Look Up! Constellations in the Night Sky

Posted on Friday, June 7, 2019 by Lyndsey

People have always looked to the night sky to mark time, navigate and contemplate the immensity of the universe. Along with camping, stargazing is one of my favorite activities in the summer. It’s a great way to spend time with friends and family away from a screen, and it encourages creative storytelling. Did you know the sky is full of heroes rescuing princesses, musicians playing enchanting melodies and creatures roaming the sky? How exciting! Constellations are patterns of stars that people long ago identified as certain mythological creatures, gods and goddesses. We are most familiar with the Greek and Roman myths, but many cultures have their own variation of the constellations.

See if you can find these constellations, then share their story with your family. Kids will have fun finding their own patterns and creating new stories to share! 

Perseus Family

Perseus rescued Andromeda from the sea monster Cetus. Her parents, King Cepheus and Queen Cassiopeia, threw a feast because they were so happy she was safe. You can find Perseus close to Andromeda, her parents and the sea monster.

These constellations can be best viewed during certain seasons:
Andromeda and Perseus– fall and winter
Cassiopeia– all year
Cepheus– late fall
Cetus
– fall and winter

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Out of This World Performances

Posted on Saturday, May 25, 2019 by Megan

The weather is warmer and school is winding down, which can only mean one thing–Summer Reading is here!  Start your summer off right with some out of this world entertainment! We are excited to bring children’s musician Justin Roberts to the Missouri Theater and storyteller Linda Gorham to all of our library buildings.  Bonus: Attending one or both of these performances can count toward your completion of the Summer Reading program.

Justin Roberts & The Not Ready for Naptime Players
Saturday, June 1, 2019 11 a.m.-Noon
Missouri Theatre, 203 S. 9th St.

Rock out to the music of this award-winning band as we kick off Summer Reading. This former Montessori preschool teacher began writing and singing songs for his students. Soon, his career extended beyond the classroom, and he began recording his music professionally. Now a two-time Grammy nominee, he and his band sing about childhood experiences like “Recess” and “Jungle Gym.”

For ADA accommodations, call the Missouri Theatre at (573) 882-3781. For other concert questions, email kids@dbrl.org. This special Justin Roberts performance is partially funded by the Melissa Carr Literacy Through the Arts Fund established by the DBRL Foundation.

This show is for fans of all ages and abilities. Free tickets are available at www.dbrl.org/justinroberts.

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Lift Off With Early Literacy Skills

Posted on Thursday, May 9, 2019 by Kayla Thompson

It’s never too early to introduce your child to the wonder of reading. Nursery rhymes and songs are an engaging way to help your little one develop their early literary skills like phonological awareness, the ability to hear and play with the smaller sounds in words. This skill will enable children to sound out the words in books when they begin reading on their own. Additionally, by reading with your child frequently, you are helping expand their vocabulary, letter knowledge and storytelling skills. 

Board books are best for young readers because they teach children how to to handle books while withstanding the wear and tear of small hands (and teeth!). Try allowing your child to hold the book while you read the words aloud. Below are some suggested titles that compliment our Summer Reading theme, “A Universe of Stories.” We hope these titles provide plenty of inspiration for exploration and adventure.

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Safe Kids Day

Posted on Monday, April 29, 2019 by Tess

Get wild about safety at Safe Kids Day 2019! This year’s safari-themed event will take place on Saturday, May 11 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Hearnes Center Fieldhouse. There will be free food, games, prizes and plenty of fun, educational activities! Climb aboard emergency vehicles, jump on inflatables and get your face painted. Then, learn about bike safety and get your car seat inspected. Be sure to stop by the library’s booth to get the inside scoop on Summer Reading!

Jim Cosgrove and The Hiccups Concert!

Posted on Thursday, April 18, 2019 by Molly

DBRL and the Stephens Lake Amphitheater Concert Series are pleased to present Jim Cosgrove & The Hiccups on Thursday, May 2 from 6-7 pm. The event, which will be held at the Stephens Lake Park Amphitheater at 100 Old Hwy 63, is for families and children of all ages.

Affectionately known as “Mr. Stinky Feet” by his fans, Cosgrove has performed over 3500 shows throughout both North America and Europe. Upbeat and interactive, Cosgrove’s shows are truly a family affair. His wife, Jeni, manages the business, while their two daughters serve as the road crew and sometimes appear with their father on stage.

An award-winning musician and performer, Cosgrove is also a motivational speaker and the author of “Everybody Gets Stinky Feet,” a collection of essays compiled from a parenting column he wrote for the Kansas City Star. Together, Jim and Jeni co-founded Jiggle Jam, once billed as the nation’s largest independent family music festival from 2007-2013.

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Put On Your Thinking Cap!

Posted on Friday, April 12, 2019 by Brianna

cover of "Sarabella's Thinking Cap"In “Sarabella’s Thinking Cap,” the main character has trouble focusing in school. Her head is so full of fantastic thoughts–pandas in flower pots and bears riding bicycles–that Sarabella can’t really concentrate on math. When her teacher asks the class to draw a picture of their favorite daydreams, she becomes inspired. Instead of drawing a single picture, she creates a thinking cap, a paper bag hat covered with illustrations of all the beautiful thoughts in her head.

Following Sarabella’s example, we’re going to make our own thinking caps at the library! Join us as we create extravagant hats and wear our thoughts on the outside of our heads.

This program will be held at the Columbia Public Library on Thursday, April 25 from 4-5:30 p.m., and it’s for ages 5-12. Registration begins on Tuesday, April 16, so stop by the Children’s Desk to sign up or give us a call at (573) 443-3161.

Unbound Children’s Events

Posted on Tuesday, April 2, 2019 by Brandy

The Unbound Book Festival will return to downtown Columbia for its fourth year! The children’s venue has been generously funded in part by the Friends of the Columbia Public Library. Join us on Saturday, April 20 at the Warehouse Theatre on Stephens College’s campus as we celebrate some of today’s best and brightest children’s authors. 

Download a complete schedule of Unbound children’s events and a campus map. This festival is FREE and open to all lovers of children’s literature, no matter your age!

9:30 a.m.
The Singing Princesses
Sing along with princesses Elsa, Anna, Cinderella and Belle. The princesses are part of the TRYPS Children’s Theatre Institute at Stephens College.

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Spring Break Preview

Posted on Thursday, March 21, 2019 by Megan

For some, spring break means traveling to see exotic animals or taking in some great art and culture.  But, did you know you can do all these things and more at your local public library? Check out next week’s line-up of amazing programs for you and your family. Registration is not required for these events.

For Families

Flights of Fancy With Jay and Leslie’s Laughing Matters

Performers Jay & Leslie of Laughing Matters

Jay and Leslie Cady are award-winning professional entertainers with more than 6,000 performances under their belts. These students of famed mime Marcel Marceau have been twice nominated for Best of Kansas City Theater awards and won the Lighton Prize in 2010 for excellence as teaching artists. At this summer reading preview, enjoy juggling, stories, orbits and more bits to tickle your funny bone. High-flying fun at your library? You can plan on it! Families, ages 4 and older.

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Author Feature: Chris Ferrie

Posted on Monday, March 18, 2019 by Jessica S

Inspiring young readers to become future scientists is quite the feat to tackle. Science books come in all shapes and sizes, from books filled with science experiments to glossy images of the animal kingdom. However, these aren’t made with the youngest kids in mind. One of my favorite writers of science books, Chris Ferrie, writes books for babies that approach difficult subjects in bite-sized amounts.

Who is Chris Ferrie?

  • A senior professor at the University of Technology Sydney and the Centre for Quantum Software and Information
  • A PhD in Applied Mathematics from the Institute for Quantum Computing and University of Waterloo
  • A father of four children

Ferrie knows that babies are naturally little scientists. Everything is new, everything must be studied and understood. That’s why Ferrie books are among my favorites—they take the imaginative, fun structure of the board book and bring in the expansive knowledge of the universe to make a cute, fun introduction material to the scientific world.

ABCs of Biology - Ferrie, Chris

Nuclear Physics for Babies - Ferrie, Chris

ABCs of Physics - Ferrie, Chris

Quantum Computing for Babies - Ferrie, Chris

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“The Very Hungry Caterpillar” Turns 50!

Posted on Thursday, March 14, 2019 by Jessica S

It’s hard to believe that a childhood classic like “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” is turning 50 years old this year! Publishers have continued to reprint and circulate this beloved title since 1969. It’s even been translated into 65 different languages!

To celebrate this amazing milestone, DBRL has decided to throw a birthday party for Eric Carle’s most-celebrated book. This event will feature crafts and activities that mirror his use of color and collage. This program is for ages birth-5 with an adult.

“The Very Hungry Caterpillar” Celebration will kick-off at the Columbia Public Library. Mark your calendar for one of the following sessions:

  • Tuesday, March 19 from 10-11:00 a.m.
  • Tuesday, March 19 from 5:30-6:30 p.m.
  • Wednesday, March 20 from 10-11:00 a.m.

Then, in April, we’ll continue the celebrate in Fulton, Holts Summit and Ashland on the following dates: