Library Picks: The Wizard of Oz, Pluto, Battles and a Basketball Star

Were you around for the start of the NBA? If so, you might remember one of the greats, Wilt Chamberlain, a massive personality on and off the courts. His 75th birthday is coming up on Aug. 21.

Aug. 22 memorializes one of the most horrific and lengthy battles in modern times. It was a battle that changed the course of WWII as the Nazis invaded the Russian city of Stalingrad, named after their leader, a place the country refused to give up, though suffering massive losses.

Another infamous international war began as a much smaller conflict in Vietnam during the upcoming week on Aug. 22, back in 1945.

Ever been promoted? How about demoted? That's exactly what has happened during the time we've been aware of the little ball of ice at the edge of our solar system. We all knew it as a planet for years and years, but on Aug. 24, 2006, it was demoted to a dwarf planet by the International Astronomical Union.

If you haven't experienced the Wizard of Oz, whether by book or film, get on it. The original release of the film was on Aug. 25, 1939, and it quickly became an American classic. But what might intrigue you more is the life and times of author L. Frank Baum that lead him to compose the richly metaphorical book that has captured the imaginations of many.

Check out these selections chosen by 's director Elizabeth Gulick and librarian Jenni Gannod to highlight these topics for the upcoming week.

1. The Rivalry: Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, and the Golden Age of Basketball (Book) - Author John Taylor discusses the early days of the National Basketball League in this book, focusing on two of the organizations biggest stars: Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell.

2. Stalingrad: The Fateful Siege: 1942-1943 (Book) - The massive battle that turned the tide of World War II directly on Russian soil saw the end of hundreds of thousands of lives over the course of five months. Author Antony Beever was hailed by historians for such a compelling and comprehensive read on this notorious battle.

3. 10,000 Days of Thunder: A History of the Vietnam War (Book) - Though meant for middle school-aged students, this well-thought out book offers many informative and vivid pictures along with concise historical knowledge and accounts of the exploits of many "big names" from both side of the war.

4. Why Isn't Pluto a Planet?: A Book About Planets (Book) - We all thought Pluto was a planet; seemed like common knowledge. Then again, what exactly constitutes a planet? If you want some answers to these questions, whether in youth or adulthood, this quick read can shed some light on what used to be the farthest planet from the sun.

5. The Real Wizard of Oz: The Life and Times of L. Frank Baum (Book) - Rebecca Loncraine penned this first major biography of L. Frank Baum, the creator of the Wizard of Oz series, delving into the life of the eccentric writer. His life was lived in trying and exciting times, which this book juxtaposes as metaphors and inspirations for his magical world of Oz.