Archives for Featured

Appreciating Nature

Appreciating Nature

Time spent outdoors is both physically and mentally healthy for all of us. Spending time in nature promotes creativity, relieves stress and is just plain fun – especially for kids. Best of all, most of us won’t need to travel far to enjoy the great outdoors – Westchester County has great places to visit and commune with nature. I found Westchester Magazine’s article, These Are the Top Outdoor Activities in Westchester to be particularly helpful in finding so many wonderful green spaces in our area. Pairing outdoor adventures with great books creates even better opportunities to enjoy the benefits of
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July 26, 2022 1:32 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: children's books, Dive into Diversity, nature books, nature books for kids, staff picks, and staff recommendations.

New Tech Services

New Tech Services

Here are our latest tech training appointments you can schedule with Digital Media Specialist Austin Olney. Tech Help (Advanced) For patrons who need one-on-one advanced tech help, in person. If you have a technical issue with a particular computer device, whether it is a laptop, smartphone or tablet, there is a service at the library to help. Patrons are now able to book one-on-one help, in person, with Digital Media Specialist Austin Olney. Get help troubleshooting various hardware and software issues, such as not being able to sign in to a website or transferring photos from one device to the
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July 22, 2022 10:41 am | by | 1 Comment
Categories: Events, Featured, Homepage, Homepage Kids, Homepage Teens, Kids, Library News, and Teens.
Tags: computer help, digital technology, tech events for teens in Westchester, technology, technology classes, technology training, virtual reality, VR, and VR training.

Summer Reading 2022

Summer Reading 2022

Summer Reading at the White Plains Public Library starts Monday, June 27 and will run through Friday, August 19.  Logging reading over the summer will again be online this year via the READsquared platform through either the READsquared website or the READsquared app (available here: iOS and Android).           Lectura de Verano 2022 Find information on the great lineup of programs and events for kids, teens and families in July and August here. Get Started! Register and login to READsquared. Individual youth participants can register as themselves, or parents and caregivers can register all of their
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July 17, 2022 10:00 am | by | 2 Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Events, Featured, Homepage Kids, Homepage Teens, Kids, Library News, and Teens.
Tags: activities for children in White Plains, books, children, children's books, children's events, children's programs, families, library programs, Library programs for teens, programs for kids, Read Squared, reading, storytime, summer 2022, summer programs, summer reading, summer reading game, teen events, teens, The Edge, and The Trove.

Delicious Summer Foods

Delicious Summer Foods

Summer brings us images of picnics, watermelons, berries, ice cream, corn on the cob, hamburgers, and more. Take a moment to enjoy these stories of friends enjoying delicious food together. Good weather, good friends and good food; who could ask for more? Watermelon day, by Kathi Appelt. Library Catalog The burger and the hot dog, by Jim Aylesworth. Library Catalog Halal hot dogs, by Susannah Aziz. Library Catalog Cheers for a dozen ears : a summer crop of counting, by Felicia Sanzari Chernesky. Library Catalog / hoopla Ice cream, by Elisha Cooper. Library Catalog The little ice cream truck, by
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July 14, 2022 11:57 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: books for children, children's books, reading list, staff picks, and staff recommendations.

Peculiar Picks

Peculiar Picks

Peculiar Picks are a selection of odd, funny, interesting, curious, moving, irreverent, and otherwise wonderfully awesome, but perhaps not well known, reads. Peculiar Picks are books for younger readers and their grown-ups, handpicked by the Library's Youth Services Manager, Joshua Carlson. The characters in these stories just want to get a good night’s sleep. It’s Only Stanley by Jon Agee Library Catalog / hoopla The Wimbledon family is trying to sleep… Noises, smells, and more keep waking them up. It’s only their dog Stanley, doing increasingly strange things… but why is he doing them? Good Night Owl by Greg Pizzoli
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July 14, 2022 11:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: children's books, children's literature, Peculiar Picks, picture books, staff picks, and staff recommendations.

Great Podcasts for Kids 6

Great Podcasts for Kids 6

It’s summer time! Perhaps you have a long car trip coming up or want to keep your kids engaged in some fun and educational content, well, podcasts are great for that! Check out these recommendations below, but be sure to also peruse the podcasts previously recommended. All of these podcasts should be available on any service you use to listen to podcasts, such as Apple Podcasts, Apple Music, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, etc. Some, however, may be available only through the link provided. If you have some additional great podcast recommendations, leave them in the comments below! Podcast Potpourri The
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July 13, 2022 10:41 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: Great Podcasts, Great Podcasts for Kids, podcasts, staff picks, and staff recommendations.

