Staff Reviews: Books, Films, Music, and More

How Fabric Changed History by Kassia St. Clair Review by Olivia Terry, Regional History Librarian Upholding to my love of fashion and dress history, I selected The Golden Thread by Kassia St. Clair for my book review. I grew up loving clothing, and even more, the history stitched into its seams. This book examines the textiles that have made up centuries of clothing, starting with a couple of linen fibers discovered in a cave in the Republic of Georgia, dating back to 34,000 years … [Read more...] about Book Review: The Golden Thread

By Nicole Lichtenberg, Director of Operations May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, which is a celebration of the AAPI community. I couldn’t choose just one book, so I covered four.   Everyone can benefit from being exposed to experiences and perspectives different from their own. Reading books written by and featuring people from a variety of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives is a great way to build empathy. You don’t need to wait for Asian … [Read more...] about Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Diana Pringle, Retail Associate at the Gold Mine, recommends The Breakdown by B.A. Paris. The Breakdown follows Cass, who decides to go against the wishes of her husband on a rainy night and take the dangerous shortcut home. She notices a car pulled over with a woman inside, just staring blankly out the window, why wasn't she waving for help? Feeling spooked, Cass decides to drive off. Days later she finds out the woman was brutally murdered, a woman she had newly … [Read more...] about Book Review: The Breakdown

Regional History Librarian, Kelley Moulton, recommends Coming Home to Nez Perce Country: The Niimíipuu Campaign to Repatriate their Exploited Heritage by Trevor James Bond. Growing up in Lewiston, Idaho (which is in North Central Idaho and is about a 6-hour drive from Ketchum depending on the weather and the route chosen), I remember the Nez Perce National Historical Park located just outside of Lewiston, home to items that represented the Nez Perce people and their heritage. These … [Read more...] about Book Review: Coming Home to Nez Perce Country

Librarian Laurie Loudenslager recommends Little Bear written by Else Holmelund Minarik and illustrated by Maurice Sendak. I first read this book as a little girl and now my daughter has a copy. There are four short stories about Little Bear's adventures, from playing in the snow to his birthday party with friends: Hen, Duck, and Cat. In the former, the friends all make birthday soup together. In the subsequent story they go to the moon. The last story in the series about about … [Read more...] about Book Review: Little Bear

By Helen Morgus, Children’s Librarian II In the Children's Library, before the pandemic, we invited groups of fourth graders to visit for poetry programs every April.   One year, we had them read aloud. We handed out poems. They chose partners and worked on who would say which parts. They practiced. Then they bravely stood before their class, and performed. Poems in hand, they giggled, stumbled, and blushed. But they read. And we saw the lights go on in their … [Read more...] about Kids Meet Poetry