Read This Book! from the University of Minnesota Libraries

In this installment of “Read This Book!” Janice Jaguszewski talks about books related to death, dying, funerals, and rituals related to dying. Jaguszewski is the director of Health Sciences Libraries at the University of Minnesota. Host of “Read This Book!” is Lisa Von Drasek, curator of the Children’s Literature Research Collections at the University of Minnesota. Find the reviewed books: * The D Word by Sue Brayne * From University of Minnesota Libraries * Meaningful Funerals by Ewan Kelly * From University of Minnesota Libraries * Perfect Strangers Guide to Funerals by Stuart M. Matlins * From University of Minnesota Libraries * From Hennepin County Library * Parting Ways by Denise Carson * From University of Minnesota Libraries About Lisa Von Drasek and Read This Book! Lisa Von Drasek is the Curator of the Children’s Literature Research Collections at the University of Minnesota Libraries.  Read This Book! is a video podcast produced by the University of Minnesota Libraries. It is available on YouTube and iTunes.

Jan Fransen discusses Betsy-Tacy, the beloved set of semi-autobiographical books set in Minnesota by author Maud Hart Lovelace, on this installment of Read This Book! from the University of Minnesota Libraries.  Fransen reads from a copy of the original Betsy-Tacy (1940) that her mother read to her when she was a child. Fransen and host Lisa Von Drasek also discuss The Betsy-Tacy Companion: A Biography of Maud Hart Lovelace (1995), written by Sharla Scannell Whalen.  Fransen and Von Drasek also discuss the dedicated community of Betsy-Tacy readers, such as the Betsy-Tacy Society.  Fransen is the Service Lead for Researcher Information and Discovery Systems with the University of Minnesota Libraries.  Find the reviewed books: * Betsy-Tacy by Maud Hart Lovelace  * From University of Minnesota Libraries * From Hennepin County Library * From Saint Paul Public Library * The Betsy-Tacy Companion by Sharla Scannell Whalen * From University of Minnesota Libraries * From Hennepin County Library * From Saint Paul Public Library About Lisa Von Drasek and Read This Book! Lisa Von Drasek is the Curator of the Children’s Literature Research Collections at the University of Minnesota Libraries.  Read This Book! is a video podcast produced by the University of Minnesota Libraries. It is available on YouTube and iTunes.

Jan Fransen discusses Betsy-Tacy, the beloved set of semi-autobiographical books set in Minnesota by author Maud Hart Lovelace, on this installment of Read This Book! from the University of Minnesota Libraries.  Fransen reads from a copy of the original Betsy-Tacy (1940) that her mother read to her when she was a child. Fransen and host Lisa Von Drasek also discuss The Betsy-Tacy Companion: A Biography of Maud Hart Lovelace (1995), written by Sharla Scannell Whalen.  Fransen and Von Drasek also discuss the dedicated community of Betsy-Tacy readers, such as the Betsy-Tacy Society.  Fransen is the Service Lead for Researcher Information and Discovery Systems with the University of Minnesota Libraries.  Find the reviewed books: * Betsy-Tacy by Maud Hart Lovelace  * From University of Minnesota Libraries * From Hennepin County Library * From Saint Paul Public Library * The Betsy-Tacy Companion by Sharla Scannell Whalen * From University of Minnesota Libraries * From Hennepin County Library * From Saint Paul Public Library About Lisa Von Drasek and Read This Book! Lisa Von Drasek is the Curator of the Children’s Literature Research Collections at the University of Minnesota Libraries.  Read This Book! is a video podcast produced by the University of Minnesota Libraries. It is available on YouTube and iTunes.

Books about dogs was the theme of this installment of “Read This Book!” featuring Lisa Von Drasek, University of Minnesota Libraries. Von Drasek reviews “Dog Crazy,” by Meg Donohue, and “All Dogs Go To Kevin,” by Dr. Jessica Vogelsang. Books reviewed include: * Dog Crazy by Meg Donohue * From Hennepin County Library * From Saint Paul Public Library * All Dogs Go To Kevin by Dr. Jessica Vogelsang * From Hennepin County Library * From Saint Paul Public Library About Lisa Von Drasek and Read This Book! Lisa Von Drasek is the Curator of the Children’s Literature Research Collections at the University of Minnesota Libraries.  Read This Book! is a video podcast produced by the University of Minnesota Libraries. It is available on YouTube and iTunes.

