What has two thumbs and loves this book? ME! From the moment I flipped through “Handprint Animals” by Henu Mehtani and saw that I could turn my handprint into a walrus or a sheep, I was hooked! If you have a handprint, paper, paint and googly eyes, then you have all the makings for some fine art. Sadly, this book doesn’t include instructions on how to paint a unicorn. However, it does have instructions for a narwhal, which, as we all know, are the unicorns of the sea. Check out this book to see how you can make your own handy-works of art!
Today is National Eat Your Jello Day! Yep. It’s a thing! Eating jello is of course incredibly enjoyable, but did you know there are all kinds of other fun things to do with jello? One of my favorite things about jello is the way it feels, which makes it great for sensory activities. If you want a fun and easy experience for little one, try making a jello sensory bin.
Make some batches of jello, following the instructions on the box. If you use different colors and flavors, it will add to the fun.
Put all your jello in a bin. A clean dish tub works great for this.
Throw in some partially frozen fruit. This will create various textures and temperatures for your child, as well as providing a tasty addition to the snack.
Set your kiddo up next to the bin, and watch the sensory fun happen!
One of the hardest things to do after reading a great book is finding what to read next. I want a book that I know will be worth my time. When working with youth, finding the right book can help foster their love for reading. That’s where book lists come in!
DBRL Kids & Parents has many book lists, including our own Summer Reading book lists. But if you have already exhausted those, check out The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) books lists below. ALSC is a branch of the American Library Association that is dedicated solely to children, and their book lists are always superb.
I’ve adapted the book lists to display each book’s location at DBRL. Happy reading!
Summer is but a breath away. Your children know it, and somewhere deep down (even through all the denial) you do too. How do you prepare your kiddos for the long summer days? You can start a list of amazing brand new books to read with them! Here’s just a few new books coming to the library soon.
“Nothing Stopped Sophie” by Cheryl Bardoe and Barbara McClintock
Nothing stopped Sophie Germain. Not her parents who tried to get her to sleep. Not her professors who couldn’t imagine that a girl could calculate like the boys could. Not even an unsolvable math problem could stop Sophie. This children’s biography is perfect for keeping your kiddos motivated to learn through the summer.
“My Feelings and Me” by Holde Kreul Sometimes emotions flair up as hot as the summer sun. Sometimes they’re as chill as winter. “My Feelings and Me” is a fantastic discussion starter about feelings, without the labels of “good” or “bad.” With beautiful art, this book could help navigate some of those long hot days in your home.
“Llama Llama Loves to Read” by Anna Dewdney and Reed Duncan
A whole new world opens up for Llama Llama as he learns the alphabet. And he can’t wait to show his Mama Llama I’ll bet!
Click here to see an entire list of new children’s books coming soon. Put them on hold to make sure you don’t miss them once they hit our shelves. And don’t forget to check in with us as Summer Reading starts May 30th!
What’s the best part about summer? More time to read! For school-age children in particular, these lazy, hazy days are ideal for diving into books that they may not get a chance to read during the school year. Summer is also a great time to explore award-winning books. Be sure to check out DBRL’s many children’s book lists for inspiration. Equally important, summer reading helps keep reading skills sharp!
Of course, for parents and guardians, the beautiful weather and plethora of outdoor activities can make reading a hard sell this time of year. But don’t dismay! We’re here to help.
First and foremost, beginning May 30, visit one of our DBRL branches or stop by a bookmobile, and sign up for our free “Libraries Rock!” Summer Reading program! Kids and teens who complete their reading challenge receive a free book and will also be entered into our drawing for some awesome prizes.
Live in a rural area? Children and teens in grades K-12 who attend school in Auxvase, Hallsville, Harrisburg, Hatton, Holts Summit, Kingdom City, Mokane New Bloomfield, Sturgeon or Williamsburg can participate in Summer Reading through our “Books by Snail” program.
In the life of parenthood and guardianship of young children, there may be no sweeter word on Earth than “bedtime.” According to the Better Sleep Council, May is “Better Sleep Month.” Getting good sleep can be easier said than done. However, winding your kids down with good books can be the secret to better sleep for all. Here are a few of my favorite bedtime books for little ones.
“Goodnight Moon” by Margret Wise Brown is a time-tested favorite. The sweet rhymes and soft pictures will lull your little ones into sweet sleep while you get a piece of nostalgia.
