On September 24, 1991, the world mourned the loss of beloved author, Theodore Seuss Geisel. Better known as Dr. Seuss, Geisel published more than 60 children’s books, the majority under the Dr. Seuss pseudonym (with more than a dozen as Theo LeSieg and one as Rosetta Stone).
Known for his whimsical characters, Geisel’s rhyming, sing-song approach to storytelling continues to delight young and old alike. Geisel’s books are fun to read, yet the messages within the pages are equally important.
Many of Geisel’s books address common childhood issues, such as fitting in and bullying, while others deal with political and social issues, such as taking care of the environment. As Geisel’s characters work through these issues, they learn valuable life lessons.
Here is an excerpt from the book “The Sneetches: And Other Stories,” where the author teaches children about tolerance and acceptance. Continue reading “Life Lessons From Dr. Seuss”
Recently, I have been sifting through the children’s nonfiction books, searching for damaged and outdated materials. This has led me to discover some great yet overlooked books hidden on bottom shelves. Some of my new favorite books from these low-lying shelves are about songs, and they are located in the E782.4216 section.
The books in this section often have gorgeous illustrations that accompany the lyrics of children’s songs and rhymes. These are great for parents and caregivers who can’t remember all the words to songs they want to share with their children, such as “Hush Little Baby” or “Canadian Lullaby” (a frequent story time favorite).
These books are also beneficial for those who don’t want to or can’t sing. When reading songs aloud, you can transform them into chants, which can be just as beneficial for little listeners. Chants break words into smaller parts, emphasizing individual sounds. Knowledge of these smaller parts and sounds can later help early readers sound out words.
Remember, this section is E782.4216. If you are unfamiliar with the early childhood nonfiction section, ask a library staff member; we will be more than happy to show you where it is.
World Book Online Reference Center is a wonderful resource for all things educational! Within this resource, you will find World Book Kids and World Book Early World of Learning, which are electronic encyclopedias filled to the brim with multimedia, interactivity and educational games for kids. World Book caters to multiple kinds of learning and is great for school project research. It’s also fun to explore the site for whatever catches your interest!
Just today while I was clicking around, I learned about lots of fun things. I discovered that there are extinct giant kangaroos, I watched a video of a powerful hurricane and I also learned how to make a volcano science project! What can you discover?
To start learning, you can follow the link from our website here. To see all of our other resources, head here!
Did you know that we have book lists for children from infancy to sixth grade? Library staff maintains these lists, making sure there’s a good mix of classic and new titles. We also choose books that are age-appropriate and the right reading level for your young readers.
Click on the links below to peruse these hand-picked book lists. You can also stop by your library or bookmobile to pick up a printed version. Happy reading!
It’s back-to-school season, which means it’s important to be ready with some quick and healthy after school snacks for your kids. Here’s some suggestions (from one parent to another).
- Cut apples, bananas, celery and/or carrots into spears or slices, and dip them into creamy peanut butter. Try mixing vanilla yogurt into the peanut butter to transform it into a soft dip!
- Grab some of your favorite bite-sized foods like nuts, dried fruits, cereals, pretzels and crackers, then mix them into a homemade trail mix. Make some ahead of time, and portion them into individual plastic bags for several days of snacks.
- Take a tortilla and layer cold cuts, cheeses, greens and vegetables. Roll it up tight and then cut into small circles to make chilled pinwheel sandwiches.
- Slice bagels sideways into thin circles. Brush the tops with melted butter, and bake for 10 minutes at 325 degrees. Remove from oven, flip it and top with a little more butter. Add toppings like cinnamon, sugar or garlic and cheddar cheese. Place them back in for another 10 minutes. When you’re done, you’ve got a crunchy bagel chip.
- Try freezing bananas or small drops of flavored yogurt on wax paper to for a frozen treat to cure the bus ride blues.
Happy snacking!
It’s back to school time! When I was younger, I always looked forward to new school supplies, picking out an outfit to wear on the first day and seeing which friends were in my classes. But even with all the excitement, I was also nervous about what the school year might bring.
For kindergartners and preschoolers, school can be a big adjustment. Reading books on the subject and talking about fears or concerns beforehand can help make the first day go more smoothly.
Katie Davis’s “Kindergarten Rocks!” shows that there’s nothing to fear when it comes to school. In this book, Dexter is going into kindergarten. While he is not afraid of school, his stuffed dog Rufus is scared that Dexter will miss his family or will get lost. Will Dexter like kindergarten? Will Rufus get over his nerves?
Pete the Cat is one of my favorite characters, and he definitely doesn’t disappoint in “Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes.” This catchy book has simple little song that you can sing along with your kindergartner to help them if they get nervous.
You’ll find these books and more on our book list, “Your First Day of School!”
We’re excited to share a new reading list we have put together, titled “Becoming a Big Brother or Sister.” This is a staff-picked list of children’s picture books about new siblings. With over 30 books on the list, you are sure to find some great reading options to share with your soon-to-be big brother or sister.
Stop by your library for a printed copy, use this PDF or view the list within our catalog.
Happy Reading!
You can now check out tablets for children, called Launchpads, at our library branches and bookmobiles! These educational, pre-loaded tablets playfully cover topics such as reading, science, math and much more. Launchpads check out for one week, and they’re the perfect way to keep your kids entertained while traveling this summer.
Each tablet has 10 pre-loaded learning apps chosen around a theme and a range of ages. Choose from four different themes per age group. You may check out one Launchpad per library card.
Ages 3-5, Pre-K to K
Continue reading “Playaway Launchpads”
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.
