Tag: library

20 St. Patrick’s Day Books for Kids

Are you looking for St. Patrick’s Day children’s books to check out at the library or purchase? Check out the following list for ideas.
St. Patrick’s Day Books
  1. How to Catch a Leprechaun (2016) by Adam Wallace and Andy Elkerton
  2. Pete the Cat: The Great Leprechaun Chase: Includes 12 St. Patrick’s Day Cards, Fold-Out Poster, and Stickers! (2019) by James Dean
  3. The Night Before St. Patrick’s Day (2009) by Natasha Wing and Amy Wummer
  4. Pout-Pout Fish: Lucky Leprechaun (A Pout-Pout Fish Paperback Adventure) (2012) by Deborah Diesen and Dan Hanna
  5. There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Clover! (2012) by Lucille Colandro and Jared Lee
  6. The Itsy Bitsy Leprechaun (2018) by Jeffrey Burton and Sanja Rescek
  7. The Lucky Leprechauns (2013) by Kathryn Heling and Deborah Hembrook
  8. That’s What Leprechauns Do (2009) by Eve Bunting and Emily Arnold McCully
  9. The Luckiest St. Patrick’s Day Ever (2008) by Teddy Slater and Ethan Long
  10. Baby’s First St. Patrick’s Day (Baby’s First Holidays) (2020) by DK
  11. Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Coloring & Activity Book for Toddlers & Preschool Kids Ages 1-4 (2019) by Green Light Go
  12. Jamie O’Rourke and the Big Potato (1997) by Tomie dePaola
  13. The Story of Saint Patrick’s Day (2013) by Patricia A. Pingry
  14. Shiny Shapes: Happy St. Patrick’s Day (2019) by Roger Priddy
  15. The Gingerbread Man and the Leprechaun Loose at School (2018) by Laura Murray and Mike Lowery
  16. A Fine St. Patrick’s Day (2008) by Susan Wojciechowski and Tom Curry
  17. The Story of the Leprechaun (2001) by Katherine Tegen and Sally Anne Lambert
  18. Tim O’Toole and the Wee Folk (Picture Puffins) (1992) by Gerald McDermott
  19. Little Man of Disneyland (Disney Classic) (Little Golden Book) (2015) by RH Disney and Walt Disney Studio
  20. Lucky Tucker (2008) by Leslie McGuirk

 

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Celebrate National Book Lovers Day

Today, August 9th is National Book Lovers Day. The printed word has fascinated people for centuries. Dedicating a day to those who love to read is a great way to honor the written word. Are you wondering how to celebrate National Book Lovers Day? Try any or all of the following ideas.

Ways to Celebrate National Book Lovers Day

According to the dictionary, a bibliophile is a person who collects or has a great love for books. Does this sound true for you? For avid readers, an entire day celebrating the love for books is ideal.

Read A Book

Sit, relax, and read. If you do not have time to read numerous chapters, read a small portion of the book on your lunch hour or before cooking dinner.

Reread Your Favorite Book

Is there a past book calling to you to read again? Find the old favorite on your bookshelf. Many book lovers find rereading a book is comparable to visiting an old friend.

Go to the Library

Do you need a book to read? Head to your local library.

  • Browse the different books available.
  • Search for books on the library computer.
  • Most libraries display new arrivals.
  • Ask the librarian about any new books within your favorite genre.
  • Join the library’s reading group for an opportunity to discuss new reading material.

Go to Your Favorite Book Store

If you lucky enough to have an independent book store in your town, go and browse the aisles for something new to read.

  • Spend your lunch hour or an afternoon amongst the stacks of books.
  • Learn about local authors.
  • Grab a cup of tea or coffee and enjoy the atmosphere.

Listen to an Audiobook

Listen to an audiobook during the morning commute, gym workout, or working around the house. Audiobook narrators use different voices and sound to bring the story alive.

Support a Book Lover

Do you know someone who loves books more than you? Or do you want to encourage younger minds to enjoy the endless possibilities of storylines? Support a book lover by purchasing a book as an impromptu gift. Or buy a gift card or certificate for the local bookstore.

How do you want to spend National Book Lovers Day? Go outdoors, relax in a hammock, and enjoy your favorite book.

 

 

 

How to Celebrate International Bat Appreciation Day

Today, April 17th is International Bat Appreciation Day. Myths and urban legends often give bats a bad reputation. Bats are actually interesting creatures. A single bat can feast on a meal of 100 mosquitoes in just an hour’s time.

Celebrating Bat Appreciation Day

So how do you celebrate a day dedicated to a bat? Consider the ideas below.

  • Go to the Library or Local Book Store: Finding books about bats will help you learn about the species, behavior, habitat, and more.
  • Watch a Documentary about Bats: Check out Netflix, YouTube or other streaming resources for a program about bats. National Geographic and PBS are generally two top resources for nature documentaries.
  • Go to Your Local Zoo: Behind the protective glass, many zoos have different bats for viewing. The zoo or local wildlife rehabilitation center may have programs for viewing bats up close.
  • Write a Child’s Story Focused on a Bat: Do you need help getting started? A quick writing prompt is “the lonely little bat” or “the bat found a new home”. If you are having a problem with writing out a story, ask your child to make one up. Younger children may require your help in writing down the words. The quick story can easily turn into a lasting memory.
  • Do Bat-Themed Crafts: An easy craft is a collage. Simply cut out a bat shape on a piece of black construction paper. Allow your child to glue different materials to the bat. For example, add googly eyes, sequins, pompoms, yarn pieces, etc. Painting or using chalk on the construction paper bat is another way. Ask your child about the bat masterpiece.

