Shop Colorful Summer Reading Books, Films, & More
With June almost upon us that means one thing for libraries across the country: the start of summer reading. Which also means the culmination of months of hard work for the librarians who have been preparing for it. This year’s theme is Color Our World, a chance to highlight art, creativity, and diversity and celebrate all the ways they enhance our lives. Books about art, crafts, and colors are sure to be popular with patrons this summer and I can’t wait to see what our libraries have in store to color our world!
Books you should know about
Maybe an Artist by Liz Montague
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From your OverDrive DCL: This is a sweet and memorable story about the first Black female cartoonist to be published in the New Yorker. Although the title is aimed at young adults, this is a funny, inspiring memoir for any age, and I loved and appreciated Liz’s straight forwardness. As a senior in college, she asked the New Yorker why they never printed more inclusive comics, and when asked if she could recommend any, she boldly gave them her name. Liz’s story follows her from age five through college and touches on how she overcame her dyslexia through art, and how that gave her the courage to pursue it.
Chameleon’s True Colors by Yuliya Pankratova
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From the Publisher: Chameleon is sad because he doesn’t have a color of his own. He borrows yellow from the sun, pink from an orchid, and orange from a tiger, but will there be enough color for everyone? With gorgeous, colorful illustrations and a message about the power of giving, The Chameleon’s True Colors is the picture book every family needs on their shelf.
Anita De Monte Laughs Last by Xochitl Gonzalez
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From the Publisher: Anita de Monte, a rising star in the art world, is found dead in New York City; her tragic death is the talk of the town. Until it isn’t. By 1998 Anita’s name has been all but forgotten—certainly by the time Raquel, a third-year art history student is preparing her final thesis. On College Hill, surrounded by privileged students whose futures are already paved out for them, Raquel feels like an outsider. Students of color, like her, are the minority there, and the pressure to work twice as hard for the same opportunities is no secret.
But when Raquel becomes romantically involved with a well-connected older art student, she finds herself unexpectedly rising up the social ranks. As she attempts to straddle both worlds, she stumbles upon Anita’s story, raising questions about the dynamics of her own relationship, which eerily mirrors that of the forgotten artist.
The Art Thief by Michael Finkel
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From the Publisher: Stéphane Bréitwieser is the most prolific art thief of all time. He pulled off more than 200 heists, often in crowded museums in broad daylight. His girlfriend served as his accomplice. His collection was worth an estimated $2 billion. He never sold a piece, displaying his stolen art in his attic bedroom. He felt like a king. Until everything came to a shocking end. In this spellbinding portrait of obsession and flawed genius, Michael Finkel gives us one of the most remarkable true-crime narratives of our times, a riveting story of art, theft, love, and an insatiable hunger to possess beauty at any cost.
Crafting a Better World by Diana Weymar
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From the Publisher: Ever feel like you’re hanging on by a thread? From the climate crisis, to racism, to gun violence, to attacks on LGBTQ+ rights, the list of issues facing this country goes on and on, and it’s only natural to feel anxious about the state of our union. Even if you vote, march, volunteer, and donate, feelings of hopelessness (and helplessness) still creep in. Crafting a Better World is a new kind of call to action: a guidebook for combatting fatigue and frustration with the handmade. Whether that’s sewing a welcome blanket for new immigrants or making a batch of “vulva chocolates” to raise money at a bake sale for abortion access, this book will teach you how to transform your anxiety into action. Crafting a Better World is a response to this unique moment in time when so many feel, in equal measure, deep anxiety and deep hope. So pick up a needle, a pen, a spatula—anything—and craft the change you want to see in the world.
Awake in the Floating City by Susanna Kwan
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From your OverDrive DCL: With a cover that looks strikingly like a watercolor painting and a beautiful story about human relationships and bringing one character back to her love of modern art, this seemed like the perfect choice that encompasses the Color Our World theme. Even though this is labeled as a dystopian book, its real story centers around the relationship between Mia and her caregiver, Bo, who is still grieving the loss of her mother and her passion for art. Through her relationship with Mia she rediscovers her love of art by working on a project that will become a memorial of sorts for Mia when she is gone. Recommended if you enjoy literary fiction and slower, more thoughtful stories that leave you thinking about them long after you’ve finished.
Hello Stranger by Katherine Center
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From the Publisher: Sadie Montgomery never saw what was coming . . . Literally! One minute she’s celebrating the biggest achievement of her life—placing as a finalist in the North American Portrait Society competition—the next she’s lying in a hospital bed diagnosed with a “probably temporary” condition known as face blindness. She can see, but every face she looks at is now a jumbled puzzle of disconnected features. Imagine trying to read a book upside down and in another language. This is Sadie’s new reality. But, as she struggles to cope, hang on to her artistic dream, work through major family issues, and take care of her beloved dog, Peanut, she falls in love—not with one man but two. The timing couldn’t be worse. Making judgment calls on anything right now is a nightmare. If only her life were a little more in focus, Sadie might be able to have it all.
Get the Picture by Bianca Bosker
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Buy the audiobook here
From your OverDrive DCL: If you’re someone who appreciates art but doesn’t necessarily understand it, the hilarious observations brought to life in this book won’t go unnoticed. Bosker inserted herself into contemporary art galleries, art fairs, studios, and museums for several months at a time to really try to widen her understanding of each form. What resulted was a funny but insightful view of the art world from someone who freely admits that much of the art she saw was “barely recognizable” as art. And only when she stopped trying to understand it, did she really learn to appreciate it.
To explore more titles that center around the Color Our World summer reading theme, you can explore our full Reader’s Advisory Lists!
Color Our World: Colorful Juv Covers
Great Art and Artists: Visual Arts
Our OverDrive Librarians Love Arts and Crafts!
Must-Watch Films
Art Spiegelman: Disaster is My Must (2025)
Watch on Kanopy here
From the Studio: This insightful documentary delves into the life and work of Art Spiegelman, the Queens-raised artist who revolutionized comics by exploring dark, complex themes. Shaped by his Holocaust-survivor parents and inspired by MAD magazine’s irreverent satire, Spiegelman’s most famous work, Maus, is a poignant Holocaust narrative that redefined the medium. The film showcases his resistance to fascism and features rich illustrations from his comics, highlighting his significant impact as an artist and cultural critic.
Art House: Exploring the Homes of Artists (2015)
Watch on Kanopy here
A little Extra something
Support your community by diversifying your Libby offerings with Libby Extras. Today we’re highlighting ArtistWorks.
ArtistWorks provides world-class instruction for the most popular string and band instruments through self-paced video lessons from professional musicians.
Test run Libby Extras to see how each service can entertain and educate your patrons.
Thank you for joining us on this week’s round up of Color our World themed materials! Reach out to your Digital Content Librarian or Account Manager for more information on how to provide the best content for your community.
About the author
Sarah Filiberto earned her BS in Psychology from Baldwin Wallace University and her MLIS from Kent State University. Before joining OverDrive in 2023, Sarah spent ten years working in public libraries doing community outreach, planning programs, and a little bit of everything else in between. Her favorite genres include YA, Science Fiction and Fantasy, Memoirs and the occasional Nonfiction title, and Contemporary Romance. In her free time Sarah loves trying new crafts and hobbies, although her favorites include cross stitch and crochet, as well as being outdoors, listening to new podcasts, and spoiling her pets.
