Awesome Read-Alouds: “I Can Only Draw Worms” & “Duck!”

Posted on Thursday, November 19, 2020 by Molly

I Can Only Draw Worms & DuckSome books are a joy for reader and listener alike! This is certainly the case with Missouri Building Block nominees, “Duck!” by Meg McKinlay and “I Can Only Draw Worms” by Will Mabbitt.

"Duck"Duck!” begins, “It was a quiet afternoon on the farm. The horse was swishing his tail, and the cow chewing her cud. The pig was wallowing in the mud, and the sheep was sheeping on the grass.” Suddenly, this tranquil setting is interrupted as Duck runs through the barnyard yelling at the top of his lungs! When the farmyard animals misunderstand him, and even make fun of him, Duck tries harder to get his message across. He finally does, but is it too late? This book will quickly become a favorite of your little ones!

"I Can Only Draw Worms"In “I Can Only Draw Worms,” author Mabbitt takes a silly and fun approach to counting to ten. The opening page starting with, “This book is about worms. (I can only draw worms.)” appears to tell it all. But does it really? Be prepared to giggle along with your children as the author introduces them to 10 of the “most creative” worms ever drawn! Filled with bright colors, funny words and a few surprises,  “I Can Only Draw Worms” encourages children to do their best, even if they think they can’t. Continue reading “Awesome Read-Alouds: “I Can Only Draw Worms” & “Duck!””

Brianna’s Books: November Favorites 2020

Posted on Monday, November 16, 2020 by Brianna

Brianna's Books logo

I’ve been keeping busy, ordering all kinds of delightful books for the library! Once I order them, our Technical Services team processes the books and gets them ready to go on the shelves. We usually process books in the order we receive them but…can I tell you a secret? If you place a hold on a book, we’ll move it to the front of the line! So if any of these books catch your eye, put it on hold and you’ll get it that much sooner. Ready to read about some awesome books?

Picture Books

The Bear and the Moon” written by Matthew Burgess and illustrated by Catia Chien

A young bear finds a friend and loses it in this gorgeously illustrated book. Bear wakes up from a nap to see a beautiful red balloon floating towards him and is filled with delight. Bear and the balloon are soon doing everything together  dancing, climbing trees and rolling down hills. Yet Bear discovers that not all squishable things should be hugged and is overcome with sorrow at the loss of his friend. “Bad bear, he thought. Bad, bad bear.” Though it seems the bear is all alone now, the moon reaches down to him that night, gently stroking his fur and telling him, “Good bear. Kind bear. Don’t worry, bear.” I love that this book starts with joyful exuberance, transitions into grief and loss, and ends with self-love and forgiveness. This is a great choice to share with a little one as a bedtime story or an opportunity to talk through hard emotions. Continue reading “Brianna’s Books: November Favorites 2020”

Awesome Read-Alouds: Piranhas Don’t Eat Bananas & Octopants

Posted on Thursday, November 12, 2020 by Kristy

"Piranhas Don't Eat Bananas" and "Octopants"

For the next five weeks (skipping Thanksgiving), we will be reviewing all ten Missouri Building Block Picture Book Award nominees for 2020! These award nominees encourage reading aloud to children and are selected annually by a group of children’s librarians from Missouri. The books nominated for this award make for exciting and engaging story times for any group of kids. Continue reading “Awesome Read-Alouds: Piranhas Don’t Eat Bananas & Octopants”

Picture Book Lessons From the Pandemic

Posted on Monday, November 2, 2020 by Jessica S

Here’s my current list of pandemic problems:

  • Having too much screen time
  • Not getting enough personal space
  • Eating all of the junk food
  • Struggling to connect with people who are far away
  • Trying to maintain my role as a responsible adult

Books seem to be the only thing keeping me together. That, and also that my adult responsibilities never seem to go away. To help you and your kids cope at home, here are some of my favorite picture books that have great lessons to be learned in the pandemic.

 Picture Book Lessons From the Pandemic


Through With the Zoo” by Jacob Grant

Need to talk about personal space, taking breaks and too much time together?

Goat may have some guidance for you!

