Collections Connections - May 2025
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May 2025
2025 NLS Summer Reading Program
NLS and the Library of Congress are proud to promote literacy through the NLS Summer Reading Program. This annual program, now in its third year, opens up the world of imagination and literature for another generation of readers. The summer months are the perfect time for readers to explore new books—for learning, for growth, and, most importantly, for fun.
This issue of Collections Connections will focus on the many notable works in this year´s program, for readers and book lovers of all ages. The 2025 NLS Summer Reading Program takes place June 16 through August 15, and this year’s theme is Color Our World. Stay tuned for information coming from your network library about this summer’s featured authors and events. You can also find details on the Summer Reading Program, and sign up for online events, at www.loc.gov/nls/services-and-resources/summer-reading.
Dovetailing with this year´s program, the Library of Congress and the literacy nonprofit Every Child a Reader announced this past February the appointment of Mac Barnett as the 2025–2026 National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature.
Barnett is the author of more than 60 books for children, including “Twenty Questions,” “Sam & Dave Dig a Hole,” “A Polar Bear in the Snow” and “Extra Yarn,” as well as the popular Mac B., Kid Spy series of novels, the First Cat in Space graphic novels and the Shapes trilogy picture books. He has won numerous prizes, including two Caldecott Honors, three New York Times/New York Public Library Best Illustrated Awards, three E.B. White Read Aloud Awards, and an International Children’s Literature Award, among others. Barnett is the ninth author to hold this position. He succeeds Meg Medina, who served as the National Ambassador from 2023 through 2024.
Earlier this month, Mac sat down with NLS' Rheagan Martin for the Collections Connections Audio Supplement and provided his perspective on the importance of children's literature, on the narration and visual description of books and on the Summer Reading program itself. You can hear the complete interview here:
Also, at the end of the Summer Reading Program list, we´ve included some spontaneous recommendations that Mac mentions in the interview.
The 2025 NLS Summer Reading Program list is presented in this issue of Collections Connections, below. It includes both fiction and nonfiction, grouped into the following sections: Early Literacy Books, Middle Grade Books, Young Adult Books, and Adult Books. NLS patrons can immediately download many of the titles on the list from BARD through the provided links. Please note that some of the titles do not include links and are marked as being “in process.” These titles will be added to the NLS collection as they are completed and will be retrievable on BARD at that time. We encourage you to check BARD throughout the summer, as new titles are added every week!
For your convenience, here are some quick links to get you to different sections of the list
Early Literacy
Middle Grade
Young Adult
Adult
Together with:
Summer Reading Picks from the National Ambassador for Young People´s Literature
Quick Picks from NLS Librarians
We hope that this list and this issue of Collections Connections helps you engage with a wonder-filled summer of reading. Enjoy!
2025 NLS Summer Reading Program Book List
Early Literacy Books (return to top)
Babies and Toddlers (English)
Because BR22672
Willems, Mo; Ren, Amber.
1 volume. Print/Braille. Unified English Braille
A series of events, some seemingly insignificant, lead to a young girl attending a life-changing concert. PRINT/BRAILLE. For preschool-grade 2. 2019.
The Book That Almost Rhymed DB125145
Abed, Omar
8 minutes. Read by Christie Bahna; Marwan Salama.
"A boy begrudgingly composes a sometimes-rhyming adventure with his precocious little sister." — From publisher. Commercial audiobook. For preschool-grade 2.
A Day at School with the Very Hungry Caterpillar DB125389
Roth, Megan
2 minutes. Read by Kevin R. Free.
"Spend a day at school with The Very Hungry Caterpillar! It's a busy day at school with The Very Hungry Caterpillar! From greeting the teacher to reading a book, get ready to celebrate learning in this book with easy-to-read text and easy-to-love Eric Carle art." — From publisher. Commercial audiobook. For preschool-grade 2.
The Rainbow Park DB125875
Green, Harold, III.
6 minutes. Read by Sherry Carter-Brownell.
"On an outing to the local community park, a family explores all the colors of the rainbow--from a favorite red slide and purple sprinkler to a yellow bench where grandparents watch and relax. Publishing simultaneously with The Numbers Store, The Rainbow Park is part of an exciting new board book series, featuring an intergenerational Black family over the course of a day, that teaches readers early-concepts such as colors and numbers"-- Provided by publisher. For Preschool-grade 2.
Ellie Mae Dreams Big! BR25716
McMorris, Kristina; Yoshida, Amanda.
1 volume. Unified English Braille.
"Ellie Mae's mind swirls with ideas when her teacher asks, What do you want to be when you grow up?" -- WorldCat. For Preschool-grade 2.
Sparkles, No Sparkles BR26152
McNeill, Shannon. 1 volume. Unified English Braille.
"Adorable sparkle-less animals raid the theatre for crowns, boots and capes to add some much-needed sparkle to their ensemble"-- For Preschool-grade 2.
Patchwork Prince DB117888
Paul, Baptiste
10 minutes. Read by Jake Williams.
"With fabric scrap treasures, a mother makes her son clothes fit for royalty." — From publisher. For preschool-grade 2.
Interrupting Chicken DBC05419 (BR in process)
Stein, David Ezra
5 minutes. Read by Dan Deidrich.
A production of Wolfner Talking Book and Braille Library.
Little Red Chicken wants Papa to read her a bedtime story, but interrupts him almost as soon as he begins each tale. For preschool-grade 2.
Very Good Hats DB115352
Straub, Emma
4 minutes. Read by Kevin R. Free.
"Some people think hats are fancy things you can buy at a dressy store, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. In this audiobook, acorns and raspberries are snug hats for your fingers, and an empty pudding cup is a good hat for a stuffed bear. Pajama pants make dangly hats, books can be dramatic hats, and bubbles make very fine hats as well (if temporary). Listeners will be delighted to discover that anything can be a hat if you believe it is. Hats are everywhere you look!" — Provided by publisher. Commercial audiobook. For preschool-grade 2.
The Artist DB125170
Vere, Ed
8 minutes. Read by the author.
"A brave little artist goes on an epic adventure to share her creativity with the world, adding color and life to a drab, gray city." — From publisher. Commercial audiobook. For preschool-grade 2.
You’re Going to Love This Book DB 128501 in process
John, Jory
“Attention, reader: You're going to LOVE this book! No, really, you are. It's got everything you could ever want: comedy, drama, action, heart. Plus—are you ready? It's got homework! Ahh yeah! And a trip to the best place ever, the dentist! Ahhhh yeahhh! Additionally—brace yourself—it's got raisins! Nature's candy. AHH YEAHHH! I DARE you not to have fun.” — From publisher. For preschool-grade 2.
The Worm Family Has Its Picture Taken DB 128397 in process
Frank, Jennifer
"Emma worries that her family portrait won't be able to match the beauty of her friends' portraits, until her family wriggles and squeezes into a pose that only a worm family could do." — WorldCat. For preschool-grade 2.
What Will These Hands Make? BR26161 in process
McClure, Nikki
"Follows a family through one day and muses in the possibilities that one day holds, from enjoying treats at the bakery, to admiring handmade goods from local artisan shops, to observing the new construction in town." — OCLC. For preschool-grade 2. 2020.
Preschoolers (English)
Little Troublemaker Makes a Mess DB123002 (BR 25638 in process)
Ajayi Jones, Luvvie
16 minutes. Read by the author.
"Whoops! Little Luvvie loves her mom. She loves her sister. And she loves doing nice things for other people. But what happens when doing something nice means breaking some rules? Little Luvvie is about to find out."— From publisher. Commercial audiobook. For preschool-grade 2.
Penguins Love Colors DBC13039
Aspinall, Sarah
4 minutes. Read by Paul Pazen.
A production of Colorado Talking Book Library.
Mama loves brightly colored flowers and her little penguins too. Tulip, Tiger Lily, Dandelion, Bluebell, Violet and Broccoli use red, orange, yellow, blue, purple, and green to color in their snowy world and paint a wonderful surprise for Mama. Will she know who painted what? A One Book Colorado finalist in 2019, this book is read by Denver Police Chief Paul Pazen. For preschool-grade 2.
Aaron Slater, Illustrator BR25066
Beaty, Andrea
1 volume. Unified English Braille.
"When Miss Greer asks each child in the class to write a story, second grader Aaron, who loves to draw but struggles with reading, creates a story using pictures." — Provided by publisher. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades K-3.
Show the World! DB125785
Dalton, Angela
6 minutes. Read by Ella Turenne.
"From painting, music, and slam poetry, to engineering, protesting, and photography, a young narrator journeys through her neighborhood, encouraging readers to explore all the many ways they can express themselves."— Provided by publisher. Commercial audiobook. For preschool-grade 2.
The Crayons Love Our Planet BR26155
Daywalt, Drew; Jeffers, Oliver.
1 volume. Unified English Braille.
"The hilarious Crayons are back in this celebration of our planet and their contributions to it - white ice caps, green trees, blue oceans and skies, brown soil and even wheat!" -- WorldCat. For Preschool-grade 2.
Amira's Picture Day DB103585
Faruqi, Reem
13 minutes. Read by Margaret Strom.
Excited because tomorrow is Eid, with special clothes, treats, gifts, and a morning party at her mosque, Amira realizes that she will miss class picture day at school. Dismayed, Amira tries to figure out a way to be in two places at once. For grades K-3. 2021.
The Girl Who Heard the Music DB115446
Fogelson, Marni
16 minutes. Read by Eva Wilhelm.
"Mahani Teave grew up on Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island, one of the most remote islands in the world, where moai statues stand and music is everywhere. She became an internationally acclaimed classical pianist, playing around the world for all kinds of audiences. But her island home kept calling her back. Years later, she returned to Rapa Nui to stay, and with a new dream: to save its environment and culture. She helped create a music and arts school, so that children there could learn music in ways that kept the island's unique traditions alive." — Provided by publisher. For preschool-grade 2 and older readers.
A Rainbow in Brown DB128502 (BR26138)
Giron, Pavonis
10 minutes. Read by Sherry Carter-Brownell.
"Jo wants to paint all the wonderful things she loves. With a palette of red, yellow, and blue, Jo knows she can mix any colors together to create new ones. Her imagination takes flight as she explores painting with primary and by mixing her own secondary colors, each picture as beautiful as the last. But through her exploration of the colors of the rainbow, Jo finds that her favorite is a combination of them: brown." -- Goodreads. For Preschool-grade 2.
Dress-Up Day DB128398 (BR26144)
Gómez, Blanca
3 minutes. Read by Kristin Allison.
"When a little girl is home sick for dress-up day at school, she decides there's no need to miss out entirely: She'll just wear her rabbit costume the next day! But when the next day arrives and she's the only one in costume, it doesn't feel like such a great idea after all. Can a little bit of confidence and an unexpected new friend turn a self-conscious moment into a wonderful one?" -- Provided by publisher. For Preschool-grade 2.
This Book is Banned DB125788
Haldar, Raj
9 minutes. Read by the author.
"This is a book about dinosaurs. No it's not. Dinosaurs are not allowed. Oh. This is now a book about avocados! Sorry. We deleted those too. FINE. This book is about—nope! Forbidden! Maybe you shouldn't even try reading this book. ... But what could possibly be inside? Discover just what can happen when ideas are erased instead of expressed." — From publisher. Commercial audiobook. For grades 2-4.
Too Much Stuff! DB128503
Gravett, Emily
16 minutes. Read by Sherry Carter-Brownell.
"A rhyming story about a pair of hoarding magpies that demonstrates the danger of having too much stuff. Meg and Ash are a pair of magpies who are building a nest for their perfect eggs. Although they begin their nest construction using the usual mud, sticks and grass, Meg and Ash are soon convinced that their nest doesn't have enough stuff and begin to seek out more things to collect and add to an ever-growing pile. From cuckoo clocks to mops and socks, a stroller and even a car - their need for stuff doesn't seems endless. Until - crash! - the inevitable happens..." -- Goodreads. For Preschool-grade 2.
The Arabic Quilt: An Immigrant Story DB100143
Khalil, Aya
14 minutes. Read by Qarie Marshall. After being teased over her culture, Kanzi uses a treasured reminder of her old home in Egypt to provide a pathway for acceptance in her new one. Commercial audiobook. For grades K-3. 2020.
Benita and the Night Creatures DBC18973
Llanos, Mariana
9 minutes. Read by LeAnn Hanna.
A production of Oklahoma Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped.
Spooky creatures from Peruvian folklore want to scare Benita. Will she ever get to read her book in peace? For preschool to grade 2.
There Was a Party for Langston DB119850 (BR25665 in process)
Reynolds, Jason
8 minutes. Read by the author.
"A celebration of Langston Hughes and African American authors he inspired, told through the lens of the party held at the New York Public Library's Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in 1991." — OCLC. Commercial audiobook. For preschool-grade 2.
The Dot DB125982
Reynolds, Peter H.
6 minutes. Read by Thora Birch; Maria Liatis.
"Her teacher smiled. 'Just make a mark and see where it takes you.' Art class is over, but Vashti is sitting glued to her chair in front of a blank piece of paper. But Vashti can't draw, she's no artist. To prove her point, Vashti jabs at a blank sheet of paper to make an unremarkable and angry mark. 'There!' she says. That one little dot marks the beginning of Vashti's journey of surprise and self-discovery." — From publisher. Commercial audiobook. For preschool-grade 2.
A Garden in My Hands DB125789
Sriram, Meera
11 minutes. Read by Mayuri Bhandari.
"A mother shares family memories and stories with her daughter as she applies henna to the young girl's hands." — From publisher. Commercial audiobook. For preschool-grade 2.
Ali and the Sea Stars DB125983
Stroker, Ali
12 minutes. Read by the author.
"Ali loves to dance, sing, and act. But she had never thought of putting on her own show until her neighbor asks, 'Why wait?' Immediately energized, Ali gets to work. There's so much to do before showtime—choosing the right musical, auditions, rehearsal, costume and set design—but Ali can do anything with her family and friends. When a storm threatens to undo all their hard work, Ali must use her imagination and adapt so the show can go on." — Provided by publisher. Commercial audiobook. For preschool-grade 2.
Finding My Dance DB117522
Thundercloud, Ria
8 minutes. Read by the author.
"In her debut picture book, professional Indigenous dancer Ria Thundercloud tells the true story of her path to dance and how it helped her take pride in her Native American heritage." — Provided by publisher. Commercial audiobook. For preschool-grade 2.
Gibberish DBC28574
Vo, Young
7 minutes. Read by Margo Suckow.
A production of Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Iowa Department for the Blind.
When Dat starts school in a country where he does not speak the language, everything around him sounds like gibberish, until a new friend helps him make sense of his new world. For preschool-grade 2.
Someone Builds the Dream DB107571
Wheeler, Lisa
8 minutes. Read by Mark Bramhall.
Celebrates the skilled women and men who work to see the plans of architects, engineers, and designers brought to life. Commercial audiobook. For grades K-3. 2021.
John’s Turn DB 127748 in process
Barnett. Mac; Berube, Kate
"It's John's big day at school today—a performance for Sharing Gifts time. His bag is carefully packed and prepared, his classmates are ready, and the curtain is waiting to open. John is nervous, looking out at all the other children staring back at him. But he takes a big breath and begins." — Provided by publisher. For preschool-grade 2. 2022
The Crayons Love Our Planet BR in process
Daywalt, Drew
"The hilarious Crayons are back in this celebration of our planet and their contributions to it—white ice caps, green trees, blue oceans and skies, brown soil and even wheat!" — WorldCat. For preschool-grade 2. 2024
Built to Last BR25632 in process
Lê, Minh
"Every creation two friends build together ends up tumbling down, except their friendship." — WorldCat. For preschool-grade 2.
Amy Wu and the Ribbon Dance BR 26140 in process
Zhang, Kat
"Amy Wu loves to move, so when she sees Chinese ribbon dancing for the first time, she has to try it out, but first she must find the perfect ribbon." — WorldCat. For preschool-grade 2. 2023
Early Literacy Books — Bilingual and Spanish
¡No interrumpas Kika! DB126228
Stein, David Ezra
14 minutes. Read by María Pino.
"Es hora de ir a acostarse y la gallinita roja le reclama a Papá un cuento para ir a dormir, pero cada vez que empieza un cuento nuevo, la gallinita Kika no cesa de interrumpirle." — Proporcionada por la editorial. Traducido de la edición en inglés de 2010. Para niños preescolares hasta el grado 2. (Translation of "Interrupting Chicken," above. For preschool-grade 2.)
Los pingüinos adoran los colores: Penguins Love Colors DBC13040
Aspinall, Sarah; Vega, Eida de la
4 minutes. Read by Sarah Trujillo.
A production of Colorado Talking Book Library.
