Nonfiction
Under cover of darkness : murders in blackout London
Amy Helen Bell
940.5341 /Bell
Nonfiction, True Crime
"Fear was the unacknowledged spectre haunting the streets of London during the Second World War; fear not only of death from the German bombers circling above, but of violence at the hands of fellow Londoners in the streets below. Mass displacement, the anonymity of shelters, and the bomb-scarred landscape offered unprecedented opportunities for violent crime. In this absorbing, sometimes shocking account, Amy Helen Bell uncovers the hidden stories of murder and violence that were rife in wartime London. Bell moves through the city, examining the crimes in their various locations, from domestic violence in the home to robberies in the blacked-out streets and fights in pubs and clubs. She reveals the experiences of women, children, and the elderly, and focuses on the lives of the victims, as well as their deaths. This groundbreaking study transforms our understanding of the ways in which war made people vulnerable-not just to the enemy, but to each other"--
Every dog deserves an adventure : amazing stories of camping with dogs
L. J. Tracosas
796.54 Tracosas
Nonfiction, Animals, Nature, Travel
"From the backcountry to car camping, mountaintop hikes to beach-day hikes, learn how to keep your dog safe and happy while on an adventure. In Every Dog Deserves an Adventure, the Camping With Dogs team shares stories, photos, safety tips, and hiking bucket lists to inspire you to get outside and enjoy nature with your dog. From the Camping With Dogs team, Every Dog Deserves an Adventure encourages people everywhere to go on outdoor adventures with their dog. Whether it's camping or hiking, kayaking or skiing, dogs love spending time with their humans in nature. If you have a furry friend, it's time to go out and find a trail you both love. With stunning photography and heartwarming stories of how people got into camping with their dogs, this book is a love letter to dogs around the world, from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Organized by season, each section features photos with various types of dogs, hikes, terrain, and activities, as well as: -- Tips on camping with your pups -- A bucket list of great hikes and trips -- Key items you need to keep your dog safe and happy on the trail. Delighted dog lovers will learn the power of camping--how it strengthens family bonds and transforms relationships. On top of that, Camping With Dogs is partnered with local animal rescues to help adoptable dogs find their forever home, so your purchase will support rescue dogs and their mission to help dogs blossom out on the trail."--
Attention dog lovers! This book has gorgeous photos of canine companions on wonderous romps. The book is organized by season, featuring dogs enjoying spring wildflowers, summer lake jumping, and snowy runs. Check it out for the photography alone, or sit and share it with a young reader. The sentences are short and accessible for grades 3 and up. -Melody
Atlas obscura : Wild life : an explorer's guide to the world's living wonders
Cara Giaimo
570 /Giaimo
Nonfiction, Animals, Nature, Science
"From the bestselling authors of Atlas Obscura and Gastro Obscura, comes Wild Life, an over-the-top, dazzling collection of the world's most fascinating, most unusual, and least-understood natural wonders. It's more than a field guide--it's an adventure. From the curious minds of Atlas Obscura, authors of #1 New York Times bestselling Atlas Obscura and Gastro Obscura, comes an unputdownable tour through the world's most extraordinary natural wonders and curiosities. Learn how dung beetles navigate by the stars and trees communicate through their roots. Meet one of the strongest animals in the world: the puny peacock mantis shrimp. Visit a 44,000 year old shrub, float along flying rivers, and explore a garbage dump teeming with endangered storks. There are first-person interviews: hear from a honey hunter and his avian partners, a scientist working to understand the hidden language of prairie dogs, an offshore radio DJ who is at the heart of the local fishing community. Examine old examples of bird song notation written on sheet music. Featuring over 500 extraordinary plants, animals, and natural phenomena with illustrations and photos on every page, first-person interviews, and engaging infographics, the book takes readers around the globe, with stops in every continent--from Arctic deserts to lush jungles, to the deepest fathoms of the ocean, and into the heart of our densest cities. In a time where the world that feels more knowable than ever, where can access anything with the click of a mouse or a swipe of a finger, and where nature documentaries are a dime a dozen, Wild Life finds a way to reinvigorate our send of wonder about the natural world"--
