Music Genre Highlight: Classical

In honor of Classical Music Month, I wanted to highlight this sometimes overlooked, but essential genre within our collection, classical! Oftentimes Mozart, Bach, and Beethoven are the first many think of when hearing the term ‘classical music’, but the genre expands to various other composers and artists, even to this day. Here is a portion of what Davenport Public Library has to offer, both old and new! 

If you’re more into streaming music, we also have Freegal, a streaming service accessible through your Davenport Library Card. I made a playlist to get you started, you can access it here.

Want to learn more about classical music or the world of classical music? We have books available for checkout as well!

When’s your favorite time to listen to classical music? For me, it’s when I’m either reading or crafting. Let us know your answer in the comments!

Children’s Books about Moving Away

If you’re looking for children’s books about saying goodbye, moving house, or change, I have gathered a list of picture books published in 2024 and 2025 that deal with these topics. These books can help with managing the anxiety and stress of leaving the familiar for something new. As of this writing, all of these titles are owned by the Davenport Public Library. Descriptions are provided by the publishers.


Anything by Rebecca Stead, illustrated by Gracey Zhang

What’s more powerful than a secret wish? A wish you say out loud.

Anything paints a tender picture of a father and daughter moving into a new home. Dad brings a birthday cake for the new apartment to celebrate their new beginning and tells his daughter she can wish for anything (or, more precisely, ‘three Anythings’). Over the course of the day, she wishes for some of her favorite things, including a rainbow and ‘the biggest slice of pizza in the whole world.”

But she keeps some of her wishes inside. Because what she really wants is to go back home to their old apartment, with its big blue bathtub and space in the closet for hide-and-seek. When she finally admits this last wish, her dad takes her on a journey, and by the book’s final pages, she is home . . .in every way that matters. – Chronicle Books


A Book of Maps for You by Lourdes Heuer, illustrated by Maxwell Eaton III

What if you moved into a new house and found a secret guidebook? Look inside buildings and search for surprises in this enthralling, interactive book of maps.

In A Book of Maps for You, a young cartographer leaves a one-of-a-kind gift behind for the kid moving into his old house. He’s drawn and annotated maps of all the neighborhood places of interest—no playground, reading nook, or chicken coop left uncharted.

During a big move, a child can feel a lot of pressure to be excited for the future, to open their heart to the place they’re headed. But the roads they’ve been down hundreds of times, the familiar faces, and the house where they know every noisy pipe and leaky faucet all deserve care, too.

A Book of Maps for You honors the homes we leave behind and the ones we haven’t met yet, reminding us that they may just be two sides of the same coin. Lourdes Heuer’s attentive text speaks volumes in each word, and Maxwell Eaton III’s signature detail-rich illustrations call for re-reads to drink in and explore every page. – Neal Porter Books


Being Home by Traci Sorell, illustrated by Michaela Goade

Today is a day of excitement—it’s time to move! As a young Cherokee girl says goodbye to the swing, the house, and the city she’s called home her whole life, she readies herself for the upcoming road trip. While her mother drives, the girl draws the changing landscape outside her window. She looks forward to the end of the journey, where she’ll eat the feast her family has prepared, play in the creek with her cousins, and settle into the new rhythm of home.

With warm, expressive artwork and spare, lyrical prose, the story of a young girl’s move toward rather than away from home unfolds. – Kokila


Home is a Wish written and illustrated Julia Kuo

A deeply moving, gorgeously illustrated picture book about leaving home and finding a new place to fit in, for anyone dealing with a move, to another town or to a new country.

Sometimes we leave home in the mornings, in the evenings, or for much longer. But we always come back.

Home becomes a wish when we move, when the new place isn’t the same. Everything might be different: the sounds, the smell, the people, the weather.

But home isn’t just a place. We carry home in our hearts, and it can grow and change as we do in our lives. With time, new faces become friends, and what is different becomes familiar.

Home can be a wish that comes true.

Like Evelyn Del Rey Is Moving Away and The Day You Begin, this beautiful exploration of what it’s like to deal with a big change is personal, emotionally resonant, and relatable. With page after lovely page of captivating art, New York Times bestselling illustrator Julia Kuo has created a lasting story about how time, patience, and an open heart can help someone feel at home anywhere in the world. – Roaring Book Press


A Moving Story by Beth Ferry and Tom Lichtenheld, pictures by Tom Booth

A sweet and uplifting story about trying, failing, and never-ending kindness.

With the utmost care, brothers and professional movers Tiny and Pete will move anything anywhere because they know that nothing is too small or too light to wrap up tight and treat just right. But during their biggest move yet, a young panda’s pet turtle goes missing and even the brothers’ efforts might not be enough to save the day.

