Talking Books Talk

Libraries are places of wonder where users can wander through a multitude of worlds (familiar and unusual), view the world through different perspectives, and learn about the world and everything in and around it. Libraries house not just books, but all kinds of unexpected materials and services. It may not surprise you to find databases and digital materials. You may also be aware of the collections of movies, music, and periodicals and magazines. Did you know you may also find art exhibits, community spaces, meeting rooms, seed collections, cake pan collections, and more? There is so much going on in libraries, and, thankfully, librarians are there to assist library users. Everyday, librarians guide users to the resources available, helping them find needed information, recommending books to fit their reading desires, and teaching them life skills through the classes and activities on offer.  

Many books showcase the magic that libraries have in our lives. We've gathered a list of some of the books for all ages that are about libraries and librarians, as well as books where libraries and/or librarians play a large role. Make one of these titles your next read.

Adult Nonfiction

• DB 92869 The library book by Susan Orlean 
  The author re-opens the unsolved mystery of the most catastrophic library fire in US history. On April 29, 1986, fire broke out at the Los Angeles Public Library and destroyed or damaged more than a million books. Examines the evolution of public libraries while celebrating their value in society.Commercial audiobook. 2018.
• DB 82147 BiblioTech: why libraries matter more than ever in the age of Google by John G. Palfrey 
  Former law professor and founding chairman of the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) examines the importance and role of public libraries in the twenty-first century and beyond. Examines lessons learned from the development period of the DPLA and argues for a reexamination of public libraries' core strengths. 2015
• DB 98976 Information hunters: when librarians, soldiers, and spies banded together in World War II Europe by Kathy Lee Peiss 
  A cultural historian recounts the role of book and document collecting during and after World War II as a part of intelligence and national security, military planning, and postwar reconstruction. She profiles the librarians, archivists, and scholars who carried out these missions and describes the forward-reaching impact on American libraries. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2020.
• DB 81214 This book is overdue: how librarians and cybrarians can save us all by Marilyn Johnson 
  Author of The Dead Beat (DB 81116) and Lives in Ruins (DB 80738) explores the careers of librarians and other information professionals. Discusses professional realities, stereotypes, and popular culture representations, and profiles librarians working in a variety of roles. 2010
• DB 58681 Jefferson's legacy: a brief history of the Library of Congress by John Young Cole 
  Veteran librarian and historian provides a history of the nation's foremost cultural institution. Coverage begins in 1800 with the establishment of a legislative library and ends in 1992. Features information on collections, the evolution of the library's buildings, and brief biographies of the Librarians of Congress. 1993.
• DB 116462 The library: a fragile history by Andrew Pettegree 
  "Famed across the known world, jealously guarded by private collectors, built up over centuries, destroyed in a single day, ornamented with gold leaf and frescoes, or filled with bean bags and children's drawings-the history of the library is rich, varied, and stuffed full of incident. In The Library, historians Andrew Pettegree and Arthur der Weduwen introduce us to the antiquarians and philanthropists who shaped the world's great collections, trace the rise and fall of literary tastes, and reveal the high crimes and misdemeanors committed in pursuit of rare manuscripts. In doing so, they reveal that while collections themselves are fragile, often falling into ruin within a few decades, the idea of the library has been remarkably resilient as each generation makes-and remakes-the institution anew. Beautifully written and deeply researched, The Library is essential reading for booklovers, collectors, and anyone who has ever gotten blissfully lost in the stacks." -- Provided by publisher.  --  Commercial audiobook.
• DB 128128 Hopeful visions, practical actions: cultural humility in library work by David A. Hurley (In process) 
  "LIS educators and students, library directors, managers, frontline employees, and those who work behind the scenes all share how they are taking action and creating change. Thoughtfully addressing DEI issues related to policies, services, and programs, this collection's diverse chorus of voices will both enlighten and inspire. Cultural humility offers a renewing and transformative framework for navigating interpersonal interactions in libraries, whether between patrons and staff or staff members with one another. It foregrounds a practice of critical self-reflection and commitment to recognizing and redressing structural inequities and problematic power imbalances. This collection, the first book-length treatment of this approach in libraries, gathers contributors from across the field to demonstrate how cultural humility can change the way we work and make lasting impacts on diversity, equity, and inclusion in libraries." -- The Library Marketplace.
• DB 84705 The bad-ass librarians of Timbuktu: and their race to save the world's most precious manuscripts by Joshua Hammer 
  A journalist recounts the efforts of a small group of librarians and archivists in Mali to rescue thousands of rare manuscripts before they fell into the hands of the jihadists attacking the city of Timbuktu. Some strong language. 2016.
• DB 86951 Dear Fahrenheit 451: love and heartbreak in the stacks: a librarian's love letters and breakup notes to the books in her life by Annie Spence 
  A collection of letters addressed to books from the librarian author along with several essays on book-related subjects, such as books with bad covers. Includes love letters to The Goldfinch (DB 77453) and Matilda (DB 31793), as well as a couple snarky breakup letters. 2017.
• DB 89536 The book thieves: the Nazi looting of Europe's libraries and the race to return a literary inheritance by Andrews Rydell 
  An account of the pillaging of Europe's libraries, bookstores, and personal book collections by the Nazis during World War II. Discusses how a small team of librarians has begun the task of identifying these books and returning them to the families of their original rightful owners. Translated from Swedish. Commercial audiobook. 2015.
• DB 117321 Forbidden knowledge: medicine, science, and censorship in early modern Italy by Hannah Marcus 
  "Forbidden Knowledge explores the censorship of medical books from their proliferation in print through the prohibitions placed on many of them during the Counter-Reformation. How and why did books banned in Italy end up back on library shelves in the seventeenth century? Historian Hannah Marcus uncovers how early modern physicians evaluated the utility of banned books and facilitated their continued circulation in conversation with Catholic authorities. The process of selective censorship and licensing resulted in a vast, dispersed archive of books that have been "corrected" with pens, knives, glue, and paper. Marcus tracked them down to learn more than the effectiveness of religious censorship. She explores how censorship created new avenues of expertise and opened up new discussions about the utility of knowledge. Through her careful combing of the archives, Marcus highlights how talk of utility, once thought to have begun during the Scientific Revolution, in fact began earlier, emerging from ecclesiastical censorship and the desire to continue to use banned medical books. What's more, this censorship in medicine, which preceded by sixty years the Copernican debate in astronomy, has had a lasting impact on how we talk about new and controversial developments in scientific knowledge. Forbidden Knowledge is a masterful, timely book about the interplay between efforts at intellectual control and the utility of knowledge." -- Provided by publisher.
• DB 124340 That librarian: the fight against book banning in America by Amanda Jones 
  "One of the things small town librarian Amanda Jones values most about books is how they can affirm a young person's sense of self. So in 2022, when she caught wind of a local public hearing that would discuss "book content," she knew what was at stake. Schools and libraries nationwide have been bombarded by demands for books with LGTBQ+ references, discussions of racism, and more to be purged from the shelves. Amanda would be damned if her community were to ban stories representing minority groups. She spoke out that night at the meeting. Days later, she woke up to a nightmare that is still ongoing. Amanda Jones has been called a groomer, a pedo, and a porn-pusher; she has faced death threats and attacks from strangers and friends alike. Her decision to support a collection of books with diverse perspectives made her a target for extremists using book banning campaigns--funded by dark money organizations and advanced by hard right politicians--in a crusade to make America more white, straight, and "Christian." But Amanda Jones wouldn't give up without a fight: she sued her harassers for defamation and urged others to join her in the resistance. Mapping the book banning crisis occurring all across the nation, That Librarian draws the battle lines in the war against equity and inclusion, calling book lovers everywhere to rise in defense of our readers."-- From publisher.  --  Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

 Youth Nonfiction

• DBC05710 Dewey: there's a cat in the library! by Vicki Myron 
  Dewey the cat, who finds a new home at the Spencer Library when librarian Vicky Myron finds him in the return box, learns that young visitors like to chase him, pull his tail, and give him tight hugs, but he soon realizes that, despite the demands, helping people is what he does best. For grades K-3.
• DB 93016 Dreamers by Yuyi Morales 
  Author and illustrator, a Caldecott Honor and Pura Belpré Award recipient, reflects on her own immigration journey from Mexico to America. Her feelings of isolation disappear after she discovers the wonders of a public library. Commercial audiobook. For grades K-3. 2018.
• DB 77680 Thomas Jefferson builds a library by Barb Rosestock 
  A celebration of Thomas Jefferson's lifelong love of reading. Describes Jefferson gobbling up books "the way a starving man eats" and selling more than 6,500 of his to the Library of Congress after its original collection was destroyed during the War of 1812. For grades K-3 and older readers. 2013.
• DB 65329 The library book: the story of libraries from camels to computers by Maureen Sawa 
  Traces the global history of libraries. Describes the evolution of knowledge collection and sharing from clay tablets and scrolls to paper pages and digital files. Mentions a Persian official who traveled with his books loaded on five hundred camels, creating the first bookmobile. For grades 4-7. 2006.
• DB 112410 Planting stories: the life of librarian and storyteller Pura Belpré by Anika Denise 
  "Nonfiction picture book about the life and legacy of Pura Belpré, the first Puerto Rican librarian in New York City." -- Provided by publisher.  --  Commercial audiobook. For grades K-3.
• DB 119558 Go forth and tell: the life of Augusta Baker, librarian and master storyteller by Breanna J. McDaniel 
  "A picture book biography about librarian and storyteller Augusta Baker, the first Black coordinator of children's services at all branches of the New York Public library." -- Provided by publisher.  --  Commercial audiobook. For Preschool-grade 2.

