One of my favorite aspects of DBRL’s Summer Reading program is that kids are asked to do special activities as well as reading. These activities are tied to the Summer Reading theme. With this year’s theme, “Build a Better World,” one of the suggested activities is to read a book about a different culture. Not only does this open kids up to books they might not otherwise read, but it also opens up an opportunity for discussion.
If you don’t know where to start, check out my book list for picture books and for chapter books about different cultures.
If you haven’t signed up for Summer Reading, don’t worry! Sign-up continues until July 22. Just stop by one of our branches or bookmobiles.
I love sharing my favorite books with others, especially when they make me laugh! I found a great one last week, and not only did I make my co-workers read it right then and there, but I also just had to write a blog about it!
The book is “The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors” by Drew Daywalt and Adam Rex. The story opens in “The Kingdom of Backyard,” where the great warrior Rock is unsatisfied with his conquests; there are no opponents who present enough of a challenge for him. In other distant lands (“Empire of Mom’s Home Office” and “Ream of Kitchen”) Scissors and Paper are facing similar problems. All three venture to “The Great Cavern of Two-Car Garage” in search of worthy challengers. When they meet, an epic three-way battle begins, one that is still going on today. (Don’t worry, no one gets hurt.) The text is laugh-out-loud funny, and the illustrations are mesmerizing. Continue reading “Laughing in the Library”
This summer, we challenge readers of all ages to “Build a Better World.” Our Summer Reading theme motivates us to build, tinker and engineer, and it encourages us to help both our community and our environment. To celebrate this theme, DBRL staff has carefully compiled book lists to inspire you and your family to construct better reading skills and demolish the summer brain drain!
Want even more book recommendations for your summer? Check out the Association for Library Service to Children’s book lists for more great reads.
Have you ever heard of a cool library resource called Tumble Books Library? This resource provides hundreds of TumbleBooks, which are animated, talking picture books that teach kids the joy of reading in a format they’ll love. TumbleBooks are created by taking existing picture books and adding animation, sound, music and narration to produce an electronic picture book that you can read (or have read to you). Tumble Book Library also includes National Geographic videos and games.
Now here is even better news!
A new Tumblebook Library Deluxe App has just been released. Hooray! Now you can take all of the goodness mentioned above with you on the go. The app is available for both Apple iOS and Android devices.
Check out this wonderful YouTube video that provides demos on how to get started.
If you have any questions, we will be happy to help you out with your device. Simply stop by your closest library branch for assistance.
This summer we challenge readers of all ages to “Build a Better World.” Our Summer Reading theme motivates us to build, tinker and engineer, and it encourages us to help our community and our environment. To celebrate this theme, I’ve compiled a list of books to inspire you and your family to construct better reading skills and demolish the summer brain drain!
Registration for Summer Reading begins on June 1.
For Ages 0-5
Construction is hard work! After a long day of building and play, it’s time for the vehicles in Sherri Duskey Rinker’s “Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site” to tuck in for the night. Have fun rhyming while helping Crane Truck, Cement Mixer, Bulldozer and the other construction companions finish their work and settle into sleep.
Have you ever messed up when creating a work of art? Don’t despair! 
“Beautiful Oops!” by Barney Saltzberg will teach your how to turn your “oops!” into a “whoopee!” Did you rip your paper? Turn the tear into alligator chompers! Did you spill your paint? Make the blot a silly animal! Every mistake, if looked at positively, can create a beautiful new work of art. Continue reading “Literary Links: Build a Better World”
Hooray! Summer is almost here! Whether you and your family plan to spend the next few months traveling to exotic places, basking on a tropical beach or simply enjoying the occasional backyard BBQ, summer is the best time to rest, relax and read. For this reason, books are as essential as sunscreen.
But with so many books to choose from, selecting something to read can be challenging, especially for children. When this happens, some adult guidance can go a long way. One fun way parents can help is by suggesting a theme. Pick out books with your kids on topics such as animals, sports, nature, camping or travel. Be creative!
“Opposites” is a theme that I particularly like to use. In this case, have your children look for two books, each with opposite words in the titles. Some examples you might consider are–up and down, in and out, north and south or rich and poor. To get you started, here’s a list of books I came up with using the opposites hot and cold. Continue reading “Rest, Relax and Read!”
Owning a pet unicorn may sound magical, but the reality of keeping such a pet is far from enchanting for the protagonist in Ame Dyckman’s “You Don’t Want a Unicorn.” In this tale, a young boy (whose passion for unicorns is emphasized with his “I love unicorns” shirt and his adorable unicorn plush toy) tosses a coin into a fountain. It’s obvious to the reader what this little boy wishes for.
And suddenly a unicorn appears! But having a pet unicorn isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. The rambunctious unicorn causes all sorts of trouble; it sheds golden glitter all over the house, burps up rainbows and even poops out piles cupcakes!
This lively book is full of vibrant illustrations and slapstick humor that both kids and adults can delight in. If you enjoy Dyckman’s playfulness and quirky characters, make sure to check out her other books.
Have you ever heard of bathtub crayons? They’re these cool drawing tools that allow kids to scribble on the tub, and they are a great for incentive for kids to get in and stay in their bath. When bath time is over, just rise the marks off, and you have a clean slate. These crayons can be purchased, but who wants to do that when you can make your own? DIY bathtub crayons allow you to mix your own colors, create crayons in fun shapes and will probably save you some money too.
To make one crayon of one color, you’ll need:
- One block of glycerin soap (available at craft stores)
- Food coloring
- Glass measuring cup
- Spoon (to stir with)
- Ice cube tray, crayon mold or silicone mold
- Knife and cutting board
Continue reading “DIY Bathtub Fun”
I just can’t stop talking about this audiobook. It has everything–children saving the day, dogs that come back from the dead and farting dragons! What’s not to love? Adam Gidwitz’s “The Inquisitors Tale, or, the Three Magical Children and Their Holy Dog” is not for the faint of heart. Set during the dark ages, this book deals with medieval politics and religion but is very relevant to today. It was a 2017 Newbery honoree, and it deserves the acclaim.
Both the book and audiobook have their own unique qualities. If you read the book, you will find examples of illuminated manuscripts, but if you choose to listen to the audiobook, you will be treated to a full cast reading (which means every narrator has their own distinct voice). In addition, you will have the pleasure of hearing an old professor singing the classic German battle song “The Song of Hildebrand.” Continue reading “Audiobooks We Love: The Inquisitor’s Tale”
The words “weather” and “climate” are often used interchangeably. But while they both tell us something about what to expect when we head out the door and help us answer important questions such as, “Is this a good weekend to go camping?” they are far from synonymous terms.
Merriam Webster distinguishes between the two in this way: weather is “the state of the atmosphere with respect to heat or cold, wetness or dryness, calm or storm, clearness or cloudiness,” whereas climate is “the average course or condition of the weather at a place usually over a period of years as exhibited by temperature, wind velocity, and precipitation.”
Here at DBRL, we offer a wide variety of books and materials for all ages to help you learn more about weather and climate (as well as climate change and global warming). Here are a few suggestions for our younger patrons! Continue reading “Weather vs. Climate…and What About Climate Change?”
