Blogs & Podcasts

Find early literacy tips and children's books on the Children's Blog. Discover your next great read on the Books Movies Music Blog. Dig into Nashville history with the Community History Blog. Listen to stories, history, and culture on NPL Podcasts. Please see this Note for Readers.

Podcast
all things eerie logo

"The Nightingale and the Rose"

In “The Nightingale and the Rose,” the conflict between science and faith that so marked Oscar Wilde’s own era is mirrored in the conflict between love and philosophy as a young man tries to fulfill his dreams.

Cover for the children's book, "Sealed with a Kiss" showing a cartoon seal being kissed by a little bird.
Have you ever read a book that you just want to hug when you finish? And maybe not let anyone else touch it until you’re ready to let it go? Maybe that's just a children's librarian thing? Anyway, I had that experience with Sealed with a Kiss by Beth Ferry.
Caldecott medal.
The announcement of the Caldecott, Newbery, and other recipients of the American Library Association (ALA) Youth Media Awards is a cause for celebration! Did your favorites win? Or what books will now be on your reading list? Check out our round-up (with links to our collection) below
Book cover for Persuasion showing a woman standing at a window.
I've taken quite a few literature classes in my day, and while some texts were a struggle to read (I still don't really know what happened in The Faerie Queene), others I couldn't put down. Here are a few of my favorite "required reading" books and their movie adaptations.
2019 advertisement that reads "You've Got This and we can help" next to playing cards that say "The new year's resolution game.".
Did you know a third of people who make New Year’s resolutions don’t keep them past January? It can be tough to stick to new goals, especially if it's cold and dreary outside. But venture out anyway: our librarians are here to offer free resources and cheer you on as you stick to your resolutions.
Book cover for To Kill a Mockingbird.
Using stories as the basis for coding games encourages children to explore early computer programming principles in a fun and interactive way.
Podcast
just listen logo

"An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge"

"An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" (1890) is a short story by the American writer and Civil War veteran Ambrose Bierce. The story, which is set during the American Civil War, is known for its irregular time sequence and twist ending. Bierce's abandonment of strict linear narration in favor of the internal mind of the protagonist is an early example of the stream of consciousness narrative mode.