Talking Books Talk

On The Download - May 2025

05/05/2025

Michael Lang

Check out April'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 audiobook downloads in Kansas, April 2025

DB127433 New Kid in Town by Child, Andrew.
DB127213 The Crash by McFadden, Freida.
DB127087 Bonded in Death by Robb, J. D.
DB127118 Paranoia: The most beloved family in crime fiction by Patterson, James & Born, James O.
DB126997 Open Season by Kellerman, Jonathan.
DB125584 Legacy of Lies by Bailey, Robert.
DB122472 The Florist on Amelia Island by Holloway, Hope.
DB126701 Backwater Justice by Michaels, Fern.
DB125047 The Amish Nanny by Davids, Patricia.
DB126124 Exposed by Asher, Brynne.
DB125049 Melania by Trump, Melania.
DB125043 The Shepherd's Bride by Davids, Patricia.
DB127329 Pro Bono by Perry, Thomas.

Most popular audio magazine downloads in Kansas, April 2025

Atlantic Monthly. March, 2025.
Atlantic Monthly. April, 2025.
Discover. March, 2025.
Guide Posts. April, 2025.
Economist. April 05, 2025.
Talking Book Topics. March, 2025.
National Review. April, 2025.
Rolling Stone. April, 2025.
The Nation. March, 2025.
The New Yorker. April 14, 2025.
Reader's Digest. March, 2025.
Economist. March 29, 2025.

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

Most popular braille book downloads in Kansas, April 2025

BR25280 Managing Your Emotions: Daily wisdom for remaining stable in an unstable world: a 90 day devotional by Meyer, Joyce.
BR24836 The Complete Small Plates Cookbook: 300+ shareable tapas, meze, bar snacks, dumplings, salads, and more by America's Test Kitchen.
BR25305 Ties That Bind by Woodsmall, Cindy.
BR25421 The Whole Body Reset: Your weight-loss plan for a flat belly, optimum health and a body you'll love at midlife and beyond by Perrine, Stephen; Skolnik, Heidi; AARP.
BR24822 Knit Shawls & Wraps in 1 week: 30 quick patterns to keep you cozy in style by Greene, Marie.
BR25298 Resurrection Walk by Connelly, Michael.
BR25006 Obsessed by Patterson, James & Born, James O.
BR07765 All of the Women of the Bible by Deen, Edith.
BR14362 God's Leading Lady: Out of the shadows and into the light by Jakes, T. D.

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On The Download - May 2025

Check out April'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 audiobook downloads in Kansas, April 2025 DB127433 New Kid in Town by Child, Andrew.DB127213 The Crash by McFadden, Freida.DB127087 Bonded in Death by Robb, J. D.DB127118 Paranoia: The most beloved family in crime fiction by Patterson, James & Born, James O.DB126997 Open Season by Kellerman, Jonathan.DB125584 Legacy of Lies by Bailey, Robert.DB122472 The Florist on Amelia Island by Holloway, Hope.DB126701 Backwater Justice by Michaels, Fern.DB125047 The Amish Nanny by Davids, Patricia.DB126124 Exposed by Asher, Brynne.DB125049 Melania by Trump, Melania.DB125043 The Shepherd's Bride by Davids, Patricia.DB127329 Pro Bono by Perry, Thomas.Most popular audio magazine downloads in Kansas, April 2025Atlantic Monthly. March, 2025.Atlantic Monthly. April, 2025.Discover. March, 2025.Guide Posts. April, 2025.Economist. April 05, 2025.Talking Book Topics. March, 2025.National Review. April, 2025.Rolling Stone. April, 2025.The Nation. March, 2025.The New Yorker. April 14, 2025.Reader's Digest. March, 2025.Economist. March 29, 2025.A full list of available magazines can be found on the NLS Website. Most popular braille book downloads in Kansas, April 2025BR25280 Managing Your Emotions: Daily wisdom for remaining stable in an unstable world: a 90 day devotional by Meyer, Joyce.BR24836 The Complete Small Plates Cookbook: 300+ shareable tapas, meze, bar snacks, dumplings, salads, and more by America's Test Kitchen.BR25305 Ties That Bind by Woodsmall, Cindy.BR25421 The Whole Body Reset: Your weight-loss plan for a flat belly, optimum health and a body you'll love at midlife and beyond by Perrine, Stephen; Skolnik, Heidi; AARP.BR24822 Knit Shawls & Wraps in 1 week: 30 quick patterns to keep you cozy in style by Greene, Marie.BR25298 Resurrection Walk by Connelly, Michael.BR25006 Obsessed by Patterson, James & Born, James O.BR07765 All of the Women of the Bible by Deen, Edith.BR14362 God's Leading Lady: Out of the shadows and into the light by Jakes, T. D....