This book is gorgeous! I am the lucky cataloger who got to see this book before the labels were delicately affixed and it was placed on the Hold shelf. This book is perfect for the curious, for those who love indulging in wonder. Pick this book up if you want your mind to take a walk on the wild side. -Melody
Social justice for the sensitive soul : how to change the world in quiet ways
Dorcas Cheng-Tozun
303.372 /Cheng-Tozun
Nonfiction, Self Help
"Social justice work, we often assume, is raised voices and raised fists. It requires leading, advocating, fighting, and organizing wherever it takes place--in the streets, slums, villages, inner cities, halls of political power, and more. But what does social justice work look like for those of us who don't feel comfortable battling in the trenches? Sensitive souls--including those who consider themselves highly emotional, empathic, or introverted--have much to contribute to bringing about a more just and equitable world. Such individuals are wise, thoughtful, and conscientious; they feel more deeply and see things that others don't. We need their contributions. Yet, sustaining justice work can be particularly challenging for the sensitive, and it requires a deep level of self-awareness, intentionality, and care"--
"Social Justice for the Sensitive Soul" is a wonderfully encouraging book that illustrates the ways in which highly sensitive and empathic individuals can make a difference in quiet and meaningful ways. I would recommend this book to anyone who is feeling that internal draw to social justice, but isn't sure how they can make a difference in a world that is often overwhelming and draining. -Violette
When dogs work
Opal Sinclair
jE Sinclair
Kids, Picture Books, Nonfiction, Animals
"Rhyming text and bright color photographs introduce preschoolers to the many kinds of working dogs."--
What a lovely introduction to working dogs for preschoolers and younger. Vibrant photos and great rhyming text will make this a repeat read for dog lovers! -Casey
The house on the canal : the story of the house that hid Anne Frank
Thomas Harding
j940.5318 Harding
Kids, Nonfiction, History
"In the middle of Amsterdam, next to a canal, stands a tall, narrow house. It was built almost four hundred years ago and has served as a home, a warehouse, a stable, and most notably, a hiding place. Sometimes it was splendidly decorated, humming with life and love; other times, the narrow house stood empty, in near ruins. Sometimes its green door was open and inviting; other times, it was closed against cold and plague or to conceal the victims of wartime persecution. This is the story of an extraordinary building, a structure that Anne Frank called in the pages of her diary 'the old house on the canal.'"--
JUST GO AHEAD AND GIVE BRITTA TECKENTRUP THE CALDECOTT MEDAL FOR THIS RIGHT NOW! -Anne W
Scotland Yard : a history of the London police force's most infamous murder cases
Simon Read
364.1523 /Read
Nonfiction, History, True Crime
"A riveting true-crime history of London's first modern police force as told through its most notorious murder cases. The idea of "Scotland Yard" is steeped in atmospheric stories of foggy London streets, murder by lamplight, and fiendish killers pursued by gentleman detectives. From its establishment in 1829 through the eve of World War II, Scotland Yard--the world's first modern, professional, and centrally organized police force--set new standards for policing and investigating. Scotland Yard advanced ground-breaking use of forensics--from fingerprints to ballistics to evidence collection--made the first attempt at criminal profiling, and captivated the public on both sides of the Atlantic with feats of detective work that rivaled any fictional interpretation. Based on official case files, contemporary newspaper reporting, trial transcripts, and the first-hand accounts of the detectives on the beat, Scotland Yard tells the tales of some of history's most notorious murders--with cases that proved to be landmarks in the field of criminal inquiry"--Dust jacket flap.
