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!
Continue reading “Celebrate National Jello Day!”
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!
Eight years ago to this very month, Bookmobile, Jr. started traversing the streets of Mid-Missouri. You might be surprised to see how much this little guy scoots around town. Read on to find out where our wondering Bookmobile, Jr. tends to travel.
Child Care Centers
Did you know that Bookmobile, Jr. visits more than 25 child care centers every month in rural areas in Boone and Callaway Counties? He visits centers both big and small, bringing books right to the front door! Teachers and kids can check out books,
and DBRL staff entertain with fun story times. Over the eight years that Bookmobile, Jr. has been in service, we have done over 2,800 story times; that’s a LOT of stories!
Special Events
If there is anything Bookmobile, Jr. loves, it’s getting out into the community. On a typical day, Jr. will get back from a childcare center and then immediately head out to a community event that very same night! Over the years, we’ve been lucky enough to be invited to some incredible community events, including Family Fun Fest, Tons of Trucks, Ashland Fall Festival and so much more. Continue reading “Go, Bookmobile, Jr! Go!”
The great outdoors is officially open! Time to jump into all those warm weather activities you and your family have been dreaming of for the past several months, right? Then again, what if your child is dreading their first swim lesson or struggling to ride their bike? Do you really know the official rules for sports such as four square, soccer or softball?
Don’t panic. You simply need to brush up on some of your summertime fun skills. Fortunately, DBRL offers a wide variety of books to help your family make a real splash this summer!
For instance, when it comes to helping your child master that two-wheeler, look no further than “Everyone Can Learn to Ride a Bicycle” by Christopher Raschka. This story features a father teaching his daughter about bicycle riding, covering everything from selecting the right bike to never giving up.
Calm your little one’s swimming jitters by reading “Maisy Learns to Swim” by Lucy Cousins or “Froggy Learns to Swim” by Jonathan London. Refresh your own aquatic safety skills with the book, “Learn to Swim Step-by-step: Water Confidence and Safety Skills for Babies and Young Children.”
Want to avoid (at least a few) squabbles this summer? Review the rules of traditional playground games and activities. Check out “The Kingfisher Playtime Treasury: A collection of Playground Rhymes, Games and Action Songs” for singing and dancing games, as well as ball-bouncing rhymes. Learn everything you ever wanted to know about jumping rope by reading “Jump Rope” by Dana Meachen Rau. For the rules for more than 250 games and sports, pick up “Hopscotch, Hangman, Hot Potato and Ha, Ha, Ha” by Jack Maguire.
Finally, so you don’t drop the ball on team sports, pick up a few tips from books like these!
While summer is a time for swimming and playing outdoors, sometimes you just want to sit inside in the air conditioning! If you’re looking for a relaxing activity you can do inside with your kiddos, try weaving on an old CD. Once you get the hang of it, it’s a fun and relaxing way to spend some time. All you need is some yarn, a plastic darning needle and old or scratched CDs. Here’s the instructions — go forth and create! Continue reading “Weaving With CDs”
Need some travel tunes while you’re vacationing this summer? Or perhaps you want some kid-friendly commercial-free music to play for a celebration? Then check out Freegal, a free music service provided by DBRL. To get you started, Freegal has created two awesome playlists to go with our 2018 Summer Reading theme, “Libraries Rock.” Check out the playlist for kids or 
the playlist for pre-teens.
Freegal also has music for teens and adults, offering more than 9 million songs and music from over 28,000 labels. Download up to 5 songs a week and stream up to 5 hours of music a day with your library card.
Happy listening!
Kanopy has been a great resource for library patrons when it comes to educational media, including documentaries, international movies and critically acclaimed independent films. Recently, however, Kanopy has expanded towards our younger audiences, creating Kanopy Kids!
“You’ll find hundreds of educational and enriching videos that help children develop empathy, mindfulness, and self-esteem, with more titles added every month.”-Kanopy Website
Kanopy has partnered with Common Sense Media to ensure that all programming is accurately rated and categorized. This helps kids and their parents find shows and movies that are appropriate for their development level. Library patrons get six free downloads a month, so get watching!
Last week, the Columbia Public Library hosted a lively group of kiddos and parents for our Play Dough-Palooza program. But don’t worry if you missed out on the fun! Using the printable dinner plate template, you and your little one can make a delicious play dough dinner, snack, or brunch. (It’s never too early to learn about the finer things in life.) For extra sensory sensations, you can even make your own scented play dough. See the recipe below. While it may be appealing to the eyes and nostrils, I wouldn’t recommend eating your creations, since you might surpass your sodium intake for the year.
Continue reading “Play Dough-Palooza Recap”
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.
Continue reading “Summer Reading Rocks!”
