Brianna’s Books: September Favorites 2021

Posted on Thursday, September 9, 2021 by Brianna

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I’ve got some exciting books for you all this month! I’m particularly looking forward to the chapter books, so make sure you read till the end. Even if your kiddo isn’t ready for chapter books yet, you just might enjoy reading them on your own—they look that good!

Picture Books

Norman Didn’t Do It! (Yes, He Did)” by Ryan T. Higgins

Norman is a porcupine, and his best friend is a tree named Mildred. They do everything together, from chess to deep (though one-sided) conversations. One day, Norman notices a sapling has sprung up next to Mildred, and he is furious at this intrusion. As he watches Mildred and the sapling growing closer, he’s overcome by jealousy and insecurity and digs up the little tree in the dead of night. Norman takes the sapling far away and plants it on a tiny island where it can’t interfere with his friendship anymore. Soon enough he’s overcome with guilt and remorse and returns the sapling to its original home. I love that this book deals with so many big emotions! Toddlers and preschoolers will easily identify with Norman, and his change of heart models how to make things right when your feelings get out of control. Continue reading “Brianna’s Books: September Favorites 2021”

Yard Fun Picture Books

Posted on Monday, September 6, 2021 by Jessica S

I refuse to let go of summer.

Everywhere I go, I see pumpkins, gourds, bats, cats, and other Halloween decorations.

NO.

Denied. 

Absolutely not.

It is still September, and, until September 22nd, we shall remain in summer.

As it is still summer, and not Halloween, I hereby declare it is still time to have fun in our yards! Whether that be last-minute gardening, playing on playgrounds or picking up bugs, we are allowed to firmly hold onto the joy of summer before the falling of the leaves and the crisp autumn breezes.

Behold, the book list: Yard Fun Picture Books!


singing in the rainSinging in the Rain” arranged and illustrated by Tim Hopgood, original lyrics by Arthur Freed and Nacio Herb Brown

This book is an excellent way to start out a rainy day! Based on the original song, “Singing in the Rain,” children will love this book because the words are familiar, it’s easy to sing and the actions are fun to incorporate!

Continue reading “Yard Fun Picture Books”

Virtual Activity Bundle: Autumn

Posted on Thursday, September 2, 2021 by Adam

Ugh, I know it’s painful to admit, but summer is almost over! If you love the freedom of long summer days of no school, the transition to fall can be a bit of a challenge. But I, for one, love the approach of crisp autumn nights and the beautiful yellows, oranges and browns of the changing leaves. What is your favorite part about fall — the first days of school, hay rides, corn mazes, apple cider, falling leaves, haunted houses, Halloween, Thanksgiving? It always seems like the autumn months are packed full of so many different things and new experiences, so here are some books, songs, videos and an activity to help celebrate all of the colorful change that autumn brings. Continue reading “Virtual Activity Bundle: Autumn”

Fun With Phonics

Posted on Thursday, August 26, 2021 by Tess

What’s so great about boring old phonics? Well, it’s the reason you’re able to read this blog! Phonics are the building blocks upon which reading and writing are founded. If you want your kids to be able to “decode” new words, then they’re going to need to know all of the tricky nuances of the English language, and that’s where phonics comes in. 

What exactly is phonics? Technically, it’s: “a method of teaching people to read by correlating sounds with letters or groups of letters in an alphabetic writing system.” But you know it as singing the ABC’s, identifying letters and rhyming words at home with your family. Maybe you remember sitting on a large rug in a kindergarten classroom and sounding out vowels and consonants. Perhaps you brought home tiny books that were 10 pages long with a few words on each page — “The fat cat sat on the mat.” Phonics are the hidden games we play to teach language and build a firm foundation for young readers. Continue reading “Fun With Phonics”

Online Resources for School Success

Posted on Monday, August 23, 2021 by Amy

As summertime comes to an end and school starts back up, you may be wondering what’s next for your young learners.

The library offers WONDERFUL online resources to help with continued reading, learning and growing.

Below, I’ve highlighted four of my favorite online resources for kids that the library has to offer.

 


LOTE LogoLOTE (Languages Other Than English) Online offers hundreds of animated stories in various languages. Listen to and read along with over 850 stories in more than 30 languages as well as English.