Full of fun word play and humor, this hopeful and empowering story is sure to move readers to feel big feelings and, most importantly, laugh. Perfect for fans of Ryan T. Higgins and Jory John. – HarperCollins


Space for Everyone by Seina Wedlick, illustrated by Camilla Sucre

This lyrical and heartwarming picture book follows a Nigerian girl who worries about her family’s upcoming move. But she soon realizes that no matter where they go, there will always be room at their kitchen table for her community to gather around.

When Zainab runs down the stairs in the morning, she knows what she’ll find: Papa cooking at the stove, Mama pouring tea, and then everyone gathering around the family table. Neighbors stop by, and there’s plenty of room for them, too. There are so many beloved rituals that happen at the table: homework and crafts, aunties coming to plait hair, and festive gatherings with neighbors and relatives. But soon boxes start piling up around the house, and Zainab worries about the move—will the rituals feel the same in her new home?

In the new house, the family table still feels cozy to sit around. And soon, old neighbors and new friends stop by, and everyone is welcome at the table. Meg Medina’s Evelyn Del Ray is Moving Away meets Peter H. Reynolds’s Our Table in this heartwarming story about how difficult it is to move, but how connecting with community makes everything better. – Random House Studio


A Terrible Place for a Nest by Sara Levine, illustrated by Erika Meza

Juno and his mom have just moved into a new home, and he hates everything about it – the new school, his new classmates, his new room.

Just outside his window, Juno notices a family of mourning doves have started a nest atop the fence, and they seem to be struggling to make it work, too. Sure enough, Juno concludes this new place is a terrible place to build a nest.

But, as winter turns to spring and the doves grow, so does Juno. And while this new place may be scary and sometimes lonely, they will all make it work, together.

Lyrical and hopeful, A Terrible Place for a Nest is a tender and uplifting tale about facing new experiences with empathy and courage. – Roaring Book Press


Welcome Home, Esmerelda by Daniela Ramirez, illustrated by Maribel Lechuga

From a military family, Esmerelda discovers that home is where she’s always welcomed—thanks to music, dance, and the big, unconditional love from her extended family.

An ideal picture book for kindergarteners and 1st graders who are moving, need reassurances during a transition, and could use the reminder that home is family.

Papa’s job in the military has taken Esmerelda and her family all over the world—and yet she’s never lived in the United States. Now she and her family are moving to San Antonio, Texas.

Although many of her extended family members live there, Esmerelda is unsure it’ll feel like home. Even more, she’s unsure she will fit in. Gradually, music and her sweet abuela spark bravery and the realization that home is not always a place—it’s familia.

Heartwarming and hopeful, Welcome Home, Esmerelda will provide reassurance to any kid that while moving and change are difficult, you have the support of loved ones to help you through it. – Charlesbridge

That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon by Kimberly Lemming

“Cin, I can barely breathe when you are not near. If anything were to happen to you, if you left me to be alone again, these memories of you would kill me.”
― Kimberly Lemming, That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon

I checked out That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon by Kimberly Lemming purely because of what the cover looked like. This book reminded me of the classic romance novel covers – think Fabio shirtless with his long hair blowing in the wind (highly recommend you look this up for *research* purposes). I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I enjoyed this read! That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon is the first book the Mead Mishaps series by Kimberly Lemming.

Cinnamon lives a quiet life as a spice trader. Having taken over part of her family’s spice farm, all Cinnamon wants to do is get a cat, expand her business, and actively avoid any adventuring. Stumbling her way home from a town party late one night, Cinnamon bumps into a demon that she decides, in her wine-drunk state, to save. Coming to her senses, Cinnamon runs to her parents’ house for safety. Upon awaking the next morning, she is shocked to see that the demon is still around and that he needs her help. Fallon, the demon, is on a mission to kill an evil witch that has been enslaving demons for centuries. Why should Cinnamon care? Well it turns out this evil witch also has her hands in the operations of her town and basically the entire country. Shocked, Cinnamon has no choice to go along with Fallon in their attempt to kill off the witch and rescue the enslaved demon. It doesn’t hurt matters that Fallon is easy on eyes and just so happens to keep burning off his shirt.

This was an adorably hilarious and steamy read. The spicy scenes take place on page, so be prepared if you decide to give this a read. I found myself laughing out loud in places because Cinnamon is quite funny. Fallon is intense, but his intensity helped balance out Cinnamon’s quirkiness. Their relationship started slow, but things got steamy once they decided to be serious. If you’re looking for a blend of romance, humor, and adventure, dive into this series debut!

Mead Mishaps series

  1. That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon (2021)
  2. That Time I Got Drunk and Yeeted a Love Potion at a Werewolf (2023)
  3. That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Human (2023)

Purrfect Reads

If you’re a person who loves all things cats and books, have I got a list for you! Below you will find a list of books featuring cats that were published in 2024 and 2025. As of this writing, all of these titles are owned by the Davenport Public Library. Descriptions are provided by the publishers. This is by no means all of the books about cats in our system.