"A Mamá le encantan las flores de colores brillantes y también a sus pequeños pingüinos. Ellos usan rojo, naranja, amarillo, azul, morado y verde para colorear su mundo nevado y pintar una maravillosa sorpresa para Mamá. ¿Sabrá quién pintó qué? Finalista de One Book Colorado en 2019, leído en español por Anne Trujillo, presentadora de noticias de Denver, Colorado. Para niños de preescolar a segundo grado." — Proporcionada por la editorial. (Translation of "Penguins Love Colors," above. For preschool-grade 2.)
Aarón Soñador, ilustrador DB125623
Beaty, Andrea; Canetti, Yanitzia; Roberts, David
20 minutes. Read by Lili Barba.
"El día que su maestra pide que cada niño de la clase escriba una historia, Aarón no logra hacerlo. Justo cuando pensaba que ser un gran escritor estaba fuera de su alcance, llega la inspiración y Aarón descubre una forma muy particular de contar sus historias." — Proporcionada por la editorial. Para grados K-3. (Translation of "Aaron Slater, Illustrato," above. For grades K-3.)
Día de disfraces DB125628
Gómez, Blanca
5 minutes. Read by Lili Barba.
"Enferma en casa, una niña se pierde la fiesta de disfraces en la escuela, por lo que decide ponerse su disfraz de conejo al día siguiente; pero cuando los otros niños se ríen de ella, ella está triste, hasta que aparece un niño con su disfraz de zanahoria, y pronto los otros niños se unen a su juego." — Proporcionada por la editorial. Traducido de la edición en inglés de 2022. Para niños preescolares hasta el grado 2. (Translation of "Dress-Up Day," above. For preschool-grade 2.)
El cisne de chatarra: la limpieza de un río DB125572
Linden, Joanne; Caracol, Estrellita
26 minutes. Read by Jhoana Nichols.
"Cuando los miembros de la comunidad trabajan juntos con camiones y barcos para limpiar la ribera de la ciudad, una artista y su hijo martillean, cincelan, sueldan y transforman los materiales encontrados en algo hermoso." — Proporcionada por la editorial. Para niños preescolares hasta el grado 2. ("When community members work together with trucks and ships to clean up the town's riverfront, an artist and her child hammer, chisel, weld and zap the found materials into something beautiful." — Provided by publisher. For preschool-grade 2.)
Benita y las criaturas nocturnas DB123106 (BR25651 in process)
Llanos, Mariana; Cocoretto
16 minutes. Read by María Pino.
"A Benita le encanta leer en la cama, pero un Tunche que silba, un Supay aterrador y otras criaturas espeluznantes de la tradición peruana la interrumpen constantemente. Para incredulidad de las criaturas, Benita está tan absorta en su libro que no les tiene ni un poco de miedo." — Proporcionada por la editorial. Para niños preescolares hasta el grado 2. ("Benita loves to read in bed but keeps getting interrupted by a whistling Tunche, a scary Supay and other spooky creatures from Peruvian lore. To the creatures' disbelief, Benita is so absorbed by her book that she's not the least bit scared of them." — Provided by publisher. For preschool-grade 2.)
What Can You Do with a Rebozo?: Que puedes hacer con un rebozo? DB124772
Tafolla, Carmen
9 minutes. Read by Nayeli Escamilla.
"Una cuna para el bebé, una capa de superhéroe, una manta calentita en una noche fría...hay tantas cosas que se pueden hacer con un rebozo. A través de los ojos de una niña, los lectores conocen el tradicional rebozo que se encuentra en muchos hogares mexicanos y mexicano-americanos. Edición bilingüe inglés/español." — Proporcionada por la editorial. Audiolibro comercial. Para niños preescolares hasta el grado 2. ("A cradle for baby, a superhero’s cape, a warm blanket on a cool night—there are so many things you can do with a rebozo. Through the eyes of a young girl, readers are introduced to the traditional shawl found in many Mexican and Mexican-American households. English/Spanish bilingual edition." — Provided by publisher. Commercial audiobook. For preschool-grade 2.)
My Name Is Gabito: The Life of Gabriel Garcia Márquez / Me llamo Gabito: La vida de Gabriel Garcia Márquez DB126104 in process
Brown, Monica
"Había una vez un niño llamado Gabito que sí podía. Gabriel García Márquez se convirtió en uno de los escritores más brillantes de nuestro tiempo. Es una figura tremenda, de enorme talento y admirado sin complejos. Esta es su historia, contada con cariño, para que la disfruten los niños. Utilizando las imágenes de sus novelas, la autora recorre la vida del novelista en este libro ilustrado de no ficción creativa desde su infancia en Colombia hasta la actualidad." — Traducción proporcionada por NLS; Bilingüe inglés/español. Para niños preescolares hasta el grado 2. ("Once upon a time, there was a boy named Gabito who could. Gabriel García Márquez became one of the most brilliant writers of our time. He is a tremendous figure, enormously talented, and unashamedly admired. This is his story, lovingly told, for children to enjoy. Using images from his novels, the author traces the novelist's life in this illustrated book of creative nonfiction, from his childhood in Colombia to the present day." — Provided by publisher. Bilingual; English/Spanish. Commercial audiobook. Preschool-grade 2.) 2007.
My Name Is Gabriela: The Life of Gabriela Mistral / Me llamo Gabriela: La vida de Gabriela Mistral DB126107 in process
Brown, Monica
"Gabriela Mistral amaba las palabras, los sonidos y los cuentos. Como poetisa y maestra, inspiró a niños de muchos países para que hicieran oír su voz. Su historia está contada con el ritmo y la melodía de un poema." — Traducción proporcionada por NLS. Bilingüe: inglés/español. Para niños preescolares hasta el grado 2. ("Gabriela Mistral loved words, sounds, and stories. Born in Chile, she would become the first Latina to win the Nobel Prize. As a poet and teacher, she inspired children in many countries to make their voices heard. Her story is told with the rhythm and melody of a poem." — Provided by publisher. Bilingual; English/Spanish. Commercial audiobook. Preschool-grade 2.) 2005.
Lia y Luís: ¡Desconcertados! / Lia & Luís: Puzzled! DB126238 in process
Crespo, Ana
"Los mellizos Lia y Luís han recibido de su abuela un rompecabezas con un código secreto. ¿Podrán armarlo para leer el mensaje oculto? Una divertida exploración de la geometría y la clasificación con personajes brasileño-estadounidenses y un glosario de palabras de portugués brasileño." — Proporcionada por la editorial. Bilingüe español/inglés. Para niños preescolares hasta el grado 2. ("Twins Lia and Luís have received a puzzle with a secret code from their grandmother. Can they put it together to read the hidden message? A fun exploration of geometry and classification with Brazilian-American characters and a glossary of Brazilian Portuguese words." — Provided by publisher. Bilingual Spanish/English. Preschool-grade 2.) 2023.
Picture Books, Fiction
Extra Yarn DB127239
Barnett, Mac
8 minutes. Read ny Nicola Barber.
"This is the story of how a young girl and her box of magical yarn transforms a community."-- From publisher. Commercial audiobook. For Preschool-grade 2.
You Are A Story DB128298
Raczka, Bob; Howdeshell, Kevin; Howdeshell, Kristen.
13 minutes. Read by Kerry Logan.
"An empowering reflection on the many things we are and the ways we relate to the world" -- WorldCat. For Preschool-grade 2.
Waiting in the Wings DB125979
Andrews, Julie; Walton Hamilton, Emma.
14 minutes. Read by the authors.
"When a clutch of duck eggs in a theater courtyard hatch during a performance, the community rallies to protect the ducklings." — Provided by publisher. Commercial audiobook. For preschool-grade 2.
Can Bears Ski? DB125790
Antrobus, Raymond
9 minutes. Read by Joe Jameson.
"Little Bear feels the world around him. He feels the floor shake when someone stomps to get his attention—but something is missing. Little Bear is not sure what is happening. All around him he hears the familiar refrain: 'Can bears ski?' Then Dad Bear takes him to see an audiologist and they learn that Little Bear has been experiencing deafness. With new hearing aids, he discovers that 'Can bears ski?' is actually 'Can you hear me?' His new world is loud and will take some getting used to, but with the love and support of Dad Bear, Little Bear will find his way." — From publisher. Commercial audiobook. For preschool-grade 2.
I Have a Superpower DB125510
Curry, Stephen
10 minutes. Read by Andrew Eiden; Kevin R. Free; Mirron Willis; Keylor Leigh.
"A young child learns that he does not have to be the strongest, fastest, or jump the highest, but as long as he has determination and heart any goal is achievable." — From publisher. Commercial audiobook. For preschool-grade 2.
Me and the Boss: A Story About Mending and Love DB113068
Edwards, Michelle
13 minutes. Read by Dwayne Glapion.
"Six-year-old Lee will not give up until he can show his big sister Zora, a.k.a. the boss, how good he can sew. Includes instructions on how to make Lee's smiling moon." — Provided by publisher. For preschool-grade 2.
I Will Dance DB113433
Flood, Bo
15 minutes. Read by Jill Ferris.
"Eva's cerebral palsy makes it difficult for her to do many things, but she longs to dance and, finally, her dream is realized. Includes author's note and information about Young Dance Company." — Provided by publisher. For preschool-grade 2.
In Every Life DB123778
Frazee, Marla
9 minutes. Read by Alanna Rose Lynch.
"A picture book celebrating both the highs and lows that everyone experiences in the course of a life." — WorldCat. Caldecott Honor Book. For preschool-grade 2.
Lucía the Luchadora: Lucía the Luchadora and the Million Masks DB93712
Garza, Cynthia Leonor
22 minutes. Read by Faith Potts.
A little girl gets spicy mad when the boys on the playground insist that girls can't be superheroes. Lucía helps her little sister, Gemma, choose her own lucha libre wrestling mask. For preschool-grade 2. 2018.
A Day with No Words DB125984
Hammond, Tiffany
9 minutes. André Santana.
"Young children will learn what life can look like for an autistic child who uses nonverbal communication by following a mother and child on a day where they use a tablet to communicate with others." — From publisher. Commercial audiobook. For preschool-grade 2.
Sora Searches for a Song DB125791
Once Upon a Dance; Herbert, Christine
28 minutes. Read by Amy Barron Smolinski.
"As the symphony floated above, Sora searched deep inside for a song. But nothing came. Melodies tickled across Sora's toes, legs, and back as the little cricket searched in vain. Then a stern voice pierced the song, and the music stopped. "Someone's not singing." Discover one little cricket's beautiful pursuit of inspiration." — From publisher. Commercial audiobook. For preschool-grade 2.
Growing an Artist: The Story of a Landscaper and His Son DB108734
Parra, John
10 minutes. Read by Mark Ashby.
"Today Juanito is accompanying his father who is in the landscaping business, and he takes his sketchbook along to draw anything that catches his eye, and gets to help his father plan an entire garden—and then help plant it." — Provided by publisher. For preschool-grade 2. 2022.
Piper Chen Sings DB120331 BR25626 in process
Soo, Phillipa
9 minutes. Read by the author.
"When Piper is offered a solo at her school's Spring Sing, she must overcome her stage fright to put on an unforgettable performance." — OCLC. Commercial audiobook. For preschool-grade 2.
Yuna’s Cardboard Castles DB 128400 in process
Tang, Marie
"Yuna, who recently moved to the United States and does not speak English, is struggling to communicate with kids in her new neighborhood, but when she shows that she can do something very special with paper, a whole new world unfolds." — WorldCat. For preschool-grade 2.
When I Visited Grandma DB 128401 in process, BR 26164 in process
Balasubramaniam, Saumiya
"It's Maya's first morning in India, but Grandma is already rushing her—it's market day and they must make the most of Maya's visit. When Maya comes out of her room wearing her favorite ripped jeans, Grandma wants to sew them! Maya finds the market too hot, too loud, and it's full of Grandma's nosy neighbors. Even back at home, Grandma's friends keep dropping by. But the next morning the house is unusually quiet. Dad explains that Grandma has had to go to the hospital. Suddenly Maya begins to see things differently." — Provided by publisher. For preschool-grade 2. 2024.
Mahogany: A Little Red Riding Hood Tale DB 128402 in process, BR 26148 in process
Brown-Wood, JaNay
"When taking cornbread to Grandma, Mahogany encounters a hungry wolf and outsmarts him by cleverly hiding in the woods and using her sewing skills to trap him." — Provided by publisher. For preschool-grade 2. 2024.
When Langston Dances DB in process
Langley, Kaija
“Inspired by watching a performance of the Alvin Ailey Dance Company, a young black boy longs to dance and enrolls in ballet school.” From publisher. Preschool-grade 2. 2021.
Bracelets for Bina’s Brothers BR 26141 in process
LaRocca, Rajani
"Bina has three older brothers and this year she wants to make them bracelets for Raksha Bandhan, an Indian holiday that celebrates brothers and sisters—but first she must come up with patterns that include only their favorite colors, plus one unique bead that celebrates their special interests." — WorldCat. For preschool-grade 2. 2022
More than Words: So Many Ways to Say What We Mean BR 26149 in process
MacLean, Roz
"Nathan doesn't say much. He sure has a lot on his mind, though. At school, Nathan quietly observes the ways his peers communicate. Even when they're not talking, they're expressing themselves in all sorts of ways!" — From publisher. For preschool-grade 2. 2023.
I Love Harriet Kippley BR 26146 in process
Pease, Jenny Lynn
"Harriet and her classmates each have to draw a picture of something they love. Harriet loves unicorns, barbecue chip sundaes, and tubas ... but those are already taken. With a little support and encouragement from her family, Harriet finally decides on the perfect thing to draw. Herself!" — Goodreads. For grades 2-4. 2024.
Butterfly on the Wind BR 26142 in process
Pottle, Adam
"A magical picture book about a Deaf girl who creates a butterfly with Sign Language and sends it on a journey around the world.On the day of the talent show, Aurora's hands tremble. No matter how hard she tries to sign, her fingers stumble over one another and the words just won't come. But as she's about to give up, she spots a butterfly. Using her hands to sign the ASL word for 'butterfly,' Aurora sends a magical butterfly of her own into the world, inspiring Deaf people across the globe to add their own." — WorldCat. For preschool-grade 2. 2024.
The Dress in the Window BR 26156 in process
Tregoning, Robert
"One day a boy is walking past a second-hand shop when he sees a dress. It's no ordinary dress—it's glittering, sparking, dazzling, and red. For the boy it's love at first sight. His mother suggests he do some odd jobs to save the necessary money, but what if someone else buys it first?" — Google Books. For preschool-grade 2. 2024
The Story of a Book DB 128504 in process
McCullough, Joy
"A gorgeous, joyful picture book following the lifespan of a book as it comes across different readers—and creates a kind of magic along the way." — Goodreads. For preschool-grade 2.
Shall We Dance? DB 128399 in process
Page, Robin
"Nature is putting on a dance recital ... come watch! From award-winning author-illustrator Robin Page, Shall We Dance? is a beautiful exploration of how and why different animals move their bodies. Whether it's to find a mate, repel a predator, or just for fun, readers will learn the reason and purpose behind each animal and critter's graceful, exuberant, or playful moves. And they might even want to get up and join in the dancing fun!" — Provided by publisher. For preschool-grade 2.
Picture Books Non-Fiction
How to Write a Poem DB114707
Alexander, Kwame
8 minutes. Read by Gabriella Cavallero.
" 'Begin, with a question, like an acorn, waiting for spring.' From this first stanza, readers are invited to pay attention—and to see that paying attention itself is poetry. Encourage readers to listen, feel, and discover the words that dance in the world around them—poems just waiting to be written down." — Provided by publisher. For preschool-grade 2.
Frida Kahlo and Her Animalitos DB106861
Brown, Monica
18 minutes. Read by Adriana Sananes.
The author recounts artist Frida Kahlo's beloved pets—two monkeys, a parrot, three dogs, two turkeys, an eagle, a black cat, and a fawn—and playfully considers how Frida embodied many wonderful characteristics of each animal. Commercial audiobook. For grades K-3. 2017.
Big DB123132
Harrison, Vashti
16 minutes. Read by Susan Spain.
"Traces a child's journey to self-love and shows the power of words to both hurt and heal. An exploration of being big in a world that prizes small is a tender portrayal of how you can stand out and feel invisible at the same time." — WorldCat. Caldecott Medal; Coretta Scott King Award Author and Illustrator Honor book. For preschool-grade 2.
Woven of the World DB125985
Howes, Katey
23 minutes. Read by Priya Ayyar.
"Told in rhyming text, a young weaver learns the history and practice of weaving through the centuries and around the world. Includes notes on the history of weaving, and the different kinds of textiles that are woven around the world." — From publisher. Commercial audiobook. For preschool-grade 2.
I'm Growing Great DB121109
Roe, Mechal Renee
4 minutes. Read by Adrean Rivers.
