Archives for Homepage Kids

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
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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.

COVID-19 Mindfulness Book for Children

COVID-19 Mindfulness Book for Children

As our region progresses through the phases of reopening, many parents are beginning to bring our children out into a very different world. A friend, Mandy Facchin, described the stresses of observing new COVID-19 regulations with her two-year-old at a recent pediatrician visit. Mandy, who holds a Master’s degree in education, created a printable book to help her daughter become more comfortable in a mask-wearing world. Each page of the book features a wellness-related affirmation statement and a space for children to add their own illustrations. The affirmations are lovely, a wonderful way for children to practice mindfulness during this
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June 23, 2020 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, COVID-19, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: books, children, covid-19, and families.

STEAM at Home: Paper Kite

STEAM at Home: Paper Kite

Learn how to build and fly a paper kite. Materials: Paper (colorful so you can see it in the sky) String Masking Tape Thick/wide Ribbon Light Sticks Pencil Ruler Spindle (or small piece of cardboard) Instructions: Hold the piece of paper horizontally (landscape) and fold it in half. Keep the crease to the left side. Measure 1” along the top from the crease and make a mark. Measure 3” along the bottom, from the crease, and make a mark. Line up the ruler on the right side of the 2 marks and fold the paper over the ruler. Flip your
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June 22, 2020 10:01 am | by | No Comments
Categories: eNewsletter, Featured, Homepage Kids, Homepage Teens, Kids, Library News, and Teens.
Tags: STEAM, STEAM activities, STEAM at home, STEM, and videos.

WLS on Systemic Injustice

WLS on Systemic Injustice

WLS Stands with NYBLC and BCALA in condemning violence and racism towards Black people and all People of Color. The Westchester Library System condemns both the recent violence and the systemic injustice against Black people and people of color in the United States. We are committed to anti-racist practice and will use our skills and resources to advance the production of knowledge for social justice. We stand in solidarity with the New York Black Librarians Caucus (NYBLC) and the Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA). Read the NYBLC statement and BCALA statement to learn more.
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June 19, 2020 11:23 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Director's Corner, eNewsletter, Featured, Homepage, Homepage Kids, Homepage Teens, Kids, Library News, and Teens.
Tags: statements, systemic injustice, and WLS.

Summer Programs and Events for Kids, Teens, and Families

Summer Programs and Events for Kids, Teens, and Families

While we might not be able to hold them in the Library, that doesn’t mean we’re not offering a lot of great programs in July and August! For full details on each program, and to get Zoom links, visit our Online Calendar. Of course, we also have our annual Summer Reading Game to take part in, and tons of fantastic reading recommendations in our Reading Lists! Family Fun Fridays – Fridays, July 10-August 14, 11:00 a.m. A great performance for children and families every Friday. More information here. Illusionist Leon Etienne – Wednesday, July 22, 6:30 p.m. World-class magician Leon
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June 18, 2020 11:30 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, eNewsletter, Events, Featured, Homepage Kids, Homepage Teens, Kids, Library News, and Teens.
Tags: children's events, Edge, edge events, events, family events, Family Fun Fridays, kids, performances, STEAM, STEAM Camps, STEM, storytime, summer programs, summer reading, summer reading game, teen events, teens, trove, and trove events.

STEAM Programs for Middle Grades

STEAM Programs for Middle Grades

STEAM Programs for Middle Grades: Tuesdays and Thursdays in July, we'll offer a wide variety of virtual STEAM mini-camps for grades 4-6. Participants must be able to attend both sessions. Registration is required. To register, click on the date(s) you're interested in attending. Supplies will be provided by the Library. When they are ready you will be contacted to pick them up via contactless curbside pickup. June 30 & July 2 – 4:30-5:30 p.m. – Conor McFinn – Storyboarding and Storytelling Learn about Storyboarding and Storytelling for film in this 2-day workshop. Conor McFinn will teach techniques and secrets of
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June 18, 2020 10:48 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Events, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: edge events, STEAM, STEAM activities, STEAM at home, STEAM Camps, STEM, summer programs, teen events, teen programs, The Edge, trove events, and Verisk Analytics.

ConEd STEAM Camps: Gr. 4-6

ConEd STEAM Camps: Gr. 4-6

STEAM Camps for Grades 4-6 in August Thanks to the generous support of the White Plains Library Foundation and Con Edison, the Library is offering two free week-long virtual STEAM Camps in August. These camps will be taught by instructors from STEM Alliance Larchmont-Mamaroneck. Space is limited, and registration for the full week is required. Registration is on the first date of each camp in the Online Calendar starting July 6. To register, click the title of the camp(s) you're interested in. “STEM Superheroes” Camp – August 3-6, 1:00-2:30 p.m. Youth in grades 4-6 will learn about the historic inventors
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June 18, 2020 10:00 am | by | 2 Comments
Categories: eNewsletter, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: Con Edison, edge events, STEAM, STEAM activities, STEAM at home, STEAM Camp, STEAM Camps, STEM, STEM Camp, summer programs, teen events, teen programs, and The Edge.

July & August Tabletop Games

July & August Tabletop Games

Join librarians Ashley and Erik from the Trove and the Edge to play fun virtual table top games this summer! We use the platform boardgamearena.com to play the games while we have a conversation on Zoom. Kids and teens that haven’t come to the program before will need to create a free account on boardgamearena.com. Note: Boardgamearena.com does have a for-pay premium service. Please take care when creating your account to not incur any unwanted charges. On the day and time of each program, simply login to your boardgamesarena.com account and join us on Zoom using the links for the
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June 18, 2020 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: eNewsletter, Events, Featured, Homepage Kids, Homepage Teens, Kids, Library News, and Teens.
Tags: board games, children's events, edge events, event, summer programs, tabletop games, teen events, teen programs, The Edge, and trove events.

Juneteenth: Children’s Books

Juneteenth: Children’s Books

On June 19, 1865, two months after the surrender of Confederate General Robert E. Lee at Appomattox Court House in Virginia, Union General Gordon Granger and approximately 1,800 federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to take control of the state and enforce the Emancipation Proclamation. Granger read General Orders No. 3, which declared in part: “The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free.” Juneteenth (short for “June Nineteenth”) is a holiday commemorating this day, which marked the effective end of slavery in the United States.
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June 17, 2020 2:14 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, eNewsletter, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: children's literature, Juneteenth, Observances and Celebrations, and virtual book display.

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
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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.

STEAM at Home: Roto Copter

STEAM at Home: Roto Copter

Learn how to build and fly a roto copter. Materials: Paper template Scissors Paper clip Masking tape Rubberband Spindle Instructions: Cut out the template, then cut along the line between boxes 2-3. Fold up along the dashed line over box one. Take a paperclip and slip it over the fold of box one, and tape the top of the paperclip, so that the bottom of the paperclip makes a loop. Next fold boxes 2 and 3 along the dashed line to make a small rectangle with a loop of the paperclip sticking out the bottom. Next cut ¼” below the
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June 15, 2020 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Featured, Homepage Kids, Homepage Teens, Kids, Library News, and Teens.
Tags: STEAM, STEAM activities, STEAM at home, STEM, and videos.

Parenting: Kids and Masks

Parenting: Kids and Masks

As New York begins to move through the phases of reopening, one of the most challenging things for many parents is getting your child to wear a mask. Please remember, though, children under two should not wear masks as it can be detrimental to their health. But getting children older than two—especially those with special needs—to wear a mask can be daunting, to say the least. So what I’ve done is put together some quick tips that can help you get your children to not only wear a mask, but to keep it on. Use simple words to explain to
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June 10, 2020 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: COVID-19, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: covid-19, COVID19, Documenting COVID-19, masks, parenting, parenting tips, and pointers 4 parents.

Great Graphic Novels for Kids

Great Graphic Novels for Kids

What’s not to love when it comes to graphic novels? They’re a ton of fun and I’ve noticed that the majority of kids absolutely adore reading them! From Dog Man by Dav Pilkey to Smile by Raina Telgemeier, I am constantly being asked if we have some of the most popular graphic novels currently in the library. The kids get this look of pure joy when they find out that we do! Our graphic novel section is a well loved area and I enjoy recommending various books to eager readers. Without further ado, enjoy some of these great graphic novel
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June 9, 2020 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, eNewsletter, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: graphic novels, staff picks, and staff recommendations.

Best Friends Day

Best Friends Day

June 8 celebrates National Best Friends Day, a day to honor that one special person you call your “best friend.” This day is a time to show your best friend how much you appreciate them, how special and important they are to you, and how you cherish their friendship. To help you celebrate your friendships, I’ve compiled a list of books and craft ideas below. My Friend Suhana: A Story of Friendship and Cerebral Palsy, by Shaila & Aanyah Abdullah. (Available as eBook on OverDrive) The One and Only Ivan, by Katherine Applegate. (Available as eBook & Audiobook on OverDrive
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June 8, 2020 10:21 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: Best Friends, Best Friends Day, Friends, Observances and Celebrations, staff picks, staff recommendations, and virtual book display.

STEAM at Home: Build-a-Bridge Challenge

STEAM at Home: Build-a-Bridge Challenge

Try to build a bridge using only toothpicks and marshmallows. What if you don’t have toothpicks and/or marshmallows? Improvise! Use spaghetti and clay. Materials: small marshmallows toothpicks two objects that are the same height Getting Started: Set your objects 10”-12” apart. Start thinking about your bridge’s design. What shapes can you create with these materials that will hold a structure together to span the traverse between your objects? Try sketching your design on paper to see what it might look like. Does it look sturdy? Take out your marshmallows (try not to eat them all) and toothpicks and start building.
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June 8, 2020 9:56 am | by | No Comments
Categories: eNewsletter, Featured, Homepage Kids, Homepage Teens, Kids, Library News, and Teens.
Tags: STEAM, STEAM activities, STEAM at home, STEM, and videos.

A Call for Antiracism: Children’s Titles

A Call for Antiracism: Children’s Titles

In her June 1, 2020 article, “Black Lives Matter Book List for Kids and Teens,” Bianca Schulze writes eloquently, “No one person’s life is worth a higher value than another. It’s time to get uncomfortable, it’s time to immerse ourselves in the stories of others so that we may know and love our neighbors as we love ourselves.” I was inspired by her article, and If you would like you can read it here. We are living in deeply troubling times and sadly we are fighting the same battles for equality, human dignity, and justice that have plagued the United
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June 4, 2020 3:05 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, eNewsletter, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: Antiracism, Antiracism Reading List, children's books, children's literature, and Racism.

Let’s Dance! – Reading and Dance Party

Let’s Dance! – Reading and Dance Party

Join us on Thursday, June 11 at 2:00 p.m. for a fun music and dancing author program! For ages 2-7 and their families. Author Valerie Bolling virtually visits and reads from her musical, dance-filled, fun book for younger kids, Let’s Dance! Let’s Dance! is a rhythmic showcase of dances from around the world featuring children of diverse backgrounds and abilities tapping, spinning and boogying away! The reading will be followed by Q&A time, then a fun dance party! Valerie Bolling has been an educator for over 25 years and a writer since age 4. She is a graduate of Tufts
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June 4, 2020 11:35 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, eNewsletter, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: author visit and events.

Virtual Book Display: Garden Week

Virtual Book Display: Garden Week

National Garden Week runs from June 7th to the 13th, 2020. Currently, The New York Botanical Garden has a great website for kids and their families filled with planting activities for indoors and outdoors and virtual trips as well. Explore their website here. To celebrate and inspire everyone’s green thumb here are noteworthy and fun titles on gardens and gardening: Picture Books: Beginning Readers/Easy Books: Chapter Books: Nonfiction:  
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June 4, 2020 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, eNewsletter, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: garden, Garden Week, gardening, Observances and Celebrations, and virtual book display.

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
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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.

National Road Trip Day

National Road Trip Day

As spring and summer approach, it is becoming harder to stay at home. Even though the world is slowly opening up, a lot of zoos, museums, and national parks remain closed. Experiencing life to its fullest is the preferable way to live; however, we still have to be cautious about what we do. Why not celebrate National Road Trip Day (June 3rd) and try to do a virtual road trip with your family and friends? Museums, zoos, landmarks, aquariums, and national parks are all offering videos and tours that you can access from your home. This is a new reality
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May 29, 2020 1:24 pm | by | No Comments
Categories: eNewsletter, Featured, Homepage, Homepage Kids, Homepage Teens, Kids, Library News, and Teens.
Tags: National Road Trip Day and Observances and Celebrations.