Posts by Caroline, Children's Librarian

STEAM Picture Books: Technology

STEAM Picture Books: Technology

In this new monthly STEAM series, I will highlight some wonderful picture books that fall under a STEAM category: Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics. This edition for the month of December celebrates the Hour of Code program. In this post you’ll find technology books, including biographies of notable figures in the tech field, books about coding, video games and robotics. These picture books can be found in our print collection at The Trove and on OverDrive. Please be sure to check out our coding programs for December. At the end of the post, you'll also find some fun and
Read More

December 3, 2020 10:30 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: picture books, staff picks, staff recommendations, STEAM, STEAM books, STEAM learning, and STEM.

STEAM Picture Books: Science

STEAM Picture Books: Science

In this new monthly STEAM series, I will highlight some wonderful picture books that fall under one area of STEAM [STEAM = Science Technology Engineering Art Mathematics]. For the month of November we are starting with science. These books include diverse biographies, books about the solar system, chemistry, physics, environmental science (my personal favorite!), and even a scientific parody on Goodnight Moon. These picture books can be found in our print collection at The Trove and on OverDrive. At the end of the post, you'll also find some fun and educational STEAM websites for kids. What Miss Mitchell Saw by
Read More

November 30, 2020 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: picture books, staff picks, staff recommendations, STEAM, STEAM books, and STEM.

STEAM at Home: Exploring Leaves

STEAM at Home: Exploring Leaves

Fall foliage is breathtaking, and provides the perfect opportunity to learn about leaves. Leaves are especially interesting to observe in autumn. Ever wonder how liquids travel through leaves? To find the answer, I worked on an easy STEAM experiment that is perfect for all who love nature and learning about leaves. Materials: Leaves Scissors Clear cups or glasses Water Red food coloring Paper and pencil, or another way to record observations Magnifying glass (optional) First, you can make a K-W-L chart, a type of worksheet that helps your child identify what they already know, what they would like to know, and
Read More

October 21, 2020 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: fall activities, STEAM, STEAM activities, STEAM at home, STEAM learning, and STEM.

Halloween STEAM Project: Zombie Dance!

Halloween STEAM Project: Zombie Dance!

Join us on Zoom for Zombie fun! On October 27th, we will be conducting a fun STEAM activity that raises a zombie using pure magic! It’s really a scientific method that uses static electricity but you can amaze your friends and family with this trick. First, we will read Fright Club by Ethan Long, and then we will work together to try to raise our zombies. If interested, please register for the event because supplies are limited to twenty activity kits. The activity kit includes a balloon, tissue paper, a marker, and a cut out zombie (to trace on the
Read More

October 8, 2020 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: children's events, halloween, halloween crafts, Observances and Celebrations, STEAM activities, STEAM learning, STEAM program, STEM, The Trove, and Trove event.

STEAM at Home: Puking Pumpkins!

STEAM at Home: Puking Pumpkins!

Halloween is a time to celebrate creepy crawlies, eat your favorite candies, dance like zany zombies and carve plump pumpkins! Halloween is also the perfect time to show off your creativity! Why not wear black nail polish to bring out the goth in you? Use purple Manic Panic to dye your hair! Wear your ghost or goblin costume and feel free to be a bit ghoulish! Have you ever been to Sleepy Hollow? If not, I highly encourage you to visit Sleepy Hollow with your family this year; it’s a great Halloween destination. You could take pictures of the Old
Read More

October 7, 2020 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: halloween, halloween crafts, Observances and Celebrations, October, Spooktober, STEAM, STEAM activities, STEAM at home, STEAM learning, and STEM.

Halloween Reads

Halloween Reads

Are you looking forward to Halloween as much as I am? This year we might be limited in our normal Halloween activities due to COVID, but there are still some fun things to do. You can dress up and take photos with your family! In the past two years, I have had fun dressing up as Wednesday Addams and Punk Eleven from Stranger Things Season 2, Chapter 7: “The Lost Sister.” You can also treat yourself to a movie marathon. Some of my favorites include Beetlejuice, Practical Magic, Shaun of the Dead, The Nightmare Before Christmas, and It’s the Great
Read More

October 7, 2020 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Homepage Teens, Kids, Library News, and Teens.
Tags: book recommendations, eBooks, fun, graphic novels, halloween, Halloween Books, juvenile fiction, Observances and Celebrations, October, picture books, Spooktober, staff picks, staff recommendations, and YA Fiction.

STEAM at Home: How Strong is Spaghetti?

STEAM at Home: How Strong is Spaghetti?

