Kids' World
Kids' World offers a place for kids and their caregivers to explore, play, learn, make, read, ask questions and meet others. Visit the Plan Your Visit webpage for more information.
Floor Projector
Floor Projector
A floor projection system provides kids with a fun, open play space to enjoy interactive games.
Everbright Wall
Everbright Wall
Measuring almost eight feet wide by four feet tall, with endless play opportunities for all abilities.
Imagination Station
Imagination Station
This engaging play area builds vocabulary and improves social skills as kids use their imaginations.
Baby Garden
Baby Garden
The littlest library visitors can explore soft play toys and grow socially in this highly tactile space. For non-walking infants and their caregivers.
Tinker Cart
Tinker Cart
Full of fun supplies, the Tinker Cart will keep kids in grades K-3 engaged during drop-in programs for making and creating.
Lindsey Room
Lindsey Room
Home to storytimes and countless craft and activity programs.
Tween Space
Tweens in grades 4-6 can visit the Tween Space in Kids’ World.
Maker Table
Maker Table
Enjoy a work space just for tweens to craft, build and tinker!
Play Games
Play Games
A variety of video games and board games are available to play with friends.
Hang Out with Friends
Hang Out with Friends
Get together with your friends in a space just for tweens.
Kids & Tweens Services
Upcoming Kids & Tweens Programs
Apr
20
Mon
10–11:30 a.m.
Apr
20
Mon
1–2:30 p.m.
Apr
20
Mon
1–2:30 p.m.
Apr
21
Tue
Apr
21
Tue
Apr
22
Wed
9:30–10 a.m.
Apr
22
Wed
10–11:30 a.m.
Apr
22
Wed
10:30–11 a.m.
Great Reads for Kids & Tweens
Noah Frye gets crushed
In this cute and queer contemporary middle grade comedy about friendship, first crushes, and first kisses, twelve-year-old Noah Frye comes up with a foolproof plan to teach herself how to have a crush on a boy to fit in better with her friends--only to discover she's been looking in the wrong place, and her crush was right beside her all along... Noah Frye just had the Best Summer Ever. Not only did she have an epic time at science camp, but her new camp friend Jessa is going to Noah's school in the fall. Noah can't wait to introduce Jessa to her best friends Zoey and Luna when classes start. But when the friend group is reunited after their summer apart, something seems to have changed: Zoey and Luna have discovered boys, and now it's all they want to obsess over. Suddenly, it feels like Noah is the odd one out in their friend group, especially since Noah hasn't ever even considered boys in that way. When Noah finds herself caught in a lie about having a boy crush of her own, she decides she'll do anything to fit in with her friends again--even if that means using the scientific method. Noah's crush experiment is simple: find a boy, fake a crush until it turns real, and get her friends back. But that might be easier said than done, especially when Noah can't stop thinking about Jessa. What ensues is a hilarious and heartwarming turn of events in this queer contemporary middle grade story about friendship, first crushes, and self-discovery
Husky
"Twelve-year-old Davis lives in an old brownstone with his mother and grandmother in Brooklyn. He loves people-watching in Prospect Park, visiting his mom in the bakery she owns, and listening to the biggest operas he can find as he walks everywhere. But Davis is having a difficult summer. As questions of sexuality begin to enter his mind, he worries people don't see him as anything other than "husky." To make matters worse, his best girlfriends are starting to hang out with mean girls and popular boys. Davis is equally concerned about the distance forming between him and his single mother as she begins dating again, and about his changing relationship with his amusingly loud Irish grandmother, Nanny. Ultimately, Davis learns to see himself outside of his one defining adjective. He's a kid with unique interests, admirable qualities, and people who will love him no matter what changes life brings about" --
Fresh off the boat
When her family emigrates from the Philippines to San Francisco, California, fourteen-year-old Vicenza Arambullo struggles to fit in at her exclusive, all-girl private school
Loki : a bad god's guide to being good
After one prank too many, trickster god Loki has been banished to live as a kid on Earth. If he can show moral improvement within one month, he'll be allowed to return to Asgard. If not? Eternity in a pit of angry snakes. School, fake "parents," and an eleven-year-old Thor's farts are pure misery. But when a bigger threat than Loki's mischief comes to Earth, Loki will have to decide whether he's really a villain, or if he might want to do the right thing for once.--
Julie and the phantoms : the edge of great
After the passing of her mom, Julie has lost her passion for music and is on the verge of being kicked out of her performing arts high school. That is, until she makes the ultimate comeback with her new band, Julie and the Phantoms. There's only one catch: all of her bandmates are ghosts. Back in the 1990s, Luke, Reggie, and Alex were on the cusp of rock stardom with their band, Sunset Curve, before an unfortunate encounter with Los Angeles street food brought their rock band dreams-and lives-to an end. Now, with Julie as their lead singer, the guys have a second chance to make it big and to help Julie discover the real power of music
The year we fell from space
Middle schooler Liberty likes to make her own maps of the stars, in fact she is obsessed with them, especially since her family is falling apart; her parents are getting divorced, her nine-year-old sister will barely leave the house and carries a stuffed tiger at all times, her father is suffering from depression, but will not talk about it, and the brothers down the street, once friends, have turned into bullies--so when a tiny meteorite literally falls in her lap it is like a sign, but a sign of what?
