PPLD Kids

Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from Fri., Sept. 15 - Sun., Oct. 15, recognizing the contributions and influence of Hispanic Americans to the history, culture, and achievements of the United States. The Library offers several opportunities to learn and celebrate. Scroll down to explore resources celebrating Hispanic heritage.

Hispanic Heritage Month Recipe Cards

Learn about favorite foods and make recipes from some of the cultures celebrated during Hispanic Heritage Month. Available at all locations starting Fri., Sept. 15.

Resources

• Adults:
  • Hoopla
  • Kanopy films
  • Colorado Experience 
    Justicia Y Libertad (27 min., NR) 1968 was a pivotal year in American history: The Vietnam War hit its peak, Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated, and riots shook the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. At home in Colorado, it marked the birth of the Chicano Movement. These pivotal times brought political activist Corky Gonzalez to the forefront as an early pioneer of equal rights for Mexican Americans.
• Regional History & Genealogy
• Archival Collections
  • Heidi Vazquez Guy Records (MSS 0408)  
    The Heidi Vazquez Guy Records consist of two series: Biographical Files and VHS Tapes. Biographical information provided in each file includes: birthdate, parents names, names and number of children, education, careers, and Colorado memories. Most files also include a photograph. The VHS tapes contain oral history interviews of people in the Biographical Files conducted by Heidi Vazquez Guy. See staff in Regional History & Genealogy if you want to find out more about this collection.
  • De Donde Eres oral histories 
    Conducted between the years 2003 -2005, ¿De Donde Eres? was an oral history project organized by Pikes Peak Library District’s Special Collections in an effort to document and promote understanding of the region’s Hispanic community and their many contributions to Colorado Springs. The collection is comprised of 25 individual videotaped interviews which have been digitized into audio-only format. A complete listing of the project interviews is available at the Regional History & Genealogy reference desk and transcripts are available for a few of the oral histories.
• Young Adults:
  • Color in Colorado Young Adult Booklist
• Families and Children:
  • Enjoy some incredibly colorful costumes and dance from Ballet Folklórico México Danza to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month! The music is so energetic you might want to get up and dance with your family! Click here to view the video.
  • Children's Materials in Spanish at PPLD
  • Color in Colorado Children's Booklist
  • PBS Children's Booklist
  • eBooks from Libby/Overdrive
  • Children’s Booklist from ¡Colorín Colorado!

• Reference Books and Magazines 

  • Who's who among Hispanic Americans, by Gale Research Inc.
  • Early Hispanic Colorado, 1678-1900, by Joseph P. Sánchez
  • On the edge of purgatory: an archaeology of place in Hispanic Colorado, by Bonnie J. Clark
  • Hispanics in the U.S. Civil War: a compiled list of men who fought for the Confederacy and the Union, compiled and edited by Ricardo J. Rodríguez
  • Hispanic pioneers in Colorado and New Mexico, by Colorado Society of Hispanic Genealogy
  • National Society of Hispanic Genealogy Newsletter, by NSHG
  • Colorado Hispanic Genealogist, by Colorado Society of Hispanic Genealogy
  • Colorado Hispanic Leadership Profiles: Who’s Who among Colorado’s Outstanding Leaders by Doug McNair

  For more titles and information, visit Special Collections or search our catalog! Books are from the Carnegie Library - Special Collections. (Some titles are available for checkout from other library locations.)

• Websites
  • HispanicHeritageMonth.gov Hosted by the Library of Congress, this site provides access to curated arts exhibits and collections, audio and video collections, and resources for Hispanic Heritage Month.
  • La Fiesta Bonita Read about a historic local heritage celebration from right here in El Paso County posted by our friends at the Colorado Springs Pioneer Museum. 
  • National Archives – Hispanic Heritage Month
  • National Today – Hispanic Heritage Month
  • History.com Provides an overview of Hispanic Heritage Month.

Take and Makes for this project, for ages 5-12, will be available at area PPLD libaries beginning July 14, 2023.

A thaumatrope is an optical toy that teaches persistence of vision.” The name thaumatrope means “wonder turner."

Materials and Directions:

Materials we provide:
cardstock templates
straws

Materials you need to provide:
Pencils, crayons, markers
tape

We have provided two options for this activity.

Option One:
Cut out the circles with the printed templates.