Nancy Tillman’s “On the Night You Were Born” is gentle, beautiful and a great opportunity for parent/child bonding. If you’re looking to speak a little love into your child, this is your pick! Continue reading “Better Sleep for All!”
It’s one thing to know that Daniel Boone Regional Library offers fantastic events and services. It’s another thing to know what makes them so special. Let me share a story with you.
5-month-old Rebekah, Nathana and Mitch Clay
My wife and I had just moved to Columbia, MO with our 5-month-old daughter. We had loved the libraries where we moved from and knew that we needed to check out DBRL whenever we had the chance. Our daughter had an attachment to books as soon as she made acquaintance with the world.
A random evening opened up for us, so we brought the whole family to a baby story time. That night, Paula (that evening’s story time leader) focused a theme around “noisy sounds.” We had a blast listening to the books and singing library classics such as “Zoom, Zoom, Zoom” and “Webster Waddles.” But then Paula got out some toys and everything changed. Continue reading “Why We Bring Our Children to Story Time”
It’s soooo much fun to say! But what is an onomatopoeia? Well, here’s a poem with a couple of great examples:
A Dog Saw a Cat on a Lonely Roof
A dog saw a cat on a lonely roof. He greeted her with a friendly ‘woof.’ The cat looked at him with a hopeful ‘meow.‘ “I’d like to come down but I don’t know how.”
Merriam-Webster defines onomatopoeia as “the naming of a thing or action by a vocal imitation of the sound associated with it (such as buzz, hiss).” In the poem above, “woof” and “meow” are onomatopoeias.
Books that feature onomatopoeias are not only fun to listen to but are also fun to read. Consider the classic “Mr Brown Can Moo! Can You?” by Dr. Seuss. Whether reader or listener, it’s hard not to laugh when Mr. Brown sounds off with everything from “moo moo” and “boom boom” to “sizzle sizzle” and “blurp blurp!”
At DBRL, we have a wide variety of books that feature onomatopoeias. Here are a few (from a very long list!) you can enjoy with your children.
What would happen if you mixed a board book with a lots of bumps and glitter? It would become a really feely book! You may have read books such as “That’s Not My Teddy” by Fiona Watt and “Kitten” by DK where readers can feel one texture on each page. DK publishers took it to the next step with the new Really Feely series. Try out “Really Feely: Baby Animals” or “Really Feely: Farm” by Polly Appleton for multiple sensory experiences on every page.
Pages from “Really Feely: Baby Animals”
These books have a combination of bumps, textures, fluffy patches and glitter, and they can be great for children with sensory concerns. The reader is encouraged to explore the textures by the text. Check out more textured books at a library nearest you!
Bubbles are great fun for kids and adults alike! The following rainbow foam bubble recipe is magical, and mixing the colors can be a learning experience for your kiddos. This foam is a quick to make and easy to clean. You do use soap to make the bubbles, so little ones who tend to put stuff in their mouths should have close supervision.
What you need:
2 tablespoons of dish soap (Liquid bubble bath will also work.)
1/4 cup of water (If you have hard water you might want to use bottled water instead.)
Food coloring or liquid watercolors*
Large bowl
Hand mixer
What you do:
Combine the dish soap, water and color in a bowl and mix on the highest possible setting for a minute or two to make foam, which will form stiff peaks when ready. You can make several batches, adding a new color to each. Pour the foam out into a bathtub, sink or large container. Kiddos will love exploring the colors and texture of the foamy bubbles. For extra fun, add some waterproof toys to the foam.
* Food coloring can stain clothing and potentially hands, feet, hair, etc. You might want to explore liquid watercolors — they don’t stain, their colors are vibrant, they mix well and they are inexpensive.
Today is National Eat Your Jello Day! Yep. It’s a thing! Eating jello is of course incredibly enjoyable, but did you know there are all kinds of other fun things to do with jello? One of my favorite things about jello is the way it feels, which makes it great for sensory activities. If you want a fun and easy experience for little one, try making a jello sensory bin.
Bubbles are great fun for kids and adults alike! The following rainbow foam bubble recipe is magical, and mixing the colors can be a learning experience for your kiddos. This foam is a quick to make and easy to clean. You do use soap to make the bubbles, so little ones who tend to put stuff in their mouths should have close supervision.