The school year approaches! As the kiddos prepare to head back to their classrooms, equip them by sharing some books about kindness, courage and friendship. I’ve got some great new options for you below!
Picture Books
“We Are Definitely Human” written and illustrated by X. Fang
Mr. Li is awakened just after midnight when a UFO crash lands in his backyard. When he and his dog go out to investigate, they’re greeted by three oddly shaped blue aliens who reassure him they’re “DEFINITELY human.” They claim to be from Europe, where they “make business” and “play sportsball” just like other humans, and they’re simply having a bit of car trouble. Since the hardware store isn’t open yet, Mr. Li invites them into his home for the night, until he can help them fix their “car.” What follows is a hilarious and heartwarming look at what happens when humans are kind and accepting. Continue reading “Brianna’s Books: August Favorites 2024”
Did you know paper mache originated in ancient China? Artisans from the Han Dynasty coated wood pulp and glue with many layers of lacquer to construct warrior helmets, as well as pieces like ceremonial masks and lids for pots. Cultures around the world have created or adapted their own forms of papier-mâché (French for “chewed paper”). In Mexico, paper mache is called cartonería, meaning “cardboard,” and is a very important element in festivals, parades and parties (think: Día de los Muertos skeletons). While the craft in this blog uses a straightforward paste (glue and water) to mold paper strips into a nest, people throughout history have used materials like mashed potatoes, rice flour and gelatin as binding agents to create practical and decorative objects. (I’d much rather eat mashed potatoes, but it does sound like fun.🤪) Read on if you wish to make your own paper mache masterpiece!
Continue reading “Paper Mache Bird Nest”
With July being considered the hottest month of the year and especially with the way the season has been so far, finding ways to beat the heat is necessary to get through the dog days of summer. A trip to a local ice cream shop is a fun family activity out in the community that will keep you cool with the rising temperatures. Take a look at this ranking of Columbia ice cream shops to find a parlor that suits your family’s idea of fun!
If you’d prefer a DIY method instead of traveling to the ice cream shop, making your own ice cream is a fun way to experiment with different techniques and flavors. No ice cream machine required!
I was interested in trying something new with my family this summer. So, with a little research, I stumbled upon a simple way to create ice cream using only two ingredients. This particular recipe calls for condensed milk and heavy cream. I learned that in regular ice cream preparation, there is a balance that needs to be met between the ingredients in order for the ice cream to be made successfully. In the two-ingredient method, steps can be skipped due to the sweetness of the condensed milk and the process of whisking the heavy cream. This ‘experiment’ was a fun and yummy project for my family! My 6-year-old loved watching the heavy cream ‘fluff’ and he enjoyed mixing the ingredients. If you are looking for something fun to do with your family — I recommend giving this a try!
Ice Cream with Two Ingredients…Actually Three?
Continue reading “Two Ingredient Ice Cream”
I hope you’ve been enjoying your summer! If you need a few more books to round out your Summer Reading, I’ve got some great options for you this month.
Picture Books
“Dare to Be Daring” written by Chelsea Lin Wallace and illustrated by Lian Cho
I’ve seen plenty of picture books filled with affirmations about being brave, but this book exemplifies showing instead of telling. On each new page turn, a child faces a common fear with the phrase, “Today, I will dare to be daring.” Whether it’s joining in a dodgeball game, going to the dentist, trying an unfamiliar food or singing onstage, the kids all step out and overcome instead of being overwhelmed. The illustrations are expressive and show the progression from anxiety to joy. With easy rhymes and upbeat rhythm, this will make an excellent read-aloud to encourage kids to be brave in the face of anxiety. Continue reading “Brianna’s Books: July Favorites 2024”
June is Pride Month, which is celebrated by honoring the LGBT+ community and their experiences. If you’re unfamiliar with the acronym, LGBT+ stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and everyone else in the queer community (the “+”!). Anyone can be a member of the LGBT+ community, regardless of their background, ethnicity, religion or age. The reason these identities are grouped together in the LGBT+ acronym is that many of these people share similar experiences — in many places, it is dangerous to be openly gay or trans because of the backlash that one can receive. This is why the concept of Pride is so crucial to queer culture; the right to be openly proud of yourself, to openly be yourself, is not guaranteed to every person. Through sharing stories about the joy and challenges of the queer experience, authors seek to encourage seeing queer people as people first and foremost. There are about as many different kinds of people in this world as there are people in it. As parents and caregivers, familiarizing kiddos with experiences different from their own allows for a greater sense of empathy to develop. Continue reading “Prideful Picture Books”
As you can imagine, the library goes through a great number of crayons. Recently we gathered all the broken ones and brainstormed our options. One brave soul (myself) volunteered to use silicone molds to melt them into “new” crayons to be used again.
