~ ELLEN
The Scraps Book: Notes From a Colorful Life by Lois Ehlert
“The Scraps Book is an autobiography of the author and illustrator Lois Ehlert, most well known for her illustrations in Chica Chica Boom Boom. This book is about her life and how she creates her art. It is a beautiful and personal account of her career as an artist. The variety and breadth of materials and topics she has created picture books about is incredible. She finds inspiration everywhere, and this book inspires me to look at the natural world in shapes, color and possibility. Thank you, Lois Ehlert, for all your fantastic stories!”
~ JAN
Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler
“So good. SO good. I want to call it post-apocalyptic or dystopian but neither really fits, it’s more a little bit of both. It’s about a girl who decides that God is change and change is God because God is just one force that no one can stop but everyone can shape. It looks at the active exchange between people and deities and how, in this story, to create a religion with people at the center of it.”
~ CINDY
Triumph of the City by Edward Glaeser
“I feel better about all the high-rises in Austin that are being built around our beautiful skyline. The author is a big proponent of building up instead of sprawling out. It’s more green and efficient, he argues, because it decreases the amount of time people have to spend in their cars. He especially loves the idea of building above businesses which Austin is trying to do, as well. Most of the things he points out in this book, I feel like Austin is doing or has done – like the greenbelt. Now, if we could just get our transportation system fixed, we’d be great.”
~ ALTHEA
Lets Explore Diabetes with Owls by David Sedaris
“This book is really funny. I’m a big fan of Sedaris’ early work. My mom actually handed me Me Talk Pretty One Day when I was 10 years old, and I read Holidays on Ice most Christmases. It’s been a little while since I’ve connected with one of his books, but this had me laughing on the bus all the way here.”
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