Sorry, its been a while! We've been trying to figure out what we're going to be doing in the new year. Everything is up in the air still, since we don't know what's going on health wise and since we are going to be going to the new library this spring at some point (date not yet determined).

One of the things that we are excited about is "Stories on Demand".  We will be doing 15 minute live storytimes with just you and your kids. We'll have times that certain staff are available and then you just fill out the form and let us know when you'd like to do it.

Also, in light of the fact that we are moving to a new building, we will be creating "make and take" craft kits that you can pick up during the week beginning in January (with the possibility of a "New Years Eve" one the last few weeks of December as well).  This will help us dwindle down all our craft supplies so that we don't have to move quite so much to the new building. It'll be you're way of helping us move!

So here are just a few things we'll be doing, but we have a bit of fun planned for you, so keep an eye out for everything.

On a side note, I have a new friend! Sparky the Caticorn. They're a friend of Spark the Unicorn, yet they can fit in my pocket! With that in mind, Sparky will travel around the library (and throughout the universe) with me via their Instagram page.

So today Miss Valerie asked me to create one of our book bundles with my favorite books ... apparently I'm hungry! HAH! All the books I picked had to do with food!

Dinosaur Kisses - He eats all the animals he tries to kiss.
Very Hungry Caterpillar - He eats everything.
Strega Nona - Big Anthony makes use of Strega Nona's pasta pot and makes some for everyone in the town, but then it backfires!
Red Hen - Anyone going to help the Red Hen make cake? Don't think so!
Edwina the Dinosaur Who Didn't Know she was extinct - Thank goodness she didn't know, she makes the best cookies!
Bear Wants More - He is hungry for berries, but there's never enough.
Drat That Fat Cat - He's so hungry he eats something that goes a little haywire in his belly.
There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly - I love this specific one because the illustrations are so awesome and there are cut outs in the illustrations so you can visibly watch her belly get bigger.
Kitten's First Moon - He wants that Moon that looks like a bowl of milk and darn it, he's going to get it!

Let me know if you get hungry after reading these books too! They're DELICIOUS!

We have been exploring our collection finding titles to support anti-racism and we've also added to our collection. Here are some titles that we are adding to our collections for kids. Some we have and some are on their way. Have a look!
Don't worry. Tomorrow I'll post all our teen books, then Friday I'll post our adult books. Don't want to totally boggle your minds with all the awesome titles we're getting. :)
Any books that you've read recently supporting anti-racism? Let us know!
Curious about the term "anti-racist" vs non-racist? Check out this article in the Smithonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Pretty fascinating.

AntiRacist Baby by Kendi, Ibram X.
Take your first steps with Antiracist Baby! Or rather, follow Antiracist Baby's nine easy steps for building a more equitable world.

With bold art and thoughtful yet playful text, Antiracist Baby introduces the youngest readers and the grown-ups in their lives to the concept and power of antiracism. Providing the language necessary to begin critical conversations at the earliest age, Antiracist Baby is the perfect gift for readers of all ages dedicated to forming a just society.

I Am Enough by Byers, Grace
This is a gorgeous, lyrical ode to loving who you are, respecting others, and being kind to one another-from Empire actor and activist Grace Byers and talented newcomer artist Keturah A. Bobo.

We are all here for a purpose. We are more than enough. We just need to believe it.

Finding Langston , Cline-Ransome, Lesa
Discovering a book of Langston Hughes' poetry in the library helps Langston cope with the loss of his mother, relocating from Alabama to Chicago as part of the Great Migration, and being bullied.

As Brave As You , Reynolds, Jason
Genie and his brother, Ernie, leave Brooklyn for the first time to spend the summer with their grandparents in Virginia -- in the country! When he figures out that Grandpop is blind, Genie thinks he's the bravest guy ever. But he never leaves the house. Then Ernie won't learn how to shoot. Is bravery only about proving something? What about owning up to what you won't do?

Some Places More Than Others , Watson, Renée
A heartwarming and inspiring middle grade novel about finding deep roots and exploring the past, the present, and the places that make us who we are. 'Some of the places I am still getting to know, some of these places I have known all my life. All of these places made me, are making me.' All Amara wants for her birthday is to visit her father's family in New York City - Harlem. She can't wait to finally meet her Grandpa Earl and cousins in person, and to stay in the brownstone where her father grew up. Maybe this will help her understand her family - and herself - in a new way. But New York City is not exactly what Amara thought it would be. It's noisy, crowded, confusing, and her cousins can be mean. Plus her father is too busy working to spend time with her and too angry to fix his relationship with Grandpa Earl. Amara can't help wondering, even if she does discover more about where she came from, will it help her know where she belongs?

Black Brother, Black Brother , Rhodes, Jewell Parker
A powerful coming-of-age story about two brothers, one who presents as white, the other as black, and the complex ways in which they are forced to navigate the world, all while training for a fencing competition.
Donte wishes he were invisible. As one of the few black boys at Middlefield Prep, he feels as if he is constantly swimming in whiteness. Most of the students don't look like him. They don't like him either. Dubbed the "Black Brother," Donte's teachers and classmates make it clear they wish he were more like his lighter skinned brother, Trey. Quiet, obedient.

When an incident with "King" Alan leads to Donte's arrest and suspension, he knows the only way to get even is to beat the king of the school at his own game: fencing. With the help of a former Olympic fencer, Donte embarks on a journey to carve out a spot on Middlefield Prep's fencing team and maybe learn something about himself along the way.

The Season of Styx Malone , Magoon, Kekla
Meet Caleb and Bobby Gene, two brothers embarking on a madcap, heartwarming, one-thing-leads-to-another adventure in which friendships are forged, loyalties are tested . . . and miracles just might happen.

Caleb Franklin and his big brother Bobby Gene are excited to have adventures in the woods behind their house. But Caleb dreams of venturing beyond their ordinary small town.

Then Caleb and Bobby Gene meet new neighbor Styx Malone. Styx is sixteen and oozes cool. Styx promises the brothers that together, the three of them can pull off the Great Escalator Trade--exchanging one small thing for something better until they achieve their wildest dream. But as the trades get bigger, the brothers soon find themselves in over their heads. Styx has secrets--secrets so big they could ruin everything.

One Crazy Summer , Williams-Garcia, RitaEleven-year-old Delphine has it together. Even though her mother, Cecile, abandoned her and her younger sisters, Vonetta and Fern, seven years ago. Even though her father and Big Ma will send them from Brooklyn to Oakland, California, to stay with Cecile for the summer. And even though Delphine will have to take care of her sisters, as usual, and learn the truth about the missing pieces of the past.

When the girls arrive in Oakland in the summer of 1968, Cecile wants nothing to do with them. She makes them eat Chinese takeout dinners, forbids them to enter her kitchen, and never explains the strange visitors with Afros and black berets who knock on her door. Rather than spend time with them, Cecile sends Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern to a summer camp sponsored by a revolutionary group, the Black Panthers, where the girls get a radical new education.

Love Will See You Through: Martin Luther King Jr.'s Six Guiding Beliefs (as told by his niece), Watkins, Angela Farris
The niece of Martin Luther King, Jr. reveals six timeless and universal principles that encompass the civil rights leader's greatest legacy: Love will see you through.

Growing up as the niece of Martin Luther King Jr., Angela Farris Watkins witnessed firsthand the principles and values that "Uncle M.L." practiced and lived by throughout his fight for equality. Drawing from experiences and episodes both personal and well-known, Dr. Watkins artfully details the guiding beliefs of one of the greatest men in history. Including "have courage" and "love your enemies," these six hallmarks of virtue and nonviolence reinforce the truth that "the universe honors love" and will inspire readers of all ages.

On the Playground: Our First Talk About Prejudice (The World Around Us), Roberts, Dr. Jillian
Using illustrations, full-color photographs and straightforward text, this nonfiction picture book introduces the topic of prejudice to young readers.

Young Gifted and Black: Meet 52 Black Heroes from Past and Present, Wilson, Jamia
This book brings together 52 icons of colour from the past and present in a celebration of achievement.

Enough! 20 Protesters Who Changed America, Easton, Emily
America has been molded and shaped by those who have taken a stand and said they have had enough. In this dynamic picture book, stand alongside the nation's most iconic civil and human rights leaders, whose brave actions rewrote history.
Join Samuel Adams as he masterminds the Boston Tea Party, Ruby Bridges on her march to school, Colin Kaepernick as he takes a knee, and the multitude of other American activists whose peaceful protests have ushered in lasting change.

