Good evening.

Welcome to another episode of Inside the Cover here on PBS Kansas.

It is always a pleasure to have this time with all of you informed viewers.

Thank you for having me in your home.

I hope you have had a fabulous week and that you are now amenable to some seriously good book talk.

That's why you're here, right?

It is now time to go inside the cover.

I recently had the opportunity to atten a sneak preview here at the PBS Kansas Studios on the latest Ken Burns documentar about the American Revolution.

It is wonderful, by the way.

As a part of that evening's program, I was made aware of the Kansas 250 bookshelf a suggested reading list, month by month of notabl books about Kansas and Kansans, as recommended and curate by the State Library of Kansas.

This is a part of an effor led by the Kansas 250 Commission to help honor and celebrate the 250th anniversar of the establishment of the USA.

As a footnote.

I want to point ou that the Kansas 250 Commission was established by House Bill 2712, which was passed by the legislature and signed by Governor Kelly in April of 2022.

One stated objective of the commission is to celebrate America turning 250 years old, by sharing the triumphs and difficulties Kansans faced when settling the heartland.

The Kansas 250 bookshelf is composed of books recommended for reading and learning more about those triumphs and difficulties.

You can find the complete list by going to the website shown on your screen.

I found the list to be varied, thoughtful and comprehensive, yet not overwhelming.

I was also pleased that each month's recommendations include a youth spotlight, suggesting books for youthful readers, perhaps the most important target for such reading, if we hope to have anothe 250 years of American history.

As you can se from the graphic on your screen, the suggested bookshelf is categorized on a monthl basis as shown on your screen.

Initially, I would ask yo if you agree with these themes.

Would you suggest others?

For example, ‘Famous Kansans?

‘Foolhardy Adventures or ‘Horrendous Decisions?

And of course, as you look at the list of recommended reads, would you add or subtract titles?

I am certain that we would.

However that being said and recognized, I want to give a sincere and hearty shout out to the State Library of Kansas and the Kansas 250 Commission for recognizing the importance of books and reading for an informed populace.

And since I'm handing out plaudits, I would like to acknowledge all those community libraries and librarians.

As you readers know, we are blessed with a fabulous publi library system here in Wichita.

Hello to my friends at the Rockwell Branch and the Angelou Branch.

As we continue on into 2026, I plan to return t the recommended reads for Kansas to discuss some of the book in more detail, including those previously reviewe right here on Inside the Cover, and perhaps we will have a discussion with someone from the State Library and or the Kansas 250 Commission.

That will be our small contributio to the celebration of America.

Back in 2022, I responded to an article by Ma McCoy in the Kansas Reflector, where in he set forth his ‘Te Books Every Kansan Should Read by providing him with my own list of books about Kansas, and or having a Kansas connection of sort.

Those books are shown on your screen.

I think this Bookshelf 250 is going to be fun.

I invite all of you readers to help celebrate reading Kansas and America's founding.

Good night and see you next time.