African American Voices on Hoopla

Posted on February 7, 2020February 7, 2020 by Ashley Barnes

Happy Black History Month! To celebrate February, we wanted to highlight some great African American authors with books available on Hoopla. Do you know what’s really great about Hoopla? You can check out up to 6 items, eBooks, music, tv shows, or movies a month, with no wait. Go ahead and check them out!

***A Kind of Freedom***
By Margaret Wilkerson Sexton

***An American Marriage***
By Tayari Jones

***An Extraordinary Union***
By Alyssa Cole

***Freedom is a Constant Struggle***
By Angela Y. Davis

***Miles Morales – Spider Man***
By Jason Reynolds

***The Sisters Are Alright***
By Tamara Winfrey Harris

***The Yellow House***
By Sarah M. Broom

***Things that Make White People Uncomfortable***
By Michael Bennett

Let’s Focus on Fiction

Posted on January 31, 2020January 17, 2020 by Ashley Barnes

We’re very excited about what’s hitting the Pratt shelves this month. We hope that you are too! Stop by your local branch and check out one of these fiction new releases.

*A Long Petal of the Sea*
By Isabel Allende
Read the book

***Daughters of a King: A Tale of Love, Money & Drugs***
**By Kelsi McMeans**
Read the book

*Deep State*
By Chris Hauty
Read the book

*Into the Fire*
By Gregg Hurwitz
Read the book

*Last Train to Helsingør*
By Heidi Amsinck
Read the book

*Queen of Bones*
By Teresa Dovalpage
Read the book

*The Lost Book of Adana Moreau*
By Michael Zapata
Read the book

*Treason*
By Stuart Woods
Book | eBook | eAudio

Let’s Get Down to Business

Posted on January 29, 2020January 17, 2020 by Ashley Barnes

Are you kicking off the New Year with a new business? The Pratt can help! Budding entrepreneurs and business owners will appreciate these books.

How to Write an Exceptional Business Plan
By Ashley Cheeks

Every great business starts with a great idea but it can be tough turning that idea into a concrete business plan. Ashley Cheeks teaches entrepreneurs how to clarify your business strategy, maximize your odds for bank and lender funding, and create a strong impression when pitching to investors.

Read the book

Starting a Business: All-In-One for Dummies
By Bob Nelson

Featuring new content that reflects the latest laws, business climate, and startup considerations, this book offers important practical advice entrepreneurs need to start any type of business from the ground up.

Read the book

Taxes for Small Business
By Mark Smith

If you are ready to take control over your own business and taxes, or you are starting up a new small business, this book will help you get started! Learn how to file your taxes with the proper paperwork and when you need to have your paperwork into the IRS office.

Read the book

Looking to learn more?
Stop by the Central Library for these events in February.

Small Business 101
Monday, February 10 at 5pm
Central Library

The Haysbert Center for Entrepreneurship is offering this workshop to assist entrepreneurs and small business owners with methods to securing capital, creating a business plan, marketing, and more.

Learn more

Business and Nonprofit Resource Fair
Saturday, February 22 at 10am
Central Library

This free event is an opportunity for aspiring entrepreneurs and nonprofits to connect, learn, and discover local resources.

Learn more

Get Hooked on these History Books

Posted on January 27, 2020January 17, 2020 by Ashley Barnes

They say that history repeats itself so it’s essential that we take time to learn from the past. Check out two new history books about little known parts of American history.

Overground Railroad: The Green Book and the Roots of Black Travel in America
By Candacy Taylor

Explore the historical role and impact of the Green book known as the “black travel guide to America.” The books published between 1936 and 1966 were innovative and important during a time period when it was dangerous and difficult for African-Americans to travel because black travelers couldn’t eat, sleep, or buy gas at most white-owned businesses.

Read the book

Wilmington’s Lie: The Murderous Coup of 1898 and the Rise of White Supremacy
By David Zucchino

Pulitzer Prize-winner David Zucchino uses contemporary newspaper accounts, diaries, letters, and official communications to create a gripping and compelling narrative that weaves together individual stories of hate and fear and brutality. This is a dramatic and definitive account of a remarkable but forgotten chapter of American history.

Book | eBook

Interested in learning more about history?
Check out these upcoming events.

Douglass, Tubman and Harper: 19th Century Freedom Fighters
Saturday, February 1 at 2pm
Northwood Branch

Learn more

Stories from the African Oral Tradition
Monday, February 3 at 6pm
Orleans Street Branch

Learn more

Also new in Nonfiction this month…

*Easy Weekend Getaways from Washington, DC*
By Jess Moss
Read the book

*Skimmed: Breastfeeding, Race, and Injustice*
By Andrea Freeman
Read the book

*The History of Philosophy*
By A.C. Grayling
Read the book

*The Selected Letters of Ralph Ellison*
By Ralph Ellison
Read the book

*Virginia Woolf: And the Women Who Shaped Her World*
By Gilian Gil
Read the book

*You are Worth It: Building a Life Worth Fighting For*
By Kyle Carpenter
Read the book

What’s New in 2020 for Kids

Posted on January 23, 2020January 17, 2020 by Ashley Barnes

Start off the new year with a new book! Take a look at these fun and engaging picks for children.

Boxitects
By Kim Smith

A STEAM-centered, adorably illustrated picture book about Meg, a brilliant and creative boxitect who creates extraordinary things out of ordinary cardboard boxes!

Read the book

Dream Flights on Arctic Nights
By Brooke Hartman

With singsong rhymes and colorful illustrations, families are sure to enjoy this beautiful bedtime story to explore the Arctic before drifting off to sleep.

Read the book | eBook

Also new this month: