CECH Library Spotlight: Ellen Outside the Lines by AJ Sass

CECH Spotlight highlights recommended books in the the UC College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services (CECH) Library.

Ellen Outside the Lines / written by AJ Sass / 2022

CW: Queer character being outed 

Ellen Outside the Lines by A.J. Sass is a contemporary juvenile novel that follows Ellen Katz, a queer, autistic, Jewish girl as she navigates life and friendship. Ellen’s Spanish class is going to Barcelona for two weeks, and she expects it to be a time for her to reconnect with her best friend Laurel. But during this trip, her carefully planned routines and expectations are thrown for a loop when she gets paired with a different group, allowing her to learn not just about herself but those around her.

This novel explores gender identity, queerness, religion, neurodivergence, and what it means to be a friend. It is a heartwarming story of growth and acceptance that makes it a read that you won’t want to put down until you’re done.

This book is available from the CECH Library, as well as the OhioLINK and Search Ohio lending networks.

Review by Alice Somers, CECH Library Student Assistant | Early Childhood Education and Deaf Studies, CECH 2026

New Furniture at the CECH Library

Since coming back for spring semester, you may have noticed that the CECH Library looks a little different. We are happy to announce that we have added additional furniture to our space to accommodate more users and diversify our seating options. An additional 33 seats in total have been added to our 3rd and 4th floors!

The textbook alcove:

Our textbook alcove, located on the 3rd floor, now houses four individual study desks, one group study table, and two comfy chairs for individual use.

The 4th floor:

Four group tables have been added to the seating area on our 4th floor and the existing furniture has been moved around to better compliment the space.

We can’t wait for you to come visit us to check out our new furniture. As always, you can find Spring Semester Hours on the CECH Library website, as well as a complete listing of hours across UC Libraries locations.

It is our pleasure to serve CECH, and we wish you all a fantastic semester.

Rachel Hoople
Operations Manager, CECH Library

Selecting Books and Materials About Native Peoples for Your Library or Classroom with Dr. Debbie Reese — Free Zoom lecture

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Societal changes in recent years have been unsettling to people who seek accurate and authentic materials for their libraries and classrooms. What should be added to the shelves? And, what should be set aside?

Join the College of Education, Criminal Justice and Human Services (CECH) Library for an evening with Dr. Debbie Reese, noted children’s literature scholar, former classroom teacher, and founder/co-editor of the American Indians in Children’s Literature blog. Dr. Reese will offer suggestions on how to move forward — with confidence. This dynamic lecture will be centered on children’s and young adult books and materials about Native peoples.

Tribally enrolled at Nambé Pueblo, Dr. Debbie Reese has studied representations of Native peoples in children’s and young adult books for over 30 years. Her book chapters, journal articles, and professional writings are taught in education, library science, and English courses across the United States and Canada. Her blog is widely recognized as a go-to resource for writers, reviewers, editors, teachers, librarians, and parents.

Date/time: Thursday, October 20th @ 6:30pm via Zoom

Use our RSVP form to register today!

This lecture is sponsored by the Kretschmer Fund for Native American Children’s Literature.

Looking Back, Moving Ahead: A Brief Review of 2021-22 in the CECH Library

Welcome to fall semester, CECH friends! Though we’ve been open all summer, the CECH Library is so pleased to open our doors yet again to students, faculty, and staff at the beginning of another promising school year.  

 Like you, we’ve had a busy year – full of projects, planning, and reflection. Here are a few highlights: 

As always, you can find fall semester library hours on the CECH Library website, as well as a complete listing of hours across UC Libraries locations 

It is our pleasure to serve CECH, and we wish you all a fantastic semester. 

Katie Foran-Mulcahy
CECH Library Head + Interim Assistant Dean 

Fall Space Refresh in the CECH Library

In preparation for the fall term, we completed a comprehensive space refresh on our library’s 3rd floor, including moving more than 26,800 books (by hand!) to make our highest-circulating collections more visible and accessible.  

We also re-designed our 3rd floor display spaces, creating more permanent areas to promote books and refreshing exhibits monthly.  

In addition, our MakerLab underwent a re-organization this summer to improve users’ experience. Rachel Hoople, CECH Library’s Operations Manager, led many of these changes and I know our students will reap the benefits of these improvements this year. 

We can’t wait for you to come visit us this year to check out our refreshed spaces. As always, you can find fall semester library hours on the CECH Library website, as well as a complete listing of hours across UC Libraries locations 

 It is our pleasure to serve CECH, and we wish you all a fantastic semester. 

Katie Foran-Mulcahy
CECH Library Head + Interim Assistant Dean 

CECH Spotlight: Black Fairy Tales

CECH Spotlight highlights recommended books in the the UC College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services (CECH) Library.

Black Fairy Tales / written by Terry Berger / 1969
The People Could Fly / told by Virginia Hamilton / 1985
The Six Fools / collected by Zora Neale Hurston / 2006

The stories we tell our children are possibly the most important in our entire fictional memory, and foremost among these stories are fairy tales and folktales. Harkening back to the legends and myths of old, fairy and folk tales expand children’s imaginations, teach lessons, and reveal the reality in which they live. This is not more apparent than in Black Fairy Tales by Terry Berger, The People Could Fly by Virginia Hamilton, and The Six Fools by Zora Neale Hurston.