Adult Fiction

• DB 86252 The invisible library by Genevieve Cogman 
  Irene works as an agent for the Invisible Library, tracking down rare manuscripts from alternate realities. She and her assistant travel to a version of Victorian London only to find that the book they seek has already been stolen. Some violence. 2016.
• DB 122153 The librarian of burned books by Brianna Labuskes 
  "Set against the backdrop of World War II, a novel inspired by the true story of the Council of Books in Wartime follows three women whose fates become intertwined by their belief in the power and goodness of the written word to triumph over the very darkest moments of war."-- From publisher.  --  Unrated. Commercial audiobook.
• DB 110656 The librarian spy: a novel of World War II by Madeline Martin 
  "Ava thought her job as a librarian at the Library of Congress would mean a quiet, routine existence. But an unexpected offer from the US military has brought her to Lisbon with a new mission: posing as a librarian while working undercover as a spy gathering intelligence. Meanwhile, in occupied France, Elaine has begun an apprenticeship at a printing press run by members of the Resistance. It's a job usually reserved for men, but in the war, those rules have been forgotten. Yet she knows that the Nazis are searching for the press and its printer in order to silence them. As the battle in Europe rages, Ava and Elaine find themselves connecting through coded messages and discovering hope in the face of war." -- Provided by publisher.  --  Unrated. Commercial audiobook.
• DB 103929 The personal librarian by Marie Benedict 
  In 1906, Belle da Costa Greene was hired by J. P. Morgan to curate a collection of rare manuscripts, books, and artwork for his newly built Pierpont Morgan Library. Belle becomes a fixture in New York City society, but she is African American passing as white. Some descriptions of sex. Commercial audiobook. 2021.
• DB 96922 The library of the unwritten by A. J. Hackwith 
  Claire is Head Librarian of the Unwritten Wing of Hell's library, where stories unfinished by their authors reside. When a hero escapes from his book and goes in search of his author, Claire must capture him with the help of her assistant, Brevity, and demon courier Leto. Contains some violence and some strong language. Commercial audiobook. 2019.
• DB 82679 The library of Mount Char by Scott Hawkins 
  Carolyn and a few others were brought as children to an unusual library that exists outside of time. There, they acquired various special abilities. When the god-like figure they call Father disappears from the library, Carolyn and her siblings search for him. Violence and some strong language. 2015.
• DB 86007 Public library and other stories by Ali Smith 
  A collection of short fiction from award-winning author Ali Smith. As a whole, the collection focuses on what people do with books and what books do to people--how they shock, change, challenge, and teach. Also discusses the vital role of public libraries. Commercial audiobook. 2016.
• DB 94352 The library of lost and found by Phaedra Patrick 
  Librarian Martha Storm's life changes when a book of fairy tales arrives on her doorstep. Inside, she finds a dedication written to her by her grandmother Zelda, who died under mysterious circumstances years earlier. Martha also discovers a clue that her grandmother may still be alive. Commercial audiobook. 2019.
• DB 100906 The midnight library by Matt Haig 
  After she attempts suicide, Nora wakes up  in a mysterious library. The shelves are full of books, each the story of another reality. One tells the story of your life as it is, along with other books for the other lives you could have lived. Contains some descriptions of sex, some violence, and strong language. Commercial audiobook. 2020.
• DB 113287 The littlest library by Poppy Alexander 
  "A little red telephone box full of stories, a chance to change her life... Jess Metcalf is perfectly content with her quiet, predictable life. But when her beloved grandmother passes away and she loses her job at the local library, Jess' life is turned upside down. Determined to pick up the pieces, Jess decides it's time for a new beginning. Unable to part with her grandmother's cherished books, she packs them all up and moves to a tiny cottage in the English countryside. To her surprise, Jess discovers that she's now the owner of an old red phone box that was left on the property. Missing her job at the local library, Jess decides to give back to her new community-using her grandmother's collection to turn the ordinary phone box into the littlest library in England. It's not long before the books are borrowed and begin to work their literary magic-bringing the villagers together... and managing to draw Jess' grumpy but handsome neighbor out of his shell. Maybe it's finally time for Jess to follow her heart, let go of her old life, and make the village her home? But will she be able to take the leap?" -- Provided by publisher.  --  Unrated. Commercial audiobook.
• DB 97441 The starless sea by Erin Morgenstern 
  Graduate student Zachary discovers a mysterious book hidden in the stacks that contains stories of lovelorn prisoners, key collectors, nameless acolytes, and a story about an incident from his own childhood. The book sets him on a course of adventure that leads to a hidden library. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2019.
• DB 104434 The reading list by Sara Nisha Adams 
  Teenage library worker Aleisha discovers a list of novels that she's never heard of. Reading the books helps transport Aleisha from the painful realities at home. When widower Mukesh arrives at the library, desperate to forge a connection with his bookworm granddaughter, Aleisha passes along the reading list. Some strong language. Commercial audiobook. 2021.
• DB 105146 The book of form and emptiness by Ruth Ozeki 
  One year after the death of his beloved musician father, thirteen-year-old Benny Oh's mother has become a hoarder, and Benny begins to hear voices from the things around him. The voices drive him to seek refuge in the silence of the public library, where he meets his own Book. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2021.

Youth Fiction

• DB 104332 Dear librarian by Lydia M. Sigwarth 
  After moving from place to place, a young homeless girl finds a different kind of home in the library. Commercial audiobook. For preschool-grade 2. 2021.
• DB 92547 Property of the rebel librarian by Allison Varnes 
  Twelve-year-old June is shocked when her parents go on a campaign to clear Dogwood Middle School's library of objectionable books. When she notices the forbidden titles popping up in a Little Free Library, June starts a secret banned-books library in an empty locker. Commercial audiobook. For grades 4-7. 2018.
• DB 89356 The librarian of Auschwitz by Antonio Iturbe 
  Fourteen-year-old Dita and her family are imprisoned by the Nazis at Auschwitz. When a Jewish leader asks Dita to risk her life and take charge of the eight precious volumes the prisoners have managed to sneak past the guards, she agrees. Commercial audiobook. For senior high and older readers. 2017.
• DB 85432 Ink and bone by Rachel Caine 
  In a world where the personal ownership of a physical book is illegal, the Great Library controls content by using alchemy to deliver books via tablets. Black market smuggler Jess Brightwell is sent to the Great Library as a trainee and as a spy. Violence. For senior high and older readers. 2015.
• DB 77918 Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's library by Chris Grabenstein 
  Twelve-year-old Kyle and his friends enter a contest to win a Friday-night lock-in at the new public library created by an eccentric game maker. Little do they know that the winners will have to work together to solve puzzles in order to escape. For grades 4-7. 2013.
• DB 115087 Lola at the library by Anna McQuinn 
  "Every Tuesday Lola and her mother visit their local library to return and check out books, attend story readings, and share a special treat. Lola loves Tuesdays because that is the day she and her mother go to the library. Everything about the trip is an exciting adventure, from packing her backpack with books and her all-important library card, to storytimes and singing, to choosing new books and the walk home, when they always stop for a special treat. But the best time of all is when Mommy reads her story at bedtime." -- Provided by publisher.  --  Commercial audiobook. For Preschool-grade 2.
• DB 117138 Surrender the key by D. J. MacHale 
  "When supernatural phenomenon start following Marcus O'Mara around, he discovers a key that leads to The Library, a place where all the stories of the living and dead are kept that will help him and his friends solve a terrifying mystery. Previously published as 'Curse of the Boggin.'" -- Provided by publisher.  --  Commercial audiobook. For grades 4-7.
• DB 110853 A library by Nikki Giovanni 
  "In what other place can a child "sail their dreams" and "surf the rainbow" without ever leaving the room? This ode to libraries is a celebration for everyone who loves stories, from seasoned readers to those just learning to love words, and it will have kids and parents alike imagining where their library can take them." -- Provided by publisher.  --  Commercial audiobook. For Preschool-grade 2.
• DB 125675 The legend of the last library by Frank Cole 
  "In a dystopian world where paper is scarce, Juni finds a book that reveals the location of a hidden library and faces threats from a powerful corporation determined to control it."-- From publisher.  --  Commercial audiobook. For grades 3-6.
• DB 107617 Long lost by Jacqueline West 
  Feeling lonely and out of place after her family moves to a new town, eleven-year-old Fiona Crane ventures to the local library, where she finds a gripping mystery novel about a small town, family secrets, and a tragic disappearance. Commercial audiobook. For grades 4-7. 2021.

