2020 Missouri Building Block Award Winner

Posted on Monday, February 22, 2021 by Amy

Children across Missouri have voted, and the winner of the 2020 Missouri Building Block Award goes to “Dandy” written by Ame Dyckman and illustrated by Charles Santoso. About 8,700 preschoolers and kindergartners participated, choosing “Dandy” as their favorite.

Dandy

Dandy” is a laugh-out-loud story of a father desperate to destroy the dandelion marring his perfectly manicured lawn and his daughter’s fierce attempts to save it. When Daddy spots a solitary weed in his lawn, he’s appalled (along with all of his neighborhood friends). But his daughter Sweetie has fallen in love with the beautiful flower, even going so far as to name it Charlotte. Racing against time and the mockery of his friends, Daddy has to find a way to get rid of the errant dandelion without breaking his little girl’s heart.

Continue reading “2020 Missouri Building Block Award Winner”

Family Fun With Winter Birding!

Posted on Thursday, February 18, 2021 by Molly

Winter bird feeder
Here’s a picture of my bird feeder. It stays busy during these cold winter months.

Looking for a family-friendly activity to do from the comfort of your home this winter? Try bird watching! February is National Bird Feeding Month, so this is the perfect time to get started. More importantly, as you and your family enjoy watching the different birds that come to visit your bird feeder, you help your feathered friends stay warm and healthy.

Begin your bird watching hobby by first choosing an outside location that is clearly visible from inside your home. For example, our family chose our second-story deck, which is visible through sliding glass doors. Continue reading “Family Fun With Winter Birding!”

Recipes for Fun: Sensory Bags

Posted on Monday, February 15, 2021 by Megan

Text Recipes for Fun Sensory Bags on a blue and green watercolor background

Sensory bags can be a great tool to help children get started learning their letters and numbers—especially if they don’t yet have the fine motor control to use writing tools. Children can use their fingers to trace letters and numbers on the bag. If they need some assistance, write the letters or numbers on a piece of paper, and place the paper under the bag for them to trace. Once you’ve gathered your supplies, you can follow along with our YouTube video. Continue reading “Recipes for Fun: Sensory Bags”

Brianna’s Books: February Favorites 2021

Posted on Thursday, February 11, 2021 by Brianna

Brianna's Books Banner

Hello friends and happy February! This month will slip by, and before we know it March will be here! For my second-to-last blog post of the winter, I’ve got some great options for you. Happy reading!

Picture Books

Trouble” by Katherine Nicole Battersby

Squirrel is leading a quiet life in her apartment with her pet mouse, Chamomile…until a new neighbor moves in. Bear is large, with terrifying teeth and claws, and Squirrel is sure he is nothing but trouble. Yet the illustrations show a different story, as readers observe that Bear is clumsy but gentle, and loves baking cookies. Chamomile discovers this and spends time with Bear, much to Squirrel’s chagrin when she discovers them sharing a peaceful afternoon together. Not only will this book make a fantastic read aloud, it will be an excellent conversation starter about how to keep an open mind about others, free from misconceptions and prejudice. Continue reading “Brianna’s Books: February Favorites 2021”

Virtual Activity Bundle: Colors

Posted on Monday, February 8, 2021 by Jerilyn

Virtual Activity Bundle: ColorsOne of the first things we teach children are the names of colors. Color words offer us a way to describe things in our world. Knowing colors is an important part of a child’s development. It helps children understand the objects around them and put words and concepts together. One of the best ways to introduce and reinforce this knowledge is through fun books and activities like the ones listed below.