The Blanket Cats by Kiyoshi Shigematsu

Seven struggling customers are given the unique opportunity to take home a “blanket cat” . . . but only for three days, the time it’ll take to change their lives.

A peculiar pet shop in Tokyo has been known to offer customers the unique opportunity to take home one of seven special cats, whose “magic” is never promised, but always received. But there are rules: these cats must be returned after three days. They must eat only the food supplied by the owner, and they must travel to their new homes with a distinctive blanket.

In The Blanket Cats, we meet seven customers, each of whom is hoping a temporary feline companion will help them escape a certain reality, including a couple struggling with infertility, a middle-aged woman on the run from the police, and two families in very different circumstances simply seeking joy.

But like all their kind, the “blanket cats” are mysterious creatures with unknowable agendas, who delight in confounding expectations. And perhaps what their hosts are looking for isn’t really what they need. Three days may not be enough to change a life. But it might just change how you see it. – G.P. Putnam’s Sons


Cat Fight by Kit Conway

Former zoologist Coralie King now reigns over a different sort of animal kingdom as Queen Bee of Sevenoaks, a wealthy suburb of London. When her husband Adam spots a panther on the hood of his car at one of her exclusive dinner parties, Coralie is quick to reassure her guests that they’re in no real danger. She sees the sighting as the perfect opportunity to revive her career and promote her own ecological endeavors.

New neighbor Emma Brooks doesn’t believe for a second that there’s a big cat in their midst but is all too willing to use the concern as a distraction from her home remodel application that’s been facing scrutiny. Meanwhile, former punk musician Twig Dorsett doesn’t know what to believe. She never thought she’d return to Sevenoaks and be living in her childhood home, but after her daughter became sick, she and her wife traded their Bohemian life in Bali for the security of London suburbia.

As the summer heats up, the frenzy around the big cat sighting reaches a fever pitch when gnawed bones, pawprints, and scratches are discovered. But is the real predator a big cat on the prowl or is the true threat more of the domestic variety? Filled with gasp-worthy twists and turns, Cat Fight is a wickedly entertaining novel of suspense that examines the lengths to which some women will go when they feel caged. – Atria Books


Cat’s People by Tanya Guerrero

Núria, a single-by-choice barista with a little resentment for the “crazy cat lady” label, is a member of The Meow-Yorkers, a group in Brooklyn who takes care of the neighborhood’s stray cats. On her volunteering days, she starts finding Post-it notes left by a secret admirer in an area where her feeds her favorite stray—a black cat named Cat. Like most felines, he is both curious and observant, so of course he knows who the notes are from. Núria, however, is clueless.

Are the notes from Collin, a bestselling author and self-professed hermit with a weakness for good coffee? Are they from Lily, a fresh-out-of-high school Georgia native searching for her long-lost half sister? Are they from Omar, the beloved neighborhood mailman going through an early midlife crisis? Or are they from Bong, the grieving widower who owns Núria’s favorite bodega?

When Cat suddenly falls ill, these five strangers find themselves bonding together in their desire to care for him, and discover that chance encounters can lead to the meaningful connections they’ve all been searching for. – Delacorte Press


A Pose Before Dying by Alex Erickson (book 1 in the Cat Yoga Mystery series)

Finding this killer will be a real stretch . . .

Ashley Branson has a lot to prove with her new cat yoga studio, A Purrfect Pose. It’s a place for humans to find inner wellness—and adopt adorable cats from the local shelter. It’s also a chance for Ash to run her own life, out from under her overbearing mother and a stifling relationship. So far, so successful. Until she discovers one of her new clients, a much-disliked college professor, dead in her studio, locked in child’s pose . . .

To make matters worse, Ash’s hapless always-in-trouble brother, Hunter, instantly becomes the cops’ prime suspect. Determined to clear his name and save her business, Ash does a deep lunge into the surprising—and strange—connections the victim had with her other clients. But countless suspects, contradictory leads, not to mention people desperate to see her studio shut down, mean Ash will have to stretch to the max to outthink a clever killer who’s ready to strike her red in tooth and claw . . . – Kensington Cozies


We’ll Prescribe You a Cat by Syou Ishida, translated by E. Madison Shimoda

Tucked away in an old building at the end of a narrow alley in Kyoto, the Kokoro Clinic for the Soul can only be found by people who are struggling in their lives and genuinely need help. The mysterious clinic offers a unique treatment to those who find their way there: it prescribes cats as medication. Patients are often puzzled by this unconventional prescription, but when they “take” their cat for the recommended duration, they witness profound transformations in their lives, guided by the playful, empathetic, occasionally challenging yet endearing cats.