Check out March's top BARD downloads in Kansas! If you aren't yet a BARD user, you can learn more at the NLS BARD website. If BARD isn't a good fit for you, we are still happy to mail books and magazines directly to your home. Just drop us a line at KTB@ks.gov or call 800-362-0699. Happy reading!

Most popular Kansas BARD user audiobook downloads from March 2025 

• DB126056 Now or Never: Thirty-one on the run by Evanovich, Janet.
• DB126468 The Texas Murders: Everything is bigger in Texas - especially the murder cases by Patterson, James & Bourelle, Andrew.
• DB125904 The House of Cross by Patterson, James.
• DB126742 The Second Murderer by Mina, Denise.
• DB126914 Never Say Never by Steel, Danielle.
• DB127087 Bonded in Death by Robb, J. D.
• DB126338 Beautiful Ugly by Feeney, Alice.
• DB126539 The Angry Land by Johnstone, William W. & J. A.
• DB126918 Shattering Dawn by Krentz, Jayne Ann.
• DB126298 Bellevue by Cook, Robin.
• DB126785 See How They Hide by Brennan, Allison.
• DB124910 Nine Month Contract by Daws, Amy.

Most popular Kansas BARD user audio magazine downloads from March 2025 

• Harvard Women's Health Watch March, 2025.
• Atlantic Monthly March, 2025.
• The Nation February, 2025.
• National Geographic March, 2025.
• Discover March, 2025.
• Smithsonian December, 2024.
• The New Yorker March 10, 2025.
• Guide Posts April, 2025.
• National Review March, 2025.
• Reader's Digest February, 2025.
• Bookmarks March, 2025.

A full list of available magazines can be found on the NLS Website. 

Most popular Kansas BARD user braille book downloads from March 2025

• BR25280 Managing Your Emotions: Daily wisdom for remaining stable in an unstable world, a 90-day devotional by Meyer, Joyce. 
• BR25182 There Was a Little Girl by McBain, Ed.
• BRG01458 Death at Windsor Castle by Benison, C. C.
• BR09689 Schindler's List by Keneally, Thomas.

Are you looking for your next great read? Check out Kansas Talking Books most recent staff picks, where we highlight books our staff have recently read (or re-read) and enjoyed. Maybe one of them will be your next fantastic adventure!

Michael Lang, Director

DB 104755 The gunslinger: Dark tower, book 1 by Stephen King 
His evil nemesis, the "man in black," creates many problems for the gunslinger as the gunslinger travels through time, seeking vengeance for the death of his father and the dishonoring of his mother. Violence, strong language, and descriptions of sex. Commercial audiobook. 1982.

DB 104715 The drawing of the three: Dark tower, book 2 by Stephen King 
Roland the gunslinger continues his search for the Dark Tower in a tale of horror, during which he cohabits three lives in New York City: a heroin addict, The Prisoner; a schizophrenic woman, The Lady of Shadows; and a murderer, Death. Violence and strong language. Commercial audiobook. 1987.

Natalia Renfro, Machine Clerk

DB 108069 Season fears: Alchemical journeys, book 2 by Seanan McGuire 
Melanie has a destiny, though it isn't the one everyone assumes it to be. Meanwhile, Harry doesn't want to believe in destiny, because that means accepting the loss of the one person who gives his life meaning. When a new road is laid out in front of them, walking down it seems to be the only option. Sequel to Middlegame (DB 95164). Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2022.

Troy Arndt, Circulation Clerk

DB 110577 The other name: Septology, books 1-2 by Jon Fosse, translated by Damion Searls 
"The Other Name follows the lives of two men living close to each other on the west coast of Norway. The year is coming to a close and Asle, an aging painter and widower, is reminiscing about his life. He lives alone, his only friends being his neighbor, Åsleik, a bachelor and traditional Norwegian fisherman-farmer, and Beyer, a gallerist who lives in Bjørgvin, a couple hours' drive south of Dylgja, where he lives. There, in Bjørgvin, lives another Asle, also a painter. He and the narrator are doppelgangers--two versions of the same person, two versions of the same life. Written in hypnotic prose that shifts between the first and third person, The Other Name calls into question concrete notions around subjectivity and the self. What makes us who we are? And why do we lead one life and not another? Through flashbacks, Fosse deftly explores the convergences and divergences in the lives of both Asles, slowly building towards a decisive encounter between them both. A writer at the zenith of his career, with The Other Name, the first two volumes in his Septology, Fosse presents us with an indelible and poignant exploration of the human condition that will endure as his masterpiece." -- Provided by publisher. -- Translated from the 2019 Norwegian edition. Some strong language.

DB 116597 The September house by Carissa Orlando 
"A thrilling psychological horror debut about a woman who is determined to stay in her dream home even after it becomes haunted, no matter the cost... You can survive anything. That's what Margaret tells herself when the walls of her house start to drip blood every September. She's learned how to live with it...and the other terrifying apparitions that have made the sprawling Victorian house she and her husband bought four years ago turn from a dream home into a living nightmare. But she can outlast all of it. Hal felt differently, though. Her husband couldn't take the hauntings anymore, and he left. But now he's not returning calls, and their daughter Katherine arrives, intent on looking for her missing father, convinced something grim has happened to him. With every desperate attempt Katherine makes at finding Hal, the hauntings at the September House grow more harrowing, because there are some secrets the house needs to keep." -- Provided by publisher. -- Strong language, violence. Commercial audiobook.

DB 88447 Final girls by Riley Sager 
A decade ago, while vacationing at a cabin with fellow college students, Quincy Carpenter was the only one to escape a killer's rampage. In recovery, she met another "final girl." Now, after a frantic call to Quincy, that woman has been killed. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. Commercial audiobook. 2017.

Dylan Calhoon, Patron Services Manager

DB 88608 Kings of the wyld: Band, book 1 by Nicholas Eames 
Long past their days of glory, the mercenary band once led by Clay Cooper gets back together for one more mission to help a friend whose daughter is in trouble. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2017.

Maggie Witte, Outreach Librarian/Lead Readers' Advisor

DB 125859 Under the oak tree: the comic. 1 by Suji Kim 
"Most fairytales end with a wedding and a happily-ever-after--but this is no fairytale. When stuttering Lady Maximilian is forced to marry Sir Riftan, a lowborn knight caught in one of her father's schemes, her stumbling communication and his gruff manner sour their relationship before it can begin. Riftan leaves for war the morning after their disastrous wedding night, and it's three years until Maxi sees him again. Now the husband she barely knows is a war hero. And when he comes home to claim her, Maxi will need to master her own bewildering desire--and Riftan's--before she can hope to become the true mistress of their enormous castle estate. That task will demand courage from Maxi, even as she struggles to find her own voice."-- From publisher. -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook. Bestseller.

DB 121696 How to become the Dark Lord and die trying by Django Wexler 
"Davi has done this all before. She's tried to be the hero and take down the all-powerful Dark Lord. A hundred times she's rallied humanity and made the final charge. But the time loop always gets her in the end. Sometimes she's killed quickly. Sometimes it takes a while. But she's been defeated every time. This time? She's done being the hero and done being stuck in this endless time loop. If the Dark Lord always wins, then maybe that's who she needs to be. It's Davi's turn to play on the winning side"-- Provided by publisher. -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

DB 119351 The king's captive: Gate of myth and power, book 1 by K. M. Shea 
"I can turn into a housecat. It's a fun magic, except in a world filled with vampires and werewolves, it doesn't exactly make me a powerhouse. Instead, the supernatural community has classified me as an outcast, which means one thing: Picking on me is open season all day, every day. The local fae are the worst of all, and it's during one of their regular "capture the cat-girl" sessions that I shift into my cat form and meet HIM for the first time. Noctus is so powerful his magic radiates off him like a sun, and my fae captors can barely look in his general direction. And then my life gets even more terrifying when Noctus decides to take me with him. As a pet. Why did he pick today to "adopt don't shop" a cat?"--Goodreads. Some violence and some strong language.