"Girls' growth and positivity are celebrated in this garden-themed inspirational book." — Provided by publisher. For preschool-grade 2.
My Name Is Georgia: A Portrait DBC10483
Winter, Jeanette
6 minutes. Read by Ellen Humphreys.
A production of New Mexico Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, New Mexico State Library.
Presents, in brief text and illustrations, the life of the painter who drew much of her inspiration from nature. For preschool-grade 2.
Through Georgia's Eyes DBC10484
Rodríguez, Rachel; Paschkis, Julie.
7 minutes. Read by Ellen Humphreys.
A production of New Mexico Library for the Blind and Print Disabled, New Mexico State Library.
A biography of Georgia O'Keeffe from her childhood in Wisconsin through her work in New Mexico. For preschool-grade 2.
Georgia's Bones DBC10486
Bryant, Jennifer
11 minutes. Read by Ellen Humphreys.
A production of New Mexico Library for the Blind and Print Disabled, New Mexico State Library.
Artist Georgia O'Keeffe was interested in the shapes she saw around her, from her childhood on a Wisconsin farm to her adult life in New York City and New Mexico. For grades K-3.
Listen: How Evelyn Glennie, A Deaf Girl, Changed Percussion DB113089 (BR 25033 in process)
Stocker, Shannon
18 minutes. Elle Newlands.
"A nonfiction picture book biography celebrating Evelyn Glennie, a deaf woman, who became the first full-time solo percussionist in the world." — Provided by publisher. Commercial audiobook. Schneider Family Book Award. For grades K-3.
Love Is My Favorite Color BR 26147 in process
Laden, Nina
"From caring to hoping to peace to sharing, there are many ways to find joy in the everyday. Celebrate the things that make life wonderful and each day special." — Provided by publisher. For preschool-grade 2. 2024.
Zora, the Story Keeper DB 128506 in process, BR 26166 in process
Wilkins, Ebony
"When Zora grows up, she wants to be just like Aunt Bea. Aunt Bea is the best storyteller she knows! Every day after school, Zora heads to her aunt's house, where they take out their family book and turn Aunt Bea's kitchen into their stage. They raid Aunt Bea's costume chest, filled with colorful garments from her acting days, and even do special voices to tell the stories of swimming coaches, Sunday preachers, World War II pilots, and more—all real members of their family. Zora never imagined that Aunt Bea's tales would ever stop, but in addition to creating lots of joy and a lifetime of memories, Aunt Bea had been working on her greatest gift of all: preparing Zora to become the story keeper." — From publisher. For preschool-grade 2. 2023.
My Art, My World DB 128505 in process
Winkler, Rita
"Rita Winkler is a young woman living with Down syndrome. She sees the world as a place full of joy, color, and the delight of life with her family and friends. Approaching her daily life with enthusiasm and a dry sense of humor, Rita rides public transit to her job working at a university coffee shop. She takes yoga and folk dance classes and enjoys drama and music at a day program, and she continues to practice using sign language. Rita's great passion is making art. Here she shows her love for the world in fun and beautiful works of art." — Provided by publisher. For grades 2-4.
The Noisy Paint Box: The Colors and Sounds of Kandinsky’s Abstract Art DB 127707 in process
Rosenstock, Barb
"Vasya Kandinsky was a proper little boy: he studied math and history, he practiced the piano, he sat up straight and was perfectly polite. And when his family sent him to art classes, they expected him to paint pretty houses and flowers—like a proper artist. But as Vasya opened his paint box and began mixing the reds, the yellows, the blues, he heard a strange sound—the swirling colors trilled like a symphony! And as he grew older, he continued to hear brilliant colors singing and see vibrant sounds dancing. But was Vasya brave enough to put aside his proper still lifes and portraits and paint ... music?" — Amazon.com. For preschool-grade 2.
Picture Books—Bilingual and Spanish
A Luna le encanta el museo DB125624
Coelho, Joseph; Lumbers, Fiona; Sierra, Andrés
12 minutes. Read by Lili Barba.
"A Luna le encantan los paseos escolares, y esta vez su maestra los llevará al museo de arte. Luna está pasando un gran día, hasta que Finn, su compañero, le arranca sus dibujos. Luna no entiende porque Finn es así, pero quizá lo único que necesite es un amigo con quien platicar." — Proporcionada por la editorial. Para grados K-3. (Luna loves school trips, and on this day, her teacher is taking them to the Museum of Art. Her lunchbox and camera are in tow, and Luna is all set for a great day, until Finn, her classmate, tears up her drawings. Luna doesn’t understand why Finn acts this way. Perhaps all Finn needs is a friend he can talk to." — Provided by publisher. For grades K-3.)
Cultivando a un artista: La historia de un jardinero paisajista y su hijo DB123137
Parra, John; Dominguez, Adriana
11 minutes. Read by Oliver Díaz Barba.
"Hoy es el gran día: ¡la primera vez que su papá lleva a Juanito a ayudarlo en su trabajo de contratista de jardinería! A lo largo del día, Juanito dibuja todo lo que le llama la atención: un nido lleno de pajaritos, un vivero con hilera tras hilera de plantas y flores, y muchas cosas más. Y ayuda a su padre a planificar un jardín entero y luego a plantarlo. Incluye una nota autobiográfica." — Proporcionada por la editorial. Para niños preescolares hasta el grado 2. (Translation of "Growing an Artist: The Story of a Landscaper and His Son," above. For preschool-grade 2.)
¡Vamos! Let's Go Read DB125535
Raúl the Third
16 minutes. Read by Gary Tiedemann.
"El pequeño Lobo y sus amigos están emocionados por el extraordinario festival del libro que la Biblioteca Guadalupana organiza cada año. Todos buscan un libro especial, pero hay mucho que ver y hacer primero. Desde demostraciones de libros de cocina y talleres de cómics hasta creación de máscaras y clases de idiomas, esta biblioteca tiene algo para todos." — Proporcionada por la editorial. ("Little Lobo and his friends are excited for the out-of-this-world book festival the Guadalupian Library hosts every year! Everyone has a special book they're looking for, but there's so much to see and do first. From cookbook demonstrations and comics workshops to mask making and language classes, this library has something for everyone." — Provided by publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.)
¡Abuela, deja de hacer fotos! DB126823 in process
Brenman, Ilan
"'¡Abuela, deja de hacer fotos!' le repite con fastidio una niña a su abuela, que no se despega jamás de su cámara, estén donde estén. ¿Por qué será tan importante para la abuela hacer tantas fotos? Con humor y ternura, esta historia aborda la importancia de los recuerdos y las relaciones familiares." — Proporcionada por la editorial. Para niños preescolares hasta el grado 2. ("'Grandma, stop taking pictures!' a little girl angrily repeats to her grandmother, who never lets go of her camera, no matter where they are. Why is it so important for Grandma to take so many pictures? With humor and tenderness, this story addresses the importance of memories and family relationships." — Provided by the publisher. For preschool-grade 2.) 2018.
Maya’s Blanket / La manta de Maya DB125989 in process
Brown, Monica
"La pequeña Maya tiene una manta especial que la abuela cosió con sus propias manos. A medida que Maya crece, su manta se va desgastando y deshilachando, así que, con la ayuda de la abuela, Maya la convierte en un vestido. Con el tiempo, el vestido se convierte en una falda, un chal, un pañuelo, una cinta para el pelo y, por último, un marcapáginas. Cada objeto tiene un significado especial, mágico, para Maya; anima sus aventuras, la protege o la ayuda de alguna manera." — Traducción proporcionada por NLS. Para grados K-3. ("Little Maya has a special blanket that Grandma sewed with her own hands. As Maya grows, her blanket becomes worn and frayed, so with Grandma's help, Maya turns it into a dress. Over time, the dress becomes a skirt, a shawl, a scarf, a hairband, and finally, a bookmark. Each object holds a special, magical meaning for Maya; it enlivens her adventures, protects her, or helps her in some way." — Provided by publisher. For grades K-3.) 2015.
Dream Carver/El tallador de sueños DB125552 in process
Cohn, Diana
"Entre su trabajo cosechando maíz azul y alfalfa verde, Manuel y su padre tallan animalitos de madera para vender en las fiestas de Oaxaca, México. Pero Manuel sueña con dar vida animals más grandes y coloridos." — Proporcionada por la editorial. Para grados 2-4. ("Between his work harvesting blue corn and green alfalfa, Manuel and his father carve small wooden animals to sell at festivals in Oaxaca, Mexico. But Manuel dreams of bringing larger and more colorful animals to life." — Provided by publisher. For grades 2-4.) 2002.
Brazaletes para los hermanos de Bina DB125870 in process
LaRocca, Rajani
"Para la celebración hindú Raksha Bandhan, Bina decide regalarles a sus hermanos brazaletes de cuentas hechos por ella misma. Para eso averigua qué colores le gusta a cada uno y cuáles no, y se pone manos a la obra. Al seguir patrones de cuentas de colores alternados, uno y uno, Bina descubre algo nuevo sobre los patrones ... y sobre sus hermanos." — Proporcionada por la editorial. Para niños preescolares hasta el grado 2. ("For the Hindu celebration of Raksha Bandhan, Bina decides to give her siblings beaded bracelets she's made herself. To do this, she finds out which colors each of them likes and dislikes, and gets to work. By following patterns of alternating colored beads, one after another, Bina discovers something new about the patterns ... and about her siblings." — Provided by publisher. For grades 2-4.) 2022.
Rainbow Weaver / Tejedora del arcoíris DB126106 in process
Elovitz, Linda
"Ixchel quiere seguir la larga tradición de tejer en telares de cintura, como lo han hecho su madre, su abuela y la mayoría de las mujeres mayas durante más de dos mil años. Pero el hilo es carísimo. Mientras camina por su pueblo, Ixchel lo encuentra lleno de bolsas de plástico de colores. No hay dónde ponerlas, así que se acumulan. ¡De repente, a Ixchel se le ocurre una idea!" — Proporcionada por la editorial. Para grados K-3 ("Ixchel wants to follow in the long tradition of weaving on backstrap looms, just as her mother, grandmother, and most Mayan women have done for more than two thousand years. But the thread is so expensive. As she walks around her village, Ixchel finds it littered with colorful plastic bags. There is nowhere to put all the bags, so they just keep accumulating. Suddenly, Ixchel has an idea!" — Provided by publisher. Bilingual English/Spanish. For grades K-3.) 2016.
La Gran Fiesta de los Olores DB126017 in process
Mena, Pato
"Los topos se visten y hacen una gran fiesta, pero hay una comadreja que decide colarse. ¿Cómo terminará esta fiesta? Una divertida y entretenida historia llena de sorpresas." — Proporcionada por la editorial. Para grados K-3. ("Moles meet and have a great party, but one weasel decides to crash it. How will this party end? A fun and entertaining story full of surprises." — Provided by the publisher. For grades K-3.) 2019.
Papá pinta mucho DB125567 in process
Taboada, Bea
"Mi papá de pequeño dibujaba dinosaurios. Ahora es arquitecto, y dibuja casas y planos. Papá siempre me explica que es importante esforzarse mucho, pero que no pasa nada si a veces, pintando, nos salimos un poco de la línea. Dice que es mejor acabar un poco manchado que no pintar nada. — Proporcionada por la editorial. Para niños preescolares hasta el grado 2. ("My dad used to draw dinosaurs when he was little. Now he's an architect, and he draws houses and plans. He also likes to paint smiley faces in my school planner and tomato hearts on my macaroni. Dad always explains to me that it's important to put in a lot of effort, but that it's okay if we sometimes go a little off the lines when painting. He says it's better to end up a little smudged than not painting at all." — Provided by the publisher. For preschool-grade 2.) 2023.
The Turquoise Room / El cuarto turquesa DB125869 in process
Brown, Monica
"Esther pinta un mapa y sueña con explorar el mundo. La hija de Esther, Isabel, pinta cuadros y sueña con ser artista. La hija de Isabel, Monica, pinta con palabras y sueña con contar historias. Desde el cuarto turquesa en Perú, Esther, luego Isabel, y después Monica sacan fuerza para confiar en su imaginación y volar al mundo de los sueños y las posibilidades. Sobre montañas y mares, junto a ríos de pinturas, o junto a olas de palabras en una página, cada niña, ahora mujer, encuentra su camino a la creatividad." — Proporcionada por la editorial. Para grados 2-4. ("Esther paints a map and dreams of exploring the world. Esther's daughter, Isabel, paints pictures and dreams of being an artist. Isabel's daughter, Monica, paints with words and dreams of telling stories. From the turquoise room in Peru, Esther, then Isabel, and then Monica draw strength to trust their imaginations and fly to the world of dreams and possibilities." — Provided by the publisher. For grades 2-4.) 2022.
Frida Kahlo y sus animalitos DB126015 in process
Brown, Monica
"La autora relata las queridas mascotas de la artista Frida Kahlo: dos monos, un loro, tres perros, dos pavos, un águila, un gato negro y un cervatillo, y reflexiona con humor sobre cómo Frida encarnaba las maravillosas características de cada animal. Audiolibro comercial. Para grados K-3. 2017." — Proporcionada por la editorial. Premio Pura Belpré. Para niños preescolares hasta el grado 2. (Translation of "Frida Kahlo and Her Animalitos," above. For grades K-3. 2017.)
Middle Grade Books (return to top)
Fiction
The Imagination Warriors DBC10485
Romanelli, Marc
6 hours, 58 minutes. Read by Marc Romanelli.
A production of New Mexico Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, New Mexico State Library.
A psychic tabby cat from New York City teams up with a feisty nine-year-old girl living in Lamy, New Mexico, to solve multiple mysteries involving paintings that serve as portals through time and space. For grades 3-6.
The Book That No One Wanted to Read DB126081
Ayoade, Richard
53 minutes. Read by Jarvis Cocker; Lydia Fox; Richard Ayoade.
"From actor-author-broadcaster-comedian-filmmaker Richard Ayoade comes a book narrated by ... a book. Quirky, smart, and genre-busting, this is the saga of a book that nobody wants to read—until the day it meets YOU. The life of a book isn't easy, especially when people judge you by your cover (not every book can be adorned with sparkly unicorns!). And this narrator should know—it's the book itself, and it has a lot of opinions." — From publisher. Commercial audiobook. For grades 3-6.
Upstaged DB126272
Asher, Diana Harmon
7 hours, 30 minutes. Read by Jaine Ye.
"Painfully shy seventh-grader Shira Gordon is cast in a small role in The Music Man and also as understudy for the lead, played by diva Monica Manley, who becomes the victim of a prankster." — From publisher. Commercial audiobook. For grades 2-4.
Zia Erases the World DB125786
Barton, Bree
5 hours, 53 minutes. Read by Cassandra Morris.
"Zia remembers the exact night the Shadoom arrived. One moment she was laughing with her best friends, and the next a dark room of shadows had crept into her chest. ... Until Zia discovers an old family heirloom: the C. Scuro Dictionary. ... Hidden within its magical pages is a mysterious blue eraser. ... When Zia starts to erase words that remind her of the Shadoom, they disappear one by one from the world around her. ... But things quickly dissolve into chaos, as the words she erases turn out to be more vital than Zia knew." — Publisher's description. Commercial audiobook. For grades 3-6.
The Last Comics on Earth DB114085
Brallier, Max
1 hour, 42 minutes. Read by Robbie Daymond.
"Jack, Quint, June, and Dirk are about to face a challenge unlike any they've faced before. At their local comic book store, the kids make a startling discovery: they've read every last issue of their favorite comic, Z-Man, and no new issues are coming ... ever! (Thanks a lot, apocalypse.) Nooo! Our heroes have but one choice: continue Z-Man's legacy by writing and illustrating THEIR OWN COMIC BOOK!" — Provided by publisher. Commercial audiobook. For grades 4-7.
Dream, Annie, Dream DB126206
Brown, Waka T.
8 hours, 9 minutes. Read by Sophie Oda.
"Armed with her sixth-grade teacher's parting words of encouragement, incoming seventh grader Annie Inoue was ready to take on the next year of her life doing just that: following her dreams. As seventh grade unfolds, so do the opportunities for dreaming. There are basketball tryouts, Annie's first big crush, and, most importantly, auditions for a huge middle school production of The King and I that Annie is dying to be in. So when she lands a prominent role in the play, she's ecstatic ... until she hears murmurs around school that she only got the role because it's an Asian play with Asian characters." — Provided by publisher Commercial audiobook. For grades 2-4.
Me, Frida, and the Secret of the Peacock Ring DB112411
Cervantes, Angela
5 hours, 21 minutes. Read by Victoria Villarreal.
"When Lizzie and Gael share an irresistible challenge, to find the peacock ring that once belonged to artist Frida Kahlo, Paloma decides it is the perfect way to honor her father." — Provided by publisher. Commercial audiobook. For grades 4-7.
