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Summer Reading Highlights: Chapter Books

Summer Reading Highlights: Chapter Books

White Plains is a wonderfully diverse community! Parents, children and teens have expressed an interest in titles that reflect the diversity in the community, and Ashley, Kathlyn, and Raquel's “Dive Into Diversity” column will spotlight noteworthy children's and teen titles that are inclusive, diverse and multicultural to fulfill that interest. Ashley's portion is aimed at readers in grades 4-6. Stella Díaz Has Something to Say by Angela Dominguez For children in grades 3-5. OverDrive: eBook Stella Díaz is in third grade and has been feeling a little lonely since her best friend Jenny is in a different class this year.
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July 28, 2020 11:15 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, eNewsletter, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: books, children, children's literature, Dive into Diversity, staff picks, staff recommendations, summer reading, summer reading highlights, summer reading list, and The Trove.

2020 Summer Reading Game

2020 Summer Reading Game

The Library's 2020 Summer Reading Game kicks off Monday, July 6 and runs through Friday, August 14! With limited access to the library building this summer, we’re taking our Summer Reading Game completely online. Instead of visiting the Trove or the Edge, you’ll track your reading on the READsquared platform. Visit the READsquared website or download the app to create a free account and get started.  See below for more information on getting started with READsquared.  Note: You can register in READsquared now and sign up for the Summer Reading Game, however not all features will be live until July
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July 28, 2020 10:04 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, eNewsletter, Featured, Homepage Kids, Homepage Teens, Kids, Library News, and Teens.
Tags: books, children, families, reading, reading program, summer programs, summer reading, summer reading game, and teens.

White Plains Summer Reading Lists

White Plains Summer Reading Lists

Around this time of year, we’re usually busy buying and unpacking boxes of books to support the summer reading lists from the White Plains Public Schools. This year, we’re not sure when we’ll be able to order or receive those boxes of books. Instead, we’re offering digital versions of this year’s summer reading recommendations. We ask that everyone be mindful of an important difference between physical books and digital books. Paperbacks and eBooks check out the same way: a book can only be checked out to one person at a time. But eBooks are often four–or even six–times more expensive
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July 28, 2020 10:03 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, eNewsletter, Featured, Homepage Kids, Homepage Teens, Kids, Library News, and Teens.
Tags: children, children's literature, reading, school reading lists, summer reading, summer reading lists, and teens.

Family Fun Fridays

Family Fun Fridays

Starting on Friday, July 10, the Library will be offering a great program for children and families every Friday morning at 11:00 a.m.! These programs will take place in Zoom, links below. July 10: The Turtle Dance Music Virtual Concert: A Music, Bubble and Comedy Show Wonderful classic and original children’s songs and tales. The show engages children with songs, comedy, bubbles, and music technology. It is designed to be a fun, unique way to meet new friends that you might not have met before. Join us for this novel 40-minute performance which will be accompanied by visual and sensory
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July 28, 2020 10:01 am | by | No Comments
Categories: eNewsletter, Events, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: children's events, edge events, family events, Family Fun Fridays, performances, summer programs, summer reading, teen events, The Trove, and trove events.

Summer Reading Highlights: Pre-K to 6th Grade

Summer Reading Highlights: Pre-K to 6th Grade

White Plains is a wonderfully diverse community! With that in mind, the Trove’s suggested Summer Reading Lists strive to reflect and recognize all the young patrons of the community by highlighting noteworthy diverse titles and series. An excellent resource to explore even more great titles for kids and teens as well is We Need Diverse Books.Org whose vision is to promote “a world in which all children see themselves in the pages of a book.” The following titles are just a few from the recommended Summer Reading List books that showcase the many different experiences of young people: Pre-K/Kindergarten: Julián
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July 28, 2020 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: Dive into Diversity, staff picks, staff recommendations, summer reading, summer reading highlights, and summer reading list.

