House is on Fire by Rachel Beanland

Pizza and Pages

First Thursday of Every Month at 7:00 p.m.

Grades 7-12. Facilitated by Elisabeth Phou, Teen Librarian.

The first 10 to register will receive a free paperback book, thanks to the Friends of Baldwin Public Library. Pizza will be provided. This book club meets in person, registration is required.

September 3: All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir
October 1: All of Us Villains by Amanda Foody
November 5: The Weight of Blood by Tiffany D. Jackson


Paperbacks and Snacks

Second Wednesday of Every Month at 7:00 p.m.

Grades 6-8. Facilitated by Haylie May, Teen Librarian.

The first 10 to register will receive a free paperback book, thanks to the Friends of Baldwin Public Library. Snacks will be provided. This book club meets in person, registration is required.

September 9: The Mona Lisa Vanishes by Nicholas Day
October 14: The Carrefour Curse by Dianne Salerni
November 11: The Star that Always Stays by Anna Rose Johnson

ELL Talk Time

Join us to practice English conversation skills. We’ll meet every Tuesday at the library. All levels are welcome. Coffee, tea, and snacks will be provided.
Attend in person only. No registration is required, simply stop by any Tuesday between 10:00 and 11:00 a.m. that works with your schedule!


Next Nonfiction

Meets the second Tuesday of each month at 10:00 a.m. Facilitated by Page Supervisor Cameron Crawford. This club will meet virtually on Zoom until further notice. To join the discussion please email Mick at mick.howey@baldwinlib.org

September 8: The Boys of Riverside by Thomas Fuller
October 13: The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
November 10: The Gales of November by John U. Bacon


Wednesday Afternoon Book Group

Meets the second Wednesday of each month at 2:00 p.m. and is facilitated by  an Adult Services Librarian. This club meets in person at the library but has a virtual option for those that prefer to Zoom. If you are interested in attending a discussion please email Stuart Sturton at stuart.sturton@baldwinlib.org, or click the date below to register.

September 9: Memorial Days by Geraldine Brooks
October 14: The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali
November 11: The Mighty Red by Louise Erdrich


Page to Screen

Is the book always better than the movie? Join in as we discuss a book and a related film each month to decide which was better. Meets the fourth Sunday of each month at 1:00 p.m. Facilitated by H, Adult Services Librarian. This club meets in person at the library but has a virtual option for those that prefer to use Zoom. If you are interested in attending a discussion please email H at h.jennings@baldwinlib.org

September 27: Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell / Hamnet (PG-13, 2025)
October 25: All the President’s Men by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein
/ All the President’s Men (PG, 1976)
November 22: Top of the Morning: Inside the Cutthroat World of Morning TV  by Brian Stelter / Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (PG-13, 2004)


Next Popular Reads Book Club

Now meets the first Monday of each month at 1:00 p.m. Facilitated by Rebekah, Library Director. This club meets in person at Birmingham Next but has a virtual option for those that prefer to Zoom. If you are interested in attending a discussion please email Rebekah at rebekah.craft@baldwinlib.org

September 14: Whistler by Ann Patchett
October 5: Kin by Tayari Jones


3rd Tuesday

Meets the third Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. Facilitated by Adult Services Librarian Vicki Sower. This is a hybrid club and meets both in person and via zoom. If you are interested in attending a discussion please email Vicki at vicki.sower@baldwinlib.org, or click the date below to register.

September 15:  All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir
October 20: Isola by Allegra Goodman
November 17: You are Here by David Nichols


Graphic Novels 4 Grown Ups

Comics aren’t just for kids! Features memoirs, humor, superheroes, and more! Some titles contain mature/graphic content so please click the date of the discussion to read the description and register. We meet in person, at the library, the first Thursday of the month at 7:00 p.m.

Registration required

September 3: Blacksad  by Juan Diaz Canales
October 1: A Guest in the House by E.M. Carroll
November 5: The Many Deaths of Laila Starr by Ram V


Moms Book Club

Wednesdays Every Other Month at 7:00 p.m.

Enjoy a night out at a special book club just for moms that meets every other month. Email Susan Dion at susan.dion@baldwinlib.org to register.

