Staff Picks

Let's Take a Road Trip!

YA Books to Inspire You to Hit the Road

Summer time and road trips go hand in hand. There is something about the warm weather that draws us out and makes us want to look for adventure. The magic of the open road and the wide variety of sights, sounds, and smells has made for many great stories. The collection of characters, the big moments, and the quiet in between the miles set the stage for fun, reflection, and the unexpected.

"If I Knew You Were Going To Be This Beautiful, I Never Would Have Let You Go"

by Judy Chicurel

A nostalgic look back on the summer of 1972. Much like that tumultuous time, this summer is full of tragedy, missed opportunity, lost love and relinquished innocence -- all with a feeling of anticipation for what is next.Katie's story mimics that of her small town of Elephant Beach. Once a vibrant town, it has become forlorn and stuck in a time that no longer exists. Katie longs to keep her idealized notions about home and love, but the changing culture around her keeps her on the outside looking in.

'The Oregon Trail' by Rinker Buck

Staff recommendation

Two brothers travel in a covered wagon for four months, following a 19th-century American highway to Oregon, the first time someone retraced the Oregon Trail in the same way the pioneers had traveled.

book cover for Flights, Chimes, and Mysterious Times by Emma Trevayne

Complete in One Volume

Outstanding stand-alone fantasies for tweens and their adults

It all started with the Chronicles of Narnia. Or maybe it started with the 12 Wonderful Wizard of Oz sequels that L. Frank Baum wrote to meet the immense popular demand for more Oz stories.

Andrew Carnegie Medals 2015

Winners

During the American Library Association Annual Conference in San Francisco, the annual Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction were announced. Here are the winning titles available to check out and download from the library system.Fiction

Adults

Picture Books About Pets

How Children and Pets Relate to Each Other

These charming picture books for children feature a wide variety of pets: dogs, a rabbit, a snake, a sloth, a horse, a bird, a woolly mammoth, a saber-toothed tiger, and a dodo bird. The books also deal with following aspects of pet ownership: picking out a pet, taking good care of your pet, being aware of what your pet needs, and becoming a responsible pet owner.

Adult Books for Teens

For when you've read through the entire YA section

So you’ve read your way through the YA section at your library, and you’re at a lost at what to do next. The fiction shelves seem daunting, but here are some suggestions to get you started. Feed by Mira Grant

Royal Biographies

For your fix of kings, queens, and their (sometimes) bad behavior

As Americans, we can get strangely obsessed with other countries' monarchies. It's so easy, isn't it? The lavish weddings! The impeccably dressed (not to mention impeccably behaved) children!

School May Be Out, But Science Is Still Very In!

Picture Books that Explore the World of Science

This summer, DC Public Library will feature many different science related programs to learn from and enjoy. There is the Science in the Summer program, which is a free science program for elementary school children.

Clever Crafting

Amigurumi Part Two: Knit dolls and creatures

Amigurumi (編みぐるみ) is the art of crocheting or knitting small animals, dolls or other anthropomorphic creatures. This post is part two of my amigurumi book recommendations, please click here for Part One on amigurumi crochet.