Browse: Library Picks

Library Staff Picks

Modern Gothic

These titles feature dense, atmospheric writing, perfect for fans of slow-burn mysteries and family secrets.

Summer Scares

This mix of middle-grade fiction, graphic novels, and YA titles is perfect for anyone who enjoys a scary campfire tale!

Modern Dystopian Fiction

Dark, thought-provoking novels set in unsettling futures where society has gone terribly wrong. Perfect for fans of speculative fiction.

Memory-Keeping

Journaling, scrapbooking, photography, and more. Explore ways to preserve memories and the benefits of each method.

Books for Film Buffs

Dive deeper into the films and actors you love with these books for movie lovers.

Crafting that is worth your time.

Books that actually help you release your creativity side.

This Actually Happened: Extraordinary Lives & True Stories

Truth stranger than fiction: gripping true stories of survival, scandal, and extraordinary lives around the world.

Celebrating American Authors: Memoirs and Biographies

Explore the lives of beloved American writers, from Joan Didion to James Patterson, through memoir and biography.

Forgotten, Silenced, & Reclaimed

Biographies and memoirs that restore overlooked lives—stories once omitted or suppressed, now told with clarity, context, and power.

Behind the Music: Business & Technology

Learn about the history, economics, and technologies involved in the music industry.

So you want to be a Finance Bro?

Fun, friendly guides to money basics, budgeting, and building wealth, for curious kids, teens, and beginners alike.

Technology and Your Kids

A selection of books to help you navigate having kids in a world of technology.

New York in Your Kitchen: NYC Restaurant Cookbooks

You may not be able to travel to New York, but you can cook delicious recipes from the city’s best restaurants in your own kitchen.

Cookbooks for Kids

Great cookbooks for budding young culinary artists!

Cocktail Party!!!

Master the classics or try out a new tasty concoction.

American History Illustrated

Graphic novels and illustrated works for adults and teens about key moments in the diverse history of America.

Popular Kids Graphic Novels

Stop by any Palo Alto City Library and check out our most popular Graphic Novels!

Mental Health in Graphic Novels

These striking books present various aspects of mental health: diagnosing, coping, destigmatizing, finding support.

Stay Hydrated!

Drinking water and other beverages, or eating foods high in water content, are great ways to stay refreshed throughout the summer heat.

Good for the Gut

Learn how to improve and maintain optimal gut health.

Eat Well This Summer

Get summer ready with books on healthy eating, balanced nutrition, and feel-good living.

I'm Not Going in There

Thrillers involving spaces you may not want to enter.

Middle Grade Mysteries 2026

Packed with clever clues and brave young detectives, these books are perfect for readers who love to solve puzzles and crack the case.

Mystery Books for Kids

Books full of clues, surprises, and kid detectives, perfect for young readers who love solving mysteries.

Exploring the Oceans Deep

Take a deep dive into the oceans of the world.

The Art of Being Human

Discover what science reveals about the brain, health, and what it means to live and grow as a person.

Connect to Nature

Longer days and more sunshine lead many of us to seek a new connection to nature. Be inspired by these featured nonfiction titles.

Here Be Dragons

Fantasy novels to help you get your fix of dragons.

AI Stories That Feel Too Real

Sci-fi classics and modern tales exploring AI, robots, and surveillance, and the blurry line between human and machine.

Must Read SciFi/Fantasy

A fun, must-read sci-fi and fantasy list full of wild worlds, big adventures, and stories you won’t want to put down.
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