Themed Bookshelves

During most of the year, chlorophyll causes tree leaves to be green. But in the fall, as the days get shorter and the nights cooler, chlorophyll breaks down, unveiling pumpkin orange and golden yellow pigments that were hidden during the spring and summer months. At the same time, sugars get trapped in the leaves, producing new pigments, called anthocyanins, that give certain trees, like burgundy maples and dogwoods, their brilliant red and purple leaves. Celebrate the fall season in 2023 with some of these interesting stories featuring trees! Read More

Since 1938, the Caldecott Medal has been awarded every year by the American Library Association to the “artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children.” Hot Dog, written and illustrated by Doug Salati, was the Caldecott winner in 2023. The Caldecott Medal is named for English illustrator Randolph Caldecott (1846-1886). Caldecott is credited with originating the modern picture book by using his colorful illustrations to help tell the story rather than simply reflect the written words. Created by Rene Paul Chambellan in 1937, the bronze medal’s design is based on one of Randolph Caldecott's illustrations for The Diverting History of John Gilpin. It features the image of a man riding a runaway horse surrounded by geese, dogs and children. To celebrate Picture Book Month in 2023, enjoy some of these gorgeous nonfiction picture books chosen by John Schu and Colby Sharp for their 2024 Mock Caldecott List (!), illustrated by Carin Berger, Sophie Blackall, Aaron Becker, Lauren Castillo, Cátia Chien, Mathew Cordell, Dare Coulter, Michaela Goade, Vashti Harrison, Claire Keane, Jon Klassen, Jessica Lanan, Grace Lin, Steph Littlebird, Barbara McClintock, Daniel Miyares, Oge Mora, Brian Pinkney, Jerry Pinkney, Jarrett Pumphrey, Jerome Pumphrey, Katherine Roy, and Gracey Zhang. Read More

Ribbon skirts are worn today not only as a symbol of cultural significance, but also as a beautiful fashion statement. While they mean different things to different Indigenous communities, ribbon skirts are broadly considered to symbolize culture and kinship, identity and resilience. In 2021, Deb Haaland wore a ribbon skirt when she was sworn in as the first Native American cabinet secretary of the Department of the Interior. In What Your Ribbon Skirt Means to Me: Deb Haaland’s Historic Inauguration written by Alexis Bunten (Aleut/Yup’ik) and illustrated by Nicole Neidhardt (Diné (Navajo) of the Kiiyaa'áanii Clan), we learn that the colors of the ribbons adorning Secretary Haaland’s skirt each had a special meaning – the red ribbon represented strawberries, the orange represented fire, yellow was for the sun, green was for grass, blue was for water and violet was for shells. To celebrate Native American Heritage Month in 2023, you can learn more about ribbon skirts, and other traditions and experiences of Indigenous Americans, through the books below: Read More

Cats sleep a lot. In fact, some cats sleep as much as 20 hours per day! But that doesn’t mean that cats spend all that time sound asleep. Most of the time, cats are just dozing and ready to jump up at a moment’s notice. Which is why we say that a person enjoying a quick, light sleep is taking a “cat nap.” :) To Celebrate National Cat Day on October 29, 2023, learn more about cats and their wilder relatives by exploring these great cat books, below. Read More

Each year, lots of families carve jack-o’-lanterns to celebrate Halloween. But did you know that the first jack-o’-lanterns were carved from turnips, not pumpkins? In Ireland and Scotland people hollowed out turnips and gave them creepy faces to celebrate the feast of All Hallows’ Eve. Many years later, when immigrants from the UK arrived in North America, they discovered that the native pumpkin made a much better jack-o’-lantern, because it was larger and softer than a turnip.  Trick-or-treating would look quite different today, without those familiar orange faces glowing in the dark! So here are some wonderful, pumpkin-themed books that will help get you ready to trick or treat in 2023: Read More

The world’s population includes 2 billion children aged 0-14. These children live in 195 different countries, speak more than 7,000 languages, and represent hundreds of different ethnicities. In celebration of World Inclusion Day 2023, enjoy these stories about children whose race, gender, abilities or experiences might differ from yours! Read More

In honor of National Hispanic & Latín Heritage Month 2023, learn more about Frida Kahlo, the brilliant Mexican artist who painted at Casa Azul in Frida Kahlo: Revolutionary Painter!, and explore other wonderful books that celebrate Hispanic and Latín heritage. Read More

Pirates may not have buried much treasure on deserted islands, cried “argh” when displeased, or forced their captives to walk the plank. (Argh!) But some pirate lore seems to be based on fact. Pirates actually had parrots for pets, wore eye patches, and flew the Jolly Roger. (Blimey!) To celebrate Talk Like a Pirate Day 2023, read a pirate book or three. Discover interesting facts and popular pirate myths, and find out more about the seadogs, swashbucklers and scallywags who roamed the briny deep. Read More

In 1902, the 26th President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt, was on a hunting trip in Mississippi, when he refused to shoot a bear. The owner of a candy store in Brooklyn, New York, named Morris Michtom, read about the incident, and he and his wife, Rose, created a stuffed bear in his honor – Teddy’s Bear. In honor of National Teddy Bear Day 2023, learn more about bears (and about President Teddy Roosevelt)! Read More

Danish author Hans Christian Anderson wrote the fairytale, The Little Mermaid, almost 200 years ago. In 1913, a statue was placed along the beach in Copenhagen, Denmark, to celebrate the well-known story and its author. And today, the statue of The Little Mermaid is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Denmark. Celebrate National Beach Day 2023 with these stories about mermaids! Read More