Throughout the pages, the power of the human-animal bond is revealed as a disheartened businessman finds unexpected joy in physical labor, a young girl navigates the complexities of elementary school cliques, a middle-aged man struggles to stay relevant at work and home, a hardened bag designer seeks emotional balance, and a geisha finds herself unable to move on from the memory of her lost cat. As the clinic’s patients navigate their inner turmoil and seek resolution, their feline companions lead them toward healing, self-discovery, and newfound hope. – Berkley

Summer in the City by Alex Aster

“I didn’t fall in love with a version of you, Elle,” he says. “I fell in love with every you.”
― Alex Aster, Summer in the City

Ellie has been a screenwriter for years, but her latest project isn’t shaping up. She has had writer’s block for months, which is not great considering that her screenplay is due at the end of the summer. Her current project is a big budget movie set in New York City, so despite her reservations, Ellie moves back to New York City for the summer. After leaving two years ago, she swore she would never come back and yet here she is. She just might be able to get her screenplay written, that is until she realizes that her neighbor is tech billionaire Parker Warren, the man she made out with in the stairwell two years ago right before she fled New York City for good.

Their relationship is anything but positive, but after a night of hate-fueled writing, Ellie starts to think that he might be able to help her finish her screenplay. It turns out the Parker could use her help too: he needs to fake a relationship that will take the attention off his company’s acquisition. The two agree to spend the summer together, exploring New York City, crossing locations off Ellie’s list and hitting up paparazzi locations where Parker needs to make an appearance with his new girlfriend. This is one summer. Only one summer that will end. They can pretend for that long, but the lines between pretend and real start to blur leaving Parker and Ellie to question this new relationship and what it could really be.

Summer in the City is Alex Aster’s adult debut novel. This was a sizzling steamy read full of quick witted banter. I recommend you read this book if you like enemies to lovers, forced proximity, fake dating, and billionaire romance all set in New York City. This was my first billionaire romance, which was an adjustment. Parker has an incredible amount of money that he spends however he wants, seemingly on whatever strikes his fancy. That plays into the story significantly, but still took an adjustment. However I found the characters likable and the chemistry off the charts. Four stars from me!

“There are moments in life, I think, that make you grateful you didn’t just stay in your room.”
― Alex Aster, Summer in the City

Switch 2 Games are Here!

The Nintendo Switch 2 has been released, and Davenport Public Library now has games for it! The following titles are on the shelf and ready for checkout.


Donkey Kong Bananza
Join DK and his companion, Pauline, as they delve deep underground—and discover that this subterranean world is a lot more than it seems on the surface. Uncover a variety of environments such as arid canyons, lush forests, and frigid tundra as you peel back the world’s layers! Pauline is a talented young singer looking to find her way back to the surface—and her singing can empower Donkey Kong with Bananza Transformations! Each transformation has its own signature strengths: you can smash through the toughest obstacles with the raw strength of Kong form, gallop with incredible speed as a Zebra, and more. Smash your way to the Planet Core before the greedy Void Company gets there first!


Guardians of Azuma
The classic action-RPG and life-simulation gameplay beloved by Rune Factory fans across the globe is boldly reimagined in Guardians of Azuma. This all-new adventure takes place in the never-before-seen eastern country of Azuma where you will assume the Earth Dancer powers and fight against the corruption spreading throughout Azuma to bring hope back to this once-prosperous land. Choose from one of two protagonists whose destinies are intertwined by mysterious forces. Use sacred treasures to fight against the Blight’s many forms to restore the people, and even gods, to their natural glory. Take farming further, rebuilding entire villages and cultivating new allies and resources along the way. Explore seasonal-themed villages heavily inspired by traditional Japanese culture, each with brand-new festivals and revamped fan-favorites, as well as charming romance candidates.


Sonic x Shadow Generations
Past meets present in SONIC GENERATIONS! Modern and Classic Sonic team up to defeat Dr. Eggman and the Time Eater to restore their timeline to normal! Spin dash through a greatest-hits collection of 3D and 2D versions of iconic stages from past Sonic games, now with updated visuals and reworked cinematics. In this new standalone campaign, Black Doom has reemerged and threatens to take over the world. Shadow must journey into his past, confront his memories, and unlock new dark powers to save the world. Harness Shadow’s new Doom Powers to battle hordes of enemies and tackle platforming challenges like never before. Surf on water, fly over obstacles, and stop time with the return of Chaos Control!


Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S
Enter a newly enhanced dimension of puzzle challenge when world-renowned Tetris® and Japan’s beloved Puyo Puyo series blend their legendary gameplay in the ultimate puzzle match. Stack, chain, and combo your way to victory in traditional Puyo Puyo and Tetris… or mix them together in this unique crossover. Compete in 2v2 battles with pairs using a single board to pull off devastating combos. Experience a multi-dimensional story in the extensive Adventure mode or compete with friends and family in a bounty of competitive local and online modes featuring support for up to 4 players.


Want to see more upcoming Switch 2 games? Check out our Video Games LibGuide for the full list of titles coming soon to the Library.

Leap written and illustrated by Simina Popescu

When choosing what graphic novels to read, what typically catches my attention first is the art style. Leap, written and illustrated by Simina Popescu, is drawn in muted shades of gray and pink with pops of bright colors to highlight important and expressive moments. This graphic novel explores first love, friendship, identity, and what to do when our dreams change.

At a conservative performing arts school in Bucharest, Romania, two young dancers spend all day in class and practice, leaving what free time they have to navigate outside experiences. This graphic novel is a small snapshot of their overall lives, but still manages to pack quite the emotional punch.

Ana has been studying contemporary dance for years, but lately she is lacking the desire. Instead of going to practice, her focus has been on Carina, her girlfriend of three years and a classical ballerina with big ambitions that don’t necessarily include Ana. Carina is afraid of being outed, so their relationship stays hidden, leaving the two with limited time and locations to be a couple outside of school. Ana continuously gives up more and more of her own dancing future to help Carina reach her dreams, but at a major cost.

Sara, Ana’s new roommate, is surrounded by whispers and rumors that she may be the best dancer in the entire school (and the best dancer that the school has produced in years). Feeling sad in the classical track the year prior, Marlena, Sara’s mentor and instructor, advised her to leave classical and switch to contemporary where she might feel more comfortable. Sara has always admired Marlena, so the switch was an easy choice. This admiration blossoms into something more, leaving Sara unsure and questioning everything she’s known, looking for answers and help online and eventually from Ana. Starting as roommates, Sara and Ana become friends, sometimes arguing, other times turning to each other for guidance.

Nonfiction Books about Books

Do you have a favorite nonfiction book about books? The one that has stuck with me the most is The Library Book by Susan Orlean, the story of the 1986 Los Angeles Public Library fire, considered the most catastrophic library fire in American history. This case has never been solved. The fire destroyed four hundred thousand books and damaged seven hundred thousand more, while burning for more than seven hours. Besides covering the fire, the author discusses the crucial role that libraries play in our lives. Wanting to read something along similar lines, I checked the catalog for new nonfiction books about books. Below you will find a list of newer titles that cover multiple aspects of books and the people who care for them.

As of this writing, all of these titles are owned by the Davenport Public Library. Descriptions are provided by the publishers.


Book and Dagger: How Scholars and Librarians Became the Unlikely Spies of World War II by Elyse Graham

The untold story of the academics who became OSS spies, invented modern spycraft, and helped turn the tide of the war

At the start of WWII, the U.S. found itself in desperate need of an intelligence agency. The Office of Strategic Services (OSS), a precursor to today’s CIA, was quickly formed—and, in an effort to fill its ranks with experts, the OSS turned to academia for recruits. Suddenly, literature professors, librarians, and historians were training to perform undercover operations and investigative work—and these surprising spies would go on to profoundly shape both the course of the war and our cultural institutions with their efforts.

In Book and Dagger, Elyse Graham draws on personal histories, letters, and declassified OSS files to tell the story of a small but connected group of humanities scholars turned spies. Among them are Joseph Curtiss, a literature professor who hunted down German spies and turned them into double agents; Sherman Kent, a smart-mouthed history professor who rose to become the head of analysis for all of Europe and Africa; and Adele Kibre, an archivist who was sent to Stockholm to secretly acquire documents for the OSS. These unforgettable characters would ultimately help lay the foundations of modern intelligence and transform American higher education when they returned after the war.

Thrillingly paced and rigorously researched, Book and Dagger is an inspiring and gripping true story about a group of academics who helped beat the Nazis—a tale that reveals the indelible power of the humanities to change the world. – Ecco


Gather Me: A Memoir in Praise of the Books That Saved Me by Glory Edim

“She is a friend of my mind. She gather me, man. The pieces I am, she gather them and give them back to me in all the right order.”—Toni Morrison, Beloved

For Glory Edim, that “friend of my mind” is books. Edim, who grew up in Virginia to Nigerian immigrant parents, started the popular Well-Read Black Girl book club at age thirty, eventually reaching a community of half a million readers. But her own love of books stretches far back.

Edim’s father moved back to Nigeria while she was still a child, marking the beginning of a series of traumatic changes and losses for her family. What became an escape, a safe space, and a second home for her and her brother was their local library. Books were where Edim found community, and as she grew older she discovered authors and ideas that she wasn’t being taught about in class. Reading wherever and whenever she could, be it in her dorm room or when traveling by subway or plane, she found the Black writers whose words would forever change her life: Nikki Giovanni, through children’s poetry cassettes; Maya Angelou, through a critical high school English teacher; Toni Morrison, while attending Morrison’s alma mater, Howard University; Audre Lorde, on a flight to Nigeria. In prose full of both joy and heartbreak, Edim recounts how these writers and so many others taught her how to value herself by helping her to find her own voice when her mother lost hers, to trust her feelings when her father remarried, and to create bonds with other Black women and uplift their stories.

