Based on a true story, And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell, with illustrations by Henry Cole, is a heartwarming children’s book about companionship and family. Two penguins, Roy and Silo, in New York City’s Central Park Zoo, meet and become a family of two. They see the other penguin couples laying eggs […]
Continue readingAuthor Archive: Mesa County Libraries
The Canterbury Tales – BANNED!
I don’t remember much about my high school English classes (it was a long time ago), but I do remember studying The Canterbury Tales. That work, by Geoffrey Chaucer, sparked in me a lifelong interest in the history of the English language and medieval history. It is a piece of literature that continues to […]
Continue readingEleanor and Park – Challenged!
Eleanor and Park is an ultimately hopeful Young Adult novel grounded in some harsh realities that probably won’t feel unfamiliar to many teen readers. The characters face bullying, domestic abuse, and racism. The book still manages to feel light and romantic in spite of the obstacles the characters are facing and illustrates that change is possible […]
Continue readingPicture book of the week: Last Stop on Market Street
This week’s picture book is by celebrated author Matt de la Peña, who has written numerous young adult and some children’s titles. Last summer, Mesa County Libraries welcomed de la Peña to our Central location, where he gave a great teen writing workshop and presentation. While he is best known for longer books aimed at a somewhat older […]
Continue readingBanned Books Week
We are celebrating Banned Books Week this entire week from September 28 through October 2! What is Banned Books Week? It is an annual celebration of the freedom to read! Libraries, schools, and bookstores across the country and across the world highlight titles that have been frequently challenged or banned. In 2015 the week is focused […]
Continue readingMarvel and a Wonder
In 1995, the fading farm town of Mount Holly, Indiana, has an air of mourning. Shops are empty. Factory farms have muscled out people like Jim Falls, a struggling chicken farmer. A Korean-War veteran with old age ailments, he fights to survive each day while raising his biracial teenage grandson Quentin. With an off-putting weirdness, […]
Continue readingPicture book of the week: Drum Dream Girl
On an island of music, the Drum Dream Girl imagines playing the drums – but she is told over and over again that only boys can play. Drum Dream Girl hears the rhythm wherever she goes and taps along, until finally her music is heard in public and celebrated by all. Margarita Engle’s Drum Dream Girl […]
Continue readingPicture book of the week: Unicorn Thinks He’s Pretty Great
A goat with good dance moves and decent enough marshmallow square-making-abilities is filled with envy when Unicorn enters the scene. What’s so great about making rainbow cupcakes, turning things into gold, and flying? Bob Shea’s Unicorn Thinks He’s Pretty Great tells the tale of a jealous goat who learns that he has some pretty impressive traits […]
Continue readingPicture book of the week: My Cousin Momo
Momo is a flying squirrel, and his cousins are excited for him to come visit. But when Momo comes into town, his cousins soon realize he isn’t quite what they were expecting. Momo is shy, he dresses differently, and his idea of pretending to be a superhero is wearing a giant muffin costume! Momo’s cousins are frustrated […]
Continue readingA gem of a library in Collbran
If you plan a trip up to the Grand Mesa to view the changing seasons in the coming weeks, we urge you to visit the Collbran Branch Library, located at 111 Main St. in Collbran. We can’t promise you’ll see riders on horseback from the windows of the library, but we are confident you’ll enjoy seeing how Mesa […]
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