Kids Blog

Want To Spark Reading In Kids? Choice Is Key

If I had to choose one mantra for a new children’s library staff member, it would be: “There’s a book for every reader.” Some children walk out of the library with a stack piled high to their forehead, straining to carry their haul, while their grown up reminds them that they’ll be back next week

New and Noisy Classrooms of Today and Yesterday

I recently came across a fantastic picture book called The Noisy Classroom by Angela Shantae, illustrated by Alison Hawkins. In it, a young student, is worried about the “weird” goings on of the 3rd grade classroom run by the noisy and odd Ms. Johnson.

Reading "Truman" and Talking Turtles

Has your child ever wondered what your pets do while they’re away at school? Jean Reidy and Lucy Ruth Cummins’ Truman imagines a turtle’s worries about his girl when she leaves home for the day.

Re-Reading: from Meh to Marvelous!

So your child wants you to read that book again. You've read it 100 times, easily, and want to read something else for the sake of your sanity...but "Again! Again!" is all you hear when it's story time. That's actually a very good thing. Children's growing brains require a lot of repetition for learning and reinforcement of that learning. Reading the same book 100, 200, 300 times to a child who is just learning the language helps in following ways:

Spiders, Slugs, & More: Elise Gravel!

If your early reader is enamored by Mo Willems but looking for something new (or his books are all checked out!), take a look at Elise Gravel! Why?

Award Alert! Best for Beginning Readers

One of my favorite awards to pay attention to every year is the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for the most distinguished beginning reader book.

Realistic feelings, realistic struggles: The Doughnut Fix

"The Doughnut Fix" by Jessie Janowitz is realistic fiction with wide appeal - for the reader who loves a sweet treat, knows what it's like to be the new kid, or understands living in the shadow of a super-talented older sibling.

National Take Your Child to the Library!

Of course, EVERY day is "Take Your Child to the Library Day", but librarians still set aside one day every year to remind you to drop by for something special. For 2020, all Tulsa City-County Library locations are celebrating during the month of February with a variety of storytimes, scavenger hunts, and other special events. Take a look!

Oh Baby, Can You Read! Tips for Reading to Babies

A frequent response to the suggestion that babies should be read to is, "But they won't understand what I'm reading!" That's exactly right - but consistently reading to babies as they grow WILL help them eventually understand what you are reading. In fact, reading is one of the best ways to help babies learn our language and be able to use it later on.

Something Truly Magical: "Spindrift and the Orchid"

Something truly magical this way comes, and it's not just in the orchids. Spindrift and the Orchid earned a solid 4.5 stars from me with natural world-building and beautiful, whimsical magic. I could truly imagine Lux, and I wished so badly for my own pair of wings so I could fly around with Spin, Max, and Clemence. I did a lot of wishing - perhaps I need an Orchid of my own!