Shaw (Watha T. Daniel)
Neighborhood Library

Mars Attacks!

Mars, the red planet, named for the Roman god of war, has often captivated and inspired literature, as wide and varying as space western, scientific survival story, classic science fiction, philosophical novel, and popular dystopia. Here are what I consider essential Martian tales.

Graphic Novels for Beginners

From graphic novel newbie to fan in 5 books

Graphic novels have gotten increasingly more popular, but I have to admit I initially had a hard time getting into the format. For someone who was never into comic books as a kid, my eyes get easily overwhelmed with the explosion of activity that happens in graphic novels. What comes as second nature for a seasoned graphic novel fan - taking in the story simultaneously through the illustrations, the expository text, the speech bubbles, and the action bubbles or knowing which panel to look at next - requires a lot more concentration for me than reading a traditional book.

From the Banks of the Nile

Egypt Revisited

It doesn’t take a riddle of the Sphinx to understand why the world has been so fascinated with Egypt - the Pyramids of Giza, Luxor, King Tutankhamen, Cleopatra, the Library of Alexandria, and the the mighty Nile just to name a few things. There is something epic about this country in the northeast corner of Africa. Here, for your perusal, is a taste of a few things Egyptian.

Capture the Flag, written by Kate Messner and illustrated by Yuta Onoda

I <3 DC

Children's Chapter Books Set in Washington, DC

Though reading can take you on an adventure around the world, I also sometimes like to read about locations I know well, like my hometown or somewhere I've recently visited. Picking up on references to specific spots always gives me a thrill and really helps me to visualize what's happening in the story. If you're looking for a children's novel that's full of familiar streets and sights, try one of these DC-based books on for size!

Picture This: Nonfiction

Factual books in picture book format

When you're browsing the library with your child, you might gravitate toward the picture books for younger kids and chapter books or comic books for older ones. The nonfiction shelves, relegated to homework and science project time, sit neglected and unexplored. But don't judge a book by its Dewey Decimal number! There's plenty of nonfiction books that retain the fun, visual appeal of fiction picture books with the added bonus of teaching something new or serving as an extension of a favorite picture book or chapter book.

Awesome Reads for Awesome Con

Graphic Novels by Awesome Con 2016 Attendees

Did you know that D.C.’s very own comic and pop culture convention, Awesome Con, is coming up? On the first weekend of June (Friday the 3rd through Sunday the 5th) countless authors, artists, game developers, actors, and more will be arriving at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

2016 James Beard Foundation Award Winners

Some of the Best of the Beards

It’s that time of the year again when the Beard Foundation Awards have been given out to the top chefs, restaurants, media and food literature. Here is a list of some of this year’s winners in the various cookbook categories. This is not a complete list but rather a spotlight on some of my favorites. To see the complete list of winners visit James Beard Foundation.

Monster Mash

Scary and Fun Picture Books Featuring Lovable Monsters!

If there is a super cute thing in the world I love, so cute they make me happy and sick, they are picture books about monsters! Whether it is a toddler Frankenstein or a dirt monster in your plumbing or a fuzzy wolf living in your walls, I love them all! These are my most favorite and fun titles that can be enjoyed by both children and adults due to their unique illustrations or rhymes. Some may be scarier than others, so reader beware (to have some fun)!

Surf's Up written by Kwame Alexander and illustrated by Daniel Miyares

A Day at the Beach

Picture Books Featuring Waves, Sun, and Sand

Summertime is almost here! Going to the beach is one of my favorite things to do during the summer -- and we all know that there's nothing like a good book to go with a day near the seaside. If you like to splash in the water, build sandcastles, and explore animals that live underwater, then this list is for you. Enjoy a real or imaginary family trip to the shore with one of these beach-themed picture books!

Digitizing Home Video

D.I.Y. at Home or at the Memory Lab

When I learned that DCPL was setting up a lab to transfer VHS videotapes to digital format, I had to try it. At home, we had not watched our home movies in years. I wanted to get my videos to a place where my family could watch and share them. I had started a digitizing project about a year ago and stalled. I needed a jump start and was curious to see how the library’s method compared to what I was doing at home. At Home

Shaw (Watha T. Daniel) Neighborhood Library