Operation final notice
"As the new year approaches, best friends Ronny, whose family is in financial trouble, and Josefina, who has a big audition at a prestigious music academy, must learn how to depend on one another and their community when things get tough."--Provided by publisher
The empty grave
"With the help of some unexpected, and rather ghostly, allies, Lockwood & Co. must battle their greatest enemy yet, as they move ever closer to the moment when the earth-shattering secret of 'the problem' will finally be revealed"--
The midnight children
When lonely Ravani Foster discovers his new friend Virginia and her six mysterious runaway companions are in danger, he must fight to keep them safe, or lose the only person who has ever understood him
Dork in disguise
Starting middle school in a new town, brainy Jerry Flack changes his image from "dork" to "cool kid," only to discover that he'd rather be himself
Fading echoes
As Dovepaw, Jayfeather, and Lionblaze strive to understand and fulfill the prophecy that promises them great power, the cats of the Dark Forest begin to teach battle skills and techniques to different Clan cats through dreams
Cruzita and the mariacheros
Cruzita must save her family's failing panaderia by winning a mariachi band contest. The only problem is she hates mariachi and cannot speak Spanish
The order of things
Eleven-year-old April must come to terms with the sudden death of her best friend, Zee
Willa and the whale
"Twelve-year-old Willa, grieving the loss of her mother, a renowned marine biologist, discovers she can talk to whales"--
Diary of a wimpy kid : Greg Heffley's journal
Greg records his sixth grade experiences in a middle school where he and his best friend, Rowley, undersized weaklings amid boys who need to shave twice daily, hope just to survive, but when Rowley grows more popular, Greg must take drastic measures to save their friendship
Flood City
Flood City is the only habitable place left on the drowned Earth, but it is also a battleground between the Star Guard who have controlled the city for decades and the Chemical Barons in their spaceships who once ruled the planet, want it back, and are now preparing to destroy it; the future will depend on Max, his sister Yala of Flood City, and Ato, a young Chemical Baron who just wants to keep his twin brother alive and not hurt anyone--and somehow these natural enemies will have to work together to save Earth
The seventh element
The Voyagers have made it to the last planet but must acquire a seventh element, combat dragons and an alien clone, and face serious illness before returning to Earth
The journal of curious letters
Thirteen-year-old Atticus "Tick" Higginbottom begins receiving mysterious letters from around the world signed only "M.G.," and the clues contained therein lead him on a journey to the perilous 13th Reality and a confrontation with evil Mistress Jane
The interplanetary expedition of Mars Patel
"Six months ago, Mars Patel boarded a spaceship to travel to Oliver Pruitt's colony on the planet Mars, and now he's finally there. The journey gave Mars lots of time to bond with his copilots, but Mars and his new friends soon discover that Pruitt's colonists aren't the only people living on the inhospitable planet. A splinter group, led by the mysterious Fang, are desperate to go back to Earth--and they don't care who they hurt in the process. Amid the slick subterranean colony filled with rules and giant, terrifying tardigrades who poop a lot, Mars searches for answers about Oliver Pruitt's supposed plans--and the real reason the eccentric billionaire has been so invested in him all this time."--Dust jacket
Class pet catastrophe.
