Should you base your reading choices on the mood of a geriatric pug?

Should you base your reading choices on the mood of a geriatric pug? Yes, you definitely should! 

For those among us who don’t find themselves spending the majority of their time on TikTok (unlike me, I have to admit), I’d like to introduce you to Noodle the pug. Noodle has recently become an internet celebrity as he helps predict what kind of day people will have. Unlike the complexity of horoscopes or tarot cards, Noodle tells us simply one thing, will it be a bones or a no bones day. Each morning Noodle’s owner, Jonathan (@jongraz), gently wakes the 13-year-old pug with a gentle rub. After Noodle is awakened Jonathan picks him up and tries to set him on his feet. If Noodle stands up unabated it is a bones day! This means it will be a good day. You will have an easy time being productive and should treat yourself to something special. If Noodle immediately slumps back into his bed after being picked up, you know it is a no bones day. This is not necessarily a bad thing; it just means that you need to take more care of yourself today. Overall it is a very cute and positive take on the idea of a daily horoscope and even if you don’t believe in Noodle’s predictive powers, seeing his compressed pug smile each morning can really brighten your day, whether or not he has deemed it a bones day. 

So what does this have to do with reading? Well in honor of Noodle’s predictions the Crawfordsville Library has created a display of book suggestions for both a bones or a no bones day. If you’re having a bones day, you’re invigorated, you’re feeling good, you’re feeling motivated, we have tons of great suggestions. Like, Badass Habits by Jen Sincero (152.33 Sin). This book teaches you how to lose bad habits and harness good ones to improve your daily life. Or you might consider reading The Moth Presents Occasional Magic: True Stories About Defying the Impossible (808.543 Mot), which is a book where storytellers from around the world share times when, in the face of seemingly impossible situations, they found moments of beauty, wonder, and clarity that shed light on their lives and helped them find a path forward. 

We have books for no bones days as well. If you’re feeling a little slow today, if all you want to do is crawl back under the covers and sleep, you might want to check out I Really Needed This Today (170.44 Kot) by Hoda Kotb. Hoda not only shares 365 sayings and quotes that can help you through a rough day, but she also writes about the people and experiences that have pushed her to challenge boundaries, embrace change, and explore relationships to their fullest. Another suggestion for a day like this is The Lost Art of Doing Nothing: How the Dutch Unwind with Niksen (158.1 Wil). This book gives you permission to occasionally do absolutely nothing and teaches you how to do it in a way that is very helpful for your mind and body. One of my favorite suggestions in the No Bones categoryis Life in the Sloth Lane: Slow Down and Smell the Hibiscus (158.12 Coo). This book is a unique little mindfulness book that features many adorable pictures of sloths. 

Both categories also feature cookbooks and activity books. For a bones day there are healthy recipes, exercise books, and other books that can help you take full advantage of a Bones Day. Whereas in the No Bones collection we have easy one-pot recipes that you can make without much effort, and books that help you create self-care items like bath scrubs and lotions. 

If you’re interested in taking reading advice from Noodles the pug, stop by CDPL during December to see the Bones/No Bones display on the 2nd floor (including a sign that tells you which kind of day today is). 

Emma Lashley is a Library Assistant in Reference and Local History at CDPL