Lisa Von Drasek recommends two books in this installment of Read This Book: “So Cold” — by John Coy, Illustrated by Chris Park — an engaging children’s book about a father and son who practice science experiments using household objects outside on a snowy day. “You Gotta Eat: Real-Life Strategies for Feeding Yourself When Cooking Feels Impossible,”…

Lisa Von Drasek and Erin McBrien discussed the children’s books, “Writing Boxes” and “I’m From” on this installment of Read This Book from the University of Minnesota Libraries. Von Drasek is the author of “Writing Boxes” and “I’m From” was written by Gary R. Gray Jr. and illustrated by Oge Mora. About Lisa Von Drasek and Erin McBrien Lisa Von Dras…

Erin McBrien and Lisa Von Drasek discuss “First Words” by Joyce Sutphen in this episode of Read This Book from the University of Minnesota Libraries. About Lisa Von Drasek and Erin McBrien Lisa Von Drasek is the Curator of the Children’s Literature Research Collections at the University of Minnesota Libraries. Erin McBrien is Interim Curator of the…

Lacie McMillin and Lisa Von Drasek discuss the Sonali Dev “Raje Series” on this installment of Read This Book! The Rajes are an immigrant Indian family descended from royalty, who have built their lives in San Francisco. About Lisa Von Drasek and Lacie McMillin Lisa Von Drasek is the Curator of the Children’s Literature Research Collections at the …

Jessica Abbazio and Lisa Von Drasek discuss “The Midnight Library” by Matt Haig on this installment of Read This Book from the University of Minnesota Library. About Lisa Von Drasek and Jessica Abbazio Lisa Von Drasek is the Curator of the Children’s Literature Research Collections at the University of Minnesota Libraries and host of Read This Book…

Davu Underwood Seru discussed with Lisa Von Drasek the book, “A Darker Wilderness” on this installment of Read This Book from the University of Minnesota Libraries. The book was edited by Erin Sharkey. About Lisa Von Drasek and Davu Seru Lisa Von Drasek is the Curator of the Children’s Literature Research Collections, home of the Kerlan Collection,…

“Hairs / Pelitos” was reviewed by Patricia Izek and Lisa Von Drasek on this installment of Read This Book from the University of Minnesota Libraries. “This jewel-like vignette from Sandra Cisneros’s best-selling The House on Mango Street shows, through simple, intimate portraits, the diversity among us.” —Goodreads About Lisa Von Drasek and Patrici…

Jennie Burroughs and Lisa Von Drasek discuss “The Golden Enclaves” by Naomi Novik in this installment of Read This Book from the University of Minnesota Libraries. “Saving the world is a test no school of magic can prepare you for in the triumphant conclusion to the New York Times bestselling trilogy that began with “A Deadly Education” and “The La…

Poet Freya Manfred read from her latest book, “When I was Young and Old” during a June 15, 2023 event at the University of Minnesota’s Elmer L. Andersen Library. Manfred is a longtime Midwest­erner who has lived on both coasts. She attended Macalester College and Stan­ford University, and has received a Radcliffe Grant and a National Endowment for …

Jason Roy and Lisa Von Drasek discussed “The Vinyl Detective” on this installment of Read This Book from the University of Minnesota! About Lisa Von Drasek and Jason Roy Lisa Von Drasek is the Curator of the Children’s Literature Research Collections, home of the Kerlan Collection, at the University of Minnesota Libraries. Jason Roy is the Director…

“The Revolutionary Samuel Adams” by Stacy Schiff was reviewed on this installment of Read This Book, from the University of Minnesota Libraries. Bill Pederson from the UMN Music Library shared his thoughts with Read This Book host, Lisa Von Drasek, who is also curator of the UMN Kerlan Collection of Children’s Literature. Pulitzer Prize–winning bio…

“Thank you to Marcia Pankake. This is incredible, to dedicate space and time and resources to poetry in our culture.” —Sun Yung Shin The 14th Annual Pankake Poetry reading, named for librarian Marcia Pankake, took place on April 4, 2023. Poet and cultural worker Sun Yung Shin read from her latest book of poetry, “The Wet Hex,” a finalist for the 20…

‘The Searcher’ — A New York Times bestselling thriller — is reviewed on Read This Book by University of Minnesota Dean of Libraries Lisa German and host Lisa Von Drasek. About Lisa Von Drasek and Lisa German Lisa Von Drasek is the Curator of the Children’s Literature Research Collections at the University of Minnesota Libraries and host of Read Thi…

By Allison Campbell-Jensen While working for the U.S. Forest Service, Michael Dockry taught colleagues, one at a time, about the benefits of building relationships with indigenous people — that it makes sense to take advantage of the wisdom of those who have lived on these lands for generations. At the annual “A Feast of Words” event, held Jan. 26 …

Sherlock Holmes curator Tim Johnson's discusses Andrew Lycett's book, "Conan Doyle's Wide World," on this installment of Read This Book from the University of Minnesota Libraries. The post Conan Doyle’s Wide World discussed on Read This Book! appeared first on UMN Libraries News & Events.By Read This Book!