How strong is spaghetti? In this STEAM project, we’ll use a foam block as a base for long strands of dry spaghetti. Then, we’ll balance various objects on top of the spaghetti to see how much weight it can support. This is a great opportunity to test out different variables and see what happens! For this project, you only need spaghetti and a piece of foam. I didn’t have styrofoam, so I used a yoga block instead. You can begin by taking a piece of spaghetti and pushing one end into the foam block, letting it stand alone. Have your
Read More

September 23, 2020 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, Library News, and Uncategorized.
Tags: STEAM, STEAM activities, STEAM at home, and STEM.

Talk Like a Pirate Day: Swashbuckling Reads

Talk Like a Pirate Day: Swashbuckling Reads

Ahoy, me hearties! Avast! Get yar stern to a comfy couch or deserted isle, prop up yer peg leg and get to reading some of these thar piratical reads!  Before I make ye walk the plank! Saturday, September 19th is International Talk like a Pirate Day. When you're finished reading, try one of these Seafaring Activities or else you'll have to swab the deck ye scurvy dog! Picture Books The Pirate Princess by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen Some princesses may like tea and fancy parties, but Princess Bea would prefer sailing upon the briney deep in this tale of girl power on the
Read More

September 17, 2020 12:10 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Homepage Teens, Kids, Library News, and Teens.
Tags: book recommendations, eBooks, fun, Observances and Celebrations, staff recommendations, and Talk Like a Pirate Day.

Talk Like a Pirate Day: Seafaring Activities

Talk Like a Pirate Day: Seafaring Activities

Ahoy, me hearties! Blimey! Saturday, September 19th is International Talk like a Pirate Day! Although pirates were once considered to be dangerous, today they are often parodied in books and films (just think of the Pirates of the Caribbean films). Did you know that many of the words we use today, such as chopsticks, posse, and barbecue were introduced by a pirate named William Damper? In addition to being a pirate, Damper was also an amateur historian and the first person to circumnavigate the world three times. When ye need a bit of a respite from these adventurous activities, take yar
Read More

September 17, 2020 11:51 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Featured, Homepage Kids, Homepage Teens, Kids, Library News, and Teens.
Tags: activities, arts & crafts, crafts, eBooks, fun, Observances and Celebrations, staff recommendations, STEAM activities, and Talk Like a Pirate Day.

STEAM at Home: Nature Bracelets

STEAM at Home: Nature Bracelets

Autumn is a time when we shift our eyes from the summer sun to watch the leaves change color. There are so many fun outdoor activities that kids can do safely. For example, children love jumping on a bed of leaves and hearing them crunch beneath their feet. One fun activity that you can do with your family is take a nature walk and create an autumn nature bracelet. You will need duct tape, scissors, possibly a ruler, and found objects from your nature walk. Please follow the CDC guidelines for walking in the park. Also, Liz Lee Heinecke advises
Read More

September 9, 2020 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: STEAM, STEAM activities, STEAM at home, STEAM learning, and STEM.

STEAM at Home: Bubbles

STEAM at Home: Bubbles

Kids are fascinated by bubbles because blowing bubbles is a fun activity, especially in the summer. You can blow bubbles in a bathtub, outdoors, or when you are doing the dishes. Even adults love popping bubbles! One fun STEAM activity to do this summer is creating bubbles, and experimenting with different sizes, shapes, and number of bubbles. Materials: Four cups of warm water Half a cup of dish soap Half a cup of sugar Bowl Spoon For this project, we’ll follow the instructions from this video. First, pour half a cup of sugar into the bowl. Next, carefully mix in
Read More

August 26, 2020 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: STEAM, STEAM activities, STEAM at home, and STEM.

STEAM at Home: Make Your Own Ice Cream

STEAM at Home: Make Your Own Ice Cream

There is nothing more satisfying than having a cool snack in the summer, especially when it is really hot. For example, you can mix granola in yogurt along with some fruit for a refreshing, healthy snack. You can also cut cubes of melon and place them in ice trays in the fridge; for a variation on melon pops you can try this Korean recipe. If you are craving ice cream, you can even make homemade ice cream. List of ingredients: 1 gallon size Ziplock freezer bag 1 quart size Ziplock freezer bag 1/2 cup half-and-half or whole milk 1 tablespoon
Read More

August 12, 2020 10:34 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: STEAM, STEAM activities, STEAM at home, and STEM.

STEAM at Home: Beach Activities

STEAM at Home: Beach Activities

One of the great things about summer is spending time outdoors and getting some sun. This summer is different as we are restricted in our social interactions, traveling, and vacationing due to COVID-19. However, there are still a few fun activities that can be done safely. The beach is a wonderful place to relax, read a book, swim, and play in the sand. According to NBC news, “spending time by the ocean is pretty good for your wellbeing.” Also, did you know that “the smell of the ocean breeze contributes to your soothed state, which may have something to do
Read More

July 29, 2020 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: STEAM, STEAM activities, STEAM at home, and STEM.