Parenting in a Pandemic: Mom Rage

Parenting in a Pandemic: Mom Rage

Today’s column is one of the most real ones I will write. Why? Because I am writing out of extreme frustration. When my colleague sent me this New York Times article, before I even read it, I felt heard. Moms, read it! Share our mutual frustrations. So why the mom rage? Well, let’s see. So far, while I tried to work this morning, my son has made a mess eating in the family room that he knows is off limits for food. Fast forward another thirty minutes. In the middle of an online session with his special education teacher, he
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July 22, 2020 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: mom rage, parenting, parenting in a pandemic, and parents.

Great Graphic Novels for Kids: Part 2

Great Graphic Novels for Kids: Part 2

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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July 22, 2020 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: graphic novels, staff picks, and staff recommendations.

STEAM at Home: Paper Bridge Challenge

STEAM at Home: Paper Bridge Challenge

This week’s STEAM At Home project is the paper bridge challenge. You can use only 1 piece of paper, (printer paper not card stock or construction paper) to build a bridge that will hold 100 pennies. Materials: 1 sheet of paper 100 pennies (or more) 2 objects equal in height (books, tissue boxes, pieces of wood), that are at least 2” high Instructions: Set your 2 objects about 9” apart, you don’t want them too close, that would be cheating. Make a bridge that covers the expanse and start adding pennies. See how many pennies you can add before the
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July 20, 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.

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. It’s summer. It’s hot. The Sun is shining. But, what IS that big ball of gas and flame that makes the summer hot and bright? Having read both of the following books with my daughter, I can attest that they are hilarious, informative, and will hold both your child’s attention and yours, while you learn all about the Sun.
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July 16, 2020 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, eNewsletter, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: book recommendations, children's books, Nick Seluk, Peculiar Picks, picture books, Stacy McAnulty, staff picks, and They Might Be Giants.

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
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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: Paper Airplanes

STEAM at Home: Paper Airplanes

Paper airplanes are fun to make, but have you ever tried to recreate the world record paper airplane for flying the farthest, 226’ 10”? You can follow the instructions by John Collins to fold this amazing paper airplane. This is a mix of origami and aeronautics. Follow the instructions in my video to fold the plane. You can also watch the record breaking flight here. Paper airplanes that fly far are fun, but have you ever made a paper airplane that boomerangs back to you? The second part of my video follows the instructions of YouTuber TriKdanG, who made a
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July 13, 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 video.

Amazing Audiobooks for Kids: Part 2

Amazing Audiobooks for Kids: Part 2

I love audiobooks and I enjoy having the eBook or print version of the story in front of me while listening to the audio. It just works for me! I find that my mind occasionally wanders if I’m only listening to the audio and having the eBook or print version of it helps me to focus. I also have noticed that I tend to read too quickly if I’m just reading an eBook or print version. Whether you’re a fan of audiobooks or have never tried them before, I hope you’ll give a listen to my audiobook recommendations that you
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July 8, 2020 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, eNewsletter, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: audiobooks, children's books, children's literature, digital audiobooks, staff picks, and staff recommendations.

Summer Reading Game Kick Off

Summer Reading Game Kick Off

The Library’s annual Summer Reading game starts today, Monday, July 6 and will run through Friday, August 14! Due to the impact of COVID-19 on services, the Summer Reading Game will be completely online this year via the READsquared platform, the READsquared website, or the READsquared app, available for iOS and Android. Get Started! Register and login to READsquared. Individual youth participants can register as themselves, or parents and caregivers can register all of their children at one time. This allows for the adult to also log reading and activities. Once registered, choose and join the appropriate Summer Reading Game
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July 6, 2020 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: eNewsletter, Featured, Homepage Kids, Homepage Teens, Kids, Library News, and Teens.
Tags: children, families, summer reading, summer reading game, summer reading lists, teens, The Edge, and The Trove.

STEAM at Home: How Much Candy Do You Eat?

STEAM at Home: How Much Candy Do You Eat?

