Books We Loved in 2020

A lot of us had lofty reading goals when 2020 began, but the truth is that sometimes we didn't feel much like reading. (And that's okay!) Binge-watching mindless television or baking away our troubles took precedence at times. Eventually though, we found our way back to the balm of books: books to take our minds off things, books to soothe the soul, books that showed us worlds 10,000 times better (or worse!) that our current situation. We offer the following selection of MLC staff's favorite books read in the last year. Many were published in 2020, but you'll find classics here as well. Scroll through to find well-loved books in a variety of genres for all ages. Once you're done, let us know what you loved reading in 2020 in the comments.

Comics/Graphic Novels

• The Daughters of Ys
  M.T. Anderson and Jo Rioux (2020)
  

• When Stars Are Scattered
  Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed (2020)
  "Even though this graphic novel memoir is aimed at middle grade readers, people of all ages will be drawn to its themes of hope, resilience, and familial love."
   
• Harleen
  Stjepan Šejić (2020)
  
  
• They Called Us Enemy
  George Takei, Justin Eisinger, Steven Scott, and Harmony Becker (2019)
   
• Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me
  Rosemary Valero-O'Connell and Mariko Tamaki (2019)
  "Learning how to respect yourself and not lose yourself when you're in a romantic relationship with someone else--this book nails it."
   
• Are You Listening?
  Tillie Walden (2019)
  "Genuine human connections and a mysterious cat. I was completely entranced."
   
• The Prince and the Dressmaker
  Jen Wang (2018)
  

Adult Fiction

• Anxious People
  Fredrik Backman (2020)
  "It’s the world’s worst hostage situation with the world’s most neurotic hostages. Backman does a wonderful job exploring what make people PEOPLE. The book clips along at a wonderful pace and just about every other chapter has a reveal that makes you re-evaluate everything you’ve read so far."
   
• Wish You Well
  David Baldacci (2000)
  "I read a lot of David Baldacci this year, but this one had a particular message for me."
   
• Battleground 
• Peace Talks
  Jim Butcher (2020)
  "I have been reading a lot of escapism--no-thought, sci-fi pulp--but the back to back release of the two Dresden File books was high on my list of best moments."
  "I have been reading this series since the early 2000s and Jim Butcher is one of my favorite authors."
  

• The Girl in the Mirror
  Rose Carlyle (2020)
  "One of the best twisty mystery/thriller novels I read this year."
   
• And Then There Were None
  Agatha Christie (1939)
   
• Ring Shout
  P. Djèlí Clark
  "Alternate history considering the idea that hate turns people into actual monsters that are only perceptible to the few who fight them. Unsettling."
   
• Piranesi
  Susanna Clarke (2020)
  "Piranesi’s always lived in the House…until one day, somebody else shows up. This is a weird little atmospheric fantasy book about being alone but not being alone, being trapped but not being trapped, and making the most of your surroundings. So you know, the perfect 2020 quarantine read."
   
• The Chimes: A Goblin Story of Some Bells that Rang an Old Year Out and a New Year In
  Charles Dickens (1844)
  "My husband and I started 2020 by reading this as an audiobook while sitting in front of our fire pit on New Year's Eve. I count it, because we didn't finish until around 1:30 AM. I had always meant to read it and that just seemed like the perfect time."
  
  
• Leopard's Wrath
  Christine Feehan (2019)
   
• The Guest List
  Lisa Foley (2020)
  "A modern-day take on Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None set on an Irish island. I binge-read this."
   
• Into the Drowning Deep
  Mira Grant (2017) 
   
• Snow Falling on Cedars
  David Guterson (1994)
   
• An Anonymous Girl
  Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen (2019)
   
• Beach Read
  Emily Henry (2020)
  "When I was stuck in a reading slump, this book pulled me back out by the hair. Its story, at times heartbreakingly sweet and poignant, led me from cover to cover until I was at the end and wishing it would never be over."

• The Bone Tree
• Mississippi Blood
• Natchez Burning
  Greg Iles (2015, 2017, 2014)
  "In my ongoing effort to read and become familiar with the works of Mississippi authors, I enjoyed several books in the Penn Cage series by Greg Iles set in the Natchez area (Port Gibson to the southwest corner of Wilkinson County). Iles's characters in these books are both intricate and audacious, spanning the concepts of both good and evil. These larger than life stories are surely "must reads" for anyone who wants to be familiar with one of the state's "to be treasured" authors. Who would think that an attempt to do the right thing would foster so very many evil actions by demoniac individuals acting singularly and in groups? During this time of isolation due to the pandemic, these three titles helped this reader to temporarily forget the stress of the virus."
  
  
• The City We Became
  N.K. Jemisin (2020)
  "Jemisin really showed in this book that she can not only do high fantasy but is also adept at contemporary fantasy. The modern characters and setting crackle with life and wit, and the story itself pulled me taut with excitement and anticipation the entire time I was reading."
  
