Posted on Monday, March 21, 2022 by Julia Deters
Here are two crafts to bring some sunshine into your lives as we march into the spring season. Practice fine motor and sewing skills by creating a vibrant sun using yarn and a paper plate. Hatch a lively tie-dyed butterfly with coffee filters, washable markers and a splash of water!
Posted on Thursday, March 17, 2022 by Katie
Jumping from the lower shelves of picture books to the taller shelves of chapter books can be a big step, not only for the young reader making the journey, but their family as well. Often, parents and caregivers ask for book recommendations for children who are reading on their own but are not ready for longer chapter books. These kiddos are confidently reading books in the “Beginning to Read” section, such as Frog and Toad and are ready for a longer story. Luckily the library has a great stock of chapter books for young readers first exploring these longer titles. Continue reading “First Chapter Books”
Posted on Monday, March 14, 2022 by Laura
It’s March 14th, and today’s date happens to share some numbers with a very important mathematical constant: pi!
Pi expresses the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter. Simply put, the distance around a circle is just a little more than three times the distance across a circle (3.14, to be more exact). Pi is an irrational number, which means its decimals go on and on forever with absolutely no end in sight! Each year, students and fun-loving scientists celebrate March 14, or Pi Day, with all kinds of fun math activities. And what better day than today to indulge in a delicious slice of pie and calculate its area while you’re at it?
Posted on Thursday, March 10, 2022 by Adam
A few months ago, due to catching COVID-19, I lost my sense of smell for the first time in my life. It was quite a shock to wake up one morning and be unable to recognize strong scents like garlic, vinegar and bleach. Thankfully my sense of smell has returned, and I have been grateful to once again recognize the wonderful aromas of coffee, food, flowers and countless other things (even if it was kind of nice to avoid smelling some not-so-wonderful scents for several weeks). In honor of our miraculous noses, and the over one trillion odors that the human nose can detect, I have highlighted a handful of children’s books — fiction and nonfiction — that focus on all aspects of smell.
For a couple of primers on how our sense of smell works, “What is Smell?” by Molly Aloian, and “Smelling,” by Martha E.H. Rustad, are both great photo 
illustrated books that will give young readers a thorough rundown of the science behind scent.
For more on the science of smells, Kay Edward’s “Stinky Science” examines “why the smelliest smells smell so smelly” in a very funny way, with chapter titles like “How You Smelt What You Got Dealt” and “The Structure of Stinks.” And in “How to Make a Mystery Smell Balloon,” by Lori Shores, you’ll learn, through easy step-by-step instructions, how to create a fun science project that will have your friends crinkling their noses and asking, “What’s that smell?!” Continue reading “What’s That Smell?”
Posted on Monday, March 7, 2022 by Grae
Welcome to Youth Art Month! Every March in the U.S., countless educational institutions, museums, nonprofit organizations, state legislatures and libraries celebrate Youth Art Month, or the delightful acronym YAM. Founded in 1961 as Children’s Art Month by the Art & Creative Materials Institute (ACMI), YAM champions the visual arts and encourages the participation in and the development of arts education across the nation’s youth population from kindergarten to 12th grade. At the national level, YAM is run by the Council For Arts Education (CFAE), which coordinates a yearly theme and flag-design competition across all 50 states. Each state submits a student-designed flag interpreting the yearly theme, which is then showcased at the YAM Museum at the National Art Education Association Convention. The theme for 2021-2022 is “Art Connects Us,” and this year’s convention ran last week from March 3-5. Continue reading “Celebrating Youth Art Month with Ekphrasis”
Posted on Wednesday, March 2, 2022 by Brianna
I’m baaaack! I missed writing for you all! I’ve recently returned from maternity leave, so I’ve got so many fun books from January and February to share with you. I promise that next month we’ll be back to our regular brand new releases, but in the meantime please enjoy these titles from the beginning of the year. Read to the end for a picture of my sweet little bibliophile!
