What's Cooking in York County? Join 'York County Reads!'
Our Fifth Annual York County Reads will take place February and March 2024! This exciting program connects readers throughout York County as they read the same books at the same time. Our goal is to promote literacy and community engagement for this year's theme, "What's Cooking in York County?" All ages can read one or all of our featured books to get inspired and encourage others around you to sign up and read together. Tag us on social media with #yorkcountyreads2024, and join our community to enjoy other special York County Reads events!
Taking the challenge is simple! Beginning February 1, go to Beanstack to record your participation and earn digital badges for completing each activity. You can also download the Beanstack Tracker App, available for both Android and Apple devices. When setting up the app, make sure to select York County Library (SC). Readers who sign up to participate will earn a prize — your choice of stackable colored pencil, gel pen, measuring spoon, or kitchen cutlery set (while supplies last).​ Those who complete the challenge will be entered into a Grand Prize Drawing for a gift basket from each YCL location!
Featured Books
Though they may speak different languages, kids from all over the world come together to enjoy the shared pastime of tea in this delicious book for young readers. When five-year-old Luli joins her new English as a Second Language class, the playroom is quiet. Luli can’t speak English, neither can anyone else. That’s when she has a brilliant idea — to host a tea party and bring them all together!
Tea is a tasty language they all know well, and it gives them a chance to share and enjoy each other’s company. When all the tea is gone and it’s time for dessert, Luli gets to use her favorite English word — cookie! After that, the playroom isn’t so quiet.
Chef Roy Choi calls himself a “street cook.” He wants outsiders, low-riders, kids, teens, shufflers, and skateboarders to have food cooked with care, with love, ... and with "sohn maash," the flavors in our fingertips. It is the love and cooking talent that Korean mothers and grandmothers mix into their handmade foods.
For Chef Roy Choi, food means love. It also means culture, not only of Korea where he was born, but the many cultures that make up the streets of Los Angeles, where he was raised. So, remixing food from the streets, just like good music — and serving it up from a truck — is true to L.A. food culture. People smiled and talked as they waited in line. Won’t you join him as he makes good food smiles?
America’s Test Kitchen brings its rigorous testing, kitchen know-how, and hands-on learning to teens! Start with fundamental kitchen techniques and move on to teen-tested, teen-approved recipes that range from simple breakfasts to family dinners to show-stopping desserts. Level up your kitchen game by making the perfect egg and cheese breakfast sandwich before school and fluffy sticky buns on the weekend. Impress classmates with healthy grain bowls and amped up ramen for lunch — and family with hand-pulled noodles and sliders and french fries for dinner!
In 2006, Vivian opened Chef and the Farmer and put the nearby town of Kinston on the culinary map. But in a town paralyzed by recession, she couldn't hop on every new culinary trend. Instead, she focused on rural development: If you grew it, she'd buy it. Inundated by local sweet potatoes, blueberries, shrimp, pork, and beans, Vivian learned to cook the way generations of Southerners before her had, relying on resourcefulness, creativity, and the traditional ways of preserving food. Deep Run Roots is the result of years of effort to discover the riches of Eastern North Carolina and a landmark work of American food writing.
YC Reads Special Events
Visit our Events Calendar for these special York County Reads events at each Library! We'll also have fun "Take-and-Make" activities to pick up and enjoy throughout the program.
-
York Cookbook Club: March 19, 11 a.m.–1 p.m., York Library. Interested in discovering, testing, and sharing new recipes, or curious about our cookbook collection? We'll cook a recipe together and discuss the books, any recipes you tried, and any cooking experiences you'd like to talk about. You'll also take home a celebrity chef-themed cookbook to enjoy (or choose one of your own!) and copies of the recipes we discuss to try at home. Ages 18+. Registration is required. Register online or call (803) 684-3751. Limit 10.
​​
-
Fresh and Healthy Vegan: March 20, 4–5 p.m., Main Library (Rock Hill). Certified fitness trainer and vegan Charita Ashley of TYMTYB invites you to learn how to prepare, and then taste, vegan dishes. She'll share some fitness tips, too! Ages 18+. Registration is required. Register online or call (803) 981-5860. Limit 35.​​
​​
-
Tea Party for Kids: March 21, 4–5 p.m., Clover Library. Celebrate York County Reads with an afternoon filled with all things tea! All supplies will be provided. Ages 3–11. Registration is required. Register online or call (803) 222-3474. Limit 10.
​​
-
​Make Your Own Pizza Night: March 28, 5:30–6:30 p.m., Lake Wylie Library. Calling all teen chefs! Come enjoy a fun night of creating your own mini pizza. Customize it however you like and make the pizza combo of your dreams! All supplies will be provided. Ages 11-17. Registration is required. Register online or call (803) 831-7774. Limit 15.