• Lifestyle

    Director’s Thoughts – 6/21/2023

    computer

    It’s Summer Reading time and it feels like most of my time is spent thinking, planning, talking, and even posting today’s Director’s Thoughts – 6/21/2023 about it! A time to engage families in the library even more so than usual and get kids excited about reading! Our library held our…

  • Lists

    2023 Blogging A to Z: Reflections

    Reflections

    It’s May 1st and I’ve completed my 8th year of the Blogging A to Z Challenge! Over the course of April, I shared 26 blog posts with 312 picture book, chapter book, middle grade, and young adult titles under my theme – Books for Every Reader! I hope you found…

  • Lists

    2023 Blogging A to Z: Zany

    Z: Zany

    I can’t believe we’ve already reached the letter “Z” It has been a very busy month and I’m so glad I got to share over 300 titles and authors with you! For the letter “Z”, I chose the word zany. Zany became my catch-call letter for some really fun, wacky,…

  • Lists

    2023 Blogging A to Z: Youthful

    Y: Youthful

    I wanted the chance to throw in some picture books to the 300+ titles I was suggesting this month, so I thought my adjective “youthful” would be the perfect place for them! I tried to pull a mix of picture book titles that are great for older readers with more…

  • Reviews

    Like – Picture Book Review

    kids on the beach

    Summary: “Are you like a tin can?Not really. How about a swimming pool?Like a swimming pool, you are filled with water and chemicals and dirt, so you are a little bit like a swimming pool. How about mushrooms, excavators, hyenas . . .  Hey, wait a minute! You know what…

  • Lists

    20 Favorite Graphic Novels

    graphic novel

    Graphic novels are some of the most popular books in my library for kids! They absolutely LOVE them! I often think that kids fail to look beyond the perennial favorites like Raina Telegemeier and Dav Pilkey. Not to say there is anything wrong with either of these authors – they…

  • Lists

    15 Short Middle Grade Books

    short book header

    Great books don’t have to be over 400 pages. In fact, it takes a really great writer to write a long book that will readers reading. J. K. Rowling is probably one of the most well-known authors who was able to manage this for a younger audience. But, that doesn’t…

  • Activities

    Storytime Theme: Trees

    trees header

    Tree-themed storytimes usually happen in the spring or the fall due to the changes that happen to tree leaves during those seasons, but these great books can be used at any time of year! A lot of tree-themed picture books do mention the seasons, while others are focused on tree…

  • Lists

    20 Middle Grade Illustrated Titles

    illustration header

    Illustrated chapter books and middle grade titles are some of the most popular books available for kids these days. Unlike the graphic novel format, these books are written in typical prose but contain illustrations throughout the work to supplement the writing. Books like Captain Underpants and Big Nate are perennial…

  • Lists

    Top Ten Tuesday: Books Set In a Place I’d Love to Visit

    Top Ten Tuesday

    This was such a hard list to pull together because I love to travel! And I’d love to travel just about everywhere! Today, I’m highlighting some YA books set around the world. Some of these are a little more on the fantasy side or historical side, but that doesn’t stop…