Lots of people shy away from nonfiction, thinking that it’s going to be dense, dry and dreary. But well-written nonfiction, especially narrative nonfiction, can be as exciting as the latest best-selling mystery or romance. Biography easily lends itself to good narration since it’s the story of people’s lives, while history is a close second when it tells the story of true events.
As with previously recommended books, these are available in both the BCCLS system and in our library. (more…)
Whether you’re lazing by the pool, relaxing on the beach, or just staycationing, summer’s the time to catch up on reading.
Here are some suggestions for great Jewish-themed books. Because of budget constraints, our library does not have all the books mentioned here. But your local public library consortium should. (more…)
June is Pride Month. Jews have been at the forefront of human rights. So it’s no surprise that Jews were also very much involved in rights for LGBTQ+ people.
To mark this month, I’ve chosen four books that either discuss LGBTQ issues from a Jewish point of view or center on Jewish characters. In our library there are many other books related to LGBTQ+ issues. (more…)
June 14 is Flag Day commemorating the adoption of the American flag on June 14, 1777. However, despite attempts to make the day an official holiday (Lincoln, Wilson, and others) it was not officially set until 1949 under President Harry S. Truman. The day was established simply to honor and recognize the flag.
To mark this year’s celebration, the Lampert Library is highlighting the following book:
Rubin, Susan Goldman. The Flag with fifty-six stars: a gift from the survivors of Mauthausen who were liberated by U.S. soldiers in the spring of 1945. In gratitude the survivors fashioned a flag out of scraps of fabric but overestimated the number of stars. A heart-warming thoughtful appreciation of our nation’s flag and the impact it had 80 years ago. This is a picture book but is of interest to all ages including adults.
How enriching to live by two calendars! However, it’s also confusing: try to explain the Jewish calendar and the secular calendar and their relationship to the moon and the sun.
Just as our two calendars are entwined, the stories of the U.S. and Israel share common points of contact. (more…)