Goat is done with the zoo. There are too many children with too many hands in a small space. He decides to leave forever. When he gets lonely, however, he realizes he just needed some space and to take a break. Doesn’t goat sound like parents and zoo sound like home? I know I’m sick of the people I live with, but I still love them. Continue reading “Picture Book Lessons From the Pandemic”

Not-So-Spooky Songs and Stories

Posted on Monday, October 26, 2020 by Kristy

Mother and child in witch costumeWhile we are doing lots of virtual story times, which are pretty awesome, I do miss in person story times! One of my favorite things to do during story time is to sing “Zoom Zoom Zoom” with our babies and toddlers. They absolutely love it! Usually we blast off to the moon in our rocket ships after this rhyme, but my awesome coworker has created new lyrics for our patrons who celebrate spooky season.

Zoom, Zoom, Zoom—Boo!

Zoom, zoom, zoom,
Climb onto my broom.
Zoom, zoom, zoom,
Climb onto my broom.
If you want to ride around,
to spook the people in the town.
Zoom, zoom, zoom,
Climb onto my broom.
In 5, 4, 3, 2, 1,
BOO!

~By Erin (and inspired by Jbrary!)

Want to read some not-so-spooky books with your kids? Try out these eBooks on Hoopla! Continue reading “Not-So-Spooky Songs and Stories”

Brianna’s Books: October Favorites 2020

Posted on Monday, October 12, 2020 by Brianna

Brianna's Books logoThere are some great books coming out this fall! Let’s not waste any time on small talk—we’ll go straight to the good stuff.

Picture Books

I Am Darn Tough” written by Licia Morelli and illustrated by Maine Diaz

This gorgeous book is about a girl running in a cross-country race. The watercolor illustrations and poetic first-person narration place the reader alongside the protagonist. The girl persists through weariness, self-doubt and a painful skinned knee, to cross the finish line with a realization that, “I am darn tough.” I spent about five years in martial arts as a kid, so this book really calls to me. It’s wonderful to see determination, discipline and perseverance celebrated like this. Continue reading “Brianna’s Books: October Favorites 2020”

Have a Dance Party!

Posted on Thursday, October 8, 2020 by Kristy

There’s nothing I love more than to watch little ones dance. Babies doing the bottom bounce and preschoolers dancing with abandon brings me so much joy! And, of course, little ones love it too. The best thing about impromptu dance parties is that they can be done anywhere — in your house, in the car, in your backyard or at the park. As long as you’ve got some jams, you’re set.

If you want to make your dance party even more exciting, I have some simple ideas below that your little ones will love.

Continue reading “Have a Dance Party!”

Outdoor Learning for Kids

Posted on Monday, September 28, 2020 by Amy

During these trying times, parents and educators are looking to the space nature provides as a resource for learning. There are many positive benefits to outdoor learning spaces, and getting a breath of fresh air can do wonders for mental clarity for both you and your kids.

Below, I have put together a list of great books the library has to offer on outdoor learning. Enjoy!


Lens on Outdoor Learning” by Wendy Banning

This book is filled with stories and colorful photographs that illustrate how the outdoors supports children’s early learning. Each story is connected to an early learning standard such as:

Paper Bag Puppets

Posted on Monday, September 21, 2020 by Erin

One of the easiest crafts to make at home is a paper bag puppet. All you need is a paper bag and a writing utensil! Take care that the mouth of the puppet is where the folded bag meets the side. Your puppet can be simple, with only a face, or you can decorate it with materials from around the house.

If you make more than one, your puppets can get into all sorts of fun together!

Paper bag puppets
Some of our young patrons made these puppets. So cute!

Continue reading “Paper Bag Puppets”

Brianna’s Books: September Favorites 2020

Posted on Wednesday, September 9, 2020 by Brianna

I hope everyone is adjusting well and feeling good as we transition into fall. I know it’s still almost two weeks away, but I can’t wait! If you and your little one are finding the changes difficult this year, why not escape into a good book? Reading won’t solve the world’s problems, but it can offer you a little pocket of peace in the midst of chaos. (If you need a grown-up book for yourself, take a look at our blog for adults for inspiration!)

Picture Books

First Day Critter Jitters” written by Jory John and illustrated by Liz Climo

The first day of school looks very different this year. Littles that were confident last year may be more anxious about how school will go this year. This book is a great choice to open up a discussion about anxieties. Different animals are all nervous about starting school—Sloth worries he won’t get there on time, while Snake is concerned his backpack won’t stay on. Even their armadillo teacher is nervous! As the animals learn to support each other, they’re able to move into the school year with more confidence. In addition to the great message, the cartoon-like illustrations look absolutely adorable! Continue reading “Brianna’s Books: September Favorites 2020”
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