Staff Reviews: Books, Films, Music, and More

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

...and So You Want to Talk About Race Children's Librarian Lee Dabney recommends The Big Umbrella and So You Want to Talk About Race. For those of you who don’t know me, I am the story-time lady. Every Monday at 10:30 a.m. a group of tiny people and their caregivers join me for stories and an activity.  The past few months, I have been going through the alphabet letter-by-letter as inspiration for our weekly themes. On February 14, the letters were U and V. … [Read more...] about Book Review: The Big Umbrella…

Library Assistant Andrea Nelson recommends The Paris Library: A Novel by Janet Skeslien Charles. It was Miss Reeder who said about books that 'no other thing possesses that mystical faculty to make people see with other people's eyes. The Library is a bridge between cultures.'The Paris Library As Hitler's troops advance across Europe, Odile Souchet avoids old men and their constant talk of war. Germany stands no chance against France's superior army and its Maginot Line, bien sûr! Like … [Read more...] about Book Review: The Paris Library

Gold Mine Managing Director, Craig Barry, recommends Tripping to Dickeyland by Michael Hanson. Tripping to Dickeyland is a wonderful mixture of a writer’s friendships, aspirations, admirations, and fears—the stuff that fuels much of our lives, and the brushes with which all artists use to leave their marks. Hanson's memoir explores the major influences in his life — such as James Dickey, his work and character; his deep friendship with his childhood friend, Chris Fuhrman, who would … [Read more...] about Book Review: Tripping to Dickeyland