Danny Chung Sums It Up DB126082
Chan, Maisie
4 hours, 41 minutes. Read by Eric Mok.
"When his Chinese grandmother comes to live with his family in England, an eleven-year-old aspiring comic book artist has to share his bedroom with Nai Nai, who does not speak English, but they soon share a bond through math and art." — From publisher. Commercial audiobook. For grades 3-6.
The Dreamatics DB125980
Cuevas, Michelle
7 hours, 9 minutes. Read by Megan Hilty.
"A fantastical theatre and its troupe perform a young girl's dreams, until nightmares take over and one devoted stagehand must bring joy back into the spotlight." — Provided by publisher. Commercial audiobook. For grades 3-6.
Unstuck DB123473
Dee, Barbara
5 hours, 6 minutes. Read by Suzy Jackson.
"Twelve-year-old Lyla sets out to write the perfect fantasy novel in her creative writing class, but discovers some unexpected twists and turns, both on and off the page. Includes twenty-five ways to overcome writer's block." — From publisher. Commercial audiobook. For grades 4-7.
Maya Plays the Part DB126273
Erb, Calyssa
4 hours, 28 minutes. Read by Mason McDonald.
"Maya lives and breathes musicals. When her chance to finally be a part of the summer musical program at the community theater comes up, Maya is convinced she will get the lead. However, things don't turn out exactly the way Maya's planned, and the summer turns out to be jam-packed with problems: dealing with her best friend's move, her parents' busy jobs, and — since her autism diagnosis—the ongoing puzzle of how to be Maya in public." — Provided by publisher. Commercial audiobook. For grades 3-6.
When We Flew Away: A Novel of Anne Frank, Before the Diary DB126207
Hoffman, Alice
5 hours, 41 minutes.
Read by Alice Hoffman; Mara Wilson.
"In May 1940, Anne Frank is a young girl not quite eleven with all the ordinary problems of a little sister, but Amsterdam is about to be invaded by Nazis and after that everything changes." — From publisher. Commercial audiobook. For grades 3-6.
Beneath the Wide Silk Sky DB125787
Inouye Huey, Emily
12 hours, 26 minutes. Read by Sophie Oda.
"With the recent death of her mother and the possibility of her family losing their farm, Samantha Sakamoto does not have space in her life for dreams, but when faced with prejudice and violence in her Washington State community after Pearl Harbor, she is determined to use her photography to document the bigotry around her." — From publisher. Commercial audiobook. For grades 6-9.
Stand Up, Yumi Chung! DB125711
Kim, Jessica
6 hours, 5 minutes. Read by Greta Jung.
"When eleven-year-old Yumi Chung stumbles into a kids comedy camp, she is mistaken for another student, so she decides to play the part." — From publisher. Commercial audiobook. For grades 4-7.
Not Another Banned Book DB125483
Levy, Dana Alison
6 hours, 35 minutes. Read by Dana Alison Levy; Keylor Leigh.
"No matter what was going on in Molly's life at home, she always had book club at school. Whether she's dealing with a death in the family or her parent's breaking the news they want to move she is able to read a new book and escape life ... even if it is just for a little bit. But when someone anonymously notifies school boards about a controversial book in the classroom, her favorite teacher Ms. Lewsiton is suspended...and book club is a banned for the immediate future. With weeks until graduation, Molly has never felt more lost. She knows she needs to do something—anything—to prove to everyone that the books they read with Ms. Lewsiton are more important than the adults may realize." — From publisher. Commercial audiobook. For grades 4-7.
Daughters of the Lamp DB122314
Lewers, Nedda
8 hours, 19 minutes. Read by Gilli Messer.
"Twelve-year-old Sahara prefers logic and science over magic, but when she travels to Cairo for a family wedding, her resistance to magic fades when she discovers that she is next in a line of women tasked with guarding Ali Baba's treasure." — From publisher. Commercial audiobook. For grades 4-7.
Children of the Wind DB122315
Lewers, Nedda
8 hours, 55 minutes. Read by Gilli Messer.
"Upon thirteen-year-old Sahara's return to Egypt, she must learn how to wield the power of the wind in order to stop el Ghoula from stealing Ali Baba's magic lamp." — From publisher. Commercial audiobook. For grades 4-7.
Ruby Lost and Found DB123069
Li, Christina
7 hours, 8 minutes. Read by Katharine Chin.
"It's the summer after seventh grade, and Ruby Chu is feeling more lost than ever. Her best friends aren't speaking to her. She ended the year in detention. Her sister's about to leave for college. Ruby's still grieving her grandfather Ye-Ye when it seems like no one else is. And without Ye-Ye and his annual scavenger hunts across San Francisco, their hometown doesn't really feel like home anymore. Things get worse when Ruby's forced to spend the summer with her distant grandmother Nai-Nai in Chinatown." — From jacket flap. Commercial audiobook. APALA Youth Literature Award. For grades 3-6.
The Spindle of Fate DB126083
Lim, Aimee
6 hours, 51 minutes. Read by Jennifer Sun Bell.
"When twelve-year-old Evie discovers her late mother was the head of a guild of magical weavers and is trapped in the Chinese underworld, she travels to the Diyu to bring her back."— From publisher. Commercial audiobook. For grades 3-6.
A Gallery of Rogues DB124710
Lincoln, Beth
10 hours, 37 minutes. Read by Ayesha Antoine.
"Now that the family reunion is over and the murderer has been caught, Shenanigan Swift can return to important projects, like searching for the long-lost family treasure. But trouble always finds Shenanigan, and when a valuable painting is stolen from Swift House by a group of eccentric art thieves known as Ouvolpo, she is determined to get it back—even if it means chasing them all the way to Paris." — From publisher. Commercial audiobook. For grades 5-8.
The Unbeatable Lily Hong DB126274
Ma, Diana
7 hours, 6 minutes. Read by Dana Wing Lau.
"If there's one thing Lily Hong can't stand, it's being second best. That's why she and Max Zhang have been bitter rivals ever since he swooped into town as the new kid with the cool clothes and his fancy downtown Chinese school and showed her up in the fifth-grade reading challenge. Two years later, when Max unexpectedly shows up in her class at Chinese school with his perfect Mandarin and his surprisingly good dance skills, Lily might just have to embrace her longtime rival as a key part of her plan to save a community center and perhaps realize her filmmaking dream." — From publisher. Commercial audiobook. For grades 3-6.
Benny Ramírez and the Nearly Departed DB121663
Iriarte, José Pablo
6 hours, 10 minutes. Read by Gary Tiedemann.
"Twelve-year-old Cuban American Benny must help the ghost of his rich, famous, and morally bankrupt musician grandfather cross over to the other side before the New Year's Eve deadline." — OCLC. Commercial audiobook. For grades 4-7.
Jacky Ha-Ha Gets the Last Laugh DB113941
Patterson, James; Grabenstein, Chris.
4 hours, 49 minutes. Read by Tara Sands.
"Twelve-year-old Jacky spends the last weeks of summer at theater camp with new friends, lots of jokes, and plenty of drama." — Provided by publisher. Commercial audiobook. For grades 4-7.
On These Magic Shores DB126208
Méndez, Yamile Saied
5 hours, 49 minutes. Read by Stacy Gonzalez.
"A friend and some very real fairy magic help twelve-year-old Minnie who is caring for her younger sisters, hiding that their mother is missing, and preparing for her school's production of Peter Pan." — From publisher. Commercial audiobook. For grades 3-6.
Picture Day DB116486
Sax, Sarah
1 hour, 8 minutes. Read by Jamie K. Brown; Giordan Diaz; Davu Smith; Emmett Grosland; Felisha Wong; Michael Crouch; Beth Hicks; Mirai; Valerie Rose Lohman; Keylor Leigh.
"Viv never looks forward to picture day. Her mom always makes her wear a boring braid, and no one at school notices her—aside from her two best friends, Milo and Al, of course. But enough is enough. This year, Viv is taking matters into her own hands. Literally. Enter: a pair of scissors. And, well, a new hairstyle. Just in time for photos!" — Provided by publisher. Commercial audiobook. For grades 3-6.
Penny Draws a Best Friend DB121499
Shepard, Sara
3 hours, 14 minutes. Read by Cassandra Morris.
"Nobody said starting fifth grade would be easy, and Penny Lowry's anxiety means a million questions are always spinning through her thoughts. Luckily she's got a lot to look forward to, like her favorite after-school activity, Art Club, and seeing her best friend Violet again after spending the whole summer apart. The thing is, Violet has been acting weird ever since she got back. She never wants to hang out anymore, says Art Club is for babies, and spends all her time with Riley, the meanest girl in school." — From publisher. Commercial audiobook. For grades 4-7.
Penny Draws a School Play DB121662
Shepard, Sara
2 hours, 45 minutes. Read by Cassandra Morris.
"Fifth grader Penny, who doodles to cope with anxiety, is cast in her class play." — OCLC. Commercial audiobook. For grades 4-7.
Penny Draws a Secret Adventure DB121719
Shepard, Sara
2 hours, 45 minutes. Read by Cassandra Morris.
"Penny and her friends find an old map that takes them on a search through their town for hidden treasure." — Provided by publisher. Commercial audiobook. For grades 4-7.
Penny Draws a Class Trip DB123425
Shepard, Sara
2 hours, 53 minutes. Read by Cassandra Morris.
"Penny and her friends go on a class trip to meet a famous author in New York City." — Provided by publisher. Commercial audiobook. For grades 4-7.
No Filter DB126084
Skovron, Kelley
4 hours, 16 minutes. Read by Kelley Skovron.
"Janessa 'Jinx' McCormick loves photography because it's like real life, except she can make it perfect. One day as she's touching up a new photo, Jinx sees ... something in the background of the image. A shadow that she's certain wasn't in the frame when she captured the shot. Though it's too dark and hazy to see exactly what it is, the shadow looks roughly like a figure. And soon Jinx notices something even more unsettling. With each new shot she takes, the figure is always there. And it's slowly moving closer to the camera." — From publisher. Commercial audiobook. For grades 4-7.
What Happened to Rachel Riley? DB112718
Swinarski, Claire
5 hours, 52 minutes. Read by Andrew Eiden; Ferdelle Capistrano; Karla Serrato; Gail Shalan; Kirby Heyborne; Reena Dutt; Alexandra Hunter; Caitlin Davies.
"Thirteen-year-old new girl Anna Hunt decides to make an investigative podcast about how fellow classmate Rachel Riley went from being the most popular girl in school to the most hated." — Provided by publisher. Commercial audiobook. For grades 5-8.
Something Maybe Magnificent DB126275
Toalson, R.L.
9 hours, 5 minutes. Read by Tara Sands.
"Thirteen-year-old budding writer Victoria's summer hits a few bumps when she develops feelings for her cute neighbor and tries to send her mom's new boyfriend packing." — From publisher. Commercial audiobook. For grades 3-6.
The Magic Paintbrush DB121795
Zhang, Kat
4 hours, 22 minutes. Read by Sunny Lu.
"When Amy, a Chinese American girl, picks up an ancient paintbrush, it unwittingly unleashes the power to make her art real—and sometimes dangerous." — OCLC. Commercial audiobook. For grades 3-6.
Drawing Deena DB119957
Khan, Hena
5 hours, 19 minutes. Read by Reena Dutt.
"When aspiring artist Deena's anxiety reaches a breaking point, both she and her mother learn the importance of asking for help, and that, with the right support, she can create something truly beautiful." — OCLC. Commercial audiobook. For grades 3-6.
The Night Gardener: A Scary Story DB79649
Auxier, Jonathan
7 hours, 57 minutes. Read by Steven Carpenter.
Irish orphans, fourteen-year-old Molly and ten-year-old Kip, travel to England to work as servants in a crumbling manor house where nothing is quite what it seems to be. Soon the siblings are confronted by a mysterious stranger and secrets of the cursed house. For grades 4-7 and older readers. 2014.
Keep Dancing, Lizzie Chu DB in process
Chan, Maisie
"Twelve-year-old Lizzie Chu has lived with her Wai Gong (grandfather) in Glasgow since her parents died when she was a baby. But Wai Gong has been acting different lately. He spends a lot of time talking to his Guan Yin statue—the Chinese goddess of compassion, kindness, and mercy—at his altar and seems to be becoming more forgetful. When Lizzie's friend Chi visits one day dressed as Princess Leia for Comic Con, Wai Gong mistakes her for Guan Yin, and is naturally delighted, and Lizzie seizes the opportunity to use Chi as Guan Yin to help her with her grandad." — From publisher. Commercial audiobook. For grades 3-6.
The Case of the Eerie Heirloom (Phantom Finders) BR in process
Cooper, Brigitte
"An old, silent music box has strangely begun to play its tune, and when Anya Ivanovich asks for the Phantom Finders' help, Abby and Theo follow the trail of clues to Murky Creek's once-ornate theater, the Kirby Center." — WorldCat. For grades 2-4. 2022.
J.R. Silver Writes Her World DB125878 in process
Dassori, Melissa
"J.R. struggles to navigate the torments of middle school and her secret power to write wishes into existence in this magical story about finding your voice." — Amazon.com. For grades 3-6. 2022.
Dominique’s Thrifted Treasures BR in process
McBride, Margaret
"When Pawpaw moves in, he shows Dominique a whole new meaning of hand-me-downs, and when Dominique meets the former owners of the thrifted clothes, the previous owners share the cherished memories tied to each item." — WorldCat. For grades 2-4. 2024.
What the Jaguar Told Her BR in process
Méndez, Alexandra V.
"Jade is starting eighth grade in a new city—Atlanta. She just wants to go back to Chicago, where her friends are. Where her Abuela lives. But Jade does like walking to her new school on the trail that winds through the woods behind her house. Jade feels protected. There, Jade meets Itztli, an elderly storyteller who exists between dreams and reality. In the golden afternoons when Itztli appears, he steps out of the forest as a lithe, agile jaguar. But when he speaks to Jade, he is a wise old man who makes intricate works of art and tells her ancestral stories of Mexico." — OCLC. For grades 5-8. 2022.
Penny Draws a Team Sport (Book 5) DB in process
Shepard, Sarah
"When fifth grader Penny Lowry's school announces an upcoming charity pickleball tournament, she doesn't know what to think. On the one hand, all her friends are joining the team and she doesn't want to feel left out. But on the other hand, Penny's never been particularly athletic. What if it turns out she's terrible at pickleball? What if she lets her teammates down? Things get even more stressful when a local news channel announces they'll be covering the tournament, giving Penny something new to worry about: what if she embarrasses herself on live TV? It's all a lot to handle, but luckily Penny has her right hand dog Cosmo, her best friends, and her love of drawings to get her through!" — From publisher. Commercial audiobook. For grades 4-7. 2025.
Instafamous DB124255 in process
Kendrick, Erika J.
"A middle school diva's hunt for the spotlight speaks to the importance of friendship, family, and mental fitness—even in the midst of fame." — Provided by publisher. For grades 5-8. 2024.
Middle Grade Fiction Books—Bilingual and Spanish
El caso de la reliquia misteriosa DB125627
Cooper, Brigitte; Messina, Cecilia; Thompson, Brook Helen.
16 minutes. Read by Lili Barba.
"Una vieja y muda caja de música ha empezado extrañamente a tocar su melodía, y cuando Anya Ivanovich pide ayuda, Abby y Theo siguen el rastro de pistas hasta el antaño ornamentado teatro de Murky Creek, el Centro Kirby." — Traducción proporcionada por NLS. Para grados 2-4. (Translation of "The Case of Eerie Heirloom," above. For grades 2-4.)
Lo que le contó el jaguar DB125488
Méndez, Alexandra V; Molinari Tato, Ariadna.
14 hours, 26 minutes. Read by Ana Osario.
