Each month a variety of observances and celebrations take place, from well-known holidays to much lesser-known fun (and downright funny or strange!) observances.

Happiness Happens Month

Happiness is a Watermelon on Your Head by Stella Dreis
Library Catalog

A cauliflower hat, a fish bonnet, a few large animals, a flying boar called Melvin, and a whole lot of watermelons come together in this wacky tale told in rhyme. To the villagers who watch her going about her day, it is clear that Miss Jolly is irritatingly happy. Her never-ending cheerfulness leaves three of her neighbors highly confused and jealous, driving them to ridiculous and hilarious measures in an attempt to compete with Miss Jolly in the happiness–and headgear–stakes. Beautiful and insane in equal measure, this wacky book follows three local busybodies on their journey to discover the secret of true happiness.

Layla’s Happiness by Mariahadessa Ekere Tallie
Library Catalog

Seven-year-old Layla loves life! So she keeps a happiness book. What is happiness for her? For you? Spirited and observant, Layla is a child who's been given room to grow, making happiness both thoughtful and intimate. It's her dad talking about growing-up in South Carolina; her mom reading poetry; her best friend Juan, the community garden, and so much more. Written by poet Mariahadessa Ekere Tallie and illustrated by Ashleigh Corrin, this is a story of flourishing within family and community.

Happy! by Pharrell Williams
Library Catalog

Nominated for an Academy Award in 2014, “Happy” hit number one on Billboard's Hot 100 list, and has topped the charts in more than seventy-five countries worldwide. Now Pharrell Williams brings his beloved song to the youngest of readers in photographs of children across cultures celebrating what it means to be happy. All the exuberance of the song pulses from these vibrant photographs of excited, happy kids. This is a picture book full of memorable, precious childhood moments that will move readers in the same way they were moved by the song.

International Pirate Month

Pirate & Penguin by Mike Allegra
Library Catalog

What happens when a pirate, hoping for a parrot, stumbles upon a bird of a duller plumage?Pirate doesn't know that Penguin is a penguin. But any bird can sit on a shoulder and squawk “shiver me timbers”…right?Laugh along with Pirate and Penguin in this high seas tale of mistaken identity and find out whether they'll find friendship before somebody walks the plank.

Mermaid and Pirate by Tracey Baptiste
Library Catalog

Glub glub… Aargh…Mermaid and Pirate cannot understand each other. They speak different languages and come from different worlds. But they're quick to lend a hand, or a tail, when the sky grows stormy and waters get rough, and a friendship is born. Sometimes kindness and generosity speak louder than words.

Treasure Island: Runaway Gold by Jewell Parker Rhodes
Library Catalog

Bestselling and award-winning author Jewell Parker Rhodes reimagines the classic novel Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson in this thrilling adventure set in modern-day Manhattan, in which three children must navigate the city's hidden history, dodge a threatening crew of skater kids, and decide who they can really trust in order to hunt down a long-buried treasure.

American Adventures Month

An Occasionally Happy Family by Cliff Burke
Library Catalog

There are zero reasons for Theo Ripley to look forward to his family vacation. Not only are he, sister Laura, and nature-obsessed Dad going to Big Bend, the least popular National Park, but once there, the family will be camping. And Theo is an indoor animal. It doesn't help that this will be the first vacation they're taking since Mom passed away. Once there, the family contends with 110 degree days, wild bears, and an annoying amateur ornithologist and his awful teenage vlogger son. Then, Theo's dad hits him with a whopper of a surprise: the whole trip is just a trick to introduce his secret new girlfriend.

Hike by Pete Oswald
Library Catalog

In the cool and quiet early light of morning, a father and child wake up. Today they're going on a hike. Follow the duo into the mountains as they witness the magic of the wilderness, overcome challenges, and play a small role in the survival of the forest. By the time they return home, they feel alive — and closer than ever — as they document their hike and take their place in family history. In detail-rich panels and textured panoramas, Pete Oswald perfectly paces this nearly wordless adventure, allowing readers to pause for subtle wonders and marvel at the views. A touching tribute to the bond between father and child, with resonant themes for Earth Day, Hike is a breath of fresh air.

Fatima’s Great Outdoors by Ambreen Tariq
Library Catalog

Fatima Khazi is excited for the weekend. Her family is headed to a local state park for their first camping trip! The school week might not have gone as planned, but outdoors, Fatima can achieve anything. She sets up a tent with her father, builds a fire with her mother, and survives an eight-legged mutant spider (a daddy longlegs with an impressive shadow) with her sister. At the end of an adventurous day, the family snuggles inside one big tent, serenaded by the sounds of the forest. The thought of leaving the magic of the outdoors tugs at Fatima's heart, but her sister reminds her that they can keep the memory alive through stories–and they can always daydream about what their next camping trip will look like.

Celebrated in August…

August 1st: Spider Man Debuts Anniversary

A Mighty Marvel Team-up 2: Spider-man Quantum Quest! by Mike Mailhak
Library Catalog

During a morning of doing good deeds and super heroing, Spider-Man is interrupted by the Fantastic Four and Namor. The great underwater city of Atlantis has disappeared, and the heroes need Spider-Man's help to find it! While Spider-Man is unsure if his abilities can help him find the city, he takes on the mission hoping not to disappoint his heroes.

