By Children’s Librarian Genevieve Grove Love it, hate it, or just tolerate it, snow is a fact of life for those of us living in the Midwest! Here are some of my favorite ways to look at those fluffy, icy, crunchy, and powdery piles outside our windows. Read & explore Wilson “Snowflake” Bentley was a … Read more
By Children’s Librarian Eileen Saam As we spend time at home this winter, many families are likely dedicating more time to screens—playing games and watching videos, movies, and television shows. Time on screens can provide positive experiences for families—a way to relax and have fun, connect, and share experiences together. This time also can provide … Read more
By Shelley Harris, Children’s Librarian The start of a new year is a traditional time to set goals and try new things. Success, of course, varies! With so much uncertainty still overshadowing our days—thanks to the pandemic—success might feel even more challenging than usual. So let’s talk about ways to build early learning routines in … Read more
By Eileen Saam, Children’s Librarian As families wrap up their holiday shopping, parents and caregivers of preschool-aged children may be thinking about purchasing a tablet for their child. Some may have recently purchased a tablet and are now wondering which apps they should download. Some may also be wondering how much screen time is appropriate … Read more
Introducing Oak Park’s Best of 2021, 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 & nonfiction | Teen fiction | Kids & picture books | TV … Read more
Welcome everyone! Today we will briefly explore a pillar of Puerto Rican cultural expression known as Bomba. We will learn that beyond its existence as a musical genre in Puerto Rico, Bomba has its origins amongst the enslaved Africans on the island dating back to at least the 17th century and it was used as … Read more
Check out the 2021 National Book Awards winners and our readalike title suggestions, curated by Oak Park’s fantastically well-read librarians! The National Book Awards were established in 1950 to celebrate the best writing in America. Learn more about how the awards work from the National Book Foundation » Winners & readalikes
By Children’s Librarian Eileen Saam As mentioned in my first post in this series, Google is a great resource of information and can be a useful first source when researching for school projects. But did you know that there are many subscription-based library resources that can be accessed online with your Oak Park library card? … Read more
Playaway Launchpads are tablets pre-loaded with high-quality learning apps and games for kids ages preschool through fifth grade. No ads. No download time. No need for internet access. Available at all locations. Children can create a personal avatar and choose their own adventures. From math and science to reading and music, launchpads are 100% secure, designed … Read more
By Shelley Harris, Children’s Librarian It’s been a week since Halloween: is your kid still wearing their costumes? Dress-up imaginative play is such an important part of childhood! You know what big fans we are of Mr. Rogers here at the library, and this quote really resonated: “One of Fred’s favorite stories was about a … Read more
