News and Announcements

Purple Up! on April 15 and show your support for children of members of the military by wearing purple. April is the Month of the Military Child, and a time to recognize the sacrifices, challenges, and experiences of the children of our Armed Forces personnel.

At the Mountains Base, DB101604 and BR022865, by Traci Sorrell

A Cherokee family waits for the return of a loved one, who is a pilot serving in the military. PRINT/BRAILLE. For preschool-grade 2. 2019.

While You are away, BR015048, by Eileen Spinelli

Three children from different families remember and miss their parents who are away on military duty. All have happy reunions when the soldiers return safely home. PRINT/BRAILLE. For preschool-grade 2. 2004.

The Wall, BR008959, by Eve Bunting and Ronald Himler

A young boy and his father come from far away to visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. and find the name of the boy's grandfather who was killed in the war. A group of girls in school uniforms comes by. "Is this wall for the dead soldiers...?" one of them asks. "The names are the names of the dead. But the wall is for all of us," the teacher answers. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades K-3. 1993.

Stars above us, DBC05717, by Geoffrey Norman

Amanda's father is a soldier, but before he leaves for war, he teaches her not to be afraid of the things that live in the dark--which includes fireflies and crickets--and about the stars. For grades K-3. 2011.

Don't Forget, God Bless Our Troops, DB075883, by Jill Biden

Jill Biden based this children's story on her own granddaughter's experience. Young Natalie misses her father, who is away fighting a war, and keeps him in her heart and prayers as she tries to be brave. Includes resources for support. For grades K-3. 2012.

A Life of Service: The story of Senator Tammy Duckworth, DB110769, by Christina Soontornvat

Senator Tammy Duckworth has logged a long list of "firsts" during her tenure as the first Thai American woman elected to Congress, including being the first woman with a disability to serve in the House and Senate. But while she dreamed of serving her country from a young age, Tammy's path was not without its challenges. From her childhood fight to keep her family from homelessness to her service in the US Army, to her recovery from grievous injuries sustained in the line of duty, Tammy never lost her determination to keep going against staggering odds. For grades K-3. 2023.

Each tiny spark, DB096399, by Pablo Cartaya

Emilia Torres is dealing with a lot in sixth grade: her ADHD, a controlling abuela, her mother's work commitments, her father's distance after returning from deployment, evolving friendships, and a conflict over school redistricting. Commercial audiobook. For grades 4-7. 2019.

Off To War: Voices of Soldiers' Children, DB068158, by Deborah Ellis

Children between the ages of seven and seventeen describe their feelings and reactions to having military parents who are posted in the war zones of Afghanistan and Iraq. The kids discuss their fears and the changes in their parents' behavior towards them. For grades 4-7 and older readers. 2008.

Humor in Uniform: Funny True Stories about Life in the Military, DB076640 and BR020073, by Reader's Digest Association

Hundreds of quips previously published in Reader's Digest magazine that poke fun at military life. Compiled from anecdotes written by men and women of the United States armed forces and their families. 2008.

Home Front, DB074311, by Kristin Hannah

2005. Forty-one-year-old Jolene, a Washington state National Guard helicopter pilot, is deployed to Iraq. She leaves behind a troubled marriage, a difficult preteen daughter, and a preschooler. While Jolene experiences the horrors of war, her husband Michael raises their children alone. Some violence and some strong language. Bestseller. 2012.

Military Brats: Legacies of Childhood Inside the Fortress, DB038480, by Mary Edwards Wertsch

Inspired by Pat Conroy's novel The Great Santini (DB 30051), about growing up in the military, journalist, and former military brat Wertsch examines the "fortress" subculture that had such a powerful shaping influence on herself and others. She analyzes the stories of grown children of military men to reveal aspects of their collective experience. Strong language and some violence. 2014.

Anchor & Flares: A Memoir of Motherhood, Hope, and Service, DB099135, by Kate Braestrup

Memoir reflecting on the grief that followed the author's husband's death as well as the fear she feels regarding her son's decision to enlist in the Marines. Discusses her journey to reconcile her wish to protect him with a family legacy of military service through her work as a chaplain. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2015.

Brats, DB031319, by Mary R. Truscott

Speaking from her own experience as a second-generation military dependent and from interviews with others, the author recounts the joys and difficulties of life as a military "brat." She discusses the effects of frequent moves, a parent's long absences (usually the father's), the daily routines of a military base, and living "everywhere" but being from no particular place. 2016

Special Needs Families in the Military: A Resource Guide, DB072224, by Janelle Hill

The authors of The Wounded Warrior Handbook (DB 68275) provide advice for military families dealing with special-needs children and adults. They discuss benefits and treatment options and highlight the importance of acting as an advocate for one's child. Includes resources section that lists support groups. 2011.

