Library Picks: Living History Through Good Reads

This week marks several anniversaries and special days. May 21 is Armed Forces Day and also ends Police Week honoring our men and women in blue. On May 16, we celebrate the anniversary of the first Academy Awards ceremony— a tradition that dates back to 1929. The anniversary of the historic Supreme Court decision of Brown v. Board of Education is on May 17, along with this month's full moon. The 75th anniversary of Margaret Mitchell's sprawling story of romance and life during the Civil War is on May 19.

Director Elizabeth Gulick and librarian Jenni Gannod made the following selections for this week's Library Picks:

1. The Moon Book (Book)— Gail Gibbons gives clear, concise explanations with colorful and simple illustrations about our moon for children of all ages; parents may learn a thing or two as well.
2. Gone with the Wind (Book)— Celebrate the 75th anniversary of the publishing of Margaret Mitchell's classic by reading this American tale of love and war.
3. Walking Point: The Experiences Of A Founding Member Of The Elite Navy Seals (Book)—Written by one of the Navy SEAL's founding fathers, Chief James "Patches" Watson, his second book covers various aspects of his 20 years in the Navy.
4. Brown v. Board of Education: A Brief History with Documents (Book)— Waldo Martin explores the impact of the 1954 Supreme Court decision to end Jim Crow segregation in this book through the use of legal documents and the consequences of the historic case.
5. A Cop's Life: True Stories from the Heart Behind the Badge (Book)— Sgt. Randy Sutton, veteran of the Las Vegas Police Department, delves into the life and times of a real police officer through 20 autobiographic shorts.
6. The King's Speech (DVD)— Winner of the Academy Award for Best Motion Picture (along with a few other Oscars), director Tom Hooper based this film on the true story of the English Prince Albert who attempted to overcome a terrible stutter in order to inspire his nation with a speech on the eve of World War II.