Pleskit's alien pet causes widespread panic in this sixth book in the hilarious, fast-paced, and accessible sci-fi series Sixth-Grade Alien from the bestselling author of Aliens Ate My Homework and My Teacher Is an Alien, Bruce Coville. Having a pet shapeshifter might be one of the coolest parts of being from a different planet. So when Jordan accuses Pleskit of lying about his Veeblax's abilities, Pleskit decides take his pet to class--without asking parental permission. Bringing the Veeblax to school turns out to be a bigger mistake than Pleskit ever thought possible when it frightens his classmate Misty, causing an intergalactic incident. As the situation spins out of control, it becomes clear that Pleskit may lose his pet, his teacher may lose her job, and Earth may lose the benefits of the alien connection. Running away may be the only way for Pleskit to save the his pet. But where can you hide when you're the only purple kid on the planet? Plus, escaping may not be the best idea, because someone--or something--is following him.--
The resistance
In a future England where young people, or "Surpluses," are heavily regulated and everyone takes a drug called Longevity, a member of the Underground infiltrates the Pincent Pharma manufacturing plant, and uncovers horrific acts being committed in an attempt to create eternal youth
Spell robbers
Ben Warner is invited to join a "science camp" led by a quantum physicist Dr. Madeleine Hughes, and with his new friend Peter he discovers the secret art of Actuation--the ability to change reality by imagining it differently--but he also finds that there are people willing to kill for that secret
Son
Unlike the other Birthmothers in her utopian community, teenaged Claire forms an attachment to her baby, feeling a great loss when he is taken to the Nurturing Center to be adopted by a family unit
The tiara on the terrace
Best friends and amateur pre-teen sleuths Sophie Young and Grace Yang go undercover at their town's annual festival and parade to catch a murderer before he or she strikes again
I am the walrus
"Noah Prime discovers he can exhibit the traits and access the abilities of animals and must use them to fight back against those who are hunting him"--
The Vindico
When supervillains of the Vindico realize they are getting too old to fight the League of Heroes, they kidnap and begin training five teens, but James, Lana, Hayden, Emily, and Sam will not become the next generation of evil without a fight
The winter of the robots
"There's something lurking in the junkyard in Jim Knox's neighborhood, and it's up to him and his friends (and science-fair rivals) to put their robot-building skills together in order to defeat it"--
Gathering blue
Lame and suddenly orphaned, Kira is mysteriously removed from her squalid village to live in the palatial Council Edifice, where she is expected to use her gifts as a weaver to do the bidding of the all-powerful Guardians
Last gate of the Emperor
Enduring an isolated existence in hardscrabble Addis Prime, a star underground augmented reality gamer finds his small family targeted by city-razing monsters waging a galaxy-spanning war
Midnight horizon
Confronting the anarchistic marauders known as the Nihil, the Jedi Knights and their Padawans are put to the test, but soon discover that nothing is what it seems
Sylvia Doe and the 100-year flood
Twelve-year-old Sylvia Doe keeps running away from foster homes to return to the mountains of North Carolina, until a 100-year flood, a strange boy, and a cave that is a portal to other times and places, bring her back where she truly belongs
Jacaranda Street : gravestone image
"Lenore Valentine Kirby's cryptic gravestone in a derelict cemetery beckons across centuries. The four Botanic Hill Detectives--Lanny, Lexi, Moki, and Rani--stumble upon a mystery revealed by the deceased woman's descendant, Mr. Nigel Kirby. Can the teens decipher Lenore Kirby's gravestone image and messages? Their unusual, present-day case, incorporating the life and works of Gothic horror writer Edgar Allan Poe, takes the four out to Ravenswood, the Kirby family's Victorian home. But one solution leads to more puzzles! Will the detectives successfully decode all the special instructions they discover to help restore Mr. Poe's reputation, damaged by a real-life enemy, and reveal to the world a priceless treasure? Come lend the squad a hand!" "--
Drew Leclair crushes the case
When a thief breaks into the P.E. lockers, leaving behind cryptic ransom notes, Drew Leclair, who is determined to stay out of trouble, investigates while dealing with her friends' obsession with the upcoming Wonderland dance
Duet
The life of a musically gifted bird changes forever after she discovers the music of Chopin and helps a talented young pianist solve the mystery of a long-lost Chopin piano
The Maypop kidnapping
"Quinnie's teacher has disappeared. Quinnie suspects a kidnapping but her mom, even though she's the sheriff of their small Maine town, disagrees. So Quinnie teams with her glamorous new neighbor to investigate the mystery"--
The thief knot : a Greenglass House story
Marzana and her best friend, Nialla, are bored. In a city where normal rules don't apply, it seems that adventure should be everywhere, yet nothing exciting ever happens to them. Nothing, that is, until Marzana's parents are recruited to help solve a kidnapping that makes no sense. This could be the excitement Marzana and Nialla have been looking for-if they can crack the case without getting caught meddling. They gather a group of kid detectives with special skills-including a magician, a master of subterfuge, and the ghost of a ship captain's daughter-to join them in a heart-pounding race against the clock to beat the deadline for a ransom that's impossible to pay. But in a place where nothing and no one are what they appear to be, from the architecture that changes overnight, to the substitute math teacher, to Marzana's own parents-it soon becomes clear that even the kidnapping might not be what it seems. There's more to unravel than just the crime, and truths to be discovered about their families and themselves-if only the young detectives can puzzle it all out in time.--taken from book jacket
The secret letters
"When Colin finds a shoebox full of letters hidden in a stranger's attic, he knows he's supposed to throw them away. That's his summer job, getting rid of junk. But Colin wants to rescue the letters--and find out what really happened to best friends Rosemary and Toby way back in the 1970s. Meanwhile, across town, Nevaeh also finds a mysterious letter. But this one reads like a confession to a crime. And Nevaeh knows her father, the 'Junk King,' expects her to join the rest of the family in blaming a single suspect: his business rival, Colin's mom."--
The disappearance of Emily H.
Eighth-grader Raine, a new girl at Yielding Middle School, uses her supernatural ability to see other people's memories to solve the disappearance of a teenaged girl
Say it ain't so
"Lenny gets jealous when Mike makes the school baseball team, but together they and Other Mike stumble upon a stealing signals scandal that could go further up than anyone knows"--
The mystery of the scarlet rose
In London, at Christmas time in 1870, a strange message in the classified ads leads the three young detectives to murders that appear to be connected with the Scarlet Rose Gang, whose leader was killed years before
Not the worst friend in the world
Eleven-year-old Lou wishes she could turn back time to mend her friendship with Francie after a terrible fight, so when Lou befriends Cece she is eager to prove herself, but as she uncovers the truth about Cece's family, she grapples with what being a good friend means
The improbable tales of Bakersville Hall
"What if young Arthur Conan Doyle really went to a secret school for extraordinarily gifted children called Baskerville Hall? When a mysterious man with a pipe notices young Arthur's incredible deductive skills, Arthur's offered a spot at the esteemed Baskerville Hall and a chance to lift his family out of poverty. There Arthur makes quick friends with Irene Eagle, a girl who boldly strides into any adventure, and Jimmie Moriarty, a boy whose brilliance rivals Arthur's own. Soon Arthur and his friends are invited into a powerful secret society called the Clover. In order to be accepted into the illustrious social club, they must pass three tests, but along the way, Arthur uncovers a mystery that will lead to grand adventure . . . and even greater danger. Arthur will need all the help he can get to solve the puzzle and keep a shocking truth from falling into the wrong hands. Meanwhile, he will finally meet the man who becomes his greatest mentor: Professor Sherlock Holmes."--
A spoonful of murder
"When Hazel Wong's beloved grandfather passes away, Daisy Wells accompanies her best friend...to Hazel's family estate in beautiful, bustling Hong Kong. But when they arrive, they discover something they didn't expect: a new baby brother for Hazel...Baby Teddy's nanny is killed, and this time Hazel isn't just the detective on the case. She's been framed for murder! The girls must work together to confront dangerous gangs, mysterious suspects, and sinister private detectives to solve the murder and clear Hazel's name before it's too late"--Provided by publisher
The postcard
While in St. Petersburg, Florida, to help clean out his recently-deceased grandmother's house, thirteen-year-old Jason finds an old postcard which leads him on an adventure that blends figures from an old, unfinished detective story with his family's past
The secret fire
Epimetheus wants to control the magical urns that used to belong to Pandora's daughter, and Jax, Ethan, and Tyler's only chance to fight him is a secret weapon--and to realize their family ties are stronger than any magic
Tougen anki : legend of the cursed blood. 3
"A trip to Kyoto to fight Momotarou would normally be a dream come true for Shiki. Too bad Professor Mudano stuck him on the back line, as far away from the fight as it gets...Up on the surface, Tsubakiri--depraved Momotarou of Kyoto--continues his rampage and gruesome experimentation on the Oni forces at the front lines where Professor Mudano has gone to meet him. Meanwhile, the rest of the class remains deep beneath Kiyomizudera helping Kyouya treat the casualities. But Tsubakiri has laid a cunning trap for the Oni--bringing the danger above closer than any of them expected..." -- Back cover
Asadora! 9
A deadly typhoon, a mysterious creature, and a girl who won't quit. In 2020, a large creature rampages through Tokyo, destroying everything in its path. In 1959, Asa Asada, a spunky young girl from a huge family in Nagoya, is kidnapped for ransom--and not a soul notices. When a typhoon hits Nagoya, Asa and her kidnapper must work together to survive, but there's more to her kidnapper and this storm than meets the eye. After stealing Yone's film, Asa comes face-to-face with River Etheridge, the man who wrote the song she's been singing since childhood. Meanwhile, Jissoji's operatives aren't pleased with Asa's disappearance; Kasuga heads to Shibuya to search for her, but "that thing" could strike at any moment!