Gather Me is a glowing testament to how the power of representation in literature can gather the disparate parts that make us who we are and assemble them into a portrait of discovery.– Ballantine Books


Jane Austen’s Bookshelf: A Rare Book Collector’s Quest to Find the Women Writers Who Shaped a Legend by Rebecca Romney

Long before she was a rare book dealer, Rebecca Romney was a devoted reader of Jane Austen. She loved that Austen’s books took the lives of women seriously, explored relationships with wit and confidence, and always, allowed for the possibility of a happy ending. She read and reread them, often wishing Austen wrote just one more.

But Austen wasn’t a lone genius. She wrote at a time of great experimentation for women writers—and clues about those women, and the exceptional books they wrote, are sprinkled like breadcrumbs throughout Austen’s work. Every character in Northanger Abbey who isn’t a boor sings the praises of Ann Radcliffe. The play that causes such a stir in Mansfield Park is a real one by the playwright Elizabeth Inchbald. In fact, the phrase “pride and prejudice” came from Frances Burney’s second novel Cecilia. The women that populated Jane Austen’s bookshelf profoundly influenced her work; Austen looked up to them, passionately discussed their books with her friends, and used an appreciation of their books as a litmus test for whether someone had good taste. So where had these women gone? Why hadn’t Romney—despite her training—ever read them? Or, in some cases, even heard of them? And why were they no longer embraced as part of the wider literary canon?

Jane Austen’s Bookshelf investigates the disappearance of Austen’s heroes—women writers who were erased from the Western canon—to reveal who they were, what they meant to Austen, and how they were forgotten. Each chapter profiles a different writer including Frances Burney, Ann Radcliffe, Charlotte Lennox, Charlotte Smith, Hannah More, Elizabeth Inchbald, Hester Lynch Thrale Piozzi, and Maria Edgeworth—and recounts Romney’s experience reading them, finding rare copies of their works, and drawing on connections between their words and Austen’s. Romney collects the once-famed works of these forgotten writers, physically recreating Austen’s bookshelf and making a convincing case for why these books should be placed back on the to-be-read pile of all book lovers today. Jane Austen’s Bookshelf will encourage you to look beyond assigned reading lists, question who decides what belongs there, and build your very own collection of favorite novels. – S&S/Marysue Rucci Books


Prose to the People: A Celebration of Black bookstores by Katie Mitchell

A stunning visual homage to Black bookstores, featuring a selection of shops around the country alongside essays that celebrate the history, community, activism, and culture these spaces embody, with an original foreword by Nikki Giovanni.

Black literature is perhaps the most powerful, polarizing force in the modern American zeitgeist. Today—as Black novels draw authoritarian ire, as Black memoirs shape public debates, as Black polemics inspire protest petitions—it’s more important than ever to highlight the places that center these stories: Black bookstores.

Traversing teeming metropolises and tiny towns, Prose to the People explores a these spaces, chronicling these Black bookstore’s past and present lives. Combining narrative prose, eye-catching photography, one-on-one interviews, original essays, and specially curated poetry, Prose to the People is a reader’s road trip companion to the world of Black books.

Thoughtfully curated by writer and Black bookstore owner Katie Mitchell, Prose to the People is a must-have addition to the shelves of anyone who loves book culture and Black history. Though not a definitive guide, this dynamic book centers profiles of over fifty Black bookstores from the Northeast to the mid-Atlantic, the South, and the West Coast, complete with stunning original and archival photography.

Interspersed throughout are essays, poems, and interviews by New York Times bestsellers Kiese Laymon, Rio Cortez, Pearl Cleage, and many more journalists, activists, authors, academics, and poets that offer deeper perspectives on these bookstores’ role throughout the diaspora. Complete with a foreword by world-renowned poet and activist Nikki Giovanni, Prose to the People is a beautiful tribute to these vital pillars of the Black community. – Clarkson Potter

Citizenship Day

September 17th is Citizenship Day, recognizing everyone who is working to become a U.S. citizen. To help them prepare, USCIS provides free, online study resources for the Naturalization Test in multiple languages. The path to citizenship can be long and complicated, but local organizations like Quad Cities Alliance for Immigrants and Refugees (QCAIR), World Relief Quad Cities, and Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice are here to help. You can also find the following resources on immigration and citizenship at Davenport Public Library.  (Descriptions below provided by publisher.)


Becoming a U.S. Citizen, 10th Edition by Ilona Bray

Everything you need to become a naturalized U.S. citizen. The sooner a green card holder becomes a U.S. citizen, the sooner he or she gains a host of benefits: the right to vote and apply for certain federal jobs, faster immigration for family, protection against deportation or new anti-immigration legislation, and more. But the application process itself can be long and confusing—and at worst, create a risk of deportation. With Becoming a U.S. Citizen, you can save months, or even years, and avoid complications. Becoming a U.S. Citizen also shows you how to ask for a reduced fee or take advantage of special exceptions if you have a disability, are in the military, or are the spouse of a U.S. citizen.


