Imaginary Friends

Posted on Thursday, August 17, 2017 by Molly

Page from "The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend"

Elwood P. Dowd has Harvey, Calvin has Hobbes and Big Bird has Mr. Snuffleupagus. Imaginary Friends! They come in all shapes, sizes, genders and even species. Although not all children develop these special invisible relationships, imaginary friends are a normal part of the childhood experience. According to a 2004 study, by age seven, 65 percent of children have had an imaginary companion.

Yet, parents and guardians are often concerned when they find out their child talks to and/or interacts with an pretend friend. Questions arise, such as, “What is wrong with my child?” or “Why can’t they make real friends?”

However, these make-believe relationships are often beneficial. According to psychologist Tracy Gleason, professor of psychology at Wellesley College, having imaginary friends help children develop a “Theory of Mind” or ToM. Dictionary.com defines ToM as “the ability to interpret one’s own and others people’s mental and emotional states, understanding that each person has unique motives, perspectives, etc.” Equally important, interacting with an imaginary friend helps a child develop their imagination, practice their social skills and overcome shyness. Continue reading “Imaginary Friends”

Back to School Books

Posted on Monday, August 14, 2017 by Erin

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.

Kindergarten Rocks! book coverKatie 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: Rocking in My School Shoes book cover

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!

Cosplay Costume Con Recap

Posted on Thursday, August 10, 2017 by Megan

On Friday, August 4, we were delighted to host a crowd of all ages for our 3rd Annual Cosplay Costume Con. This year, the event was held after normal library hours, and the participants used the lobby as their runway to strut their stuff! Everyone came dressed in their finest gear from Eowyn to Spider-Man, with representatives from nearly every pop culture fandom. Prizes were provided by the library, Distant Planet Comics, Ragtag Cinema, and Central Missouri Renaissance Festival.

Below are some pictures of our awesome participants.

Continue reading “Cosplay Costume Con Recap”

Firefly Craft

Posted on Wednesday, August 2, 2017 by Katie

What can you make with construction paper, crayons, Band-Aids, googly eyes and puffy paint? Adorable fireflies! I know it sounds a little odd, but stick with me here folks; these crafts are super-cute and are great for summertime while waiting for the sun to set and the fireflies to emerge.

This project is a little more material-heavy than the other crafts I usually share with you, but the end result is worth it. Plus, children will not only experience working with different medias but will also learn how to recycle common household materials to make original artwork.

Firefly craftSupplies

  • Black, blue or purple construction paper
  • Yellow and white crayons
  • Plain Band-Aids (not clear)
  • Colorful Band-Aids
  • Tiny googly eyes
  • Yellow puffy paint (or yellow paper circles or yellow pom poms)
  • Glue
  • Chalk (optional)

Instructions
Continue reading “Firefly Craft”

Becoming a Big Brother or Sister

Posted on Monday, July 24, 2017 by Amy

photograph of a child and a babyWe’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!

Playaway Launchpads

Posted on Monday, June 26, 2017 by Amy

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”

Cultural Diversity Book Lists

Posted on Monday, June 12, 2017 by Erin

Ada's Violin book coverOne of my favorite aspects of DBRL’s Summer Reading program is that kids are asked to do special activities as well as reading. These activities are tied to the Summer Reading theme. With this year’s theme, “Build a Better World,” one of the suggested activities is to read a book about a different culture. Not only does this open kids up to books they might not otherwise read, but it also opens up an opportunity for discussion.

If you don’t know where to start, check out my book list for picture books and for chapter books about different cultures.

If you haven’t signed up for Summer Reading, don’t worry! Sign-up continues until July 22. Just stop by one of our branches or bookmobiles.

Laughing in the Library

Posted on Thursday, June 8, 2017 by Katie

"The Legend of Rock, Paper Scissors" book coverI love sharing my favorite books with others, especially when they make me laugh! I found a great one last week, and not only did I make my co-workers read it right then and there, but I also just had to write a blog about it!

The book is “The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors” by Drew Daywalt and Adam Rex. The story opens in “The Kingdom of Backyard,” where the great warrior Rock is unsatisfied with his conquests; there are no opponents who present enough of a challenge for him. In other distant lands (“Empire of Mom’s Home Office” and “Ream of Kitchen”) Scissors and Paper are facing similar problems. All three venture to “The Great Cavern of Two-Car Garage” in search of worthy challengers. When they meet, an epic three-way battle begins, one that is still going on today. (Don’t worry, no one gets hurt.) The text is laugh-out-loud funny, and the illustrations are mesmerizing. Continue reading “Laughing in the Library”

Summer Reading Book Lists

Posted on Monday, June 5, 2017 by Kristy

Photo of girl readingThis 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.

New! Tumblebook Library Deluxe App

Posted on Monday, May 22, 2017 by Amy

TumbleBooks logo

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.