Kids and families have been drawing, observing, crafting, and reading about plants and pollinators in this year’s summer reading program, with special activities that tie into the Year of the Butterfly. Some have even been growing native plants and raising butterflies, and sharing their moments with us. Summer reading runs through August 31, and you … Read more
By Middle School Librarian Beronica Puhr Note: A version of this post first appeared in Wednesday Journal and OakPark.com on August 3, 2021. Read the piece on OakPark.com » 2021 is the Year of the Butterfly in Oak Park Butterflies symbolize hope and renewal, and their existence is vital to the health of our planet. We all … Read more
By Children’s Librarian Shelley Harris Friends, can you believe summer is almost here? It feels like winter was just last month and also a full year ago! But the calendar does not lie: our summer reading program, Reading Colors Your World, starts next week on June 1! Kids, like adults, have been doing their best … Read more
“In a time when a lot has changed for kids, the fact that summer reading is for fun has not.” —Nora Flynn, parent of a 9-year-old summer reading champ To keep everyone safe and reading for fun, we’ve gone virtual with this year’s summer reading program. And while it looks different this year, kids and … Read more
By Children’s Librarians Shelley Harris and Genevieve Grove 5,100 challenges completed. 2,000 books read, in 285,000 minutes. 975 readers. 11,000 beads earned. AND COUNTING! Six weeks into our new virtual summer reading program, kids are blowing us away with their enthusiasm and determination. Adults know that kids who read at least 20 minutes a day … Read more
There are so many ways to bring stories into your lives, and podcasts offer a great way to listen, learn, enjoy, and grow anytime, anywhere—at home and on-the-go! Kidcasts are podcasts created especially for kids, and we’ve gathered together a list of our favorites recommended by NPR, Kids Listen, and American Public Media for you … Read more
Looking for something new to explore this summer? Three new digital resources offer whole new worlds to discover for kids of all ages! And don’t forget, all reading is good reading and counts toward your summer reading goal! So be sure to log minutes spent reading magazine articles in Beanstack. 1. Read every issue ever … Read more
Pictured above: 1,000 Books graduate Selassie and his parents celebrate completing the program last year.Get reading tips from the parents of recent graduates » Now you can sign up and track your reading with Beanstack—from anywhere, at anytime—for 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten, the library’s long-term, ongoing reading program for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. What is … Read more
Searching for good picture books online to reach your 1000 Books Before Kindergarten goals? Here are some of our favorite digital resources! Your digital library Babybug & Cricket on Flipster: Find stories just for kids in two award-winning magazines. Hoopla: Easy to navigate and use, the app offers educational and fun options for young readers of … Read more
By Shelley Harris and Genevieve Grove, Children’s Librarians Can you imagine a year without your library’s summer reading program? Neither can we! That’s why we’ve put together a safe, convenient, and fun new way to participate in our classic program online, starting June 1. This summer’s virtual version is super flexible, makes it easy to … Read more
