Last year, the American Library Association reported a 20% increase from the previous year in efforts to ban books in the US in both school and public libraries.

As WYPR education reporter Bri Hatch reported, 148 titles were challenged in Maryland last year, which made our state one of more than a dozen states to exceed one hundred banned books.

Maryland is one of the states with laws that require specific criteria for removing books from libraries, and which protect library personnel who act within that criteria.

Dr. Sonia Alcántara-Antoine, the CEO of the Baltimore County Public Library and the President of the board of the Public Library Association, joins Midday to discuss censorship, the future of the county's public library system and her summer reading list for young and old.

Picture books and children's fiction:

On a Summer Night by Deborah Hopkinson

• A beautifully illustrated soothing bedtime story set on a quiet summer night where various creatures awaken one by one. Ideal for bedtime or anytime, offering comfort and encouragement to young readers, also great for read-aloud or story time

Beach Hair by Ashley Woodfolk

• A heartfelt picture book celebrating family and community, the narrative follows the family's journey from waking up with wild bed head to embracing their beach hair and heading to the beach. Ultimately, the book encourages readers to embrace and celebrate their individuality, mirroring the freedom and wildness of the sea.

The Squish by Breanna Carzoo

• Summery illustrations will catch children’s eyes. Easy text for an early reader, yet a very engaging and fun story for children, young and old.

Rohan Murthy Has a Plan by Rajani Larocca

• Rohan Murthy wants to start a pet care company to raise money but his family thinks this is a bad choice because he dislikes animals!

Children's non-fiction:

Bite by Bite: American History Through Feasts, Foods, and Side Dishes by Marc Aronson and Paul Freedman

• Summer is all about eating and this book takes young readers on a culinary journey of the cultural, historical, and social influences on American eating habits. Beginning in 10,000 BCE, this title explores the Indigenous foods of the Americas and continues through colonial times, European immigration, civil rights, and today.

Teen fiction:

Even if it Breaks Your Heart by Erin Hahn

• A swooning enemies-to-dating romance with the two protagonists as alternating narrators. Well-written novel includes a deep look at class differences and how teens deal with grief.

Fiction:

Jackpot Summer by Elyssa Friedland

• Multigenerational Jewish American family story mourning the loss of the family matriarch a year earlier and coping with adult problems ranging from marital to financial and career crossroads. Three of the four adult siblings go in on Powerball tickets and win millions. How does this life-changing money change each of the three and what about the fourth sibling who’s left out in the cold? A Great book club choice with lots of laughs and discussable issues, not the least of which is just what would you do if you won the lottery?

You Are Here by David Nicholls

• Meet-cute with two appealing but lonely sad sacks who find each other on a hike across Britain. The book showcases this author's signature ability to understand middle-aged adults with pitch-perfect dialogue.

NONFICTION

The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan

• Exceptional writing captures the joy of the natural world, and includes her own lovely drawings of birds. Her tips include providing a lot of fresh water sources to attract a wide variety of birds

The Race to the Future: 8,000 Miles to Paris by Kassia St Clair

• Five teams attempted to drive across Asia and Europe in 1907, in early cars on mostly unpaved roads. This was a journalistic sensation of the era, with newspapers worldwide following their progress. St. Clair places the race in the context of the advent of the modern era, and how this event helped accelerate the shrinking of the world.

(Photo by Carol M. Highsmith, Library Of Congress. Via Wikimedia.)

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Navasha Daya is a Baltimore-based performing artist, songwriter and activist who has earned international acclaim. She has performed internationally, sharing stages with the likes of Erykah Badu, Joan Baez and Common.

She is also an activist and organizer. She cofounded the Healing & Performing Arts of the Youth Resiliency Institute, and she is also the co-director of the Cherry Hill Arts & Music Waterfront Festival in South Baltimore.

Navasha Daya is set to appear Sunday, May 19, at Baltimore’s Keystone Korner, celebrating the birthdays of Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington.

