Music, Stories, Dancing, Kisses

July and August?

Enjoy your headphones. We have some great music and audiobooks, CDs and streaming, for you this summer. But come here too for real-time, in-person, movin' music and amazin' authors.

Kids’ musician, singer and songwriter Marsha Goodman-Wood, well-known to regulars of the Library’s Tuesday Circle Time, will perform with her band, Marsha and the Positrons, on Saturday, July 8 at 2 pm in the Takoma Park Community Center auditorium. Marsha is known for her ability to create kids' songs that teach science concepts in an entertaining – and toe-tapping -- way as shown on her CD, Gravity Vacation, and the band will be playing many of Marsha’s songs on July 8. It’s sure to be a fun family event, so please join us for this free concert! No registration or tickets are required for this program, which is sponsored by the Friends of the Takoma Park Maryland Library.

Come learn a bit about the awesome history of graphic novels and get a taste of some graphic novel classics at our Graphic Novel Primer on Monday, July 10, 7:30 pm Library Associate Dave Burbank, the library's graphic novel guru, will take us on an illustrated hour-long tour of how graphic novels came to be and discuss why they have skyrocketed in popularity in recent years. No registration required for this event, which is great for adults, teens and older elementary school-aged children.

On Saturday, July 29 at 2 pm, picture book author Veronica Bartles will offer a new twist on the traditional princess tale as she reads her book, The Princess & the Frogs, then leads the audience in a related craft. In Bartles’ book, Princess Cassandra is desperate for a friend, but decides a pet frog will have to do for now. When she kisses the frog in excitement, however, it turns into a prince who wants to marry her -- something which doesn't interest this particular princess. In its review, Kirkus called The Princess & the Frogs a "refreshing princess book that puts kissing in its place and rejoices in childhood idylls." Copies of Bartles' book will be available for sale, but this event is free and no registration or purchase is required to attend.

Join us on Tuesday, August 1 at 7:30 pm for the launch of the newest book by award-winning graphic novelist (and Takoma Park resident) Gareth Hinds. Known for his graphic novel adaptations of Shakespeare plays, Beowulf, and The Odyssey, Hinds this time tackles Edgar Allen Poe in Poe: Stories and Poems. Hinds has won critical praise for his previous books, with reviewers noting his fine line and expert use of color, shadow and perspective in bringing the emotions of a story to the fore. Politics & Prose will be selling copies of Hinds' books, but our event is free and no purchase or registration is required to attend. Note: our event is best for teens and adults because of the gothic horror nature of Poe's stories, amplified by Hinds' illustrations.

Take some hip hop, add in some social justice themes, and you’ve got a concert by the Alphabet Rockers! The dynamic duo of Kaitlyn McGaw and Tommy Shepherd Jr. bring their music and energy to Takoma Park for a free concert on Thursday, Aug. 10, at 7 pm in the Community Center auditorium. Although based in San Francisco, the Alphabet Rockers are doing an East Coast tour in August and we were lucky to book them, thanks to the generous sponsorship of the Friends of the Takoma Park Maryland Library. In a review of the duo, the San Francisco Chronicle wrote: "Alphabet Rockers tackle issues of race and diversity while inspiring a love of hip hop." No registration or tickets are needed for this free event; seats are first-come, first-served.