April 2025 Staff Picks

When you're looking for something new to read, find out what your Kansas Talking Books staff have been reading recently with these staff picks. Michael Lang, DirectorDB 104763 The waste lands: Dark tower, book 3 by Stephen King Roland continues his quest for the Dark Tower, joined by Eddie Dean and his lover Susannah, who have traveled across time from their New York world. Roland begins losing his mind--thanks to Jake Chambers, who died earlier but reappears here--and the group faces many new evils. Violence and some strong language. Commercial audiobook. Bestseller. 1991.DB 75687 The one and only Ivan by Katherine Applegate Ivan the gorilla has lived comfortably for years in a down-and-out, circus-themed mall. But when baby elephant Ruby arrives, Ivan decides that he must find her a better life. For grades 3-6 and older readers. 2012.Maggie Witte, Outreach LibrarianDB 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. --Strong language, violence. Commercial audiobook. Bestseller.Nataly Renfro, Machine ClerkDB 97020 A blade so black: Nightmare-verse, book 1 by L. L. McKinney Alice battles monstrous creatures in the dark dream realm known as Wonderland with magic weapons and hardcore fighting skills. When Alice's mentor is poisoned, she has to travel deep into Wonderland to find a cure. Violence and strong language. Commercial audiobook. For senior high and older readers. 2018.DB 97021 A dream so dark: Nightmare-verse, book 2 by L. L. McKinney Still reeling from her recent battle, Alice must cross the Veil to rescue her friends, but a new threat emerges in Wonderland. Sequel to A Blade So Black (DB 97020). Violence and strong language. Commercial audiobook. For senior high and older readers. 2019.DB 117357 A crown so cursed: Nightmare-verse, book 3 by L. L. McKinney "Alice and her crew are doing their best to recover from the last boss battle, but some of them keep having these. . . dreams: visions of a dark past--and an even darker future. Sadly, the evil in Wonderland may not be as defeated as they'd hoped. Attacked by Nightmares unlike any they've ever seen, Alice will have to step between the coming darkness and the mortal world once more. But this time is different. This time, the monsters aren't waiting for her on the other side of the Veil." -- Provided by publisher. -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook. For senior high and older readers.DB 124931 The other half of the grave: Night Huntress, book 8 by Jeaniene Frost "From the New York Times bestselling author of the Night Huntress series comes a thrilling new look at the iconic origin story of Cat and Bones, as experienced by Bones...from the other half of the grave.There are two sides to every story-and the sizzling British alpha vampire, Bones, has a lot to say...Ever wondered what Bones was thinking and feeling when he and half-vampire Cat Crawfield first met? Or how their story might differ if he were the one telling it? Now, relive the beginning of Cat and Bones' bestselling love story through Bones' point of view, which reveals a darker, sexier take on their early days, as well as a deeper dive into Bones' past, the vampire world, and other things that Cat didn't see when their story was told only through her eyes in Halfway to the Grave.Cat had her say. Now, it's Bones' turn."-- From publisher. -- Violence, strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex.DB 126489 Both feet in the grave: Night Huntress, book 9 by Jeaniene Frost "Cat disappeared from Bones' life to protect him, but this Master vampire will keep his promise to find her. Two hundred years of bounty hunting made Bones the best at what he does, yet it's still taken him four long years to find Cat, the half vampire now known as the "Red Reaper." There's a price on Cat's head, and not even her job as a secret government agent can save her. Only Bones can. But has time hardened Bones too much to love again? Or will his passion for Cat burn through every obstacle-alive, undead, or otherwise-between them? From the New York Times bestselling author of the Night Huntress series comes a fresh, new perspective on the origin saga of Cat and Bones, in Bones' own words..."-- Publisher marketing. -- Unrated. Commercial audiobook.Troy Arndt, Circulation ClerkDB 96449 Chaos: Charles Manson, the CIA, and the secret history of the sixties by Tim O'Neill Journalist's reassessment of the infamous case against Charles Manson and his young followers--who murdered seven people, including eight-months-pregnant actress Sharon Tate--is the product of two decades of reporting, hundreds of new interviews, and dozens of never-before-seen documents from the LAPD, the FBI, and the CIA. Contains violence and explicit descriptions of sex. Commercial audiobook. 2019.DBC00014 The thicket by Joe R. Lansdale Jack Parker knows all too well how treacherous turn-of-the-century East Texas can be. His parents did not survive a smallpox epidemic. His grandfather was murdered. Now his sister Lula has been kidnapped by a criminal who may believe wearing a dead man's clothes protects him from death. With bounty hunter Shorty, a charismatic and cunning dwarf, and Eustace, a gravedigging son of an ex-slave, the heartbroken young Jack sets off on an epic quest to rescue his sister from the corrupt men who control much of the new territory. Violence, strong language, and explicit descriptions of sex....

Libraries and Librarians in Literature

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 NonfictionDB 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. 2015DB 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. 2010DB 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 NonfictionDBC05710 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 FictionDB 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 FictionDB 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....

On The Download - April 2025

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 2025BR25280 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. ...