Science Librarian Megan Kocher, Curator of the University of Minnesota's Kirschner Cookbook Collection, recommends “What's for Dessert” and “Baking School” for those wanting to whip up some holiday baked goods. Kocher is joined on this installment of Read This Book by host Lisa Von Drasek. The post ‘What’s for Dessert’ and ‘Baking School’ featured …

Giving speech to the spirit of formerly enslaved person Eliza Winston, poet and dancer Mary Moore Easter offered a captivating presentation on Dec. 6. With her co-presenters — Joan Hepburn, a retired Professor of English, with a concentration of West African theater, from St. Olaf College, and Siddeeqah Shabazz, actor at Pillsbury House Theater and…

Alee Schmeirer and Lisa Von Drasek discuss “Leave the World Behind,” a novel by Rumaan Alam, about two families — strangers to each other — who are forced together on a long weekend gone terribly wrong. The post ‘Leave the World Behind’ reviewed on Read This Book! appeared first on UMN Libraries News & Events.…

Amy Riegelman and host Lisa Von Drasek discussed “The Grieving Brain” on this installment of Read This Book from the University of Minnesota Libraries. The author, Mary-Frances O'Connor, a renowned grief expert and neuroscientist, shares groundbreaking discoveries about what happens in our brain when we grieve, providing a new paradigm for understa…

Science Librarian Carolyn Bishoff discussed "The Goblin Emperor" and other audio books on this episode of Read This Book! with host Lisa Von Drasek. "The Goblin Emperor" is a 2014 fantasy novel by Katherine Addison. The post ‘The Goblin Emperor’ and more audio books appeared first on UMN Libraries News & Events.…

David Mura was the featured poet at the 13th Annual Pankake Poetry on April 7, 2022 at the University of Minnesota’s Elmer L. Andersen Library. reading featuring Mura has written four books of poetry, has won numerous awards for his writing, and has taught at several colleges and universities, including the University of Minnesota. Following the re…

“Humanities on the Front Lines: Public Partnerships and Transforming the University” was the title of the Jan. 27, 2022 presentation for A Feast of Words, an annual event presented by the Friends of the University of Minnesota Libraries and the Campus Club. Professor Jigna Desai and Associate Professor Tracey Deutsch discussed the important work of…

By Allison Campbell-Jensen “You can’t be what you can’t see,” said Larry McKenzie, award-winning coach, speaker, and author, during the Nov. 18 Friends of the Libraries event Amplifying Black Narratives: The Creation of Black Narratives. Among the important resources for creating Black narratives are people who serve as “mirrors” that reflect possi…

Tim Johnson reviewed "Charles Lindbergh: A Religious Biography of America's Most Infamous Pilot" by Christopher Gehrz on this installment of Read This Book! from the University of Minnesota Libraries. He's joined by host Lisa Von Drasek. The post Tim Johnson reviews Charles Lindbergh bio appeared first on UMN Libraries News & Events.…

The Friends of the University of Minnesota Libraries hosted an online panel discussion on Oct. 28, 2021, which featured Mélina Mangal, Rekhet Si-Asar, Dionne Sims, and panel moderator Kate McCready. The panel discussed the challenges faced by black authors, librarians, independent publishers, and bookstore owners in getting books by black authors o…

Jokeda (JoJo) Bell, Tia-Simone Gardner, and Catherine Squires joined moderator Cecily Marcus for a conversation about the preservation of Black art and culture in community-based archives and the University collections. Please watch this lively conversation with experts who share a passion for keeping historical archives not only accessible, but al…

Megan Kocher and Lisa Von Drasek discussed cookbooks they liked the most for cooking and baking during the pandemic, on this installment of "Read This Book!" from the University of Minnesota Libraries. The post Cooking during the pandemic appeared first on UMN Libraries News & Events.By Read This Book!

The 12th annual Pankake Poetry reading features poet Deborah Keenan, the author of 10 collections of poetry. Her book, “Willow Room, Green Door: New and Selected Poems,” received the Minnesota Book Award for Poetry. Following the reading, there will be a discussion with Keenan led by James Lenfestey. The post Pankake Poetry featuring Deborah Keenan…

Lacie McMillin discusses Yaa Gyasi's Transcendent Kingdom, with Lisa von Drasek, on this installment of Read This Book from the University of Minnesota Libraries. Transcendent Kingdom us a novel about faith, science, religion, and love, centered on a family of Ghanaian immigrants ravaged by depression and addiction and grief. It's Gyasi's followup …

In the aftermath of George Floyd’s death, the Mapping Prejudice project has attracted media attention from across the globe. What began here has exploded into the largest protest in American history. The whole world was watching as our community was ripped apart, partly as a consequence of decades of unjust and discriminatory housing practices. Lea…

Please join the University of Minnesota Libraries for an international virtual book launch for “The Selected Letters of John Berryman,” edited by Philip Coleman (Trinity College Dublin) and Calista McRae (New Jersey Institute of Technology). The editors and invited guests — including Eve Cobain, Henri Cole, Ray Gonzalez, Patricia Hampl, and Richard…

Emeritus Professor Dr. John S. Wright discusses his intellectual forebearers and the African American renaissance men and women who inspire his work. Dr. Wright will be joined by Cecily Marcus, Curator of the University Libraries’ Givens Collection of African American Literature, the Performing Art Archives, and the Upper Midwest Literary Archives.…