  
• The Only Good Indians
  Stephen Graham Jones (2020)
  "This was a good year for horror, exemplified by none other than this book, which expertly tackles both the genre and the societal issues surrounding Native American culture. This tale is gripping, terrifying, and one I wish I could erase from my brain so I could have the pleasure of reading it for the first time again."
  "Great exploration on how our past haunts us."
  
  
• Chasing Cassandra
• It Happened One Autumn
  Lisa Kleypas (2020, 2005)
  
  
• The Historian
  Elizabeth Kostova (2005)
  "I go back and listen to this audiobook every couple of years. It is such a good story and well put together."
  
  
• Thalmaturge
  Terry Mancour (2019)
   
• Pale Fire
  Vladimir Nabokov (1962)
  "Worth the hype."
  
  
• Witch World
• Web of the Witch World
• Three Against the Witch World
  Andre Norton (1963, 1964, 1965)
  "I read a lot of new biographies and memoirs this year, but I got the most enjoyment from rereading an old series of books that I read as a child. Andre Norton's Witch World series first caught my attention when I was in the fifth grade, and I rejoiced every time I found a new book in it."
  
  
• What Are You Going Through
  Sigrid Nunez (2020)
  "The Friend was better, but this was also good."
  
  
• Moon of the Crusted Snow
  Waubgeshig Rice (2018)
  "A small town/tribal community is cut off from society for an unknown reason and must rely on their ancestors' knowledge to survive. Timely."
  
  
• The Black Swan of Paris
  Karen Robards (2020)
  "A historical fiction WWII spy novel that delivered and made me sad when it was over."
  
  
• Normal People
  Sally Rooney (2018)
  
  
• The Wise Man's Fear
  Patrick Rothfuss (2011)
  
  
• The Perfect Guests
  Emma Rous (2021)
  "I loved the flashing back and forth between the present and the past while the book got closer and closer to revealing the truth about a wealthy family."
  
  
• Home Before Dark
  Riley Sager (2020)
  
  
• Elephant Man
  Christine Sparks (1980)
  
  
• The Sun Down Motel
  Simone St. James (2020)
  "A ghost story in an old and creepy roadside motel. Yes, please."
  
  
• No Rest for the Restless
  R.W. Stone (2020)
  "First western I've read. Really enjoyed it and will read more."
  
  
• The Past is Never
  Tiffany Quay Tyson (2018)
  
  
• The Bourbon Kings 
• Consumed
  J.R. Ward (2015, 2018)
  
  
• Mobius
  Garon Whited (2019)
  

Adult Nonfiction

• The Worst Journey in the World
  Apsley Cherry-Garrard (1922)
  "Being in the Antarctic SUCKS and Cherry-Garrard does a wonderful job explaining how. This wonderful exploration of Robert Scott’s ill-fated polar expedition is a combination of the author’s memories and diary entries from other members of the expedition. It’s a little heavy at times, but so worth it."

• Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, Her Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed
  Lori Gottlieb (2019)
   
• As the Last Lead Falls: A Pagan's Perspective on Death, Dying, and Bereavement
  Kristoffer Hughes (published as The Journey into Spirit in 2014)
  "I listened to a presentation the author did about his work in May and I immediately ordered his book. It was really one of the most beautiful views of death and his pagan rituals surrounding it."
   
• My Trip Down the Pink Carpet
  Leslie Jordan (2008)
   
• Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family
  Robert Kolker (2020)
  "After listening to a podcast by Shellie and Tracy, I read Tracy's recommendation of Hidden Valley Road. I enjoy nonfiction, and I have to agree with Tracy that it was one of my favorite books for the year."
   
• Greenlights
  Matthew McConaughey (2020)
  "The audiobook is amazing since Matthew is doing his own reading for you. You can hear him smile as he reads his life stories out loud. It's simply an awesome memoir with a positive way to look at life and how best to catch those "greenlights in life" and not let the yellow and red lights slow you down. I rate it five "warm and fuzzy" stars."
   
• I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer
  Michelle McNamara (2018)
  "When I heard that HBO was making a six-part documentary series based on the book of the same name, I decided to read the book. Knowing that the author died before finishing the book gives the reader an added layer of context. You feel the desperation of the author to come so close to discovering the killer only to have passed away before knowing her work would result in the capture of a decades long predator. Maybe not the best for reading before bed, but a strong read for those that like true crime."
   
• Race Against Time: A Reporter Reopens the Unsolved Murder Cases of the Civil Rights Era
  Jerry Mitchell (2020)
   
• Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood
  Trevor Noah (2016)
   
• Erebus: The Story of a Ship
  Michael Palin (2018)
  "This is a fun, easy-to-read history book about HMS Erebus, the British naval vessel who had a tour of the Antarctic and later mysteriously vanished in the Arctic! Palin’s narrative voice is super fun and you get such a wonderful view of this ship’s history and all the places she went."
   
• The Order of Time
  Carlo Rovelli (2017)
   
• Open Book
  Jessica Simpson (2020)
   
• Arcadia
  Tom Stoppard (1993)
   
• The Body Is Not an Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love
  Sonya Renee Taylor (2018)
   
• Memorial Drive
  Natasha Trethewey (2020)
  "Devastatingly gorgeous, this just made me want to hug my momma close." 
  

Picture Books

• Stick and Stone
  Beth Ferry and Tom Lictenheld (2015)
  "Simple, yet detailed artwork tells a story of friendship."
   
• Looking Out for Sarah
  Glenna Lang (2001)
  "Beautifully illustrated story about a seeing-guide dog and his day-to-day tasks. Based on a real pup and person. Plus there is a dog. :)"
   
• We Are Water Protectors
  Carole Lindstrom and Michaela Goada (2020)
  "The art is stunning . The story is equally good and pairs well with the illustrations."
   
• Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story
  Juana Martinez-Neal and Kevin Noble Maillard (2019)
  "I love fry bread. This book is a celebration of that delectable treat and of the indigenous people across North America who make it."
   
• Unicorn Day
  Diana Murray and Luke Flowers (2019)
  "Chaotic artwork, but in a good way. A delightful tale of acceptance."
   
• In Our Mothers' House
  Patricia Polacco (2009)
  "I love Patricia Polacco and this book, showcasing a lesbian couple and their adopted children, gave me all the warm and fuzzy feels."
   
• My Papi Has a Motorcycle
  Isabel Quintero and Zeke Peña (2019)
  "A celebration of father-daughter love and of the importance of community."
   
• The Most Magnificent Thing
  Ashley Spires (2014)
  "A great picture book about emotions and creating things. Plus, there is a dog. :)"
   
• Coming on Home Soon
  Jacqueline Woodson and James E. Ransome (2001) 
• Visiting Day
  Jacqueline Woodson and E.B. Lewis (2004)
  "Both of these super sweet books focus on children who live with their grandmothers while their parent is away. I ached for them when they missed their parent--one in prison, the other far away working--but I basked in the glow of that grandmotherly love."
   
• William's Doll
  Charlotte Zolotow and William Pène du Bois (1972)
  "William knows what he wants and what he wants is a doll. Smashing gender stereotypes back in the 70s!"
  

Middle Grade

 

• The Girl and the Ghost
  Hanna Alkaf (2020)
  "I adored this Malaysian ghost tale: a girl inherits a ghost from her grandmother, setting her off on a fascinating quest."
   
• Smack Dab in the Middle of Maybe
  Jo Watson Hackl (2018)
  "A girl in a Mississippi ghost town named Cricket searches for a secret room her mother told her about. Well-researched."
   
• Indian No More
  Charlene Willing McManis and Traci Sorell (2019)
  "Set in the mid-1950s, Indian No More tells the true story of a young girl from the Umpqua tribe. When the US government terminates her tribe, her immediate family moves to California and starts a new, very different, life."
   
• The Bad Beginning
  Lemony Snicket (1999)
  "I used to love these books and it turns out I still do. I reread all of them this year, but I'm just going to list the first one."
  

YA

• The Night Country
  Melissa Albert (2020)
  
  
• The Darkest Part of the Forest
  Holly Black (2015)
   
• Clown in a Cornfield
  Adam Cesare (2020)
  "Like reading an 80s slasher film."
   
• These Shallow Graves
  Jennifer Donnelly (2015)
   
• Copper Sun
  Sharon Draper (2006)
   
• Pet
  Akwaeke Emezi (2019)
  "Just because you pretend something is gone doesn't mean it's so."
   
• Come Tumbling Down
  Seanan McGuire (2020)
  "Every year, I eagerly await the next book in the Wayward Children series. This year's installment was one of the best yet. I just want to hug these books, I love them so much."
   
• Prophecy 
• Warrior
• King
  Ellen Oh (2013, 2013, 2015)
   
• Witch Child
  Celia Rees (2000)
   
• Thirteen Doorways, Wolves Behind Them All
  Laura Ruby (2019)
  "I love a good, non-scary ghost story and this historical mystery was amazing."

We hope you discovered a few books to read in 2021, whether they're old favorites are brand new. Until next time, happy reading!

Storytime at the Welty House!

During the spring and summer, the Mississippi Library Commission and the Eudora Welty House and Garden teamed up to present Storytime in the Garden. MLC employees, Eudora Welty House employees, and Eudora Welty House docents all took turns reading a children’s book while sitting in the beautiful gardens of the Eudora Welty House. The featured books included a wide range of biographies focused on blues musicians, famous inventors, labor organizers, and Congressmen. These storytimes were broadcast on the Eudora Welty House and the Mississippi Library Commisssion's Facebook page.