Option Two:
Cut out the blank circles. With one on top of the other, draw an image on the top circle. If youpress firmly with your pencil as you draw, you will be able to see the image on the bottom circle to better align your images. Draw a complimentary image on the second circle.
Both options:
Tape the end of a straw to the back of one circle. Carefully align and tape the other circle back-to-back with the first one.
Here are some ideas:
Bird in a cage (bird on one side, cage on the other)
Emojis (face on one side, yellow circle on the other)
Butterflies in a jar (butterflies on one side, jar on the other)
Giraffe with spots (solid giraffe on one side, giraffe outline with spots on the other)
Spider in a web (spider on one side and web on the other)
Fish in a bowl (fish on one side and bowl on the other)
Rocket on the moon (rocket on one side, moon on the other)
Dueling lightsabers (one lightsaber on each side)

Spin the Spin the straw between your hands. As it spins, the two pictures will appear to blend into one.

Supplies for this Take and Make, for ages 5-12, will be available at no cost at area PPLD libraries beginning Friday, June 9, 2023.

Supplies and Directions:

Lemonade Slushies are a great way to beat the summer heat! There’s little to no mess. They’re fun for all ages. And you get slushy goodness!

Supplies:

Materials provided: 1-gallon ziploc, 1-sandwich or quart ziploc, lemonade packet

Materials you provide: water, salt, ice, spoon, cup (optional), towel (optional)

Directions:

Place ice cubes and salt in the gallon sized ziploc bag. Start with 15-20 ice cubes and 1-2 tablespoons salt.

Mix HALF of a lemonade powder packet and 8 – 10 ounces of water in the smaller ziploc. Remove as much excess air as possible and seal the bag.

Place the bag with lemonade into the bag of ice and salt. Seal the large ziploc.

Shake or knead the bags for about 5 minutes until your lemonade has become a slushie. If the bags get too cold, wrap them in a towel.

Carefully remove the lemonade bag from the larger bag. You don’t want to get salt in your lemonade. Pour it into a cup to eat it or eat it right out of the bag.

Tips:

If it seems to be taking too long, add more salt and ice.

Other beverages also work, so experiment to find your favorite.

Supplies for this Take and Make will be available at area PPLD libraries beginning May 12, 2023.

Materials and Directions:

Use the provided paper or your own supplies to draw a shape to race around on your magnet track. You might choose a vehicle (car, truck, train, boat, etc.), an animal (cow, fish, turtle, dog, etc.), or something entirely different. It should be small enough to go on your paper plate (less than 2 inches). Attach a magnet to the back using double-sided tape or a glue dot.

Use your own markers, crayons, or colored pencils to create a course on your race track.

Use double-sided tape or a glue to to attach a magnet to the end of your craft stick. Before you glue, you need to make sure that the magnet on the car and the magnet on the stick attract rather than repel each other. If they repel each other, turn the magnet for the stick over before attaching.

Test your track! Set your shape (vehicle, animal, or other) on your track. Use the magnet on the craft stick under the plate to move and race the car.

Have fun!

Find the tutorial video at https://ppld.librarymarket.com/virtual-kidsmake-magnetic-race-tracks

The free materials for this Take and Make (for ages 5-12), will be available at area PPLD libraries beginning April 14, 2023.

Materials and Directions:

Materials we provide:

Coffee Filter

Pipe Cleaner

Military person toy

Secure the Military person to the center of the pipe cleaner. You may choose to wrap the pipe cleaner around your person or thread it through any openings.

Poke one end of the pipe cleaner through the edge of the coffee filter. Poke the other end through the opposite side. Fold over the ends to secure.

Drop from a high place (or toss in the air) to watch your parachutist float down. It may help to pinch the center of the coffee filter first.

Free materials for this Take and Make, for ages 5-12, are available starting today at area PPLD libraries. For more pictures of this project, click on the pdf link included at the end.

Materials and Directions:

Materials we provide:
Circle Template
Large Paper Clip
Large Straw
Materials you provide:
Scissors
Tape
Markers

1. Color the sections of the circle template with rainbow colors.

2. Cut the circle out. Also cut on the lines between each color, stopping about ½” from the center. Fold flaps down.

3. Straighten the paper clip and then fold a small part of one end down to a 90 degree angle. Carefully poke the paper clip through the center of the circle and tape the small folded part to the colored side.

4. Bend the other end of the paper clip so it can be inserted in the straw and stay secure. Cut the length of the straw in half.

5. To fly your spinner, hold it between your palms with the circle at the top. Roll it quickly and let go. It should spin and float. The colors will blend as it flies. It may take some practice.

Call for art! It's time to get creative! 

