Library News: August 8th, 2024
This week the library is highlighting two new non-fiction acquisitions with the same theme: SHARKS!
Sharks Don't Sink: Adventures of a Rogue Shark Scientist by Jasmin Graham, with Makeba Rasin. You never forget your first shark. For author Jasmin Graham, it was a little bonnethead, a type of hammerhead shark. It was three feet long, gray with a white underbelly. rough-skinned, strongly muscled and beautiful. Jasmin fell in love with sharks and with science. She tried to follow the traditional path to becoming a marine biologist. However, she found the traditional path to becoming a marine biologist difficult. In this field, it was hard to find other young women of color and hard to navigate the choppy waters of traditional academic study. She felt that traditional academic study was no longer with it. But, she did not abandon her passion. She pursued it in a different way. She joined with three other Black women to form Minorities in Shark Sciences (MISS), an organization dedicated to providing support and opportunities for other young women of color pursuing the fascinating and environmentally essential work of marine studies. Jasmine became an independent researcher, a rogue shark scientist, learning how to keep those endangered but precious sharks swimming freely just like her. This is an uplifting story of a young Black scientist's challenging journey to flourish outside the traditional confines of academia.
The Secret History of Sharks: The Rise of the Ocean's Most Fearsome Predators by John Long Sharks have been fighting for their lives for 500 million years and today are under dire threat. They are the longest-surviving vertebrate on Earth, outlasting multiple mass extinction events that decimated life on the planet. But how did they thrive for so long? John Long, a long-time shark researcher, weaves a thrilling story of sharks' unparalleled reign. The author showcases the global search to discover sharks' largely unknown evolution. He and other researchers embark on digs to all seven continents, investigating layers of rock and examining fossils and clues to the history of sharks. Along the way, Long introduces a vast range of astonishing organisms such as a thirty-foot-long shark with a deadly saw blade of jagged teeth protruding from its lower jaws, a monster giant clams crusher, and bizarre sharks fossilized while in their mating ritual This book is a riveting look at scientific discovery with ramifications far beyond the ocean.
Upcoming Events at the Marcellus Township Wood Memorial Library
Wednesdays:
Support Group for Parents of Challenging Kids, the 2nd Wednesday of every month— August 14th and September 11th at 9 A.M Parenting isn’t easy. If you are feeling overwhelmed, join others to gain valuable support coping strategies and information about community resources.
Wednesday Summer Crafts, every Wednesday this summer at 12 noon. (Crafts were inspired by the Marcellus First 10 books that are written in parentheses). August 14 - “Hand”made Tree (Tap the Magic Tree), August 21 - Tissue Box Guitar (Abiyoyo), August 28 - Handprint Heart (The Kissing Hand).
People in Places. Wednesday, August 28th, 2024, starting at 6:00 PM. Ruth Andrews will present on the process of creating the Pokagon mural and share briefly about her work in Cassopolis and Dowagiac. This presentation is hosted by the Marcellus Home Arts Club.
Last Wednesday Family Game & Movie Night with Popcorn. The last Wednesday of each month, August 28th starting at 6 PM. We’ll have fresh popcorn and a movie during game night! All ages are welcome.
Thursdays:
First Thursday Book Club, September 5, October 3, 2024, 12 NOON-1 PM. Join others to chat about what you have been reading or to get suggestions from others.
Community Read. Thursday, September 19, 2024, at 6:00 PM. September’s Community Read will be focused on Lisa Wingate’s The Book of Lost Friends. We’ll listen to the author being interviewed and then join in a discussion about her book. If you would like us to obtain a copy of the book for you in time for this experience, just contact the library!
A Trail of Money and Death, September 26th at 5 PM. A virtual presentation on the Morris Murders by the author of A Trail of Money and Death, offering another perspective on the unsolved murders of Esther and Charles Morris in 1879.
Fridays:
Biggest Book Sale of the Year, Starting August 2nd from 5-7 PM during First Friday. Make time to browse our huge selection of fiction, nonfiction, children’s books & more…and the best part is you get to name your price! The sale runs through at least August 24th!
Lego at the Library, Fridays 3:00-4:30 PM. Build & create with our Lego & Duplo collections! All ages are welcome!
Saturdays:
Book Doctor Workshop, September 14 from 2-5 PM. Increase the longevity of your personal book collection with this book care & repair workshop. Course is free, but registration is required and space is limited.