Read on to vicariously refresh these crayons with me!
Continue reading “Upcycling Crayons!”
It’s summer (almost)! If you’re wanting to stay inside and read lots of books to avoid the heat and cicadas, I’ve got you covered. I’d rather be covered in piles of books to be read than covered in cicadas.
Picture Books
“Not-a-Box City” by Antoinette Portis
This is a sequel of sorts to Portis’ “Not a Box,” but you can absolutely read this one first. The protagonist bunny is excited to build a city out of a plethora of cardboard boxes. When other animals offer to help, the bunny reluctantly agrees while emphasizing, “But this is my city.” When some helpers don’t consult the bunny first, it leads to hurt feelings that are soon repaired. Bunny even learns to appreciate sharing their joint creation. Though it’s not explicitly stated, this would be an excellent book to start conversations with big siblings who are learning how to let others be involved. The simple illustrations and text are charming, and could easily inspire more cardboard box play! Continue reading “Brianna’s Books: June Favorites 2024”
Deep in the back offices at DBRL, we’re working on something extra special. There’s always something exciting going on back here, but this project is near and dear to my heart: Books by Snail! I grew up in the rural community of Hallsville, Missouri, so I know firsthand just how important it is to have access to books even if you don’t live near a library. During the school year, school libraries can be a lifeline, but what happens when summer rolls around? That’s where Books by Snail comes in! And best of all? It’s FREE!
Continue reading “Books by Snail 2024”
By this point in the year, I’m sure you’ve seen a bee or two buzzing along from one flower to the next, gathering their food of nectar and pollen to take back to their beehive. Fun Bee Fact: There are over 450 species of bees in Missouri. Worldwide, there are 20,000! That’s a lot of bees!
Out of 450 bees local to Missouri, can you guess which bee is not native?
If your guess is the honeybee, you would be correct! Honeybees were brought to the United States during the 1600s from Europe and are now commonly found in Missouri.
Other bees local to Missouri include Bumblebees, carpenter bees, and leafcutter bees. Each species of bee has a different role, but they all play a big role in our environment. Take a look at this guide by the Dept of Conservation and the St Louis Zoo to learn about the variety of bees we have.
So what is it with all this bee buzzzzzz today? Continue reading “Have You Heard the Buzz? It’s World Bee Day!”
As the school year winds down, the air is full of possibility. May brings bittersweet endings and exciting new beginnings. And if you have a graduate in your life, whether kindergarten, college or anywhere in between, a few things are certain:
- The graduation cap will most definitely fall off their head. (Does anyone actually know the proper way to
wear one? Asking for a friend.)
- “Pomp and Circumstance” will be stuck in your head for the next week.
- The graduate will receive a copy (or two or three) of Dr. Seuss’ “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!”
Since its publication in 1990, Oh, the Places You’ll Go! has remained one of the most popular graduation gifts, evidenced by the fact that it shoots to the top of the children’s bestseller list each spring. As this clever Washington Post article observes, it’s the perfect (if cliché) choice for all ages: kids can’t resist Dr. Seuss’ whimsical rhymes, while older graduates appreciate the encouraging message and the nod to their own childhood nostalgia. It’s no wonder that nearly three generations have unwrapped a copy for each of their major life milestones.
As I approach my own master’s degree commencement, I’ve been reflecting on what these educational milestones have meant to me over the years. For me, these are times not just to revel in my own accomplishments but to remember all the love and encouragement that brought me here. I remember my parents staying up late with me as I struggled through school projects, first by my side at the dinner table and now from miles away over the phone. I remember my grandparents, aunts, uncles and other family members who met me at the finish line with parties, flowers and cards. And I remember classmates, friends and now my husband who have commiserated with me through it all. Continue reading “Picture Books for Graduation and Other Milestones”
