At The Library: What Did Park Hill Read This Year?
From Dog Man To Prince Harry’s Spare: Top 10 Lists Of The Most Popular Books Of 2023
By Leslie Williams
Pauline Robinson Branch Librarian
As the year winds down, I wanted to share with you the top reads of the year between our two neighborhood libraries. Many thanks to our collection maintenance librarian and former Park Hill librarian, Monica, for pulling these lists together.
And now, the drumroll, please…
Here are the top 10 most popular books checked out at the Park Hill and Pauline Robinson branches in 2023 — either placed on hold or browsed in the library:
• Dog Man: Twenty Thousand Fleas Under The Sea by Dav Pilkey
• Cat Kid Comic Club: On Purpose by Dav Pilkey
• Big Nate: Nailed it! [Volume 28] by Lincoln Peirce
• Wings of Fire: The Graphic Novel. Book Six, Moon Rising by Tui Sutherland
• The Babysitters Club: Jessi’s Secret Language [A graphic novel] by Chan Chau
• The Bad Guys by Aaron Blabey
• The Babysitters Club: Good-bye Stacey, Good-bye by Gabriela Epstein
• Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr 
• Captain Underpants And The Sensational Saga Of Sir Stinks-A-Lot: The Twelfth Epic Novel by Dav Pilkey
• Dog Man Unleashed by Dav Pilkey
And here are the top 10 most popular books that customers placed on hold at Park Hill and Pauline Robinson branch libraries and checked out when they arrived for them:
• I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
• Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng 
• Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr
• I Have Some Questions For You by Rebecca Makkai
• The Holly: Five Bullets, One Gun, And The Struggle To Save An American Neighborhood by Julian Rubinstein
• Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel
• The Candy House by Jennifer Egan
• Dog Man: Twenty Thousand Fleas Under The Sea by Dav Pilkey
• The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave
• Spare by Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex
Have you or your family read any of these books? Visit our libraries for a copy now, and happy reading!
December Programs
Park Hill Branch
Baby Storytimes | Thursdays, 10:30-11 a.m.
Stories, songs, rhymes and fun for babies ages 0-18 months and their parents or caregivers.
Toddler Storytimes | Fridays, 10:15-10:45 a.m.
Stories, songs, rhymes and fun for toddlers ages 18-36 months and their parents or caregivers.
TAB | Tuesdays, Dec. 12 & Dec. 26, 4:30-5:30 p.m.
Anyone 6th-12th grade is welcome to join and help with library programming and resources geared towards teens.
Writing Circle | Thursdays, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Who are you writing for? Join our adult writing circle to hone your writing skills and share your work.
Taste of Culture: Power of Language | Saturday, Dec. 2, 4-5 p.m.
Join us for a community gathering where Chef Mohamad Alnouri will demonstrate how to prepare a traditional Syrian dish. Engage in conversation and learn how the power of language impacts daily interactions. Lunch catered by Jasmine Syrian Food will be provided.
No Strings Attached Book Chat | Saturday, Dec. 9, 11a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Read whatever you want and attend whenever you can. Share a recent read, an old favorite, or anything in between.
Gracie and Blue, Inc. Celebrate the Season Concert | Wednesday, Dec. 13, 4-5 p.m.
Don & Gracie Batt play a variety of music, including jazz standards from the Great American Songbook as well as blues and Latin favorites. Sing along with seasonal favorites to celebrate the holidays.
Connection of Loss: Part 3 of the Death Series | Saturday, Dec. 16, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Presented by LeAnn Hoye. LeeAnn is a nurse, physical therapist and a longtime meditator. As a mom who lost her daughter, she began understanding the intrinsic relationship of grief and living. She is the founder of Gracefully Beginning, and coaches parents and individuals through experiences of loss and into love.
Kids Book Celebration | Thursday, Dec. 21, 4-5 p.m.
We will explore a book or series every month and do activities and crafts related to what we read. Parents of young children need to attend with their child. This month: Come and play BINGO for BOOKS! Win books as you play BINGO, eat snacks and have fun. Everyone will go home with at least one book.
Closed for Christmas | Monday, Dec. 25 — All Day
All branches will be closed in observance of Christmas.
Kwanzaa: Ujaama Cooperative Economics | Friday, Dec. 29, 3-4 p.m.
Principle Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics) will be presented.
Pauline Robinson Branch
The Pauline Robinson branch at 33rd and Holly Street is offering limited services across the street at Hiawatha Davis Recreation Center while its facility is under renovation.
Library services at the recreation center (3334 Holly St.) are Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Chromebooks are available for patrons to work on, as well as printing and copying services. A cart of free books and DVDs are also available.
Digital navigator appointments are available on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Bookmobile is available on Wednesdays from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. The Community Resource Navigator is available on Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Greater Park Hill has two public libraries: The Park Hill branch library is at 4705 Montview Blvd. For hours of operation and additional upcoming programs, visit denverlibrary.org/events/upcoming, and select the facility you are planning to visit. The Pauline Robinson branch library is at 5575 E. 33rd Ave. It is currently closed for renovations. See listings above for current location and library services.