• Lists

    2024 Blogging A to Z Challenge: Nonfiction

    nonfiction

    I will forever implore readers to try nonfiction because children’s nonfiction has changed drastically in the last 20-30 years. I remember growing up that nonfiction was extremely dry, text heavy, and if you were lucky you’d get a few pen and ink drawings. Now, nonfiction is engaging and accessible for…

  • Activities

    Storytime Theme: Sand

    sand storytime header

    This is a perfect summer storytime lesson plan for toddlers and preschoolers and would work just as well in a library storytime as well as a preschool or childcare center. And if you’re a parent or caregiver, these books, songs, rhymes, and activities work just as well for families to…

  • Lists

    2024 Blogging A to Z Challenge: Mystery

    Mystery

    Another genre that I enjoy reading, today’s book list is full of middle grade and young adult mysteries. With books taking place around the world and across time, readers are sure to find a book that speaks to them. I especially like mysteries that have a really great puzzle aspect…

  • Lists

    2024 Blogging A to Z Challenge: Legends

    Legends

    Some of my favorite tales are those that feel traditional in some respects, but are in other ways. I love fractured fairy tales and stories that read like the legends I grew up with but are steeped in the history and storytelling of places that I am most unfamiliar with.…

  • Lifestyle

    Director’s Thoughts – 4/12/2024

    library card

    It’s National Library Week! And what I’ve realized is that there are so many people who don’t realize just how easy it is to get a library card. So, today’s PSA as a public library director is to teach you how easy it is to get a library card and…

  • Lists

    2024 Blogging A to Z Challenge: Kooky

    Kooky

    This list of books was one of the most fun to pull together this month! It’s full of “kooky” titles a term I use with the utmost respect. I love to read books that are so far out there, I wonder, “How did the author ever come up with this?”…

  • Lists

    15 Diverse Easy Readers

    kids reading header

    Today I’m sharing easy readers. This is a group of books that I don’t often share about but is so vitally important to creating strong readers. Easy readers are geared toward kids from ages 4-7 (with wiggle room as usual) who are beginning to learn how to read. These books…

  • Lists

    2024 Blogging A to Z Challenge: Journey

    journey

    Taking a journey is one of the specific parts of adventure stories whether it be geographical or personal. I talked about this a little more in the historical fiction post earlier this week. And the idea that while we like adventure stories to be action-packed and page-turning, but sometimes they…

  • Activities

    Storytime Theme: Watermelons

    watermelon header

    Another storytime lesson plan that was a little trickier than I originally thought it would be! I still think it makes for a perfect summer theme, it just might be a little difficult to find the books on the list below. Many of them are out of print, but if…