Need some travel tunes while you’re vacationing this summer? Or perhaps you want some kid-friendly commercial-free music to play for a celebration? Then check out Freegal, a free music service provided by DBRL. To get you started, Freegal has created two awesome playlists to go with our 2018 Summer Reading theme, “Libraries Rock.” Check out the playlist for kids or 
the playlist for pre-teens.
Freegal also has music for teens and adults, offering more than 9 million songs and music from over 28,000 labels. Download up to 5 songs a week and stream up to 5 hours of music a day with your library card.
Happy listening!
Most people have been influenced by music, whether it be classical, folk, pop, hip-hop or rock. Kids love to clap along and sing to their favorite tunes. So why not encourage them to participate in the music and learn how to play an instrument?
Learning how to play an instrument offers many benefits, and it can be super fun! Playing a musical instrument can–
- Help with expression.
- Enhance self-esteem and responsibility.
- Increase math and reading comprehension skills.
- Require the interpretation of symbols in order to play the correct notes at the right time. The developing brain craves this type of workout!
Your child could learn how to play the piano, trombone, cello, the didgeridoo or even a homemade instrument. If you are looking for a DIY instrument, “Music Makers & Toys” has instructions for creating tambourines, box guitars and a kazoo.
“My First Classical Music Book” by Genevieve Helsby teaches kids where music is heard, who writes it and what the instruments sound like. The book even comes with a CD that has classical songs from the Harry Potter films to Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6.
For the younger kids, “Music Is…” by Brandon Stosuy is a beautifully illustrated board book that introduces the most simple concepts of music.
For more information on the amazing benefits of music you can visit the Peterson Family Foundation website. And be sure to look for all of the upcoming music-related DBRL events for our “Libraries Rock!” Summer Reading Program!
Kanopy has been a great resource for library patrons when it comes to educational media, including documentaries, international movies and critically acclaimed independent films. Recently, however, Kanopy has expanded towards our younger audiences, creating Kanopy Kids!
“You’ll find hundreds of educational and enriching videos that help children develop empathy, mindfulness, and self-esteem, with more titles added every month.”-Kanopy Website
Kanopy has partnered with Common Sense Media to ensure that all programming is accurately rated and categorized. This helps kids and their parents find shows and movies that are appropriate for their development level. Library patrons get six free downloads a month, so get watching!
Summer is but a breath away. Your children know it, and somewhere deep down (even through all the denial) you do too. How do you prepare your kiddos for the long summer days? You can start a list of amazing brand new books to read with them! Here’s just a few new books coming to the library soon.
“Nothing Stopped Sophie” by Cheryl Bardoe and Barbara McClintock
Nothing stopped Sophie Germain. Not her parents who tried to get her to sleep. Not her professors who couldn’t imagine that a girl could calculate like the boys could. Not even an unsolvable math problem could stop Sophie. This children’s biography is perfect for keeping your kiddos motivated to learn through the summer.
“My Feelings and Me” by Holde Kreul
Sometimes emotions flair up as hot as the summer sun. Sometimes they’re as chill as winter. “My Feelings and Me” is a fantastic discussion starter about feelings, without the labels of “good” or “bad.” With beautiful art, this book could help navigate some of those long hot days in your home.
“Llama Llama Loves to Read” by Anna Dewdney and Reed Duncan
A whole new world opens up for Llama Llama as he learns the alphabet. And he can’t wait to show his Mama Llama I’ll bet!
Click here to see an entire list of new children’s books coming soon. Put them on hold to make sure you don’t miss them once they hit our shelves. And don’t forget to check in with us as Summer Reading starts May 30th!
Last week, the Columbia Public Library hosted a lively group of kiddos and parents for our Play Dough-Palooza program. But don’t worry if you missed out on the fun! Using the printable dinner plate template, you and your little one can make a delicious play dough dinner, snack, or brunch. (It’s never too early to learn about the finer things in life.) For extra sensory sensations, you can even make your own scented play dough. See the recipe below. While it may be appealing to the eyes and nostrils, I wouldn’t recommend eating your creations, since you might surpass your sodium intake for the year.
Continue reading “Play Dough-Palooza Recap”
What’s the best part about summer? More time to read! For school-age children in particular, these lazy, hazy days are ideal for diving into books that they may not get a chance to read during the school year. Summer is also a great time to explore award-winning books. Be sure to check out DBRL’s many children’s book lists for inspiration. Equally important, summer reading helps keep reading skills sharp!
Of course, for parents and guardians, the beautiful weather and plethora of outdoor activities can make reading a hard sell this time of year. But don’t dismay! We’re here to help.
First and foremost, beginning May 30, visit one of our DBRL branches or stop by a bookmobile, and sign up for our free “Libraries Rock!” Summer Reading program! Kids and teens who complete their reading challenge receive a free book and will also be entered into our drawing for some awesome prizes.
Live in a rural area? Children and teens in grades K-12 who attend school in Auxvase, Hallsville, Harrisburg, Hatton, Holts Summit, Kingdom City, Mokane New Bloomfield, Sturgeon or Williamsburg can participate in Summer Reading through our “Books by Snail” program.
Continue reading “Summer Reading Rocks!”
Happy almost Mother’s Day! If you’re like me and you don’t have a plan for Mother’s Day yet, listen up. While handmade cards are great, sometimes we run out of fridge space to display art. If you and your kiddos want to create something that you won’t have to feel guilty about recycling later (and something that won’t break the bank) why not make a tasty treat? Maybe you’re not chefs, but that’s okay! Crêpes are among my favorite foods to spruce up a meal.
Continue reading “Mother’s Day Crêpes”
In the life of parenthood and guardianship of young children, there may be no sweeter word on Earth than “bedtime.” According to the Better Sleep Council, May is “Better Sleep Month.” Getting good sleep can be easier said than done. However, winding your kids down with good books can be the secret to better sleep for all. Here are a few of my favorite bedtime books for little ones.
“Goodnight Moon”
“Goodnight Moon” by Margret Wise Brown is a time-tested favorite. The sweet rhymes and soft pictures will lull your little ones into sweet sleep while you get a piece of nostalgia.
“On the Night You Were Born”
Nancy Tillman’s “On the Night You Were Born” is gentle, beautiful and a great opportunity for parent/child bonding. If you’re looking to speak a little love into your child, this is your pick! Continue reading “Better Sleep for All!”
It’s finally spring! As warmer weather approaches, we can expect plenty of rain. Many people associate rain with long days stuck indoors, but encouraging kids to play out in the rain is a great way to keep them active and expand their imagination.
Are you looking to incorporate more STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics) activities into your child’s life? Have them design and build boats out of aluminum foil, then race them 
down streams or see if they float in a puddle. Let your kids experiment with the shape of the boats to see which float the best. Then add twigs and little rocks to see how much weight each boat can carry. When you’re ready to warm up inside, you can read “Things That Float and Things That Don’t” by David Adler. This book is full of illustrations and simple definitions for complex subjects such as density and buoyancy.
For more nautical STEAM-inspired fun, be sure to sign up for the Wiggle-Bot Boats program at the Columbia Public Library on Monday, April 23. Kids age 8 and older will have the opportunity to design and build a motorized robot boat. And, even better, they get to keep their creations! Registration begins April 10.
Spring is here, which means lots of rainy days ahead. If your family is stuck inside during a downpour (and you’re not afraid of a bit of a mess) then try out this glitter slime recipe. This slime is super shiny, stretchy, squishy and sparkly! And it’s pretty easy to make, so include your kids in on the messy fun of creating this recipe.
What you need:
- 1/2 cup white glue (Clear works too!)
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 tablespoon saline solution
- Food coloring and glitter
- Bowl
- Spoon
What you do:
- Add glue to your bowl.
- Add water to glue, and stir until they are combined.
Stir in the baking soda.- Add food coloring and glitter. (We used fine glitter. It doesn’t show up well in photos, but it looks really pretty up close!)
- Add saline solution and stir vigorously to form the slime. This takes a few minutes. You’ll know it’s ready when it starts bubbling and pulling up from the sides of the bowl.
- Play! Explore the fun, sticky texture of the slime. It’s a bit messy, so wear clothes you don’t mind getting a little grubby. Store your slime in a baggie or reusable container.
Continue reading “Glitter Slime”
