Spokane Public Library

Want to learn how to make a napkin rose? Learn with our Northtown staff as they present this Opening Act(ivity). This program is usually held at Northtown on Monday mornings but while we are closed, we are bringing the activities to you.

Lisa

~ admin

Posted June 25, 2020

Concrete Poetry | Opening Act(ivity)

Hi, my name is Lisa. I host the Opening Act(ivity) program at the Northtown Branch.

Today’s activity is writing a concrete poem using Shakespeare or a favorite author.

concretepoetry Concrete poetry—sometimes also called ‘shape poetry‘—is poetry whose visual appearance matches the topic of the poem.

The words form shapes which illustrate the poem’s subject as a picture, as well as through their literal meaning.

~ admin

Posted June 18, 2020

Juneteenth | Resources and Book List

juneteenth

Ways to Celebrate Juneteenth

We Were Eight Years in Power by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Book | eBook

The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson

Book | eBook

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

Book | eBook | Audiobook

Stony the Road: Reconstruction, White Supremacy, and the Rise of Jim Crow by Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

Book | eBook | Audiobook

The Weary Blues by Langston Hughes

Book

The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin

Book

On the Other Side of Freedom by DeRay Mckesson

Book

Washington Black by Esi Edugyan

Book | eBook | Audiobook

Negroland by Margo Jefferson

Book

The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead

Book | eBook | Audiobook

The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Book | eBook | Audiobook

There Will Be No Miracles Here by Casey Gerald

Book | eBook | Audiobook

Juneteenth by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson

Book

~ admin

Posted June 17, 2020

Black Stories Matter | A Reading List for Adults

One way to elevate black voices is to read and recommend books by black authors. Check out the recommendations below and feel free to ask a librarian for more recommendations! This list is curated for adult readers by Katie Rickard and Eva Silverstone.

Short Stories | Fiction | Sci-Fi/Fantasy | Essays/Memoir/Non-fiction | Poetry

.

Short Stories

Drinking Coffee Elsewhere by Z.Z. Packer

Book | Audiobook

Friday Black by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

Book

Lot by Bryan Washington

Book

Fiction

 Beloved by Toni Morrison

Book | eBook

Go Tell it on the Mountain by James Baldwin

Book

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

Book | eBook

If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin

Book | eBook

Jazz by Toni Morrison

Book

On Beauty by Zadie Smith

Book

Open City by Teju Cole

Book

Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams

Book | eBook

Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson

Book | eBook

Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward

Book | eBook

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

Book | eBook

The Mothers by Britt Bennett

Book | eBook

The Turner House by Angela Flournoy

Book | eBook

The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory

Book | eBook

Sci-Fi/Fantasy

Binti by Nnedi Okorafor

Book | eBook | Audiobook

Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

Book | eBook

Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler

eBook

Redemption in Indigo by Karen Lord

eBook

The Best of All Possible Worlds by Karen Lord

Book

The City We Became by N.K. Jemisin

Book | eBook

The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin

Book | eBook

Essays/Memoir/Non-fiction

Heavy: An American Memoir by Kiese Laymon

Book | eBook

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

Book | eBook

Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches by Audre Lorde

Audiobook

The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin

Book

Thick: And Other Essays by Tressie McMillan Cottom

Book | eBook

Things That Make White People Uncomfortable by Michael Bennett

Book | eBook | Audiobook

We Were Eight Years in Power: An American Tragedy by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Book | eBook

Poetry

Homie by Danez Smith

Audiobook

Voices: Poems by Lucille Clifton

Book

Hard Times Require Furious Dancing: New Poems by Alice Walker

Book

~ Eva - Arts Education Specialist

Posted June 15, 2020
Tags: BlackLivesMatter

Make a Journal | Opening Act(ivity)

Hi, my name is Lisa. I usually host the Opening Act(ivity) at the Northtown Library.

Summer Reading is here, so time to make an Art/Reading Journal! Here are a few suggestions on what you can create:

Choose a fun notebook or journal to write and draw in.
Gather up some art supplies and a tote to carry all your supplies.
Check out a field guide from the library on bugs, birds, flowers, etc.
Be artistic with the titles of the books you read.
Write out a description of the book.
Draw a scene from the book.

Don’t forget to sign up for Summer Reading at spl.northwestreads.org!

Lisa

~ admin

Posted June 11, 2020

Black Stories Matter | A Reading List for Kids and Teens

blog

Picture Books

Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut by Derrick Barnes, illustrated by Gordon C. James

A celebration of the simple pleasure of a new haircut and the magic of the barbershop.

Book | eBook

Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry, illustrated by Vashti Harrison

Mom is away, can Dad help Zuri feel like a superhero by getting herself put together for the perfect look?

Book | eBook | Audiobook

How to Find a Fox by Nilah Magruder

Equipped with a camera and determination, an adventurous little girl tries to track down an elusive red fox, which proves more difficult than she imagined.

