Monday, November 16, 2009, 7 p.m.

DC ParentPrep is a series of hour-long discussions, focusing mostly on literacy, although some will focus on child development, and communication and social skills for children. Senior Children's Specialist Eboni M. Stokes will lead the classes, which are geared toward parents of preschoolers.

The program's purpose is to help parents with early-learning skills, and explain steps they can take to help prepare their child for school. Topics will include reading to infants and toddlers, reading to children even when they are old enough to read, encouraging writing skills and teaching kids to tune into people's body language.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009, 5 p.m.
National Gaming Day

Teens, bring your best game! Join your friends for an afternoon of games.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009, 7 p.m.
African Culture Lecture Series: Black Presidents before Obama

Join us for another interesting  and lively lecture with the C.R. Gibbs African Culture and Lecture Series.

Is President Obama the first black President of the U.S. or any nation outside Africa? Are there other national chief executives of African descent that he can be compared to either in the past or present? Learn the fascinating answers to these important questions as you join C.R. Gibbs, historian of the African diaspora, in a riveting look at a little-known chapter of world history.

Friday, November 20, 2009, 10:30 a.m.
Senior Fridays

Hey seniors! Join Two-Face, Inc., for an interactive skit on health and fitness. Eighty-year-old local senior athlete and Golden Olympian competitor Sue Barnes will join the seniors on Friday, November 20, 2009. Sue Barnes placed 7th in the 100 meter finals and 4th in the 200 meter masters finals in Lahti, Finland. Saturday, November 21, 2009, 12:30 p.m.

Teas for your Health

Join Yoga instructor Deidre Smith for a workshop to introduce natural remedies, teas, tonic and body work.

The National Book Award, given since 1950, honors the year’s best work in fiction, nonfiction and poetry. Read past young people's literature winners:

• What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell (2008)
• The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie (2007)
• The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Vol. 1: The Pox Party by M.T. Anderson (2006)
• The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall (2005)
• Godless by Pete Hautman (2004)
• The Canning Season by Polly Horvath (2003)
• The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer (2002)
• True Believer by Virginia Euwer Wolff  (2001)
• Homeless Bird by Gloria Whelan (2000)

Find these titles in the library catalog.  Place a hold to have a book delivered to the library nearest you.

Find out more and view book nominees at the National Book Award Website.