Kids

Today is Cesar Chavez Day, in honor of the Arizona-born civil rights and labor activist who fought for better conditions for farmworkers. The day is observed on the anniversary of his birth in 1927.   This U.S. federal commemorative holiday is relatively new, proclaimed by President Barack Obama in 2014.  So you might not know all there is to know about Cesar Chavez.  Here are some books to help rectify that situation.

Jessie Sima, the author of Not Quite Narwhal, has another magical picture book out this week!

Perfectly Pegasus (03/29/22)
Nimbus has always lived among the clouds. She’s a pegasus, after all, and the sky is where she belongs. She is one of a kind. And when she wants a friend, all she has to do is look up—and talk to the stars.  Only...they don’t really talk back. The clouds don’t, either. And sometimes, being the only pegasus can be a little...lonely? So she decides to find a fallen star to make a wish on—and wishes for friends who are just like her. Along the way she meets a Unicorn named Kelp, and a host of other creatures...who might just open her eyes to something other than what’s up in the sky.

Watch the book trailer and access activity sheets on the publisher's website.

It's Spring Break 2022, and we're focusing on video games in all of our special events.  So, OBVIOUSLY, I need to make sure my book recs are in sync.  Here are some of the newest books for all you gamers who are also readers.

Next week is Spring Break!  Some folks will go on vacation, but a lot of us will be staying in town.  Looking for something fun (and free!) to do?  Check out our Game On! programming.

Mario Kart Tournament for Grades 4-6
Tuesday, March 29, 2022 at 3:30 pm
Mario Kart Tournament for Grades 7-12
Tuesday, March 29, 2022 at 6:30 pm
Both of these events will be a single winner competition on the Switch.  Participants do have to register.  Click on the blue program name to sign up online or give us a call (205-444-7830).

Gameapalooza
Wednesday, March 30, 2022 at 10:30 am
This all-ages program will feature a Minecraft maze, both a Pokemon and Sonic the Hedgehog game, a Piranha Plant craft, three larger-than-life classic games -- Connect 4, Jenga, Tic Tac Toe -- and snacks.  Registration is not required.

On March 21, 2006, the social media website Twitter was established with the sending of the first “tweet” by co-founder Jack Dorsey, who wrote: “just setting up my twttr.”  Now, Twitter’s annual revenue stands at just over $5 billion!  It is the seventh most popular social media platform and the ninth most visited website globally.  One quarter of U.S. adults use Twitter.  The average user spends 5.1 hours a month on Twitter.  It's all quite mind blowing!

Now, I know what you're wondering.  How can Miss Katie Jane have a perfect pair of books for Twitter Day?  Well, I broadened my scope.  What icon is associated with Twitter?  That's right, a bird.  What do birds use to communicate with each other?  Their beaks.  Are there two new nonfiction books about bird beaks?  Why, yes . . . yes, there are!

Are you ready for the reveal of another unusual publishing trend?  I noticed that there are a lot of great new books about tiny heroes on BIG adventures.

We built this city.  We built this city on . . . cardboard!

Actually, the construction has yet to begin.  We need our 4th, 5th, and 6th grade architects and engineers to help us build our Cardboard City next Tuesday, March 22, 2022 at 4 p.m.  You'll work collaboratively to build everything a city needs for its citizens to live, work, learn, and play.  Your building material?  Oh-so-versatile cardboard.  We'll need a heads-up on how many are coming, so please register online or by phone (205-444-7830).

BOOK BONUS!
Cardboard Box Engineering: Cool, Inventive Projects for Tinkerers, Makers & Future Scientists by Jonathan Adolph (2020)
Amazing Cardboard Tube Science by Jodi Wheeler-Toppen (2017)
Out of the Box by Jemma Westing (2017)

We definitely have SPRING FEVER in the Kid Zone this week!  Do you?  If so, drop by to participate in one of these activities!

Spring Rainbow S.T.E.A.M. Pick-Up Packs
Grab a green bag filled with instructions and supplies for four hands-on learning activities: 3-D Cut & Measure Rainbow, Paint Chip Flower Mosaic, Rainbow Run, and Holi Color Scavenger Hunt.  These are available beginning Monday, March 14, 2022, while supplies last (100 bags).  You'll also find a display of picture and nonfiction books about rainbows, flowers, Holi, and other colorful spring things.

Shamrock Scavenger Hunt
Find all the shamrocks hidden in the Children's Department and get a prize!  The hunt begins Thursday, March 17, 2022 (St. Patrick's Day) and continues through Friday, March 19.

Today is World Plumbing Day!  It is designed to raise awareness about the important role plumbing plays in our society, protecting public health.   We take many things for granted such as clean drinking water, flushing toilets and showers.  Many developing countries have simplistic or non-existent plumbing.  Over a billion people do not have access to safe water supplies or sanitation, and millions die each year from water-related illnesses.  You may have never given plumbing much thought before.  But I hope you will now.  And there are two newer nonfiction books that are a perfect match for today's "holiday".

March is Youth Art Month, a chance to promote the visual arts and art education.  Do you know that you can educate yourself about art by reading books?  Of course you do!  Do you know about the latest art book releases for kids?  You do now!