Reading List: Authors with May Birthdays

As a May baby myself, I am excited to share this month’s author birthday read-alouds. You can find our Author Birthday Read Aloud series on Instagram, where we read a portion of an author’s work during their birth month. This list highlights some other authors who also have birthdays in the month of May. By the way, May is a very popular birth month for the library staff with 5 team members having birthdays. With so many May birthdays, we are also including our May babies’ favorite books on the list too. Happy reading!

Library May Birthday Recommendations:

Beth (Collection Development Coordinator) said her favorite book is The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd.

Stephen’s (Systems Librarian) favorite book is The Great Gatsby.

Sara (Administrative Assistant and Circulation Associate) gave her favorite classic, Gone with the Wind, and her new favorite, the Once Upon a Broken Heart trilogy by Stephanie Garber.

My favorite (Amber, Instruction Librarian) books are Little House on the Prairie or Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. Both books were read by my elementary school teachers and have special memories for me.

Darius (Evening Circulation Manager) doesn’t have a favorite book besides the Bible, but he did recommend The 100 Cupboards series by N. D. Wilson as one of his favorites.

Author Birthdays:

May 5, 1813, brought the birth of Soren Kierkegaard, a Danish theologian, poet, and social critic. Many also say he was the first existentialist philosopher. Kierkegaard is known by many for his philosophy, but you might want to check out some of his written works like Fear and Trembling, Either/Or, and Repetition.

You can celebrate Christopher Paul Curtis on May 10 by reading one of his beloved children’s novels like the award-winning Bud, Not Buddy or The Watsons Go to Birmingham. Curtis continues to write today, so you might want to try one of his newer books like The Journey of Little Charlie, which is part of the Buxton series.

Sara highlighted Daphne du Maurier who was born on May 13, 1907, on our Instagram. She is well known for her novel, Rebecca, which has been the basis for a few movies. Other works by du Maurier include Jamaica Inn and The House on Strand.

Eoin Colfer was born on May 14, 1965. This Irish author is best known for his Artemis Fowl series. And in case you were curious, his first name is pronounced like Owen.

Although best known for The Wizard of Oz, children’s author L. Frank Baum wrote fifty-five children’s books and celebrated his birthday on May 15.

Gary Paulsen was born on May 17, 1939, and shares a birthday with Beth, our Collection Development Coordinator. Paulsen has written more than 200 books; some of his best-known books are Hatchet, Dogsong, and The Winter Room.

Max Brooks was born on May 22, 1972, and is most known for helping to bring zombies into mainstream culture. Brooks is best known for his books World War Z and The Zombie Survival Guide.

Finishing up our list of May Author Birthdays is Andrew Clements. Clements was born on May 29, 1949. He is known for Frindle, a book I remember reading in school. He also wrote popular novels like About Average, Things Not Seen, and Lunch Money.

I hope you enjoyed this month’s May birthday recommendations. Tune in next month as we celebrate more author birthdays in June.

Reading List: National Library Week 2022

Each year in April, we celebrate National Library Week. This year’s theme is “Connect with Your Library.” Libraries are great places to study, read, or meet up with friends. Libraries also have resources and services like research help, books, online articles, internet, and technology that connect people to each other and information. We would like you to connect with some of the people who work here in the Logos. We love libraries and want to share that with you.  

What do you like about the Logos and libraries? 

“Libraries are useful because they make readily available any information you might want to know.” ~Stephen Mount, Systems Librarian 

“I love the Logos because it is full of people – students mostly, but lots of faculty, staff, alumni, guests, visitors. The books and other materials are incredible resources, but the Logos reminds us that interactions with others about these books and other resources is the best education.” ~Dr. Dub Oliver, President of Union University 

“I love reading and all the learning that happens through books and at libraries.” ~Amber Wessies, Instruction Librarian 

“I like the generally quiet atmosphere. To be surrounded by shelves of books just waiting to be read makes me happy.” ~Jeannie Byrd, Technical Services Librarian 

“I like libraries because they give you a chance to build community. Plus, all the books!” ~Rachel Bloomingburg, Circulation Manager 

“I love the Logos because I worked in Union’s Library in the PAC for almost 25 years, wanting a beautiful space conducive for serious thought that matched the excellence of the service and collection in the old space. Now we have it!” ~ Melissa Moore, Library Director 

“I like libraries because they are a storehouse of information and a place of discovery.” ~Paul Sorrell, Creative Projects Manager 

“I love the way libraries foster community among those engaging in intellectual pursuits of all kinds and from many different walks of life!” ~ Darius Mullin, Evening Circulation Manager 

“The books available to read!” ~Savannah Patterson, Public Services Librarian 

“Libraries are important because of the many resources they offer communities, such as the information found in academic literature, access to technology, or even simply books for leisure reading. I especially appreciate the Logos for its role in providing these resources to our students and cultivating a space for study and collaboration.” ~Micah Rhodes, Cataloging Associate 

“I love the quiet atmosphere that is conducive for reading good books. Bonding with another person over a shared interest in a book always thrills me too.” ~ Sara Hand, Circulation Associate and Administrative Assistant 

“I have always loved books and libraries. As a child I read children’s fairy tales and Nancy Drew.” ~ Susan Kriaski, Cataloging Associate 

“Libraries are such a power source of information and essential! Our library offers such a wealth of resources including our staff, our wonderful facility, and our valuable resources. We are a vital part in the education of our Union students, preparing them for their chosen career paths.” ~ Beth Lynn, Collection Development Manager 

What is your favorite book? 

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald~ Stephen Mount 

Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis ~Dr. Dub 

Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder ~ Amber Wessies 

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen ~Jeannie Byrd 

Even Now by Karen Kingsbury ~ Rachel Bloomingburg 

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling ~ Melissa Moore 

The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg ~ Paul Sorrell 

The 100 Cupboards by Nathan D. Wilson ~Darius Mullin 

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte ~ Savannah Patterson 

The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien ~Micah Rhodes 

Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell ~ Sara Hand 

The Sunne of Splendor: A Novel of Richard III by Sharon Kay Penman ~Susan Kriaski 

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee~ Beth Lynn 

*Even Now and The Sunne of Splendor are available through Interlibrary Loan. 

Help us celebrate National Library Week by checking out one of your favorites.