Each month a variety of observances and celebrations take place, from well-known holidays to much lesser known fun (and downright funny or strange!) observances. Here are some great younger reads to go with some of them. December is National Pear Month Too Many Pears by Jackie French All Available Formats Pamela the cow loves pears, and will do just about anything to get them. But will anyone else ever get to eat a pear again? Certainly not until Pamela has had her fill . . . and chooses something else to eat! Mr. Putter and Tabby Pick the Pears by
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Archives for books for kids
Kids in the Kitchen 3
Welcome to Kids in the Kitchen. This blog series highlights great cookbooks for kids. American Girl: Around the World Cookbook: Delicious Dishes from Across the Globe by American Girl and Williams Sonoma Library Catalog “This globally minded addition to a series of American Girl cookbooks features ambitious recipes for budding foodies. Passport stamp graphics introduce four sections that explore snacks, soups and sandwiches, rice and noodle dishes, and beverages and desserts. Gerulat's color photographs feature multicultural girls preparing and enjoying the meals, along with images of the completed dishes. The more than 50 recipes include Moroccan-spiced chicken skewers, cheese fondue,
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November Is…
Each month a variety of observances and celebrations take place, from well-known holidays to much lesser known fun (and downright funny or strange!) observances. Here are some great younger reads to go with some of them. International Drum Month Drum Roll, Please by Lisa Jenn Bigelow All Available Formats Melly only joined the school band because her best friend, Olivia, begged her to. But to her surprise, quiet Melly loves playing the drums. It's the only time she doesn't feel like a mouse. Now she and Olivia are about to spend the next two weeks at Camp Rockaway, jamming under
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Kids in the Kitchen 2
Welcome to Kids in the Kitchen. This blog series will feature a variety of great cookbooks for kids. This edition features cookbooks filled with spooky treats perfect for Halloween! Ghoulish Goodies: Creature Feature Cupcakes, Monster Eyeballs, Bat Wings, Funny Bones, Witches’ Knuckles, and Much More! by Sharon Bowers Library Catalog “Perfect for Halloween and beyond, this conveniently organized, well-illustrated cookbook is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. Following a somewhat lengthy introduction explaining Halloween fun from the author's perspective and ‘pointers for success' in using the book, Bowers dives in to the heart of the matter. Arrangement is by types of
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October Is…
Each month a variety of observances and celebrations take place, from well-known holidays to much lesser known fun (and downright funny or strange!) observances. Here are some great younger reads to go with some of them. LGBT History Month The ABCs of Queer History by Dr. Seema Yasmin, art by Lucy Kirk Library Catalog A Child’s Introduction to PRIDE: The Inspirational History and Culture of the LGBTQIA+ Community by Sarah Prager, art by Cailin O’Dwyer Library Catalog Stonewall: A Building. An Uprising. A Revolution by Rob Sanders, art by Jamey Christoph Library Catalog Also check out the ”LGBTQ+ Icons” installment
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Kids in the Kitchen 1
Welcome to Kids in the Kitchen. This blog series will feature a variety of great cookbooks for kids. The Antiracist Kitchen: 21 Stories (and Recipes) edited by Nadia L. Hohn, art by Roza Nozari Library Catalog “Discussing racism isn't a piece of cake, but this work offers key ingredients nonetheless. In her introduction, editor Hohn notes that talking about bigotry and prejudice can be difficult, even painful, but emphasizes that food gives us an opportunity to do so–after all, ‘it's a lot easier to listen and share when our taste buds are awake and our tummies are full.’ Twenty-one kid-lit
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September Creepy Chronicles
For the kids looking for more dark and twisted tales, Erika is here to bring you a middle grade scare! Whispering Pines by Heidi Lang & Kati Bartkowski All available formats here After the disappearance of her father, Rae and her family move down to Whispering Pines. While being the new kid usually has its own problems, Rae is met with the town’s “normal” of the paranormal. After the first friend she made turns into a zombie and meets the senior consultant of a company that seems to be running the entire town, Rae partners up with the town’s ‘freakshow’
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September Is…
Each month a variety of observances and celebrations take place, from well-known holidays to much lesser known fun (and downright funny or strange!) observances. Library Card Sign-Up Month Book! Book! Book! by Deborah Bruss Library Catalog When the farmyard animals need a diversion, they wander into town and discover the library. None of them can make themselves understood by the librarian–until the hen enters and clucks, Book! Book! BOOK! Soft, naive watercolor paintings illustrate the satisfying story with its witty conclusion. The Library Book by Tom Chapin Library Catalog This cheerful picture book opens on a rainy Saturday morning. While
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August Creepy Chronicles
For the kids looking for more dark and twisted tales, Erika is here to bring you a middle grade scare! Not Quite a Ghost by Anne Ursu All available formats here A middle-grade retelling of The Yellow Wallpaper, 12-year-old Violet is struggling with all the changes in her life, from moving into a creaky old home, middle school woes, and a mysterious lingering illness. As her sickness forces her to rest in her creepy vine and flower wallpapered room, she starts to see something, or someone, taking shape. This book is everything I would have wanted to read growing up.
