Inspiring Illustrated Biographies about India's Independence

These picture books from our children's collection tell inspiring stories of two people who made unique contributions to India's independence.  

She Sang For India: How M.S. Subbulakshim Used Her Voice For Change by Suma Subramaniam; Illustrated by Shreya Gupta

Kunjamma loved to sing at home with her family, but when she was growing up in early 1900s India, girls were not allowed to attend concerts or perform in public. Kunja’s mother encouraged her to sing at school. A man in the audience loved her singing so much that he encouraged her to make a record when she was only ten.  As more people heard her sing, she received invitations to perform at concerts, including charity concerts for Mahatma Gandhi when he was fighting for India’s independence. She Sang for India is an inspiring biography and illuminating history lesson filled with colorful illustrations. 

 

Picture Books for Mental Health Awareness Week May 12 through May 16

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a national observance focused on raising awareness about mental health and well-being. Mental Health Awareness Week is May 12-16 and serves as an opportunity to reduce stigma and promote resources for mental health support. The theme of Mental Health Awareness Month for 2025 is “Turn Awareness Into Action”.

These picture books from our collection address mental health struggles with easy to understand vocabulary and engaging illustrations.

I Think I Think A Lot by Jessica Whipple; Illustrated by Josee Bisaillon

Overthinkers young and old will enjoy this beautifully illustrated picture book that asks whether other people have extensive internal dialogs, question their choices, and worry if they've inadvertently caused offense or been misunderstood. 

Author Jessica Whipple says she wrote I Think I Think A Lot for people like herself who are managing obsessive-compulsive disorders and to share a bit of her own experience as a child who was obsessed with "being good."  

Unreadable: Podcast Transcript - May 2025

Summer Reading is just around the corner, and in this episode of Unreadable, Ross is joined by Sarah Brubaker, Programming Manager at FCPL, to discuss how to make the most of this year's Summer Reading Fun! Sarah shares how to get started using Beanstack, as well as some tips and tricks for logging your and your family's reading.

Curious about our incremental and grand prizes, or want to know who is performing at our Summer Reading Kickoff Events? Sarah provides a sneak peak of what you can expect this year. Hint: It's going to be awesome! 

Summer Reading Fun starts May 22 and ends August 4, 2025. You can learn more about registering with Beanstack, prizes, and upcoming events on our website.