Brave. Black. First.: 50+ African American Women Who Changed the World
Hudson, Cheryl

Harriet Tubman guided the way.
Rosa Parks sat for equality.
Aretha Franklin sang from the soul.
Serena Williams bested the competition.
Michelle Obama transformed the White House.

Black women everywhere have changed the world. Published in partnership with curators from the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, this illustrated biography compilation captures the iconic moments of fifty African American women whose heroism and bravery rewrote the American story for the better.
They were fearless. They were bold. They were game changers.

Woke: A Young Poet's Call to Justice, Browne, Mahogany L.
Woke: A Young Poet's Guide to Justice is a collection of poems to inspire kids to stay woke and become a new generation of activists.

Historically poets have been on the forefront of social movements. Woke is a collection of poems by women that reflects the joy and passion in the fight for social justice, tackling topics from discrimination to empathy, and acceptance to speaking out.

Brown Girl Dreaming, Woodson, Jacqueline
In vivid poems that reflect the joy of finding her voice through writing stories, an award-winning author shares what it was like to grow up in the 1960s and 1970s in both the North and the South.

I don't like reading Dr Seuss, especially out loud to kids. There. I said it. Seems unkind of me to say it on his birthday and all, but I did it.

However, it doesn't seem too unkind of me ... in this PBS article When asked about writing for children, Seuss has said: “I don’t write for children. I write for people.”

In my opinion (this is mine, no one else's) it becomes quite obvious that they are not written for children specifically, but for people in general. They are so long that it almost becomes a chore to read them out loud. And sometimes they just feel so cumbersome and unruly.

For those of you who know me, you know that I am a very different kind of reader. I love extremely silly (which, yes, some of Dr Seuss' are), but also quick and to the point. I want to keep kids entranced and since their attention span is (not always, but often) not very long, I want to keep them while I can.

That is why my favorite kids author is Mo Willems. His books want to have the kids interact with adults. They are written for people too, but in a different kind of way.

We Are In a Book!
Mo Willems
Summary
Gerald is careful. Piggie is not. Piggie cannot help smiling. Gerald can.
Gerald and Piggie are best friends.
In We Are in a Book Gerald and Piggie discover the joy of being read. But what will happen when the book ends?
Using vocabulary perfect for beginning readers (and vetted by an early-learning specialist), Mo Willems has crafted a mind-bending story that is even more interactive than previous Elephant & Piggie adventures. Fans of the Geisel Award-winning duo won't be able to put this book down--literally.

Just learned from Mo Willems' blog: Q: If Elephant's name is Gerald, why doesn't Piggie have a name?
A: Piggie does have a name.  Her name is "Piggie".  She was named that because when she was born she looked just like a little Piggie.  Also, Madonna, Beyonce, and Cher were taken.

"Elephant Gerald" is named after my favorite singer (say it fast).

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus
Mo Willems
Summary
When a bus driver takes a break from his route, a very unlikely volunteer springs up to take his place-a pigeon But you've never met one like this before. As he pleads, wheedles, and begs his way through the book, children will love being able to answer back and decide his fate.
In his hilarious picture book debut, popular cartoonist Mo Willems perfectly captures a preschooler's temper tantrum.

I also like the bear books by Karma Wilson a lot. Her books, similar to Dr Seuss' books have a certain rhythm and rhyme, which is nice to read aloud. However, like Mo Willem's books, there is also a lot of interaction to them, so that the kids can become part of the book, which I think is super important.

Bear Snores On
Karma Wilson
Summary
On a cold winter night many animals gather to party in the cave of a sleeping bear, who then awakes and protests that he has missed the food and the fun.

So now its your turn to interact! Who are your favorite authors? Is Dr Seuss one of them? Let us know!

The staff are super excited to dress up as princesses throughout the summer and do tons of programs based around fantasy and mythology.
Some of the highlights ...
Fairy Gardens for ages 8-12 and 13-18
The Mobile Planetarium for grades k-2 and 3-5
Omnipresent Puppet Theater Presents: Beauty and the Beast
Princess Tea Party (I will be dressed as Merida! She's my favorite!)

