Kids

The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City is the largest art museum in the Americas and the most-visited museum in the Western Hemisphere.  And The Met has a fantastic series of artist biographies that both considers what inspired famous artists and encourages the creation of new works.  March is Youth Art Month.  What a perfect pairing!  Read one (or all) today!

I know you like to read a good story.  Why not try to write one?  Want to make it great?  Write about your own life!  Today would be a good day to start because it's Write Down Your Story Day.  Take inspiration from author/illustrator Dan Santat's new graphic memoir about his awkward middle school years and the trip to Europe that changed his life.

A First Time for Everything by Dan Santat (02/28/23)
Dan's always been a good kid. The kind of kid who listens to his teachers, helps his mom with grocery shopping, and stays out of trouble. But being a good kid doesn't stop him from being bullied and feeling like he's invisible, which is why Dan has low expectations when his parents send him on a class trip to Europe.

Third graders, are you ready to traverse the trail in our program inspired by the popular video game?  Join us as we craft and play our way to Oregon at Survive the Oregon Trail on Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at 4 p.m.  You'll be grouped into "wagon parties" then attempt to overcome five calamites:

Calamity #1: "Hitch Yer Wagon" - Wagon parties will be tasked with crafting a wagon out of the provided food materials and attempt to successfully ford a river before time runs out.

Calamity #2: "Stay Hydrated" - Clean water was a valuable resource on the trail. Wagon parties must craft a water filter that will clean the water in their cups in order to crack the code and unlock the box before time runs out.

Calamity #3: "Who's Sick?" - Disease was rampant on the trail. Working together, party members will need to solve the matrix logic puzzle in order to know which box to open to survive. Open the wrong box, and a party member might die of Dysentery!

March 13-19, 2023 is Brain Awareness Week! It's a global campaign to get folks interested in brain science.  The more interest, the more money will be put into research.  One way you can participate is to do your own brain "research" with one of these new books.

Everything Sad Is Untrue won a ton of awards when it debuted in 2020 -- Printz Award, Christopher Award, Middle East Book Award, Walter Honor.  It also hit almost every "best of" list you've ever heard of.  If you haven't read it yet, what are you waiting for?!  If you read it and loved it and are dying to read something else by the same author, I have good news.  Daniel Nayeri has a new middle grade adventure out this week!  Read the New York Times review.

The queen of middle grade historical fiction has a new novel out this week.  As disaster looms on the horizon, a young stowaway onboard the Titanic will need all her courage and wits to stay alive. Watch the book trailer!

Iceberg by Jennifer A. Nielsen (03/07/23)
Hazel Rothbury is traveling all alone from her home in England aboard the celebrated ship Titanic. Following the untimely death of her father, Hazel’s mother is sending her to the US to work in a factory, so that she might send money back home to help her family make ends meet.

But Hazel harbors a secret dream: She wants to be a journalist, and she just knows that if she can write and sell a story about the Titanic's maiden voyage, she could earn enough money to support her family and not have to go to a sweatshop. When Hazel discovers that mother didn’t send her with enough money for a ticket, she decides she must stow away onboard the storied ship.

They are the best-loved literary pair of best friends since Frog & Toad.  How could we not host an Elephant & Piggie Party this Saturday, March 11, 2023 at 10 a.m.?!  Will there be crafts and games based on their adventures?  Naturally.  Make a thank you card inspired by The Thank You Book and no-mess slop inspired by I Really Like Slop!  Prove I'm a Frog in a frog hop and test your bird nest balancing skills in There Is a Bird on Your Head!.  You'll also get to pose for a picture that proves We Are in a Book!  And, of course, there will be an Elephant & Piggie Meet & Greet.  Two other book titles simply have to be featured in this blog.

Kindergarteners, first graders, and second graders are invited to deck themselves in green (or rainbows) and Celebrate St. Patrick's Day at Hoover Public Library on Friday, March 17, 2023 at 4 p.m.  You'll learn your leprechaun name, make a backpack keychain, and create your very own lucky shamrock.  This event is sure to fill fast, so sign up online or by phone (205-444-7830) today.

It's March.  Which means it's time to focus on the ladies.  Celebrate Women's History Month with one of these new books.  You can find even more recommendations on our WHM book display in the Kid Zone.

My birthday is Tuesday, February 28!  And I want to celebrate by sharing great new birthday books with you!

PICTURE BOOKS
Abuelita and I Make Flan by Adriana Hernandez Bergstrom
The Gift by Alain Serge Dzotap
How Old Is Mr. Tortoise? by Dev Petty
How to Party Like a Snail by Naseem Hrab
Wellington's Big Day Out by Steve Small
What's Branching?: A Birthday Adventure by Kaitlyn Siu
Your Birthday Was the Best! by Maggie Hutchings