Themed Bookshelves

On January 20, 2021, Kamala D. Harris was sworn in as the first woman Vice President of the United States. Vice President Harris is also the first Black and South Asian American woman Vice President in American history. (And Doug Emhoff, her husband, is the first “Second Gentleman” in American history.) Celebrate Women’s History Month 2024 with these books about women who have been trailblazers in politics, science, sports and the arts. Read More

Talking animals make many fairy tales memorable. Would Little Red Riding Hood feel the same without the wolf saying, “The better to eat you with, my dear?” Share a classic fairy tale with friends or try a tale with a new twist on National Tell a Fairy Tale Day 2024! Read More

By the 18th Century, printed Valentine’s Day cards were available for purchase, but we still love handmade cards the best. The books, below, explore some clever ways to help make your Valentine’s Day extra special. Read More

Celebrate Black History Month 2024 by reading and sharing some of these stories about Black experiences in America and beyond. Read More

For some of his most iconic paintings, including celebrity portraits of Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor, Andy Warhol used photographs to create silkscreen “stencils,” pushing ink through the silkscreens and layering it on top of images he had already traced and painted by hand. For his Campbell’s Soup Cans, he used a slightly different technique, tracing the images using a projector and filling in the outlines using paint and brushes. To celebrate Inspire Your Heart With Art Day 2024, check out these books to learn how different artists create works of art that inspire our hearts. Read More

Jazzy is a Miniature Australian Shepherd, which is actually an American breed of dog. Jazzy lives in California, and her favorite activities include going on walks, playing “catch” with her red frisbee, and having her tummy rubbed. To celebrate National Walk Your Dog Month in 2024, check out these books featuring lots of fun facts and great stories about dogs: Read More

Friends help us celebrate when things go well, support us when times are tough, improve our self-confidence, increase our sense of belonging, and reduce our stress. Is it any wonder that having friends is good for our health and well-being? Celebrate National Thank You Month in 2024 by discovering some of these great books about friendship! Read More

According to Guinness World Records, the world’s tallest snowman was built in 2008 in Bethel, Maine. Named Olympia, she was constructed out of 13 million pounds of snow. Her hat was 48 feet wide, her lips were crafted out of five car tires, and eight pairs of skis were used to create her eyelashes. Celebrate the first day of winter on December 21, 2023, with some of these lovely books about snow: Read More

The term "cupcake" originally referred to how cupcakes were baked -- in a teacup! Not to confuse matters, but “cupcake” also once referred to a cake made with ingredients measured by the cupful (for example, 1 cup butter, 2 cups sugar, 3 cups flour, and 4 eggs). However, this second type of cupcake was usually baked in a pan, not a cup. Today, cupcakes are typically baked in muffin tins. Does that mean cupcakes are muffins in disguise? Nope! Not only are the ingredients and mixing methods different for cupcakes and muffins, but cupcakes also have frosting (and frosting makes ALL the difference). :) To celebrate National Cupcake Day on December 15, 2023, learn how to bake your own cupcakes and other sweet treats (including muffins!) with these fun baking cookbooks: Read More

Mahatma Gandhi, an activist known for peaceful protest, was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize five times between 1937 and 1948. Nobel Prizes are rarely given posthumously, and upon his death in 1948 Gandhi was no longer considered eligible to receive the Prize. Over the past 120 years, many remarkable activists have never been recognized as Nobel Laureates, or even Nobel Prize Nominees. Celebrate Nobel Prize Day 2023 by reading about some of these outstanding activists who haven’t (yet?) received a Nobel Prize. Read More