Story Tags

Signature of All Things

Dream Faraway

Let your imagination have at it conjuring up the images and feelings from these novels. A wide range of emotions as well as personal, social and political experiences are explored giving the reader a window into other cultures and points of view. The signature of all things by Elizabeth Gilbert   

Chicken in the Kitchen

Children’s Picture Books Set in Africa

I chose this topic for my eight-year-old self who wanted to read books with characters that came from where she came from, ate the foods she ate, and looked like her.     Baby Goes to Market by Atinuke and illustrated by Angela Brooksbank

Annotated African American Folktales cover

World Folklore

Adult collections of tales and myths

Enjoy folktales from around the world!  If you're looking to explore more about your heritage or simply curious, you'll have a rich reading experience. Below are a selection of titles available to check out from the library system.

Bring Me Back book cover

Well Read Ears

Noteworthy Audiobook Performances

Did you know that audiobooks are one of the fasting growing ways to read a book? If this is news to you, welcome to your new obsession! There’s no better way to multi-task while cooking, driving, working out or when you can’t easily keep your eyes on the page. Audiobooks have come a long way from “books-on-tape,” and the library has lots of ways to enjoy them.

Lovely cover

Learning About Differences

Not just for adults any more!

In cities like Washington, D.C. there are so many people and they are all unique. This curated list contains a variety of protagonists and thoughts about differences. Let's celebrate the beautiful diversity of our city with diverse reads! Picture books for early readers Lovely by Jess Hong

Lost and Found Cat

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.

HomeGoing

Ghanaian Authors

Ghana Ghana. The first country in Sub-Saharan Africa to gain independence, a regional power in West Africa, and home to 30 million people. Ghana like many other African countries has a rich oral literature history. For this post, I wanted to discover the writings of Ghanaians and I think this selection of books is a good introduction to Ghanaian authors and a peek into Ghanaian culture and history. Each one of these authors were either born and/or raised in Ghana or have a parent who is Ghanaian.

The Lost Vintage by Ann Mah

La France des Mystères

Mysteries of all types in the land of wine and cheese

Get swept up in the land of wine, cheese...and mysteries. This collection of novels, murder mysteries, and non-fiction all take place in France where the background has no shortage of terrior (or sense of place). There is something for everyone, whether you like true crime, cozy mysteries, or dark puzzles. Bon Voyage!

The Carrying by Ada Limon

Year End Reads

As the official winter season gets closer, the weather slows things down and instills a heaviness that really makes us feel ourselves in our bodies. When we are not as frenetic, books are a great companion to the new (but cyclical) rhythm. It’s a vista from which to take stock, particularly with a new year on the horizon line. The books below offer characters or writers who are speaking to a centeredness, steadiness, or timeliness.

Spanish Cookbook cover

Cooking: Spain and Latin America

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, check out these cookbooks celebrating the culinary diversity of the Spanish speaking world. The Spanish, Middle Eastern, and African Cookbook by Pepita Aris et al.

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