Every year, we ask NPR staff and contributors to tell us about their favorite books. From a list of 167 books so far this year, here are the 14 that the most people chose as their top pick.

From light romance and short fiction to thrillers, here's a list of books that are perfect companions as you retreat to the beach or pool to catch a break from the summer heat.

From Lahore's red-light district and the streets of Mexico to a fantastical underwater land of Korean fable, here are some picks that can immerse you in worlds wholly unlike your own.

The National Museum of the American Latino in Washington won't be finished for a decade. For now, a pop-up exhibit at the National Mall highlights Latino history. (Story aired on WeSAT on 6/18/22.)

The National Museum of the American Latino in Washington, D.C., won't be finished for another decade, but a pop-up exhibit from the museum has opened on the National Mall

One of the country's most celebrated photographers, Gordon Parks used his camera as a weapon against racial injustice. Howard University has recently acquired more than 250 of Parks' images.

Poets laureate and other literary luminaries from all 50 states plus D.C. and Puerto Rico recommend quintessential reads that illuminate where they live.

Neruda's Book of Questions is well known in Latin American literature. A new bilingual, illustrated selection of his poems gives English-speaking children an opportunity to interrogate the world.

Robert Morse, who starred in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying as a young actor and, decades later, returned to the corporate world with TV's Mad Men, has died at 90.

The National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C., commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Watergate break-in with an exhibition of 25 objects featuring prominent people involved in the scandal.

To kick off National Library week, the American Library Association listed its annual top 10 most challenged books. It said it faced an unprecedented number of attempts to ban to books this year.

The American Library Association says libraries faced the highest number of book challenges since they started tracking in 2000. Maia Kobabe's Gender Queer topped their list of most challenged books.

The government is struggling to bring all 3 million-plus students back to schools that were shuttered when the pandemic hit. Teachers are ready to resume classes. But obstacles loom.

After three decades of acting and three nominations, Smith finally won for his portrayal of Richard Williams, the father of tennis superstars Venus and Serena.

DeBose is the first openly queer woman of color to win an Oscar for her acting.

For the second time in history, Chile is a contender for a short film animation Oscar. This nomination is the latest milestone in what has been a gripping time for the country's animation industry.

LGBTQ people have always been under stress in Ukraine. As they flee their country, they're arriving in places that are even more punitive to their community.

Fashion brands are betting people will spend on virtual outfits in the immersive digital world known as the metaverse.

Valentine's Day reminds us we can relearn and redefine what it means to love and be loved. So, we offer some books, songs, and movies about passion, devotion, and relationships to take on the journey.