Books

Fiction 

Pete the Cat: I Love My White ShoesPete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes” written by Eric Litwin, illustrated by James Dean
Pete loves his white shoes, but during a walk he steps in things that change the shoes’ color. Does he cry? Goodness, no, he keeps walking along singing his song. Continue reading “Virtual Activity Bundle: Colors”

Women of the Civil Rights Movement

Posted on Thursday, February 4, 2021 by Adam

In addition to its designation as Black History Month, February is also the birth-month of Rosa Parks (February 4th) and Nina Simone (February 21st)—two luminaries of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and ’60s. As a celebration of these remarkable women and their long-lasting contributions, here are some of the many books for kids about the lives of women who accessed their unique gifts to contribute to this important historic movement:

Rosa Parks was born in Tuskegee, Alabama in 1913—a time when Jim Crow laws, which mandated racial segregation in public facilities and transportation, were being enforced mostly in the southern United States. Parks saw the dehumanizing effects of racism firsthand, and in 1955 she entered the national stage when she refused to give up her seat on a city bus to a white passenger and helped spark the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Both “A Girl Named Rosa,” by Denise Lewis Patrick, and Wil Mara’sRosa Parks” (which is part of the “Rookie Biographies” series), tell Rosa’s inspiring story for young readers—from daughter of a single mother in the Deep South to civil rights activist and icon. Continue reading “Women of the Civil Rights Movement”

2021 Youth Media Award Winners

Posted on Tuesday, January 26, 2021 by Kristy

Each year the American Library Association honors books, videos and other outstanding materials for children and teens. Selected by committees composed of librarians and other literature and media experts, the awards encourage original and creative work in the field of children’s and young adult literature and media.

The following titles and contributors are some of the 2021 YMA winners!


Newbery

When You Trap a TigerThe John Newbery Medal is for the most outstanding contribution to children’s literature. The 2021 Winner is:

When You Trap a Tiger,” written by Tae Keller

When Lily, her sister Sam and their mother move in with her sick grandmother, Lily traps a tiger and makes a deal with him to heal Halmoni. Continue reading “2021 Youth Media Award Winners”

Winter Reading for Kids

Posted on Monday, January 18, 2021 by Megan

The Comforts of Winter, January 18-February 26

Today begins our “Comforts of Winter” program, a program that is as chill as the air outside! One of the coolest features of this program is that everyone can join in. We will suggest ways to enjoy the winter months, along with cool reading recommendations on all of our blogs. Register here.

With this program, you can set a family goal or individual goals for each person. It can be a number of books to read or a certain amount of time spent reading. Whatever you choose, you’ll have six weeks to reach your personalized goal. Once you’ve met your goal, just complete the finishing form to let us know, and we’ll make a prize available for you at your library or bookmobile stop or via curbside pickup. Kids ages 0-12 will win a book and folks ages 13 and above will win a canvas tote.

To help get you started with your reading goals, here are a few books you can curl up with on a cold and blustery day.

Into the Snow book cover Continue reading “Winter Reading for Kids”

Brianna’s Books: January Favorites 2021

Posted on Thursday, January 14, 2021 by Brianna

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It’s a new year, and I’ve got plenty of exciting new books to tell you about!

Picture Books

Avocado Asks” by Momoko Abe

When a young grocery store customer asks, “Is an avocado a fruit or a vegetable?”, Avocado doesn’t know the answer. The question so consumes Avocado that he goes on a journey through the store, trying to figure out where he belongs. Finally, confident Tomato assures Avocado that he is amazing, regardless of label. The illustrations in this one are super cute, and the themes of identity and self-confidence are welcome and well done. A delightful debut picture book! Continue reading “Brianna’s Books: January Favorites 2021”

Virtual Activity Bundle: Emotions (Part 1)

Posted on Monday, January 11, 2021 by Jerilyn

Virtual Activity Bundle: Emotions

Young children are often overwhelmed by their emotions. Being able to name what they are feeling is the first step in learning how to manage the emotion. By learning the words to describe a variety of feelings, a child is more likely to be able to identify that feeling in themselves and others. It will improve their ability to communicate and to express their emotions in acceptable ways. Here are some resources to help you identify and talk about emotions with your child. Continue reading “Virtual Activity Bundle: Emotions (Part 1)”