Daemons of the shadow realm. 9
"A debilitated Akio explains why he betrayed the Kagemori clan to a bewildered Natsuki. Nearby, Mountain God's relics explode without warning, allowing Akio to flee captivity and unite with his enigmatic new companions from western Japan. Hana is subsequently summoned to a clandestine meeting of Higashi Village agents, where the same hostile force that attacked the Kagemoris has planted another set of bombs!"--Publisher
Gachiakuta. 9
"The battles with the Raiders are heating up. The Cleaners have finally learned they're currently stuck inside a trash beast--and not just any trash beast, but one created by Zodyl for one purpose: to cross the mysterious barrier that separates the ground from the Sphere. Rumor has it...no one ever survives the crossing, and right now they're hurtling toward it. The clock is ticking..."--Amazon
Medalist. 9
"After mastering the quadruple Salchow, Inori and Tsukasa step into the spotlight as they take on the All-Japan Novice championship. Their biggest threat is Hikaru Kamisaki, a prodigy trained by Olympic gold medalist Jun Yodaka. With flawless execution, Hikaru lands a quadruple toe loop and a final triple Axel, leaving the competition in awe. The other skaters falter under the pressure, overwhelmed by the sheer brilliance of Hikaru's performance. Now it's Inori's turn to take the ice. With their shared dream on the line, Inori and Tsukasa face their toughest challenge yet. Does Inori have what it takes to outshine the brightest star?"--back cover
Case closed. 97
"A serial killer stalks a group of people taking shelter in a snowbound mountain church. Conan, Mr. Moore, and Amuro are on the case--but so is Wakita, the mystery-loving (and mysterious) sushi chef. Who will serve up the solution first? Then the Junior Detective League goes on a trip to forage for wild vegetables, only to stumble on a fresh corpse. And when an antiques appraiser is murdered, Conan suspects the motive is a valuable Chinese platter. But with two forgeries at the crime scene, it's hard to identify the real antique or the real killer!"--Back cover
The strange house. 5
"We paid Yuzuki's mother a visit and learned all about the Katabuchi family's dark past. The truth horrified us, but the family's haunting tale is till being spu. The ritual known as the "left-hand memorial service" bind them to this day, but Keita is determined to save Ayano--even if it means risking his own life"--Page 1 of cover
Medalist. 10
This award-winning manga about one girl's journey to the Olympic figure skating spotlight is enthralling readers around the world! "A story about learning to believe in yourself even when everyone else tells you you're not good enough." -Anime News Network Inori is a little girl who dreams of becoming a figure skater. Yet, the obstacles to this dream feel insurmountable: Inori's already "too old" (she's 11); she's always had trouble at school; and, worst of all, her older sister's skating dreams ended in failure, so her mother is dead set against putting her other daughter through a similar experience. Still, the rink is the only place Inori can be herself, and she's out on the ice when a fateful meeting takes place. Tsukasa, a frustrated coach on the edge of giving up competitive skating himself, will join Inori to form an unstoppable duo powered by hard work, transcendent joy, and an unshakeable belief that they can prove everyone wrong. Catch up on the acclaimed manga that inspired the upcoming anime series!
Komi can't communicate. 36
"The journey to 100 friends begins with a single conversation. Socially anxious high school student Shoko Komi's greatest dream is to make some friends, but everyone at school mistakes her crippling social anxiety for cool reserve. Luckily she meets Tadano, a timid wallflower who decides to step out of his comfort zone in order to help her achieve her goal of making 100 friends. Tadano used to want to be average more than anything, but now that he and Komi are dating, he'd rather be by her side than average any day. He's worried that his epiphany came too late for him to get into the same university as Komi, but she knows exactly what to do--a super-intense study camp at Grandma's house." --
Medalist. 11
"Still wounded by her defeat at the All-Japan Novice Championships and her inability to surpass Hikaru, Inori has entered the junior class of skaters, where new challenges await. Thanks to Inori's rapid improvement and dedicated efforts in the novice class, Japan's skating federation has awarded her the right to skate in international tournaments! She works with coach Tsukasa to overcome persistent growing pains while preparing for the intense competition of the Grand Prix series, where she once again has her sights set on the gold medal. Now she's proudly sporting the Team Japan jacket as she and Tsukasa take on their first overseas competition--the Junior Grand Prix event in Bangkok, Thailand!"--Kodansha USA Publishing
Gachiakuta. 8
"A young boy is framed for murder and cast off the edge of a floating city into the abyss, where he grapples with the monsters that the elite high above would rather forget. The more the rich glitter, the higher the price paid by the poor... Rudo lives in the slums of a floating town, where the poor scrape by under the shadow of the rich who live a sumptuous life, simply casting their garbage off the side, into the abyss. Then one day, he's falsely accused of murder, and his wrongful conviction leads to an unimaginable punishment--exile off the edge, with the rest of the trash. Down on the surface, the cast-off waste of humanity has bred vicious monsters, and if Rudo wants to have any hope of discovering the truth and seeking vengeance against those who cast him into Hell, he will have to master a new power and join a group known as the Cleaners who battle the hulking trash beasts of the Pit!"--
Spacewalking with you. 2
Uno and Kobayashi have joined the Astronomy Club, and Kobayashi begins to discover the joys of stargazing for the first time. But if Kobayashi wants to keep attending, he'll need to conquer his disgust for studying and pass his final exams for once. Will the support of Uno and his coworkers be enough to keep Kobayashi from spending summer break in school? And can Uno learn to have fun without wearing himself out?
One piece. 94-95-96, Wano
While Luffy remains imprisioned in a labor camp in the bizarre samurai kingdom of Wano, the rest of his Straw Hat crew is learning more about the kingdom's twisted customs. When Wano's Emperor Kaido pairs up with a fearsome enemy of the Straw Hats, it looks like Luffy's defeat is inevitable...until a secret is revealed about Wano's former leader Oden that may bring Luffy closer than ever to his goal!
Blue Lock. 26
"Could you get down to work? Isagi has finally scored his own goal in the Neo-Egoist League, courtesy of his newly unveiled "side weapon," the lefty direct shot. Yet this is no time to get complacent. Italy's master, Snuffy, immediately brings his tactical genius to bear in Ubers' counterattack, but Barou chafes against his philosophy of soccer as "work." Meanwhile, Niko, Kaiser, and Aiku all turn their own specialized weapons on Isagi as they seek to knock him down a peg. Ready, set...duel!"--Publisher
Grandmaster of demonic cultivation = Mo dao zu shi : the comic. 12
Wei Wuxian has survived a battle for his life, but the conflict left him severely weakened: When a heated argument breaks out between him and Jiang Cheng, the stress is enough to make the dreaded grandmaster of the demonic path collapse. Wen Ning swiftly appears to shield Wei Wuxian, and offers his sword to Jiang Cheng. That sword is bound to its owner, and should only answer its master's call. Jiang Cheng is shocked to discover he can wield it himself! Wen Ning then reveals a long-held secret about the truth behind Jiang Cheng's golden core... Later, Wei Wuxian and his close companion Lan Wangji visit Yunping City to investigate Jin Guangyao's secrets. But while staying overnight at an inn, Lan Wangji gets roaring drunk! The last two times he indulged, what followed was utter chaos-and this time will be no different. It might be an opportunity to bring the two of them even closer together! --
