Read This Book!

Tim Johnson recommends two annotated books — Sherlock Holmes and the Sandman — in this installment of Read This Book from the University of Minnesota Libraries.

With schools closed and libraries shuttered due to COVID-19, children find themselves sequestered at home — many without enough books or activities to appease their curiosity. Enter Lisa Von Drasek, the energetic curator of the University of Minnesota’s Children’s Literature Research Collections, who has created a social media campaign called #OperationReadAloud as a way to reach children and families.

Lisa Von Drasek discusses Making Comics by Scott McCloud, Making Comics by Lynda Barry, and Comics: Easy as ABC by Ivan Brunetti in this episode of Read This Book from the University of Minnesota Libraries.

Jessica Abbazio, the University of Minnesota music librarian, reviews "The Lunar Chronicles" by Melissa Meyers on this installment of Read This Book from the University of Minnesota Libraries. The Lunar Chronicles is a series of young adult science fiction novels that are futuristic retellings of classic fairy tales.

Zach Miller reviews A Shark Going Inland Is My Chief on this installment of Read This Book from the University of Minnesota Libraries.

Cody Hennesy gave a thumbs up to Artificial Unintelligence: How Computers Misunderstand the World by Meredith Broussard in the latest installment of Read This Book from the University of Minnesota Libraries. In the book, Broussard argues that our collective enthusiasm for applying computer technology to every aspect of life has resulted in a tremendous amount of poorly designed systems.

Megan Kocher recommended two books on holiday baking in this episode of Read This Book from the University of Minnesota Libraries.

Kimberly Clarke reviews a fantasy novel, "Written in Red," by Anne Bishop in this installment of Read This Book from the University of Minnesota Libraries.

Tim Johnson recommends two books: "The Devil's Due" by Bonnie MacBird — a Sherlock Holmes Adventure — and "Good and Mad: The Revolutionary Power of Women's Anger" by Rebecca Traister.

Our Music Librarian Jessica Abbazio reviews "A Wild Ride Through the Night" by Walter Moers for this installment of Read This Book from the University Libraries. "A Wild Ride through the Night" describes the exhilarating and comic adventures of his twelve-year-old protagonist Gustave, a boy who aspires one day to be a great artist. 

Librarian Kristen Mastel recommends two nature books — 'Into Nature' and 'The Hidden Life of Trees' — on this installment of Read This Book from the University of Minnesota Libraries, hosted by Lisa Von Drasek.

Librarian Alicia Kubas reviews "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor — a New York Times bestseller and Michael L. Printz honor book, which is an epic fantasy about a mythic lost city and its dark past.

Two books by Amy Krouse Rosenthal were featured in this episode of Read This Book! from the University of Minnesota Libraries. Danya Leebaw and Host Lisa Von Drasek discussed Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life and Little Pea — two of Leebaw's favorite books by Rosenthal.

The Libraries' Sherlock Holmes expert, Tim Johnson, recommends three Holmes books for your August reading list on this episode of Read This Book! from the University Libraries, hosted by Lisa Von Drasek. The three are: "Sherlock Holmes: A Biography" by William S. Baring-Gould, "The Whole Art of Detection: Lost Mysteries of Sherlock Holmes" by Lindsay Faye, and "Medical Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" by Carl Heifetz.

Lisa Von Drasek recommends a number of books about the moon — in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing on July 20, 1969. It's all part of the latest episode of Read This Book from the University of Minnesota Libraries. Books included: Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11 by Brian Floca, A Big Mooncake for Little Star by Grace Lin, A Kite for Moon by Jane Yolen, Heidi E.Y. Stemple and Matt Phelan, Sun! One in a Billion and Moon! Earth's Best Friend by Stacy McAnulty, Planetarium by Raman Prinja, and The Moon by Hannah Pang.

Librarian Jan Fransen recommends Circe by Madeline Miller as her choice for 2019 Summer Reading in this episode of Read This Book! Set in the world of ancient Greek mythology, Circe is the fantastical tale of a fierce young woman — half titan, half nymph — who dares to challenge the gods.