Watercolor Winter Hat Craft

Posted on Monday, January 15, 2024 by Katie

Does anyone else start to miss bright colors in January? This is the time of year I find myself thinking about dying my hair, seeking the brightest socks in the drawer and choosing the doughnuts with the most sprinkles. That is one of the reasons I chose this craft to share. The watercolor paints are so bright and cheerful. Perfect for a cold winter day.

Watercolor Winter Hat craft

Continue reading “Watercolor Winter Hat Craft”

Handprint Calendar 2024

Posted on Monday, December 4, 2023 by Laura W

Handprint Calendar 2024. Background is 4 images of handprint mittens, turkey, tree, and a cardinal.

I don’t know about all of you, but 2023 has flown by for me. I have definitely felt the truth behind this wonderful quote from Gretchen Rubin: “The days are long but the years are short.”

Being (miraculously) at the end of 2023 means it’s time for us to bring back our handprint calendar once again! These calendars can be wonderful personalized gifts for loved ones. They can also serve as heartfelt mementos. If you decorate a calendar every year, you’ll have a beautiful way of showing your child’s growth through the years. If you can, continue your collection. But remember, it’s never too late to start. Continue reading “Handprint Calendar 2024”

It’s Always a Good Time to Celebrate Black History

Posted on Thursday, February 23, 2023 by Beth

Books are often the first exposure children have to the broader world outside of their homes. I have spent much of the past few weeks thinking about these early reading experiences, especially as it relates to Black History Month, and I focused on two questions:

  • How important are these early book choices, whether we are making them with our children or for our children?
  • When should parents and caregivers start intentionally choosing books for children that directly address topics like race and racism? Especially white parents and caregivers, like me?
Freewater
Author Amina Luqman Dawson’s first novel Free Water, a middle-grade book about a secret community of formerly enslaved people living in the wilderness, received both the 2023 John Newbery Medal and the Coretta Scott King Book Award from the American Library Association. She is the first African American author to win both awards.

I turned, as I often do in these crucial parenting moments, to the experts for some support. Luckily, I only had to turn as far as the list of people and places I follow on Instagram. One of my favorite follows — and one of the country’s leading voices on the importance of Black history for early education — started her career right here in Columbia. Dawnavyn James is a Stephens College graduate and former kindergarten teacher at Parkade Elementary, where she gained national recognition for her TikTok videos and Black History Club toolkit. Continue reading “It’s Always a Good Time to Celebrate Black History”

Handprint Calendar 2023

Posted on Thursday, December 1, 2022 by Erin

Handprint art in the shape of a Cardinal

I cannot believe that the new year is almost here!

The library is continuing our tradition of providing a handprint calendar just for you! Not only do these calendars make great gifts, but they are also a handy way to document family milestones.

Download the 2023 Calendar! Print on cardstock for the best results.  

To set yourself up for success, we recommend collecting your supplies beforehand:

Below are tips from a seasoned handprint calendar creator!

  • If you’re using paint or stamp pads, work near a sink and have plenty of wet wipes!
  • Work on this project over multiple short sessions to allow the pages to dry.
  • Here is a Pinterest Board full of ideas to tailor your project to your personality.

We hope you enjoy the process as much as the product!

Summertime Stargazing 🌠

Posted on Tuesday, July 5, 2022 by Grae

Born at the end of July, I’ve always held a soft spot in my heart for the blistering “dog days” of summer, whether I’m eating a homemade popsicle, hanging out at the pool with friends or going on a fun outdoor adventure like hiking or berry-picking. But sometimes it’s just 🔥too hot🔥 and even unsafe to enjoy those daytime activities, so I turn my attention instead to a both exciting and relaxing activity that is best experienced in the low-light hours when the blazing sun is gone or almost-gone from the horizon: stargazing.

You may have heard of some of the more common constellations and asterisms, or star patterns and star shapes, that we can see in the summer here in the Northern Hemisphere. To the north, there are: Ursa Major, the Great Bear; the Big Dipper, which is a part of Ursa Major; Ursa Minor, also called the Little Dipper; Draco, the Dragon; and Cassiopeia, the Queen.

Sky-map featuring the constellations Ursa Major, outlined in yellow, and Draco and Cassiopeia outlined in orange; and the asterisms the Big Dipper and Little Dipper, outlined in orange.
This sky-map indicates the constellations and asterisms that will be visible from Columbia, Missouri, on the evening of July 5th. I’ve outlined some of the constellations/asterisms you can see when facing North, including Ursa Major in yellow; the Big Dipper in orange; Ursa Minor/the Little Dipper in orange; Draco in orange; and Cassiopeia in orange. You can visit skyandtelescope.org and put in a custom date and location to create your own interactive reference guide!

Continue reading “Summertime Stargazing 🌠”

Reading to Rover Returns!

Posted on Monday, June 6, 2022 by Grae

Informational flyer about the Reading to Rover program

Here at DBRL we are so excited to welcome our younger patrons back for in-person programming with story times and plenty of Summer Reading fun. Starting next Monday, June 13th, we will also be welcoming back some four-legged furry friends that we’ve missed at the library: the therapy dogs trained at Ann Gafke’s Dogschooling! Every 2nd Monday of the month from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the Columbia Public Library building, we’re delighted to again be hosting these therapy dogs for our Reading to Rover program, which encourages children kindergarten-age and older to practice their reading skills with a patient, kind, non-judgmental and totally adorable dog-listener. Continue reading “Reading to Rover Returns!”

Bookworm Bookmarks

Posted on Monday, May 23, 2022 by Katie

What can make reading a book from your local library even more fun? Crafting your own bookmark to use in your library book! Read on to learn how to create your own bookworm bookmark to travel with you on your next reading adventure.

To create these cute critters, you’ll need a few supplies. Gather a thick sheet of white paper, a piece of colored paper (about 8.5″ by 4″) and a variety of patterned pieces of paper of any size. A piece of yarn or ribbon (under 1/4 inches wide) will be used for a tongue. You’ll also need scissors, glue and a hole punch.

Continue reading “Bookworm Bookmarks”

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”

2021 Callaway County Youth Poetry Contest Winners

Posted on Monday, June 28, 2021 by Amy

PoetryCongratulations to the winners of the 2021 Callaway County Youth Poetry Contest! In April of this year, the Callaway County Public Library and the Auxvasse Creative Arts Program invited students between the ages of 5 and 18 who reside or attend school in Callaway County to enter a poetry contest. This year’s theme was “We all need connection.” The pandemic made social distancing necessary in our world this past year, but we all need connection. Students were encouraged to write a poem about being connected with their community — about their class, family, a team, neighborhood or town. Many students chose to write about their connection to nature. Winning poems were selected by judge and author Daren Dean. Continue reading “2021 Callaway County Youth Poetry Contest Winners”

Sew a Dragon!

Posted on Monday, August 3, 2020 by Aimee

Even though Summer Reading is coming to an end, we are still celebrating! The theme this year is Imagine Your Story. Have you ever imagined making your own stuffed animal? Below is our “Sew a Dragon” pattern created by the library’s very own Elf! When you complete the project, you will have a fiery friend who can slide on your wrist and share your adventures. Continue reading “Sew a Dragon!”