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Cosmic Music: The Life, Art, and Transcendence of Alice Coltrane
by Andy Beta
Biography: The first full-length biography of Alice Coltrane, the jazz musician and spiritual leader whose forward-thinking music was overshadowed by her more famous husband, even as she brilliantly laid the groundwork for the new age, ambient, and electronic music that would follow. Alice Coltrane (1937-2007) was one of the most misunderstood artists of the last sixty years. For most of her life--and even in the decades since her passing--she was primarily known as the widow of the late John Coltrane. John Coltrane is widely seen as being one of the greatest tenor saxophonists and composers of the 20th century, with a fervor and devotion approaching sainthood. Yet ever so slowly, that level of love and appreciation is also being bestowed upon pianist, organist, harpist, and composer Alice Coltrane. Cosmic Music: The Life, Art and Transcendence of Alice Coltrane is the first full biography of this remarkable, groundbreaking artist, and is an elegant, deeply researched corrective to the historical--and critical--record. It elevates Alice Coltrane to her proper place, both alongside her husband as one of the greatest musical visionaries of the 20th century, and also as a singular artist in Western music, one who became a spiritual leader in her lifetime. In the years since her passing, she has become a great influence on a new generation of musicians, especially women, people of color, and artists who seek to combine jazz with other musical forms, be it modern classical, electronic, Indian music, and more. Cosmic Music also unearths previously unknown connections between Alice Coltrane and other generational icons, from Stevie Wonder, Carlos Santana, and Nina Simone to Mother Teresa and Doja Cat. In Alice Coltrane's music, one can perceive the transformation of Black American music in microcosm, the gospel roots giving rise to jazz and bebop, then intermingling with soul and R&B, and then onto rock, modern classical, psychedelia, and new age. Cosmic Music, based on extensive research and scores of new interviews by music journalist Andy Beta, is the definitive account of a visionary whose influence is only just beginning to be appreciated in full.
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Malcolm Kid and the Perfect Song
by Austin Paramore
Young Adult Graphic Novel: A 2024 YALSA Best Graphic Novel for Teens A 2023 National Cartoonists Society Reuben Awards Graphic Novel Finalist Debut writer Austin Paramore and artist Sarah Bollinger (Girls Have a Blog) strike a chord in this humorous and heartfelt story about love, loss, legacy, and the music that ties them all together. What does the perfect song sound like? Normally, Malcolm Kid wouldn't give this type of question the time of day. As a straight B-student with a heart of copper, he is far more concerned with overcoming mediocrity than he is with achieving perfection. But that all changes when he stumbles across the LK-2000--a strange keyboard cursed with the soul of an old jazz musician. Malcolm soon learns that the only way to free this musician's soul is by performing the perfect song. With much hesitation, and the help of his lifelong friend January Young, Malcolm embarks on a musical journey across the city of New Bronzeville in the hopes of discovering the perfect song and finding himself as a musician along the way.
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A Child's Introduction to Jazz: The Musicians, Culture, and Roots of the World's Coolest Music
by Jabari Asim
Juvenile Non-fiction: A Child's Introduction to Jazz explores the rich history of jazz music, including profiles of famous musicians like Louis Armstrong and Billie Holliday. Written by A Child's Introduction to African American History author Jabari Asim, the book includes downloadable links throughout, to allow kids to listen along to the instruments and musical flair of jazz.
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Mary's Idea
by Chris Raschka
Easy Biography: A picture book biography of Mary Lou Williams, an American jazz pianist and composer who wrote hundreds of compositions, recorded hundreds of songs, and wrote arrangements for Duke Ellington and Benny Goodman, and is an artist often overlooked in the canon of American music because of her gender and skin color.
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April 20 - Chinese Language Day
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15-Minute Mandarin Chinese: Learn in Just 12 Weeks
by DK
World Language: Learn Mandarin Chinese in just 15 minutes a day with this revolutionary language learning system, now with an accompanying free app that is available in the App Store and Google Play. Practicing your language skills is quick, easy, and fun with 15-Minute Mandarin. There's no homework. Instead, use the visual guide and the free app to test yourself as you learn. Perfect your pronunciation by listening to native speakers, and learn from real-life examples that cover every holiday and business situation. Each full-color course book has themed chapters and common everyday scenarios, a menu guide, and translation dictionaries. Whether you're just starting to learn Mandarin Chinese or you want to brush up, there's no easier way to learn.