I know that personally, I could always use it on the 2nd and 4th Monday of the month at 6pm when we have Minecraft (which means I need some today!). It gets CRAZY in there! However, its always a ton of fun.
Things like bubble wrap always make me wonder ... how did they come up with that? What were they thinking when they made it? Not that bubble wrap is weird or wacky, its just slightly different. :)

Weird and wacky inventions
by Murphy, JimSummaryA hair-cutting machine, a used gum receptacle, jumping shoes, and more of the strangest inventions ever!A hat that can tip itself. A suitcase that turns into a bathtub. A pair of protective eyeglasses for chickens. These are just three of the hundreds of unusual inventions that people have dreamed up over the last two centuries. Some, such as the mustache guard, made perfect sense when they first appeared. Others were considered just plain silly. Jim Murphy has compiled a collection of the weirdest and wackiest inventions and presented them in a quiz style that is challenging and fun. Simple, clear explanations are provided on how the inventions worked or failed to work. Complete with over 100 colored illustrations of these crazy creations, this is the perfect gift for any child interested in science and inventions. Ages: 9–12.

Girls think of everything : stories of ingenious inventions by women
by Thimmesh, Catherine
Summary
In kitchens and living rooms, in garages and labs and basements, even in converted chicken coops, women and girls have invented ingenious innovations that have made our lives simpler and better. Their creations are some of the most enduring (the windshield wiper) and best loved (the chocolate chip cookie). What inspired these women, and just how did they turn their ideas into realities?

My daughter LOVES rubber duckies. She was furious with me when I got rid of a bunch of them because I was trying to clean the house and everything I thought we didn't need. Apparently we needed those little guys.
Do you have a favorite rubber ducky? Is it something special or is it very traditional? If you are like Ernie and Big Bird from Sesame Street, you like the traditional style rubber ducky. Ernie loved his so much that he created a song for his! "Rubber Ducky you're the one, you make bath-time twice as fun."

Want to read some rubber duck books to your rubber duck or listen to some music during bathtime? Check these out!

Another few exciting things going on this week are:
Minecraft - tonight from 6-7pm
Science Club - Thursday from 6-7pm

Of course its okay to cuddle with family too. :) What are your favorite things to cuddle up with?

Personally...
My favorite book to cuddle up with is ... wow. That's a tough one. Honestly, I like to cuddle up with random fluff that isn't too intense. So whatever is on my kindle at the time. It's a bad answer, but it's an honest one.

My favorite author is Mo Willems. Probably wouldn't "cuddle up" with his books or with him, but he's my favorite author, so that's that. He wrote  all the Pigeon picture books and the Elephant and Piggy easy readers.  I LOVE HIM!

My favorite cuddle up snack? Oooh. That's another hard one, because when you're cuddling up with a snack, expect it to be gone, so one does not exactly cuddle up with potato chips. On the other hand, cuddling up with carrots isn't all that fun either. On of my new obsessions is Chex Mix, so I guess we'll go with that.

My favorite stuffed animal is a dog (I'm ashamed to say I've forgotten his name) but I've had him since I was little and I love him all the same.

My favorite family member to cuddle up with? Wow. That's a dangerous one! HAH! Well, kids don't want to see their parents cuddling up together too much so my husband is out. My son, Jack, is 14 and almost as tall as his very tall dad, so he's out. That leaves my daughter Leila, who is still my peanut, even at 10! We even have a new special cozy blanket that we cuddle up in. YAY!

The new year! What are your plans for the new year? Any resolutions? Let us know!
Also, you've had a whole year to read books! What were your favorite this year?

You have a whole week before school starts again to think about it. Once school starts up again, I'm sure the chaos starts again too. But school is not here yet, so here are a few books for little, middle and high.

instead of making their own resolutions, the four friends assign them to one another-dares like kiss someone you know is wrong for you, find your calling outside your mom's Puerto Rican restaurant, finally learn Spanish, and say yes to everything. But as the year unfolds, Jess, Lee, Ryan, and Nora each test the bonds that hold them together. And amid first loves, heartbreaks, and life-changing decisions, beginning again is never as simple as it seems."

... and so is the stress! Luckily my kids are a little older so I can get them to wrap all the presents, but it's getting harder and harder to find presents for them. ACK. If you celebrate, how do you deal with the stresses of the holiday? In fact, how do you deal with stress in general?

I HIGHLY suggest it, as does my sister and my 10 year old and 14 year old. My daughter says that it is her favorite Raina Telgemeier book (Drama is her second favorite, BTW).
Need to alleviate your post-holiday stresses? Come in and join us on Friday morning for our FAMILY MOVIE MORNING! I keep wanting to call the movie Abdominal, but that would be a completely different movie and this one is not about your abdomen. :)