Birdwatching for Kids ccronin Tue, 04/16/2024 - 00:05 Tweet tweet! Birds are a natural wonder. Children of all ages can enjoy birdwatching for free, at home, without having to go anywhere at all! Not only is birdwatching a fun hobby for kids to take up, but it also boasts tons of side-benefits! Children can begin to delve into science by way of observing birds, learning how to identify and classify them based on their different songs, behaviors, and physical appearances. Birdwatching is also a fantastic way to get your children outside and active, and can provide a meaningful pastime that c ..read more

Sitti's Secrets ccronin Tue, 03/19/2024 - 00:05 Sitti's Secrets by Naomi Shihab Nye The esteemed poet Naomi Shihab Nye has written many poetry compilations for children and young adults, but only a few picture books. My favorite of these, Sitti's Secrets, was published in 1994, in the midst of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The book won the Jane Addams Children's Book Award in 1995. The words read like a child's diary, tender and straightforward, and in wonder at all of life. Mona, a young child growing up in the U.S., recounts her visit to see her grandmother, her Sitti, in Palestine ..read more

Book Review: The Ferris Wheel kmcajigas Tue, 03/12/2024 - 01:00 On one side of the world, a boy looks out his window to watch colorful fireworks burst in the sky. In another part of the world, a girl presses her face to her window as she sees rockets and bombs strike her neighborhood. Their lives are so very different, yet in the Turkish picture book The Ferris Wheel, their stories intertwine and run parallel to one another in what is one of the most moving picture books I have read in recent memory. The Ferris Wheel By Tülin Kozikoğlu Place Hold More Info More Like This Add to ..read more

Picture Books by Author-Illustrator Cozbi Cabrera ccronin Tue, 02/20/2024 - 09:30 Cozbi Cabrera is an award-winning author & illustrator from Brooklyn, New York. She paints breathtaking illustrations with acrylics, and also makes vibrantly decorative handmade dolls. My first encounter with Cabrera's work was reading Me & Mama a couple of years ago, and it brought tears to my eyes! After being blown away by the newest children's book illustrated by Cabrera (Chef Edna), I felt inspired to do a deep dive into the picture books she has written and illustrated. Keep reading to be swept ..read more

Book Review: Lost Inside My Head kmcajigas Tue, 02/13/2024 - 01:00 Written and illustrated by Canadian-born artist Vigg (website in French), Lost Inside My Head is an autobiographical look at growing up with ADHD. Originally published in French, and released late last year in an English language translation, this Canadian #worldkidlit title is a needed representation of neurodivergence in children's literature.  Lost Inside My Head By Vigg Place Hold More Info More Like This Add to List Vincent, our protagonist, sits at the breakfast table with his parents. At school to ..read more

New Twists on Old Tales ccronin Tue, 01/16/2024 - 00:05 Fractured Fairy Tales Fairy tales are a beloved tradition that can be traced all the way back to Ancient Greece, where Aesop passed down his classic fables by way of oral storytelling. These types of fantasy stories have long been popular among children, and are a useful tool for early literacy! Children love to hear the same story over and over again. Repetition is actually very beneficial for kids when they are learning how to read, but sometimes it's fun to change things up! In the past several years, many children's book authors ha ..read more

Nashville Reads the Work of Jason Reynolds kmcajigas Tue, 01/09/2024 - 01:00 NPL is kicking off 2024 in a big way with our newest season of Nashville Reads! This new year we will be reading and celebrating the work of Jason Reynolds. Bestselling author, winner of multiple awards, and the 2020-2022 Ambassador for Young People's Literature, Reynolds writes all sorts of books for young people, including poetry, graphic novels, and picture books. Never one to shy away from tough topics, Reynolds has seen his work subject to challenges and censorship throughout his career. The freedom to rea ..read more

December 6, 2023 'Tis the Season Every year around this time, I write a blog post about comforting and cozy books, in hopes that it might provide readers some solace, but also as a way of consoling myself (someone who has NEVER gotten used to the cold). Earlier this month, I happened upon a few children's books that truly gave me the warm fuzzies. I just had to share these with the NPL community, since they made my winter days a bit brighter. Read on for some wholesome picture books that are sure to warm you up from the inside out!  Winter's Gifts: An Indigenous Celebration of Nature ..read more

"The Night Before Christmas" in Picture Books kmcajigas Tue, 12/05/2023 - 01:00 If, like me, you grew up in the United States, chances are you are familiar with "'Twas the Night Before Christmas." Written by Clement Clarke Moore, it was first published in 1823 as "A Visit from St. Nicholas." In the now 200 years since its publication, it has become a beloved staple of many a holiday celebration. This classic poem has inspired many picture book creators. Some have given us new illustrations to bring it to life, while others have put their own spin on the well-known text. And we have many of ..read more

Children's Department at Main Unveils NEW Sensory Room! ccronin Tue, 11/21/2023 - 00:05 What is a Sensory Room? Sensory Rooms are spaces designed for children with sensory-processing disorders as a place to relax, self-regulate, and reconnect with their senses. Studies show promising results from the use of such rooms, especially for children who have Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), but these types of self-regulation tools can benefit all children who experience sensory sensitivities or overwhelm. Many neurodivergent children use stims, or impulsive, repetitive movements of the body or ..read more