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Titles at Tyson: 6 Recommended Reads for President’s Day

Tyson Library’s collection includes books for all ages that are appropriate for marking the annual celebration of Presidents’ Day – which is Monday, February 19 this year. We encourage our patrons to take this opportunity to branch out and explore a new topic or a familiar topic in a new genre if you are a reader who is already familiar with many of our nation’s leaders.

We have more books in our stacks about presidents, but here are a few highlights. Some are housed in our non-fictions shelves, but others are fiction that still celebrate the spirit behind a country which chose democracy after gaining its independence hundreds of years ago.

Secret Lives of the U.S. Presdients by Cormac O’Brien

Tyson Library Call No.: 923.173 OBR

From Goodreads: “Your high school history teachers never gave you a book like this one! Secret Lives of the U.S. Presidents features outrageous and uncensored profiles of the men in the White House – complete with hundreds of little-known, politically incorrect, and downright wacko facts.
With chapters on everyone from George Washington to G. W. Bush, Secret Lives of the U.S. Presidents tackles all the tough questions that other history books are afraid to Are there really secret tunnels underneath the White House? How many presidential daughters have bared their all for Playboy ? And what was Nancy Reagan thinking when she appeared on Diff’rent Strokes ? American history was never this much fun in school!”

The First Ladies by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray

Tyson Library Call No.: F BEN

From a Goodreads reader review: “The First Ladies takes on the friendship of Eleanor Roosevelt and Mrs. Mary McLeod Bethune.
While I’ve read much about Mrs. Roosevelt, Mary Bethune was unknown to me. An educator (she founded a private school that became the Bethune-Cookman College) and a civil rights activist (founding the National Association of Colored Women and sitting on the board of the NAACP), she became an advisor to President Roosevelt… It’s a fine art to imbue a story with facts without disrupting the pace of the story… As the book progresses, it focuses on the work both women did for equal rights, starting with trying to get an anti-lynching bill passed by Congress…”

The President is Missing by Bill Clinton & James Patterson

Tyson Library Call No.: F PAT

From Goodreads: “As the novel opens, a threat looms. Enemies are planning an attack of unprecedented scale on America. Uncertainty and fear grip Washington. There are whispers of cyberterror and espionage and a traitor in the cabinet. The President himself becomes a suspect, and then goes missing…”

The Presidents Decoded by Katie Kennedy

Tyson Library Call No.: J9373.099 KEN

From Goodreads: “Some call it the most important job in the world. It’s certainly the most powerful. And it’s one that every citizen needs to know about because we’re the ones who vote to put a president in office. Lively, informative, filled with firsts and facts, big ideas and compelling anecdotes, The Presidents Decoded, is a richly layered guide to the leaders who have shaped our nation. Featuring over 125 primary sources–including documents, speeches, letters, executive orders and diaries–each leader’s time in office is broken down and explained to show the what, how and why of our leaders’ thoughts, decisions and policies.”

Who was Andrew Jackson? by Douglas Yacka

Tyson Library Call No.: WHO JAC

From Goodreads: “Seventh President Andrew Jackson was a man of contradictions: quick tempered and brash, he often seemed to look for fights, but he was so devoted to his wife, he quit Congress twice to be by her side. He was a celebrated war hero who nevertheless most enjoyed his serene life in Tennessee. …Douglas Yacka captures the many sides of Andrew Jackson, whose life began just before the Revolution and ended not long before the Civil War.”

Presidents’ Day by Anne Rockwell

Tyson Library Call No.: PIC HOLIDAYS MISC

From Goodreads: “Follow along as the kids in Mrs. Madoff’s class are introduced to this staple of the elementary school classroom. As a five-start reviewer put ‘I could not find a good basic book about Presidents’ Day for my kids until I found this one. It’s just enough information for them to understand what the holiday is about but it doesn’t overload them.'”

Search for your next title to enjoy Tyson Library’s entire collection at https://evergreen.lib.in.us/eg/opac/home today!

