Winter Solstice: It's the Return of the Light!
When my now 18-year-old and 16-year-old kiddos were in elementary school, their teachers would have Winter Solstice parties just before the start of December break. When I was in elementary school from 1977-1984, we had Christmas parties and lit Hanukkah candles. We didn’t learn about “Winter Solstice,” whatever that was. I assumed that schools had chosen to recognize this scientific phenomena in order to be more inclusive of the different cultures that compromised the student bodies of New York City. It wasn’t until I started reading up on earth celebrations earlier this year that I…
Kids Create: Funky Sweater Ornaments!
Happy holidays from the Brooklyn Public Library, we hope this craft finds you well! This funky sweater craft is a great way to exercise your little ones fine motor skills and will allow them to flex their funny bones! How To: 1. I began by tracing and cutting out a singular sweater shape. Once I had that, I traced the outline of it four times on a piece of cardstock. 2. After cutting out our whimsical sweater shapes, I used a hole puncher to create a circle at the top of the sweater, where our ribbon will go. 3. Once I finished decorating, I curled some…
Make Winter Fun with Brooklyn Public Library
Struggling with the post-holiday blues? Brooklyn Public Library offers a variety of free activities that can help you stay busy, engaged and warm this season—here are just a few! Culture Pass There are dozens of arts and cultural activities you can access completely free of charge by making a reservation through Culture Pass! Sign in with your library card credentials at culturepass.nyc and you’ll find free passes for more than 75 different locations around the city. You can use Culture Pass to visit museums, take a brisk stroll through the Brooklyn Botanic Garden or Wave…
Let it Snow! Winter-Themed Fantasy Books to Curl Up With
It's somehow already December and the temperature is starting to drop. It even snowed a bit the other day! What better way to stay warm and cozy than to curl up with a good book? Here are some fun winter-themed fantasy novels to check out, and two booklists I made for more recommendations: BKLYN BookMatch: Wintery Reads for Teens Wintery YA Set in Fantastical Worlds A Winter's Promise by Christelle Dabos: Plain-spoken, headstrong Ophelia cares little about appearances. Her ability to read the past of objects is unmatched in all of Anima and, what's more, she…
Cozy Up with These Wintry Tales
It's early February and we finally got hit with our first snowstorm. It's the perfect time to wrap yourself up in a cozy blanket, sip a hot drink and crack open a book that will transport you to magical land, or scenic wintry destinations. Here are five picks to get you started! Beartown: A Novel by Fredrik Backman A tiny community nestled deep in the forest, the junior ice hockey team of Beartown is about to compete in the national semi-finals, and they actually have a shot at winning. All the hopes and dreams of this place now rest on the shoulders of a handful of teenage boys, and…