Kids

Our community loved it so much, they asked us to do it again.  So  . . . here we go!  Black History Month Book Bingo is back!  During the month of February, challenge yourself to read lots of books featuring Black characaters or created by Black authors and illustrators.  Write their titles in the squares of our BHM Book Bingo Card,  (You can print it from here or pick up a form in the Kid Zone).  Receive an entry for a book bundle prize (featuring the 2023 Coretta Scott King Award-winning books) each time you get BINGO!  The last day for prize entries is February 28th.

Need help finding books?  Check out our Black History Month display, located at the turn in the starred hallway that leads to the Youth Program Room.  We're keeping it stocked with terrific titles.  You can also always ask a librarian for a recommendation.

February 1st is National Girls and Women in Sports Day!  Is this something only females should celebrate?  Absolutely not.  If you're a girl, play your favorite sport.  If you're a guy, go watch some female athletes do their thing.  And everyone can read one of these new books!

Today is the day!  The American Library Association announced the 2023 Youth Media Award winners this morning at their LibLearnX conference in New Orleans!  Many of our staff's favorite books (make sure you take a look at our lists in the Downloads section of Katie Jane's Corner) were honored.  Add these to YOUR to-read list pronto!

Newbery Medal
Freewater by Amina Luqman-Dawson

Newbery Honors
Iveliz Explains It All by Andrea Beatriz Arango
The Last Mapmaker by Christina Soontornvat
Maizy Chen's Last Chance by Lisa Yee

January 27th is National Geographic Day!  National Geographic was founded as a magazine in 1888.  It was one of the first magazines to reproduce color photographs, and it became world famous for its richly illustrated articles on the various geographic regions of the world.  Today National Geographic is SO MUCH MORE than a magazine.  Take a look at everything they have to offer online, both for kids and adults.  Then read one of the amazing nonfiction books they've published in the past year.

Are you a Kindergartener, 1st grader, or 2nd grader who likes to be in the kitchen?  Do you also like wintry things?  Join Miss Traci for Nailed It: Polar Pals Edition on Tuesday, January 31, 2023 at 4 p.m. for a chance to recreate a snowman cupcake and a penguin cookie.  Sign up online or by phone (205-444-7830) soon.  These programs fill up fast!

While you're at the library, take a look at these new dessert cookbooks.
Michaels Desserts: Sweets for a Cause by Michael C. Platt
Super Good Cookies for Kids by Duff Goldman

The Golden Globes were January 10th, and the Sundance Film Festival is January 19-31.  Movies are a hot topic this month!  When people talk about movies, it usually inspires us to want to watch them.  Do it!  But don't forget about books!  Maybe you can shift your reading to a movie focus with these new titles.

Established by Article I of the Constitution, the Legislative Branch of American government consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate, which together form the United States Congress.  Their main objective is to form laws.  2023 marks the first session of the 118th Congress.  They will begin their work in earnest next week.  That gives you time to take a look at one of these new books!

The creators behind The Proudest Blue have done it again!

The Kindest Red: A Story of Hijab and Friendship by Ibtihaj Muhammad, S.K. Ali & Hatem Aly (01/10/23)
It’s picture day and Faizah can’t wait to wear her special red dress with matching hair ribbons, passed down from her mother and sister. Faizah’s teacher starts the day by asking her students to envision the kind of world they want, inspiring Faizah and her friends to spend the day helping one another in ways large and small.   But when it’s time for sibling pictures, Faizah realizes that she and her older sister, Asiya, don’t match like her classmates do with their siblings. With help from her classmates inspired by Asiya’s hijab, Faizah finds that acts of kindness can come back to you in unexpected ways.  

January is National Hot Tea Month, and January 12th is National Hot Tea Day!  That means two things.  One, you better get yourself a hot tea.  Two, you should read one of these new books while sipping on that tasty, toasty beverage.

PICTURE BOOK
Luli and the Language of Tea by Anna Wang (05/24/22)
When five-year-old Luli joins her new English as a Second Language class, the playroom is quiet. Luli can’t speak English, neither can anyone else. That’s when she has a brilliant idea to host a tea party and bring them all together.  Luli removes her teapot, thermos, and teacups from her bag and calls out “Chá!” in her native Chinese. One by one, her classmates pipe up in recognition: in Russian, Hindi, Turkish, Persian, Arabic, and Spanish, Portuguese, and Swahili. Tea is a tasty language they all know well, and it gives them a chance to share and enjoy each other’s company. When all the tea is gone and it’s time for dessert, Luli gets to use her favorite English word, cookie! After that, the playroom isn’t so quiet.