BKLYN Kids Presents: Hanukkah Books to Feast Upon
Hanukkah Books to Feast Upon The year 2013 was a special year as the first night of Hanukkah coincided with Thanksgiving. Although the two holidays do not fall on exactly the same night this year, Hanukkah celebrants this year are looking forward to turkey and pie, followed by latkes and donuts in the same long weekend. Here are some Hanukkah books that are worth checking out after feasting on all your holiday favorite foods: Meet the Latkes written by Alan Silberberg Meet the Latke Family. They are just like your family, but they are potato pancakes...and they get a…
BKLYN Kids Presents: New Books for a New Year!
Marlene, Assistant Branch Manager - Cypress Hills
Books for Toddlers, Tweens and Everyone In Between By Samantha Owen, Marlene Michalek and the BPL New Books Committee -- Youth and Family Services BPL librarians recently announced their favorite new children’s books from the latter half of 2021. This year’s selections celebrate body positivity, take readers to fantastical worlds, and highlight important historical people and events. On this list you’ll find The People Remember, written by Ibi Zoboi and illustrated by Loveis Wise, a nonfiction picture book that honors African American…
BPL "Shelfies" Tribute
The world recently lost two great Children's Author/Illustrators: Eric Carle and Lois Ehlert. Both masters of bright colors and collage, their books bring vibrancy to our bookshelves and joy to our storytimes. As a tribute to their prolific work, BPL staff (and family!) took "Shelfies" with some of their favorite titles! All featured titles can be accessed at the end of the post. This booklist is a compilation of the titles we love. Browse through the list, place a hold and check them out at your local branch today!
Book Talk: Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Marlene Michalek Kathy Gerber Allison Gerolami
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month! Since 1992, this is the month where we highlight the accomplishments and contributions of the AAPI communities in the United States. With the unacceptable rise of anti-Asian violence worldwide, it is even more important to bring attention to these amazing books written by AAPI writers. Before introducing you to the winners of 2021's American Library Association's Asian/Pacific American Awards for Children and Young Adult literature, just a note on prolific children's author/illustrator Grace Lin who gave a wonderful TEDx talk…
Book Talk: Celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival
Jessica Ng
The Mid-Autumn Festival is a traditional festival celebrated and observed in East and Southeast Asia and overseas. The festival is held on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Lunar year, typically between mid September and early October in the Gregorian (western) calendar, when it is believed that the moon is at its brightest and fullest size, celebrating family and friends gathering and reunion, Thanksgiving, and Praying. Here is a selection of books to help you and your family celebrate! (click here for the complete list of English and Chinese titles available in print and eBook formats…
Book Talk: Books for the Jewish High Holidays
Tonight, Jewish families around the world will be celebrating Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Rosh Hashanah can take place in September or October, depending on the Hebrew calendar. There are quite a few Jewish traditions to starting the Jewish New Year off right, but one of my favorites is dipping apple slices into honey to welcome in the sweetness of the new year.