Coming from a wide variety of sources, origins, and peoples, these three books represent different oral traditions collected and written by a variety of authors. While storytelling traditions are much more expansive than what is contained within these books, they serve as an amazing introduction to fairy tales and folktales from African and African American cultures. Not only do they stand alone as great examples of children’s literature, but they serve as greater tools for change in the diversity they provide, as well as the history they present. “This book was done especially for the Black children who have never read Black fairy tales,” Terry Berger wrote in the dedication of his book.

These books present culture and stories which have long been ignored, and each provide unique perspectives to life, virtue, and our potential. Be it trying to catch sunshine in a wheelbarrow, marrying a great serpent king, or the fables of Bruh Rabbit, these books expand our imagination and deepen our appreciation.  .

All three titles are available from the CECH Library, as well as the OhioLINK and Search Ohio lending networks.

Review by Linus Sinnard, CECH Library Student Assistant | Secondary Education, CECH 2025

Subscribe to New Children’s Books at CECH Library

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The CECH Library has a collection unlike any other at UC Libraries, including thousands of children’s and young adult books. Now you can subscribe to keep up with the latest additions to our library!

From the Children’s and Young Adult Literature LibGuide, visit our new books blogs based on the category you’re interested in. The blogs are updated each time CECH Library gets new books. By subscribing to updates, you’ll get an email every time we add new books in the following categories: picturebooks, juvenile fiction, YA fiction, informational, and Native American authors and illustrators. Subscribe today so you’ll never miss a new addition to the collection.

Written by Madeleine Gaiser, Online Learning and Instruction Specialist | CECH Library

CECH Spotlight: The Legend of Lao Tzu and the Tao Te Ching

CECH Spotlight highlights recommended books in the the UC College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services (CECH) Library.

The Legend of Lao Tzu and the Tao Te Ching / written by Demi / 2007

According to legend, more than 2000 years ago, a man known as the Old Master, or Lao Tzu in Chinese, would compile 81 verses into one of the prolific books of all time, and in turn create a philosophy which has endured for generations. This philosophy, known as Taoism, or “Way”, places emphasis on accepting reality for what it is, as well as peaceful inaction and a life of virtue.

In her book, Demi details the legend of Lao Tzu and the creation of his book, the Tao Te Ching, in great detail. She also includes many excerpts from the Tao Te Ching, accompanied by beautiful illustrations of Chinese mountains, animals, and architecture which fits perfectly with the themes discuss within their lines. Her book serves as a way to engage both kids and adults alike about the beliefs of Taoism. It also provides a unique outlook on life which few other books can, with advice and concepts that can be endlessly debated and ruminated on. The Legend of Lao Tzu and the Tao Te Ching is a must read for anyone intrigued by Taoist philosophy, or for anyone who simply wants a new outlook on life.

The Legend of Lao Tzu and the Tao Te Ching is available from CECH Library, as well as the OhioLINK and Search Ohio lending networks.

Review by Linus Sinnard, CECH Library Student Assistant | Secondary Education, CECH 2025

CECH Spotlight: The Eternal Ones by Kristen Miller

CECH Spotlight highlights recommended books in the the UC College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services (CECH) Library.

The Eternal Ones: What If Love Refused To Die  / written by Kristen Miller / 2010

Haven has always had strange visions. However, she constantly has an uncanny feeling that she is reliving the memories of another’s romantic relationship from long ago. Yet, it almost feels as if it was her in those dreams. Living in a conservative town, she has no one to confide in especially when everyone seems to think that the devil is to blame for her strange dreams.

It all seemed to be just strange and coincidental visions until she saw a celebrity on television that reminded her exactly of the man in her dreams. Although her entire town is against her, a group called the Ouroboros Society in New York City that seems to know a lot about what Haven has been experiencing, not only that but the celebrity that triggered a connection to her dreams happens to be there as well.

The Eternal Ones is available from the CECH Library, as well as the OhioLINK and Search Ohio lending networks.

Review by Alexis Parker, CECH Library Student Assistant | Public Relations and International Affairs, A&S 2024

CECH Spotlight: It Feels Good To Be Yourself: A Book About Gender Identity

CECH Spotlight highlights recommended books in the the UC College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services (CECH) Library.

It Feels Good to Be Yourself: A Book About Gender Identity / written by Theresa Thorn, illustrated by Noah Grigni / 2019

It Feels Good to Be Yourself is an important and amazing book to use when it comes to approaching the topic of gender identity and expression. It is open and direct and explains gender in a very succinct way, making this ideal for young children. It discusses what cis-gender, transgender, non-binary and gender fluidity mean in a positive and easily understandable way. The illustrations feature diversity and are bright and full of life. At the end, there are resources readily available and information about pronouns. This text is straightforward and puts an emphasis on self-expression, acceptance, and inclusiveness.

It Feels Good to Be Yourself is available from CECH Library,  as well as the OhioLINK and Search Ohio lending networks. Keep an eye out for the sequel that debuts in October!

Review by Sadie Matthews, CECH Library Student Assistant | Elementary Education, CECH 2023