Homeschoolers can submit one artwork (drawing, painting, sculpture, needlework, etc.) for this non-juried exhibit. Drop off your entry at the East Library Children's Department from Mon., March 18 – Thu., March 28, 2024. 

Artwork will be displayed throughout the month of April. Grades K - 12. Contact jfleishhacker@ppld.org for more information.

Click here for more event details

Take and Makes for this project, for ages 5-12, will be available at PPLD locations beginning Friday, January 13, 2023.

Supplies and Directions:

Materials we provide:

Colored Cardstock

Stickers

Materials you provide:

Scissors

Markers, crayons, or colored pencils

Alexander Calder was an American sculpture known for his colorful giant sculptures . See some examples of Calder's work in the pdf link below.
Directions:
1. Take a cardstock rectangle. Decorate it with markers, crayons, or colored pencils if desired.

2. Fold it in half.

3. Make cuts similar to those in the picture that almost reach the fold.

4. Unfold.

5. If desired, use colored stickers to decorate.

6. Fold, alternating folding one toward the back and the next toward the front. Alternate this way to allow your sculpture to stand. (For example, the right side would be back, front, back, front, etc. and the left side would be front, back, front, back, etc.)

Get creative with your cutting to create additional amazing sculptures!

Reflecting on 2022 and looking ahead

As we welcome 2023 and what’s to come, I want to take a moment and reflect on the past year for Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD).  

The Library has been a staple in our community for more than 130 years, evolving to become a public institution that offers physical and digital spaces for belonging, personal growth, and strong communities. Thanks to the investment from El Paso County taxpayers, we can provide residents like you with access to 16 facilities, three mobile library services, and a large online hub of resources and services that are inclusive and welcoming to all.

Because of you, we were able to do so much for the community this past year. PPLD connected hundreds of thousands of people with services, resources, and spaces to help them achieve their goals. Many patrons visited one of our libraries, whether to browse our collection and check out an item, attend a program, use a meeting or study room, create something in a makerspace or recording studio, or use a computer, copier, scanner, or something else they needed. Library cardholders checked out more than 4 million physical items, and we surpassed more than 2 million digital checkouts via OverDrive and Libby by the end of September 2022.

We hosted another year of successful programs that strive to improve literacy like the Winter Adult Reading Program, Summer Adventure for kids and teens, and All Pikes Peak Reads this past fall. PPLD expanded the PowerPass partnership program to include Calhan School District and Fountain-Fort Carson School District 8, providing more students with access to Library resources and services to help further their success in and out of the classroom. And we also added a few new museums and attractions to the Pikes Peak Culture Pass, meaning individuals and families can check out even more cultural experiences right here in our community and beyond.

In the spring of 2022, PPLD also announced its new vision, mission, and values. This became the starting point to develop a three-year strategic plan, which was publicly released in December and officially kicks off this month.

The plan for 2023 - 2025 was informed by staff and public input. Last summer, our team hosted multiple opportunities for Library patrons and other community members to engage with us as part of the planning process, and nearly 1,200 participated, whether online or in-person at one of our libraries. With rich qualitative data from the public and 400-plus staff, we uncovered several common themes – and those helped guide a strategic planning committee of staff, Board, and community representatives in identifying PPLD’s six areas of focus. If you want to find out more and see where, why, and how the Library District will reinvest taxpayer dollars back into the community through 2025, please visit ppld.org/strategicplan.  

It's because of the community’s continued support for PPLD that we have been able to do all of this in 2022 and what we’re planning for 2023. Your investment, trust, and patronage truly are an investment into improving the Pikes Peak region for everyone.  

We look forward to serving you throughout this new year – and using our new strategic plan to fulfill our mission, uphold our values, and aim to achieve our vision for this great community!

Teona Shainidze Krebs 
Chief Librarian & CEO 
Pikes Peak Library District 

Get ready for a weekend of epic sports history! PPLD and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum have teamed up to offer a discount weekend at the museum for library cardholders. Share your library card (or card number) to enjoy interactive exhibits and an immersive and accessible look into the journey of Team USA’s Olympic and Paralympic athletes.   

When:  

• Sat., Jan. 28 from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.  
• Sun., Jan. 29 from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m

Present your library card at the museum for $10 admission. The PPLD Bookmobile will be on-site for library card registration and will also put on a special Storytime Saturday morning at 9 a.m. 

Bookmobile on-site: 

• Sat., Jan. 28 from 9 a.m. – noon  
• Sun., Jan. 29 from 10 a.m. – noon