Jane L.S.

  • Father’s Day Reads: Picture Books to Share

    Are you looking for the perfect Father’s Day present? Give the gift of a daddy-daughter/son moment by presenting the father in your household with a book that he can share with his favorite child. Here are a few new titles that will make for a memorable Daddy-and-me story time, celebrating the special relationship fathers have… Continue reading

  • Summer Reads for Tweens

    Are your kids counting down the days until school gets out, looking forward to a long summer stretch without homework? Put them in a summer mood and keep them reading into fall with these new titles: Crunch by Leslie Connor Dewey is feeling the crunch! When his parents get stranded miles away from home, it… Continue reading

  • Children’s Summer Reads: Picture Books

    Summer is almost here, along with Summer Reading programs, days at the beach, camping, and a much deserved respite from school. Now is the time for some fun, recreational reading. These new titles are sure to put kids in a summer state of mind: Dancing Feet, by Lindsey Craig; illustrated by Marc Brown Exuberant creatures… Continue reading

  • Children’s Summer Reads: Chapter Books

    Summer is almost here, along with Summer Reading programs, days at the beach, camping, and a much deserved respite from school. Now is the time for some fun, recreational reading. These new titles are sure to put kids in a summer state of mind: Animal Rescue Team: Gator on the Loose! , by Sue Stauffacher… Continue reading

  • Ship Ahoy!: Sail Into the Sunset with a Picture Book

    If you have lived any length of time in Western Washington, you have probably toyed with the idea of owning a boat. Boating is in our blood around here and both children and adults dream of chugging around Elliott Bay in a tugboat, riding a ferry to the San Juan Islands, sailing on Puget Sound… Continue reading

  • Can You Feel the Beat? Picture Books that Boogie!

    There are some books that just compel you tap your toes and snap your fingers. The rhythm of the words inspires you to get up and move, join in the story action, and fall into the musical beat of the rhyme. Pair that magic with dynamic illustrations and you are sure to have a book… Continue reading

  • Readers Worth Reading

    Let’s face it… Learning to read is hard work! And early reading books can be, frankly, BORING! Reading requires practice in decoding symbols, understanding left-to-right page orientation, memorization, interpreting graphic clues, combining sounds and focusing your attention for long periods of time, to the point of losing all interest in the story, if there is… 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

  • 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

  • Soup’s On!

    The New Year is already off to a flying start and everyday routines are back in full swing with work, school, homework, sports… You get the picture. As a librarian, I don’t work banker’s hours. I work “public service” hours, which include weekends and evenings, with a schedule that varies from week to week and… 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