Books Blog

On New Years Eve of 1981, thirteen year old McGill was walking home with a friend, when he was struck by the bullet of an unknown assailant, leaving him a quadriplegic for life. This memoir is a personal letter to his unknown assailant, who McGill calls Marcus.

The data surrounding violence and youth is alarming.

In our fast-paced, hurried society it is difficult to avoid having stress in our lives. Some stress helps us aim high and reach our potential. Too much stress can cause us to become depressed and even sick.

Play is often thought as frivolous and only for children, but The National Institute for Play founded by Stuart Brown, M.D. recognizes that it is important for the productivity and health of all humans. There are thousands of ways to play both individually and with others.

Below find a few resources on play and stress reduction.

"Because you liked the intergenerational family connections in Robinson’s Gilead, you may enjoy The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, by Junot Díaz. Spanning the entire 20th century, Díaz follows a family through a curse that’s passed from generation to generation. Really interesting characters, and though there are tragic aspects to the story, it is not a depressing read."

Our time is very valuable to us. February has been designated as National Time Management Month. Books here at DPL can assist you in organizing and making the most of your time.

 Did you know the following facts:

• The heart pumps about 1 million barrels of blood during an average lifetime.
• The aorta, the largest artery in the body, is almost the diameter of a garden hose.
• Your heart beats about 100,000 times in one day and about 35 million times in a year. During an average lifetime, the human heart will beat more than 2.5 billion times.*

The following books can help you maintain a healthy heart:

For every triumph of human rights, there is a new corner of darkness somewhere in the world that needs the bright light of justice shone on it. And that light doesn't have to reach very far; Colorado is a hub for international human trafficking. A special task force has been formed to combat the problem.

Read up. Knowledge is empowering: many contemporary authors, both fiction and nonfiction, are reporting on this heartbreaking subject.

Mitchell will focus this presentation on wine fundamentals and organizing your Colorado wine tour, and will help you increase your wine knowledge and gain confidence in pairing wine with your favorite foods. Discover the incredible spectrum of Colorado's 125 wineries and tasting rooms. Sharpen your understanding of the "Five S's" of wine tasting. Expand your wine tasting vocabulary through the Wine Aroma Wheel. Learn the fine art of tasting room exploration. She'll make you want to start exploring!

Expressing our love and care to others can take many forms. Baking and creating a special atmosphere for Valentine's Day is a fun way to celebrate this day. DPL has many resources to inspire you.

The 2013 contest was held just this week, and the team from the United States finished a respectable 7th in the field of teams from all over the world. Check out the NPR story on this year's U.S. team and how they trained here.

Whether you aspire to participate in such a competition someday, or just like to read about how cooking contests work, the library has some items to get you started.

This year marks the 75th anniversary for the Caldecott Medal. Named for nineteenth-century English children's book illustrator, Randolph Caldecott, this award is given "to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children."
Medal Winner: More by I.C. Springman, illustrated by Brian Lies