Here to Help: Books About Afghanistan

The situation in Afghanistan is complex and there have been many years of conflict leading up to this terrible time. Understanding—even a little bit—what the Afghan people have gone through may help us to figure out how to help. And that could be especially useful as Afghan families and individuals may be coming to Pittsburgh to find new lives and homes. These titles are intended to provide background knowledge and information.



Welcome to Pittsburgh: Eid Al-Adha!

Here is a list of books for children, teens and adults that celebrate Muslim-American experiences, immigrant experiences and the diversity within Islam—including one that takes place in Pittsburgh! 




The Vanished Birds

Simon Jimenez’s sweeping space opera, “The Vanished Birds,” starts out small, with what could be a stand-alone novella: a boy is born with an extra finger, and his father declares that he will be special. He lives on a Resource World: a planet that is used to grow a crop that is harvested, saved and exported off-world every fifteen years by cargo ships.


Getting Weird in Los Angeles

The history and mystique of Los Angeles lends itself to many works of fiction, songs and movies. These are some of my favorite movies tinged with (or steeped in) oddness, the kind of oddness that can only play out against the background of Los Angeles.


Independence Day Nonfiction for Adults

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh has a wide selection of print and digital titles to commemorate the Declaration of Independence of the United States on July 4, 1776. Make sure to include some reading time in your 4th of July celebration plans.


Beyond Pride Month

These titles focus on LGBTQIA+ history and experience through the stories of the people in the community and the images and video captured by the community.