DB 119352 The king's shadow: Gate of myth and power, book 2 by K. M. Shea 
"I just spent the last month pretending to be the pet cat of an elf king. Today, I discovered we're enemies. In a supernatural society filled with vampires, werewolves, and wizards, I've always been an outcast with my ability to turn into a housecat. No one knew what I was. Turns out, I'm a shadow a race of supernaturals that were wiped out by the elves centuries ago. Who explains this to me? Noctus, the elf king I've been staying with while pretending to be his pet "cat," not knowing I'm the archenemy of his people. Talk about the most awkward ancestry results ever. Now I'm stuck staying with Noctus because he can't let me go thanks to all of his secrets I unwillingly learned as a cat. At least he hasn't killed me. Yet..."--Goodreads. -- Some violence and some descriptions of sex.

DB 119353 The king's queen: Gate of myth and power, book 3 by K. M. Shea 
"When the elven king of death released me even though my existence is a threat to his kingdom, I took the opportunity to run. There is just one problem. I also fell in love with him. Nothing like a little doomed love to add a dash of intrigue to life, right? Unfortunately, that's not even the worst of it. I'm a worrier on my best days, but with a psycho tracking my every move because he's obsessed with killing me, I've graduated to the level of paranoid lunatic. Even if I could forget about the tracker not happening since he's figured out the fastest way to get to me is to attack my adopted family my regular life is also anxiety-inducing as the city of Magiford is brewing with trouble. Someone is setting off increasingly powerful magical spells downtown, upsetting all the humans. The supernatural community is desperate to find the perpetrator, and the top leaders are convinced the psychotic tracker chasing me is in on it. Their solution? Use me to capture the tracker for questioning."--Goodreads. -- Some violence and some descriptions of sex.

DB 125304 We kept her in the cellar by W. R. Gorman 
"Eunice follows three strict rules in life: treat Cinderella as family, prevent her from accessing rats or mice, and never look at her between midnight and 3 a.m. Cinderella, possessing dark powers, is cared for by Eunice, who keeps the family's secret. Eunice's life has been filled with nightmares and close encounters with the monster in the cellar. Upon befriending Prince Credence and securing a ball invitation, Eunice sees a chance for freedom. However, Cinderella escapes, wreaking havoc at the ball and captivating the prince. Eunice must now decide what she's willing to sacrifice to stop her stepsister."-- From publisher. -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

DB 64445 His majesty's dragon by Naomi Novik 
English naval captain Will Laurence discovers a dragon egg aboard a captured French frigate. Once the creature, Temeraire, hatches, Will harnesses it and bonds immediately and irrevocably with it. The pair trains in the art of airborne combat before joining the Aerial Corps to battle Napoleon's forces. Commercial audiobook. 2006.

DB 124632 My vampire plus-one: My vampire, book 2 by Jenna Levine 
"Amelia Collins is by definition successful. She would even go so far as to say successfully single, but not according to her family. She's tired of the constant questions about her nonexistent dating life. When an invitation to yet another family wedding arrives, she decides to get everyone off her back once and for all by finding someone, anyone, to pose as her date. After a chance encounter with Reginald Cleaves, Amelia decides he's perfect for her purposes. He's a bit strange, but that's fine--it'll discourage tough questions from her family. For centuries-old vampire Reggie, posing as her plus-one sounds like the ultimate fun"-- Provided by publisher. -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

DB 115655 The Heaven & Earth Grocery store by James McBride 
"In 1972, when workers in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, were digging the foundations for a new development, the last thing they expected to find was a skeleton at the bottom of a well. Who the skeleton was and how it got there were two of the long-held secrets kept by the residents of Chicken Hill, the dilapidated neighborhood where immigrant Jews and African Americans lived side by side and shared ambitions and sorrows. Chicken Hill was where Moshe and Chona Ludlow lived when Moshe integrated his theater and where Chona ran the Heaven & Earth Grocery Store. When the state came looking for a deaf boy to institutionalize him, it was Chona and Nate Timblin, the Black janitor at Moshe's theater and the unofficial leader of the Black community on Chicken Hill, who worked together to keep the boy safe. As these characters' stories overlap and deepen, it becomes clear how much the people who live on the margins of white, Christian America struggle and what they must do to survive. When the truth is finally revealed about what happened on Chicken Hill and the part the town's white establishment played in it, McBride shows us that even in dark times, it is love and community-heaven and earth-that sustain us." -- Provided by publisher. -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook. Bestseller.

March is National Craft Month, so get crafting with inspiration from the craft books available in our collection. Crafting is not only a fun pastime or source of income but is also beneficial for your health. It can help your mental well being by reducing stress and anxiety, reduces risks of or decreasing cognitive decline impairment, and increases community engagement. The craft books we selected listed below offer something for everyone, whether you are a complete beginner or a veteran crafter.

Begin, or go further in, your creative journey with our selection of nonfiction instructional guides and handbooks, histories of crafting, or memoirs and biographies of artisans and craftspeople. Or, if you're unsure about actually doing crafts yourself, follow fictional characters as they craft in between dealing with friendships, romances, murder and mysteries, and the general ups and downs of life. Enjoy the selection of crafty cozy mysteries and yarn-tastic dramas.

Happy crafting and reading!

Nonfiction

Instruction Guides and Handbooks

DB 58586 Stitch ‘n Bitch nation: the knitter’s handbook by Debbie Stoller

Cofounder of trendy New York City knitting circle gives a brief history of this needle craft. Presents the basics: how to cast on, bind off, and knit. Explains advanced stitching and repair techniques and provides details for over thirty projects, including Pippi Kneestockings, Sparkle Hat, and Under the Hoodie. Some strong language. 2003.

DB 121097 Homemade perfume: create exquisite, naturally scented products to fill your life with botanical aromas by Anya McCoy

"This unprecedented, comprehensive guide from renowned perfumer Anya McCoy is an inspiring resource for anyone interested in creating artisanal perfume at home. Discover simple step-by-step methods for making perfume without harsh chemicals. Jump right in, using local plants and common household ingredients. Soon youll be building your own scent collection and creating unforgettable gifts for friends and family." --WorldCat.

DB 118183 The beginner's guide to wheel throwing: a complete course for the potters wheel by Julia Weber

"Welcome to the wheel, from artist and instructor Julia Claire Weber. In The Beginner's Guide to Wheel Throwing, you'll find all you need to develop the skills (and patience) you need to make your first forms. You'll start at the beginning of the process with a tour through a typical ceramics studio, a discussion of the best clays for throwing, as well as a variety of centering methods. Then unleash your creativity with the chapters that follow. You'll find: Starter projects like cups, bowls, and plates to hone your skills. Tutorials on important topics like trimming and handles. A unique decal workshop, unlocking the potential of image transfer. Throughout the book, skill-building is front and center, with tips and tricks to help you crack the code and make pieces you're proud of. Gallery work from some of today's top artists are sure to inspire potters of all levels. What will you make first? For beginners and those returning to ceramics, the Essential Ceramics Skills series from Quarry Books offer the fundamentals along with fresh, contemporary, and simple projects that build skills progressively." -- Provided by publisher.

DB 114628 Learn to sew and embroider: 35 projects using simple stitches, cute embroider, and pretty appliques by Emma Hardy

"Pick up this book and you'll soon be a sewing whiz, using a wide variety of hand stitches and learning how to sew on a zipper, attach buttons, embroider, and appliqué. In Jewelry and Accessories, you can make adorable watermelon slice brooches or a fun raccoon scarf, while Toys and Dolls features a fake fur teddy bear that would make a great gift--he's so sweet, though, that you might want to keep him for yourself!" -- Provided by publisher. -- For grades 3-6 and older readers.

DB 112423 Botanical soaps: a modern guide to making your own soaps, shampoo bars and other beauty essentials by Maria Tarallo

"Sustainability is creeping into all aspects of our lives. The beauty industry is one of the biggest polluters, littering our oceans with used plastic bottles and containers. In response to this there is a growing movement of people looking for cleaner and greener ways to beautify. Learn how to simplify your beauty regime with Botanical Soaps as this book shows you how to create your own beauty products using all natural ingredients. Demystify your skin type and discover how to combat bathroom plastic, minimise your routine by making your own soaps, shampoo bars and other beauty products, including lip butters, cleansers, bath salts and natural deodorants. Botanical Soaps is a beautiful and inspiring lifestyle guide that will encourage you to green up your beauty regime with all natural, organic projects that are kinder to both the planet and your skin." -- Provided by publisher.

DB 108164 Craft lab for kids: 52 kstb.DIY projects to inspire, excite, and empower kids to create useful beautiful handmade goods by Stephanie Corfee

"Through 52 fun, customizable crafts activities, Craft Lab for Kids promotes creativity and hands-on making for kids age 8 and up." -- Provided by publisher. -- For grades 3-6. 2020.

