A Southern family dynasty romance? I’m so in. I have a real soft spot for Southern literature and family sagas, so to put those together was very exciting.

Next week is Banned Books Week – a holiday with which you may not be familiar, but trust me, it’s big news around libraries.

I often marvel at how amazing it is that we have letters from Civil War soldiers, store ledgers from the 1900s, and interviews with people that lived through the Great Depression.

Who do I love? Hmm...let's see. I love my husband. I love my crazy kittens. I love my family. I more than like my job. I love...

Wait.

What?

Oh. Who Do You Love is the title of a book by Jennifer Weiner?

When two people got married in Nashville during the 19th century, it was not unusual for the officiant to write something like, “I hereby certify that I solemnized the rights of matrimony between the above named” on the back of the marriage certificate, and sign it. Some of these notes are wordy and elaborate, some are short and sweet. In the case of Justice of the Peace Willie Barrow, the notes also contained flashes of dry wit and sarcasm.

Poetry is a powerful early literacy tool. It fosters children’s social and emotional development and can help children talk about their feelings in a new way. What better way to introduce children to poetry than with poetry written for children by U.S. Poet Laureate Juan Felipe Herrera.

In addition to being an ingenious mashup of visual art and literature, graphic novels also have the potential to breathe new life into classic literature.

August is National Inventor’s Month. Celebrate by creating a “tinkering” space for your young children. Young inventors need space, ideas, and inspiration. We've got tips to get you started.