Children’s Books

  • AND I ALONE SURVIVED!

    Do you like to take a walk on the wild side?  Or would you rather read about it when you know everything turns out okay?  Check out this list of daring adventure stories by some who lived to tell the tale. Walking the Gobi: A 1,600-Mile Trek Across a Desert of Hope and Despair by… Continue reading

  • Potty Poetry

    Spring is here and summer is on the minds of many parents. This triggers a little-known phenomenon in the library… The absence of all potty training materials on our shelves! Warmer weather seems to motivate parents to start the process of teaching bathroom etiquette to their young. Parents all over Seattle suddenly descend upon the… Continue reading

  • Plant a Seed Day at The Seattle Public Library

    Are you looking for a way to celebrate the joy of spring weather with your child? Are your green thumbs beginning to itch? With the weather getting warmer and spring blossoms popping all around us, it’s time to start planning your vegetable gardens and flower beds.  Gardening with children can be especially rewarding. The Seattle… Continue reading

  • Children’s Books that Bite!

    Though the words “children’s picture books” conjure up visions of sweet dreams, fluffy animals and happy endings, there are legions of readers who prefer stories that involve sharp teeth and a clever twist at the end – most likely the same children who enjoy Tim Burton movies. For all those children (and adults) who take… Continue reading

  • Shamrocks, Shillelaghs, and Shenanigans: Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with Children!

    It’s the time of year when we all wish to have a wee bit o’ the Irish heritage in our family tree.  Whether you hail from the Emerald Isles or just wish you did, get ready to dress in green, dance a jig and follow a rainbow to its end. Construct a leprechaun trap, share… Continue reading

  • Knitting Yarns for Kids

    What better way to spend a winter day than to read a book about making warm and cozy items out of yarn? Better yet, why not learn how to knit something out of yarn while you read a yarn? The following books are sure to inspire craftiness and provoke laughter on cold, wet, end-of-winter days:… Continue reading

  • Attention Aliens: You Are Not Alone!

    Have you ever thought that you might be from another planet? Most people, at some point in their lives, experience moments of feeling “different”, however, there are individuals who have such a unique interpretation of the world that it sets them apart. Imaginative, intelligent children learning to navigate the social galaxies around them – particularly… Continue reading

  • Wishing for Snow

    As I look out on the dreary grey that has become the standard color for this winter, I think back on last year’s winter white and wish for snow. Yes, I know it was a bit extreme and highly inconvenient – not to mention downright dangerous, at times – but being forced to stay home… Continue reading

  • Celebrate Black History Month Through Children’s Literature

    Black History Month invites us to explore African American culture and history with children. Consider making a date with your favorite children to attend one of the many literature-based events in the Seattle area, connecting history and the African American experience with children’s literature. Here are a few suggestions: Central Library will host the play… Continue reading

  • Extreme Makeover: Picture Book Characters Edition

    While I am out and about on the bookmobile, visiting preschools and child care centers, I come across interesting changes that happen to children’s picture book characters. Sometimes there will be subtle differences when a new illustrator takes over an old series:                                                       Sometimes an existing book gets completely revised by a different illustrator, which… Continue reading

  • Cabin Fever? Let Virtual Story Times Come to Your Rescue!

    With the weather being so contrary this time of year, kids and their caregivers are likely to be experiencing cabin fever. Getting out and about and visiting the library can be tricky on icy days and you may have exhausted your bag of home entertainment tricks. How about introducing a virtual story time? The Seattle… Continue reading

  • Green Resolutions

    The New Year is almost here!  It is time to celebrate and reflect upon the past, while ruminating over the possibilities of change and new beginnings for the year to come. The act of setting goals and making resolutions can be empowering for children, as well as for adults. Consider taking on a family resolution… Continue reading

  • Books for Giving 2009 – Children’s Nonfiction

    Children’s nonfiction is not what it used to be – thank goodness!  Today’s nonfiction is exciting, fun, and full of vibrant illustrations, as well as informative. Here are some appealing choices for all levels of readers and explorers:   Animal Science: Caribou Crossing: Animals of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, by Andrea Helman; photographs by Art… Continue reading

  • Books for Giving 2009 – Children’s Irresistible Books

    Believe it or not, not all people like to read.  There are actually a few children out there who may not place books at the top of their gift wish list. Shocking, isn’t it? Well, that’s okay… but I am betting that there are books on this list that will entice even the most reluctant… Continue reading

  • Books for Giving 2009 – Children’s Picture Books

    Picture books are the eye candy of the book world.  When you find a book where the story and illustrations are perfectly matched and equal in excellence, you know you have a keeper.  With so many tantalizing choices, it is difficult to select just a few, but the following titles are exceptional – the kind… Continue reading

  • Books for Giving 2009 – Children’s Classics

    When giving books, it is hard to go wrong with a classic.  This year, there are many classic tales featuring new and endearing interpretations and illustrations that would make excellent gifts for the children on your list.  Here are some choices that that will be remembered and cherished into adulthood:   Collections: The Big Book for… Continue reading

  • Books for Giving 2009 – Children’s Multicultural Books

    There are many wonderful books that explore the rich diversity of cultures around the world. Share a book with a child and introduce perspectives from other cultures or celebrate traditional tales and cultural experiences from your own background.  Here are some of this year’s best:   Story Collections: The Barefoot Book of Earth Tales, retold by… Continue reading

  • Books for Giving 2009 – Children’s Chapter Books

    Books are a wonderful gift any time of year. When asked what you have held on to from your childhood, it is likely that a favorite book will be included on your list. Holidays are a perfect time to connect young readers with books that make a lasting impression. Parents, grandparents, and others often ask… Continue reading