Book

Kitchen Dance by Maurie J. Manning

Two children sneak downstairs after bedtime to find their parents singing and dancing while washing dishes, and the whole family gets swept into the music.

Book

Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña, Pictures by Christian Robinson

A boy learns to see the beauty (and fun!) all around him from his routine bus ride with his grandmother.

Book | eBook | Movie

Mary Had a Little Glam by Tammi Sauer, illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton

In this fun take on Mother Goose, fabulous Mary helps her nursery-rhyme friends freshen up their style.

Book

The King of Kindergarten by Derrick Barnes, illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton

Well-prepared and encouraged by his parents, a little boy has a great first day of kindergarten.

Book

Thunder Rose by Jerdine Nolen, illustrated by Kadir Nelson

She’s not your average cowgirl, but Thunder Rose may have met her match when a whirling windy storm blows through town.

Book

Juvenile/Middle Grade

A Good Kind of Trouble by Lisa Moore Ramee

Book | eBook | Audiobook

Blended by Sharon M. Draper

Book | eBook

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

Book | eBook

Dragons in a Bag by Zetta Elliot

Book

Ghost by Jason Reynolds

Book | eBook

Harbor Me by Jacqueline Woodson

Book | eBook

Hurricane Child by Kacen Callender

Book | Audiobook

Some Places More Than Others by Renée Watson

Book

The Crossover by Kwame Alexander

Book | eBook

The Stars Beneath Our Feet by David Barclay Moore

Book

Tight by Torrey Maldonado

Book

Tristan Strong Punches A Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia

Book | eBook

No One Here is Lonely by Sarah Everett

Book

Young Adult

A Blade So Black by L.L. McKinney

Book | Audiobook

Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor

Book | eBook | Audiobook

American Street by Ibi Zoboi

Book | eBook | Audiobook

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

Book | eBook | Audiobook

Dread Nation by Justina Ireland

Book | eBook | Audiobook

Full Disclosure by Camryn Garret

Book

Let Me Hear a Rhyme by Tiffany D. Jackson

Book | eBook | Audiobook

Monday’s Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson

Book | eBook | Audiobook

New Kid by Jerry Craft

Book | eBook | Audiobook

On The Come Up by Angie Thomas

Book | eBook | Audiobook

Opposite of Always by Justin A. Reynolds

Book | eBook | Audiobook

Pet by Akwaeke Emezi

Book

Pride by Ibi Zoboi

Book | eBook | Audiobook

Slay by Brittney Morris

Book | eBook

Solo by Kwame Alexander

Book | eBook | Audiobook

The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton

Book | eBook | Audiobook

The Field Guide to the North American Teenager by Ben Philippe

Book | eBook | Audiobook

The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

Book | eBook

Watch Us Rise by Renée Watson, Ellen Hagan

Book

Who Put This Song On? By Morgan Parker

Book

If you have more questions, feel free to reach out to Youth Services Librarian Katie at krickard@spokanelibrary.org.

~ admin

Posted June 10, 2020

Pride Month | A Reading List for Kids & Teens

pride

Picture Books

Julian is a Mermaid by Jessica Love

When Aiden Became a Brother by Kyle Lukoff

Harriet Gets Carried Away by Jessie Sima

Pride: the story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag by Rob Sanders

Stella Brings the Family by Miriam B. Schiffer

A Family is a Family is a Family by Sara O’Leary

This Day in June by Gayle E. Pitman

Stonewall: a building, an uprising, a revolution by Rob Sanders

The Boy and the Bindi by Vivek Shrava

Worm Loves Worm by J.J. Austrian

Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress by Christine Baldachinno

Rainbow: A First Book of Pride by Michael Genhart, PhD

Red by Michael Hall

Chapter Books

George by Alex Gino

Rick by Alex Gino

The Misadventures of the Family Fletcher by Dana Allison Levy

The Best Man by Richard Peck

Gracefully Grayson by Ami Polonsky

The Pants Project by by Cat Clarke

Drama by Raina Telgemeier

YA Novels

The Love & Lies of Rukhsana Ali by Sabina Khan

If You Could Be Mine by Sara Farizan

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz

More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera

The Backstagers by James Tynion IV

Like a Love Story by Abde Nazemian

Darius the Great is Not Okay by Adib Khorram

Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me by Mariko Tamaki

~ Skyler

Posted June 8, 2020

Choose Your Own Adventure | Opening Act(ivity)

Hi, my name is Lisa and I usually host the Opening Act(ivity) program at Northtown on Wednesday mornings.

Writing Exercise: Choose Your Own Adventure

When I sit down to write a story, I try one of the writing exercises my college professor suggested. You write the story as you go, but whenever your character has to make a decision, you write both sides. If your character does this, this will happen. If your character goes the other direction, this will happen.