Brainfuse HelpNow

Brainfuse HelpNow provides live, online tutoring for elementary through college students in a variety of subjects, including writing and test prep.


TumbleBook Library logo

TumbleBook Library has animated, talking picture books that add sound, music and narration to existing picture books in order to produce an electronic picture book which you can read, or have read to you.


TumbleMath encourages kids to explore a collection of electronic math picture books that add sound, music and narration to create animated, talking picture books that you can read or have read to you.

Eye Troubles for Tiny Readers

Posted on Monday, August 16, 2021 by Jessica S

Glasses are a just a regular part of life. In 2016, the CDC estimated that between 30 to 40 percent of children age 6 to 17 wears glasses or contact lenses. Unfortunately, your child’s first time getting glasses (or contacts) is not always an easy transition.

Need help introducing tiny readers to the idea of glasses or other vision problems? Try out some of these fun reads!


Brewster the Rooster

Brewster the Rooster

Written by Devin Scillian, illlustrated by Lee White

Brewster the Rooster is good at his job. Every morning, Brewster crows at the sun to wake the farm. People four farms away can hear him do his job he’s so good at it! However, when Brewster starts crowing throughout the day, at random times of the day, he begins to startle members of his family and the community. What’s gotten into him? Is he sick? Or is this young rooster in need of some spectacles to know what time of day it is? Continue reading “Eye Troubles for Tiny Readers”

Transitioning Back to School

Posted on Monday, August 9, 2021 by Molly

elementary class at schoolFull-time school is set to resume this fall. While this news may be exciting for some children, for others it’s a source of anxiety. Typical back to school jitters are compounded by unique uncertainties after a year of quarantines and social distancing. In fact, many children may be afraid to leave the safety of their homes.

According to Brandon Duft, child psychiatrist and head of Kaiser Permanente Northwest’s Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, transitions can be particularly challenging for young children, whose language skills and emotions are still developing. “You have to be patient and brave to reenter school and social circles. Social skills are skills like any other; people need to practice them or they can get rusty.” Continue reading “Transitioning Back to School”

It’s Naptime!

Posted on Thursday, August 5, 2021 by Adam

YAAWWNN! Time for a nap! The hot weather, frequent rain and longer days that we’ve been having this summer have made many, including myself, long for some relaxing time in bed, on the couch or in a hammock dozing off or letting your mind wander. The month of August features two special days to celebrate taking a break and getting some shut-eye: National Lazy Day on August 10th and National Relaxation Day on August 15th. Here are some books focused on the world of sleep, naps, dreaming and lazy days.


Have you ever noticed that babies can fall asleep just about anytime and anywhere? In the aptly titled, “Babies Can Sleep Anywhere,” author Lisa Wheeler and illustrator Carolina Buzio compare the ways in which various animals get to sleep with all of the places in which babies can easily doze off. In Phyllis Gershator’s “Time for a Nap,” with illustrations by David Walker, a young bunny goes on various errands and adventures with his mother each day but knows that after all that excitement it’s always time for a nap! For more books about all the strange and cute ways that animals nap, check out “Snooze-o-Rama” by Maria Birmingham, illustrated by Kyle Reed, and “Animal Naps” by Catherine Ham. Continue reading “It’s Naptime!”

Paper Plate Captain America Shield

Posted on Monday, August 2, 2021 by Megan

Just because it’s 90 days from Halloween doesn’t mean you can’t dress up! Today marks the first day of our annual Cosplay Con. Dress up as your favorite character, be it superhero, anime, sci-fi or your own original persona! Fill out the form on Cosplay Contest web page. Submit your photos online by the August 9 deadline, and the winners will be announced August 16. This contest is for all ages, and we’ll award prizes for the best costumes and characterization in different age categories, so be ready to show off your cosplay game!

Don’t worry if you are stumped for costume ideas—we’ve got you covered. With just a few things you have around the house, you can be a superhero in no time. Avengers assemble…your supplies!

DIY Captain America Shield

Materials

  • Paper plate
  • Scissors
  • White paper
  • Duct tape
  • Red and blue markers

Continue reading “Paper Plate Captain America Shield”