Locally Speaking Kansas City
All things local to the Kansas City metro and beyond
recent posts
- Preserving Our Family History: University of Arkansas, Special Collections.
- The Art of Making Something Once: Jane Signorelli’s One-of-a-Kind Jewelry
- A Little Blue Magic: A Cyanotype Class in Lawrence
- Lew Roht and the Little Big Band: A Kansas City Jazz Story
- From Alchemy to AI: A Journey Through Knowledge
about
This is a blog to learn more about the Kansas City and surrounding communities.
Kristy Johnston is a retired educator, with a passion for continue learning.
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Mr. Tiger Goes Wild: A Celebration of Being Yourself Rainy Day Books, bookseller Peggy has a fabulous favorite book to share. It’s called Mr. Tiger Goes Wild by Peter Brown is a wonderful example of what makes a picture book memorable. The story follows Mr. Tiger, who lives in a city where everyone behaves properly…
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A Delightfully Spooky Tale About Being Unapologetically Yourself If you’re looking for a picture book that celebrates individuality, curiosity, and a love for the unusual, Millie Fleur’s Poison Garden is a standout choice.Perfect for readers ages 2 to 6—but truly enjoyable for all ages—this beautifully illustrated story reminds us why picture books continue to captivate…
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A Legacy of Stories There’s something special about a book recommendation that comes from someone you love—especially when that someone has a lifetime of stories behind them. This is the second title in a collection of over 400 books my mother-in-law, Bev, shared over the years. Each one feels like a small window into her…
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Recommended by Bookseller Ali Cave at Rainy Day Books A Visit to Rainy Day Book During a recent visit to Rainy Day Books (which I featured in a previous post), I spoke with bookseller Ali Cave about one of her favorite picture books and the lively story time she hosts each week.Inside Saturday Story time…
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For 50 years, Rainy Day Books has been a cornerstone of Kansas City’s literary life. Founded in 1975 in Fairway by Vivien Jennings, the store began as a used book exchange and grew into one of the Midwest’s most respected independent bookstores.Last November, the store celebrated its golden anniversary alongside Vivien and her husband, Roger,…
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Book Review: Honor by Thrity Umrigar (2022) Honor is a powerful novel, but I recommend it with a warning: at times, it is difficult to read. The story confronts the stark realities of India’s caste system and the devastating consequences of deeply ingrained cultural traditions. The novel follows Smita Agarwal, an Indian American journalist who…