Books about dogs was the theme of this installment of “Read This Book!” featuring Lisa Von Drasek, University of Minnesota Libraries. Von Drasek reviews “Dog Crazy,” by Meg Donohue, and “All Dogs Go To Kevin,” by Dr. Jessica Vogelsang. Books reviewed include: * Dog Crazy by Meg Donohue * From Hennepin County Library * From Saint Paul Public Library * All Dogs Go To Kevin by Dr. Jessica Vogelsang * From Hennepin County Library * From Saint Paul Public Library About Lisa Von Drasek and Read This Book! Lisa Von Drasek is the Curator of the Children’s Literature Research Collections at the University of Minnesota Libraries.  Read This Book! is a video podcast produced by the University of Minnesota Libraries. It is available on YouTube and iTunes.

The theme of this installment of Read This Book! is Armchair Travel, which features University of Minnesota library assistants, Kaia Sievert and Amber Fick. The two review books set in various regions of the world. Reviewed books include: * Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal * In the Robert and Virginia McCollister Collection for Contemporary Literature Located on the 1st floor of Wilson Library.  * From Hennepin County Library * St. Paul Public Library * The Ice Princess by J. Camilla Lackberg * From University Libraries * From Hennepin County Library * St. Paul Public Library * Maya’s Notebook by Isabel Allende * From University Libraries * From Hennepin County Library * St. Paul Public Library * Lagoon by Nnedi Okorafor * From University Libraries * From Hennepin County Library

Librarians Megan Kocher and Lisa Von Drasek review The New Mediterranean Table cookbook in this installment of Read This Book! from the University of Minnesota Libraries. Chef Sameh Wadi, author of The New Mediterranean Table, was a semifinalist for the James Beard Foundation “Best Chef ” and “Rising Star” awards and was the youngest contestant to appear on the Food Network’s “Iron Chef America.”  Books reviewed include: * The New Mediterranean Table by Sameh Wadi * From University of Minnesota Libraries * From Hennepin County Library * From Saint Paul Public Library About Von Drasek and Kocher Lisa Von Drasek is the Curator of the Children’s Literature Research Collections at the University of Minnesota Libraries. Kocher is a science librarian and the curator of the Doris S. Kirschner Cookbook Collection at the University of Minnesota Libraries. About Read This Book! Read This Book! is a video podcast produced by the University of Minnesota Libraries. It is available on YouTube and iTunes.

Sherlock Holmes and the Betty Crocker Cooky Book are the topics of this special episode of Read This Book! – on books to give this holiday season, part 2. Host Lisa Von Drasek, Curator of the Children’s Literature Research Collections, interviews University of Minnesota librarians Tim Johnson and Megan Kocher. This is part 2 of this year’s two-part series. Watch part 1.  Books reviewed include: * The Great Detective by Zach Dundas * From University of Minnesota Libraries * From Hennepin County Library * From Saint Paul Public Library * Art in the Blood: A Sherlock Holmes Adventure by Bonnie MacBird * From University of Minnesota Libraries * From Hennepin County Library * Betty Crocker’s Cooky Book by Betty Crocker * From University of Minnesota Libraries * From Hennepin County Library * The Big Book of Sherlock Holmes Stories by Otto Penzler *

It’s that time of year again and our expert librarians at the University of Minnesota are here to make recommendations on books to give this holiday season. Watch this installment of Read This Book!, Books to Give 2015, Part 1.  Host Lisa Von Drasek makes her own recommendations, but also talks with Jan Fransen and Arvid Nelsen about their favorite books to give as gifts.  Watch for Part 2 of Books to Give in early December.  Recommended books include: * The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson * From University of Minnesota Libraries * From Hennepin County Library * From Saint Paul Public Library * Being Emily by Rachel Gold * From University of Minnesota Libraries * From Hennepin County Library * From Saint Paul Public Library * The Thrilling Adventures of Lovelace and Babbage by Sydney Padua * From University of Minnesota Libraries * From Hennepin County Library *

Read This Book! – Picture Books

More summer reading picks from our librarians

Summer reading recommendations from our librarians

Read This Book! – Sharon Creech

‘Read This Book!’ – African American Women Authors

Read This Book! – Science Fiction