"Jade está a punto de comenzar el segundo grado de secundaria en una nueva ciudad—Atlanta. Ella solo quiere regresar a Chicago, donde están sus amigos y donde vive su abuela. Pero Jade disfruta caminar a su nueva escuela por el camino en el bosque detrás de su casa. En el bosque, Jade se siente segura. Es ahí donde Jade conoce a Itztli, un cuentacuentos que existe entre los sueños y la realidad. Durante el atardecer, Itztli aparece transformado en un jaguar. Pero cuando habla con Jade, es un anciano sabio que hace intrincadas obras de arte y le cuenta las historias ancestrales de México."— Proporcionada por la editorial. Audiolibro comercial. Para grados 4-7. (Translation of "What the Jaguar Told Her," above. Grades 4-7)
En estas tierras mágicas DB125629 in process
Saied Méndez, Yamile
"Ya a los doce años, Minerva Soledad Miranda está decidida a alcanzar sus metas, a pesar de asumir más responsabilidades que los demás niños de las escuela—como cuidar a sus dos hermanas mientras su mamá maneja dos trabajos. Pero una noche, la mamá de Minerva no regresa a casa y Minerva tiene que decidir qué hacer. ¿Fue mamá secuestrada? ¿Serán las niñas enviadas a hogares de acogida? Minerva y su hermanas no pueden dejar que nadie sepa que mamá ha desaparecido. Simplemente fingirán que todo sigue normal hasta que ella regrese. Pero el plan de Minerva se desmorona ..." — Proporcionada por la editorial. Traducido de la edición en inglés de 2020. Para grados 2-4. ("Already at twelve years old, Minerva Soledad Miranda is determined to achieve her goals, despite taking on more responsibilities than the other children at school—like taking care of her two sisters while her mother handles two jobs. But one night, Minerva's mother doesn't come home and Minerva has to decide what to do. Was Mother kidnapped? Will the girls be sent to foster homes? Minerva and her sisters can't let anyone know that Mother is missing. They'll simply pretend everything is normal until she returns. But Minerva's plan falls apart ..." — Provided by publisher. Grades 2-4.) 2024.
Un tesoro debajo del agua DB125678 in process
Allen, Sarah Elisabeth
"Olivia está haciendo un viaje por carretera, el viaje de sus sueños, con su fiel cámara fotográfica y su hermana mayor Ruth a su lado. Hace tres años, antes de que su familia se mudara de California a Tennessee, Olivia y Ruth enterraron una caja con sus recuerdos en su playa favorita. Ahora, en este viaje junto a sus tíos, las hermanas recorrerán todo el país para descubrir los recuerdos que dejaron atrás." — Proporcionada por la editorial. Audiolibro comercial. Para grados 5-8. ("Olivia is taking a road trip—the trip of her dreams—with her trusty camera and her older sister, Ruth, by her side. Three years ago, before their family moved from California to Tennessee, Olivia and Ruth buried a box of their memories on their favorite beach. Now, on this trip with their aunt and uncle, the two sisters will travel across the country to uncover the memories they left behind." — Provided by the publisher. For grades 5-8.) 2022.
Middle Grade Books Nonfiction
Physics for Curious Kids: An Introduction to Energy, Matter, Forces and Our Universe DB126209
Baker, Laura
3 hours, 20 minutes. Read by James Macnaughton.
"Discover forces that shape our world, and explore why matter really does matter. ... Unlock a whole new way of thinking about ... the wonders of space and time, the electromagnetic spectrum, the hidden laws that govern motion, [and] electronics and new technologies." — From publisher. Commercial audiobook. For grades 3-6.
In and Out the Window DB125981
Yolen, Jane; Santopolo, Jill
1 hour, 24 minutes. Read by Cassandra Campbell.
"The largest single anthology of the author´s poetry celebrating childhood. At home or at school, playing sports or practicing music, enjoying the holidays or delighting in each season, this collection shows just how lively it is to be a kid." — From publisher. Commercial audiobook. For grades 3-6.
Your Story Matters: A Surprisingly Practical Guide to Writing BR in process
Scrimger, Richard
"Interested in writing but don't know how to get started? Love reading and want to know more about how stories are created? Like ridiculous tales about troublesome sisters, peanut butter and steamrollers? Look no further! This book answers questions about writing: whether about plot, character, structure, story hooks or commas." — Provided by publisher. For grades 3-6. 2024.
The Stories We Were Never Told BR in process
Sayalero, Myriam
"Astute women and clever girls, valiant queens and brave villagers—these are the people to save the day in this collection of folktales from around the world and across the ages." — Provided by publisher. For grades 3-6. 2020.
Middle Grade Nonfiction—Bilingual and Spanish
Los cuentos que nunca nos contaron DB125571 in process
Sayalero, Myriam
"Mujeres astutas y muchachas inteligentes, reinas valientes y aldeanos audaces: estas son las personas que salvan el día en esta colección de cuentos populares de todo el mundo y de todos los tiempos." — Proporcionada por la editorial. Para grados 3-6. (Translation of "The Stories We Were Never Told," above. For grades 3-6.) 2019.
Book of Questions DB126102 in process
Neruda, Pablo; O´Dally, William
"Una colección de poemas compuesta íntegramente por preguntas del autor chileno del siglo XX, Pablo Neruda. Presentada en inglés y español, esta colección consta de 316 preguntas sin respuesta, poemas que integran la maravilla de un niño con las experiencias de un adulto. A veces órficas, cómicas, surrealistas y conmovedoras, las preguntas de Neruda llevan al lector más allá de la razón, a los reinos de la intuición y la pura imaginación." — Proporcionada por la editorial. ("A collection of poems composed entirely of questions by twentieth-century Chilean author Pablo Neruda. Presented in English and Spanish, this collection is composed of 316 unanswerable questions, poems which integrate the wonder of a child with the experiences of an adult. By turns Orphic, comic, surreal, and poignant, Neruda's questions lead the reader beyond reason into realms of intuition and pure imagination." — Provided by publisher.) 2022.
Young Adult Books (return to top)
Young Adult Books, Fiction
Cinderella Is Dead DB100292
Bayron, Kalynn
8 hours, 59 minutes. Read by Colleen Delany.
Two hundred years after Cinderella, the kingdom's mandatory annual ball serves as a unwilling marriage mart. But Sophia and Cinderella's last known descendant, Constance, rebel and vow to bring down the cruel king once and for all. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. For senior high and older readers. 2020.
BR23289: Volume 1, Volume 2, Volume 3
A Show for Two DB125513
Bhuiyan, Tashie
10 hours, 45 minutes. Read by Ariana Delawari.
"Mina Rahman's plan for her future includes finally winning the Golden Ivy student film competition, getting into her dream school, and leaving New York City behind. Then indie film star Emmitt Ramos enrolls in her high school under a secret identity to research his next role. Mina sets out to persuade Emmitt to join her cause, and he offers her a deal instead: he'll be in her short film if she acts as a tour guide to help him with a photography contest. As the two venture across the five boroughs, the city starts to look more like home to Mina." — Adapted from jacket. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. For senior high and older readers.
The Prince & the Coyote DB118197
Bowles, David
10 hours, 32 minutes. Read by Johnny Rey Diaz.
"Fifteen-year-old crown prince Acolmiztli wants nothing more than to see his city-state of Tetzcoco thrive. A singer, poet, and burgeoning philosophical mind, he has big plans about infrastructure projects and cultural initiatives that will bring honor to his family and help his people flourish. But the two sides of his family, the kingdoms of Mexico and Acolhuacan, have been at war his entire life—after his father risked the wrath of the Tepanec emperor to win his mother's love. When a power struggle leaves his father dead and his mother and siblings in exile, Acolmiztli must run for his life, seeking refuge in the wilderness. Includes translations of surviving poems by Nezahualcoyotl himself, translated from classical Nahuatl by the author." — Provided by publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. For senior high and older readers.
Spin DB114636
Caprara, Rebecca
5 hours, 37 minutes. Gabriella Cavallero.
"Sixteen-year-old Arachne turns to weaving for solace, but when word spreads of her skill she is confronted by the goddess Athena and the two enter a weaving contest that results in transformation and redemption." — Provided by publisher. Some violence, some strong language and some descriptions of sex. For senior high and older readers.
Of Jade and Dragons DB122378
Chen, Amber
12 hours, 6 minutes. Read by Jen Zhao.
"After her father's murder, eighteen-year-old Aihui Ying travels to the capital, where she disguises herself as her brother and infiltrates the Engineers Guild as she tries to solve her father's murder with help from a prince with plans of his own." — From publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. For senior high and older readers.
Ariel Crashes a Train DB120501
Cole, Olivia A.
7 hours, 31 minutes. Read by Olivia A. Cole.
"Ariel grapples with her fear of her own mind and violent fantasies, driven by her desire to meet her parents' expectations and societal norms, until a summer job at a carnival leads her to new friends who help her discover her struggle with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and find acceptance and support for her true self." — OCLC. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. For senior high and older readers.
Borderless DB115939
De Leon, Jennifer
10 hours, 12 minutes. Read by Diana Pou.
"Caught in the crosshairs of gang violence, seventeen-year-old fashion designer, Maya, and her mother set off on a perilous journey from Guatemala City to the US-Mexico border." — Provided by publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. For senior high and older readers.
Wings in the Wild DB116140
Engle, Margarita
1 hour, 48 minutes. Read by Andre Bellido; Aida Reluzco.
"When a hurricane exposes Soleida's family's secret sculpture garden, the Cuban government arrests her artist parents, forcing her to escape alone to Central America where she meets Dariel, a Cuban American boy, and together they work to protect the environment and bring attention to the imprisoned artists in Cuba." — Provided by publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. For senior high and older readers.
With Love, Miss Americanah DB122164
Igharo, Jane
9 hours, 16 minutes. Read by Joy Ofodu.
"After the death of her father, seventeen-year-old Enore Adesuwa moves with her family from Nigeria to America, where she intends to keep a low profile her senior year, but with the help from her sister, new friends, and crush, Enore finds her voice in more ways than one." — From publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. For senior high and older readers.
An Appetite for Miracles DB115017
Kemp, Laekan Zea
5 hours, 38 minutes. Read by André Santana; Stacy Gonzalez.
"With the help of her cousin and their friends, Danna scours the city, searching for her grandfather's favorite foods and hoping the remembered flavors will bring back his memories. Danna Mendoza Villarreal’s grandfather is slowly losing himself as his memories fade, and Danna’s not sure her plan to help him remember through the foods he once reviewed will be enough to bring him back. Especially when her own love of food makes her complicated relationship with her mother even more difficult." — Provided by publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. For senior high and older readers.
My Fair Brady DB118951
Kennedy, Brian D.
9 hours, 24 minutes. Read by Kevin R. Free; Michael Crouch.
"Wade Westmore is used to being in the spotlight. So when he's passed over for the lead in the spring musical, it comes as a major blow—especially when the role goes to his ex-boyfriend, Reese. ... Shy sophomore Elijah Brady is used to being overlooked. Forget not knowing his name—most of his classmates don't even know he exists. So when he joins the stage crew for the musical, he seems destined to blend into the scenery. When the two have a disastrous backstage run-in, Elijah proposes an arrangement that could solve both boys' problems: If Wade teaches Elijah how to be popular, Wade can prove that he cares about more than just himself." — Provided by publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. For senior high and older readers.
The Breakup Lists DB120297
Khorram, Adib
8 hours, 34 minutes. Read by Amin El Gamal.
"A high school stage manager has to face his complicated feelings about love when he catches himself falling for the same guy as his sister." — Provided by publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. For senior high and older readers.
The Roof over Our Heads DB125739
Kronzer, Nicole
9 hours, 17 minutes. Read by Graham Halstead.
"To save their home, Finn's theater-loving family puts on an immersive, historical play, but Finn struggles with remembering lines and is simultaneously trying to connect with his crush and deal with his long-time rival." — From publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. For senior high and older readers.
Bellegarde DB125933
Lilac, Jamie
8 hours, 34 minutes. Read by Elisabeth Lagelee; Daniel Henning.
"Told in alternating voices, in eighteenth-century France, popular ultra-wealthy teen, Beau Bellegarde, bets he can transform working-class Evie into school royalty." — From publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. For senior high and older readers.
No Filter and Other Lies DB125417
Maldonado, Crystal
10 hours, 41 minutes. Read by Frankie Corzo.
"Seventeen-year-old Kat Sanchez uses photos of a friend to create a fake Instagram account, but when one of her posts goes viral and exposes Kat's duplicity, her entire world—both real and pretend—comes crashing down around her." — From publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. For senior high and older readers.
We Are All So Good at Smiling DB112216
McBride, Amber
3 hours, 47 minutes. Read by Amber McBride.
"When hospitalized for her clinical depression, Whimsy connects with a boy named Faerry, who also suffers from the traumatic loss of a sibling, and together they work to unearth buried memories and battle the fantastical physical embodiment of their depression." — Provided by publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. For senior high and older readers.
Enter the Body DB115905
McCullough, Joy
4 hours, 25 minutes. Read by Joy McCullough; Valerie Rose Lohman; Victoria Villarreal; Annie Q.
"In the room beneath a theater stage, the ghosts of Juliet, Ophelia, Cordelia, and other teenage girls who died tragically in Shakespeare's plays, share their experiences and trauma and get the chance to retell the stories of their lives in their own terms." — Provided by publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. For senior high and older readers.
A British Girl's Guide to Hurricanes and Heartbreak DB120723
Namey, Laura Taylor
9 hours, 13 minutes. Read by Shiromi Arserio.
"Winchester, England, has always been home for Flora, but when her mother dies after a long illness, Flora feels untethered. Her family expects her to apply to university and take a larger role in their tea-shop business, but Flora isn't so sure. More than ever, she's the chaotic 'hurricane' in her household, and she doesn't always know how to manage her stormy emotions. So she decides to escape to Miami without telling anyone. But Flora's tropical change of scenery doesn't cast away her self-doubt." — Publisher's description. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. For senior high and older readers.
ASAP DB119685
Oh, Axie
9 hours, 23 minutes. Read by Joy Osmanski.
"When her ex-boyfriend, a member of one of the biggest K-pop bands in the world and forbidden from dating, is rocked by scandal, K-pop idol Sori offers him a hideaway with her until she must decide if her future is worth sacrificing for a second chance at love." — Provided by publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. For senior high and older readers.
The Vermilion Emporium DB111622
Pacton, Jamie
12 hours, 38 minutes. Read by Jeremy Carlisle Parker.
"On the morning Twain, a lonely boy with a knack for danger, discovers a strand of starlight on the cliffs outside of Severon, a mysterious curiosity shop appears in town. Meanwhile, Quinta, the ordinary daughter of an extraordinary circus performer, chases rumors of the shop, The Vermilion Emporium, desperate for a way to live up to her mother's magical legacy. When Quinta meets Twain outside of the Emporium, their lives are inexorably linked and transformed." — Provided by publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. For senior high and older readers.
The 9:09 Project DB111061
Parsons, Mark H
9 hours, 25 minutes. Read by Greg Barnett.
"Seventeen-year-old Jamison finds hope after the loss of his mother, and recognizes the role that family, friends, and even strangers can play in the healing process if you are open and willing to share your experience with others." — Provided by publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. For senior high and older readers.
Hope Ablaze DB119828
Rana, Sarah Mughal
9 hours, 47 minutes. Read by Farah Kidwai.
"Nida has always been known as Mamou Abdul-Hafeedh’s niece—the poet that will fill her uncle’s shoes after he was wrongfully incarcerated But for Nida, her poetry letters are her heart and sharing so much of herself with a world that stereotypes her faith and her hijab is not an option. When Nida is illegally frisked at a Democratic Senatorial candidate’s political rally, she writes a scathing poem about the politician, never expecting the letter to go viral weeks before Election Day. Nida discovers her poem has won first place in a national contest, a contest she never entered, and her quiet life is toppled." — Goodreads. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. For senior high and older readers.
The Art Thieves DB125454
Rogers, Andrea L; Kunz, Rebecca Lee
8 hours, 7 minutes. Read by DeLanna Studi.
"It's the year 2052. Stevie Henry is a Cherokee girl working at a museum in Texas, trying to save up enough money to go to college. The world around her is in a cycle of drought and superstorms, ice and fire ... but people get by. But it's about to get a whole lot worse. When a mysterious boy shows up at Stevie's museum saying that he's from the future—and telling her what is to come—she refuses to believe him. But soon she will have no choice." — From publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. For senior high and older readers.
The Temptation of Magic DB124315
Scott, Megan
13 hours, 58 minutes. Read by Jane Fox.
"Serpent and Dove meets A Discovery of Witches in this magical, forbidden romance debut. He was an Empyreal, her greatest threat, her greatest fascination. Everything she'd been warned against. And yet she wanted him, still. As an Empyreal, Nicole has the ability to kill any deadly supernatural. But if her power ever awakened, the Wake—the organisation that governs supernaturals—would force her to be their loyal huntress. Or kill her, like they did her mother. To stay safe, Nicole hides in a small university town, convinced the mythological art collection at a local manor contains a final message from her mother. But before she can study it, Kyan McCarter, the Wake's most skilled Empyreal, arrives on his own hunt. When they discover his prey has stolen a painting for leverage, they're forced to work together. As the creature threatens to expose Nicole's powers, her tenuous alliance with Kyan threatens her heart. If her true identity is revealed, Kyan will hunt her next. No one disobeys The Wake and survives. Especially when the art they're seeking unveils a conspiracy that would change the lives of creatures and humans forever. ... But Nicole may only be able to resist one: her wicked impulses, or a love that could repaint their world. And after a life of hiding her true nature, who could resist the temptation of magic? A luxurious, forbidden romance that will become your new obsession." — From publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. For senior high and older readers.