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The Hanmoji Handbook: Your Guide to the Chinese Language Through Emoji
by Jason Li
Young Adult Non-fiction: Even though their dates of origin are millennia apart, the languages of Chinese and emoji share similarities that the average smartphone user might find surprising. These hanmoji parallels offer an exciting new way to learn Chinese--and a fascinating window into the evolution of Chinese Han characters. Packed with fun illustrations and engaging descriptions, The Hanmoji Handbook brings to life the ongoing dialogue between the visual elements of Chinese characters and the language of emoji. At once entertaining and educational, this unique volume holds sure appeal for readers who use emojis, anyone interested in learning Chinese, and those who love quirky, visual gift books.
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Chineasy for Children: Learn 100 Words
by Shaolan Hsueh
Juvenile Non-fiction: Chineasy is the fun and easy way to learn how to read Chinese characters with pictures. Learn 100 words for people, animals and numbers, and discover China's foods, festivals and traditions. You'll be surprised how easy Chinese is when you learn it the Chineasy way
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My First Mandarin Chinese Phrases
by Jill Kalz
Easy Non-fiction: Open the pages of this book and you'll soon be speaking Mandarin Chinese! Colorful illustrations and simple labels make learning Mandarin Chinese fun. From the basics to cool phrases, this book will give you lots to talk about!
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2026 Reading Challenge - Takes Place in Alaska, Hawaii, or Puerto Rico
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The Taste of Sugar
by Marisel Vera
Fiction: Marisel Vera emerges as a major voice of contemporary fiction with a heart- wrenching novel set in Puerto Rico on the eve of the Spanish-American War. It is 1898, and groups of starving Puerto Ricans, los hambrientos, roam the parched countryside and dusty towns begging for food. Under the yoke of Spanish oppression, the Caribbean island is forced to prepare to wage war with the United States. Up in the mountainous coffee region of Utuado, Vicente Vega and Valentina Sanchez labor to keep their small farm from the creditors. When the Spanish-American War and the great San Ciriaco Hurricane of 1899 bring devastating upheaval, the young couple is lured, along with thousands of other puertorriquenos, to the sugar plantations of Hawaii-another US territory-where they are confronted by the hollowness of America's promises of prosperity. Writing in the tradition of great Latin American storytelling, Marisel Vera's The Taste of Sugar is an unforgettable novel of love and endurance, and a timeless portrait of the reasons we leave home
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Five Midnights
by Ann Dávila Cardinal
Young Adult Fiction: When Lupe Dávila arrives in Puerto Rico for the summer, she'll be staying with her uncle, the local police chief. Javier Utierre's friends are dying in a series of grisly murders. Is it the el Cuco -- or someone human? Working together, Lupe and Javier will have to step into the shadows to see what's lurking there: murderer, or monster?
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Hero of Hawaii
by Graham Salisbury
Juvenile Fiction: Hawaii boy Calvin Coconut has come up with the best idea ever for his sister Darci's birthday party. But a huge tropical storm hits the islands and threatens everything. It rains and rains. And rains. The river next to Calvin's house rises high. When Calvin's friend Willy falls into the raging water, Calvin grabs his skiff to save him. As Willy is swept into the bay, Calvin struggles in the wild waves. What happens next shows Calvin what heroes are made of.
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Under Alaska's Midnight Sun
by Deb Vanasse
Picture Book: In the far northern parts of the world, near and above the Arctic Circle, summer days are very long. In Barrow, Alaska, for example, the sun rises in May and sets 83 days later, in early August. During this time, the sun shines all through the night. People call it the midnight sun. When the midnight sun is shining, people and animals stay active even at night. This sweet poetic narrative, illustrated by award-winner Jeremiah Trammell, showcases the many pleasures of this unique time as a little girl dances, fishes, plays games, watches moose and fox, and communes with family and nature.
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Library Programs of InterestFor a full listing of our programs this month see our Events Page.
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Mercer County Library System
2751 Brunswick Pike Lawrenceville, New Jersey 08648 609-882-9246
https://mcl.org
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