Staff Pick - Suck Your Stomach In & Put Some Color On!

Suck Your Stomach In & Put Some Color On! What Southern Mamas Tell their Daughters That the Rest of Y’all Should know Too
By Shellie Rushing Tomlinson

“My daddy raised me to be a lady.”  I have fell back on this phrase – more importantly – the teachings that went into the bringing up of a tomboy from Missouri, many times in my life.  It has gotten me through a lot.

Shelly Tomlinson has most definitely hit the nail on the head here, sharing sometimes hilarious stories, and quotes from folks all over the country -- about family -- being taught to love and support each other, enjoying good, home-cooked food, and above all, always using good manners!

Go ahead and wear your overalls to town.  If you’ve been raised right, your beauty will shine through!

This book made me smile.  It's a great summertime read!

Staff Pick: Emma Kate

I love drawing, and almost always write, with pencil. My dad also always wrote with pencil, and often used the chunky carpenter pencils in his trade.

The heart of Emma Kate by Patricia Polacco for me is the illustrations done in pencil by the author, that takes the reader into a wonderful story about the warmth and comfort that dreams, memories and imagination can bring - with a surprising twist at the end.

A great book for back to school, Emma Kate is for memory-making! If you'd like to check it out, you can find it in our catalog by clicking here.

-Nancy H.

Staff Pick: Calamity Jane: The Woman and the Legend

Martha Canary - much more famously known as Calamity Jane - was born in my hometown of Princeton, Missouri in 1856.  Princeton is a small town in northern Missouri where they still celebrate "Calamity Jane Days" each year in the fall. I reckon since I "grew up" with Calamity Jane I am still fascinated with the history of her, and I and have found James McLaird's biography to be a well researched accounting of the rare historical facts that were recorded about her life.

We got the chance to visit Calamity's grave this summer in Deadwood where she is buried beside Wild Bill Hickok. But in the dead of winter, I can also head West - back into the non-fiction section - where she and other famous Western legends, outlaws and pioneers can be found.  Beside Calamity you'll find another one of my favorites "Women of the West," a book filled with archival photos, memoirs and diaries of brave pioneering women.  Along that same trail is Doc Holliday, Buffalo Bill, Annie Oakley, and many pioneers who trekked toward the West.

If you would like to journey back into the Old West, check out one of my favorite sections, 978.02.  You can also check out this section in our on-line catalog.  Find Calamity Jane: The Woman and the Legend in the catalog and click "browse shelf" to see who all hangs out with her!

"Go West, young man!"  (or woman!)

- Nancy H