How to Get a Green Card, 16th Edition by Ilona Bray

The U.S. immigration system is an enormous bureaucracy, so it’s vital that you understand it before attempting to apply for a green card. Making a mistake can lead to delays and hassles or even ruin your chances for success. How to Get a Green Card provides everything you need to know about qualifying for permanent U.S. residence if you don’t have an employer sponsoring you. Find out how to work with U.S. officials and prepare and present the right documents at the right time to get a green card through: parents, siblings, or adult children, a U.S. spouse or fiancé, green card lotteries (diversity visa), political asylum or refugee status, a U visa for crime victims, or another category you might qualify for. The 16th edition covers the latest income requirements for family-based green card applicants, additions to the list of countries whose citizens may obtain Temporary Protected Status, and more.


Fiancé and Marriage Visas: A Couple’s Guide to U.S. Immigration, 12th Edition by Ilona Bray

The book that’s helped thousands of couples live in the U.S. together. You’re engaged or married to a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and all you want is the right to be together in the United States. Should be simple, right? It’s not. The pile of application forms can be overwhelming, the bureaucracy isn’t helpful, and delays are inevitable. This book will help you succeed. Discover the fastest and best application strategy. Avoid common–and serious–mistakes. Prepare for meetings with officials. Prove your marriage is real–not a fraud. Deal with the two-year testing period for new marriages. The 12th edition covers the latest, higher fees and income requirements as well as new policies under the Trump administration, and provides handy checklists and illustrative sample forms.


Residencia Americana: Guía para Obtener tu Residencia Legal en Estados Unidos by Inglés en 100 días

Residencia americana te ofrece una visión detallada y completa del proceso de solicitud de la residencia legal en los Estados Unidos. Desde los criterios de elegibilidad hasta la documentación necesaria, te guía paso a paso en cada etapa del camino. Y con acceso a recursos online, ¡siempre está actualizada! Además, explora las diferentes opciones para obtener la residencia, desde aquellas patrocinadas por familia o empleo, hasta la lotería de visas de diversidad y categorías especiales. También aborda aspectos importantes como las entrevistas, cómo mantener tu estatus legal, cómo enfrentar posibles retrasos o negaciones, y cómo buscar apoyo legal cuando lo necesites. Tanto si eres un inmigrante en busca de una nueva vida en este país, como si eres un familiar o un consultor de inmigración, este libro se convertirá en tu recurso indispensable. No importa cuál sea tu situación, esta guía te brinda una visión clara, concisa y organizada para alcanzar tu sueño de establecerte legalmente en los Estados Unidos. ¡Prepárate para dar el primer paso hacia tu futuro lleno de oportunidades!


Learn about the United States: Quick Civics Lessons for the Naturalization Test by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

American Government: In the United States, the government gets its power to govern from the people. We have a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. Citizens in the United States shape their government and its policies, so they must learn about important public issues and get involved in their communities. Learning about American government helps you understand your rights and responsibilities and allows you to fully participate in the American political process. The Founders of this country decided that the United States should be a representative democracy. They wanted a nation ruled by laws, not by men. In a representative democracy, the people choose officials to make laws and represent their views and concerns in government. This book will help you understand the principles of American democracy, the U.S. system of government, and the important rights and responsibilities of U.S. citizenship.


During the month of September, look for the “Constitution and Citizenship Day” displays at all three branches for more recommendations.

LEARN A LANGUAGE — Part 9 — CHINESE

Learning Chinese opens doors to understanding a rich and ancient culture and a language that is increasingly relevant in our globalized world. Mandarin Chinese, the most widely spoken language in the world, boasts over 1.1 billion native speakers, primarily in China, Taiwan, and Singapore, along with Macao, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Indonesia (worlddata.info). Mandarin Chinese is also spoken in at least 21 other countries as a mother tongue by a part of the population. The Wu and Min dialects of Chinese each have upwards of 80 million native speakers, and both languages are only spoken in Taiwan and some regions of China. There are many vibrant Chinese-speaking communities or “Chinatowns” across the world, including in the United States, the United Kingdom, Nigeria, and Madagascar (worldpopulationreview.com).

The history of the Chinese language dates back over 4,000 years, with the earliest written records found on oracle bones from the Shang dynasty (c. 1600–1046 BCE). Over centuries, the language evolved through various stages, including Old Chinese, Middle Chinese, and Modern Standard Chinese. The development of a standardized written form, based on the Beijing dialect, was a significant step in unifying the languages spoken in China – a family of dialects with significant regional variations. Mandarin, the official language of China, is the most widely spoken, with approximately 70% of the population using it as their primary language. Other major dialects include Cantonese (spoken in Guangdong province and Hong Kong), Wu (including Shanghainese), Min (including Hokkien), and Xiang. Each dialect has its own unique phonetic, lexical, and grammatical features, and many are not mutually intelligible (fluentu.com). Other than in China, the Chinese language is spoken in 21 other countries as a mother tongue by at least a part of the population including many neighboring countries in Asia and surrounding regions (listed above), but also further south to Australia and New Zealand and parts of Oceania. The language is also spoken in Chinese communities or “Chinatowns” across the world, including in the United States and Canada, the United Kingdom and other locations in Europe, along with a small number of countries in Central and South America as well as some African nations like Nigeria and Madagascar.