While the storytime sessions could only be featured on Facebook for a short time, the Mississippi Library Commission has a copy of each book featured in Storytime in the Garden that can easily be checked out via our curbside checkout. The titles, authors, and a brief description of the books are listed below.

The Amazing Age of John Roy Lynch by Chris Barton and Don Tate talks about the childhood and career of John Roy Lynch, one of the first African American U.S. Congressmen and the first African American elected to serve as Speaker of the Mississippi House.

The Boo-Boos that Changed the World by Barry Wittenstein and Chris Hsu is a history of the invention of the Band-Aid and how this medical marvel went from patching up kitchen wounds to being used in battlefields.

Brave Girl by Michelle Markel and Melissa Sweet details the 1909 New York shirtwaist strike through the eyes of labor organizer Clara Lemlich.

A Computer Called Katherine by Suzanne Slade and Veronica Miller Jamison is a biography about NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson, from her childhood love of math to her experiences in working on the first manned mission to the moon.

How Emily Saved the Bridge by Frieda Wishinsky and Natalie Nelson focuses on architect and engineer Emily Warren Roebling and how she helped build the Brooklyn Bridge.

Muddy by Michael Mahin and Evan Turk is a lushly illustrated biography of the Mississippi blues musician Muddy Waters.

Preaching to the Chickens by Jabari Asim and E.B. Lewis is a boyhood story of U.S. Congressman John Lewis as he practices his oratory skills at his family’s farm.

Shark Lady by Jess Keating and Marta Alvarez Miguens is a biography of scientist and biologist Eugenie Clark and the start of her lifelong fascination with sharks.

Overall, the program was a massive success. Each story routinely got likes, comments, and shares in the double digits. Each broadcast had over 350 views, with one book in particular topping out at a whopping 1,200 views! That book was Shark Lady, read and broadcast on Shark Awareness Day.

It was wonderful to partner with the Eudora Welty House and Garden for this storytime project and we hope to partner with them again in the future! The Eudora Welty House is currently offering tours, Tuesday-Friday, at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. Reservations are required, so please call or email ahead of time.

The Absolute Best Books MLC Staff Read in 2018

The staff of the Mississippi Library Commission has read their fair share of books the past year. We like picture books and comics, fiction, and nonfiction, and old and new. These were our favorites.

Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut
Derrick Barnes and Gordon C. James, 2017
Recommended by Andrea' R.

The Crayon Box that Talked
Shane Derolf and Michael Letzig, 1997
Recommended by Lawrence S.

Green Eggs and Ham
Dr. Seuss, 1960
Recommended by Sandra T.

"My grandbabies love it when I read this to them."

Harriet Gets Carried Away
Jessie Sima, 2018
Recommended by Elisabeth S.

"This is hands down the cutest, sweetest, most adorable picture book I read this year."

A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo
Jill Twiss and E.G. Keller, 2018
Recommended by Amanda R.

Sneezy the Snowman
Maureen Wright and Stephen Gilpin, 2010
Recommended by Bonita S.

A Sky Full of Stars
Linda Williams Jackson, 2018
Recommended by Elisabeth S.

"Life in rural Mississippi during the 1950s is explored through the eyes of a spunky and loving African-American girl named Rose."

The Time quintet
A Wrinkle in Time, A Wind in the Door, A Swiftly Tilting Planet, Many Waters
Madeleine L'Engle, 1962-1986
Recommended by Margaret S.

The Witch Boy
Molly Ostertag, 2017
Recommended by Elisabeth S.

"This is all about witches, shapeshifters, and who ought to be able to be which; I loved it so much!"

The Harry Potter series
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
J.K. Rowling, 1997-2007
Recommended by Mary Rodgers B.

Wizard for Hire
Obert Skye, 2018
Recommended by Amanda R.

The Good Demon
Jimmy Cajoleas, 2018
Recommended by Louisa W.

The All the Boys series
To All the Boys I've Loved Before, P.S. I Still Love You, and Always and Forever, Lara Jean
Jenny Han, 2014-2017
Recommended by Mary Rodgers B.

Beneath the Sugar Sky
Seanan McGuire, 2018
Recommended by Elisabeth S.

"What happens when your mother is murdered years before you're supposed to be born? I think this is my favorite so far in the macabre Wayward Children series."

Dumplin'
Julie Murphy, 2015
Recommended by Mary Rodgers B.

An Enchantment of Ravens
Margaret Rogerson, 2017
Recommended by Katie G.

The Princess and the Dressmaker
Jen Wang, 2018
Recommended by Katie G.