October 13: The Enemy’s Daughter by Anne Blankman
November 10: Candle Island by Lauren Wolk


Cookbook Club

Meets quarterly on Wednesdays 

Join us for a delightful potluck-style gathering and meet the authors! We’ll savor the flavors of Michigan authors, Lexi Harrison and Beth Sinclair, cookbook “Crowded Kitchen“, and hear from the authors themselves. The event will run from 6:30 to 8:00. To join the club please contact Patricia at patricia.henricks@baldwinlib.org

Wednesday, October 28 at 6:30 p.m.

Adventures in Books – Grades 1 to 3

Wednesdays Once Per Month at 4:30 p.m.

Monthly book club for children in grades 1 to 3. Grownups need to stay in the Library during the program. Please email Syntha at syntha.green@baldwinlib.org to register and get the book.

October 14: Rise of the Earth Dragon by Tracey West
November 11: The Secret Explorers and the Lost Whales by SJ King


Beyond the Book – Grades 1 to 3

Thursdays Once Per Month at 7:00 p.m.

Monthly nonfiction book club for children in grades 1 to 3. Grown ups must stay in the Library during the program. Please email Rosemary at rosemary.isbell@baldwinlib.org to register and get the book.

August 6: Dinosaur Lady: The Daring Discoveries of Mary Anning, the First Paleontologist by Linda Skeers
October 1: Cats vs Dogs by Elizabeth Carney
November 5: Shaped by Her Hands: Potter Maria Martinez by Anna Harber Freeman & Barbara Gonzales


Kids Graphic Novel Book Club – Grades 3 to 6

Mondays Once Per Month at 4:30 p.m.

Monthly book club for children in grades 3 to 6. Grownups must stay in the Library during the program if children are ages ten and under. Please email Josh at josh.campeau@baldwinlib.org to register and get the book.

August 17: Snapdragon by Kat Leyh
October 19: Ember and the Island of Lost Creatures by Jason Pamment
November 16: Lo and Behold by Wendy Mass


Mother/Daughter Book Club – Grades 4 to 6 and their moms

Tuesdays Once Per Month at 7:00 p.m.

Monthly book club for grades 4 to 6 and their moms. Please email Susan at susan.dion@baldwinlib.org to register and get the book.

August 11: Iceberg by Jennifer Nielsen
October 13: The Enemy’s Daughter by Anne Blankman
November 10: Candle Island by Lauren Wolk


Books and Bagels – Grades 4 to 6

Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m.

Monthly book club for children in grades 4 to 6. Grownups must stay in the Library during the program if children are ages ten and under. Please email Susan at susan.dion@baldwinlib.org to register and get the book.

August 25: The Good Thieves by Katherine Rundell
October 27: Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman
November 24: Scat by Carl Hiassen


Kids Cookbook Club – Grades 3 to 6

Mondays Once per Quarter at 6:30 p.m.

Grades 3 to 6. Choose a recipe from the cookbook to make and bring to share with everyone. Grownups must stay in the Library during the program if children are ages ten and younger. This book club meets once a quarter. Email Syntha at syntha.green@baldwinlib.org to register and get the book.

October 12: Delish: The How-To Cookbook for Young Foodies by Joanna Saltz


Moms Book Club

Wednesdays Every Other Month at 7:00 p.m.

Enjoy a night out at a special book club just for moms that meets every other month. Email Susan Dion at susan.dion@baldwinlib.org to register.

August 5: The Measure by Nikki Erlick
October 7: The House is on Fire by Rachel Beanland

Pizza and Pages

First Thursday of Every Month at 7:00 p.m.

Grades 7-12. Facilitated by Elisabeth Phou, Teen Librarian.

The first 10 to register will receive a free paperback book, thanks to the Friends of Baldwin Public Library. Pizza will be provided. This book club meets in person, registration is required.

September 3: All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir
October 1: All of Us Villains by Amanda Foody
November 5: The Weight of Blood by Tiffany D. Jackson


Paperbacks and Snacks

Second Wednesday of Every Month at 7:00 p.m.

