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!”
What 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.
Young children often struggle to be understood, especially in stressful situations. When this happens, frustration can quickly escalate to a full-blown tantrum.
As adults, we recognize the fact that developing the skill sets necessary to avoid going from zero to meltdown takes time and a lot of practice. One way today’s parents, guardians and educators are helping children cope with stress is by teaching children to meditate. However, equally important is the practice of mindfulness.
Psychology Today describes mindfulness as “a state of active, open attention on the present. … Instead of letting your life pass you by, mindfulness means living in the moment and awakening to experience.” Continue reading “Meditation and Mindfulness for Children”
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Did you know that Canada, Mexico, France, Australia and the United Kingdom also celebrate Valentine’s Day? According to the History Channel, the United Kingdom is where the oldest known valentine still exists. It was a poem written in 1415 by Charles, Duke of Orleans, to his wife.
It wasn’t until later that greeting cards became popular. In America during the 1840s, the “mother of the valentine,” Esther A. Howland, began selling the first mass-produced valentines. Now over one billion cards are sent each year for Valentine’s Day!
I love being able to tell friends and family they are special to me, and nothing makes me happier than giving cards that perfectly express how I feel. However, there are more ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day than just sending cards. You can also celebrate by reading books about love and kindness. Continue reading “Will You Be Mine, Valentine?”
On Friday, January 20 we hosted our grossest program EVER at the Columbia Public Library. I’m not sure if there is a scale to measure such things, but believe me, it was nasty! We had everything from boogers to roaches.
Just because we love the sickening and adore the nauseating doesn’t mean we don’t have a refined palate. We had our special guests, the world-famous hissing cockroach duo Leonardo da Stinki and Georgia Roach’Keefe, on hand to make one-of-a-kind art.
But don’t feel bad if you missed it–you can still do some of our stomach-churning experiments at home! Check out “Repulsive Recipes to Try at Home” for some of our favorite gross activities.
The children across Missouri have spoken, and the winner of the 2016 Missouri Building Block Award goes to “Bunnies!!!” written and illustrated by Kevan Atteberry.
Over 18,000 preschoolers and kindergartners participated, choosing “Bunnies!!!” as their favorite. It’s been a heated battle to the end. In fact, we believe this may have been one of the tightest races in Missouri Building Block Award history! At the final hour, “Bunnies!!!” snuck past “Little Penguin Gets the Hiccups” by Tadgh Bentley and “Rex Wrecks It!” by Ben Clanton. Continue reading “Winner of the 2016 Missouri Building Block Award – Bunnies!!!”
The holidays are over, and your children are back at school. Everything should be perfect…until a snowstorm hits, and you are blanketed in the fluffy white stuff. Snow days are great (I love making snow men, having snowball fights and drinking hot chocolate!), but after days of being cooped up, the fun can wear off. As the weather outside turns for the worse, so can your moods. Here are some surefire ways for you and your children to beat cabin fever this winter.
Read stories together.
One thing you can do on a cold day is stay in with your children and read stories. The story “38 Ways to Entertain Your Grandparents” is a fun family read and shows many other activities you can do together.
Continue reading “Beat Cabin Fever!”
Each year the American Library Association honors books, videos and other outstanding materials for children and teens. Selected by committees composed of librarians and other literature and media experts, the awards encourage original and creative work in the field of children’s and young adult literature and media. The following titles and contributors are some of the 2017 YMA winners.
Newbery Winner
“The Girl Who Drank the Moon,” written by Kelly Barnhill Continue reading “2017 Youth Media Award Winners”
2017 looks like it’s going to be a great year for children’s literature. There are tons of new children’s books coming out, but the three I’m most looking forward to are “Nancy Clancy: Late-Breaking News!” “We’re All Wonders” and “The Lengend of Rock Paper Scissors.”
“Nancy Clancy: Late-Breaking News!” 
Jane O’Connor – Release: 02/28/2017
If you a fan of the “Fancy Nancy” picture books, you’ll love the “Nancy Clancy” chapter books feature a slightly older Nancy. “Late-Breaking News” is the finale to the series and finds Nancy trying to be the star reporter of the Third Grade Gazette. There will be plenty of mystery, mischief and fun to be had! Continue reading “New Year, New Books!”
As 2016 comes to an end, the children’s staff at DBRL have been reminiscing about the fabulous new books that arrived on our shelves this year. While it’s hard to pick a favorite, there were some books that stood apart from the rest. Here are our top 11 favorite picture books and chapter books published in 2016.
“We Found A Hat” by Jon Klassen
Klassen has a knack for creating an engaging story on a simple premise. The sneaky turtles are fun to watch as they try to decide who gets to wear the hat they found. It’s just a really funny book, and it is beautiful to look at. ~Josh
Jon Klassen’s illustrations are as charming as ever, and I loved the story’s conflict-free, dreamy ending. ~Otter
Continue reading “Best Children’s Books of 2016”