Damsel
Elana K. Arnold, 2018
Recommended by Amanda R.

The Immortalists
Chloe Benjamin, 2018
Recommended by Shellie Z.

Brief Cases: More Stories from the Dresden Files
Jim Butcher, 2018
Recommended by Margaret S.

The President is Missing
Bill Clinton, James Patterson, and David Ellis, 2018
Recommended by Hulen B. and Margaret S.

All the Light We Cannot See
Anthony Doerr, 2014
Recommended by Natalie D.

Bingo Love
Dee Franklin and Jenn St. Onge, 2017
Recommended by Annie W. and Louisa W.

Cold Mountain
Charles Frazier, 1997
Recommended by Tracy C.

"There is not one word that is not perfect… and I am not exaggerating."

I Hear the Sunspot
Yuki Fumino, 2017 (translation edition)
Recommended by Amanda R.

The Reckoning
John Grisham, 2018
Recommended by Hulen B.

"Told in three parts, this Grisham novel is the story of a man and his wife who are united in death. It is a unity of permanence that they did not achieve in life. Side stories include the children of the coupe and how they lose ownership of their parents' estate and the tale of a local preacher who got in the way of the couple's relationship."

The Nightingale
Kristin Hannah, 2015
Recommended by Susan L.

How to Find Love in a Bookshop
Veronica Henry, 2017
Recommended by Mary Rodgers B.

The Boats of the Glen Carrig
William Hope Hodgson, 1907
Recommended by Daniel W.

The Drawing of Three
Stephen King, 1987
Recommended by Josh S.

Gone with the Wind
Margaret Mitchell, 1936
Recommended by Will B.

The Binti trilogy
Binti, Home, and The Night Masquerade
Nnedi Okorafor, 2015-2018
Recommended by Elisabeth S.

 "Utterly beautiful. Science fiction at its finest."

The English Patient
Michael Ondaatje, 1992
Recommended by Tracy C.

The Lonely Hearts Hotel
Heather O'Neill, 2017
Recommended by Shellie Z.

Rise and Shine, Benedict Stone
Phaedra Patrick, 2017
Recommended by Louisa W.

Kiss the Girls
James Patterson, 1995
Recommended by Lacy E.

"Kiss the Girls was one of my favorite reads of 2018. It is the second book in the James Patterson Alex Cross series and was originally published in 1995. Those who are fans of murder and serial killer podcasts should re-visit this easily devoured novel. I read it over the span of a conference weekend with two long layovers. It’s the best $.25 I spent at a library book sale. Make sure you check out the 1997 film starring Morgan Freeman!"

Witchmark
C.L. Polk, 2018
Recommended by Amanda R.

The Bedlam Stacks
Natasha Pulley, 2017
Recommended by Ally M. 

The Alice Network
Kate Quinn, 2017
Recommended by Shellie Z.

A History of God: The 4,000 Year Quest of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
Karen Armstrong, 1975
Recommended by Derrion A.

The Bible
King James version
Recommended by Sandra T.

"I read this over and over. It's my favorite thing to read."

Stay the Course: The Story of Vanguard and the Index Revolution
Jack Bogle, 2018
Recommended by Hulen B.

"The author, who was one of the original creators of the concept of index funds, discusses the pracitcality of such funds (ETF style or financial house created) in today's economy, along with notation as to probable 2019 predictors. The author suggests that these insights are important, as index funds hold such a large percentage of the US stock/equity market."

Origin Story: A Big History of Everything
David Christian, 2018
Recommended by Derrion A.

Guns, Germs, and Steel
Jared Diamond, 1997
Recommended by Derrion A.

Grit
Angela Duckworth, 2016
Recommended by Hulen B.

"Written by a psychologist who believes that the "grit" of a person is a better predictor of an individual's success than one's IQ or one's talent. (Grit, in this writing, is expressed as an individual's passion combined with perseverance.)"

This Republic of Suffering: Death and the American Civil War
Drew Gilpin Faust, 2008
Recommended by Derrion A.

My Girls: A Lifetime with Carrie and Debbie
Todd Fisher, 2018
Recommended by Will B.

The Prophet
Kahlil Gibran, 1923
Recommended by Andrea' R.

Negro Thought in America, 1880-1915: Racial Ideologies in the Age of Booker T. Washington
August Meier, 1963
Recommended by Derrion A.

The One Device: The Secret History of the iPhone
Brian Merchant, 2017
Recommended by Margaret S.

Becoming
Michelle Obama, 2018
Recommended by Margaret S.

Dear Fahrenheit 451
Annie Spence, 2017
Recommended by Mary Rodgers B.

Rowdy: The Roddy Piper Story
Ariel Teal Toombs, Colt Baird Toombs, and Craig Pyette, 2016
Recommended by Will B.