Grades 6-8. Facilitated by Haylie May, Teen Librarian.

The first 10 to register will receive a free paperback book, thanks to the Friends of Baldwin Public Library. Snacks will be provided. This book club meets in person, registration is required.

September 9: The Mona Lisa Vanishes by Nicholas Day
October 14: The Carrefour Curse by Dianne Salerni
November 11: The Star that Always Stays by Anna Rose Johnson

ELL Talk Time

Join us to practice English conversation skills. We’ll meet every Tuesday at the library. All levels are welcome. Coffee, tea, and snacks will be provided.
Attend in person only. No registration is required, simply stop by any Tuesday between 10:00 and 11:00 a.m. that works with your schedule!


Next Nonfiction

Meets the second Tuesday of each month at 10:00 a.m. Facilitated by Page Supervisor Cameron Crawford. This club will meet virtually on Zoom until further notice. To join the discussion please email Mick at mick.howey@baldwinlib.org

September 8: The Boys of Riverside by Thomas Fuller
October 13: The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
November 10: The Gales of November by John U. Bacon


Wednesday Afternoon Book Group

Meets the second Wednesday of each month at 2:00 p.m. and is facilitated by  an Adult Services Librarian. This club meets in person at the library but has a virtual option for those that prefer to Zoom. If you are interested in attending a discussion please email Stuart Sturton at stuart.sturton@baldwinlib.org, or click the date below to register.

September 9: Memorial Days by Geraldine Brooks
October 14: The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali
November 11: The Mighty Red by Louise Erdrich


Page to Screen

Is the book always better than the movie? Join in as we discuss a book and a related film each month to decide which was better. Meets the fourth Sunday of each month at 1:00 p.m. Facilitated by H, Adult Services Librarian. This club meets in person at the library but has a virtual option for those that prefer to use Zoom. If you are interested in attending a discussion please email H at h.jennings@baldwinlib.org

September 27: Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell / Hamnet (PG-13, 2025)
October 25: All the President’s Men by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein
/ All the President’s Men (PG, 1976)
November 22: Top of the Morning: Inside the Cutthroat World of Morning TV  by Brian Stelter / Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (PG-13, 2004)


Next Popular Reads Book Club

Now meets the first Monday of each month at 1:00 p.m. Facilitated by Rebekah, Library Director. This club meets in person at Birmingham Next but has a virtual option for those that prefer to Zoom. If you are interested in attending a discussion please email Rebekah at rebekah.craft@baldwinlib.org

September 14: Whistler by Ann Patchett
October 5: Kin by Tayari Jones


3rd Tuesday

Meets the third Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. Facilitated by Adult Services Librarian Vicki Sower. This is a hybrid club and meets both in person and via zoom. If you are interested in attending a discussion please email Vicki at vicki.sower@baldwinlib.org, or click the date below to register.

September 15:  All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir
October 20: Isola by Allegra Goodman
November 17: You are Here by David Nichols


Graphic Novels 4 Grown Ups

Comics aren’t just for kids! Features memoirs, humor, superheroes, and more! Some titles contain mature/graphic content so please click the date of the discussion to read the description and register. We meet in person, at the library, the first Thursday of the month at 7:00 p.m.

Registration required

September 3: Blacksad  by Juan Diaz Canales
October 1: A Guest in the House by E.M. Carroll
November 5: The Many Deaths of Laila Starr by Ram V


Moms Book Club

Wednesdays Every Other Month at 7:00 p.m.

Enjoy a night out at a special book club just for moms that meets every other month. Email Susan Dion at susan.dion@baldwinlib.org to register.

October 13: The Enemy’s Daughter by Anne Blankman
November 10: Candle Island by Lauren Wolk


Cookbook Club

Meets quarterly on Wednesdays 

Join us for a delightful potluck-style gathering and meet the authors! We’ll savor the flavors of Michigan authors, Lexi Harrison and Beth Sinclair, cookbook “Crowded Kitchen“, and hear from the authors themselves. The event will run from 6:30 to 8:00. To join the club please contact Patricia at patricia.henricks@baldwinlib.org

Wednesday, October 28 at 6:30 p.m.

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