Monthly Picks

The PLS book selectors highlight new books each month on a given theme. Give them a quick look -- perhaps you'll find something of interest.

The Field of Sequential Art

Pioneer Library System - Monthly Picks

Last Updated on Thursday, 31 January 2013 11:45

William Erwin Eisner was born on this date, March 6 (1917-2005), and today we honor his contributions to the world of comics and graphic novels. He termed his art as, “The Field of Sequential Art” and the industry named one of the most prestigious awards after him, The Will Eisner Comic Industry Award, otherwise known as “The Eisner’s.” Eisner was born and raised in New York City and to supplement the family’s income, he sold newspapers and got to see all the comics every day. And one of the most important parts of his education and development to his career was reading. He read vicariously and with his natural artistic ability of storytelling, this lead to one of the early forms of the graphic novel. Eisner used the graphic novel format to combine thematic, visual stories that were bound in a single volume. Today we celebrate the man, the myth, and the legend all rolled into one. Check out our dazzling graphic novel collection at your hometown library today!

The Best of the Spirit by Will Eisner

A reproduction of a classic collection of 22 tales which date from the late 1940’s and early 1950’s. >From the headquarters deep beneath Wildwood Cemetery, masked crime fighter Danny Colt fights crime in Central City and beyond. Look for the dangerous Femmes Fatale, street crooks, criminal master-minds, and yes, even creatures from outer space. A true comic classic for anyone interested in the history of comics and the art form from the golden age.

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Celebrate 'Read An E-Book Week'!

Pioneer Library System - Monthly Picks

Last Updated on Tuesday, 21 May 2013 13:27

March 3-9, 2013 is Read An E-Book Week! Officially registered with Chase's Calendar of Events in 2004, Read An E-Book Week "educates and informs the public about the pleasures and advantages of reading electronically." """'''''"

What better way to celebrate than by checking out a free e-book from Pioneer Library System's OverDrive catalog? We've got a little of everything: bestsellers, mysteries, romances, biographies, books for teens and kids - you name it!

With OverDrive's 'Next Generation' interface, experiencing library e-books is easier than ever. You don't even need a separate e-reader device - you can read the book from where you're sitting, right on your computer screen. Find out how!

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Chinese New Year 2013

Pioneer Library System - Monthly Picks

Last Updated on Tuesday, 29 January 2013 16:42

Chinese New Year 2013: Year of the Snake

Chinese New Year is one of the world’s biggest holidays and in China it is known as the longest and most important festivity in the Chinese calendar. It is also known as the Spring Festival and starts February 9^th. 2013 marks the Year of the Snake, which represents one of the 12 Chinese zodiac animals and the festivities will slither and hiss all the way through February 24^th. Your Hometown Library has the fireworks to light off the holiday right and learn how not to get bitten this year. Good luck or Hao Yun as they say.

Ni hao! means hello in Mandarin Chinese. Nei ho means hello in Cantonese. Congratulations! You know how to say hello to over one billion people. Want more? Try Mango Languages which is Pioneer’s premier online language-learning system. Mango teaches basic simple, practical skills for common polite conversation situations in just a few short hours and it’s just a click away: Mango Languages

Complete Chinese cookbook / Ken Hom

Hungry for Chinese food? Ken Hom is arguably the West's most famous Chinese chef. Hailed as the man who transformed wok cooking into an art form, he has introduced Chinese cuisine to the tables of royalty, world leaders and countless celebrities. This book is the culmination of a lifetime of experience as a chef, teacher and the host of five hit TV cooking shows.

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Celebrate Black History Month

Pioneer Library System - Monthly Picks

Last Updated on Tuesday, 29 January 2013 16:30

During the month of February, the Pioneer Library System will commemorate and celebrate Black History Month as your hometown libraries provide access to books, videos, articles, and online resources celebrating the past and present achievements of African Americans. To further aid your search for Black History Month, log on to our catalog and reserve any titles that may be of interest to you or ask your librarian. Here are some of our top picks and enjoy Black History Month.

Coming Home Soon by Jacqueline Woodson and E.B. Lewis

Ada Ruth's mama must go away to Chicago to work, leaving Ada Ruth and Grandma behind. Its war time and women are needed to fill the men's jobs. As winter sets in, Ada Ruth and her grandma keep up their daily routine, missing Mama all the time. They find strength in each other, and a stray kitten even arrives one day to keep them company, but nothing can fill the hole Mama left. Every day they wait, watching for the letter that says Mama will be coming on home soon. Set during World War II, Coming On Home Soon has a timeless quality that will appeal to all who wait and hope.

Ellington was not a street by Notzake Shange

In a reflective tribute to the African-American community of old, noted poet Ntozake Shange recalls her childhood home and the close-knit group of innovators that often gathered there. These men of vision, brought to life in the majestic paintings of artist Kadir Nelson, lived at a time when the color of their skin dictated where they could live, what schools they could attend, and even where they could sit on a bus or in a movie theater. Yet in the face of this tremendous adversity, these dedicated souls and others like them not only demonstrated the importance of Black culture in America, but also helped issue in a movement that "changed the world." Their lives and their works inspire us to this day, and serve as a guide to how we approach the challenges of tomorrow.

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Women's Heart Week

Pioneer Library System - Monthly Picks

Last Updated on Tuesday, 29 January 2013 16:28

Women’s Heart Week February 1^st- 7^th

We’re starting this week with a heart and the Women’s Heart Foundation nationally recognized program to raise awareness about women’s heart disease is upon us. So, have a heart this week and check out these great titles to keep the love alive and the heart healthy!

American Heart Association complete guide to women's heart health : the Go Red For Women way to long life and vitality.

Heart disease is not an inevitable part of growing older. In fact, if you reach the age of 50 without developing the major risk factors for heart disease, you can live your entire life without it, and your chances of dying from it decrease from 50 percent to a strikingly low 8 percent. Go Red and check this one out today.

Smart at heart : a holistic 10-step approach to preventing and healing heart disease for women / Malissa Wood and Dimity McDowell.

If you are one of the millions of women who has been diagnosed with heart disease or are at risk for developing it, you might be surprised to learn that simple life changes will profoundly affect your health. Be smart and have a heart, check this out today.

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