New Movies Streaming in July

New Movies Streaming in July

Maybe you're already familiar with our streaming services hoopla and Kanopy, but did you know that they add new content each month? Find a list below of some exciting new titles available on each platform this month. hoopla Judy (2019 Drama) Directed by Rupert Goold. Starring Renée Zellweger, Jessie Buckley, Finn Wittrock, Rufus Sewell, Michael Gambon. Golden Globe® winner Renée Zellweger in this unforgettable portrait of showbiz legend Judy Garland. The Long Walk (2022 Sci-fi) Directed by Mattie Do. Starring Yannawoutthi Chanthalungsy, Vilouna Phetmany, Por Silatsa, Noutnapha Soydara, Chanthamone Inoudome. An old scavenger recklessly exploits a ghostly companion's ability to
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July 12, 2022 6:48 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: Featured and Library News.
Tags: free library movies, hoopla, Kanopy, library staff movie recommendations, library staff picks, movies streaming at westchester libraries, staff picks, and streaming movies.

July LibraryReads

July LibraryReads

Here are the books published this month that librarians across the country love. What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher Library Collection: Print “A retelling of The Fall of the House of Usher, Kingfisher's latest adds the creepiest of flesh to the bare-bones tale by Poe. Complete with a scary, isolated mansion and eerie behaviors of the residents, this version not only makes perfect sense within the original narrative, but adds a depth of understanding that suddenly makes all the pieces fall into place. For fans of Mexican Gothic, The Haunting of Hill House, and The Night Stranger.”—Sheri Stanley, Gulfport
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July 12, 2022 3:34 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, and Library News.
Tags: book recommendations, librarian recommendations, Library Reads, LibraryReads, and staff picks.

August StoryWalk: These Seas Count

August StoryWalk: These Seas Count

The Trove’s Second 2022 Summer Storywalk: These Seas Count by Alison Formento and Illustrated by Sarah Snow Monday, August 1st – Wednesday, August 31st This summer the Library’s theme is “Oceans of Possibilities” and we are continuing this theme with our second StoryWalk. Take a stroll in the Garden Plaza and along your way enjoy the book, These Seas Count, written by Alison Formento and illustrated by Sarah Snow. These Seas Count is a story about a day at the beach where a community of kids, a captain, and a teacher participate in a beach clean up activity and learn
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July 12, 2022 10:23 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: storywalk, summer 2022, summer programming, The Trove, and Trove StoryWalk.

STEAM Activity: Butterfly Life Cycle

STEAM Activity: Butterfly Life Cycle

Summer is a wonderful time to learn about insects such as butterflies. This STEAM project will engage young patrons in learning about the stages of a butterfly, which include eggs, caterpillar, chrysalis, and butterfly. This is a great opportunity for children to engage in creating a life cycle craft. You can also use the websites and books provided below to learn more about the life cycle of a butterfly. Materials Paper plates Green construction paper/marker (to create a leaf) small white cotton balls (to create the eggs) Green and yellow pipe cleaners (to create a caterpillar) Brown pipe cleaners or
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July 12, 2022 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: activities for kids, butterflies, STEAM, STEAM activities, STEAM books, and STEAM learning.

Beautiful Bilingual Books, Part 1

Beautiful Bilingual Books, Part 1

The Library has recently purchased a lovely collection of bilingual Spanish/English books. To celebrate reading in two languages, we will be featuring our beautiful new books in a 3-part blog series – so enjoy practicing your Spanish and English skills with these board books, picture books and nonfiction titles! La Biblioteca ha adquirido recientemente una colección de hermosos libros bilingües en inglés/español. Para celebrar leyendo en 2 idiomas, estaremos presentando nuestros lindos libros en 3 partes. Así que disfrute practicando sus destrezas en ambos idiomas con estos libros en carpeta dura, ilustrados y no-ficción. Board Books / Libros de carpeta
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July 1, 2022 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Español, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: Bilingual, Bilingual books, books for children, picture books, spanish books, staff picks, and staff recommendations.

New in the Edge: June 2022

New in the Edge: June 2022

One of the best parts of my job is ordering new books for the Edge–reading the reviews, seeing what popular authors come up with next, or finding out about an upcoming sequel to an old favorite. Read on to find out about some of the new YA fiction titles coming to our shelves this month. Once Upon a K-Prom by Kat Cho Grades 8 and up Library Catalog “When they were 10, Elena Soo and Robbie Choi promised to go to prom together; seven years later, Robbie, now a member of world-famous K-pop group WDB, shows up on Elena’s doorstep.
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June 23, 2022 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Teens, Library News, and Teens.
Tags: new books, new in the Edge, staff picks, staff recommendations, YA Fiction, and YA literature.

FIESTA! with Flor Bromley

FIESTA! with Flor Bromley

Thursday, 2:00 p.m.: 7/7 Children, Families Library Plaza / Rain Location: Library Auditorium. FIESTA! is a multicultural musical celebration! Kids and families will join in the fun as they learn about different musical genres through dance, storytelling and songs, traveling with Flor Bromley to the countries where the rhythms were born. This is not your typical children’s concert, it’s a whole family fiesta! This program is made possible through support from NewYork-Presbyterian Westchester Behavioral Health Center.
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June 23, 2022 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Events, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: Activities for children in Westchester, activities for children in White Plains, children, children's events, children's programs, dance, events in the Trove, Flor Bromley, music, and trove events.

Community Service Grab and Go Kits

Community Service Grab and Go Kits

Starting Monday, June 27th, we will be giving out Community Service Grab & Go Kits. These are for students who need community service hours. Parents and teens can come to the Edge or ask for Erik Carlson to pick up a kit. There are 4 kits with different crafts. Students can complete the kits in the Library, during Edge hours, using our supplies, or take them home. When all of the crafts are complete they return them. If the student has done a sufficient job then they will earn the number of hours posted on the kits. Completed projects will
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June 22, 2022 2:38 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: Featured, Homepage Teens, Library News, and Teens.
Tags: community service, volunteer opportunities, and volunteering.

Traveling Through Picture Books

Traveling Through Picture Books

In Caitlin Morton’s article for Condé Nast, 29 Children's Books That Will Teach Your Kids About the World, she writes, “Aside from actually hopping on a plane, reading is the best way for children to learn about the world—and travel books for kids happen to be some of the most touching, open-minded works out there.” Travel picture books can teach us about new places, and they can also let us connect to our family’s heritage. Gathered here are picture books perfect for sharing that travel to many places and times – enjoy traveling through the pages of these notable titles!
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June 22, 2022 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: books for children, books on travel, children's books, Dive into Diversity, staff picks, staff recommendations, and travel.

Grab & Go Kits for Grades 7-12: Watercolor Circles

Grab & Go Kits for Grades 7-12: Watercolor Circles

Teens in grades 7-12 can pick up a kit with project supplies at the Library, then follow along with the instructional video below to make the project. Or, you can find the materials around your home and follow the video to make the project. Kits are first come, first served, and will become available on Monday, June 20th in the Library lobby. This month we're learning about watercolor. The kit includes a watercolor set and watercolor paper. You'll also need a cup of water and a paper towel. We'll follow a video tutorial from creativebug, a database with thousands of
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June 20, 2022 9:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Featured, Homepage Teens, Library News, and Teens.
Tags: arts and crafts, arts and crafts for teens, creativebug, Grab & Go, and Grab & Go kits.

FDR Library & Museum Passes Now Available

FDR Library & Museum Passes Now Available

We are pleased to announce that the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum is up and running under routine procedures once again! The Public Library Complimentary Guest Pass Program has been reactivated. All you need to do to participate in this program is have a valid White Plains Library card and be 18+ years old. Come to the Library and go to the Hub Desk to request your complimentary pass. Staff will give you the pass that you must complete before visiting the Museum. All they require is that you: a) provide a name b) indicate the number of
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June 16, 2022 2:40 pm | by | 1 Comment
Categories: Featured, Homepage, and Library News.
Tags: FDR Library, FDR Presidential Library and Museum, Hyde Park, museum pass, and museum passes.

Everything You Need To Know About Ms. Marvel

Everything You Need To Know About Ms. Marvel

Premieres June 8th on Disney+ Ms. Marvel is an amazing character and her comics are awesome. That being said, I am a little nervous about a live action show. Ms. Marvel has appeared in the animated series Marvel Rising: Secret Warriors (Disney+). I’m worried because Ms. Marvel is a shapeshifter, and from the previews it looks like they have pared down her powers. Ms. Marvel is Kamala Khan, a high school student in Jersey city. She has overbearing parents, an internal battle between her religion and American culture, and a crush on an older boy who works in a corner
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June 12, 2022 1:18 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Teens, Library News, and Teens.
Tags: Everything You Need To Know, Marvel, Marvel Studios, staff picks, and staff recommendations.

Peculiar Picks

Peculiar Picks

Peculiar Picks are a selection of odd, funny, interesting, curious, moving, irreverent, and otherwise wonderfully awesome, but perhaps not well known, reads. Peculiar Picks are books for younger readers and their grown-ups, handpicked by the Library's Youth Services Manager, Joshua Carlson. No real theme today, just a selection of funny Peculiar Picks! What Animals Really Like by Fiona Robins Library Catalog / hoopla This zany picture book features a cacophonous animal chorus that fails to live up to its conductor’s expectations when the animals refuse to perform the parts expected of them, instead demonstrating what they really like to do.
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June 9, 2022 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: children's books, children's literature, dragons, Peculiar Picks, picture books, staff picks, and staff recommendations.

Celebrate Pride in June

Celebrate Pride in June

Now more than ever it is important to celebrate Pride and show support for LGBTQ+ families! The attack on LGBTQ+ rights this year and the psychological toll it has had on LGBTQ+ kids, teens and their families has been enormous. This wave of hate is being perpetrated by only a small (though powerful) minority of Americans. This hateful legislative push runs completely counter to the beliefs and values of most Americans. Matt Lavietes and Elliott Ramos write in their NBC article, “As the number of anti-LGBTQ bills hits record highs, research shows that so, too, has support for LGBTQ rights
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June 7, 2022 10:47 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: Dive into Diversity, LGBTQIA+, Observances and Celebrations, Observances and Holidays, and Pride Month.