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Staff Picks

This beautiful book collects all the tales of A & M, basically the Brothers Grimm of Norway. There are familiar tales, many trolls, the ubiquitous Ash Lad, and other quirky favorites, such as "The Tabby Cat of Dovre Mountain." [sweet pea]

A well-written and well-researched book about the importance of reading out loud to children. Whether you’re a parent, librarian, teacher, or any other sort of influential adult in a child’s life, this book acts as a motivating reminder of why reading to kids can be so magical for both the child and the adult! [Stacy]

Lowriders in Space is a lovely celebration of Mexican-American culture, street art, and creativity. I fell in love with this YA graphic novel the moment I opened it. The story is light-hearted and fun, but it’s content also stirs up important questions about being bilingual, cultural heritage, and what constitutes “real” art and books. This is a great choice for educators looking to inspire deeper dialogue among youth, particularly surrounding culture and language. Bonus: Cathy Camper is a regional artist and librarian, based out of Oregon! [Christina]

A fun, fascinating read about some freaky supernatural, or otherwise unexplainable sightings. Written in short, easy to digest sections, this book will have you peering into the dark with a little more caution and maybe a little less skepticism. [Stacy]

I keep forcing my friends to read this AMAZING poetry book! The poems in this book are stripped of all pomp, frill, and unnecessary imagery, and focus, instead, on breaking down stereotypes of what it means to be Native American in modern, sociological landscapes. Pico delivers his message in down-to-earth, colloquial language, making his poetry incredibly accessible to younger generations. [Christina]

A heartbreaking, yet gentle novel about self-discovery and resilience. [Stacy]

Bob-Waksberg looks at romance from all angles in a wonderfully absurd way. At the core they are love stories but they are also about doors to other dimensions where your teeth fall out, gene splicing dead presidents, and deciding how many goats to sacrifice at your wedding. [Karen]

This little beauty is a wonderful traveling companion! In it, D’Ors advocates for more meditation and silence in our daily lives, especially in light of our increasingly busy-busy lives. Overall, this book is a delightful combination of Zen Buddhism and Christian principles, and the chapters are short and non-preachy. Pass the book on when you’re done! [Christina]

A positively fascinating book about humankind’s most nefarious killer. The mosquito has shaped history, culture, and population unlike any other creature that has ever existed. We are powerless against the mosquito and her determination to survive at the expense of almost all living things. [Stacy]

Seering, lyrical, riveting. This is everything I could want in a collection of poems. [Karen]