Frank Carlson Library

"The View from the Cheap Seats brings together... more than sixty pieces of his outstanding nonfiction. Analytical yet playful, erudite yet accessible, this cornucopia explores a broad range of interests and topics, including (but not limited to): authors past and present; music; storytelling; comics; bookshops; travel; fairy tales; America; inspiration; libraries; ghosts; and the title piece, at turns touching and self-deprecating, which recounts...

Learn all about what makes great literary non-fiction. This book looks at what it is, examples in the real world, how to use and enjoy it, and how you can write your own.

The murder of Ed Burdick is the true story of the great unsolved mystery of turn of the century Buffalo and a terrible wrong that was never put right. 1903, Buffalo, New York. Ed Burdick, a wealthy manufacturer known for his kindness and generosity, and his wife Alice had a life few could imagine. The couple had three lovely daughters, a beautiful home, and they were fixtures in the elite Elmwood Avenue set. Despite rumors of trouble in the Burdick...

"This STEM-based picture book follows the origin of a hurricane, from a little cloud to a life-threatening storm."--

"Did you know that whales breathe air just like people do? How about that a blue whale is one of the biggest mammals that ever lived? Discover these fascinating facts and more in this updated deep-dive into the biology of whales" -- From book jacket flap. Introduces different kinds of whales.

An exhilarating exploration of the science and wonder of global bird migration. In the past two decades, our understanding of the navigational and physiological feats that enable birds to cross immense oceans, fly above the highest mountains, or remain in unbroken flight for months at a stretch has exploded. What we've learned of these key migrations - how billions of birds circumnavigate the globe, flying tens of thousands of miles between hemispheres...

"This delightfully fun exploration into the moon both informs and entertains, and helps young readers make sense of the world around them. The charming protagonist, Moon, sparsely narrates her story in eleven short chapters with text bubbles and vignettes sprinkled in to provide wit, style, and humor. Young audiences will immediately connect to the colorful, whimsical art and welcome a sense of accomplishment in devouring this unexpected, yet wholly...

A narrative history of how Attila, Genghis Khan and the so-called barbarians of the steppes shaped world civilization. "The barbarian nomads of the Eurasian steppes have played a decisive role in world history, but their achievements have gone largely unnoticed. These nomadic tribes have produced some of the world's greatest conquerors: Attila the Hun, Genghis Khan and Tamerlane, among others. Their deeds still resonate today. Indeed, these nomads...

"A deeply compelling exploration of the death industry and the people--morticians, detectives, crime scene cleaners, embalmers, executioners--who work in it and what led them there. We are surrounded by death. It is in our news, our nursery rhymes, our true-crime podcasts. Yet from a young age, we are told that death is something to be feared. How are we supposed to know what we're so afraid of, when we are never given the chance to look? Fueled by...

"This tribute to one of the most diverse, fascinating, and beloved species on the planet (turtles) speaks to the diversity and wisdom of these long-lived reptiles"--