In my previous role as a Children's Librarian, I was introduced to the idea of "mirrors and windows" in books, a concept identified by Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop. She said that children need to see themselves in the books they read (mirrors) and also get a glimpse into the lives of people different from [...]
Lately, I've been working on updating our personal finance books at the library. Lots of those classic titles and authors you've heard of have updated versions, so I've been purchasing newer editions and taking out the old, outdated material. No matter which titles sound good to you, you want the most up-to-date resources when it [...]
I made it a resolution to explore the romance genre in 2019 since I was woefully unfamiliar with this ultrapopular genre. I posted several months ago with a few of my favorites and I wanted to update again with more great romance I've read since then. As always, I welcome any suggestions and I would [...]
There have been a slew of picture books published this year about kids dealing with worries and anxiety. If you know a little worrier (or maybe you experience anxiety yourself!), these books about anxiety and mindfulness might help! Picture Books about Anxiety The Don't Worry Book by Todd Parr (2019). I am a huge fan [...]
With Indigenous Peoples Day last week and Native American Heritage Month coming up next month, it's a good time to be thinking about reading books by American Indian authors. The library is here to help with the following great reads. An American Sunrise by Joy Harjo (2019). This collection of poems by the Poet Laureate [...]
Holiday books are popular year-round for kiddos, but ESPECIALLY during Halloween! I'd like to share some of our favorite picture books with you, that are more cute than creepy. Ghosts in the House by Kazuno Kohara (2008). Ghosts can't be scary when you use them as bed sheets and curtains! The Scariest Book Ever by [...]
Whether you've been tracing your family history for years or are just getting started, chances are good that organization is a struggle. The sheer number of documents that researchers accumulate, whether digital or on paper, makes organization a daunting task for most of us. Everyone has different work flows and goals when it comes to [...]
Friday mornings at the library are Homeschooler Fridays. Every Friday at 10:30 we have an exciting hands-on activity or presenter. So far this year we’ve made our own stop-motion animation movies, had a robot battle with Edison robots, played a variety of math games, enjoyed a board game day, learned about tools, tested out some [...]
Hispanic Heritage Month runs from September 15 to October 15 and this is a great time to pick up a book written by a Latinx author. Here are a few of my favorites for kids of all ages. For the littles: Niño Wrestles the World by Yuyi Morales (2013). If you have a wrestling fan [...]
Bloom is the story of Ari and his plans for moving to the city with his band and making a career in music. His parents want him to stay home and keep working in the Kyrkos’ family bakery. Ari’s older sister just got married and they’re not sure they can make it without Ari working [...]