Educated
Tara Westover, 2018
Recommended by Natalie D. and Andrea' R.

The Desegregation of Public Libraries in the Jim Crow South
Wayne A. Wiegand and Shirley A. Wiegand, 2018
Recommended by Tracy C.

"Completely enlightening, especially in the fact that what we consider a core tenet of the modern public library, the library as community, was created by black librarians/libraries because there WAS no place for the black community to gather."

So? Which were your favorites?

Among the Pages

A certain imbalance reached into March with volatile weather, like a lion, of course, which led me to two very different books for grounding. Having been a fan of his work for decades, I checked out William Eggleston’s impressive book of portraits. Then, coincidentally, a co-worker highly recommended a book she was returning. The book’s cover illustration and title were intriguing enough.

My Father the Pornographer: A Memoir by Chris Offutt
William Eggleston Portraits by Phillip Prodger & an appreciation by Sophia Coppola

While studying Eggleston’s composition and use of color and reading Offutt’s snappy chapters alternately, a common thread emerged—an exploration of how we know and don’t know people, no matter their proximity. Appearance is just that; it rarely yields a reliable knowing, but it offers a strong character of suggestion and nuance. A good-read pairing, I say. 

20 Picture Books That Celebrate African American Dreamers and Achievers

Picture books are a great way to introduce children to the world beyond their tiny spaces. With bright colors and inspiring words, they relate amazing stories and lives in an enticing, kid-pleasing way. Managing to convey a lifetime's worth of achievements in just a few pages is an accomplishment in and of itself. To capture a child's imagination and ignite dreams as well makes picture books simply extraordinary.

We've shared several Black History Month reading lists this year, for adults, for middle school and YA readers, and for fictional picture books that explore African American history and culture. We couldn't resist rounding out our reading recommendations with a few more excellent picture books. These biographies about African American dreamers and achievers are worthy reads all year long.

Wilma Unlimited: How Wilma Rudolph Became the World's Fastest Woman

Kathleen Krull and David Díaz

1996

This is the story of Wilma Rudolph, who suffered from polio as a child and went on to win gold in the Olympics.

Talkin' About Bessie: The Story of Aviator Elizabeth Coleman

Nikki Grimes, Barry Moser, and Earl B. Lewis

1998 

Born to a poor family in Texas, Bessie followed her dreams to become a pilot in a time when both African Americans and women were not allowed to fly airplanes.

Freedom River

Doreen Rappaport and Bryan Collier

2000

Based on the life of John Parker, an ex-slave helping people on the Underground Railroad, this picture book retells one of his daring rescues.

When Marian Sang: The True Recital of Marian Anderson

Pam Muñoz Ryan and Brian Selznick

2002

This glorious picture book tells the life story of Marian Anderson, one of America's greatest singers, who fought to sing where everyone could hear and enjoy her music.

Catching the Moon: The Story of a Young Girl's Baseball Dream

Crystal Hubbard and Randy Duburke

2005

Marcenia Lyle, better known as Toni Stone, was the first woman to play professional baseball.

Rosa

Nikki Giovanni and Bryan Collier

2005 

Every child learns about Rosa Parks in school, but this picture book brings her fight against injustice to beautiful life.

Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom

Carole Boston Weatherford and Kadir Nelson

2006

Moses is a gorgeous biography of Harriet Tubman, who led at least 70 people north to freedom on the Underground Railroad.

Henry's Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad

Ellen Levine and Kadir Nelson

2007

This is the remarkable story of Henry Brown, who mailed himself north to escape slavery.

Before John Was a Jazz Giant: A Song of John Coltrane

Carole Boston Weatherford and Sean Qualls

2008

The childhood of John Coltrane, master of the saxophone, is vividly recreated.

Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U.S. Marshal

Vaunda Micheaux Nelson and R. Gregory Christie

2009

Bass Reeves was an African-American hero of the Old West. He fled slavery as a young man and became a US Deputy Marshal with over 3,000 arrests to his name.

Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave

Laban Carrick Hill and Bryan Collier

2010

 Little is known about Dave, except that he lived and died a slave and he created remarkable pottery and poetry. This picture book imagines what his life was like.

It Jes' Happened: When Bill Traylor Started to Draw

Don Tate and R. Gregory Christie

2010

Bill Traylor was a self-taught folk artist from Alabama. He didn't began drawing until he was in his 80s, and then he just couldn't stop!

Fifty Cents and a Dream: Young Booker T. Washington

Jabari Asim and Bryan Collier

2012

You'll be inspired by the life of Booker T. Washington, educator, orator, and author.

A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin

Jennifer Fisher Bryant and Melissa Sweet

2013

Pippin was always drawn to art, but lost the use of his right arm while he was serving with the Harlem Hellfighters during World War II. He began painting again as way to strengthen his injured arm and received much recognition and praise.

