The world is an amazing place for young children. Growing up is an adventure, and everything must be tasted, smelled, touched. And yet, bridging the gap between childhood and adulthood is far from a walk in the park. Mastering basic fundamentals, such as walking and talking, is no small feat. Add to that the long list of appropriate social behaviors kids must learn. For instance, while eating food is encouraged, biting another person is taboo. Whereas holding a toy for the first time might garner smiles and applause, not sharing toys is frowned upon. With so many “rules” or social norms to absorb, it’s no wonder children find this whole becoming-an-adult thing confusing!
A great way to help your child confidently navigate the world of appropriate social behaviors is by introducing them to fictional characters who struggle with the same issues. This is where the library can be an awesome resource!
DBRL shelves numerous books on teaching social behaviors. Here’s a few to get you started. Continue reading “Navigating the World of Social Behaviors”
What has two thumbs and loves this book? ME! From the moment I flipped through “Handprint Animals” by Henu Mehtani and saw that I could turn my handprint into a walrus or a sheep, I was hooked! If you have a handprint, paper, paint and googly eyes, then you have all the makings for some fine art. Sadly, this book doesn’t include instructions on how to paint a unicorn. However, it does have instructions for a narwhal, which, as we all know, are the unicorns of the sea. Check out this book to see how you can make your own handy-works of art!
Today is National Eat Your Jello Day! Yep. It’s a thing! Eating jello is of course incredibly enjoyable, but did you know there are all kinds of other fun things to do with jello? One of my favorite things about jello is the way it feels, which makes it great for sensory activities. If you want a fun and easy experience for little one, try making a jello sensory bin.
- Make some batches of jello, following the instructions on the box. If you use different colors and flavors, it will add to the fun.
- Put all your jello in a bin. A clean dish tub works great for this.
- Throw in some partially frozen fruit. This will create various textures and temperatures for your child, as well as providing a tasty addition to the snack.
- Set your kiddo up next to the bin, and watch the sensory fun happen!
Continue reading “Celebrate National Jello Day!”
One of the hardest things to do after reading a great book is finding what to read next. I want a book that I know will be worth my time. When working with youth, finding the right book can help foster their love for reading. That’s where book lists come in!
DBRL Kids & Parents has many book lists, including our own Summer Reading book lists. But if you have already exhausted those, check out The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) books lists below. ALSC is a branch of the American Library Association that is dedicated solely to children, and their book lists are always superb.
I’ve adapted the book lists to display each book’s location at DBRL. Happy reading!
Kittens! It’s hard not to get excited when you see these oh-so-adorable fluff balls. July 10 is National Kitten Day, and there are plenty of ways to celebrate! Now is the purrfect time to adopt or foster a kitten in need of a home! Or, if that’s too much of a commitment, you can simply look at pictures of kittens. According to The Washington Post, looking at pictures of baby animals increases productivity. No, seriously!
Looking for a good book about kittens? The library has books for new cat owners as well as silly stories about these mischievous pets.
Check out some of these titles:
Eight years ago to this very month, Bookmobile, Jr. started traversing the streets of Mid-Missouri. You might be surprised to see how much this little guy scoots around town. Read on to find out where our wondering Bookmobile, Jr. tends to travel.
Child Care Centers
Did you know that Bookmobile, Jr. visits more than 25 child care centers every month in rural areas in Boone and Callaway Counties? He visits centers both big and small, bringing books right to the front door! Teachers and kids can check out books,
and DBRL staff entertain with fun story times. Over the eight years that Bookmobile, Jr. has been in service, we have done over 2,800 story times; that’s a LOT of stories!
Special Events
If there is anything Bookmobile, Jr. loves, it’s getting out into the community. On a typical day, Jr. will get back from a childcare center and then immediately head out to a community event that very same night! Over the years, we’ve been lucky enough to be invited to some incredible community events, including Family Fun Fest, Tons of Trucks, Ashland Fall Festival and so much more. Continue reading “Go, Bookmobile, Jr! Go!”
Believe it or not, June 28th is National Paul Bunyan Day. (Yes, there really is a day for everything!) If you’re unaware, Paul Bunyan and his blue ox Babe are legendary folktale heroes, first mentioned in print in 1904. Throughout the following century, the tales grew taller. Some of my favorite accounts of Mr. Bunyan include him requiring five gigantic storks to carry him to his parents, the creation of the Grand Canyon and Babe digging out the many lakes of Michigan.
Reading Paul Bunyan stories with your children is a a great way to spark their imaginations. The tales are wholesome and full of pure Americana. Here’s a few books we have in our catalog. As you read them, make sure to keep track of your time with your Summer Reading trackers!
Below are three of my favorite Paul Bunyan books for kids.
- “Paul Bunyan’s Sweetheart” by Marybeth Lorbiecki
Paul restores Michigan’s natural landscape in hopes of winning Lucette Diana Kensack’s heart.
The great outdoors is officially open! Time to jump into all those warm weather activities you and your family have been dreaming of for the past several months, right? Then again, what if your child is dreading their first swim lesson or struggling to ride their bike? Do you really know the official rules for sports such as four square, soccer or softball?
Don’t panic. You simply need to brush up on some of your summertime fun skills. Fortunately, DBRL offers a wide variety of books to help your family make a real splash this summer!
For instance, when it comes to helping your child master that two-wheeler, look no further than “Everyone Can Learn to Ride a Bicycle” by Christopher Raschka. This story features a father teaching his daughter about bicycle riding, covering everything from selecting the right bike to never giving up.
Calm your little one’s swimming jitters by reading “Maisy Learns to Swim” by Lucy Cousins or “Froggy Learns to Swim” by Jonathan London. Refresh your own aquatic safety skills with the book, “Learn to Swim Step-by-step: Water Confidence and Safety Skills for Babies and Young Children.”
Want to avoid (at least a few) squabbles this summer? Review the rules of traditional playground games and activities. Check out “The Kingfisher Playtime Treasury: A collection of Playground Rhymes, Games and Action Songs” for singing and dancing games, as well as ball-bouncing rhymes. Learn everything you ever wanted to know about jumping rope by reading “Jump Rope” by Dana Meachen Rau. For the rules for more than 250 games and sports, pick up “Hopscotch, Hangman, Hot Potato and Ha, Ha, Ha” by Jack Maguire.
Finally, so you don’t drop the ball on team sports, pick up a few tips from books like these!
Computer programming helps kids cultivate creativity and problem-solving skills while strengthening their ability to apply scientific thinking. To help youth enhance their coding skills in a fun and collaborative environment, the Columbia Public Library is hosting five sessions of “Coding Lab” later this month.
Youth will code their own robot or video game using visual programming. Instead of manually typing complex commands, kids can drag and drop graphical buttons to create a sequence of commands. This approach is far more intuitive for new coders.
“Coding Lab” attendees choose among several learning stations that feature our newest tech toys such as littleBits, Osmo, LEGO MINDSTORMS, Cubelets and more! This program is for those ages 10 and up. To register, call (573) 443-3161.
The library carries many titles to teach yourself computer programming, including these great books for kids:
While summer is a time for swimming and playing outdoors, sometimes you just want to sit inside in the air conditioning! If you’re looking for a relaxing activity you can do inside with your kiddos, try weaving on an old CD. Once you get the hang of it, it’s a fun and relaxing way to spend some time. All you need is some yarn, a plastic darning needle and old or scratched CDs. Here’s the instructions — go forth and create! Continue reading “Weaving With CDs”
