Children’s Books

  • Middle Grade Fiction that Adults & Kids Will Love

    Middle Grade Fiction that Adults & Kids Will Love

    Will I ever outgrow my love for middle grade novels? I think not. And I’m here to tell you that you don’t have to, either! There’s something magical about middle grade novels. They depict the thrills and pains and stumbles that come along with growing up and discovering ourselves. They can tell stories of lives… Continue reading

  • Middle Grade Fiction for the New Year

    Middle Grade Fiction for the New Year

    I’m still a huge fan of middle grade fiction and love finding new titles to enjoy, even as an adult. Here are some that I recommend for the new year A Whale of the Wild by Rosanne Parry Vega, an orca whale living in the Salish Sea, knows that someday she will take on the responsibility… Continue reading

  • Staff Faves 2024: Children’s Books

    Staff Faves 2024: Children’s Books

    Each year, we enjoy asking staff from across the library system to share their favorite kids’ books of the year.  From picture books to chapter books, and from graphic novels to nonfiction – here are just a few of the children’s books published in 2024 that our SPL staff loved! (Annotations are by enthusiastic staff… Continue reading

  • More Middle Grade Fiction for Adults

    More Middle Grade Fiction for Adults

    Earlier this year, I shared some middle grade fiction books that I believe can (and should!) be enjoyed by adults, too. Since then, I’ve discovered more great titles. If you are looking for well written and compelling stories, don’t miss out on these reads based on where we shelve them in the library! Hummingbird by… Continue reading

  • Middle Grade Fiction for Adults

    Middle Grade Fiction for Adults

    For a long time as an adult, I told myself that middle grade books were no longer for me. But I was pleasantly surprised to find out that I was wrong! Not only can middle grade novels simply be great stories, they can also transport you back into the world of being a kid. This… Continue reading

  • Girl Power

    March is Women’s History Month. To celebrate, I’ve compiled a list of picture books from the last few years that feature amazing women that will hopefully inspire you and your children. Highlighted below are a few favorites that stood out from the crowd. Sweet Justice: Georgia Gilmore and the Montgomery Bus Boycott , by Mara… Continue reading

  • New Picture Book Format Allows Children to Read Along

    New Picture Book Format Allows Children to Read Along

    Our children’s picture book kits have long been a popular way to listen to a book while you read it, but CD players are getting harder to come by for many families. We are excited to introduce a new format, the Read-Along, into our children’s kits collection. These are hardback picture books with an attached… Continue reading

  • Gardening with Toddlers

    We made a small garden space for my kiddo to play in to get him involved in the growing of things. It’s still mostly dirt play and mud making, which is a delight, but by planting that seed I hope his love for gardening grows as he gets older. Here are a few books in our… Continue reading

  • Books for the Young Hockey Fan

    Books for the Young Hockey Fan

    It seems everyone in Seattle has hockey fever right now – even the kids. Here’s everything you need to capture the interest of even the youngest hockey fans. Ice Clash, by Emma Carlson Berne. Their losses started when their new coach replaced 12-year-old Louise with his own son, refusing to accept that the team’s true… Continue reading

  • The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly World of Germs

    One thing I was not prepared for in this new thing called mom life, was that once you put your kiddo in daycare they will be sick FOREVER! To be fair, I was warned, but I had no idea the endless days of snot, coughing, and laundry would be this intense. As we all battle… Continue reading

  • Calm Down, Little Monkey! And Other Helpful Skills for Kids

    The Hello Genius: Milestones books by Michael Dahl are getting rave reviews from me, a parents of little ones, and the childcare centers I’ve shared them with! This board book series covers classic topics such as going potty, saying “please,” “thank you,” and “I’m sorry,” techniques for calming down, and sharing, all with excellent illustrations and… Continue reading

  • March Literary Holidays

    Aside from calendar noted holidays in March like Purim and Saint Patrick’s day, there are a few literary days of note that might peak your interest.   On March 2nd there is Read Across America day, which also happens to be Dr. Seuss’ birthday. It was created by the National Education Association as a day to… Continue reading

  • January Literary Celebrations

    January comes with a break from the holidays, but if you enjoy celebrating and love books, here are some ideas for literary celebrations for January. We’ll start off with Tolkien day on January 3. It’s his birthday and a day celebrated by the Tolkien Society. They recommend a very simple celebration: find somewhere to have a drink, and at 9 PM make a toast with… Continue reading

  • Favorite Picture Books of 2017

    The “Best Books of the Year” lists are out in abundance, and your Children’s Librarians from the Seattle Public Library are eager to share some of their favorite books of the year as well. Picture books will always be my favorite format for children’s books. There’s so much variety, so much invention, and they simply… Continue reading

  • Cultivating a Love of Nature with Children

    The clouds are disappearing and the temperatures are warming, which means the summer months are just within reach in the Pacific Northwest! Take a book or two along as you and your kiddos head to the park or the beach. You’ll satisfy the curiosity of those little scientists and enhance your family’s appreciation for our… Continue reading

  • The Wondrous World of the Central Library

    Emily Winfield Martin is the writer of the blog The Black Apple that I have been following for eons it seems. She has also written a few children’s books that are beautiful, delightful, and available from the library; one being Oddfellow’s Orphanage. That particular story tells us about Delia, a silent albino girl, who discovers… Continue reading

  • Book Bingo: From your childhood

    Join The Seattle Public Library and Seattle Arts & Lectures for our second annual Summer Book Bingo for adults! Follow us throughout the summer for reading suggestions based on each category. Today, suggestions for your “Read a book from your childhood” square: We all have fond memories of books from our childhoods, but just how well do they hold up? Will you love… Continue reading

  • Awesome Upcoming Children’s Fantasy Titles

    -posted by Selby G.  This is your ‘fair warning’ to get your ‘fantastic eyes’ on these great kids’ fantasy books and become a ‘reader’ before the latest installments come out. I am insanely excited for March 1st, and not because it is National Pig Day or the sixtieth day of the year. I am excited because… Continue reading