(Photo Courtesy of Daya World, LLC photographed by Jazzystudios)

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Democrats and Republicans in Maryland now know the nominees for their respective parties in some of November's important elections.

Votes cast in last night's primary election are being counted, but the results so far pointed to several clear cut victories. Mayor Brandon Scott trounced challenged Sheila Dixon in Baltimore city's mayor race, while Howard County Executive Angela Alsobrooks is set to face off against Republican former Gov. Larry Hogan for one of Maryland's U.S. Senate seats.

Our guests join Midday to analyze the results, and look ahead to the general election.

Mary Miller is a former business executive who ran for Baltimore mayor in 2020. She also served in the Obama Administration at the U.S. Treasury.

Dean Roger Hartley heads the College of Public Affairs at the University of Baltimore.

William J. Ford covers news and Maryland politics for Maryland Matters.

Jim Burton Republican strategist and founder of Burton Research and Strategies.

Email us at [email protected], tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

Voters across Maryland are heading to the polls today to pick their party's nominee in a slate of important local and statewide races.

WYPR Reporter John Lee shares updates on the opening of polling locations in Baltimore City this morning. Then, Brenda Wintrode, a reporter for WYPR news partner the Baltimore Banner, joins us to discuss the latest from voting locations in Annapolis.

We are also joined by Nykidra Robinson Black Girls Vote to discuss voting rights and the important concerns of Black women voters in this year's election.

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A section of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge was demolished Sunday, as engineers work to clear wreckage.

Engineers say they successful used controlled explosives to remove remnants of the bridge from the deck of the cargo ship Dali. Following the ship's collision with the bridge March 26, remnants of the roadway had been strewn across the vessel.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore joins Midday to discuss the progress on the reclamation and recovery of port access in the Patapsco River.

(Photo by Scott Maucione)

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Tom speaks with Darnyle Wharton, Co-Organizer of the Baltimore Peace Movement, about their annual Mother's Day Weekend anti-violence initiative.

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The big primary election of 2024 is tomorrow. Republicans and Democrats will cast ballots for President in their respective parties. Voters across the state will also weigh-in on races to choose nominees for the US Senate and the House of Representatives, and here in Baltimore, voters will decide nominees in two of the three city-wide offices: Mayor and President of the City Council, as well as city council seats throughout the city.

Midday gets a preview of primary day with Jared DeMarinis, Maryland's Administrator of Elections.

Email us at [email protected], tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

Midday Theater Critic J. Wynn Rousuck joins Tom for a weekly theater review. Today she discusses Miss Holmes, which envisions Miss Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Dorothy Watson as investigators working to close a mysterious case. 

The production continues until May 19 at the Fells Point Corner Theater.

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On this week's edition of the Midday News Wrap, Tom begins with a conversation on the most competitive City Council races with Baltimore Banner Reporter Hallie Miller.

We also get the latest on the City Council President candidates with WYPR Reporter Wambui Kamau and explore the pro-Palestinian protests on John Hopkins' campus with WYPR Reporter Bri Hatch.

Photo Credit: Emily Hofstaedter/WYPR

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The Downtown Partnership of Baltimore issued its State of Downtown report last month.

Baltimore's urban core is one of the few places in the city that experienced a population increase in recent years. With museums, sports venues, libraries, and restaurants, downtown remains a popular destination for many locals and visitors.

As a hybrid model of work persists, office space is in less demand. How will changes in work, tourism and nightlife change the landscape of downtown Baltimore?

Shelonda Stokes, President of the Downtown Partnership of Baltimore, joins Midday to discuss her organization's latest findings and downtown's change.

(Photo by Elijah David Jr.)

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Today we speak to one of America’s most acclaimed classical composers. Nico Muhly has worked big-time organizations like the Metropolitan Opera, Carnegie Hall, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Tomorrow night, some his music, juxtaposed with music that has been formative to Nico, will be performed at a local church that has one of the area’s finest music programs.

Email us at [email protected], tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.