Now that 2026 has kicked off, that means it’s time for our Handprint Calendar again!
The library is continuing our tradition of providing a handprint calendar just for you. Not only do these calendars make great gifts, but they’re also a handy way to document family milestones.
Celebrate the new year by printing off a 2026 DBRL handprint calendar to decorate with the little ones in your life. (We recommend using a thicker paper, like cardstock.) These calendars make great gifts for loved ones or special keepsakes to record milestones and accomplishments in 2026.
To prepare, gather these materials:
- Paint
- Non-toxic ink pads & stamps
- Crayons
- Markers
- Colored Pencils
- Stickers
Continue reading “Handprint Calendar 2026”
Maybe there’s a birthday coming up and you want to make a decoration that can be used for years to come, or maybe you don’t need a special occasion to add a little whimsy to your décor; either way making your own pom-pom garland from yarn is a fun, kid-friendly craft that you can make with materials you might already have lying around.
For this craft, I will be using the inner piece of an embroidery hoop, but something similar can easily be substituted (more on this later). There are several other ways to make a pom pom, like using a fork.
Supplies:
- yarn (lots)
- thread (a little)
- embroidery hoop or a DIY pom pom maker (store-bought is fine)
- scissors
- some patience
Continue reading “DIY Pom Pom Garland”
I shall save all my talk of cozy fall things for next month. Surely it will feel like fall then, right? In the meantime, let’s focus on new books! There are so many exciting things coming out that it was hard to pick. My theme is fixing things, from a broken mug to major timeline issues. Enjoy!
Picture Books
“Broken” written and illustrated by X. Fang
I am quickly becoming a fan of this author, after having read “We Are Definitely Human” last year. Mei Mei is visiting her grandma when she accidentally breaks Ama’s favorite cup. Alarmed, she leaves the cup on the floor and flees the scene, overcome by thoughts of what Ama will do when she finds out. When Ama assumes the cat is responsible, will Mei Mei be able to get away with it? This is so relatable, as Mei Mei wrestles through the panic, anxiety, and guilt of the accident before finally finding freedom and reassurance in the truth. There are a lot of funny moments in this book, especially when she’s imagining Ama kicking her out of the house, or enduring the wronged cat’s silent judgments. Perfect for kids who need a subtle book about honesty.
Continue reading “Brianna’s Books: October Favorites 2025”
Today, September 22nd, is the 2025 Autumnal Equinox, the first day of fall in the Northwest Hemisphere. 🍂 While I hope 🤞🏼 it will still be feeling at least a little bit like fall when this blog goes live — as I write back in our “false fall” period, the high is a crisp 75°F! — I’ve got a wonderfally easy craft that you can use to cozy up the inside of your space as you wait for the outside to chill back down accordingly!
Before I delve into the nitty-gritty details of this bunting craft, I’d like to cite my source! I was inspired to make this festive and endlessly customizable hanging decoration from Sibia Torres Padilla‘s gourdgeous 🎃 DIY Instagram account, @sibster. Padilla is an expert in sustainable crafting for adults and kiddos alike and has recently published her first crafting book, “Charming Woodland Crafts: 50 Fun and Easy Projects Made From Natural and Recycled Materials,” which I’m delighted to say you can check out from DBRL’s collection! Padilla’s version of this craft uses waxed paper and pressed leaves and other fall botanicals to make a transparent autumnal bunting to bring out all the #fallfeels, but I’ve played around with waxed paper before (check out my DIY Luminaria / Candle Shades blog!) and thought I’d try my hand at making some simple paper cutouts to hang up. Continue reading “Fall Bunting Craft🚩🍂🎃”
It’s pre-autumn! I’m very ready to wear all the cozy things and drink all the hot tea, but the weather hasn’t obliged me yet. No themes from me this month, but I hope your school year is off to a good start!
Picture Books
“Found You!” written by Jane Godwin and illustrated by Sylvia Morris
“Ready or not, here I come!” A little boy finds the perfect hiding spot for hide-and-seek, but it might be a little too good. As all the others are found, and the group heads outside to keep searching, he worries that he’ll never be discovered. This book perfectly captures all the emotional highs and lows of the game and will be very relatable for little ones. Before reading this, I had forgotten how unnerving it can be when you’re waiting in the dark to be found! And if this anxiety rings true in your child, might I suggest a game of Sardines? Reverse hide-and-seek is a perfect way to alleviate the concern about hiding alone. Continue reading “Brianna’s Books: September Favorites 2025”
Summer is coming to an end, and we’re gearing up for another school year, but there is always time for a simple craft activity! For this one, you will need some basic art supplies and a desire to add a pop of color to your home or to brighten a friend’s day! I made a bauble with four different fruits, but you could choose to make something with an individual fruit, a rainbow or just your favorite colors.
Continue reading “DIY Fruit Bauble”
The end of summer approaches, and it’s time to start thinking about school! At least, that’s what I gathered the last time I went to the store and saw all the back-to-school supplies. I shall make school my unofficial theme this month. These are all more tangentially related to school though, so you don’t have to think about it too much if you don’t want to. Just sit back and enjoy a new book with your last days of summer!
Picture Books
“A Place For Us” written and illustrated by James E. Ransome
I love wordless picture books for the way they strengthen visual literacy, and this one will also foster empathy. A boy’s mom picks him up from school with a big hug, then the two head to a restaurant for some fast food. Afterwards, they spend time at the library together, where the boy diligently does homework while his mom reads a novel. They stay there until the library closes, and it’s then that the reader realizes they have nowhere else to go. They spend the night on a park bench, the boy’s head resting in his mom’s lap with her sweater as his blanket. The sun rises and she gently wakes her boy. After a clean shirt, combed hair and tooth-brushing in a park fountain, he’s ready for another day of school. The watercolor illustrations are gorgeous and poignant, and the love between mother and child is tangible. This will make an excellent and thought-provoking conversation starter. Continue reading “Brianna’s Books: August Favorites 2025”
“Once upon a tree,” there were seven birds in all the colors of the rainbow, but only one bird — aptly named Only 🐦 — needed more space and more quiet than the others. So begins Airlie Anderson‘s entirely charming and deeply affirming picture book about sensory needs, healthy boundaries and supportive friendships. At first, the other birds don’t understand why Only behaves the way they do, sitting at a distance from the others. They perceive Only’s only-ness as a loneliness that needs to be solved through the well-meaning but misguided “golden rule”: the other birds treat Only how they themselves want to be treated — and not how Only wants to be treated. 😬 Continue reading “Picture Books We Love: Only – The Bird Who Liked Being Alone by Airlie Anderson 🐦”
Do you need a book to read under a shady tree this summer? Or under a shady…air conditioner vent? No judgment! Either way, try one of these new books. My unofficial theme this month is siblings, so maybe share that perfect reading spot with a sibling—or at least share a favorite book if you both would rather have your own space!
Picture Books
“I Got You” written by Derrick Barnes and illustrated by Shamar Knight-Justice
Ever since Rasheed can remember, his big brother Anthony has been there for him. Anthony taught him how to build, demolish and rebuild block towers, and how to button his own shirt for church. He comforted him during thunderstorms and showed him how to ride a bike. Anthony has always been there, reassuring him with the words, “I got you.” As the boys grow older, Rasheed learns that it’s okay if they don’t spend all their time together; their love and bond will still be strong. When their parents announce a new addition to the family, Rasheed is thrilled to become the kind of steady and loving big brother that Anthony has always been for him. I feel like there are a lot of books out there about resolving sibling conflict, but I love that this book focuses on secure, joyful connections. Continue reading “Brianna’s Books: July Favorites 2025”
With summer school coming to an end, your kids might incessantly be asking about the daily schedule. They’re used to knowing what to expect from a school day, so adjusting to a new daily rhythm at home might lead to constant questions about “what are we doing today?” Or just the universal favorite “I’m bored!” If you have a clock in a common area, making a new face for it would help with the adjustment to a new summer routine by making it visual.
For this craft, you will need:
-ruler
-something to write with
-something to color with
-paper
-a clock (or something to track time/activities) Continue reading “DIY Summer Routine Clock Face”
