Book Lists for Kids

Posted on Thursday, August 31, 2017 by Kristy

photograph of teddy bear readingDid you know that we have book lists for children from infancy to sixth grade? Library staff maintains these lists, making sure there’s a good mix of classic and new titles. We also choose books that are age-appropriate and the right reading level for your young readers.

Click on the links below to peruse these hand-picked book lists. You can also stop by your library or bookmobile to pick up a printed version. Happy reading!

Get Ready for Snack Time

Posted on Thursday, August 24, 2017 by Mitch

Pinwheel snackIt’s back-to-school season, which means it’s important to be ready with some quick and healthy after school snacks for your kids. Here’s some suggestions (from one parent to another).

  • Cut apples, bananas, celery and/or carrots into spears or slices, and dip them into creamy peanut butter. Try mixing vanilla yogurt into the peanut butter to transform it into a soft dip!
  • Grab some of your favorite bite-sized foods like nuts, dried fruits, cereals, pretzels and crackers, then mix them into a homemade trail mix. Make some ahead of time, and portion them into individual plastic bags for several days of snacks.
  • Take a tortilla and layer cold cuts, cheeses, greens and vegetables. Roll it up tight and then cut into small circles to make chilled pinwheel sandwiches.
  • Slice bagels sideways into thin circles. Brush the tops with melted butter, and bake for 10 minutes at 325 degrees. Remove from oven, flip it and top with a little more butter. Add toppings like cinnamon, sugar or garlic and cheddar cheese. Place them back in for another 10 minutes. When you’re done, you’ve got a crunchy bagel chip.
  • Try freezing bananas or small drops of flavored yogurt on wax paper to for a frozen treat to cure the bus ride blues.

Happy snacking!

Back to School Books

Posted on Monday, August 14, 2017 by Erin

It’s back to school time! When I was younger, I always looked forward to new school supplies, picking out an outfit to wear on the first day and seeing which friends were in my classes. But even with all the excitement, I was also nervous about what the school year might bring.

For kindergartners and preschoolers, school can be a big adjustment. Reading books on the subject and talking about fears or concerns beforehand can help make the first day go more smoothly.

Kindergarten Rocks! book coverKatie Davis’s “Kindergarten Rocks!” shows that there’s nothing to fear when it comes to school. In this book, Dexter is going into kindergarten. While he is not afraid of school, his stuffed dog Rufus is scared that Dexter will miss his family or will get lost. Will Dexter like kindergarten? Will Rufus get over his nerves?Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes book cover

Pete the Cat is one of my favorite characters, and he definitely doesn’t disappoint in “Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes.” This catchy book has simple little song that you can sing along with your kindergartner to help them if they get nervous.

You’ll find these books and more on our book list, “Your First Day of School!

Becoming a Big Brother or Sister

Posted on Monday, July 24, 2017 by Amy

photograph of a child and a babyWe’re excited to share a new reading list we have put together, titled “Becoming a Big Brother or Sister.” This is a staff-picked list of children’s picture books about new siblings. With over 30 books on the list, you are sure to find some great reading options to share with your soon-to-be big brother or sister.

Stop by your library for a printed copy, use this PDF or view the list within our catalog.

Happy Reading!

Playaway Launchpads

Posted on Monday, June 26, 2017 by Amy

You can now check out tablets for children, called Launchpads, at our library branches and bookmobiles! These educational, pre-loaded tablets playfully cover topics such as reading, science, math and much more. Launchpads check out for one week, and they’re the perfect way to keep your kids entertained while traveling this summer.

Each tablet has 10 pre-loaded learning apps chosen around a theme and a range of ages. Choose from four different themes per age group. You may check out one Launchpad per library card.

Ages 3-5,  Pre-K to K

Continue reading “Playaway Launchpads”

Summer Reading Book Lists

Posted on Monday, June 5, 2017 by Kristy

Photo of girl readingThis summer, we challenge readers of all ages to “Build a Better World.” Our Summer Reading theme motivates us to build, tinker and engineer, and it encourages us to help both our community and our environment. To celebrate this theme, DBRL staff has carefully compiled book lists to inspire you and your family to construct better reading skills and demolish the summer brain drain!

Want even more book recommendations for your summer? Check out the Association for Library Service to Children’s book lists for more great reads.

New! Tumblebook Library Deluxe App

Posted on Monday, May 22, 2017 by Amy

TumbleBooks logo

Have you ever heard of a cool library resource called Tumble Books Library? This resource provides hundreds of TumbleBooks, which are animated, talking picture books that teach kids the joy of reading in a format they’ll love. TumbleBooks are created by taking existing picture books and adding animation, sound, music and narration to produce an electronic picture book that you can read (or have read to you). Tumble Book Library also includes National Geographic videos and games.

Now here is even better news!

A new Tumblebook Library Deluxe App has just been released. Hooray! Now you can take all of the goodness mentioned above with you on the go. The app is available for both Apple iOS and Android devices.

Check out this wonderful YouTube video that provides demos on how to get started.

If you have any questions, we will be happy to help you out with your device. Simply stop by your closest library branch for assistance.

Internet Safety

Posted on Monday, April 10, 2017 by Erin

"Chicken Clicking" book cover With technology constantly evolving, the juggling act of keeping up with the changes and helping your child navigate though them can be a challenge. To help you with this, the library has a whole page dedicated to internet safety. Each of these websites provide tips and resources to help manage your child’s online activity.

For younger kids, “Chicken Clicking” by Jeanne Willis is a great book to introduce the topic of internet safety. Considered the “Little Red Riding Hood for the iPad generation,” “Chicken Clicking” is about a chick that finds her way onto the farmer’s computer and discovers that the online world isn’t as safe as she thought it was. Read the book together, and then discuss with your child how handle an interaction if a stranger tries to communicate with them online.

Want to check out more items about internet safety? Click here for a list of books and DVDs that gives helpful tips and information!

Get Your Game On!

Posted on Thursday, February 23, 2017 by Corey

The Daniel Boone Regional Library has a wealth of resources available to the public. We have countless books, audiobooks, CDs and DVDs for patrons to check out and take home. We also have some wonderful Play as Learning and Little Red Reading Bags that offer puppets, toys, books, DVDs and CDs for children birth through age 5.

One of our lesser-known resources for children are our Learning Props Game Kits. These kits are small, portable bags that double as a game board. Each kit comes with 1 board/bag, 4 game playing pieces, 1 die and a book about the theme. Each bag has a different color and a different theme.

Here’s a full list of our Learning Props Game Kits, including the bag color and description. Continue reading “Get Your Game On!”

Books We Love: This Is My Book

Posted on Monday, February 20, 2017 by Kristy

"This Is My Book!" book coverWhat happens when you ask a mischievous panda to help explain the rules of your book? Total, adorable mayhem! In “This Is My Book!” by Mark Pett, a gangly chap (who represents Pett himself) talks to the reader, explaining that he’s the author and illustrator of the book. He sets up some guidelines, instructing the reader that “My book needs to stay nice and clean. Look around at all these spotless white pages. Aren’t they lovely? Let’s keep them that way.” Unfortunately for him, things don’t go as planned. Not only does Spike the panda stealthily color on our protagonist’s pristine pages, he also draws some new characters who cause even more trouble. They add flaps, pull-tabs and even a pop-up to the book, nearly driving the poor author into hysterics.

This book is great fun, and I can’t wait to pull it out for a silly story time. “This is My Book!” would be ideal for preschoolers and kindergartners, and it’s perfect for kids who love interactive books like “Tap the Magic Tree” by Christie Matheson, “Count the Monkeys” by Mac Barnett and “Press Here” by Hervé Tullet.