Book Talk: Maps in Children's Books
Kat Savage, Neighborhood Library Supervisor, Adams Street Library; Danielle
You know how books are. They have covers. You open them up, and there’s so much stuff before the story even starts. The copyright page, other books by the author, the dedication. Maybe there’s a table of contents or an epigraph or a... oh my gosh, could it be?… yes! Yes it’s a MAP! Nothing says fantasy like a good map. Not all fantasy books have maps, and not all books with maps are fantasies. But when there is a map, I bookmark that page. In the midst of the tale, I turn back to it, squinting. If Ged has to get to Roke from Hort Town by sailing west, well, is that very far at all? When…
Imagining Your Story: Myth and Folktales from Around the World
Rachel Weiss
As the school year ends and those long summer days inch ever nearer, planning how to fill those hours is no easy task. Luckily, the fine librarians of the Brooklyn Public Library are bringing Summer Reading to the virtual space with the Beanstack app and our eReader services, Overdrive and SimplyE. This year our Summer Reading theme is “Imagine Your Story”, and, if you can imagine it, we have stories for you. Over the next several weeks, our Librarians will be bringing you videos that highlight some of our Summer Reading titles. This week Rebecca of Sunset Park Library shared Weird but…
Kids Explore: Brooklyn Birds
Rachel Lipkin
While most families are stuck indoors amidst this global pandemic and leaving the house or apartment seems less and less likely we, as public librarians, aim to make this time easier for you and your child. Having been quarantined for the last three weeks I found ways to entertain myself and learn a new skill all at the same time and while exploring my own urban backyard. You do not need to live near a park to participate in this activity. The only thing you need is a sense of exploration, curiosity, and the Merlin Bird ID app. Bonus points if you can get your hands on a pair of binoculars (…
Celebrating Tomie dePaola
If you’ve ever read to a tiny kid, or been a tiny kid getting read to, chances are, you’ve encountered a book by Tomie dePaola. He was the author and illustrator of over 270 books, including childhood favorites like the tales of Strega Nona, and his most recent publications, Quiet, Wings, with Cheryl B. Klein, and I Will Talk to You, Little One with Phyllis E. Gann. His career spanned over 50 years of writing and illustration. Toie dePaola passed away on March 30, 2020. To honor and commemorate his memory, we wanted to share these resources:…
BKLYN Kids Presents: National Wildlife Week
National Wildlife Week starts today, April 6th. We know that it may not be easy right now to find ways to get outside and explore nature and wildlife. With these crafts, books, and other resources, you will be able to bring the wildlife exploration closer to home! Kids Create New York Zoos and Aquarium: Build Your Wild Self (Based on an Activity from the Bronx Zoo) You can choose to do this on paper or on the computer. Start by drawing yourself, and replace some of your features with aspects of different animals: What kind of eyes do you have? Cat eyes that see in the…
BKLYN Kids Presents: National Physicians Week
Doctors, nurses, and medical professionals are working tirelessly around the clock to keep us all healthy, especially now. To celebrate National Physicians Week from March 25-31, 2020 we have come up with a booklist, crafts, and activities to inspire you. Here is a list of books you can read with your kids, including some they can read independently, to help answer questions about what doctors do, and what a child can expect at a doctor visit. Kids Create Cotton Swab Painting: Super fun and easy, all you need is cotton swab / cotton balls , paper…
Book Talk: National Agriculture Week
Signs of spring are starting to show: the days are brighter and warmer. Green shoots are popping up in gardens, on sidewalks and windowsills. Take part in National Agriculture week from your own backyard, windowsill or kitchen. March 22 through 28 marks National Agriculture Week 2020, a time to celebrate the essential role of the farmers and growers of the nation. Whether you have an expert green thumb, a budding interest in getting started with urban gardening, or you love to eat fresh fruits and vegetables, this list of electronic resources will have something for you to…
Read & Play: New Read Along Books
With a fresh batch of Vox Read Along books hitting the shelves at your local library, families can spice up storytime with some great new titles. Two funny favorites from the new collection are: Ten Rules of the Birthday Wish by Beth Ferry and The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors by Drew Daywalt. These new Vox books have better speakers with 40% higher volume and a safeguard feature that automatically adjusts the volume to a lower level when headphones are plugged into the books. Also new is an on/off switch to save battery life and indicator lights that show when…
Book Talk: 2019 Mock Awards
Beanbag, Children's Librarian
Every year, at the American Library Association's annual Midwinter Meeting, a slate of awards are handed out to the best and most notable books for children and young adults that were published the preceding year. In anticipation of this announcement, libraries across the country hold their own "mock" awards for some of the major categories. At Brooklyn Public Library we hold three of these mock events: for the Caldecott, Newbery, and Printz. (While I have participated in previous years in the Mock Printz discussion—for Young Adult literature—I sat out this year's and will only be focussing…
Book Talk: Tales from the Seasonal Cookie Jar
A fresh batch of picture books about cookies will keep kids and adults entertained this holiday season. Cookiesaurus Christmas written by Amy Fellner Dominy and Nate Evans, and Illustrated by AG Ford Visions of funny sugar cookies dressed like dinosaurs may be dancing in your head after reading Cookiesaurus Christmas. This is a laugh out loud story about a cookie decorated as a T-rex (the Cookiesaurus) who vies for a prized spot on Santa’s cookie plate. Will Cookiesaurus succeed in his quest? Milk will be spilled and cookies will be tossed, but kids will cheer for the fun and…
Book Talk: More Picture Books in Translation
Beanbag, Children's Librarian
Last year I put together a list of "some of the weirdest, wonderfulest, most beautiful and baffling books" that I had been sharing in my storytime programs, books from around the world that had been translated into English. Open your mind and find yourself a comfy reading spot, because here's another batch! From Morning to Night written and illustrated by Flavia Ruotolo From French. Subtitled "a book of hidden shapes," bold two-color illustrations are transformed in unexpected and delightful ways. Each pair stands on its own, but also work one to the next to tell the story of a…
Bklyn Kids Presents: Banned Books Week
Banned Books Week (Sept 23-29th) celebrates books that are often challenged or banned from public and school libraries. In case you missed out, here are some great displays made in honor of Banned Books Week 2018 by your local Brooklyn Public Library staff!
New Back to School Reads!
Beanbag, Children's Librarian
Just like new school supplies, there is something exciting about being the first person to read a brand-new book. These back-to-school titles were all published in 2018. We promise that you will be among the first to read them! Adventures to School: Real-Life Journeys of Students from Around the World written by Baptiste Paul Children all around the world go to school. Whether they're from Japan, Ukraine, Pakistan, or the United States, all students have the desire to learn about our world and shape the future. Check the Catalog It's your First Day of…
Book Talk: Children's Picture Books About Mindfulness
Despite its status as a buzzword these days, mindfulness is an essential life tool. Studies show that people of all ages benefit from mindfulness practices. Children who learn these tools are able to focus better in school, they are less anxious, more confident and creative, and more likely to become leaders among their peers. By instilling mindfulness in children at a young age, they will be able to carry these lessons with them into adulthood as old friends, instead of struggling to create new habits as is often the case when we are already grown. This list is by no means exhaustive, but…
Book Talk: Spring New Books
Beanbag, Children's Librarian
Twice a year, in the spring and fall, the Children's Book Showcase Committee holds a meeting to present some of the highlights of recently published kids' books. Committee members each choose three or four titles from a subcategory of books: picture books, fiction for younger readers, fiction for school-age readers, graphic novels, non-fiction, etc. See below for some of the highlights of the highlights of this spring's picks. Neither written and Illustrated by Airlie Anderson In the Land of This and That, everyone is either one way or the other. Neither does not fit in. So Neither…
Book Talk: Growl
Beanbag, Children's Librarian
Here at the BKLYN Kids Blog, we endeavor to post new content every Thursday. The reason that this post is going live just over the wire (it is 12:44am on Friday as I am about to hit "publish") is not entirely because I am a procrastinator, but because it has changed form, changed tone, grown and shrunk a number of times since I started working on it a few weeks ago. It began, when in the lead up to the Academy Awards, I saw an infographic illustrating the percentage of lines in Oscar winning films spoken by men vs those spoken by women. The results are unfortunately not hard to surmise but no…
Book Talk: Mock Newbery and Caldecott Awards
Beanbag, Children's Librarian
The Newbery and Caldecott Awards (the "Oscars of the children's book world") are presented annually by the Association for Library Services to Children, a division of the American Library Association. The John Newbery Medal was established in 1922, and is given to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children up to the age of fourteen. It has customarily been given to works of fiction for middle-grade readers, but in recent years has been awarded to graphic novels, picture books, works of poetry, and nonfiction as well. The Randolph Caldecott Medal was…
Book Talk: Notable Books of 2017
Beanbag, Children's Librarian
There are books that move us, others that make us laugh and some that provide us with endless inspiration. As the year is coming to an end our children's librarians look back on some of the most notable books of 2017. These books show great artistic appeal, are creatively put together and encourage children to explore their interests and relationship with reading. Younger Readers Before & After by Jean Jullien Graphic artist Jean Jullien cleverly illustrates a series of situations where there is a “before” and “after” and sometimes even an “in-…
Comic & Manga Fan? Let's test that...
The Brooklyn Public Library has a great collection of new comics and manga for kids. But before we get into that, let’s see how much you already know. . . The Brooklyn Public Library’s Ultimate Comic Trivia Quiz! Loading... Point Breakdown: 0-1 points: Total newb 2-3 points: Budding nerdist 3-4 points: Respectable comic connoisseur 5 points: Ultimate comic maven Looking for new comics? Here are some our favorites. . . Nightlights by Lorena…
#IndigenousReads by Indigenous Writers: A Children’s Reading List
Kalliopi Mathios
Our friends at Seattle Public Library shared an article which includes a curated list of recommended children’s books by Indigenous authors and illustrators. The list was curated by The Conscious Kid Library and American Indians in Children’s Literature, in partnership with Brooklyn Children’s Museum. The article opens with a statistic that should sound the alarms in children’s publishing offices across the U.S., and shines light on the extreme disparities in Indigenous representation and authorship in children’s books: Only 1% of the children’s books published in the U.S. in 2016…
Spooktacular Stories
Ask a Librarian Pumpkin (Courtesy of CliffLandis) When I was a kid, I was obsessed with scary stories. One of my favorites? Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark . Those illustrations haunt me to this day! Scary stories can help us deal with our fears in a safe environment, and experience the adrenaline / excitement of those fears without being in any real danger. As a shy, reserved child, they served as an exciting outlet for me. I think Horror gets a bad rap - often dismissed as a lesser genre, purely there for our entertainment. In reality, the best scary…
You are YOU-nique!
Sometimes creating your own path or doing things your own way is difficult but it is ultimately rewarding. These picture books caught my eye not only because they are fun and quirky, but they also inspire individuality and encourage kids to embrace their differences. All make for great read-alouds and are suitable for kids from pre-K to about first grade. More and more inclusive, diverse and mindful books are being written for children these days. Most of the books on this list are fairly recent publications. For more suggestions, check out these other lists by Brooklyn Public Library…
Picture Books in Translation
Beanbag, Children's Librarian
Storytime is my absolute favorite time of the week in the library. I love discovering weird, wonderful, beautiful, baffling books and then getting to share them. And I've found that some of the weirdest, wonderfulest, most beautiful and baffling books are those that have made their way into English via translation from another language. I'm excited to share some of my recent finds with you! A Most Mysterious Mouse written by Giovanna Zoboli, illustrated by Lisa D'Andrea, translated by Antony Shugaar From Italian. An industrious cat spends all his time thinking of mice: a mouse…
Inspire Young Inventors with STEM Picture Books
Each of these titles focuses on a different element of STEM: science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. These work best as books to read aloud or read together for children ages 3-9. Explore Nanobots with Chris Gall, or follow Max through his adventures in Max Speed, before having your own adventure in STEM. View our events calendar to attend a STEM program at your local branch. Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn by Kenard Pak As trees sway in the cool breeze, blue jays head south, and leaves change their colors, everyone knows—autumn is on its way! Join a young girl as she takes a…
5 Historical Fiction Books For Winter
These five titles make excellent picks for readers interested in historical fiction: made up stories that take place during real historical times or events. Ideal for readers aged 7-12, these books transport readers to Depression-era Key West, the 1860s Great Plains, and 1970s California, among others. Paper Wishes by Lois Sephban When 10-year-old Manami and her family are suddenly ordered to move to a prison camp just because they're Japanese, Manami loses her voice and can only speak through her drawings. Pair with Weedflower by Cynthia Kadohata or Remembering Manzanar:…