Have your parents ever asked you how much candy you’ve eaten after seeing you empty a bag? Today you will learn how to calculate that amount into cubic centimeters, which should be enough to confuse them and get them off of your back. Materials: Bag of M&Ms Measuring cup in milliliters (mL) Clay or bread Ruler with centimeters (CM) Paper, pencil, and calculator Measure Volume: We are going to take three measurements to find the Volume. 1st Measurement: Water Count out 100 M&Ms. Fill your measuring cup to 100mL with water. Poor your M&Ms into the water and write down
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July 6, 2020 10:00 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.

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. Baby Monkey, Private Eye by Brian Selznick and David Serlin Also available as an eBook on Overdrive. Brian Selznick is very well-known for The Invention of Hugo Cabret, which was a National Book Award Finalist and winner of the 2008 Caldecott Medal. Baby Monkey, Private Eye, however, is both an Amazon and Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year,
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July 2, 2020 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, eNewsletter, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: book recommendations, Brian Selznick, children's books, Peculiar Picks, picture books, and staff picks.

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
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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.

Parenting in a Pandemic: Siblings

Parenting in a Pandemic: Siblings

During this coronavirus pandemic, both parents of one child and those of multiple children are struggling. As a parent of only one child, it is a struggle as he constantly demands attention and/or a playmate. Obviously playmates are in short supply and I do have to work so that makes it tough for both of us. But what I’d like to talk about today is the struggles for parents of two or more children. While it is true that our only children may be jealous of those that have siblings to play with during this time of staying at home,
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July 1, 2020 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: COVID-19, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: parenting, parenting tips, and Siblings.

International Day of Friendship: Picture Books

International Day of Friendship: Picture Books

On April 27, 2011, the General Assembly of the United Nations officially established July 30th as International Friendship Day. The United Nations’ website writes regarding International Friendship Day that, “Our world faces many challenges, crises and forces of division — such as poverty, violence, and human rights abuses — among many others — that undermine peace, security, development and social harmony among the world's peoples.To confront those crises and challenges, their root causes must be addressed by promoting and defending a shared spirit of human solidarity that takes many forms — the simplest of which is friendship.” To celebrate International
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June 30, 2020 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, eNewsletter, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: books, children, children's literature, Dive into Diversity, families, International Friendship Day, and Observances and Celebrations.

International Day of Friendship: Chapter Books

International Day of Friendship: Chapter Books

International Friendship Day is celebrated every year on July 30th. This day is for thinking about your friendships that are really important to you and cherishing those individuals. Friends come in all shapes and sizes – they can be classmates or family members. Take some time this summer to read about friendships and hopefully find a chance to reconnect with some of your friends! To Night Owl From Dogfish by Holly Goldberg Sloan and Meg Wolitzer For children in grades 4-6. OverDrive: Audiobook and eBook Avery Bloom and Bett Delvin are two extremely different twelve-year-olds. Avery is bookish as well
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June 30, 2020 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Authors & Books, eNewsletter, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: books, children, children's literature, Dive into Diversity, International Friendship Day, Observances and Celebrations, staff picks, staff recommendations, and The Trove.

Family Fun Friday – July 10: Turtle Dance Music

Family Fun Friday – July 10: Turtle Dance Music

The Library kicks off our Family Fun Fridays program series on July 10th at 11:00 a.m. with a virtual concert from Turtle Dance Music! Check out this awesome 10-minute mini-concert to prepare for next week's livestream performance: Everyone bring your golden ticket a.k.a. your library card! The Virtual Concert: Imagine Your Story is Turtle Dance Music’s signature music, bubble and comedy show featuring bubbles, flying books, dancing unicorns, and songs about autism awareness and acceptance! To attend the show at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, July 10th, click here to get the Zoom link!
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June 29, 2020 10:00 am | by | No Comments
Categories: Events, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.
Tags: children's events, family events, Family Fun Fridays, performances, summer programs, The Trove, trove events, and Turtle Dance Music.