“Mina” by Matthew Forsythe
This cover might look familiar for those of you that enjoyed “Pokko and the Drum.” Forsythe is back with another beautifully illustrated forest tale, this time starring a mouse. Mina is a quiet mouse, content in her cozy house with her books, but her enthusiastic and optimistic father is always bringing home surprises. When he brings home an enormous “squirrel” that looks an awful lot like a cat, Mina starts to worry. This book is filled with delicious tension as the two mice try to live in their small home with their very large pet “squirrel,” all while Mina attempts to convince her father of the danger. The author said he got the idea for this story at the start of the pandemic, when he was thinking about who we allow into our bubbles. This could be a great conversation starter for little ones who can handle some suspense! Continue reading “Brianna’s Books: Early 2022 Favorites”
Posted on Thursday, February 24, 2022 by Katie
A wonderful way for a child to practice their reading skills is to read to the family pet. This is true if the pet is a cat, dog, turtle, fish, hamster, rock or another critter. It’s especially true when said pet will sit quietly for the story (and at least pretend to pay attention).
Often when we read to other people, there is pressure to not stumble over new words, to speak loudly and clearly and to read to the end of the book. When a child is reading to an adult, or even an older sibling, it can be hard for the audience to just listen and not interrupt with corrections. This can cause the reader to lose their place or feel embarrassed. If there are multiple corrections, the reader may become anxious about making more mistakes, and this anxiety can actually lead to more mistakes, causing the reader to lose confidence. Continue reading “Sharing Stories With Pets”
Posted on Monday, February 21, 2022 by Anna
Create your own kaleidoscope at home! This STEM activity fosters creativity and encourages kids to learn about and play with light, reflections and symmetry.
How does it work?
When you look into a puddle after it rains and see a cloud or you’re brushing your teeth and can see yourself in the mirror, you’re experiencing a reflection. A reflection is light bouncing off a surface.
If you stand right above the puddle, you’ll see yourself. But, if you stand a foot away, you might see a cloud or building or a friend. This is because of the Law of Reflection. Continue reading “DIY Kaleidoscope”
Posted on Friday, February 18, 2022 by Grae
Each February in the U.S. we celebrate Black History Month, honoring and reflecting on the powerful and resilient histories and cultural legacies of Black Americans and their diaspora. This month-long tradition began with the founding of the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History by Carter G. Woodson in 1915 and continues on due to the many scholars and activists who comprise the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, or ASALH for short. Each year since 1928, ASALH has curated a particular theme in order to highlight the variety of experiences that constitute and affect the lives of Black folks in the United States and in our larger global society. This year’s theme, Black Health and Wellness, “acknowledges the legacy of not only Black scholars and medical practitioners in Western medicine, but also other ways of knowing (e.g., birthworkers, doulas, midwives, naturopaths, herbalists, etc.) throughout the African Diaspora.”
While both ASALH and the library are hosting a variety of virtual events you can attend, it is equally as important to be reading, listening to and learning from and about Black authors, artists, historians, activists, scholars and creators every month, week and day of the year. Other staff members have curated excellent lists highlighting picture books on Black historical figures and events, as well as texts on antiracism and Black experiences for young adults, but I want to focus on the rich storytelling traditions and folklore of Black Americans and their diaspora. Consider adding such delights as “The Talking Eggs,” “Mirandy and Brother Wind,” “Beautiful Blackbird” and more to your story-time routine.
You can find the full list of titles here, but read on below for descriptions of some of my favorite tales!
Continue reading “Folklore and Fairy Tales From the Black Diaspora”
Posted on Wednesday, February 16, 2022 by Adam
On the third Monday of every February, our country officially celebrates the remarkable, complex, charismatic, fascinating and divisive men who have inhabited the White House from 1789 until the present day. From Washington to Biden, we have an array of books at the library covering not only the lives of these men, and their noteworthy wives, but also what holding the office of president entails. Here are some of the most fun, interesting and thought-provoking ones that kids and parents can read and discuss together this Presidents’ Day:
Highlighting ten of the most memorable presidents, “This Little President: A Presidential Primer,” is a board book primer full of age-appropriate facts, leadership skills and White House history. In the same vein, but for slightly older readers, the Caldecott-winning classic, “So You Want to Be President,” shows the foibles, quirks and humanity of the first forty-four presidents. Continue reading “Presidents’ Day”