DB 69781 Small loom and freeform weaving: five ways to weave by Barbara Matthiessen

Beginner's guide to weaving using portable and inexpensive framing options such as knitters looms, handheld Weavettes, homemade board looms, pins, and found objects. Includes instructions for some thirty small-scale projects ranging from wearables to home decorations. Covers design basics, weaving techniques, and finishing procedures. 2008.

DB 54350 Crocheting in plain English by Maggie Righetti

Commonsense approach to this handcraft that is appropriate for beginners and informative for more advanced crocheters. Covers its history and basic preparations; planning projects and stitch techniques; easy-to-follow lessons; finishing touches; and sensible solutions to nagging problems. 1988.

DB 53883 Cool stuff: things to make and do by Jennifer Traig

A straightforward how-to manual of projects that can be accomplished in less than one day. Presents simple ways to decorate household objects or personalize belongings. Provides lists of materials needed with step-by-step directions for completing the product. For grades 4-7. 2001.

Histories of Crafting

DB 104611 Craft: an American history by Glenn Adamson

A historian and curator examines the history of America through the lens of craft. He shows the contributions artisans have made to society, from colonial times to the maker movement of today. 2021.

DB 90367 Crft: an inquiry into the origins and meaning of traditional crafts by Alex Langlands

Archaeologist examines the meaning of the Old English word "craeft," which denoted a sense of knowledge, wisdom, and resourcefulness through the history of production of goods made by human hands. Topics include making hay, sticks and stones, beekeeping, textiles, homebuilding, agriculture, and more. 2017.

DB 59722 No idle hands: the social history of American knitting by Anne L. Macdonald

Historian and lifelong knitter presents a history of knitting in America from colonial times to the 1980s. Using magazine articles, knitting brochures, and responses from knitters around the country, Macdonald shows how needlework as a necessity, or for pleasure, shaped the lives of women throughout the years. 1988.

Memoirs and Biographies

DB 84484 Knitlandia: a knitter sees the world by Clara Parkes

Knitwear designer shares stories from her travels since 2000, when she began the email newsletter Knitter's Review. Tales include befriending a legendary yarn designer in New Mexico, her annual trek to the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival, and visiting Iceland to commune with the local knitting community. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2016.

DB 106441 Hooked: how crafting saved my life by Sutton Foster

A Tony Award-winning actress combines memoir with an ode to crafting as therapy. She describes how she channeled her emotions into her creations as she navigated the significant moments in her life, and they gave her tangible reminders of her experiences. Includes supplemental material. Strong language. Commercial audiobook. 2021.

DB 113482 Unraveling: what I learned about shearing sheep, dyeing wool, and making the world's ugliest sweater by Peggy Orenstein

"The COVID pandemic propelled many people to change their lives in ways large and small. Some adopted puppies. Others stress-baked. Peggy Orenstein, a lifelong knitter, went just a little further. To keep herself engaged and cope with a series of seismic shifts in family life, she set out to make a garment from the ground up: learning to shear sheep, spin and dye yarn, then knitting herself a sweater. Orenstein hoped the project would help her process not just wool but her grief over the recent death of her mother and the decline of her dad, the impending departure of her college-bound daughter, and other thorny issues of aging as a woman in a culture that by turns ignores and disdains them. What she didn't expect was a journey into some of the major issues of our time: climate anxiety, racial justice, women's rights, the impact of technology, sustainability, and, ultimately, the meaning of home. With her wry voice, sharp intelligence, and exuberant honesty, Orenstein shares her year-long journey as daughter, wife, mother, writer, and maker--and teaches us all something about creativity and connection." -- Provided by publisher. -- Some strong language, some violence. Commercial audiobook.

DB 121730 Threads of life: a history of the world through the eye of a needle by Clare Hunter

"For the mothers of the disappeared in 1970s Argentina, protest was difficult. Every Thursday they marched in front of government buildings wearing headscarves embroidered with the names of their lost children. Through sewing, they found a way to campaign. In Tudor England Mary, Queen of Scots was under house arrest and her letters were censored, so she sewed secret treason into her needlework to communicate with the world outside. From the political propaganda of the Bayeux Tapestry and First World War soldiers with PTSD, to the maps sewn by schoolgirls in the New World, Threads of life stretches from medieval France to contemporary Mexico, from a POW camp in Singapore to a family attic in Scotland. It is a chronicle of identity, protest, memory, power and politics told through the stories of the men and women, over centuries and across continents, who have used the language of sewing to make their voices heard, even in the most desperate of circumstances."-- From publisher. -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

DBC24680 Beyond stitch & bitch: reflections on knitting and life by Afi Scruggs

A collection of essays that explores the emotional and spiritual experiences common to those who knit. Its stories chronicle how knitting can be a spiritual, meditative experience, and how one can learn patience, creativity, discipline, and diligence from knitting. Intertwined with the essays are knitting patterns with easy how-to steps and photographs. Adult. Unrated.

DB 97428 Vanishing fleece: adventures in American wool by Clara Parkes

Knitwear designer chronicles the process of turning wool into garments after buying a bale of wool from a sheep breeder. Discusses the harvesting of wool, the state of wool mills in North America, production decisions, the dyeing process, and designing knitwear. 2019.

Fiction

Crafty Cozy Mysteries

DB 70181 Paper, scissors, death: Scrap-n-craft series, book 1 by Joanna Campbell Slan

St. Louis. Scrapbooking housewife Kiki Lowenstein's comfortable life is shattered when her husband George's naked corpse is found at the local Ritz-Carlton. While trying to create a new life for herself and her daughter, Kiki tracks George's killer and uncovers his sordid secret life. Includes paper-crafting tips. 2008.

DB 122246 Dire threads: Threadville, book 1 by Janet Brolin

"When Mike Krawbach, the town's corrupt commissioner, who keeps denying her renovation plans, is found dead in her yard, Willow Vanderling, Threadville's newest resident, becomes the prime suspect and works to clear her name."-- From publisher.

DB 96611 Crewel world: Needlecraft mysteries, book 1 by Monica Ferris

When Betsy Devonshire arrives in Excelsior, Minnesota, all she wants is to visit her sister Margot and get her life in order. She never dreamed her sister would give her a place to stay and a job at her needlecraft shop. Things have never looked so good--until Margot is murdered. Contains some violence, some strong language, and some descriptions of sex. Commercial audiobook. 1999.

DB 80491 Death by cashmere: Seaside knitters mystery, book 1 by Sally Goldenbaum

Not long after Isabel "Izzy" Chambers opens up a knitting shop in the sleepy fishing town of Sea Harbor, Massachusetts, a diverse group of women begins congregating each week to form the Seaside Knitters. When Izzy's renter drowns mysteriously, the women decide to investigate. Commercial audiobook. 2008.

DBC06805 Lye in wait: a home crafting mystery, book 1 by Cricket McRae

A soap maker, who uses lye to make her products, discovers her handyman dead in her studio. He was killed with lye, but the soap maker has all her supplies locked up tight. The detective has his own ideas about the situation. The soap maker wants to search down some clues herself, even when that brings her into some danger.

Yarn-tastic Dramas

DB 68562 Casting spells: Sugar Maple series, book 1 by Barbara Bretton

Part-sorceress and knitting-shop owner Chloe Hobbs must fall in love to preserve a spell protecting the supernatural residents of Sugar Maple, Vermont. Various matchmaking efforts--involving trolls and selkies--fail until Chloe meets homicide detective Luke MacKenzie. Unfortunately he's human. Some strong language and some descriptions of sex. 2008.

DB 93957 A single thread: Cobbled Court Quilts, book 1 by Marie Bostwick

The end of Evelyn's marriage was a wake-up call, prompting her to move to Connecticut and open a quilt shop. She bonds with three women who show up for one of her quilting classes, and when Evelyn faces breast cancer, she leans on them for support. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2008.

DB 65774 An Elm Creek quilts sampler: Elm Creek quilts, books 1-3 by Jennifer Chiaverini

Women forge friendships while sharing their needlecraft. In The Quilter's Apprentice, Waterford, Pennsylvania, newcomer Sarah McClure takes quilting lessons from her crotchety employer Sylvia Compson. In Round Robin, the quilters open an instructional camp. In The Cross-Country Quilters, five new members join the group. 2001.

DB 65750 The Friday Night Knitting Club, book 1 by Kate Jacobs

Single mother Georgia Walker runs a Manhattan yarn shop where knitters gather regularly to work on projects and share stories. Aging widow Anita, pre-law student Peri, and secretive Lucie join the club as unexpected events--including the return of Georgia's ex--unravel their lives. Some strong language. Bestseller. 2007.

DB 58642 The shop on Blossom Street Blossom Street series, book 1 by Debbie Macomber

Three diverse women--tough girl Alix, hopeful mother Carol, and unhappy wife Jacqueline--attend a beginners' knitting class hosted by cancer survivor Lydia in her Seattle yarn store. All four become friends and make unexpected discoveries about themselves and each other. Some explicit descriptions of sex. 2004.

