For The Love of a Good Story -Celebrating Our Favorite Books, Libraries & Librarians.

Sept. 22-28, 2024 Banned Books Week

The freedom to read is a nonpartisan American value. Libraries are for EVERYONE.

As you all know, I love book, stories, poetry and life long learning. I also love libraries, librarians and all the folks that work to support and sustain our American library system.

So today I’m lifting up libraries for important resource they are to communities across the country. In this video I share a beautiful poem by the poet Nikki Giovanni called “A Library”

My daughter, Amelia Aldred, is one of those amazing people working in support of American libraries. She co-leads Unite Against Book Bans, a national coalition of organizations and individuals who are fighting censorship. If you'd like to learn how to support your local library, you can find information and free resources here. https://uniteagainstbookbans.org AND if you'd like to  host an event to support your local library, you can join a video workshop with Amelia on how to do that.

A LIBRARY
(for Kelli Martin)

a Library Is:

a place to be free
to be in space
to be in cave times
to be a cook
to be a crook
to be in love
to be unhappy
to be quick and smart
to be contained and cautious
to surf the rainbow
to sail the dreams
to be blue
to be jazz
to be wonderful
to be you
a place to be
yeah… to be

By Nikki Giovanni

Here are some of the books that have inspired me and still ring true and are frequently found on banned book lists.

The Poisonwood Bible. The Kill A Mockingbird, Beloved, Slaughterhouse Five, The Color Purple, The Absolutely True Diary of A Part-Time Indian, 1984, The 1619 Project, Maus, Charlotte’s Web, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl, The Fault In Our Stars, Turtles All The Way Down, Nickel and Dimed, The Handmaid's Tale, The Kite Runner, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Year of Wonder, Leaves of Grass,…and so so so many more.

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QUESTION

Is there a book or books that changed how you see the world or yourself? Is there a book that opened or expanded something in your mind or heart?

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Upcoming Shows and Workshops

For more info visit www.carrienewcomer.com/tour

I hope you’ll join us for this very special show in Chicago, at the fabulous Old Town School of Folk Music with Gary Walters and The Gathering of Spirits String Quartet. Still a few tickets left…here’s the link for more information and reserving your seat.