Deep in the back offices at DBRL, we’re working on something extra special. There’s always something exciting going on back here, but this project is near and dear to my heart: Books by Snail! I grew up in the rural community of Hallsville, Missouri, so I know firsthand just how important it is to have access to books even if you don’t live near a library. During the school year, school libraries can be a lifeline, but what happens when summer rolls around? That’s where Books by Snail comes in! And best of all? It’s FREE! Students entering kindergarten* through 12th grade who attend school (o ..read more

By this point in the year, I’m sure you’ve seen a bee or two buzzing along from one flower to the next, gathering their food of nectar and pollen to take back to their beehive. Fun Bee Fact: There are over 450 species of bees in Missouri. Worldwide, there are 20,000! That’s a lot of bees! Out of 450 bees local to Missouri, can you guess which bee is not native? If your guess is the honeybee, you would be correct!  Honeybees were brought to the United States during the 1600s from Europe and are now commonly found in Missouri. Other bees local to Missouri include Bumblebees, carpenter bees ..read more

As the school year winds down, the air is full of possibility. May brings bittersweet endings and exciting new beginnings. And if you have a graduate in your life, whether kindergarten, college or anywhere in between, a few things are certain: The graduation cap will most definitely fall off their head. (Does anyone actually know the proper way to wear one? Asking for a friend.) “Pomp and Circumstance” will be stuck in your head for the next week. The graduate will receive a copy (or two or three) of Dr. Seuss’ “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” Since its publication in 1990, Oh, the Places Yo ..read more

Publishing is really picking up for the spring. I’ve got all kinds of new books on order that I don’t have time to tell you about! These four all come out at the beginning of the month, so you won’t have to wait too long for them. Picture Books “Ahoy!” written and illustrated by Sophie Blackall  This is a fantastic example of imaginative play. A parent is trying to vacuum a large blue rug while their child plays nearby, gathering all sorts of household items. When the parent asks what they’re playing, the child responds, “I’M NOT PLAYING! I’M PREPARING TO SET SAIL!” They’re shouting beca ..read more

We are excited to announce that the winner of the 2023 Missouri Building Block Picture Book Award is “I’m Terrified of Bath Time” by Simon Rich and illustrated by Tom Toro. Nearly 13,000 Missouri children voted, and 2,318 kiddos voted for the winning title. Extra Shoutout We would like to give an honorable mention to our local favorite “I’m A Unicorn” by Helen Yoon. And We Have New Nominees Want to discover more terrific read-alouds? The 2024 Missouri Building Block Award nominees have been announced. If you want to get a head start, you can enjoy reading the individual books. The post 2 ..read more

When I’m not answering questions and handing out stickers at the Children’s Services Desk, I moonlight as an ESL (English as a second language) instructor at the University of Missouri. So it will come as no surprise that I love to help library kids and their families on their language learning journeys! When I chat with parents and caregivers about this topic, I often hear questions like: Will my child get confused if we introduce another language? How can we balance English and another language in our home? How do I raise a bilingual child when I’m not fluent in another language myself? Ho ..read more

It was hard to narrow down my list this month! There are some great books coming out in March. Picture Books “All Aboard the Alaska Train” written by Brooke Hartman and illustrated by John Joseph This is the perfect book for train and nature enthusiasts alike! Readers are invited to board the (apparently iconic) Alaska Train, as it races, rumbles, rattles and rambles its way through Alaska. Each new page turn features an Alaskan animal, with engaging rhyming text that will encourage little ones to guess the animal before the reader states it. The animals surreptitiously join the passengers on ..read more

. . and other fun-guys, or fungis! Do you have a budding mushroom and/or fungi lover in your life? You’re not alone; there is definitely something sporing in the air and plenty of fungus among us. Okay, that might be enough puns for now, but it does seem like the mushroom has been popping up everywhere lately, from cute accessories to interior décor to critically-acclaimed documentaries to your very own backyard or favorite spot of Missouri greenspace. I like to think the mushroom’s trendiness is due to the fact that there’s a little something for everyone in the fungi kingdom. Fungi ar ..read more

As I write this blog (on February 8) the weather is bright and sunny. The temperature is currently 67°F which is 32 degrees above average. If this continues by the time you read this, it might feel like summer, and I might feel a little sheepish writing a blog about creating your own winter village. But it is still technically *checks notes* WINTER! I even looked up the daily average for Columbia, MO and we usually see temperatures closer to 45°, and once way back in 1903, it was -6°F. So we’re gonna party like it’s 1903 and make our own indoor winter village! Supplies House template Your fa ..read more

Ancient Greeks used six different words to describe the diverse feelings of love people have for one another. After all, there’s a difference between how you love your best friend and how you love your family and a difference between the love one has for the human species and the love one has for a partner.  So… what does this have to do with friendship bracelets? Well, Valentine’s Day is nearly here, and while it’s a fantastic time of year to show appreciation and love for one’s romantic partner, it’s also a great time to spread love of all kinds! In this post, I will lay out a “friendsh ..read more