You don't have to be addicted to BritBox or Acorn TV to want to enjoy this book, but if you are, then you might really want to check it out! The nitty gritty on the fabled London police force, combined with early cases that they worked on, makes for a very enlightening and entertaining read. -Candice
The language puzzle : piecing together the six-million-year story of how words evolved
Steven Mithen
417.7 /Mithen
Nonfiction, History, Science
"The emergence of language began with the apelike calls of our earliest ancestors. Today, the world is home to thousands of complex languages. Yet exactly how, when, and why this evolution occurred has been one of the most enduring--and contentiously debated--questions in science. In The Language Puzzle, renowned archaeologist Steven Mithen puts forward a groundbreaking new account of the origins of language. Scientists have gained new insights into the first humans of 2.8 million years ago, and how numerous species flourished but only one, Homo sapiens, survives today. Drawing from this work and synthesizing research across archaeology, psychology, linguistics, genetics, neuroscience, and more, Mithen details a step-by-step explanation of how our human ancestors transitioned from apelike calls to words, and from words to language as we use it today. He explores how language shaped our cognition and vice versa; how metaphor advanced Homo sapiens' ability to formulate abstract concepts, develop agriculture, and--ultimately--shape the world. The result is a master narrative that builds bridges between disciplines, stuns with its breadth and depth, and spans millennia of societal development."--Inside flap.
If you're like me, you've often lain awake at night, wondering how language came to be. As in, how did we take that step (more likely, steps) from whoops and grunts and hoots to making sounds that were intentional and imbued with meaning, and how did we get others to agree on those sounds and meanings, and how did we spread this newfound amazing ability, and how did it evolve? And so on. If you've had these thoughts, this book is for you. -Candice
Loud : accept nothing less than the life you deserve
Drew Afualo
158.1 /Afualo
Nonfiction, Self Help
Drew Afualo is best known as the internet's 'Crusader for Women' and is at the head of a new generation of entertainment's rising stars, with more than nine million followers across her social platforms. She soon realized that men on social media were creating sexist content aimed at disparaging women, and also containing rampant fatphobia, racism, and other forms of bigotry with very real-life consequences. It didn't take long for her to step into the role of unofficial watchdog for misogyny, and her signature laugh is now recognized as a feminist call to arms.Loud is part manual, part manifesto, and part memoir. It is a summoning cry to rid the internet (and our hearts, minds, and lives) of 'terrible men' and create a space to fight outdated patriarchal ideals. Above all, it makes it clear that behind Drew's fearsome laugh is a mission and a life philosophy, a strategy for self-confidence from the inside out, and a pathway to once and for all remove men from the centre of how women and fems think about themselves.
Stemming from her incredibly hilarious and inspiring TikTok account, Drew Afualo's Loud teaches us how to fight back against misogyny & the many injustices faced by women and femmes while being unapologetically ourselves. This book made me feel so empowered and I hope that it brings the same love and light to your life! "You are worth all of the love and respect you put out into the world, and you are destined to receive it." -Violette
Work : interviews with people doing jobs they love
Shaina Feinberg
j331.702 Feinberg
Nonfiction, Business
"New York Times columnists Shaina Feinberg and Julia Rothman take readers all over the world to explore the furthest reaches of passion and dedication in this collection of interviews. Meet a wildland firefighter, a surfer, a ferry captain, a designer of headscarves, an accessibility specialist, and many other real people doing the creative, fascinating, and often difficult jobs that make the world work. This ode to the wild and limitless range of job possibilities also includes thought-provoking questions designed to open conversations with young readers, as well as tips on how they might conduct an interview themselves"--Publisher.
I love hearing about people's cool or unexpected jobs, and this book is packed with 28 short, punchy interviews with diverse people doing an array of fascinating jobs. The illustrations are what really make this book; instead of real photographs, the interviews and quotes (just one spread per job, and a few short paragraphs of text) are accompanied by sweet and beautiful paintings of the subject at work. Ferry captain! Toy shop owner! Prosthetics maker! Street food vendor! -Anne W
Amy Helen Bell's exploration of murders during London's Blitz and blackout is staggering--a murder rate skyrockets when disruption to everyday life (and established law) happens. From fear, opportunity, and need to bombed out buildings, dark streets, and an overwhelmed police force, London faced much more than German bombs--they faced a threat from their own people. Bell does not revel in her subject's fates, but uses the book to show that the people of London were not as cohesive or resolved as we thought. -Anne M