CLP Blog

At the end of last year Tara Westover’s memoir Educated (DB 90188) had popped up on my radar more than a few times. After half a dozen mentions I finally placed the book on hold even though I already had too many books checked out (#libraryworkerproblems). Up late babysitting, I burned through a large portion of the book in awe as I read about the experiences Tara…

As a child, I remember studying Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. only from one perspective—the man who had a dream. Without a deep understanding of Dr. King, I lacked the ability to apply some of his profound principles to my life. Years later as an adult, I read his autobiography and was amazed at the depth of his personhood. Out of this amazement, I created a booklist that allows children to understand Dr. King’s life as family member, activist, dreamer, and philosopher.

Past tense: a Jack Reacher novel By Lee Child DB 92767 / CL 19012 In the New England woods, wandering Jack Reacher sees a sign to a place he has never been: the town where his father was born. In the same isolated area, two Canadians' car breaks down. As their stories merge, Reacher makes a shocking discovery. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2018. The Reckoning By…

It’s that time again…time to determine my reading goals for the New Year. For the first time in a long time, I am participating in multiple book clubs and while this provides unique opportunities to expand my reading horizons, it also makes it trickier to find time to read books of my own choosing. With so many books to read and so little time, I’m…

Holidays are special when spent with people close to us, but not everyone has the comfort of having that special someone(s). One such person was Harry Potter who was devoid of love and affection before he was introduced to the world of witchcraft and wizardry. While most of us have already read the books (more than twice), there are a lucky few who have the…

International politics, U.S. imperialism, journalistic corruption, and infringement of democratic rights: what better place to digest these heady and complex concepts than in the garden, while surrounding yourself with peace and nature? While I was traveling across Europe in 2017, I spent a month in France designing and planting a classical French garden, a month in England helping create an organic permaculture garden, and a…

I read Carnegie’s Maid (DB 89953) an historical romance by Heather Terrell (writing as Marie Benedict) out of interest in that period in Pittsburgh’s history when Andrew Carnegie was ascending in wealth and power, and in the contrasts in society between the well-off classes and the immigrant working class.  On this score, the novel does not disappoint.  Ms. Terrell provides a thoughtful, detailed examination of…

Children with low vision are a diverse group of readers. Some benefit from large print; others from high contrast. When it comes to picture books, where the meanings of stories usually depend on illustrations, how can we help children with low vision? High-contrast, visually simple picture books are a good place to start. My Bike by Byron Barton For children with Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI),…

Three Parts Dead is a murder mystery, a brilliant court case, and an unrivaled entry into a new world, that of The Craft Sequence.  In this world the currency is soulstuff, the thing that makes beings alive, and it is also the power behind magic, and behind the Gods.  Craftspeople, wizards by any other name, are lawyers in their precision, their use of contracts and…