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August Is…
Each month a variety of observances and celebrations take place, from well-known holidays to much lesser-known fun (and downright funny or strange!) observances. Happiness Happens Month Happiness is a Watermelon on Your Head by Stella Dreis Library Catalog A cauliflower hat, a fish bonnet, a few large animals, a flying boar called Melvin, and a whole lot of watermelons come together in this wacky tale told in rhyme. To the villagers who watch her going about her day, it is clear that Miss Jolly is irritatingly happy. Her never-ending cheerfulness leaves three of her neighbors highly confused and jealous, driving
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July Creepy Chronicles
For the kids looking for more dark and twisted tales, Erika is here to bring you a middle grade scare! Wait Till Helen Comes: A Ghost Story by Mary Downing Hahn All available formats here Graphic Novel adaptation illustrated by Scott Peterson Physical format available here eComic available on Hoopla Twelve-year-old Molly and her ten-year-old brother, Michael, have never liked their seven-year-old stepsister, Heather. Ever since their parents got married, she's made Molly and Michael's life miserable. Now their parents have moved them all to the country to live in a house that used to be a church, with a
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July Is…
During the year, each month celebrates a variety of observances and celebrations that can include celebrations of food, animals, and historical events. Observations in July include well known days such as Fourth of July to lesser known, funny (and downright strange) events celebrating things such as taking your plant for a walk, scarecrows, and sticking out your tongue. I have highlighted a few holidays that are fun, a few that are educational, and some that are cultural and historical. July 2nd: World UFO Day Mama the Alien/Mamá la extraterrestre by Rene Colato Lainez When Mama’s purse falls on the floor
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Celebrate LGBTQIA+ Pride Month!
Graphic Novel Discussion: Beetle & the Hollowbones by Aliza Layne Monday, June 17th at 5:30 p.m. For 3rd to 6th Graders Location: Galaxy Hall To celebrate LGBTQIA+ Pride Month, we will be discussing the graphic novel, Beetle & the Hollowbones by Aliza Layne, and playing Book BINGO. Refreshments will be served at this celebration! We will be giving out copies of the graphic novel to the first 8 registrants. Please include your name, phone number and email when you register for this program. Pick up your free graphic novel to keep, and read beforehand to be prepared for the conversation and
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June is…Joyful June!
Each month a variety of observances and celebrations take place, from well-known holidays to much lesser known fun (and downright funny or strange!) observances. Celebrated in June ____ is… June 7th: National Donut Day! The Case of the Missing Doughnut by Alison McGhee All available formats The sheriff and his deputy dog have been charged with a mission: to bring a dozen donuts home safely. All seems to be going well until the young sheriff peeks inside the box to check on the tasty treats. They're practically calling his name, and in the blink of an eye (and with just
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Creepy Chronicles: May 2024
For the kids looking for more dark and twisted tales, Erika is here to bring you a middle grade scare! The Clackity by Lora Senf All available formats here Ghosts are real in Blight Harbor, the 7th most haunted town in America and where Evie resides with her beloved paranormal expert Aunt Desdemona. Most of Blight Harbor is inhabited by harmless, albeit lonely ghosts, except for the abandoned slaughterhouse possibly inhabited by the spirit of the infamous serial killer. After Des disappears in front of Evie, she makes a deal to venture into the otherworld to find and save her
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May is…
May Moments Each month a variety of observances and celebrations take place, from well-known holidays to much lesser known fun (and downright funny or strange!) observances. Celebrated in May ____ is… May The Fourth Be With You! Star Wars Day is May 4th Vader’s Little Princess by Jeffrey Brown All available formats Sith Lord and leader of the Galactic Empire–now faces the trials, joys, and mood swings of raising his daughter Leia as she grows from a sweet little girl into a rebellious teenager. Smart and funny illustrations by artist Jeffrey Brown give classic Star Wars moments a twist by
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April Is…
Each month a variety of observances and celebrations take place, from well-known holidays to much lesser known fun (and downright funny or strange!) observances. National Poetry Month Check out some of the Library’s poetry programs and events all month long, along with some great selections of poetry books for kids! April 17th is specifically International Haiku Poetry Day! Here’s some haiku to read. Jazz Appreciation Month Learn about jazz and jazz musicians: A Child’s Introduction to Jazz: The Musicians, Culture, and Roots of The World’s Coolest Music by Jabari Asim, Jerrard K. Polk Library Catalog Benny Goodman & Teddy Wilson:
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Creepy Chronicles: March 2024
For the kids looking for more dark and twisted tales, Erika is here to bring you a middle grade scare! The Radium Girls: Young Reader’s Edition by Kate Moore All available formats After the discovery of the Radium element by the Curies in 1898, America was eager to find a use of it to gain as much profit as possible. From paint to beauty products, radium was soon added as a ‘cure all’ ingredient. When the United States Radium Corporation opened its doors for women to work as watch dial painters in 1917, they assured the women the paint was
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March is…
Each month a variety of observances and celebrations take place, from well-known holidays to much lesser known fun (and downright funny or strange!) observances. March is… Women’s History Month Women Who Led the Way: Great Explorers and Adventurers by Mick Manning & Brita Granström (Grades 3-6) Library Catalog 21 amazing women explorers and adventurers from all over the world From Aud the Deep-Minded, an early voyager to Iceland, and Sacagawea who guided the Lewis and Clark expedition across the USA, to Mae Jemison, the first black woman in space and Arunima Sinha, the first woman amputee to climb Mount Everest,
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Creepy Chronicles: February 2024
For the kids looking for more dark and twisted tales, Erika is here to bring you a middle grade scare! The Skull by Jon Klassen All available formats Otilla is a young girl running away from a very bad place. As she is escaping her past, she comes across a house in the woods, and in the house resides a skull. No body, just skull! As Otilla and the skull befriend each other, we learn the skull has a secret. Can Otilla and the skull survive the night? This story will leave you lingering with some questions including what could
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