When the Beat Was Born: DJ Kool Herc & the Creation of Hip Hop

Laban Carrick Hill and Theodore Taylor

2013

Clive Campbell, better known as DJ Kool Herc, invented the musical form of hip hop when he was just a teenager.

Mumbet's Declaration of Independence

Gretchen Woelfle and Alix Delinois

2014

Mumbet challenged the legality of being held a slave in Massachusetts in the 1780s and won her freedom.

The Amazing Age of John Roy Lynch

Chris Barton and Don Tate

2015

John Roy Lynch was born into slavery and wasn't set free until after the Civil War. He went on to become an influential politician in Mississippi and then became one of the first African American US Representatives.

The Book Itch: Freedom, Truth, and Harlem's Greatest Bookstore

Vaunda Micheaux Nelson and R. Gregory Christie

2015

This picture book tells the story of Lewis Michaux, Sr., and his independent community bookstore in Harlem.

Marvelous Cornelius: Hurricane Katrina and the Spirit of New Orleans

Phil Bildner and John Parra

2015

Cornelius Washington was a trash collector who was an inspiration to the city of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.

Poet: The Remarkable Story of George Moses Horton

Don Tate

2015

George Moses Horton taught himself to read and write and became a great poet. He was the first African-American to be published in the South. He didn't become a free man until after the Civil War, when he was in his late 60s.

We hope you enjoy these inspiring picture book biographies. Until next time, happy reading!

Talking Book Services Patron Becomes Published Author

by Shellie Zeigler, Talking Book Services

Mississippi Talking Book Services patron Karen Brown has released a moving memoir through Mississippi's Nautilus Publishing Company. Sandpiper: My Journey with Sight and Blindness is about her progression from a slow loss of sight in her early 20s to complete blindness by age 30. Ms. Brown has strong roots here in the Jackson area. She lived in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Louisiana before making her way back to Mississippi for good. She became the director of the Addie McBryde Rehabilitation Center in 2002 and led that organization for seven years.

In her book, Ms. Brown shares the path her life took over the years: from marrying her husband in Germany, to raising their son, to having three different guide dogs, to teaching English in Florida. Karen's book should be categorized as an inspirational autobiography, if only for her strong faith in God and her optimistic attitude that helped guide her through the struggles she faced. Now a patron for 43 years, Ms. Brown stated that one of the first services she received as a visually impaired person was the Talking Book Services at the Mississippi Library Commission. She stated, "Reading has always been such a treasure for me. I never lost that. I started with the record players that the service provided." That service has changed over the years, but we still have the same goal: no one should ever lose the ability to read, regardless of any impairments. Sandpiper is currently being recorded as part of our ongoing effort to make books by Mississippi authors available to our Talking Book Services patrons.

Karen Brown will be giving a reading and book signing tomorrow, Friday, September 9, 2016, at Lemuria Books in Jackson, MS at 5 p.m. Her book can also be purchased at amazon.com.

Staff Reads: Picture Book Bios

I've been reading a lot of children's books lately. Middle grade and YA books can be a lot of fun, but picture books might just be my favorites. The illustrations pull me in and the simple stories keep me coming back for more. I'm especially fond of picture book biographies. I've always been a bit of a history nerd and I learn great little tidbits about people I've never heard of (or don't know enough about.)

Poet: The Remarkable Story of George Moses Horton was written and illustrated by Don Tate. (He illustrated another of my recent favorites, a wonderful picture book biography about Mississippian John Roy Lynch.) Poet follows the true story of the first African-American to be published in the South. Horton taught himself to read as a child; as an adult, he began writing beautiful, heartbreaking poems that spoke against the institution of slavery. He was in his 80s when he finally became a free man because of the Civil War. It's a powerful tale and the illustrations are just as powerful. It won the 2016 Ezra Jack Keats author award. Grades 2-5.

One civil rights activist that I truly admire is Mississippi native Fannie Lou Hamer. I was very pleased to see her story told in Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer. The author, Carole Boston Weatherford, is actually slated to be at this summer's Mississippi Book Festival. The illustrator, Ekua Holmes, created amazing mixed-media collages which perfectly capture the rhythm and themes of Weatherford's poetic tribute to Hamer. I was particularly taken by this quote:

I was so hungry to learn. My mother drilled this into me. When you read, she said, you know--and you can help yourself and others."

The book was named a 2016 Caldecott Honor Book. Grades 6 and up.

Emmanuel's Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah was particularly satisfying. I'd never heard the story of this Ghanaian who, though born with a deformed foot, mastered bicycling at a young age and went on to bike across his country. He raised awareness for those with disabilities in Ghana and is invested in furthering the education of the children of his country, abled and disabled.

He knew her last words had been a gift. He would honor them by showing everyone that being disabled does not mean unable.

