Episode 10: Black Excellence and the Public Library

– We celebrate Black History Month by speaking with a collection of super smart Black women who all love the library. First, we meet Sylvia Henson, chair of the Education Committee of the SLO County branch of the NAACP. She supports women and girls in STEM fields and has a deep commitment to education, reading, and critical thinking.

– Next, we speak with three college-age library power users. Kyleigh, Alexis, and Leanne are members of Cal Poly’s Black Student Union and they meet with us to discuss their love of libraries and passion for a wide range of books. What a delightful conversation!

– We’ll hear a poem written by Paul Laurence Dunbar, “Sympathy”

Three young Black women smiling at the camera with artwork on the wall behind them

Alexis, Kyleigh, and Leanne

For Little Kids:

Biscuit books

Clifford the Big Red Dog

Elementary School:

Junie B. Jones

Magic Tree House

Goosebumps

For Middle School and beyond:

The Hunger Games

Mercy Thompson

Thea Stilton books

Dork Diaries

Flygirl

Doll Bones

Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters

Dutchman 

House of the Spirits

Twilight

Shadow Hunters

Mortal Instruments

Camp Half-Blood Chronicles

Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard

The Kane Chronicles

Holly Jackson

The Natural Series

Brandon Sanderson

The Hate U Give

Sharon M. Draper

Monday’s Not Coming

Kennedy Ryan

Meg Cabot

 

 

 

Music: “in THE crowd” by The Years