A Star for Mrs. Blake, DB078882, by April Smith

In the l930s, five American women travel to France to visit the graves of their WWI soldier sons--a pilgrimage that will change their lives in unforeseeable and indelible ways and link them forever. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2014.
 

April 10 is National Siblings Day. Between calls with your favorite siblings (or instead of a call with your least favorite sibling) enjoy these books about siblings who get along, and some who do not, and be thankful your siblings are not cannibalistic black widow spiderlings!

The New Baby, DBC19099, by Christine A. Platt

Ana & Andrew are expecting a sibling! The family is very excited. Mama's family arrives from Trinidad, and everyone helps to get ready. When the baby arrives, Ana & Andrew learn from Granny that in African American culture, a baby's name often tells an important story. For preschool to grade 2. 2023.

Thump and Plunk, DBC29214, by Janice May Udry

Two little ducks enjoy nothing more than thumping and plunking one another in this amusing tale of sibling rivalry for beginning readers. For preschool to grade 2. 2024.

Becky the Brave: A Story About Epilepsy, DB055592, by Laurie Lears

Sarah depends on her brave older sister Becky to walk her to school. But after Becky has an epileptic seizure in front of her classmates, she refuses to go to school. Sarah finds the courage to go alone and a way to help her sibling. For grades K-3. 2003.

Cameron and Me, BRG00060 and BRA18966, by Dorothy Joan Harris

A new baby arrives in the family, and his older brother finds himself out of the spotlight. Grades K-3. 2000.

Big Boss! Little Boss! BR004654, by Barbara Bottner

Humorous, true-to-life stories about sisters whose sibling warfare ends in victory for both. For grades K-3. 1981.

Sisters And Brothers: Sibling Relationships in the Animal World, BR018027, by Robin Page and Steve Jenkins

Facts about various mammals, birds, fish, insects, and reptiles focus on relationships between young animals born to the same mother. Discusses bat twins, armadillo quadruplets, cannibalistic black widow spiders, wild turkey brothers, cichlid and cuckoo catfish stepchildren, and whiptail lizard sisters, among others. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades 2-4. 2011.

Frenemies in the Family: Famous Brothers and Sisters who Butted Heads and had Each Other's Backs, DB090584, by Kathleen Krull

Glimpses into the lives of famous brothers and sisters who have not always gotten along, but whose important bonds have shaped their accomplishments. Includes such celebrity siblings as singer Demi Lovato and her sister, tennis superstars Serena and Venus Williams, the Jacksons, and more. For grades 3-6. 2018.

The Saturdays, DB122345, by Elizabeth Enright

The four Melendy siblings decide to pool their resources so that each of them can take a Saturday to do something special with the combined allowances. For grades 3-6. 2024.

From the mixed-up files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, DB022914 and BR009549, by E.L. Konigsburg

Claudia, feeling misunderstood at home, takes her younger brother and runs away to New York City where she sets up housekeeping in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. For grades 4-6. Newbery Medal. 2009.

The Nobleman's Guide to Scandal and Shipwrecks, DB105872, by Mackenzi Lee

Desperate to escape his father's high expectations and his own grief in the aftermath of his mother's passing, sole heir Adrian Montague embarks on a search for his disowned siblings after discovering that he is not an only child. For senior high and older readers. 2022.

Siblings Without Rivalry: How to Help Your Children Live Together so you Can Live too, DB026613, by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish

Offers simple, yet effective, ways of dealing with antagonism between siblings. Includes guidelines on such topics as freeing children to change, the perils of comparison, and helping children to resolve conflicts. 2014.

My Sister's Keeper, DB058402 and BR024839, by Jodi Picoult

Anna is not sick, but her life is heavily impacted by her sister Kate's leukemia. Conceived to be a bone marrow match for Kate, Anna has endured many medical procedures for her sister. Now, as a teenager, she starts questioning her identity and makes a decision that will tear her family apart and have perhaps fatal consequences for the sister she loves. Strong language. 2005.

"Mom, Jason's Breathing on Me!" The Solution to Sibling Bickering, DB057857, by Anthony E. Wolf

Clinical child psychologist outlines steps to reduce the problem of fighting among children in the family, using anecdotes from his practice and experience. It offers additional parenting suggestions, explains the nature of sibling relationships, and gives suggestions for moral growth. Some strong language. 2012.

The Sibling Effect: Brothers, Sisters, and the Bonds That Define Us, DB075261, by Jeffrey Kluger

Science writer and Time Magazine editor Kluger explores the psychology of siblings using his own family as an example. Discusses genetics, birth order, gender, favoritism, divorce, twins, and blended families to explain the lifelong influence and benefits of brothers and sisters. 2013.

Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters: and Seymour - An Introduction, BR019576 and DB012334, by J.D. Salinger

Two episodes from the life of the Glass family narrated by Buddy, the middle son. In Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters Buddy recounts his brother Seymour's wedding day in 1942. In the stream-of-consciousness Seymour: An Introduction Buddy describes his sibling's love of poetry and sports. Some strong language. 1955.

The Identicals: A Novel, DB088175 and BRG04083, by Elin Hilderbrand

Nantucket is only two and a half hours away from Martha's Vineyard by ferry. But the two islands might as well be worlds apart for a set of identical twin sisters who have been at odds for years. When a family crisis forces them to band together--or at least appear to--the twins slowly come to realize that the special bond that they share is more important than the sibling rivalry that's driven them apart for the better part of their lives. Bestseller. 2017. 
 

For St. Patrick’s Day—Happy Wearing O’ the green day! We have listed a variety of books for all ages. Some are set in Ireland, and some feature Irish authors, characters, history, and more. Sláinte!

Jamie O'Rourke and the Pooka, DB050340, by Tomie dePaola

Jamie O'Rourke is the laziest man in all of Ireland. When his wife visits her sister for a week, she leaves Jamie plenty of food and a clean house. Then his friends come visiting and leave a mess behind. Jamie gets some help from an unexpected source. For grades K-3. 2016.

Ballywhinney Girl, DB074365, by Eve Bunting

Maeve and her grandfather uncover a girl's ancient, mummified body in a bog in Ballywhinney, Ireland. After the police and archeologists start piecing together the mystery, Maeve realizes the long-dead lass was much like her. For grades K-3. 2012.

Finn Maccoul And His Fearless Wife: A Giant of a Tale from Ireland, BR012034, by Robert Byrd

Irish giant Finn MacCoul, who is a bit cowardly, finds himself in trouble after building a stone bridge between Ireland and Scotland. Now the mean Scottish giant Cucullin can come across to Ireland and attack Finn. Fortunately, Finn's wife, Oonagh, has a plan to save him. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades K-3. 2000.

Abby, DB045050, by Wolfram Hänel and Rosemary Lanning

Moira lives on a tiny Irish island and her best friend is the family dog, Abby. They run on the beach, watch the gulls and the clouds from the meadow, and climb up the cliffs. Then one day Moira comes home from school to learn that Abby has eaten poisoned meat and may die. For grades 2-4. 2016.

Fiona's lace, DBC05972, by Patricia Polacco

Fiona and her family moved from Ireland to Chicago to begin a new life. Yet, when the family faces misfortune, will Fiona's lace help save them? For grades 2-4. 2014.

The Pirate Queen, DB045535, by Emily Arnold McCully

Portrays the life of the legendary sixteenth-century Irish swashbuckler Grania O'Malley, who was known as the cunning and intrepid "sea queen." Her adventures included saving her father's life in battle, bearing a child at sea, and boldly opposing Ireland's English invaders. For grades 2-4. 2016.

Leprechaun in Late Winter: Magic Tree House, Merlin Mission #15, BR019171 and DB071845, by Mary Pope Osborne

Jack and Annie travel back in time to Ireland in 1862. Merlin's new mission for them is to encourage young Augusta Gregory to share her love of Irish legends and folktales with the world. For grades 2-4. 2011.

Paddy's Pot of Gold, BR011073, by Dick King-Smith

It is early on the morning of her eighth birthday that Brigid meets P.V.W.R.H. O'Reilly, a leprechaun. Paddy, as he is called, has always been around; in fact, he is 174 years old. But this is the first time conditions have been right for Brigid to see him. And now Brigid is in for some interesting times. For grades 3-6. 1990.

Maura's Angel, BR011944, by Lynne Reid Banks

On her way home from her Belfast school, Maura is knocked flat by a bomb's blast. When she looks around, she is amazed to see a naked girl who looks just like her. Maura must teach this new acquaintance to walk, eat, and even sleep. In return, Maura and her family experience wonderful changes while in her presence. For grades 4-7. 1999.

A Pot o' Gold: A Treasury of Irish Stories, Poetry, Folklore, and (of Course) Blarney, DB072592, by Kathleen Krull

Limericks, ballads, poetry by Joyce and Yeats, and retellings of legends about mermaids, fairies, and leprechauns. Selections from the cultural heritage of Ireland balance child-friendly material with original sources. For grades 4-7 and older readers. 2004.

My father left me Ireland: An American son's search for home, DB97887, By Michael Brendan Dougherty

The son of Irish and Irish American parents, the author relates his struggles with his cultural identity and his connections with Ireland thanks to a difficult relationship with his absent father. Reflects on the meaning of identity and the difficulty many Americans face trying to connect with their origins. 2019. 

St. Patrick Of Ireland: A Biography, BR015450 and DB058484, By Philip Freeman

Life of St. Patrick based on his two surviving letters: one a defense of his work in Ireland, the other condemning a slave-raiding king and his pirates. Recounts Patrick's kidnapping by Irish pirates, years of slavery, escape, and eventual return to minister to the Irish people. Debunks many myths. 2006.

Grania: She-king of the Irish Seas, DB024360, By Morgan Llywelyn

Lusty, melodramatic saga based on the life and legends of the sixteenth-century pirate-chieftain Grace O'Malley, often called Grania of Ireland. A formidable warrior, this seafaring leader of Irish clans fought to preserve her people's lands from the forces of the English Queen Elizabeth. Explicit descriptions of sex. 2016.

Belfast Diary: War as a Way of Life, DB027431, By John Conroy

A Chicago journalist recounts his experience living in a Catholic ghetto in war-torn West Belfast in 1980. After witnessing the activities of daily life amid suspicion, joblessness, poor housing, inadequate schools, and everyday street violence, he developed an intense sympathy toward his Catholic neighbors. 2017.

Irish Hearts, DB050504, by Nora Roberts

Contains Irish Thoroughbred and Irish Rose, relating the stories of cousins Adelia Cunnane and Erin McKinnon. Each independent young woman comes to America and finds success, love, and happiness with a neighboring Maryland horse-farm owner. Prequel to Irish Rebel (DB50505). Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. Bestseller. 2000.

Fingal O'Reilly, Irish Doctor, DB077938, by Patrick Taylor

1965. Dr. Fingal O'Reilly and his wife Kitty return from their honeymoon to Ballybucklebo, Northern Ireland. As he tends to his patients, Fingal reminisces about his years as a new physician in the 1930s, when he worked in Dublin's slums. Sequel to Irish Country Wedding (DB76135). 2013.

Angela's Ashes: A Memoir, DB042805 and BR012543, by Frank McCourt

Frank McCourt recollects his "miserable Irish Catholic childhood" in the squalor of Limerick. Absent any support from his glib, but shiftless, alcoholic father, the family suffered hunger, cruelty, disease, and the death of children. McCourt recounts his story without rancor. Strong language. Pulitzer Prize. Bestseller. 1996.

The Irish in Ireland, DB019954, by Constantine Fitzgibbon

An American writer who lives in Ireland offers a guided tour through his adopted country's stormy history. He begins with the Stone Age and continues with speculations about the Celtic forebears of the Irish and about the succeeding ages of invasions. 2016.

The searcher, DB100859, by Tana French

After a bruising divorce, veteran Chicago police officer Cal Hooper thought a fixer-upper in a bucolic Irish village would be the perfect escape. But when a local kid whose brother has gone missing arm-twists him into investigating, Cal uncovers layers of darkness beneath his picturesque retreat. Bestseller. 2020.

Galway Bay, DB091054, by Mary Pat Kelly

1839 - Soon after Honora Keeley is accepted to the convent, she meets Michael Kelly, and they fall in love. As the Great Starvation sweeps across Ireland, they struggle to feed their growing family. Then, an opportunity to immigrate to America is offered to them. Conflict follows the family. Some violence. 2009.

Northern Spy, DB102898, by Flynn Berry

BBC producer and new mother Tessa is at work in Belfast when news of another raid hits. The IRA may have gone underground, but their work is still felt. Security footage shows Tessa's sister Marian pulling a ski mask over her face. Tessa struggles with finding the truth. 2021.

Walking with Ghosts: A Memoir, DB102499, by Gabriel Byrne

Memoir of an award-winning Irish actor. He tells of growing up in Dublin, the oldest of six children born to working-class parents. After early plans to become a priest fizzled, he joined a Dublin theatre group, beginning his forty-year career as an actor on stage and screen. 2021.

Walking The Dog and Other Stories, BR010533, by Bernard MacLaverty

Nine short stories that explore unsettling aspects of Irish life. In the title story, a man is kidnapped by the IRA while walking his dog and is disgustedly released. In both "Compensations" and "Just Visiting," the main characters must deal with the impending death of a loved one. Strong language. 1997.

The Famished Land: A Novel of The Irish Potato Famine, BR002477, by Elizabeth Byrd

A love story set in Ireland during the years of the potato famine. Moira McFlaherty and her big family live happily in a small village where she dreams of the day she will marry her childhood sweetheart. When the famine comes, her courage sustains the family.1975.

McGarr And the Politician's Wife, BR003573, by Bartholomew Gill

Chief Inspector McGarr of the Irish Police investigates the assault of a drunken American left for dead on an old yacht in Dublin. McGarr searches the coast of Ireland to uncover the identity of the assailant. Some strong language. 1977.

The National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) has announced the details of its March 2025 Music Notes Webinar. This program is presented by staff who work in the Music Section of NLS and focuses on the services and resources that are available from the Music Section.

The next Music Notes program will be presented on Tuesday, March 25, at 7:00 p.m. eastern time via Zoom. For this NLS Music Notes webinar, NLS staff will be joined by pianist, composer, and NLS Music Section patron Hwaen Ch’uqi. We will discuss Mr. Ch’uqi’s journey to becoming a professional musician, his use of braille music, and his own compositions and inspiration.

About Hwaen Ch’uqi

An Inca Indian and a native of Perú, pianist Hwaen Ch’uqi is a world-renowned soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician. He has performed throughout the United States, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Bulgaria, Russia, Taiwan, Japan, and Perú at such venues as Seiji Ozawa Hall, Alice Tully Hall, the Great Hall of Moscow Conservatory, and Philharmonic Hall in St. Petersburg, Russia. He is on the roster of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Chamber Music Society and is co-founder of Duo Q’inti with pianist Emi Okumura and Duo Perussia with violinist Nadya Meykson.

Mr. Ch’uqi holds Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in Piano Performance from the Eastman School of Music, where he studied under Natalya Antonova. He quickly distinguished himself as one of the rare pianists to be invited three times as a fellow to the prestigious Tanglewood Music Center; there, he studied with such luminaries as Gilbert Kalish and Leon Fleisher. He was a semifinalist at the Second Sviatoslav Richter International Piano Competition in Moscow and was awarded the Special Prize.  For more information about Mr. Ch'uqi, read more at Hwaen Ch’uqi's website.

For more information, please check out the NLS Music Section. If you have any questions about this program, please call the NYS Talking Book and Braille Library (TBBL) at 800-342-3688.     

March is Women’s History Month!  We hope you will find the following list of books both informative and inspirational. Read about the lives of women who explored the oceans and the universe, discovered new ways to heal the human body, and even dug up some dinosaur bones.

For even more women in science past and present, be sure to check out the events, exhibits, and resources made available as part of the Women of Science at the New York State Museum program.

Dinosaur Lady: The Daring Discoveries of Mary Anning, the First Paleontologist, DB103575, by Linda Skeers

As a kid, Mary Anning loved hunting for fossils with her father, and she made an unexpected discovery: a dinosaur fossil, the first Ichthyosaurus ever to be discovered. Her find reshaped scientific beliefs about the natural world and women scientists. For preschool-grade 2. 2020.

Amazing Scientists, DB096654 and BR022806, by Julia Finley Mosca

Three biographies, written in 2017-18, featuring women scientists. Includes The Girl Who Thought in Pictures: The Story of Dr. Temple Grandin, The Doctor with an Eye for Eyes: The Story of Dr. Patricia Bath, and The Girl with a Mind for Math: The Story of Raye Montague. For grades K-3. 2018.

The Doctor with an Eye for Eyes: The Story of Dr. Patricia Bath, DBC06763 and BRC01843, by Julia Finley Mosca

As a girl coming of age during the Civil Rights Movement, Patricia Bath made it her mission to become a doctor. When obstacles like racism, poverty, and sexism threatened this goal, she persevered--brightening the world with a game-changing treatment for blindness! For grades K-3. 2017.

Secrets of the Sea: The Story of Jeanne Power, Revolutionary Marine Scientist, DB105131, by Evan Griffith

The author recounts the curiosity, drive, and perseverance of Jeanne Power, a nineteenth-century woman scientist who pioneered the use of aquariums to study ocean life. For grades 2-4. 2021.

Hunt for the past: my life as an explorer, DBC16905 and BRC00681, by Sue Hendrickson as told to Kimberly Weinberger

Autobiography of the woman who discovered the world's most complete T. rex. For grades 2-4.

Elizabeth Blackwell: The First Woman Doctor, BR013867, by Ira Peck

Biography of the first woman to graduate from a medical college, finishing first in her 1849 class at a time when women had not been accepted into the American medical profession. For grades 4-7. 2000.

Fossil Hunter:  How Mary Anning Changed the Science of Prehistoric Life, DB107232, by Cheryl Blackford

Profiles the life of Mary Anning, the Victorian fossil hunter who changed scientific thinking about prehistoric life and would become one of the most celebrated paleontologists of all time. Mary Anning grew up on the south coast of England in a region rich in fossils. As teenagers, she and her brother Joseph discovered England's first complete ichthyosaur. For grades 4-7. 2022. 

Path to the Stars: My Journey from Girl Scout to Rocket Scientist, DB093309, by Sylvia Acevedo

Memoir of a Latinx rocket scientist whose early life was transformed by joining the Brownies and who currently serves as CEO of the Girl Scouts of the USA. For grades 5-8. 2018.

Trailblazers: 33 women in science who changed the world, DBC08622, by Rachel Swaby

This inspiring book, aimed at children aged ten and up, contains snapshots of some of the many women who have made important advancements in scientific fields such as biology, medicine, astronomy, and technology. For grades 5-8. 2015.

Hidden From History: The Lives of Eight American Women Scientists, DB058587, by Kim K. Zach

Collective biography of eight female scientists from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries who excelled in their male-dominated fields. Describes the background and achievements of biochemist Gertrude Elion, biologist/geneticist Nettie Stevens, astronomer Annie Cannon, anatomist Florence Sabin, and computer scientist Grace Hopper, among others. For junior and senior high readers. 2002.

Obsessive Genius: The Inner World of Marie Curie, BR015838, by Barbara Goldsmith

Account of Marie Curie (1867-1934), the first woman to become a professor at the Sorbonne, and the first woman to receive two Nobel Prizes. Using family documents, Goldsmith compares Curie's roles of scientist, wife, and mother, focusing on the social and economic hurdles she had to overcome. 2005.

Lillian Gilbreth: Redefining Domesticity, BR020191, by Julie Des Jardins

Biography of the mother in Cheaper by the Dozen (BR 17784 and DB023282), Lillian Gilbreth (1878-1972). Highlights her pioneering work as one of the first female industrial engineers to hold a doctorate degree and contribute to the field of organizational psychology--all while parenting a dozen children. 2013.

Miss Leavitt's Stars: The Untold Story of The Woman Who Discovered How to Measure the Universe, BR016517, by George Johnson

Profiles Henrietta Swan Leavitt (1868-1921), who worked at the Harvard College Observatory in the male-dominated field of astronomy. Explains her meticulous recording of "variables"--stars that wax and wane--and her contributions to the theory of an expanding universe. 2005.

Celebrate Black History Month with a curated reading list from TBBL staff!

Civil Rights Movement

Be a King: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Dream and You, DB093511, by Carole Boston Weatherford

Presents key moments of Dr. King's life and encourages young people to be more like him by standing for peace, having a dream, and other acts. For grades K-3. 2018.

Let the Children March, DB093652 and BR022512, by Monica Clark-Robinson and Frank Morrison

Under the leadership of Dr. Martin Luther King, children and teenagers march against segregation in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1963. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades K-3. 2018.

Choosing Brave: How Mamie Till-Mobley and Emmett Till Sparked the Civil Rights Movement, DB112389, by Angela Joy

The story of the mother of Emmett Till, and how she channeled grief over her son's death into a call to action for the civil rights movement.
John Steptoe Award. For grades 2-4. 2022.

I am Rosa Parks, DB050384, by Rosa Parks and James Haskins

Famous activist describes her role in the civil rights movement. In 1955, fed up with unequal treatment, Parks refused to give up her bus seat to a white man. Her arrest led to a yearlong boycott by blacks of Montgomery, Alabama, buses. For grades 2-4. 1997.

Rosa, DB118993and BR016045, by Nikki Giovanni and Bryan Collier

"More than 50 years after her refusal to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Alabama, bus, Mrs. Rosa Parks is the subject of this picture-book tribute to
her courageous action and the events that followed." -- Provided by publisher. -- Commercial audiobook. For grades 3-6.

Malcolm X: A Fire Burning Brightly, BR013616, by Walter Dean Myers

A short biography of the controversial twentieth-century African American leader. Describes the crucial stages in Malcolm X's life. Includes quotes from his speeches and writings, and a chronology. For grades 4-7 and older readers. 2000.

In the Name of Emmett Till: How the Children of the Mississippi Freedom Struggle Tore Down Yesterday and Showed Us Tomorrow, DBC09695, by Robert H. Mayer

Vividly explains how the brutal killing in 1955 of a fourteen-year-old boy in the Mississippi Delta inspired a generation of young people to fight for Black freedom. Details how the courageous activism of scores of Mississippi youth in the decade after Till's murder played a decisive role in dismantling the state's system of racial apartheid. Some violence and strong language. For grades 6-9. 2023.

Carry On: Reflections for a New Generation, DB104331, by John Lewis

A collection of memories, advice, reflections, and beliefs from the late congressman and pivotal figure of the civil rights movement. Topics include justice, courage, faith, mentorship, activism, and more. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. Bestseller. 2021.

Reporting Civil Rights: American Journalism 1941-1963, DB097413

Presents firsthand accounts drawn from newspapers, magazines, and book excerpts of the civil rights movement in the United States. Contributors include Ralph Ellison, Langston Hughes, George S. Schuyler, James Baldwin, John Steinbeck, George W. Collins, and more. Violence. 2003.

Freedom's Daughters: The Unsung Heroines of the Civil Rights Movement from 1830 to 1970, DB052736, by Lynne Olson

A journalist highlights women's contributions to the struggle for civil rights in the United States. Beginning with the antislavery movements of the South, through the Civil Rights era, to contemporary feminist issues, Olson describes the works of both black and white women who fought for freedom and equality. 2001.

The Autobiography of Malcolm X, DB065510 and DB101533 and BR017499, by Alex Haley and Malcolm X

The life of African American religious leader Malcolm X (1925-1965). The author describes his boyhood in Lansing, Michigan, street life in Harlem, conversion to the Black Muslim movement while imprisoned for robbery, and evolution into a high-profile spokesman for black dignity, power, and separatism. Foreword by Alex Haley. 1964.

Contemporary Titles

When We Say Black Lives Matter, DB109330, by Maxine Beneba Clarke

 In this exuberant exploration of the Black Lives Matter motto, a loving narrator relays to a young Black child the strength and resonance behind the words. For grades K-3.

All Rise: The Story of Ketanji Brown Jackson, DB113938,
by Carole Boston Weatherford

For every brown-skinned girl and every Black woman who was ever overlooked or underestimated when opportunities were doled out, Ketanji Brown Jackson rose. Through hard-work and self-belief, she excelled and graduated from Harvard Law School and later became a federal judge. In 2016, Leila Jackson advocated for her mother, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, to be nominated for the United States Supreme Court. In 2022, President Joe Biden nominated her, making her the first Black female Supreme Court justice in the country. Commercial audiobook. For grades K-3. 2023.

Kamala Harris: Rooted in Justice, DB102000, by Nikki Grimes

Award-winning poet and author chronicles the formative moments of Kamala Harris, a daughter of immigrants who would grow up to be the first woman, first Black person, and first South Asian American ever elected Vice President of the United States. For grades K-3. 2020.

Call and Response: The Story of Black Lives Matter, DB106994, by Veronica Chambers and Jennifer Harlan

Journalists explore the history of Black Lives Matter in the wake of high-profile wrongful deaths of Black people. From the founders to watershed moments, Chambers and Harlan follow the activists and organizers on their journeys and discover how protest has been fundamental to American democracy, eventually making meaningful change. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. For junior and senior high readers. 2022.

The Black President: Hope and Fury in the Age of Obama, DB108441,
by Claude A. Clegg

Claude A. Clegg III's comprehensive history of Barack Obama's presidency offers a unique perspective on the dynamic and contentious political context. He highlights the America that enabled Obama's presidency and the America that resisted the idea of a Black chief executive, making it possible for the ascent of the most unlikely successor. The book also explores the Obama presidency's impact on African Americans, who were his staunchest supporters and experienced both triumphs and shortcomings of his presidency. The Black President is essential reading for historians, politics junkies, and Obama fans and for anyone seeking to understand America's contemporary struggles with inequality, prejudice, and fear. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2021.

His Name Is George Floyd: One Man's Life and the Struggle for Racial Justice, DBC26540, by Robert Samuels and Toluse Olorunnipa

Drawing upon hundreds of interviews, Washington Post reporters Robert Samuels and Toluse Olorunnipa offer a poignant and moving exploration of George Floyd's life. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2022.

My Grandfather’s Son: A Memoir, DB065396, by Clarence Thomas

Autobiography of Supreme Court justice Clarence Thomas (born 1948), who reminisces about being raised by his maternal grandfather, a strict Catholic, in segregated Georgia. Describes his education, graduation from Yale Law School, and professional career up to his controversial 1991 ascent to the high court. Some strong language. Bestseller. 2007.

Haben: the Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law, DB096188 and BR022702, by Haben Girma

The autobiography of the first deaf-blind graduate of Harvard Law School. Girma describes her childhood, world travels, development of a text-to-braille communication system, and time at Harvard Law, as well as the ways she uses her talents to advocate for those with disabilities. 2019.

When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir, DB090119, by Patrisse Khan-Cullors

Khan-Cullors, a cofounder of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, recounts her experiences as an artist and activist. Describes her personal history growing up in Los Angeles and the founding of BLM after the murder of Trayvon Martin. Presents calls to action to combat racism in America. Some violence and strong language. Commercial audiobook. 2018.

Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance, DB043877 and BR018106, by Barack Obama

Obama, his father a Kenyan student and his mother a white Kansan, struggles with issues of identity and ethnicity. A Harvard Law School graduate, community organizer, and civil rights lawyer, Obama recounts a life-changing pilgrimage to Kenya to meet relatives from his father's other marriages. Some strong language. Bestseller. 1995.

Miriam's Song: A Memoir, BR015575, by Mark Mathabane and Miriam Mathabane

Mark Mathabane describes in his sister Miriam's voice her coming of age as a poor black female in 1980s apartheid South Africa. Before leaving to study nursing in the U.S., she endures an abusive and poor quality education. Depicts a resilient family. 2000. 

Entertainment and Literature 

R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, BR023730,
by Carole Boston Weatherford and Frank Morrison

Short biography of the "Queen of Soul" Aretha Franklin, an award-winning singer, songwriter, pianist, actor, and activist. Coretta Scott King Award. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades K-3. 2020

Rise! From Caged Bird to Poet of the People, Maya Angelou, DB106579, by Bethany Hegedus

A biography of African American writer, performer, and activist Maya Angelou, who rose above a childhood of trauma and emotional pain to become one of the most inspiring voices of our lifetime. Includes a foreword by her grandson Colin Johnson. Commercial audiobook. For grades 3-6. 2019.