The text by Laurie Ann Thompson paints evocative pictures of Ghana, while the illustrations by Sean Qualls are exceptional. The book won the 2016 Schneider Family Book Award for children. Kindergarten-2nd grade.

The children's book market has exploded since I was a child. The plethora of picture books available now is a little daunting. Sometimes I feel like I'll never be able to read all the great new books out there, but I'll certainly give it my best shot. Until next time, happy reading!

Beyoncé Gets In Formation for Information

Beyoncé is getting all the ladies in formation for information! In that vein, we'd like to recommend the following 20 recently published books by and about African-Americans. (We know we're leaving out classics like The Souls of Black Folk and The Mis-Education of the Negro, or even Black Boy and Coming of Age in Mississippi. We decided to stick with books published in the last ten years in order to keep the list at manageable length.)

• The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness
  Michelle Alexander
• Buck: A Memoir
  M.K. Asante 
• Nat Turner
  Kyle Baker
• Sentences: The Life of M.F. Grimm
  Percy Carey
  
• Between the World and Me
  Ta-Nehisi Coates
• Bad Feminist: Essays
  Roxane Gay
• Strange Fruit: Uncelebrated Moments from Black History
  Joel Christian Gill
• The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace: A Brilliant Young Man Who Left Newark for the Ivy League
  Jeff Hobbs
• Devil in the Grove: Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys, and the Dawn of a New America
  Gilbert King
• How to Slowly Kill Yourself and Others in America
  Kiese Laymon
• Ghettoside: A True Story of Murder in America
  Jill Leovy
• March: Book One
  John Lewis
• F.B. Eyes: How J. Edgar Hoover's Ghostreaders Framed African American Literature
  William J. Maxwell
• Citizen: An American Lyric
  Claudia Rankine
• The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
  Rebecca Skloot
• Ordinary Light
  Tracy K. Smith
• Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption
  Bryan Stevenson
• Native Guard
  Natasha Trethewey
• We Will Shoot Back: Armed Resistance in the Mississippi Freedom Movement
  Akinyele Omowale Umoja
• Men We Reaped: A Memoir
  Jessmyn Ward

What would you add to this list? Let us know in the comments. Until next time, informative and happy reading!

MLC Staff Reads: November 20, 2015

Lemony Snicket wrote in Horseradish that you should, "Never trust anyone who has not brought a book with them." Here are a few that you'll find a delight to tuck into your carry-all.

Last Stop on Market Street

written by Matt de la Peña

illustrated by Christian Robinson

picture book

five stars

Last Stop on Market Street is an inspirational and heartwarming picture book about an ordinary Sunday for CJ and his grandma. As they go about their normal routine--church, walk, bus stop, bus ride, walk, soup kitchen--they encounter other people who have more (and less) than they do. Each time CJ asks his grandma why the two of them don't have a convenience that other people do, she gives him an upbeat answer explaining how rich they already are. The bright illustrations perfectly complement the beautiful story.

 Career of Evil

written by Robert Galbraith

(pseudonym of J.K. Rowling)

fiction: mystery

four stars

The third installment in J.K. Rowling’s Cormoran Strike series, Career of Evil is a fast-paced mystery with the added bonus of great character development (and Blue Öyster Cult lyrics, which precede each chapter!). There’s also a perfectly ambiguous cliffhanger ending that will guarantee we’ll be on the edge of our seats until the next book comes out.

 Dispatches from Pluto:

Lost and Found in the Mississippi Delta

written by Richard Grant

nonfiction: Mississippi
four stars

To natives of the state, Mississippi is simply our home. We tend to forget that it is a place of contradictions; Mississippi has given birth to a population who manifests and embraces those seeming differences. Richard Grant has a keen ear for a good story and the Mississippi Delta has stories in spades. While no single book can tell the whole story of any place (especially a place like Mississippi!), Grant's tales of his meetings with wildlife and with humans and of his travels and adventures around the Delta are humorous, insightful, and well-written.

X: A Novel

written by Ilyasah Shabazz and Kekla Magoon

young adult
four stars

X by Ilyasha Shabazz, Malcolm X's daughter, and Kekla Magoon follows the life of a young Malcolm X before he became a great human rights activist. Even though this is a work of fiction, X is based on the real life of Malcolm X and his actions from boyhood until his arrest for theft at the age of 20. This is a great novel that will challenge teen readers while teaching them more about the human rights movement and the work of Malcolm X.

We have these books lined up to read next week:

 

• Nino Wrestles the World
  written and illustrated by Yuyi Morales 
• Stella by Starlight
  written by Sharon Draper
• Hold Tight, Don't Let Go
  written by Laura Rose Wagner
• Inside the O'Briens
  written by Lisa Genova
  
  
  Until next time, happy reading!