DB 82111 Boys don't knit (in public) by Tom Easton

After a brush with the law, Ben, a dyed-in-the-wool worrier, must take up a new hobby as a condition of probation and chooses knitting. Amazed and conflicted by his own skill, Ben strives to keep his talent a secret. Some strong language. For senior high and older readers. 2015.

DB 96385 The Oysterville Sewing Circle by Susan Wiggs

After a scandal, Caroline Shelby returns home to Oysterville with two children for whom she is now the legal guardian. Reconnecting with old friends, she starts the Oysterville Sewing Circle as a place where the women of the town can share their troubles and support each other. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2019.

DBC13285 The Persian Pickle Club by Sandra Dallas

The society of small town Harleyville, Kansas is built around a quilting circle, The Persian Pickle Club. The members band together when a new addition brings with her a dark secret that tears the fabric of the group.

DBC04974 Waking up in the land of glitter: a Crafty Chica novel by Kathy Cano-Munillo

Free-spirited Latina Estrella "Star" Esteban has made a mess of everything. If losing her almost-boyfriend Theo and her job wasn't enough, she is practically drowning in glitter--350 pounds of it. With the help of some craft crazy friends, and even an enemy, she sets out to correct her mistakes and change her life for the better. Some strong language.

DB 92924 The glassblower, book 1 by Petra Durst-Benning

1890. The three daughters of glassblower Joost Steinmann must find their way in the world after he dies. Johanna looks for work, Ruth longs for love, and Marie is fascinated by the all-male tradition of glassblowing. Translated from the original 2003 German edition. Violence and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2014.

DB 92799 The Saturday Evening Girls Club by Jane Healy

Boston, 1908. Four friends, daughters of immigrants, meet every Saturday for a pottery class. Caprice, Ada, Maria, and Thea have ambitions beyond their parents' expectations and must juggle the conflicting desires. Each has the opportunity to find love. 2017.

DB 71685 The lace makers of Glenmara by Heather Doran Barbieri

Kate, an aspiring fashion designer from Seattle, travels the back roads of Ireland to recover from a broken heart. An extended stay in Glenmara with traditional lace makers, a new project, and a chance for romance give Kate a fresh perspective on life. Some strong language. 2009.

DB 64371 Avielle of Rhia by Dia Calhoun

Fifteen-year-old Princess Avielle is the only member of the royal family to survive a deadly attack. While hiding among the townsfolk, she discovers her magical gift for weaving and must find out whether her destiny will lead her to good or evil. For grades 6-9. 2006.

DB 36885 Carver by Ruth Yaffe Radin

Ten-year-old Jon, who is blind, and his mother return to live with his grandmother at Kellam's Landing, where Jon attends public school for the first time. His new friend Matt tells him about Carver, an embittered old man who carves exquisite wooden birds. Jon's father had loved carving birds before his fatal accident, and it becomes important to Jon to also learn the craft, although he knows that his mother will not approve. For grades 4- 7.

If you would like more craft books, try searching our online catalog at https://kstb.klas.com. You can search for “Crafts” or even by individual crafts, such as knitting, quilting, crocheting, etc. There are more books available in our collection. These are just some of the books we have available about crafts. If you find something you would like to read, you can order it directly through the online catalog, email or call the office with your order, or download the books using BARD.

BARD, Braille and Audio Reading Download, is a web-based service provided by the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) and Kansas Talking Books offering patrons access to downloadable audio and electronic braille books and magazines, as well as music information and learning materials. The books listed above and in our catalog are all (for the most part) available for download through BARD. For more information 

The Kansas Talking Books (KTB) Quarterly Virtual Book Club's March “Bring Your Own Books” discussion occurred earlier today. During this book club meeting, participants could discuss any book (or books) they have recently been reading or even their favorite book. It's a opportunity to meet and interact with other KTB patrons and staff to get a variety of recommendations. Those mentioned by the participants today display how we each differ in our reading tastes. It's always fun to learn what others are reading; who knows, maybe one of these books will catch your interest and become your next read.

Michael Lang, Kansas Talking Books Director

DB 119203 Orbital by Samantha Harvey

"A slender novel of epic power, Orbital deftly snapshots one day in the lives of six women and men hurtling through space-not towards the moon or the vast unknown, but around our planet. Selected for one of the last space station missions of its kind before the program is dismantled, these astronauts and cosmonauts-from America, Russia, Italy, Britain, and Japan-have left their lives behind to travel at a speed of over seventeen thousand miles an hour as the earth reels below. We glimpse moments of their earthly lives through brief communications with family, their photos and talismans; we watch them whip up dehydrated meals, float in gravity-free sleep, and exercise in regimented routines to prevent atrophying muscles; we witness them form bonds that will stand between them and utter solitude. Most of all, we are with them as they behold and record their silent blue planet. Their experiences of sixteen sunrises and sunsets and the bright, blinking constellations of the galaxy are at once breathtakingly awesome and surprisingly intimate. So are the marks of civilization far below, encrusted on the planet on which we live." -- Provided by publisher. -- Commercial audiobook.

DB 117371 The mostly true story of Tanner & Louise by Colleen Oakley

"Twenty-one-year-old Tanner Quimby needs a place to live. Preferably one where she can continue sitting around in sweatpants and playing video games nineteen hours a day. Since she has no credit or money to speak of, her options are limited, so when an opportunity to work as a live-in caregiver for an elderly woman falls into her lap, she takes it. One slip on the rug. That's all it took for Louise Wilt's daughter to demand that Louise have a full-time nanny living with her. Never mind that she can still walk fine, finish her daily crossword puzzle, and pour the two fingers of vodka she drinks every afternoon. Bottom line: Louise wants a caretaker even less than Tanner wants to be one. The two start off their living arrangement happily ignoring each other until Tanner starts to notice things-weird things. Like, why does Louise keep her garden shed locked up tighter than a prison? And why is the local news fixated on the suspect of one of the biggest jewelry heists in American history who looks eerily like Louise? And why does Louise suddenly appear in her room, with a packed bag at 1 a.m. insisting that they leave town immediately? Thus begins the story of a not-to-be-underestimated elderly woman and an aimless young woman who-if they can outrun the mistakes of their past-might just have the greatest adventure of their lives." -- Provided by publisher. -- Some descriptions of sex, strong language. Commercial audiobook.

Jane, Silver Lake

DB 120199 Three-inch teeth by C. J. Box

"A rogue grizzly bear has gone on a rampage--killing, among others, the potential fiancé of Joe's daughter. At the same time, Dallas Cates, who Joe helped lock up years ago, is released from prison with a special list tattooed on his skin. He wants revenge on the people who sent him away: the six people he blames for the deaths of his entire family and the loss of his reputation and property. Using the grizzly attacks as cover, Cates sets out to methodically check off his list. The problem is, both Nate Romanowski and Joe Pickett are on it"-- Back cover. -- Strong language and some violence. Commercial audiobook. Bestseller.

DB 86075 The edge of the Empire: a journey to Britannia: from the heart of Rome to Hadrian's Wall by Bronwen Riley

In the year A. D. 130, Rome is the heart of a vast empire ruled by Hadrian, and Britannia is merely a troublesome, faraway province. Using an extensive range of Greek and Latin sources, the author describes an epic journey from Rome to Hadrian's Wall at the empire's northwestern frontier. 2015.

Jackie, Leavenworth

DB 49645 Redeeming love by Francine Rivers

Sarah was only eight when her mother died and she was sold into prostitution. When she is in her early twenties and working in a California brothel as "Angel," a devout Christian gentleman rescues her. But Sarah has trouble accepting God's redeeming love. Some descriptions of sex. 1997.

DB 121637 Bits and pieces: my mother, my brother, and me by Whoopi Goldberg

"From multi-award winner Whoopi Goldberg comes a new and unique memoir of her family and their influence on her early life."-- OCLC. -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

DB 92057 Fly girls: how five daring women defied all odds and made aviation history by Keith O'Brien

An account of how a group of female pilots banded together to fight for the chance to compete in airplane racing, a hugely popular sport in the years between WWI and WWII. Profiles five talented pilots, including Amelia Earhart, and the competition and camaraderie they shared. Commercial audiobook. 2018.