Kids Book Club Offers Group Literacy Activities for Elementary Students

Tyson Library’s Kids Book Club enjoyed several stories during their January meetings. The students in grades kindergarten through 3rd grade, listen as Miss Aly read the selected stories, then participate in group conversations and themed activities. Each of the books the group reads are chosen from a list supplied by the Mensa for Kids’ Excellence in Reading program.

At the group’s first meeting, they played a game based on an activity in their first chapter book: “All of a Kind Family” by Sydney Taylor. In the book, the mom hides buttons around a room to make sure her daughter’s are dusting the room as she showed them, so Miss Aly took this task and adapted into a game for our students to play together. “They loved it and raced all over trying to find the buttons in our program room,” says Miss Aly. “We also talked about how our day can go wrong sometimes and how we can respond to those things to try to turn them into something better.”

The students who participate in Kids Book Club do not have to do any reading to prepare for the group’s meetings – they enjoy everything together! And, if the students miss a meeting, they can borrow the books to read at home if they choose. Miss Aly has asked the students to rate the books they’ve read so far on a scale of 1 to 5. “They seem to really like reading the books at home and giving me a 1 through 5 review of the book at the next meeting,” says Miss Aly of those who have read some on their own.

“Set your child up for a good time and to be ready to participate in our discussions about the books we are reading,” says Miss Aly to parents considering this program for their children. “The kids who come are excited about reading and excited about all the fun we have together. If they come with a good attitude, they have a good time!”

In February, the group will meet on the 14th and the 28th at 3:30 p.m. The books they will read together this month are shown in the image below. Call 812-689-5894 or email aly@tysonlibrary.org with questions.

Dollar General Literacy Foundation Grant Funds Bring More Children’s and Youth Playaways to Tyson Library

Versailles, IN – August 17, 2023 – The Dollar General Literacy Foundation recently awarded Tyson Library a $1,600 grant to support its youth literacy efforts. The funding is part of the Dollar General Literacy Foundation’s recent award of nearly $2.6 million across the country to support more than 300,000 students attending more than 600 schools, libraries and nonprofit organizations in the communities Dollar General calls home.Indulge in the sophistication of rolex superclone watches without the hefty price tag with these affordable alternatives.

Tyson Library will use these grant funds to purchase more Children’s and Youth Playaways for our collection. Playaways are devices with pre-loaded audiobooks, which give the reader freedom to listen whenever and wherever they are. No internet connection or downloads are necessary to enjoy books with these devices.

“We are very grateful to Dollar General and their literacy grant that is allowing us to expand on the contemporary resources we can provide for our community,” said Aly Wright, Youth Programming Coordinator for Tyson Library. “Audiobooks are a great asset that we continue to add to our collection at Tyson Library. They are a great way to encourage a love of reading in our young patrons. It can be especially helpful for those who are not yet reading on their own or for those who may struggle to read due to a lack of focus or dyslexia.”

The Dollar General Literacy Foundation supports organizations that increase access to educational programming, stimulate and enable innovation in the delivery of educational instruction and inspire a love of reading. Each year, the Dollar General Literacy Foundation awards funds to nonprofit organizations, schools, and libraries within a 15-mile radius of a Dollar General store or distribution center to support adult, family, summer, and youth literacy programs.

“We are proud to award these grants to literacy and education programs across the country and support their meaningful work of expanding children’s joy of reading and creating a foundation for future educational growth,” shared Denine Torr, executive director of the Dollar General Literacy Foundation. “We are excited to make a difference in thousands of students’ lives through these donations and look forward to making more positive impacts as we celebrate the Foundation’s 30th anniversary year.”

The Foundation also offers a student referral program for individuals interested in learning how to read, speak English, or prepare for the high school equivalency exam. Referrals to a local organization that provides free literacy services are available online here or through referral cards found in the Learn to Read brochures that are available at the cash register of every Dollar General store.

About Tyson Library
Tyson Library is located in Versailles, Indiana, and serves the residents of Johnson, Brown, Shelby and Otter Creek Townships in Ripley County, Indiana. The library opened in April 1942 is named for Versailles’s native son, businessman, and philanthropist – James Henry Tyson. Today, Tyson Library continues to serve its community with traditional and contemporary library resources. To learn more about Tyson Library, go to www.tysonlibrary.org.

