Oregon Reads 150

To help commemorate Oregon’s sesquicentennial, the State Library is pleased to announce the Oregon 150 Booklist. The list consists of 150 books for children, teens and adults that describe the Oregon experience, including fiction, non-fiction, history, and poetry. The books are available in libraries and bookstores and are highly recommended for all Oregonians to read during the sesquicentennial. Check them out!

What bugged the dinosaurs?

What Bugged the Dinosaurs?: Insects, Disease, and Death in the Cretaceous
George Poinar
Horseflies, mosquitos, blackflies-they certainly bug people, but is it possible they caused the death of the dinosaurs through factors like "the cumulative, cascading effects of many diseases"? In scientific but straightforward language, the Poinars advance convincingly the thesis that insects acted as vectors for pathogens, spreading bacteria, fungi and viruses to plants as well as dinosaurs, who then passed it on to others.

Take the mystery out of science

The Science Book: Everything You Need to Know About the World and How It Works (National Geographic)
A delight for the casual reader, yet so complete and wide-ranging that science buffs and students will welcome it, The Science Book encapsulates centuries of scientific thought in one richly illustrated volume.

Oh my Stars

Cosmos: An Illustrated History of Astronomy and Cosmology
John North
If you are at all interested in Astronomy be sure to read this book. Sir Bernard Lovell, British physicist, has this to say: "Astronomy and Cosmology is the remarkable story of the sustained human endeavor to understand our place in the universe.”

Timeless Earth

Timeless Earth: 400 of the World's Most Important Places


by Hammond World Atlas Corporation

Hammond, best known for its world atlas, presents a gorgeous collection showcasing some of the globe's most important places: 400 of UNESCOS (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) World Heritage Sites representing some of the most significant sites to mankind and the planet, many which are inaccessable to the average traveler.


This and many more wonderful books are shelved in our Oversized Collection.

Lions, and Tigers! Oh My!

We Bought a Zoo: The Amazing True Story of a Young Family, a Broken Down Zoo, and the 200 Wild Animals That Change Their Lives Forever

Benjamin Mee decided to uproot his family and move them to an unlikely new home: a dilapidated zoo on the English countryside, complete with over 200 exotic animals. There was much work to be done, and none of it easy. Tigers broke loose, money ran low, the staff grew skeptical, and family tensions ran high. Then tragedy struck. His wife had a recurrence of a brain tumor, forcing Benjamin and his children to face the heartbreak of illness and the devastating loss of a wife and mother. But inspired by her memory and the healing power of the incredible family of animals they had grown to love, Benjamin and his kids resovled to move forward.Read about their amazing true story today.

Two New Additions

Two popular subjects are covered in these new additions to our collection.

Adobe Photoshop CS3: Introductory Concepts and Techniques, by Gary B. Shelly, Thomas J. Cashman, and Joy L. Starks. Course Technology, 2009.

This text follows a step-by-step, screen-by-screen approach to learning Photoshop CS3. Readers will learn new Photoshop CS3 skills and will also be introduced to graphic design concepts.

The Wounded Warrior Handbook: A Resource Guide for Returning Veterans, by Don Philpott and Janelle Hill. Government Institutes, 2009.

If you or someone you know is a returning wounded veteran, this book will certainly help in the transition to civilian life. Topics include medical issues, support, recovery and transition, benefits, taxes and legal issues, and the DoD and the VA. An extensive listing of resources is also included at the end of the book.

Recommended Reads - Beaverton City Library Book Discussion Group

The Beaverton City Library is proud to offer a Book Discussion Group held at the library on the 2nd Tues of each month from 6:30-8:00 pm, unless otherwise listed. (There will not be a March Book Discussion Group.)

The way that this book group functions is that the titles to be read are selected by the library staff coordinating the book group. Those interested in the group can choose to attend any of the meetings.
The only requirement is that you have to have read a good amount of the book so that you would be able to take part in the discussion, even if you don't get a chance to finish it.
Copies of the books to be read in the group are owned by the Beaverton City Library and other libraries in the Washington County Library system and are available to be reserved and/or checked out.

February 10th will be the next group and the fictional book to be discussed is Snow Flower and Secret Fan written by Lisa See.


Snow Flower and The Secret Fan is set in 19th-century China where women are kept secluded and hardly ever intermingle with the men. It is a powerful story about relationships, regrets, and life-long friendships. While set in a traditional Chinese world, almost anyone can relate to the themes and emotions in this book. This story begins with Lily, a elderly Chinese woman in the mid to late 18th century, as she reflects back upon her life as a woman. As most traditional women of her time, her passage to womanhood began with her foot-binding. The success or failure of this act sets in motion the outcome of her future life. With beautifully bound feet and good upbringing, she is guaranteed a good husband and many sons. Because of her good feet, she is given the opportunity to have a laotong, “old same”, named Snow Flower. This relationship is as sacred as a marriage since the two women try to stay connected with each other throughout their lives.


Check our catalog for this title.

On Tues April 14th the group will be discussing the realistic fiction title The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri.

The Namesake takes place about thirty years ago in many different places including Calcutta, India, and in various places in The United States. It depicts the life of an ordinary Indian family that moved to America from India.
Gogol Ganguli, a smart, American Indian boy who is born in America to parents who emigrated from Calcutta, India is the protagonist of the story. He does not like his name, "Gogol", and hates being compared to his namesake, Nikolai Gogol, and is embarrassed by it. Throughout the book, he has a hard time trying to become "Americanized", while his parents want him to stay "Indian".


Check our catalog for this title.
Enjoy reading the titles mentioned above and join us if you can.
Marie Selleck - Beaverton City Library Book Group Liasion
503-350-3617