Every Time You Hear That Song DB120296
Voris, Jenna
8 hours, 43 minutes. Read by Emily Lawrence; Allison Strong.
"Seventeen-year-old aspiring journalist Darren Purchase has been a lifelong fan of country music legend Decklee Cassel, who's as famous for her classic hits as she is for her partnership with songwriter Mickenlee Hooper. The same Mickenlee who mysteriously backed out of the limelight at the height of their careers, never to be heard from again. Now Decklee's televised funeral marks the unveiling of her long-awaited time capsule. But when it's revealed to be empty, a trail of scavenger-hunt clues unfolds, leading to a whopping cash prize for whoever finds the real capsule." — Provided by publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. For senior high and older readers.
The Art of Insanity DB111211
Webb, Christine
9 hours, 18 minutes. Read by Jorjeana Marie.
"Putting up a front and hiding her mental illness from her classmates is going to be the hardest thing high schooler Natalie Cordova has ever done. It's her senior year, and she's just been selected to present her artwork at a prestigious show. With the stress of performing on her shoulders, it doesn't help when Natalie notices a boy who makes her heart leap. And then there's fellow student Ella, who confronts Natalie about her summer car "accident" and pressures her into caring for the world's ugliest dog. Now Natalie finds herself juggling all kinds of feels and responsibilities. Surely her newly prescribed medication is to blame for the funk she finds herself in. But as Natalie's plan to self-treat unravels, so does the perfect façade she's been painting for everyone else." — Provided by publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. For senior high and older readers.
What Is This Feeling? DB125206
Weber, Robby
9 hours, 2 minutes. Read by Mark Sanderlin.
"Theater star Teddy McGuire is ready for all his dreams to come true. He and his best friend, Annie, have been counting down the days to the end-of-the-year drama club trip to New York City. To make it even more magical, if they can win the annual scavenger hunt, they'll get a chance to meet their popstar idol, Benji Keaton. But the universe has other plans: when Annie can't go on the trip, Teddy is forced to room with tech crew loner Sebastian, who has no interest in the scavenger hunt—or Teddy—and seems to have a secret agenda of his own." — From publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. For senior high and older readers.
Beholder DB117571
La Sala, Ryan
11 hours, 50 minutes. Read by Vikas Adam.
"No one survived the party at the penthouse. Except Athan. Athanasios "Athan" Bakirtzis has made it far in life relying on his charm and good looks, even securing an invitation to a mysterious penthouse soiree for New York City's artsy elite. But when he sneaks off to the bathroom, he hears a slam, followed by a scream. Athan peers outside, only to be pushed back in by a boy his age. The boy gravely tells him not to open the door, then closes Athan in. Outside the door, the party descends into chaos. Something evil is waking up in the walls of New York City, and it's compelling victims toward violence, chaos, and self-destruction." — Provided by publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. For senior high and older readers.
Young Adult Fiction Books—Bilingual and Spanish
Cenicient ha muerto DB125622
Bayron, Kalynn; Gozálvez, Paz Pruneda
12 hours, 5 minutes. Read by Monica Delgado.
"Han pasado 200 años desde que Cenicienta encontró a su príncipe, pero el cuento de hadas ha terminado. Las adolescentes deben asistir al Baile Anual, donde los hombres del reino eligen esposas basándose en el elegante atuendo de cada una. Si no encuentran una pareja adecuada, nunca más se sabe de las que no son elegidas. Sophia, de dieciséis años, preferiría casarse con Erin, su mejor amiga de la infancia, antes que desfilar ante pretendientes." — Proporcionada por la editorial. Contiene lenguaje ofensivo, algunas descripciones de índole sexual, y descripciones de violencia. (Translation of "Cinderella is Dead," above. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. For senior high and older readers.) 2020.
Alas salvajes DB119459
Engle, Margarita
3 hours, 4 minutes. Read by Escarlett Arias.
"Cuando un huracán expone el jardín secreto de esculturas de la familia de Soleida, el gobierno cubano arresta a sus padres artistas, obligándola a escapar sola a Centroamérica, donde conoce a Dariel, un niño cubanoamericano, y juntos trabajan para proteger el medio ambiente y llamar la atención sobre los artistas encarcelados en Cuba." — Proporcionada por la editorial. Para lectores de alta secundaria y mayores. ("Translation of Wings in the Wild," above. For senior high and older readers.)
Sin filtro y otras mentiras DB117907
Maldonado, Crystal
11 hours, 9 minutes. Read by Diana Huicochea.
"Kat Sanchez, de diecisiete años, usa fotos de un amigo para crear una cuenta de Instagram falsa, pero cuando una de sus publicaciones se vuelve viral y expone la duplicidad de Kat, todo su mundo, tanto real como ficticio, se derrumba a su alrededor." — Proporcionada por la editorial. Contiene lenguaje ofensivo y algunas descripciones de índole sexual. Para lectores de alta secundaria y mayores. (Translation of "No Filter and Other Lies," above. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. For senior high and older readers.)
Young Adult Books Nonfiction
Writing in Color: Fourteen Writers on the Lessons We've Learned DB118403 (BR25679 in process)
Azad, Nafiza; Simpson, Melody (ed); contributions from Julie C. Dao, Chloe Gong, Joan He, Kosoko Jackson, Adiba Jaigirdar and 9 others.
6 hours, 23 minutes. Read by Gabriella Cavallero.
"So, you're thinking of writing a book. Or, maybe you've written one, and are wondering what to do with it. What does it take to publish a novel, or even a short story? Collection of essays, written exclusively by authors of color, that encourages writers of all ages and backgrounds to find their voice as they put pen to page. Contributors include: Julie C. Dao, Chloe Gong, Joan He, Kosoko Jackson, Adiba Jaigirdar, Darcie Little Badger, Yamile Saied Mendez, Axie Oh, Laura Pohl, Cindy Pon, Karuna Riazi, Gail D. Villanueva, Julian Winters, and Kat Zhang." — Provided by publisher. Some strong language. For junior and senior high readers.
Call Us What We Carry: Poems DB106426 (BR25580 in process)
Gorman, Amanda
3 hours, 34 minutes. Read by the author.
A collection of more than seventy poems written by National Youth Poet Laureate and New York Times bestselling author Amanda Gorman. Reflects on the past, present, and future, exploring history, language, identity, grief, and hope. Includes The Hill We Climb, which was read during the 2021 Presidential Inauguration. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. Bestseller. 2021.
The Artist's Guide to Drawing Manga DB125796
Krefta, Ben
3 hours, 38 minutes. Read by Jared Zak.
"Drawing guide to this popular style shows how to: construct accurate manga figures, render facial features and expressions, create your own unique characters, design slickly colored action scenes. Whether you're new to drawing or have some experience already, you'll find the step-by-step exercises and examples in these pages invaluable." — Cover. For senior high and older readers.
Seen and Unseen: What Dorothea Lange, Toyo Miyatake and Ansel Adams' Photographs Reveal about the Japanese American Incarceration DB111538
Partridge, Elizabeth
1 hour, 18 minutes. Read by June Angela.
"Legendary photographers Dorothea Lange, Toyo Miyatake, and Ansel Adams all photographed the Japanese American incarceration, but with different approaches and different results. This nonfiction picture book for middle-grade readers examines the Japanese American incarceration and the complexity of documenting it through the work of these three photographers." — Provided by publisher. Commercial audiobook. For grades 6-9 and older readers.
(Braille: BR24856)
Flights of Fancy: Defying Gravity by Design & Evolution DB126160
Dawkins, Richard
4 hours, 49 minutes. Read by Richard Dawkins.
"Explains how nature and humans have learned to overcome the pull of gravity and take to the skies. From the mythical Icarus, to the sadly extinct but spectacular bird Argentavis magnificens, from the Wright flyer and the 747, to the Tinkerbella fairyfly and the Peregrine falcon. But it is also about flights of the mind, about escaping the everyday through science, ideas and imagination." — From publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. For junior and senior high and older readers.
Architecture for Teens: A Beginner's Book for Aspiring Architects DB125868
Willkens, Danielle S.
3 hours, 7 minutes. Read by Eva Wilhelm.
"Explore an overview of architectural movements and designers from prehistory to modern-day, and check out inspiring interviews with working professionals. With practical advice for pursuing a career, you'll find out how you can become an architect." — WorldCat. For senior high and older readers.
Wall to Wall: Mural Art Around the World DB126224 in process
Fraser, Mary Ann
"A worldwide journey through time to learn about amazing wall art and the people who inspired or created it." — Provided by publisher. For junior and senior high readers. 2024.
An Archeology of the Future DB126005 in process
Hoff, Emma Catherine
“In this debut poetry collection, people weep in the streets. The snow closes its eyes. Birds scream, a question begs the world for its answer, everything is 'frozen yet moving.' This world, like ours, is ending, and yet this is not a tragedy: 'there was peace for Earth / with no one there.'" From publisher. For senior high and older readers. 2023.
My Shouting, Shattered, Whispering Voice: A Guide to Writing Poetry and Speaking Your Truth DB125555 in process
Vecchione, Patrice
"Ever had an emotion or experience you wanted to express, but didn't know how? This guide encourages teens to find their voices, step up and speak their truths, and articulate what matters to them most. Young adults are reading and writing and performing poetry more than ever before, and yet it's the most difficult form for schools to teach. Includes prompts and inspiration, writing suggestions and instruction, brief interviews with some current popular poets such as Kim Addonizio, Safia Elhillo, and others, and poem excerpts scattered throughout the book." — Provided by publisher. For senior high and older readers. 2020.
Young Adult Nonfiction Books—Bilingual and Spanish
Eventually, Inevitably: My Writing Life in Verse / Tarde o temprano era inevitable: Mi vida de escritor en verso DB125800 in process
Saldaña, René
"René Saldaña ofrece un testimonio en verso en el que rememora su infancia y el camino que lo convirtió en lector, escritor y académico. Saldaña creció en la zona fronteriza de México-Texas, rodeado de familiares: primos, primas, tíos, tías y abuelos. Las innumerables historias de su abuelo contribuyeron a su desarrollo. Recuerda 'aquellos años malditos' de la secundaria y a 'los maestros que me hicieron olvidar / el amor que sentía por los libros.' " — Proporcionada por la editorial. Para lectores de intermedia y alta secundaria. 2023. ("René Saldaña offers a verse account in which he recalls his childhood and the path that made him a reader, writer, and scholar. Saldaña grew up in the Mexico-Texas border region, surrounded by family: cousins, uncles, aunts, and grandparents. His grandfather's countless stories contributed to his development. He remembers 'those cursed years' of high school and 'the teachers who made me forget / the love I felt for books.' " — Provided by the publisher. For middle and high school readers.) 2023.
Adult Books (return to top)
Fiction
Love Redesigned DB121602
Asher, Lauren
13 hours, 21 minutes. Read by Gabriella Cavallero.
"Julian. If I ever caught on fire, Dahlia Muñoz would fan the flames with a smile. So, when she returns to Lake Wisteria, I fully intend to avoid the interior designer. At least until my meddling mother exploits my savior complex. The faster I help Dahlia find her creative spark, the sooner she will leave town. Dahlia. People say the devil has many faces, but I know only one. Julian Lopez—my childhood rival and family frenemy. I vow to steer clear of him while recovering from my broken engagement, but then the billionaire makes an irresistible offer. Renovate a historic house together and triple our profits. Our temporary truce becomes compromised as we face years' worth of denied attraction and mixed emotions." — Provided by publisher. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex.
The Writing Retreat DB125481
Bartz, Julia
11 hours, 32 minutes. Read by Gail Shalan.
"A book deal to die for. Five attendees are selected for a month-long writing retreat at the remote estate of Roza Vallo, the controversial high priestess of feminist horror. Alex, a struggling writer, is thrilled. Upon arrival, they discover they must complete an entire novel from scratch, and the best one will receive a seven-figure publishing deal. Alex's long-extinguished dream now seems within reach. But then the women begin to die. Trapped, terrified yet still desperately writing, it clear there is more than a publishing deal at stake at Briar estate. As Alex must confront her own demons and finish her novel to save herself. This unhinged, propulsive, claustrophobic closed-door thriller will pull you in and spit you out!" — From publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.
Ruby Spencer's Whisky Year DB125715
Bilow, Rochelle
8 hours, 55 minutes. Read by Nikki Massoud.
"A thirty-something American food writer moves to a Scottish village for one year to find inspiration-and love-and fulfill her dream of writing her own cookbook in this charming debut romance. Ruby Spencer is spending one year living in a small cottage with no internet in a tiny town in the Scottish Highlands for three reasons: to write a bestselling cookbook, to drink a barrelful of whisky, and to figure out what comes next. It's hard to know what to expect after an impulse destination choice based on a map of Scotland in her Manhattan apartment-but she knows it's high time she had an adventure. The moment she sets foot in Thistlecross, the verdant scenery, charming cottages, and struggling local pub steal her heart. Between designing pop-up suppers and conversing with the colorful locals, Ruby starts to see a future that stretches beyond her year of adventure. It doesn't hurt that Brochan, the ruggedly handsome local handyman, keeps coming around to repair things at her cottage. Though Ruby swore off men, she can't help fantasizing what a roll in the barley might be like with the bearded Scot. As Ruby grows closer to Brochan and the tightly held traditions of the charming village, she discovers secret plans to turn her beloved pub into an American chain restaurant. Faced with an impossible choice, Ruby must decide between love, loyalty, and the Highlands way of life." — Provided by publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.
Delilah Green Doesn't Care DB107006
Blake, Ashley Herring
11 hours, 43 minutes. Read by Kristen DiMercurio.
Delilah's estranged stepsister, Astrid, pressures her into photographing her wedding. Delilah plans to breeze in and out, but then she sees Claire, one of Astrid's stuck-up friends, and decides that maybe there's some fun (and a little retribution) to be had in Bright Falls after all. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2022.
The Princess of Las Vegas: A Novel DB120142
Bohjalian, Chris
11 hours, 35 minutes. Read by Grace Experience; Saskia Maarleveld.
"The book revolves around Crissy, the star of a beloved Princess Diana tribute show in Las Vegas, and her estranged sister Betsy, a therapist who works with children and adolescents in Vermont. Betsy's boyfriend Frankie works in a mysterious branch of cryptocurrency and, seemingly out of nowhere, proposes that they move to Las Vegas together. Betsy and Crissy must navigate how to go about their newfound physical proximity to one another." — Provided by publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.
Can't We Be Friends: A Novel of Ella Fitzgerald and Marilyn Monroe DB125932
Bryce, Denny S; Knight, Eliza
11 hours, 19 minutes. Read by Caroline Hewitt; Karen Chilton.
"One woman was recognized as the premiere singer of her era with perfect pitch and tireless ambition. One woman was the most glamorous star in Hollywood, a sex symbol who took the world by storm. And their friendship was fast and firm. ... 1952: Ella Fitzgerald is a renowned jazz singer whose only roadblock to longevity is society's attitude toward women and race. Marilyn Monroe's star is rising despite ongoing battles with movie studio bigwigs and boyfriends. To everyone's surprise but their own, they become fast friends. On the surface, what could they have in common? This novel explores and celebrates their surprising bond over a decade and serves as a poignant reminder of how true friendship can cross differences to bolster and sustain us through haunting heartbreak and wild success." — Provided by publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.
Here in Avalon DB125828
Burton, Tara Isabella
11 hours, 5 minutes. Read by Devon Sorvari. "Rose investigates the disappearance of her irresponsible and impetuous sister who fell followed a cult-like cabaret troupe that only appears at night on a mysterious red boat that sails around New York and is blamed for several disappearances." — Provided by publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.
Girl with a Pearl Earring DB50258
Chevalier, Tracy
7 hours, 51 minutes. Read by Lisette Lecat.
A fictional account of how the seventeenth-century artist Vermeer came to paint a portrait of a young woman wearing a pearl earring. When sixteen-year-old Griet, a Protestant, becomes a maid in Vermeer's Catholic household, the drudgery of her duties is offset by working in the artist's studio. Some descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 1999.
(Braille: BR13360 Volume 1, Volume 2)
Caramelo, or, Puro cuento: A Novel DB55405
Cisneros, Sandra
15 hours, 45 minutes. Read by Gabriella Cavallero.
Celaya Reyes spins out her story from childhood to maturity. She weaves in threads about her immediate family's bicultural adaptation in Chicago, journeys to her grandparents' home in Mexico City, and melodramatic strands from past and present. The tale sustains her, like her ancient inherited caramel-colored shawl. Some strong language. 2002.
The Time in Between: A Novel DB74124
Dueñas, María; Hahn, Daniel
22 hours, 21 minutes. Read by Jill Fox.