Betty, Manhattan

DB 116354 The river we remember by William Kent Krueger

"On Memorial Day, as the people of Jewel, Minnesota, gather to remember and honor the sacrifice of so many sons in the wars of the past, the half-clothed body of wealthy landowner Jimmy Quinn is found floating in the Alabaster River, dead from a shotgun blast. Investigation of the murder falls to Sheriff Brody Dern, a highly decorated war hero who still carries the physical and emotional scars from his military service. Even before Dern has the results of the autopsy, vicious rumors begin to circulate that the killer must be Noah Bluestone, a Native American WWII veteran who has recently returned to Jewel with a Japanese wife. As suspicions and accusations mount and the town teeters on the edge of more violence, Dern struggles not only to find the truth of Quinn's murder but also put to rest the demons from his own past. Caught up in the torrent of anger that sweeps through Jewel are a war widow and her adolescent son, the intrepid publisher of the local newspaper, an aging deputy, and a crusading female lawyer, all of whom struggle with their own tragic histories and harbor secrets that Quinn's death threatens to expose." -- Provided by publisher. -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook. Bestseller.

Maggie Witte, Kansas Talking Books Outreach Librarian

DB 125304 We kept her in the cellar by W. R. Gorman

"Eunice follows three strict rules in life: treat Cinderella as family, prevent her from accessing rats or mice, and never look at her between midnight and 3 a.m. Cinderella, possessing dark powers, is cared for by Eunice, who keeps the family's secret. Eunice's life has been filled with nightmares and close encounters with the monster in the cellar. Upon befriending Prince Credence and securing a ball invitation, Eunice sees a chance for freedom. However, Cinderella escapes, wreaking havoc at the ball and captivating the prince. Eunice must now decide what she's willing to sacrifice to stop her stepsister."-- From publisher. -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

DB 64445 His majesty's dragon by Naomi Novik

English naval captain Will Laurence discovers a dragon egg aboard a captured French frigate. Once the creature, Temeraire, hatches, Will harnesses it and bonds immediately and irrevocably with it. The pair trains in the art of airborne combat before joining the Aerial Corps to battle Napoleon's forces. Commercial audiobook. 2006.

DB 119351 The king's captive by K. M. Shea

"I can turn into a housecat. It's a fun magic, except in a world filled with vampires and werewolves, it doesn't exactly make me a powerhouse. Instead, the supernatural community has classified me as an outcast, which means one thing: Picking on me is open season all day, every day. The local fae are the worst of all, and it's during one of their regular "capture the cat-girl" sessions that I shift into my cat form and meet HIM for the first time. Noctus is so powerful his magic radiates off him like a sun, and my fae captors can barely look in his general direction. And then my life gets even more terrifying when Noctus decides to take me with him. As a pet. Why did he pick today to "adopt don't shop" a cat?"--Goodreads. Some violence and some strong language.

The Kansas Talking Books staff has an eclectic taste in books from all different genres. Check out what our staff has been reading this month.

Maggie Witte, Outreach Librarian

DB 121552 Ocean's godori by Elaine U. Cho

"Becky Chambers meets Firefly in this big-hearted Korean space opera debut about a disgraced space pilot struggling to find her place while fighting to protect the people she loves. "A thrilling, transportive ride from a powerful and evocative new voice."-- Lena Waithe, Rishi Rajani, and Naomi Funabashi, Hillman Grad Books Ocean Yoon has never felt very Korean, even if she is descended from a long line of haenyeo, Jeju Island's beloved female divers. She doesn't like soju, constantly misses cultural references, and despite her love of the game, people still say that she doesn't play Hwatu like a Korean. Ocean's also persona non grata at the Alliance, Korea's solar system-dominating space agency, since a mission went awry and she earned a reputation for being a little too quick with her gun. When her best friend, Teo, second son of the Anand Tech empire, is framed for murdering his family, Ocean and her misfit crewmates are pushed to the forefront of a high-stakes ideological conflict. But dodging bullets and winning space chases may be the easiest part of what comes next. A thrilling adventure across the solar that delivers hyperkinetic action sequences and irresistible will-they-won't-they romance alongside its nuanced exploration of colonialism and capitalism, Ocean's Godori ultimately asks: What do we owe our past? How do we navigate our present while honoring the complicated facets of our identity? What can our future hold?"-- From publisher. -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

DB 107522 The diamond eye by Kate Quinn

Kiev, 1937. Bookish history student Mila Pavlichenko organizes her life around her library job and her young son--but Hitler's invasion sends her on a different path. Given a rifle and sent to join the fight, Mila becomes a deadly sniper--a lethal hunter of Nazis known as Lady Death. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. Bestseller. 2022.

DB 122378 Of jade and dragons by Amber Chen

"After her father's murder, eighteen-year-old Aihui Ying travels to the capital, where she diguises herself as her brother and infiltrates the Engineers Guild as she tries to solve her father's murder with help from a prince with plans of his own."-- From publisher. -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook. For senior high and older readers.

DB 110049 Half a soul by Olivia Atwater

"Ever since she was cursed by a faerie, Theodora Ettings has had no sense of fear or embarrassment-an unfortunate condition that leaves her prone to accidental scandal. Dora hopes to be a quiet, sensible wallflower during the London Season-but when Elias Wilder, the strange, handsome, and utterly ill-mannered Lord Sorcier, discovers her condition, she is instead drawn into peculiar and dangerous faerie affairs. If her reputation can survive both her curse and her sudden connection with the least-liked man in all high society, then she and her family may yet reclaim their normal place in the world. But the longer Dora spends with Elias, the more she begins to suspect that one may indeed fall in love even with only half a soul." -- Provided by publisher. -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

Ryan Lauber, Library Assistant

DB 94475 Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson

In the prisons of the Lord Ruler, Kelsier discovers he has the powers of the Mistborn. A brilliant thief, Kel recruits a team from the underworld's elite to challenge the Lord Ruler. It's a long shot, until Kel finds the ragged girl Vin, a half-skaa orphan like him. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2006.

Dylan Calhoon, Patron Services Manager

DB 58628 The lone drow by R. A. Salvatore

After their near-devastating defeat in The Thousand Orcs (DB 58337), dwarves and humans flee the onslaught of King Obould Many-Arrows and his orc army. Dark elf Drizzt Do'Urden, having become separated from his companions, sets out alone across the Spine of the World to avenge the fallen. Violence. 2003.

Jason Brinkman, Production Manager

DB 122096 Challenger: a true story of heroism and disaster on the edge of space by Adam Higginbottom

"On January 28, 1986, just seventy-three seconds into flight, the space shuttle Challenger broke apart over the Atlantic Ocean, killing all seven people on board. Millions of Americans witnessed the tragic deaths of the crew, which included New Hampshire schoolteacher Christa McAuliffe. Like the assassination of JFK, the Challenger disaster is a defining moment in twentieth-century history -- one that forever changed the way America thought of itself and its optimistic view of the future. Yet the full story of what happened, and why, has never been told. Based on extensive archival research and meticulous, original reporting, Challenger : A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space follows a handful of central protagonists -- including each of the seven members of the doomed crew -- through the years leading up to the accident, and offers a detailed account of the tragedy itself and the investigation afterward. It's a compelling tale of ambition and ingenuity undermined by political cynicism and cost-cutting in the interests of burnishing national prestige ; of hubris and heroism ; and of an investigation driven by leakers and whistleblowers determined to bring the truth to light. Throughout, there are the ominous warning signs of a tragedy to come, recognized but then ignored, and later hidden from the public. Higginbotham reveals the history of the shuttle program and the lives of men and women whose stories have been overshadowed by the disaster, as well as the designers, engineers, and test pilots who struggled against the odds to get the first shuttle into space. A masterful blend of riveting human drama and fascinating and absorbing science, Challenger identifies a turning point in history -- and brings to life an even more complex and astonishing story than we remember." -- Provided by publisher. -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook. Bestseller.

Have you ever told yourself, “This year, I'm going to read more books”? Do you want to encourage yourself to read outside your comfort zone? Are you looking to challenge yourself?

Several reading challenges exist online, some with various prompts to get you reading outside your box, others with a numbered reading goal to reach, but all with the goal to get you reading more. Yes, we know we're already nearing mid-February, but it's still early in the year and a perfect time to get started. Try yourself with any one of these challenges we've rounded up from the multitude across the Internet. 

Remember, if you need help to find books to fit your challenge prompts or just need help finding your next read, the Kansas Talking Books' team of readers' advisors are just a call (1-800-362-0699) or email (ktb@ks.gov) away. We are happy to help you with any of your reading or library needs.

Reading Challenges:

Book Riot's 2025 Read Harder Challenge - use the 24 prompts provided to read outside your comfort zone.

The StoryGraph's Genre Challenge 2025 - read outside your normal genres with this list of prompts for both fiction and nonfiction genres.

2025 Goodreads Reading Challenge - set your goal to read x number of books this year and use the tips and prompts new this year to reach your goal.

2025 Barnes and Noble Book Challenge - challenge yourself to read 52 books, one for each week, fitting the one simple prompts provided which include a couple of possible books matching the prompt as a starting point.