STEAM at Home: Origami Helicopters

STEAM at Home: Origami Helicopters

One STEAM activity that is easy and fun to do at home is creating an origami helicopter. Kids loved this activity, and all you need is origami paper (if you don’t have origami paper, try using regular paper.) Materials: Origami paper or regular paper Ruler (with centimeters) Scissors Pencil Paperclip To make an origami helicopter, gather your materials and follow along with this Youtube video. Cut the paper with these measurements as a guideline: three centimeters across and twenty-one centimeters down. You’ll make a series of folds and cuts in the paper, as outlined in the video. After you have
Read More

July 15, 2020 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: STEAM, STEAM activities, STEAM at home, STEM, and videos.

STEAM at Home: Meteor Watch Day

STEAM at Home: Meteor Watch Day

Sky gazing can be a fun experience-whether you are outside in your backyard, camping or simply looking up at the sky. You can start by becoming familiar with the constellations in the sky-such as The Big Dipper (which for me is the easiest to spot). There are also some wonderful free apps that you can use on your phone to become better at sky gazing. According to NASA “a meteor is a space rock—or meteoroid—that enters Earth's atmosphere. As the space rock falls toward Earth, the resistance—or drag—of the air on the rock makes it extremely hot. What we see
Read More

July 1, 2020 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, eNewsletter, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: Meteor Watch Day, meteors, NASA, Observances and Celebrations, STEAM, STEAM activities, STEAM at home, and STEM.

Summersgiving

Summersgiving

Summersgiving is a new holiday that can be celebrated the first Saturday after the summer solstice. To make this tradition a special holiday, you can try cooking a meal that welcomes the summer solstice, such as an old family recipe or a meal that celebrates a different culture. Here is my vegetarian interpretation on the Persian split pea soup- Khoresh Gheymeh. Hoopla Resources: Salsa, written by Jorge Argueta, and illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh, is a bilingual treat. The book is poetic and introduces children to Latin American culture and vocabulary words such as molcajetes (an authentic lava stone used in
Read More

June 24, 2020 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, eNewsletter, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: children's books, Observances and Celebrations, staff picks, and Summersgiving.

STEAM at Home: Fairy Garden

STEAM at Home: Fairy Garden

I have always had a fascination with fairies and pixies. I remember reading about them as a child and wondering if fairies exist. The lore, myth and legends of fairies have also captured the heart of millions of people. To celebrate International Fairy Day, June 24th, I decided to play around with a variety of objects to create a fairy garden. Working on a fairy garden will stir the imagination and allow you to access your inner child. If you have children, working on a fairy garden can be a fun way to spend time outdoors. If you don’t have
Read More

June 23, 2020 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: eNewsletter, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: children, Fairy Day, Observances and Celebrations, STEAM, STEAM activities, STEAM at home, and STEM.

STEAM Project: What’s in an Apple?

STEAM Project: What’s in an Apple?

Sometimes a simple activity can teach children a lot about science. For example, dissecting an apple is a hands-on STEAM project that can help young kids understand basic botany. Also, it’s good to use resources that are readily available to you in your home (such as fruit). In addition, you can help your child understand vocabulary words, like seed, core, stem, flesh, and skin. This project will also prepare young children for dissection in biology class. For this STEAM project you will need: An apple (or two) Child-friendly knife and/or scissors A plate Paper Pen, crayons, or markers Procedure: Wash
Read More

June 17, 2020 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: STEAM, STEAM activities, STEAM at home, and STEM.

National African American Music Month

National African American Music Month

I love music and it has always been a part of my life. From an early age, I have loved jazz, blues, rock n’ roll and alternative music. Now, more than ever, it is important to celebrate African American Music Appreciation Month. I have chosen artists (available on Hoopla) and a few videos that have captured my ear and heart. Black Violin: Stereotypes One of my favorite elements in art is when a musician blends different genres of music that might seem incompatible. Black Violin is a duo of artists who have successfully blended classical music with hip-hop. I had
Read More

June 2, 2020 2:16 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: eNewsletter, Kids, Library News, and Teens.
Tags: African American Music Month, hoopla, Observances and Celebrations, and staff recommendations.

National Trails Day

National Trails Day

One fun activity that has kept us grounded is hiking. Hiking is free, fun, and adventurous, so why not plan a trip for National Trails Day (June 6)? According to the American Hiking Society, spending some time outdoors is great for mental and physical health. Also, if you have children, you can make a day trip by putting together a wonderful picnic to take on your journey. I also love taking photos, so I decided to create a scrapbook of our hiking adventures since it has brought us so much joy during COVID-19. To create a scrapbook you need a
Read More

June 2, 2020 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: eNewsletter, Featured, Homepage, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: Hiking, National Trails Day, and Observances and Celebrations.