Morocco, 1936. Sira Quiroga, a young seamstress from Madrid, leaves home with her lover but is abandoned in North Africa. She creates a successful couture workshop and is recruited to work for the British cause against Germany. Translated from Spanish. Some violence and some strong language. 2011.
I Didn't Do It: Thriller Writer Conventions Can Be Murder DB125722
Hendricks, Jaime Lynn
9 hours, 39 minutes. Read by Kyle Burrow; Emily Sutton-Smith; Catherine Ho.
"Murderpalooza, the premier thriller writers conference, is meant to be an exciting celebration of the genre and its preeminent writers. But when bestselling author and industry favorite Kristin Bailey is found dead in her hotel room, four rival authors—a midlister, an egomaniac, a has-been, and a newbie—also get targeted by an anonymous social media account and wonder if they're next." — Provided by publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.
Hiss Me Deadly DB119047
James, Miranda
8 hours, 9 minutes. Read by Erin Bennett.
"Charlie Harris remembers Wilfred 'Wil' Threadgill as one of the outsiders during high school in Athena. Wil eventually became a star, fronting a band and writing award-winning songs. Coming back to Athena to work for two weeks with students in the college music department, Wil is now the big man on campus. Not everyone is happy to have him back, however. Some are protesting his music on moral grounds, and Wil and his entourage have been the target of several acts of harassment and later, violence. It's up to Charlie and Diesel to find out who hates Wil Threadgill enough to silence his song ... forever!" — Provided by publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.
Making It DB126159
Kay, Laura
11 hours, 14 minutes. Read by Ell Potter.
"Isobel's life is small: just her, her mum, and her pet chinchilla, Abigail, in their council flat on the Kentish coast. After mental health troubles in her teens, Issy, now twenty-eight, has kept things that way on purpose, only deviating from routine when her part-time job at a paint-your-own pottery studio demands it, or when she's inspired to create art of Abigail: knitted Abigails, sculptural Abigails, delicately rendered paintings of Abigail. When the Abigails earn the attention of famous artist and reality TV star Elizabeth Staggs, Issy is awestruck and a little alarmed. These emotions compound when Elizabeth makes Issy an unexpected offer: move to London and work for a year shadowing Elizabeth as she produces her hit arts documentary series." — Provided by publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.
Plot Twist DB125839
La Rosa, Erin
9 hours, 14 minutes. Read by Mela Lee.
"Romance author Sophie Lyon needs to overcome her writer's block. Her plan: reunite with her exes (including her last girlfriend. Carla) to learn why she has never fallen in love, and document it all for her online followers. Sophie's landlord, Dash Montrose—a former teen heartthrob—is an anonymous online crafter with a complicated relationship with alcohol, and needs to steer clear of scandal. When he offers to help with her social media, they discover a heat that rivals Dash's pottery kiln. When Sophie suggests a friends-with-benefits arrangement, it won't cause any problem ... will it?" — From publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.
Love at First Book DB121411
McKinlay, Jenn
9 hours, 52 minutes. Read by Brittany Pressley.
"When a librarian moves to a quaint Irish village where her favorite novelist lives, the last thing she expects is to fall for the author's prickly son ... until their story becomes one for the books. Emily Allen, a librarian on Martha's Vineyard, has always dreamed of a life of travel and adventure. So when her favorite author, Siobhan Riordan, offers her a job in the Emerald Isle, Emily jumps at the opportunity. Helping Siobhan write the final book in her acclaimed series—after a ten-year hiatus due to a scorching case of writer's block—is a dream come true for Emily. If only she didn't have to deal with Siobhan's son, Kieran Murphy. He manages Siobhan's bookstore, and the grouchy bookworm clearly doesn't want Em around. Emily will have to decide if she's truly ready to turn a new page and figure out what lies in the next chapter." — From publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.
Take What You Need DB126162
Novey, Idra
5 hours, 51 minutes. Read by Christina Delaine; Idra Novey.
"In the Allegheny Mountains of Pennsylvania, stepmother and daughter, Jean and Leah, deal with estrangement and reconciliation. Leah always felt her path diverged from Jean's and left her hometown without looking back, making a life for herself in the city as a young mother and academic. Now that Jean's gone, Leah must return to sort through all Jean has left behind. What she wasn't expecting to find was Jean's studio filled with metal sculptures born from the scraps of Pennsylvania's industrial history—its beauty challenging all she had initially thought of her hometown, and her own skepticism for why Jean had held onto to it so dearly." — Provided by publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.
A Midnight Puzzle DB119883
Pandian, Gigi
10 hours, 41 minutes. Read by Soneela Nankani.
"Secret Staircase Construction is under attack, and Tempest Raj feels helpless. After former client Julian Rhodes tried to kill his wife, he blamed her 'accident' on the home renovation company's craftsmanship. Now the family business—known for bringing magic into homes through hidden doors, floating staircases, and architectural puzzle walls—is at a breaking point. No amount of Scottish and Indian meals from her grandfather can distract Tempest from the truth: they're being framed." — Provided by publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.
The Flanders Panel DB41515
Pérez-Reverte, Arturo
14 hours, 10 minutes. Read by Marcia Churchill.
Julia is an art restorer, and she has before her a fifteenth-century Flemish painting of two noblemen playing chess. X-rays of the painting reveal a curious inscription: "Who killed the knight?" Julia shares this secret with three of her close friends, and shortly thereafter one is dead. Julia then begins receiving notes about the murderer's next move with clues taken from the game depicted in the painting. Strong language, descriptions of sex and violence. 1990.
By Any Other Name: A Novel DB123719
Picoult, Jodi
18 hours, 30 minutes. Read by Simon Vance; Andrew Fallaize; Steve West; Nicholas Guy Smith; Joe Jameson; Billie Fulford-Brown; Laura Benanti; Jayne Entwistle; Jodi Picoult; John Lee.
"As an undergraduate, Melina Green had a rare opportunity to have one of her first plays judged by famous theater critic Jasper Tolle, only to be publicly humiliated by a harsh and biased critique. Ten years later, her confidence as a playwright has never recovered, although she has just completed a work that she thinks is her best yet. It is based on the life of her ancestor Emilia Bassano, the first published female poet in England—and rumored to be the 'Dark Lady' of Shakespeare's sonnets—but whom some scholars suspect may be the real author of a number of his plays. Told in dual intertwining timelines, this sweeping tale of ambition, courage, and desire centers two women who are determined to create something beautiful despite the prejudices they face. As Emilia alters the course of her life and therefore the course of the world, she blazes a trail. Centuries later, will Melina face the same terrible fate—to have her work celebrated, but only at the price of letting another take credit?" — Provided by publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.
Swift and Saddled DB120597
Sage, Lyla
7 hours, 24 minutes. Read by Teddy Hamilton; Vanessa Edwin.
"The last thing Ada Hart needs is a man to take care of her. Not anymore. After failing out of her interior design program and the disaster that was her short-lived marriage, Ada clawed her way up from her rock bottom. Now, the only person she trusts is herself, and that has gotten her further than ever before. She has her own business, and one of the largest ranches in Wyoming just hired her for the most important project of her career. When Ada arrives in Meadowlark, she finds herself in a dive bar where she can't seem to shake the eyes of a handsome cowboy. When she leads him to the back of the bar, he leaves her with a kiss that most people can only fantasize about. She almost regrets that she'll never see him again...except it turns out he's her new boss." — Provided by publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.
Metropolis: A Novel DBC11762
Shapiro, Barbara A.
11 hours, 59 minutes. Read by Will Collyer: A production of Perkins Library, Perkins School for the Blind.
Six people, six secrets, six different backgrounds. They would never have met if not for their connection to the Metropolis Storage Warehouse in Cambridge, Massachusetts. When someone falls down an elevator shaft at the facility, each becomes caught up in an intensifying chain of events. Commercial Audiobook. Unrated.
The Last Painting of Sara de Vos: A Novel DB84513
Smith, Dominic
9 hours, 59 minutes. Read by Edoardo Ballerini; Dominic Smith.
In the age of Rembrandt, artist Sara de Vos paints an image for the ages. In 1950s New York, a lawyer discovers that the painting he inherited has been replaced by a copy. Fifty years later, the lawyer, the forger, and the paintings are brought together. Strong language and descriptions of sex. Commercial audiobook. 2016.
Here in the Dark DB120669
Soloski, Alexis
10 hours, 11 minutes. Read by Alexis Soloski; Laura Benanti.
"Vivian Parry likes the dark. A former actress, she now works as the junior theater critic at a major Manhattan magazine. Her nights are spent beyond the lights, in a reserved seat, giving herself over to the shows she loves. By day, she savages them, with words sharper than a knife. Angling for a promotion, she reluctantly agrees to an interview, a conversation that reveals secrets she thought she had long since buried. Then her interviewer disappears and she learns—from his devastated fiancée—that she was the last person to have seen him alive. When the police refuse to investigate, Vivian does what she promised herself she would never do again: she plays a part." — Provided by publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.
The Goldfinch DB77453 (BR25398 in process)
Tartt, Donna
32 hours, 26 minutes. Read by David Pittu.
At the age of thirteen, Theo Decker survives an accident that kills his mother. Abandoned by his father, Theo is raised by wealthy family friends. His one connection to his mother—a painting—draws Theo into New York City's underground art world as he grows older. Pulitzer Prize winner. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2013.
The Last Days of the Midnight Ramblers DB126150
Tomlinson, Sara
9 hours, 21 minutes. Read by Helen Laser.
"Perfect for fans of Daisy Jones & The Six and Almost Famous, a gripping debut about the complicated legacy of a legendary rock band and the ghostwriter telling their story. Three Rock & Roll icons. Two explosive tell-all memoirs. One ghostwriter caught in the middle. Mari Hawthorn has just landed the biggest job of her ghostwriting career. Anke Berben, the legendary model and style icon, needs someone for her hotly anticipated memoir. In the 1960s, Anke reveled in headline-grabbing romances with three members of the hugely influential rock band The Midnight Ramblers. The band became as famous for their backstage drama as for their music. Outside of the bandmembers themselves, Anke is the only one who fully understands the tangled relationships, betrayals, and suspicions that has elevated the Ramblers to mythological status. That could not be clearer than in the enduring mystery around the death of Mal, the band's lead singer and Anke's husband, in 1969. In the decades that followed, rumors have swirled about Mal's demise, but Anke and the surviving members of the Ramblers have all kept silent. Until now. As her ghostwriter, Mari must ingratiate herself with Anke, coaxing out the stories she needs to write a memoir worthy of such an important band. Mari is deft at navigating the fatal charms of the rich and famous, having grown up with a narcissistic, alcoholic father. But she soon stumbles upon secrets more explosive than anyone could have imagined. It's now not just about celebrity tell-alls—this is about redemption." — Provided by publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.
Never Meant to Stay DB125554 in process
Das, Trisha
"A bighearted romantic comedy about family and finding the perfect match set against the exuberant backdrop of contemporary Delhi. Home has always been a temporary arrangement for Samara Mansingh, a wayfaring wedding photographer and the daughter of a diplomat. When her father is uprooted once again, Samara needs a place to stay in Delhi. Next stop: the Khanna family. Samara's memories of the Khannas are vague at best, but she doesn't remember their home feeling so much like a war zone. And the last thing their surly eldest son, Sharav, wants is a houseguest eavesdropping on the chaos. Sharav has a melodramatic sister pushing back on an arranged marriage, a withdrawn lead-singer brother who won't sing, and a widowed mother hiding her grief in the garden. Sweeping into the household like a tornado, irrepressible Samara is a practically perfect distraction. She has a mind to help a girl find true love, push a young man to find his voice, and bring a lonely and loving widow out of mourning. Maybe Samara can even get on Sharav's ruggedly handsome good side. The only sure thing is that the Khanna family will never be the same again. Neither will Samara, who may finally find what she's been missing her entire life: a home." — Provided by publisher. 2023.
Adult Fiction Books—Bilingual and Spanish
La joven de la perla DB60985
Chevalier, Tracy
7 hours, 36 minutes. Read by Maria Pino.
Novela que se basa en el famoso retrato del pintor Johannes Vermeer del siglo diecisiete que inmortaliza a una muchacha adornada con un pendiente de perla. A los dieciséis años, Griet, una joven protestante, viene a trabajar como doméstica para la familia católica de Vermeer. Con el tiempo, la oportunidad de trabajar en el estudio del artista contrapesa el penoso trabajo cotidiano. Algunas descripciones de índole sexual. (Translation of "Girl with a Pearl Earring," above. Some descriptions of sex.) 2002.
Caramelo, o, Puro cuento DB54962
Cisneros, Sandra
18 hours, 0 minutes. Read by Maria Pino.
Lala Reyes es descendiente de una familia de reboceros, y el rebozo de rayas color caramelo que ya pertenece a Laya es el más bello de todo. Desde niñez hasta edad adulta, Lala recuenta las historias contadas de su familia mexicano-americana que, igual al rebozo de rayas, le sirven para tejer una intricada vida bicultural de una familia que vive entre América y México. Lenguaje injurioso. (Translation of "Caramelo, o, Puro Cuento," above. Strong language.) 2002.
El tiempo entre costuras: una novela DB72987
Dueñas, María
23 hours, 17 minutes. Read by Maria Pino.
Marruecos, 1936. Sira Quiroga es una joven modista de Madrid que se va impetuosamente de casa con su amante y se encuentra abandonada en el norte de África. Ella crea un taller de costura y—cuando la segunda guerra mundial se extiende por toda Europa—es reclutada para trabajar en la causa británica en contra de Alemania. Algunas descripciones de violencia y de lenguaje injurioso. (Translation of "The Time in Between: A Novel," above. Some violence and some strong language. Bestseller.) 2011.
La cocinera de Frida DB119239
Etcheves, Florencia
18 hours, 8 minutes. Read by Aressi Suastegui.
"Nayeli, una joven tehuana que ha huido de su hogar, llega a la ciudad de México desamparada. Gracias a sus maravillosos dotes en la cocina encuentra un lugar en la Casa Azul, donde Frida Kahlo vive prácticamente aislada desde el fatal accidente que la dejó paralítica. Entre sabores, aromas y colores, la pintora y su nueva cocinera inician una amistad que marca profundamente el destino de ambas." — Proporcionada por la editorial. Sin calificación. Audiolibro comercial. ("Nayeli, a young Tehuana girl who has run away from home, arrives in Mexico City without any support. Thanks to her marvelous cooking skills, she finds a place in the Casa Azul, where Frida Kahlo has lived practically isolated since the near-fatal accident that left her paralyzed. Between flavors, aromas and colors, the painter and her new cook begin a friendship that profoundly marks the destiny of both." — Translation provided by NLS. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.)
La Tabla de Flandes DB82970
Pérez-Reverte, Arturo
16 hours, 22 minutes. Read by Martin Untrojb.
Madrid. Una joven restauradora de arte, un anticuario, y un maestro de ajedrez se encuentran en el centro de un misterio que involucra una pintura flamenca del siglo decimoquinto, con una inscripción extraña. La tercera novela de Pérez-Reverte. Violencia. (Translation of "The Flanders Panel," above. Violence. Spanish language.) 1990.
La última pintura de Sara de Vos DB125563
Smith, Dominic; Ferrer, Isabel; Milla, Carlos.
12 hours, 32 minutes. Read by Yopa Ponce.
"En 1631, Sara de Vos fue admitida como maestra pintora en el Gremio de San Lucas de Holanda, la primera mujer en recibir este reconocimiento. Trescientos años después, solo se conserva una obra atribuida a de Vos: una evocadora escena invernal, Al borde de un bosque, que cuelga sobre la cama de un adinerado descendiente del propietario original. Una estudiante de posgrado australiana, Ellie Shipley, que lucha por mantenerse a flote en Nueva York, acepta pintar una falsificación del paisaje, una decisión que la atormentará. Porque ahora, medio siglo después, está comisariando una exposición de pintoras holandesas, y ambas versiones amenazan con llegar. Al entrecruzarse los tres hilos, La última pintura de Sara de Vos cautiva mientras lidia con las exigencias de la vida artística, mostrando cómo los engaños del pasado pueden forjar el presente.'' — Proporcionada por la editorial. ("In 1631, Sara de Vos is admitted as a master painter to the Guild of St. Luke's in Holland, the first woman to be so recognized. Three hundred years later, only one work attributed to de Vos is known to remain—a haunting winter scene, At the Edge of a Wood, which hangs over the bed of a wealthy descendant of the original owner. An Australian grad student, Ellie Shipley, struggling to stay afloat in New York, agrees to paint a forgery of the landscape, a decision that will haunt her. Because now, half a century later, she's curating an exhibit of female Dutch painters, and both versions threaten to arrive. As the three threads intersect, The Last Painting of Sara de Vos mesmerizes while it grapples with the demands of the artistic life, showing how the deceits of the past can forge the present." — Provided by publisher.) 2017.
