Curtis Mayfield was a musical giant. He started his own independent record label in the late 1960s, wrote more than one hundred original time-tested songs, and carried with him one of the most…
Did you know April is National Humor Month? Laughter is necessary to keep spirits lifted and hold onto a positive attitude. Reading a funny story, poem, or collection of jokes will bring a smile to…
Willy Vlautin is the author of five novels: The Motel Life, which was made into a film starring Dakota Fanning, Emile Hersh, and Stephen Dorff; Northline, Lean on Pete, which won two Oregon Book…
In the folktale Stone Soup, a traveler is turned away from an inhospitable community until he claims he can make soup from a stone. As he boils a stone in a pot of water, people are drawn out of their…
If you look up, "What is a crayon?", you will get a dictionary definition like this: A crayon (or wax pastel) is a stick of pigmented wax used for writing or drawing. Wax crayons differ from pastels…
The idea of adapting classic stories into a graphic novel format is intriguing. Moreover, classic books are listed on required reading book lists and are a staple of libraries. Therefore, it’s not…
You may know Monica Shannon as the author of the 1935 Newbery Award-winning book Dobry, but have you read her fairy tales set in California? They are remarkably descriptive and among the strangest…
In celebration of Women’s History Month, we are highlighting the women who have served as councilmembers of the Los Angeles City Council. Make sure you check out our previous three posts to learn…
After admiring her maps for several decades I began to ponder why the great Ruth Taylor White does not have a place in Tooley’s Dictionary of Mapmakers or even a Wikipedia page. After all, she must be…
Tori Holder is an illustrator and comics artist from Los Angeles, CA. Her work deals with capturing the beautiful mundanities of everyday life through image and text. Her works include Sorry For The…
Grant Farley worked as an English teacher for over twenty-five years and has taught at a Santa Monica alternative school, a barrio junior high, and a Marine Science magnet in San Pedro. All the while…
Though she’s recognized as one of the biggest solo artists ever in the UK, Kate Bush somehow didn’t break through in the US in quite the same way and remains somewhat of an oddity in the American pop…
First off I want to start this post by talking about why housing issues matter so much to me. As a person who has lived in California all their life, I have seen firsthand the consequences of the…
Reading gives everyone the opportunity to travel all over the world; books provide a wonderful window into other cultures and lands. This exposure encourages tolerance and understanding of individuals…
During this third week of Women’s History Month, we are back with another post highlighting the women who have served on the Los Angeles City Council. This week’s councilmembers are: Ruth Galanter…
Sylvain Neuvel is the author of The Themis Files trilogy and the novella The Test. Soon to be a feature film starring John Boyega and directed by Gavin Hood. He has taught linguistics in India and…
Historical mysteries are a unique genre, as they combine the intrigue of a mystery along with a specific time period in the past. Readers of this exciting genre are treated to wonderful adventure…
Last week we shared about the first three women to serve on the Los Angeles City Council. As we continue to celebrate Women’s History Month, this week we are highlighting five more councilmembers: Pat…
I remember the exact moment I learned about them. Black Cowboys. The tales and history have always been there, yet, it wasn’t until I was cycling in Palos Verdes as a child with my father that I…
Tracy Park is a freelance animation producer, artist, and zinester who has been fortunate to call Los Angeles her home for the last 15 years. She is the proud daughter of Korean immigrants and the…
Olivia Campbell is a journalist and author specializing in medicine and women; her work has appeared in The Guardian and The Washington Post, New York Magazine, and The Cut, among others. Her first…
Though instrumental in ushering in a new and lasting wave of Glaswegian independent music that would spawn such far-reaching alternative rock acts as The Vaselines, Teenage Fanclub, Belle & Sebastian…
In the 21st century, a wide range of STEM-related opportunities are now available to explore. Additionally, children’s authors have created appealing stories and nonfiction selections that inspire…
Women’s History Month provides an opportunity to celebrate the women who have served as councilmembers of the Los Angeles City Council. Each week during the month of March, we will be highlighting…