The best way to celebrate Bat Appreciation Day is by having fun. Learn about the bats. Engage in a bat-themed family activity. Just remember, allow professionals to handle bats if you find one in your home or business.

5 Tips to Encourage Your Young Writer

Today, April 10th is National Encourage a Young Writer Day. Does your child make up stories? Encouraging your child’s imagination may result in a career in writing. But using your imagination works in every field. The process allows you to think outside the box for a better solution to a pressing problem.

Tips to Encourage a Young Writer

Promoting writing is easy. Simply think, read, write, and repeat. Do you need help encouraging your young writer? Consider the following tips.

  1. Create a Writing Space

Setting up a writing space is a great way to encourage your young writer. Set up a desk in your child’s room or other location in your home. If you do not have a desk, an unused table in the corner is just as good. Old desks and small tables are available at many thrift stores for low prices. Younger children can use an old coffee table or end table for a writer space. Promoting writing is the purpose of a writing area.

  1. Purchase Writing Supplies

Your local dollar store is ideal for purchasing writing supplies at a low cost. If you are uncertain the type of supplies to purchase, take a look at the following list.

  • Journals/Diaries
  • Pens/Pencils
  • Gel Pens
  • Markers
  • Composition Notebooks
  • Spiral Notebook Paper
  • Paperclips
  • Notecards
  • Stapler/Staples
  • Stickers

The smallest items can create the largest impact on your child’s imagination.

  1. Encourage Journal Writing

Keeping a journal goes beyond recounting the day’s events. A journal provides your child with a chance to write about the world.  Encourage your young writer to express feelings, descriptions, and scenes. The information may become a great resource down the road.

  1. Books

Age appropriate books are a valuable resource for every writer. Books may be digital. But, often a book on your desk is a great way to find the answer. Digital brings you directly to the content. A book allows your child to research and search through pages.

  • Writing Books
  • Writing Prompt Books
  • Thesaurus
  • Dictionary
  • Nature Books
  • Fantasy Books
  • Other Books of Interest
  1. Library Card

A library is a wealth of information.

  • Your young writer can search for books of interest.
  • Find new topics.
  • Meet others who share similar interests.
  • Receive guidance from the librarian.
  • Attend library sponsored groups, book clubs, and field trips.
  • Check out media including DVDs, recordings, music, documentaries, and other educational based material.

A little encouragement in any child’s interest may spark a lifetime path of knowledge.

Summer Bucket List

When most people think about bucket lists, ideas of long exotic vacations usually come to mind. A bucket list can consist of anything. With the official kick-off of the summer season, why not create a bucket list to enjoy the warm months?

Now, school is out, the summer boredom’s probably are already setting in. Creating a summer bucket list can help discover new local sites and other fun activities. Allowing you to keep from hearing those words, “I am bored”.  In addition to chasing away the summer boredoms, you and loved ones will be given a chance to learn and explore.

Consider adding a variety of items to the list. Allow your children to help participate in creating the summer bucket list ideas may surprise you.

Outdoor Fun

Being a strong advocate of unplugging from electronic devices, being outdoors is a great way to spend a day or afternoon.

  • Go to the Park: Local and state parks can be an exciting getaway.
  • Go to the Splash Park: Many communities open splash parks. Playing in the water with peers is a great way to spend the afternoon.
  • Go Swimming or Take Swim Lessons: Being at the pool or at the beach is a perfect way to spend the day.
  • Go Hiking: Unplug for the day. Leave your electronic devices behind, well, except for a cell phone for emergencies.
  • Picnic: Go on a picnic. You do not need to pack a fancy picnic basket. Just go, peanut butter and jelly make a quick lunch. Enjoy the outdoors.
  • Stargazing: Spread out a blanket in the backyard at night to watch the stars. Popcorn and making up stories make a wonderful night out.
  • Attend Local Fairs and Festivals: Summertime is the perfect opportunity to attend local fairs and festivals. Many hold a theme, providing you with a chance to learn about different foods, culture or other interesting events.
  • Music in the Park: Local art councils generally host music in the park series. Attending the weekly concerts provide you and your family a chance to learn about new music genres.
  • Watch the Sunset: The beauty of a sunset or sunrise is a perfect memory.
  • Volunteer: Summertime generally brings numerous volunteer hours. Help clean up the environment. Volunteer your time at a local animal shelter, many need dog walkers. Volunteer your time at a nursing home. Even a couple hours a week allows you to try something new. For teens, volunteering looks good on college applications. You also get a chance to meet others outside of your normal group.

For Rainy Days

  • Museums: Look up local art, science and history museums. When was the last time you visited your hometown museum? Many museums have special kid days to try to get youth interested in specific genres.
  • Attend Workshops: Learning a new skill at any age is a benefit.
  • Host a Movie Marathon: Order pizza and spend an afternoon watching the Harry Potter series or other movie franchises.
  • Art Day: Spend a day creating art. Painting, sculpt, or drawing enhances the imagination.
  • Go to the Library: Local libraries usually host summer reading programs. Allowing your children to participate with others in the community.

A summer bucket list is only limited by your imagination. Life is short. Try something new. Spend the summer having fun.