Huaco retrato DB109473
Wiener, Gabriela
3 hours, 37 minutes. Read by the author.
"Un huaco retrato es una pieza de cerámica prehispánica que buscaba representar los rostros indígenas con la mayor precisión posible. Se dice que capturaba el alma de las personas, un registro que ha sobrevivido oculto en el espejo roto de los siglos. Estamos en 1878, y el explorador judío-austriaco Charles Wiener se prepara para ser reconocido por la comunidad académica en la Exposición Universal de París, una gran feria de #progresos tecnológicos# que cuenta entre sus atracciones con un zoo humano, culmen del racismo científico y del proyecto imperialista europeo. Wiener ha estado cerca de descubrir Machu Picchu, ha escrito un libro sobre el Perú, se ha llevado cerca de cuatro mil huacos y también un niño. Ciento cincuenta años después, la protagonista de esta historia recorre el museo que acoge la colección Wiener para reconocerse en los rostros de los huacos que su tatarabuelo expolió." — Goodreads. Sin calificación. Audiolibro comercial. ("A huaco portrait is a piece of pre-Hispanic pottery that sought to represent indigenous faces as accurately as possible. It is said to capture the soul of the people, a record that has survived hidden in the broken mirror of the centuries. It is 1878, and the Jewish-Austrian explorer Charles Wiener is preparing to be recognized by the academic community at the Universal Exposition in Paris, a great fair of technological progress that counts among its attractions a human zoo, the culmination of scientific racism and the European imperialist project. Wiener has been close to discovering Machu Picchu, has written a book about Peru, has taken about four thousand huacos and also a child. One hundred and fifty years later, the protagonist of this story walks through the museum that houses the Wiener collection to recognize herself in the faces of the huacos that her great-great-grandfather plundered." — Translation provided by NLS. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.)
Adult Nonfiction Books
The Bathroom Thinker: 5,000 Facts from the Smartest Brand in the World DB125600
Brach, Kyle
19 hours, 49 minutes. Read by Bill Wallace.
"American Mensa presents: The Brilliant Bathroom Reader--The ultimate book of 5,000 facts curated by the world's smartest brand. Perfect to expand any curious mind! Whether gearing up for a big trivia night or simply wanting to give your brain something interesting to think about, this big book of 5,000 facts from the smartest brand in the world fits the bill. These facts will make you think. They'll make you wonder. You may even want to research more about some of these topics. Most of all, you'll have a ton of fun learning about everything from Thomas Edison's attempts at mind reading to Dr. Lucy King's beehive fences that scare elephants from destroying farms. Topics include: Flora, Fauna, and Funga, Science and Technology, World Culture History, US Presidents, National Parks Art, Fashion, Literature, and more.” — Provided by publisher.
Comedy Book: How Comedy Conquered Culture—And the Magic That Makes It Work DB120712
Fox, Jesse David
9 hours, 26 minutes. Read by the author.
"Comedy is king. From multimillion dollar TV specials to sold-out stand-up shows and TikTok stardom, comedy has never been more popular, democratized, or influential. Unravels the genre's political legacy through an ode to Jon Stewart, interrogates the divide between highbrow and lowbrow via Adam Sandler, and unpacks how marginalized comics create spaces for their communities. Along the way, Fox covers everything from comedy in the age of political correctness and Will Smith's slap to the right wing's relationship with comedy and, for Fox, comedy's ability to heal personal tragedy. With memorable cameos from Jerry Seinfeld, Dave Chappelle, John Mulaney, Ali Wong, Kate Berlant, and countless others, Comedy Book is an eye-opening education in how to engage with our most omnipresent art form, a riotous history of American pop culture, and a love letter to laughter." — Provided by publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.
The Story of Art Without Men DB116729
Hessel, Katy
10 hours, 47 minutes. Read Katy Hessel.
"Art historian explores the glittering paintings by Sofonisba Anguissola of the Renaissance, the radical work of Harriet Powers in the nineteenth-century United States and the artist who really invented the 'readymade.' Explore the Dutch Golden Age, the astonishing work of postwar artists in Latin America, and the women defining art in the 2020s. Have your sense of art history overturned and your eyes opened to many artforms often ignored or dismissed." — Provided by publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.
Mother, Nature: A 5,000-mile Journey to Discover If a Mother and Son Can Survive Their Differences DB117687
Jenkins, Jedidiah
6 hours, 58 minutes. Read by the author.
"When his mother, Barbara, turns seventy, Jedidiah Jenkins is reminded of a sobering truth: Our parents won’t live forever. For years, he and Barbara have talked about taking a trip together, just the two of them. They land on an idea: to retrace the thousands of miles Barbara trekked with Jedidiah’s father, travel writer Peter Jenkins, as part of the Walk Across America book trilogy that became a sensation in the 1970s. Beginning in New Orleans, they set off for the Oregon coast, listening to podcasts about outlaws and cult leaders—the only media they can agree on—while reliving the journey that changed Barbara’s life." — Provided by publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.
The History of Sketch Comedy: A Journey Through the Art and Craft of Humor DB120370
Key, Keegan-Michael
8 hours, 27 minutes. Read by Joy Jones.
"A look at all facets of comedy from the stock characters of commedia del arte in the 16th century, to the rise of vaudeville and burlesque, the golden age of television comedy, the influence of the most well-known comedy schools, and ascension of comedy films and TV specials—all the way through to a look at the future of sketch on social media platforms. Includes exclusive essays compiled from conversations with some of their famous comedy friends and performers who have influenced the development of comedy, such as Jordan Peele, Mel Brooks, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Mike Myers, Chris Rock, John Oliver, Tracy Morgan, Carol Burnett, Jim Carrey, and more." — Provided by publisher. Strong language.
Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us DB125415
Magsamen, Susan; Ross, Ivy
9 hours, 14 minutes. Read by Ellyn Jameson.
"Founder of the International Arts + Mind Lab at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Susan Magsamen and Google designer Ivy Ross explain how, by understanding how we biologically react to aesthetic experiences, we can not only heal as individuals but thrive as communities. Using the new science of neuroaesthetics, which explores our physiological reactions to art, Magsamen and Ross show us how, for instance, gardening can help a person heal from trauma or listening to a major fifth interval can snap the body out of a fight-or-flight response. Neuroaesthetics, the authors posit, can effect major change in society writ large, whether through public art murals in high-crime areas or music and dance therapy for patients experiencing neurodegenerative disorders." — Provided by publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.
Mending Life: A Handbook for Repairing Clothes and Hearts DB113749
Montenegro, Nina
3 hours, 58 minutes. Read by Cody Navarro.
"Learn the art of visible mending—a joyful, meditative, and restorative practice—to repair the clothes and belongings you love! Encourages readers to break free from the fast fashion industry by repairing our clothes rather than discarding them. Along with DIY and tutorials, you'll find heartfelt stories by the authors that encourage readers to change consumption habits, celebrate a sustainable, intentional lifestyle, demonstrate mending as a powerful act that not only strengthens the object we are repairing, but ourselves as well." — Provided by publisher.
Sonic Life: A Memoir DB125419
Moore, Thurston
19 hours, 9 minutes. Read by the author.
"Memoir tracing the author's life and art—from his teen years as a music obsessive in small-town Connecticut, to the formation of his legendary rock group, to thirty years of creation, experimentation, and wonder." — Provided by publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.
A Taste of the World: Celebrating Global Flavors DB125570
Scherer, Rowena
7 hours, 39 minutes. Read by Halley Kim.
"A Taste of the World is a carefully curated collection of recipes celebrating global cuisine and designed to be made by families with kids of all ages. Each recipe is a full meal and includes step-by-step instructions so parents can safely have their kids join in the fun while learning about other cultures through their traditional foods. From Pork Katsu from Japan and Vegetable Korma from India to Lamb Kebabs from Morocco and Black Bean Enchiladas from Mexico, the book represents the delicious traditional foods from twenty different countries. A short selection of facts about each country starts each chapter." — Provided by publisher.
The Dress Diary: Secrets From a Victorian Woman's Wardrobe DB126146
Strasdin, Kate
9 hours, 6 minutes. Read by Karen Cass.
"Through the discovery of one Victorian woman's textile scrapbook, a fashion historian and museum curator unravels the secrets within its pages and the lives of the people within, charting, piece by piece, the whole of human experience in the most intimate of mediums: the clothes people wear." — From publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.
The Food Adventurers: How Around-the-World Travel Changed the Way We Eat DB125568 in process
Bender, Daniel E.
"A delectable gastronomic expedition into the linked histories of global travel and global cuisine. From mangosteen fruit discovered in a colonial Indonesian marketplace to caviar served on the high seas in a cruise liner's luxurious dining saloon, The Food Adventurers narrates the history of eating on the most coveted of tourist journeys: the around-the-world adventure. The book looks at what tourists ate on these adventures, as well as what they avoided, and what kinds of meals they described in diaries, photographs, and postcards." — Provided by publisher. 2023
The World According to Color: A Cultural History DB125586 in process
Fox, James
"The author takes seven main colors—black, red, yellow, blue, white, purple, and green—and uncovers behind each a root idea, based on visual resemblances and common symbolism throughout history. Through a series of stories and vignettes, the book then traces these meanings to show how they morphed and multiplied and, ultimately, how they reveal a great deal about the societies that produced them: reflecting and shaping their hopes, fears, prejudices, and preoccupations. Fox also examines the science of how our eyes and brains interpret light and color, and shows how this is inherently linked with the meanings we give to hue. And using his background as an art historian, he explores many of the milestones in the history of art." — Provided by publisher. 2022.
Campfire Stories Volume II: Tales from America’s National Parks and Trails DB125617 in process
Kyu, Dave; Kyu, Ilyssa (eds.)
"Features stories from Grand Canyon, Everglades, Olympic, Glacier, and Joshua Tree National Parks and the Appalachian and Pacific Crest National Scenic Trails Includes a diverse range of writers Inspired by America's beloved national parks, Campfire Stories Volume II is a collection of modern prose, poetry, folklore, and more, featuring commissioned, new, and existing works from a diverse group of writers who share a deep appreciation of the natural world. While the original Campfire Stories captured many historic tales reflecting the first 100 years of the National Park Service, this completely new collection, focused on five different parks (plus two long-distance trails), depicts the parks as we know and experience them today. Contributors represent a range of rich and diverse voices, including from the BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities. Award winners such as Lauret Savoy, Rae DelBianco, and Terry Tempest Williams; newer voices including Derick Lugo, Rosette Royale, and Ed Bok Lee; and even a poet laureate, Rena Priest—all share their unique perspectives on our national parks and trails. These new campfire stories revel in each park's distinct landscape and imaginatively transport the reader to the warm edge of a campfire ring." — Amazon.com. Some violence and some strong language. 2023.
Adult Nonfiction Books—Bilingual and Spanish
Viajar cambiará tu vida: 10 lecciones que aprendí al recorrer el mundo DB120182
Estrada, Alan
7 hours, 18 minutes. Read by the author.
"El autor relata lo que ha aprendido en lugares asombrosos y aterradores por igual: desde la primera vez que viajó de mochilero a Cuba y la odisea de sobrevivir a la India hasta la sensación de sumergirse a 3,800 m para encontrarse con los restos del Titanic. El autor explica cómo mantener viva la chispa del asombro en cada viaje, la importancia de admitir que no lo sabes todo, y que viajar es peligrosísimo … porque puede cambiarte la vida." — Proporcionada por la editorial. Sin calificación. Audiolibro comercial. ("The author recounts what he has learned in amazing and terrifying places alike: from the first time he backpacked in Cuba and the odyssey of surviving India to the sensation of diving 3,800 meters to find the wreckage of the Titanic. Explains how to keep the spark of wonder alive on every trip, the importance of admitting that you don't know everything, and that travel is dangerous ... because it can change your life." — Translation provided by NLS. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.) 2023.
Mi nombre es nosotros: poemas DB112496
Gorman, Amanda
3 hours, 55 minutes. Read by Amanda Alcántara:
“Una colección de más de setenta poemas escritos por Amanda Gorman,
Poeta Nacional Juvenil Laureada de los Estados Unidos, y autora superventas del New York Times. Reflexiona sobre el pasado, el presente y el futuro, explorando la historia, el idioma, la identidad, el duelo y la esperanza.” ." -- Proporcionada por la editorial. Traducido de la edición en inglés de 2021. Sin calificación. Audiolibro comercial. ("A collection of more than seventy poems written by National Youth Poet Laureate and New York Times bestselling author Amanda Gorman. Reflects on the past, present, and future, exploring history, language, identity, grief, and hope."-- Provided by NLS. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. Spanish language.
Summer Picks from The Library of Congress’ National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature (return to top)
In the exclusive interview mentioned at the outset of this issue, Mac Barnett, the 2025–2026 National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, highlighted some of his own personal summer picks. Here they are, available for direct download from BARD for NLS patrons:
The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales DB38039
Scieszka, Jon
27 minutes. Read by Gary Telles.
The author calls these tales "not quite" fairy tales, or, fairly stupid tales. Included are "The Princess and the Bowling Ball," "The Other Frog Prince," "Cinderumpelstiltskin," and "The Stinky Cheese Man." For grades K-3 and older readers.
The Castle DB25867
Kafka, Franz
13 hours, 17 minutes. Read by Grover Gardner.
An allegory of man's struggle against the forces of unreason. A land surveyor, known only as K, is constantly frustrated in his attempts to gain entrance into a mysterious castle, which is administered by an extraordinarily complicated and inaccessible bureaucratic hierarchy.
Three Billy Goats Gruff DB115895
Barnett, Mac
23 minutes. Read by the author.
"Once there was a bridge and a terrible and VERY hungry troll lived underneath it. When the three Billy Goats Gruff decide to clip-clop across the bridge to get to the grassy ridge, the troll is already imagining all the ways to prepare a delicious goat dinner. But the troll underestimates those seemingly sweet but oh-so-savvy goats!" — Provided by publisher. Commercial audiobook. For preschool-grade 2.
Leo: A Ghost Story DBC03976
Barnett, Mac
7 minutes. Read by Marilyn Rae Beyer.
A production of Perkins Library, Perkins School for the Blind.
A friendly spirit departs his country home and comes to the city, where he meets a little girl who thinks he's imaginary—until a ghost-fearing robber breaks into her house. For grades K-3.
You can read more about the role of the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature here: www.loc.gov/programs/poetry-and-literature/national-ambassador-for-young-peoples-literature.
Quick Picks from NLS Librarians, Newly Available on BARD (return to top)
Cozy Corporate Golf Teacher Mystery:
Nasty Breaks DB128113
Elkins, Charlotte; Elkins, Aaron
6 hours, 49 minutes. Read by Suzanne O'Malley.
Cozy Vermont Sandwich Shop Mystery:
Up To No Gouda: A Grilled Cheese Mystery DB128277
Reilly, Linda S.
8 hours, 32 minutes. Read by Mia Gaskin.
Fictional Eighties Band Suspense Fiction:
I Would Die For You: A Novel DB128031
Jones, Sandie
9 hours, 3 minutes. Read by Imogen Wilde.
Wine True Crime:
The Billionaire's Vinegar: The Mystery of the World's Most Expensive Bottle of Wine DB128271
Wallace, Benjamin
11 hours, 18 minutes. Read by Graham Halstead.
Wherever You Go, There You Went:
Coming to our Senses: Healing Ourselves and the World Through Mindfulness DBC32163
Kabat-Zinn, Jon
19 hours, 40 minutes. Read by Poullada, Leila. A production of Minnesota Braille and Talking Book Library.
Be Happy in Your Work:
Job Therapy: Finding Work That Works for You DB122805
West, Tessa V.
7 hours, 5 minutes. Read by Kirsten Potter; Ryan Dalusung.
The Truth About Neanderthals:
Neanderthals Rediscovered: How Modern Science Is Rewriting Their Story DB128028
Papagianni, Dimitra; Morse, Michael A.
5 hours, 47 minutes. Read by Nigel Patterson.
The Brains of Bird Ball in Charm City:
The Last Manager: How Earl Weaver Tricked, Tormented, and Reinvented Baseball DB128543
Miller, John W.
8 hours, 50 minutes. Read by Johnny Heller.
Collections Connections is an e-newsletter that highlights works that are available for immediate download from BARD (http://nlsbard.loc.gov)—the Braille Audio and Reading Download website of the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled in the Library of Congress.
To sign up, please visit www.loc.gov/nls/new-materials/collections-connections or send an email to connections@loc.gov.
For more information about becoming an NLS patron, please visit www.loc.gov/nls/how-to-enroll/apply-for-nls-services/#eligibility-guidelines.
