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Recommended for Kids

It Is (Not) Perfect

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It is (Not) Perfect by Anna Kang, illustrated by Christopher Weygand
Format: Book
Who It’s for: Kids


Another wonderful adventure from the husband-and-wife team behind You Are (Not) Small, I Am (Not) Scared and others! On a sunny day at the beach, two friends build a little sand castle. It’s just right, except…wait, it needs flags. And towers. There, now it’s perfect! Or is it? As others stop by offering their suggestions for sandcastle-perfection, the friends wonder if their creation is as perfect as they thought. So they make change after change, until the castle is massive, beautiful – and completely different than it was! But sand castles are never permanent, the sea always comes in, and at the end of the day, the friends find a new “perfection” that is theirs alone.
A sweet story of perfection and perspective by the talented Anna Kang and Christopher Weyant.

Find it in the catalog!

Understanding Sam and Asperger Syndrome

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Understanding Sam and Asperger Syndrome by Clarabelle van Niekerk & Liezl Venter, MA CCC-SLP
Format: Book
Who it’s for: Children ages 5-7

When kids start school they will be encountering all sorts of different people and new situations.  Books like this one are great conversation starters for you and your child to talk through how you may best respect and appreciate a new friend who happens to be on the autism spectrum.

In this story, you’ll meet Sam who loves to put puzzles together and to play the cello but who also doesn’t like the feel of his new coat and sometimes can’t stop crying when he’s frustrated. After Sam and his dog leave home one night to walk to the fair alone, his family and teachers discover that Sam has Asperger Syndrome.  Once everyone understands what is going on they are able to start making things better for everybody.

At the end of the book there are 10 Helpful Tips from the author, who is a certified specialist in autism spectrum disorders, that offer practical advice in simple to understand language.

Find it in the catalog

New Year’s Celebrations for Kids

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The New Year, a time to reflect on what has passed and to celebrate new beginnings, is just around the corner! How do you celebrate? These vibrant and lively stories offer a doorway inside two young girls’ celebration of family culture and tradition.  

 

Shante Keys and the New Year’s Peas by Gail Piernas-Davenport
Format: Book
Who it’s For: Kids

We set out with Shante on her quest to find the missing ingredient for her family’s New Year tradition.  Told in rhyme, this mission unfolds on the streets of Shante’s neighborhood but ultimately becomes a journey through the cultures and traditions of her neighbors too. By the end of the story,  it’s clear she can experience the beauty of the wide world just by looking at what makes the people she sees everyday unique.  What I love about this story are the underlying messages of diversity, community, teamwork and sharing! Also, included at the back of the book are a fun recipe to try at home and a resource for the cultures of other countries, their traditions and celebrations.

Find it in the catalog.

 

Freedom Soup by Tami Charles
Format: Book, DVD, Digital Audiobook, Digital Movie
Who it’s For: Kids

In this story, we meet Belle and her Ti Gran as we are dropped into their gloriously delicious adventure in cooking set against a backdrop of their Haitian history.  The dynamic and bright pictures dance off the page taking us with them. You can almost feel and taste the freedom Ti Gran talks about while she cooks.  Luckily for us, the recipe for Freedom Soup is in the back of the book!   And as an extra tidbit, the author offers up a little information about the real Ti Gran as well!

Find it in the catalog and on Hoopla as an audiobook or streaming video.

Warmer in the Winter

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Warmer In The Winter by Lindsey Stirling
Format:  Music
Who it’s for:  Everyone

I love Lindsey Stirling’s music, but I especially love her holiday album, Warmer in the Winter.  You will recognize a lot of old favorites like Carol of the Bells, Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy and Jingle Bell Rock.  All songs are played in Lindsey’s signature violin style.  This is the perfect music to listen to while wrapping gifts, snuggling under a blanket, while reading a book, in the car or anywhere!

Some of us are struggling to read during this COVID-19 pandemic.  If you need an uplifting and pretty way to get into the holiday spirit, check out this holiday album on Hoopla. Happy Holidays!

Find it on hoopla digital.

Rain before Rainbows

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Rain Before Rainbows by Smriti Prasadam-Halls, illustrated by David Litchfield
Format: Book
Who it’s For: Kids

 

This book is so hopeful and uplifting! Life has its share of good days and bad, and there is a time for everything. Sorrow and joy, dark and light, loss and abundance, planting and harvest. This simple rhyming tale of a Girl and her friend Fox chronicles their journey from troubled times to a new and meaningful life. They must pass through darkness, storms and worry, but with help and inspiration from friends, hopeful dreams and wise words to live by, Girl and Fox finally find their bright new morning.

In challenging and uncertain times, Rain before Rainbows is a perfect story for helping little ones to learn that “this too shall pass” and that better days lie ahead. You will love the gorgeous illustrations too!

Find it in the catalog!

Traveling With Your Octopus: A Travelogue For Domesticated Cephalopods

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Traveling With Your Octopus: Kesinger, Brian: 9781614040095: Amazon.com: Books

Traveling With Your Octopus: A Travelogue For Domesticated Cephalopods by Brian Kesinger
Format: Picture Book
Who it’s for: Kids

Traveling With Your Octopus: A Travelogue For Domesticated Cephalopods is a delightful tale of tentacles and tourism. The author Brian Kesinger is known for his artistic work on a number of Disney films, including Atlantis and Treasure Planet. The story involves the adventures of Victoria Prismall, steampunk woman of adventure, and Otto, her trusty mollusk companion. Victoria and Otto visit a number of gorgeously drawn locations, from exploring the Himalayas, delving in the tombs of Egypt, and attending “Dia de los Pulpos” the obscure festival to celebrate the Octopi of days gone by. Each page is a delight to look at, the attention to detail and the wonderous costumes of Victoria are delightful. Each adventure features a fun snapshot of a different culture, with a quippy Cephalopod travel fact. (Otto makes a wonderful assistant when performing Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake, or makes a Japanese tea ceremony in 1/8th of the time!) To the moon and back Victoria and Otto take you along with them  I found this adventure to be quite charming, and I am happy to report that no matter your age, it’s a fun read!

Find it in our Catalog!