Miles Morales Spider-Man: Through a Hero's Eyes by Denene Millner
Library Catalog

This picture book will delight every Spider-Man fan with its vibrant illustrations and heartfelt story about self-discovery. New York Times bestselling author Denene Millner's picture book follows Miles Morales as he explores what it means to be an artist, to be Spider-Man, and to be himself. Miles Morales is captivated by the murals in his neighborhood, bursting with color and life. Each one tells a story about the artist who created it, and as an aspiring artist himself, Miles dreams of making his own one day. But Miles isn't just an artist–he's Spider-Man! When he makes friends with fellow artist Mr. Arty, Miles learns even more about his passions, his Puerto Rican heritage, and the importance of his neighborhood.

Along Came a Radioactive Spider: Strange Steve Ditko and the Creation of Spider-Man: an Unauthorized Biography by Annie Hunter Eriksen
Library Catalog

Spider-Man's web of stories began far before the first drawing of nerdy teenager Peter Parker. They started with Steve Ditko, a kid who loved comics so much that he would brave blizzards to get new issues. Steve was strange–he was introverted, his art was shadowy, and his characters didn't fit the mold of handsome heroes like those crafted by Marvel legends Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. But it's not so strange that the traits that made Steve different were what made his characters stand out.Swing into the life of Steve Ditko and discover how he transformed a brawny, super-powered Spiderman into the perpetually awkward teenager who we know and love: Spider-Man, a character who relies on his inner strength more than super strength, who got his powers not through magic but through the bite of a radioactive spider…This biography takes the mask off the famously reclusive artist and shares the story of how his wall-crawling hero became a friendly neighborhood icon.

August 6th: Voting Rights Act of 1965 Signed Anniversary

Equality's Call: the Story of Voting Rights in America by Deborah Diesen
Library Catalog

The founders of the United States declared that consent of the governed was a key part of their plan for the new nation. But for many years, only white men of means were allowed to vote. This unflinching and inspiring history of voting rights looks back at the activists who answered equality's call, working tirelessly to secure the right for all to vote, and it also looks forward to the future and the work that still needs to be done.

V is for Voting by Kate Farrell
Library Catalog

V Is for Voting is an ABC book that introduces progressive families to concepts like social justice and civil rights and reminds readers that every vote counts!

A is for active participation.
B is for building a more equal nation.
C is for citizens' rights and our duty.
D is for difference, our strength and our beauty.

An engaging introduction to the tenets of democracy, V Is for Voting is a playful, poetic, and powerful primer about the importance of voting and activism. Featuring Kate Farrell's rhyming text and Caitlin Kuhwald's bold art, plus thoughtful back matter, the book is a gorgeous, and crucial.

Lillian's Right to Vote: a Celebration of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 by Jonah Winter
Library Catalog

As Lillian, a one-hundred-year-old African American woman, makes a “long haul up a steep hill” to her polling place, she sees more than trees and sky–she sees her family's history. She sees the passage of the Fifteenth Amendment and her great-grandfather voting for the first time. She sees her parents trying to register to vote. And she sees herself marching in a protest from Selma to Montgomery. Veteran bestselling picture-book author Jonah Winter and Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award winner Shane W. Evans vividly recall America's battle for civil rights in this lyrical, poignant account of one woman's fierce determination to make it up the hill and make her voice heard.

August 25th-31st: Be Kind to Humankind Week

A Plate of Hope: the Inspiring story of Chef José Andrés and World Central Kitchen by Erin Frankel
Un plato de esperanza (A Plate of Hope): La inspiradora historia del chef José Andrés y World Central Kitchen por Erin Frankel
Library Catalog

Jose Andres's love of cooking began as a young boy in Spain as he gathered the wood to make the fire that would cook the paella just right. His dreams grew until they were as big as the stars in the sky. He thought, No one should ever go hungry. I want to help feed the world– and World Central Kitchen was born. From the earthquake in Haiti to the war in Ukraine and the Covid pandemic, Jose and his team at World Central Kitchen have been at the frontlines, serving more than 200 million meals and counting, and bringing comfort and hope in the darkest times. With a lyrical text and stunning illustrations, here is a picture book biography about a world-renowned humanitarian and chef that's sure to inspire a new generation of community helpers.

You, Me, We: A Celebration of Peace and Community by Arun Gandhi and Bethany Hegedus
Library Catalog

Where can we find peace? It shows in the way we walk, stand, or form a circle. It can be found when we play or dig in the garden, speak up or ask for help, or sit still and listen to the silence. Whether we're learning, taking turns, or getting past hurt feelings and misunderstandings, peace is always there, as long as we look at one another, ready to discover. Drawing on the philosophies of Mahatma Gandhi and educator Maria Montessori, coauthors Arun Gandhi and Bethany Hegedus offer an inviting primer brought to life through the warm, wondrous illustrations of Colombian artist Andrés Landazábal. As Mahatma Gandhi once said, “If we are to teach real peace in this world . . . we shall have to begin with children.” You, Me, We does just that, as it celebrates the peace that can be found in us all.

We’ll Make Things Better Together by Ben Gundersheimer
Library Catalog

A joyous ode to friendship that shows that everything is better when we work together! Working together can make everything we do-like playing music, gardening, and helping our neighbors-a whole lot more fun. Whether it's cleaning up the mess in the kitchen or in a public park, joining together on a shared project allows each of our talents to shine through. And some things are simply better when we do them together-like celebrating a job well done! Young readers are sure to be inspired by this cheerful story of friendship and teamwork that shows how we can all make a positive impact on the world, starting in our own homes and communities.