It is an interesting way to explore your character’s motivation and can lead to interesting results.

Enjoy!

~

Posted June 4, 2020

Black Lives Matter

As an organization and as human beings, Spokane Public Library stands with the #BlackLivesMatter movement and all who are calling for immediate, collective action to end the systemic racism and inequity entrenched in our communities.

While the unprecedented impact of COVID-19 has set the stage for a “new normal,” the past months have been filled with all-too-familiar demonstrations of racism’s enduring harm and deep roots. Facing increased barriers to resources and health services, Black and other marginalized communities are losing their lives to COVID-19 at a disproportionate rate. During this same period, the U.S. has witnessed the brutal, racist murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor.

Systemic racism undermines our society and putting an end to it will require all citizens to work together — with the active support of dedicated community and government leaders. As highly trusted institutions and essential foundations of civic infrastructure, public libraries have a unique and vital role to play in advancing equity and addressing racial divides.

In 2019, Spokane Public Library showed our commitment to ending structural racism by signing the Urban Libraries Council Statement on Race and Social Equity, which asserts that “libraries can help achieve true and sustained equity through an intentional, systemic and transformative library-community partnership.” We will use this statement as a baseline for building progressive policies, activities, and collaborative relationships to advance equity.

This is not a fleeting moment, or merely signing a statement. We’re committed to doing the work. We are dedicated to progress and tangible change. We stand against racism and violence toward the Black community. We commit to listening as we work toward becoming part of the change. As a starting point here is a list of books on racism available from the library.

~

Posted June 3, 2020
Tags: BlackLivesMatter

Black Lives Matter | A Reading List for Kids and Young Adults

Picture Books

Each Kindness by Jaqueline Woodson, E.B. Lewis

Book | Audiobook

Henry’s Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad by Ellen Levine and Kadir Nelson

Book | Audiobook

IntersectionAllies: We Make Room for All by Chelsea Johnson, LaToya Council, Carolyn Choi, Ashley Seil Smith

Book

Not My Idea: A Book About Whiteness by Anastasia Higgenbotham

Book

The Other Side by Jacquline Woodson, E.B Lewis

Book | Audiobook

The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander, Kadir Nelson

Book

Something Happened in our Town

Audiobook

Juvenile/Middle Grade

Black Brother, Black Brother by Jewell Parker Rhodes

brothers, coming-of-age, white presenting, fencing

Book

Clean Getaway by Nic Stone

road trip, green book, American South

Book

Finding Langston by Lesa Cline-Ransome

the Great Migration, poetry, Chicago, historical fiction

Book | Audiobook

From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks

Baking, letter writing, investigation, prison

Book | Audiobook | eBook

Genesis Begins Again by Alicia D. Williams

internalized racism, eviction, new middle school

Book | eBook

Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes

historical racism, Emmett Till, unjust killing

Book | eBook

One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia

Sisters, Black Panthers, summer camp, historical fiction

Book | eBook

The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson

mystery, South Carolina, secrets, fortune

Book | Audiobook

The Stars Beneath Our Feet by David Barclay Moore

brother’s death, Harlem, Legos, grief, escape

Book

Young Adult

All American Boys by Jason Reynolds, Brendan Kiley

Alternating viewpoints, police violence, racism

Book

Black Enough: Stories of Being Young & Black in America edited by Ibi Zoboi

short stories, black teens, personal identity and experience

Book | Audiobook

Dear Martin by Nic Stone

Social justice, MLK, media fallout

Book | eBook

How It Went Down by Kekla Magoon

violence, privilege, community, multiple perspectives

Book

I Am Alfonso Jones by Tony Medina

Police shooting, BLM, New York, Graphic Novel

Book

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

community, justice, code switching, police killing

Book | eBook

Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

Revenge, gun violence, brothers, in verse

Book

March: Book One by John Lewis

Biography, civil rights movement, graphic novel

Book | eBook

Monday’s Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson

disappearance, neglect, systematic racism, thriller

Book | eBook | Audiobook

Piecing Me Together by Renée Watson

race, identity, privilege, art, Portland

Book | eBook

Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds, Ibram X. Kendi

racism, anti-racist future, narrative non-fiction

Book

The 57 Bus: A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime That Changed Their Lives by Dashka Slater

Oakland, race, gender, criminal justice system, non-fiction

Book

~

Posted June 3, 2020

Black Lives Matter | A Book List

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We created this book list to help explain issues regarding race and equity, and to stand with the Black community and amplify their voices. Reading one, some, or all of these books is a step toward dismantling prejudice.

Black Lives Matter | A Book List

How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi

Book | eBook | audiobook

White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism by Robin DiAngelo

Book | eBook

So You Want to Talk about Race by Ijeoma Oluo

Book | eBook

The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander

Book | eBook | audiobook

Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World by Layla F Saad

Book

Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi