Discover & explore for grade schoolers: Our favorite virtual activities

Two kids on laptop

This fall, we’ve been sharing some of our favorite virtual activities with our Discover and Explore posts. Have you missed any? Check out this list of great activities to do all year round! Visit museums virtually The National Museum of Mathematics is offering free classes for kids throughout the pandemic to explore the fun side … Read more

Take a sad year & make it better: Videos & activities for early learners

Take a Sad Year & Make It Better: Tips for helping kids share memories and deal with difficult emotions

By Shelley Harris, Children’s Librarian Every year, our final Early Bird Reader tip we send via text (Want weekly early learning tips from the Oak Park Public Library? Sign up now for Early Bird Readers ») is to share stories about the year that’s ending. Sharing memories is a great way to practice narrating stories, … Read more

We suggest: Best of 2020 kids & picture books

We suggest: Best of 2020: kids & picture books

Introducing Oak Park’s Best of 2020, a librarian-curated selection of titles, featuring some of the titles most requested and checked out by Oak Parkers! See our kids and picture books favorites on this page or browse more using the links below. Adult fiction | Adult nonfiction | Teen fiction | Kids books | Picture booksTV … Read more

Virtual learning & fun for early learners: Songs to set a mood

Kids dancing with music notes

By Shelley Harris, Children’s Librarian Songs are powerful! When we plan our storytime classes, we organize them to build energy and then calm kids down before we send them back on their way. When we want to build energy, we do a lot of movement songs and silly songs, and then choose quieter songs to … Read more

Discover & explore for grade schoolers: Gender identity

Transgender spelled out on cubes

By Hal, Rainbow Services Librarian It’s Transgender Awareness Week, an annual event dedicated to educating our communities about the lives of transgender people. Transgender Awareness Week is celebrated every year during the week leading up to Transgender Day of Remembrance (November 20), a day set aside to recognize each life lost during the year to … Read more

Discover & explore for grade schoolers: Math

Mr. Luis and Honor

By Children’s Librarian Shelley Harris Math. Did you just shudder? Or grin? Most people have a strong reaction to math, one way or the other.  When I was growing up, one of my absolute must see shows was Square One TV on PBS. I was definitely a book person over a math person, but I … Read more

We suggest: Family stories

Grandparents reading together

While we may be spending more time apart this year, sharing stories can connect people and families across distances, whether you’re separated by long distances or if you’re social distancing. During Family Stories Month this November, connect with your family—biological, adopted, by choice—by sharing stories, both learning about your family’s story and reading stories about … Read more