Staff Picks
What should you read, watch or listen to next? We're so glad you asked!
Love stumbling on a fun book display at the library? Welcome to the online version! Dive into our Library staff’s top picks—books, movies, music, and more—by theme, age, awards, read-alikes, and all kinds of cool topics we just can’t stop talking about.
Eat Like an Astronaut
Cookbooks featuring similar foods to Artemis II's menu, so you can eat like an astronaut at home!
Allyship for Beginners
A selection of resources on how to show up and stand with people when they need you most
Monologues from the Movies
A selection of my favorite monologues and the movies they came from.
Books by Women of Color in 2025
RO Kwon, author of "The Incendiaries", annually posts a list on electricliterature.com of books by women of color being published that year.
Well-Behaved Women Seldom Make This List
Whether outsmarting empires, surviving the impossible or simply demanding to be heard, these characters redefine what it means to be strong.
Women's History Month in Graphic Novels
Check out these graphic non-fic titles for women's history month!
Books for older teens and new adults
New Adult books have appeal for a wide age range and feature themes that both teens and adults will relate to.
Fútbol America: Books for Kids
A selection of football (soccer) fiction for younger readers ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Arab American Books for Middle Grade Readers
Celebrate the rich culture and history of the Arab American community by checking out these books for middle grade readers!
Soccer Picture Books for Elementary Students
Keep your eye on the ball, not the snacks. When you aren't a practice or a game, these are fun picture books about soccer.
Just for Kicks: Soccer in Kids Fiction
It's always soccer season with these soccer-loving characters in chapter books and graphic novels.
Northwest Region Reads: Childhood Favorites
Staff at the Monticello and Shawnee branches shared children's books they loved as kids & books they now enjoy reading to their own kiddos.
Children's Music That Caregivers Can Tolerate
Like adults, children deserve good-quality music. Just not the kind that causes caregivers to cover their eyes and pull out their hair!
Search and Find By Picture
Search-and-Find books that have you seek based on pictures, no words required. Readers of all literacy levels can participate in the search!
Picturebooks about War
If children are asking difficult questions about war, these picturebooks may help begin answering them in ways they can understand.
Staff Pick Spotlight: America 250
Kansas Poetry
The Kansas 250 Bookshelf was created by the State Library of Kansas in conjunction with America 250.
Love Your Kansas Community
Celebrate Kansas with these books related to the history and events of various Kansas communities.
America 250 Reading List
To celebrate the America's 250th anniversary, PBS Books made this booklist to celebrate the people, events, and ideals that made America.
Kansas: The Road to Statehood
America 250: Learn about the State of Kansas from the early native Kanza tribe, to the early pioneer days, to Bloody Kansas.
Eat Like an Astronaut
Cookbooks featuring similar foods to Artemis II's menu, so you can eat like an astronaut at home!
Allyship for Beginners
A selection of resources on how to show up and stand with people when they need you most
Monologues from the Movies
A selection of my favorite monologues and the movies they came from.
Books by Women of Color in 2025
RO Kwon, author of "The Incendiaries", annually posts a list on electricliterature.com of books by women of color being published that year.
Arab American Books for Middle Grade Readers
Celebrate the rich culture and history of the Arab American community by checking out these books for middle grade readers!
Soccer Picture Books for Elementary Students
Keep your eye on the ball, not the snacks. When you aren't a practice or a game, these are fun picture books about soccer.
Just for Kicks: Soccer in Kids Fiction
It's always soccer season with these soccer-loving characters in chapter books and graphic novels.
Soccer Chapter Books for Elementary Students
You'll get a "kick" out of these soccer chapter books.
Well-Behaved Women Seldom Make This List
Whether outsmarting empires, surviving the impossible or simply demanding to be heard, these characters redefine what it means to be strong.
What's on The Moon?
As NASA returns to the moon with the launch of the Artemis II mission, we have to wonder: what's *really* up there?
Crime Never Takes a Holiday: Easter
A selection of crime novels set on and around Easter.
Contemporary Poetry Sampler
April is Poetry Month! Here's a sampling of some of my favorite poetry books, with some favorite poems from each book to get you started.
Artemis II Launch
Artemis II is a planned lunar flyby mission under the Artemis program, launched April 1, 2026.
Northwest Region Reads: Childhood Favorites
Staff at the Monticello and Shawnee branches shared children's books they loved as kids & books they now enjoy reading to their own kiddos.
Poetry as Crucible
Engage with National Poetry Month with these titles that display poetry's ability to transform and alchemize grief, wonder, memory and love.
Read Around The World (Cup)
As excitement builds for the World Cup, enjoy these novels that take place in/are written by authors from each qualifying World Cup country!