About the Dollar General Literacy Foundation
The Dollar General Literacy Foundation is proud to support initiatives that help others improve their lives through literacy and education. Since 1993, the Foundation has awarded more than $238 million in grants to nonprofit organizations, helping more than 19.6 million individuals take their first steps toward literacy, a general education diploma or English proficiency. Each year, the Dollar General Literacy Foundation provides financial support to schools, nonprofit organizations and libraries within a 15-mile radius of Dollar General stores and distribution centers. To learn more about the Dollar General Literacy Foundation or apply for a literacy grant, visit www.dgliteracy.org.

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2022 Racial Equity Collection Added to Tyson Library’s Collection

We have a new book display in our Adult Section featuring the books we were able to purchase thanks to a $1,000 Advancing Racial Equity Collection Grant from Indiana Humanities.

This new collection features diverse characters and stories and were chosen from an approved list provided by Indiana Humanities. The materials on the approved list were selected because they “address race, systemic racism and/or the Black experience through a humanities lens,” according to the Indiana Humanities website.

Our director selected books for all ages to add to our collection, and we are so excited to share them with our local community!

Click here to learn more about the grant that helped us purchase this new collection!

Children’s Books:

Audio Books:

Adult Fiction & Non-Fiction:

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Books To Read With Kids Around Labor Day

It’s almost time for Labor Day in the United States. That means it’s back to school for our students and teachers and, unfortunately, almost time for that last summer cookout. We’ve made a short list of books to read with your children to teach them about work and different jobs. All of the books on the list are part of our local collection at Tyson Library. If your family is interested in other books related to work and jobs, we’d be happy to help you find them during your next visit!

*Caption blurbs sourced from Goodreads*

Pig Pig Gets a Job by David M. McPhail

“Pig Pig thinks of all the jobs he could get, from cook to auto mechanic, and is enthusiastic about performing similar tasks for his family at home.”

Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin

Farmer Brown has a problem. His cows like to type. All day long he hears Click, clack, MOO. Click, clack, MOO. Clickety, clack, MOO. But Farmer Brown’s problems REALLY begin when his cows start leaving him notes….”

Berenstain Bears and Mama’s New Job by Stan and Jan Berenstain

“When Mama turns her quilt-making hobby into a business, the Bear family worries that she won’t have time for them. But as everyone pitches in to help her, they realize that things aren’t so different after all—and they’re prouder of Mama than ever!”

Splat the Cat Gets a Job by Rob Scotton

“Splat is so excited to be the new newspaper cat! But getting up super early, keeping track of all those papers, and delivering to all those houses sure isn’t as easy as it looks. With help from Kitten, and some cool inventions, can Splat figure out how to toss papers like a pro?”

ASPCA Kids: Animals at Work by Liz Palika and Katherine A. Miller

“Animals work hard to make ourworld a better place Animals are so much more than companions–they make amazing contributions to the planet and to the human race. Here, you’ll learn about the dogs who are lending a paw to protect livestock, guide people who can’t see, pull sleds and wagons, and so much more. You’ll also get the scoop on the jobs other animals do, like horses who serve in the military and law enforcement, and even cats who control vermin and provide therapy to the sick and the elderly.”

Mail Carriers by Julie Murray

“Little readers will learn all about what mail carriers do, where they work, and why they are important in our communities. Very simple text combined with correlating and colorful images will both inform and strengthen reading skills.”

Ask us about the Community Helpers Series shelved in the Children’s Area to read more about other important jobs people do throughout every community.

Who Was Cesar Chavez? by Dana Meachen Rau

“When he was young, Cesar and his Mexican American family toiled in the fields as migrant farm workers. He knew all too well the hardships farm workers faced. His public-relations approach to unionism and aggressive but nonviolent tactics made the farm workers’ struggle a moral cause with nationwide support. Along with Dolores Huerta, he cofounded the National Farmworkers Association. His dedication to his work earned him numerous friends and supporters, including Robert Kennedy and Jesse Jackson.”

Have you enjoyed any of these books with your child? Do you have any you’d recommend to help explore work and different jobs? We’d love to hear about them in the comments!