Beat the Backlist - focus on clearing out your to-be-read (TBR) list with this challenge using the prompts provided.

Booklist Queen's 2025 Reading Challenge - read as many books as you can this year, maybe even one per week, with the 52 prompts provided to expand your reading selection.

2025 PopSugar Reading Challenge - use these prompts as inspiration for choosing your next read.

2025 NoveList Reading Challenge - use the monthly prompts to inspire you pick something different for your next read:

• January: Mix things up with a genre blend.
• February: Fall in love with an LGBTQIA+ romance.
• March: Stay up to date with a book about current social issues.
• April: Read a book with neurodivergent characters.
• May: Enjoy a larger-than-life cinematic book.
• June: Lighten up with a funny or whimsical graphic novel.
• July: Enjoy a chilling summer with must-read horror.
• August: Read a cli-fi, solarpunk, or hopepunk book.
• September: Read a book set in the decade you were born.  
• October: Try an award-winning audiobook or graphic novel. 
• November: Tempt your tastebuds with a culinary read.
• December: Go meta with books about books.

Kansas Talking Books Summer Reading - while not a reading challenge, find book recommendations each week focused on a different theme between June 2 and August 1. Find out more on our website.

Check out January's top BARD downloads in Kansas! If you aren't yet a BARD user, you can learn more at the NLS BARD website. If BARD isn't a good fit for you, we are still happy to mail books and magazines directly to your home. Just drop us a line at KTB@ks.gov or call 800-362-0699. Happy reading!

Most popular Kansas BARD user audiobook downloads January 

• DB125080 The Boyfriend by McFadden, Freida.
• DB125159 Raised by Wolves by Patterson, James & Raymond, Emily.
• DB124996 In Too Deep by Child, Lee & Child, Andrew.
• DB125278 Haunted by White, Randy Wayne.
• DB125480 To Die For by Baldacci, David.
• DB124695 Ward D by McFadden, Freida.
• DB124746 The Waiting by Connelly, Michael.
• DB122801 The Housemaid is Watching by McFadden, Freida.
• DB120063 James by Everett, Percival.
• DB123601 A Home for Hannah by Davids, Patricia.
• DB125318 The Grey Wolf by Penny, Louise.
• DB124686 Framed: Astonishing true stories of wrongful convictions by Grisham, John & McCloskey, Jim.
   

Most popular Kansas BARD user audio magazine downloads from January 2025. 

• Atlantic Monthly January, 2025
• The Week January 17, 2025
• The New Yorker December 23, 2024
• Guide Posts February, 2025
• The Week December 27, 2024
• AARP Magazine and Bulletin October, 2024
• Mother Jones January, 2025
• Atlantic Monthly December, 2024
• Discover November, 2024
• The New Yorker January 13, 2025

• New York Times Book Review January 05, 2025

   A full list of available magazines can be found on the NLS Website. 

Most popular Kansas BARD user braille book downloads from January 2025 

• BR25214 What Every Blind Person Needs You to Know: A handbook for friends, family and colleagues of the visually impaired by Hunt, Leanne.
• BR24484 The Chicken Bible: Say goodbye to boring chicken with 500 recipes for easy dinners, braises, wings, stir-fries, and so much more by America's Test Kitchen.

Today is Kansas Day, celebrating the day Kansas was admitted into the Union in 1861 as the 34th state. In honor of this day, we've pulled a list of the top ten most popular books in the past 5 years that are about Kansas and recorded by your very own Kansas Talking Books library through efforts of staff and volunteers. These books cover a variety of topics, people, and events in Kansas history with a popular paranormal western included. Make one of these local interest books your next read.

1. DBC06570 It happened in Kansas: remarkable events that shaped history by Sarah Smarsh

It Happened in Kansas features over 25 chapters in Kansas history. Lively and entertaining, this book brings the varied and fascinating history of the Sunflower State to life. Some violence.

2. DBC17284 Flint Hills cowboys: tales from the Tallgrass Prairie by James F. Hoy

The Flint Hills are America's last tallgrass prairie, a green enclave set in the midst of the farmland of eastern Kansas. Known as the home of the Big Beef Steer, these rugged hills have produced exemplary cowboys -- both the ranch and rodeo varieties -- whose hard work has given them plenty of material for equally good stories. Adult.

3. DBC17310 Peggy of the Flint Hills: a memoir by Zula Bennington Greene

"Peggy of the Flint Hills" was a beloved Topeka newspaper columnist, dispensing common sense and uncommon insight six days a week for 55 years. But her true masterwork was this little memoir, now seeing publication for the first time--a breathtakingly rich recollection of her childhood in the Ozark foothills and her young adulthood in the Kansas Flint Hills. With a full heart and a matchless memory, Peggy writes of the people and places that shaped her, offering readers a crystalline window into a long-gone world.

4. DBC14923 Notorious Kansas bank heists: gunslingers to gangsters by Rod Beemer

Bank robbers wreaked havoc in the Sunflower State. After robbing the Chautauqua State Bank in 1911, outlaw Elmer McCurdy was killed by lawmen but wasn't buried for sixty-six years. His afterlife can be described only as bizarre. Belle Starr's nephew Henry Starr claimed to have robbed twenty-one banks. The Dalton gang failed in their attempt to rob two banks simultaneously, but others accomplished this in Waterville in 1911. Nearly four thousand known vigilantes patrolled the Sunflower State during the 1920s and 1930s to combat the criminal menace. One group even had an airplane with a .50-caliber machine gun. Join author Rod Beemer for a wild ride into Kansas's tumultuous bank heist history. Some strong language and some violence.

5. DBC06565 Of grave concern: Ophelia Wylde series, book 1 by Max McCoy

The Civil War is over, and many a young widow has turned to spiritualism to contact their husbands on 'the other side.' But Ophelia Wylde won't be fooled twice. After wasting her money on a phoney psychic, she decides if she can't beat 'em, join 'em. She leaves New Orleans and heads West, selling her services as a spiritual medium who speaks to the dead. By the time she reaches Dodge City, business is booming. Except for a handsome but skeptical bounty hunter named Jack Calder, no one suspects Ophelia of running a con game--until an unfortunate 'reading' of a girl who's still living exposes her to a town full of angry customers. As punishment, the mob drags Ophelia to Boot Hill and buries her alive in a fresh grave overnight. That's when the dead start speaking. To her. For real. And for dead people, they've got lots to say. Contains some descriptions of sex, some strong language, and some violence.

6. DBC08730 Harvey Houses of Kansas: historic hospitality from Topeka to Syracuse by Rosa Walston Latimer

Starting in Kansas, Fred Harvey's iconic Harvey House was the first to set the standard for fine dining and hospitality across the rugged Southwest. In 1876, the first of Harvey's depot restaurants opened in Topeka, followed just a few years later by the first combination hotel and restaurant in Florence. Fred Harvey and the Harvey Girls introduced good food and manners to the land of Bat Masterson, Wyatt Earp and raucous cattle drives. In her third book on the Harvey House legacy, author Rosa Walston Latimer goes back to where it all began in this history of hospitality from the Sunflower State.

7. DBC05083 Time's shadow: remembering a family farm in Kansas by Arnold J. Bauer

Arnold Bauer grew up on his family's 160-acre farm in Goshen Township in Clay County, Kansas, amidst a land of prairie grass and rich creek-bottom soil. His meditative and moving account of those years depicts a century-long narrative of struggle, survival, and demise. A coming-of-age memoir set in the 1930s to 50s, it blends local history with personal reflection to paint a realistic picture of farm life and families from a now-lost world. Contains some strong language and some violence.

8. DBC06579 Shadow on the hill: the true story of a 1925 Kansas murder by Diana Staresinic-Deane

On Decoration Day in 1925, John Knoblock returned to his Kansas farm to find his wife slaughtered on the kitchen floor. Within hours, dozens of lawmen, family members, well-meaning neighbors and gawkers paraded through the Knoblock farmstead, contaminating and destroying what little evidence was left behind. A small team of inexperienced lawmen, including a newly elected sheriff who had never run a murder investigation, attempted to reconstruct and solve the most gruesome murder in the history of Coffey County, Kansas. Adult. Some violence.

9. DBC08676 The border between them: violence and reconciliation on the Kansas-Missouri line by Jeremy Neely

The author recounts the exploits of John Brown, William Quantrill, and other notorious guerrillas, as well as the stories of everyday people who lived through the conflict that marked the terrible first act of the American Civil War. He then examines how emancipation, industrialization, and immigration eventually eroded wartime divisions. Some violence.

10. DBC02420 And hell followed with it: life and death in a Kansas tornado by Bonar Menninger

Detailed account of the June 1966 tornado in Topeka, where property damage of $100 million made it the most destructive in U.S. history up to that time. Some violence and some strong language.