Mary Carter Smith, African American Storyteller, DBC12241, by Babs Bell Hajdusiewicz

A biography of the Afro-American woman who gained fame as a storyteller and became "America's Mother Griot" or official storyteller of African stories. For grades 4-7. 2021.

The Dream Keeper and Other Poems, DB030158 and BR015321, by Langston Hughes

Collection of sixty-six poems chosen by the author for young readers. Selections include lyrical poems, songs, and blues, many exploring the African American experience. For grades 6-9 and older readers. 1932.

Higher Ground: Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Curtis Mayfield, and the Rise and Fall of American Soul, DB059603, by Craig Hansen Werner

Professor of African American culture traces the interconnectedness of soul music, spirituality, and the civil rights movement during the 1960s and 1970s. In the process he relates the personal narratives of Wonder, Franklin, and Mayfield, leading artists of the period. 2004.

A Choice of Weapons, DBC24745, by Gordon Parks

Gordon Parks -- photographer for 'Life' magazine, writer, composer, artist, and filmmaker -- was only 16 in 1928 when he moved from Kansas to St. Paul, Minnesota, after his mother's death. There, homeless and hungry, he began his fight to survive the brutal Minnesota winter, to educate himself, and to 'prove my worth.' Working at a succession of jobs from janitor to railroad porter to busboy to musician to professional basketball player, in such places as St. Paul, Chicago, and New York, Parks struggled against poverty and racism, not just to avoid failure but to achieve success. He taught himself photography with a secondhand camera, worked for local newspapers serving the black community, and began to document the poverty among blacks on Chicago's South Side. His portfolio won him a year-long fellowship, which he spent with the Farm Security Administration. Unrated.  

Magical Negro: Poems, DB095008, by Morgan Parker

Collection of forty poems exploring the everyday black experience in America. Themes include loneliness, displacement, grief, ancestral trauma, and objectification. Also examines tropes and stereotypes of black Americans. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2019.

Richard Potter: America's First Black Celebrity, DB097226, by John A. Hodgson

Biography of a man who was born the son of a slave in 1783 and went on to become the most popular entertainer in America. Examines both his public life as a magician and ventriloquist and his experiences as a black man in pre-Civil War America. 2018.          

Respect: The Life of Aretha Franklin, DB079771, by David Ritz

Ritz, author of Ray Charles (DB 46564) and coauthor of When I Left Home (DB 75698), examines the life of legendary singer Aretha Franklin (born 1942). Discusses her childhood in Detroit, her personal struggles impacted by phenomenal career success, and her legacy to the music industry. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2014.

I Am Not Your Negro, DB088630 and BR021879, by James Baldwin

A compilation of passages from unpublished and previously published books, essays, letters, notes, and interviews used in the creation of the 2016 Oscar-nominated documentary of the same name. Explores Baldwin's unwritten book concept profiling Medgar Evers, Malcolm X, and Martin Luther King Jr. Some strong language. Bestseller. 2017.

Signed, Sealed, and Delivered: The Soulful Journey of Stevie Wonder, DBC03442 and BR018996, by Mark Ribowsky

 Portrait of the legendary blind Motown musician (born 1950) from his impoverished childhood to his sixtieth year. Traces his musical development; his long relationship with Motown Records, which began when he was eleven; and his political activism, womanizing, and descents into depression. Some strong language. 2010.

The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl, DB081242 and BR020766, by Issa Rae

Creator of the YouTube comedy series Awkward Black Girl discusses a childhood spent in Los Angeles, Senegal, and Maryland; family relationships; career ambitions; and her experience of blackness. Humorously analyzes racial, cultural, and personality stereotypes. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. 2015.

Historical

Before She was Harriet, BR022041, by Lesa Cline-Ransome and James Ransome

A lyrical biography of Harriet Tubman, written in verse. Honors the life of the well-known African American woman of humble origins whose courage, determination, and compassion made her an American icon. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades K-3. 2017.

Frederick Douglass: A Noble Life, BR019255, by David A. Adler

Biography of the abolitionist Frederick Douglass (1818-1895), a fugitive slave who became an author, lecturer, and advisor to President Lincoln. Discusses slavery in America and Douglass's escape, emancipation activities, support of women's rights, world travels, and writing career. For grades 6-9 and older readers. 2010.

Four Hundred Souls: A Community History of African America,1619-2019, DB102425 and BR023615, by Ibram X. Kendi and Keisha N. Blain

A "community" history of African Americans spanning the four centuries between 1619 and 2019 that contains pieces from ninety writers, each covering the span of a few years. Each period of time is explored in a variety of ways, including essays, short stories, vignettes, and polemics. Some strong language. 2021.