Chevy Chase
Neighborhood Library

The Shelter of Each Other

Picture Book Stories of Resilience and Hope Amidst Displacement

War, climate change, persecution and economic hardship are forcing many children and families worldwide from their homes to seek refuge elsewhere. Leaving behind a home and country, often never to return nor knowing where the journey will lead, can be traumatic. These picture book stories about displacement, all of which are true stories or based on true events, will resonate with children who have had similar experiences. They also introduce children without such experiences to the plight of refugees, in a way that fosters understanding and empathy.

Five Books About One Song

Expertise. It's a nice thing to have, but it often takes time and effort that we don't have. Luckily, it's fairly easy to be an expert on one very, very specific thing, like a song. Think about it. Would you rather spend 2 years studying American music history, or one afternoon learning all there is to know about "White Christmas?" Here are five books that will have you on your way to faking pop music expertise.

Coffee Table Books to Make You Look Smart

Books you probably haven't read but boy do they make you look interesting!

A brand new year has just begun and you find yourself full of energy and the motivation needed to ensure that 2019 is one for the books. Of course you're going to lose that last pesky ten pounds, start off every morning with 30 minutes of meaningful meditation and finish at least one book a month.

What's Out There?

"The stars are like the trees in the forest, alive and breathing. And they're watching me.” -Haruki Murakami, Kafka on the Shore

The wide vacuum of space: black, never-ending, mysterious and beautiful. Haven’t you ever wondered what could be lurking among the stars? These YA novelists have a few ideas, and not all of them involve peaceful alien alliances or inter-dimensional romance. The Loneliest Girl in the Universe by Lauren James

#IamNotMyHair

Non-Fiction books focused on Hair-Care

People often times see their hair as a major reflection of themselves. In many cases, a deep personal relationship is established between a person and their hair. Hair and beauty is a multi-billion dollar industry and it is estimated that a person will spend 50,000 on hair over their lifetime.

John Dies at the End

Spoiler alert: The main character might bite the dust

Not every book has a happy ending so don't get too attached to the main character in these, they might not make it. Major spoilers ahead, so if you don't want to know the fate of the main character, stop reading now. Atonement by Ian McEwan

DC's Wild, Wondrous Heart

Ecological, Historical & Poetic Explorations of Rock Creek Park

When many people think of our nation's capital, they focus on its political life. Yet residents here know our city environment encompasses much more than federal politics. At its heart lies my favorite area, Rock Creek Park. Over double the size of Central Park, it includes forests, streams, hills, fields, recreational and historical sites. Here residents and tourists can escape from urban stress, slow down, engage in recreation, and commune with nature.

Mansplaining

Well these certainly aged like avocados...

Books written by men who later found themselves in hot water about the very subject they claimed to be an expert on. Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari

Hilariously Bad Books

Books that are so bad that they're goo—well, no. They're still pretty bad. But at least they're entertaining. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Worlds Where Senses Mix, Part Two

Explorations of Synesthesia in Adult and Teen Fiction

The last few decades have seen a resurgence of interest in synesthesia, the neurological condition in which a stimulus of one sense involuntarily evokes another sense (such as hearing colors or tasting words). Not only has synesthesia become a well-developed area of research within neuroscience, but many new works of literature, along with new attention on certain older works, have broadened awareness of this fascinating phenomenon.

Chevy Chase Neighborhood Library