In the United States, approximately 3.5 million people speak a form of Chinese, including Mandarin and Cantonese, making it the third most spoken language in the country (after English and Spanish). The Chinese speaking population of the U.S. is highly concentrated in the New York (549,000), Los Angeles (399,000) and San Francisco (334,000) metro areas (Census.gov). Chinese has influenced various aspects of society, particularly in areas with significant Chinese-speaking populations. Chinese Americans have established schools and cultural institutions to preserve language and heritage. Additionally, the growing economic and political ties between the U.S. and China have increased the demand for Chinese language skills in business, diplomacy, and academia. This trend reflects the broader global importance of Chinese as a key language in international relations and commerce.

In Iowa, there are approximately 6,600 speakers of Chinese, mostly in cities like Des Moines, Ames, and Iowa City, as well as Cedar Rapids, indicating a growing population particularly in areas with academic institutions and businesses with an international footprint (Language Map Data Center). There are several colleges and universities in Iowa that offer Chinese Language Programs as well as a number of student associations with a focus on China and Chinese culture. In Johnston, Iowa, just northwest of Des Moines, the Iowa Chinese Language School (ICLS) offers Chinese language classes and cultural activities for ages 4-adult, focusing not just on the Chinese language but also aspects of Chinese culture like art, dance, and sports, for a well-rounded learning experience. Iowa is also home to the Chinese Culture Center of America (cccaiowa.org) and the Chinese Association of Iowa (iowachinese.us), which offers a connection to various events including Chinese New Year celebrations in the region. And, the Iowa City Area Chinese Association is active on Facebook.

In Scott County, there are fewer than 500 speakers of Chinese, with about 130 speakers of the language residing in Davenport (IowaDataCenter.org). Davenport even has a “sister city” relationship with Langfang, China. Des Moines, Dubuque, and Cedar Rapids also have Chinese “sister cities”. Beyond Davenport, but in the Quad Cities region, Augustana College offers a Chinese minor and Asian Studies major, including four years of language instruction. Rivermont Collegiate (Upper School/High School) in Bettendorf has offered Chinese language classes to its students since 2003. And, recently, Muscatine High School began offering a Chinese language (Mandarin) class as well.

Learning Chinese offers numerous benefits. Professionally, it can enhance career opportunities in international business, diplomacy, and translation, especially given China’s significant role in the global economy. Culturally, it provides access to a vast array of literature, philosophy, and art, enriching one’s understanding of Chinese heritage. Additionally, as China continues to expand its influence, proficiency in Chinese can facilitate communication and collaboration in various fields. With millions of speakers both globally and within the United States, including Iowa, and a rich tapestry of dialects to explore, the Chinese language offers a unique and rewarding linguistic journey that will give you a strategic skill in an interconnected world.

Would you like to explore learning Chinese? Check out some of the FREE resources available to you at The Library. See our online catalog or ask a Librarian for more resources.

FOR A QUICK INTRODUCTION TO THE LANGUAGE:

Get started in Mandarin Chinese

How to learn Chinese : without even trying!

Mandarin Chinese the easy way

 

FOR A MORE LAID-BACK APPROACH:

Chinese stories for language learners : a treasury of proverbs and folktales in Chinese and English

Chinese short stories for beginners : 20 captivating short stories to learn Chinese & grow your vocabulary the fun way!

 

IF YOU ARE A VISUAL LEARNER:

 

Mandarin Chinese picture dictionary : learn 1,500 key Chinese words and phrases

Hanmoji handbook: your guide to the Chinese language through emoji

Chinese-English Bilingual visual dictionary

Chinese character writing

Chinese characters : learn & remember 2,178 characters and their meanings

Learning Chinese characters

 

MORE COMPREHENSIVE LANGUAGE COURSES:

 

Beginner’s Chinese

Essential Chinese grammar : write and speak Chinese like a native!

And, as a Davenport Public Library cardholder, you have FREE access to the language learning program, Mango Languages. Please check back for more resources including a more complete language learning course (in book form) for Chinese that will soon be added to our collection. In the meantime, Mango Languages is a great place to start.

 

FOR THOSE WHO PLAN TO TRAVEL:

   

Traveler’s language guides. Mandarin

Rough Guide Mandarin Phrasebook

Lonely Planet Mandarin phrasebook & CD : read, listen and practise

Chinese PhraseFinder and dictionary

Cantonese Chinese phrasebook & dictionary

 

NEXT MONTH…  LEARN A LANGUAGE — Part 10 — ESL

 

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