Kids

The RMS Titanic sank in the early morning hours of April 15, 1912 in the North Atlantic Ocean, four days into her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York City.  It is a tragedy that still fascinates people today.  Which is why we're inviting 4th, 5th, and 6th graders to Discover the Titanic on Friday, April 14, 2023 at 10:00 a.m.  We'll explore the facts and find out just how cold 28-degree water feels.  Then, each person will receive a passenger identity and follow a series of clues, escape-room style, to find out their fate.  Registration is a must for this event.  Sign up online or by phone (205-444-7830) today.  (This is during Hoover City Schools' e-learning day, so space will fill up fast!)

Want to learn more about the infamous voyage?  Check out a book from the library!  Simply look for Dewey Decimal number 910.9163.

April is Jazz Appreciation Month!

A Child's Introduction to Jazz: The Musicians, Culture, and Roots of the World's Coolest Music by Jabari Asim (12/27/22)
Welcome to jazz! Feel the music and rhythms of all the different styles of jazz, from swing and Dixieland to the blues and bebop, with this interactive introduction to the world’s coolest music.  You’ll learn all about the roots of jazz in Africa and New Orleans and how the music traveled to different parts of the United States and around the world. Along the way you’ll meet legendary trumpeter Louis Armstrong, who shaped a new form of jazz called improvisation; pianist and bandleader Duke Ellington, who helped create the big band sound of the swing era; and the singer Billie Holiday, whose songs such as “God Bless the Child,” “Don’t Explain,” and “Lady Sings the Blues” have become jazz standards.  Listen along to the sounds of jazz by downloading music and hearing instruments such as trumpets, clarinets, trombones, and even singers scatting as they improvise melodies. 

Third graders, are you ready to get your glow on?  The library is hosting a Glow Art Extravaganza exclusively for you!  You'll have the chance to make a neon masterpiece in our black light studio on Tuesday, April 4, 2023 at 4 p.m. Space is limited and registration is required.  Sign up online or by phone (205-444-7830) today!  

BOOK BONUS!
Luminous: Living Things That Light Up the Night by Julia Kuo
The Science of Light: Things That Shine, Flash, and Glow by Margaret Peot

Spring Crafts Across Cultures: 12 Projects to Celebrate the Season by Megan Borgert-Spaniol
It's always the season for crafting!  This book focuses on Holi, St.Patrick's Day, Passover, Easter, Hanami, April Fool's Day, Songkran, Earth Day, Ramadan, Wesak, Mother's Day, and Cinco de Mayo.

Little Homesteader: A Spring Treasury of Recipes, Crafts, and Wisdom by Angela Ferraro-Fanning
Families looking for nature-based fun away from phones and screens will adore this wholesome children’s collection of cooking, crafting, and gardening projects, locally printed on 100% recycled paper.

March 19-25, 2023 is American Chocolate Week.  Why have I not been celebrating every single day?!  I will simply have to consume a week's worth of chocolate in two days.  Totally doable.  Oh, and I'll also read this book.

The Islamic calendar is based around the lunar cycle, so the holy month of Ramadan does not always fall on the same dates each year.  In 2023, Ramadan began following the sighting of the moon over Mecca on March 22.  If you do not celebrate Ramadan, you can still use the next 30 days to focus your reading on Muslim literature.  We currently have a display in the Kid Zone that is filled with options.  And I'm going to highlight several new titles in this blog.

Since 1993, March 22nd has been declared World Water Day.  It celebrates life-giving water and raises awareness of the 2 billion people living without access to safe water.  We have lots of great books to keep you informed.  (With more on the way!  I took a break from unboxing new books to write this blog.  Guess how many of the titles are about water?  Five!)  Read one today!

We all know that April is National Poetry Month.  It's one of the first "months" you learn about when you are a children's librarian.  But did you know that today, March 21, is World Poetry Day?  Now you know.  And now you can get a jumpstart on what's new in the poetry world.  That way you can wow the folks who only know about National Poetry Month.  Here are some recent releases with global appeal.

Spring Break is just around the corner!  Now, some of you will be out of town.  You made your plans months ago.  But some of you are staying in Hoover, and you have barely started planning how to fill the days.  Let Hoover Public Library help you have fun this Spring Break!  Here's everything that we have going on that week.

MONDAY, MARCH 27, 2023
Baby Playdate at 9:30 a.m.
Enjoy a brief storytime activity and open ended play. Ages 0-18 Months. Registration required.
Story Lab: Spring Break Surprise at 4 p.m.
One story prompts lots of hands-on S.T.E.A.M. activities designed for 3 to 8-year-olds.  No registration needed.