In the Spotlight!

Did you notice that we had a lot of snow on March 1st? An old saying says that if “March comes in like a lion”, it goes “out like a lamb”. The weather may be blustery now, but it should be nice at the end of the month. So, snuggle up on your favorite chair, under a warm blanket, and share stories about the snow and upcoming spring! Choose both picture books and nonfiction about Weather. (J 551.5784) Click on the pdf link below to see the booklist.

It’s a good idea to start very early with tooth cleaning. To make the job more fun, here are some picture books about your teeth: dental visits, tooth fairies and taking care of your “pearly whites”! Click on the pdf link below:

Is there a favorite thing you enjoy doing…either by yourself or with your friends? January is a time to celebrate your hobbies. Whether it is sports or crafting or music or magic, the Library is the perfect place to learn more about your hobby. Enjoy these picture books, click on the pdf link below:

When you are looking for the perfect gift…look no further than your library for great inspiration. You’ll find books, CDs, DVDs, Blu-ray, magazines and so much more within the walls of your local library branch. Find a gift your child will treasure for years to come. Opening a book from the library is like unwrapping a gift every day! Click on the pdf link below to see some of our favorite picture books:

Read these stories together. Then spend time with Mom, Dad or a grandparent and share your own family stories. Tell stories about what you or your ancestors have done. Imagine what you may do in the future. Click on the pdf link below to see the reading list.

October is the perfect time, as leaves fall off the trees, to cuddle up and snuggle up with a book of poetry. Click on the pdf below to see a great reading list of autumn books.

August 4^{th is National Friendship Day and August 15 is Best Friend Day. Have you made a new friend lately? Click the link below for a list of great stories about friends.}

Summer is a wonderful time to look at the stars in the sky! Check the link below for star book recommendations.

Celebrate our 2019 Summer Adventure theme, A Universe of Stories, with these stellar offerings about outer space. Scroll down for picture books to share together, chapter books for independent readers, and nonfiction titles to satisfy curious minds. Click on the link below for booklist.

Enjoy these titles with photo illustrations! Compare them. This will help your child see the world in many different ways:close up and far away; in nature and in the home; of people, animals or things. For fun, have your child create a story from photos that you take together. Click on the link below to see booklist.

April is the Month of the Military Child. Here are some picture books that relate to Bravery, Separation and Deployment for children. Click on the link below:

February is “Random Acts of Kindness” month. Click the link below to see great reading suggestions.

One of the great benefits of reading is that it allows us to learn about the lives of people who are different from us. Enjoy some of the delightfully unique books in this list with your children to expose them to the diverse people, cultures and customs that make up our country and our wonderful world. Click on the pdf link below to see great books for kids:

It’s already nearing the end of the 2018…a year filled with fun picture books! Just in case you’ve missed them, here is a list of a few books you can find at the library. Snuggle up and share them with someone you love! Click on the link below to see the booklist:

Grab a few of these delicious picture books and create a healthy snack or meal that you can all enjoy! (Find cookbooks in J 641.5). Click link below to see booklist.

Just as every person is unique…every book has a unique story to tell. You may like it – or you may not… but in America, the author is free to tell his or her story for all to enjoy. Our public library proudly includes them in the collection. We invite you to read these picture books with your child, and encourage you to have a discussion. You may be surprised to discover some old favorites…and may actually make some new “book friends”.
Here is a list of Banned and Challenged Picture Books. Some are non-fiction, while others are on the picture book shelves. Ask your friendly librarian for help. Click link below for list:

August is National Picnic Month… with Watermelon Day (August 3) and Ice Cream Sandwich Day (August 2) thrown in for fun! Though you may already be back in school, find a little time to enjoy the warm summer days with a picnic outside and some of these favorite stories. Click link below for our reading list:

July is World Watercolor Month! Many illustrators use watercolors to paint pictures in children’s books. If the watercolors are transparent (see-through), they can be used by themselves or in soft layers. Some watercolors are opaque, (not see-through).

Here is a list of a few illustrators who use watercolors, (in red). Find the book by looking under the author in the JEasy section of the library, or by asking your friendly librarian. Look closely at the pictures and see if they look transparent or opaque. Don’t forget to pull out your own watercolors, and give watercolor painting a try! Click on the pdf link below to see the list of books:

“By the sea, by the sea….By the beautiful sea!
You and me, you and me…Oh how happy we’ll be!”

June is “The Great Outdoors” Month! Oceans and lakes, sea creatures and mermaids! Stop at the library for a great book…but make sure to keep it out of the water! Click on pdf below for reading list.

“Zipping on wheels…Off you go! Flying fast and spinning slow.
Riding a bike on a sunny day…your worries and cares just fade away!”
May is “National Bike Month”!!! After taking a spin around the neighborhood on your bike, choose one of these picture books to relax with! See link below for reading list.

April is National Humor Month!
“Knock, Knock! Who’s there? Boo. Boo who? Why are you crying?”
It is said that “Laughter is the best Medicine”. Sometimes there is no better way to connect kids with books, than to find one that tickles the funny bone! Here is a list of humorous picture books. Click on link below!

Practice reading aloud and improve fluency by sharing a story with one of our loveable Paws-to-Read therapy dogs. Click on the link below for a great reading list. Here are times and library locations for PPLD Paws to Read programs:

• Mondays at 4 p.m. - Monument
• 2^nd and 4^th Mondays at 3 p.m. - Fountain

• Tuesdays at 3 p.m. - Manitou Springs
• Tuesdays at 3:30 p.m. - East
• Tuesdays at 4 p.m. - Ruth Holley, Old Colorado

• Wednesdays at 3:30 p.m. - East, Library 21c, Penrose, Rockrimmon
• Wednesdays at 4 p.m. – Monument, Cheyenne Mountain

• Thursdays at 3:30 p.m. - East

• Fridays at 4 p.m. – Sand Creek

• Saturdays at 10:00 a.m. - East
• 1^st Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. – Ute Pass

The Winter Olympics will take place in Pyeong Chang, South Korea this month! Don't just watch it on TV. Take this time to move with your child! You may not really be able to ice skate or compete in luge, but you can use your imagination! Athletes need to have good balance. Practice walking on a line. If the weather is nice...pretend to LUGE down the slide at the park. Indoors, wear slippery socks and slide around on the smooth floor like you are FIGURE SKATING. Or make a modified CURLING course...using a ball or toy truck and a broom, and land on a bulls-eye on the floor. Don't let your kids have all the fun! They want to judge your spins and turns on the ice rink as well! Here are some books to help your athletes "warm up". Click on link:

Aru Shah and the End of Time, by Roshani Chokshi
Release: March 2018
Percy Jackson fans rejoice! There’s a new hero in town and a new mythology to explore in Aru Shah and the End of Time. Aru Shah’s tendency to stretch the truth has landed her in some hot water after she lights a cursed lamp and sets things in motion that will be difficult to undo. Chokshi’s new series is part of a new imprint of titles handpicked by Rick Riordan himself.
See Also: The Serpent’s Secret, by Sayantani DasGupta (Release February 2018)

Legends of the Lost Causes, by Brad McLelland
Release: February 2018
After Bad Whiskey burns down his home, Keech finds himself on the path of finding the Char Stone, a legendary stone of massive power. Can he and a band of orphans outlast against undead outlaws, and find the stone?

The Last Grand Adventure, by Rebecca Behrens
Release: February 2018
A journey to find her grandmother’s sister, might just make Bea’s summer a lot more bearable. But any epic road trip is bound to have some bumps along the way.

The Ambrose Deception, by Emily Ecton
Release: February 2018
Three students are chosen to participate in the scavenger hunt of a lifetime. Winning could mean a scholarship that would make a lot of things better. When the three start the hunt they find themselves running around Chicago, chasing down leads, but the scavenger hunt may have more in store for the three than a simple scholarship.
See Also: Spin the Golden Lightbulb, by Jackie Yeager (Release: January 2018)

Winterhouse, by Ben Guterson
Release: January 2018
When orphan Elizabeth Somers is sent to the Winterhouse Hotel, she finds a lot of things charming, like the library. But as she continues to live at Winterhouse she stumbles upon secrets and she starts to think that maybe she’s connected to the house and it’s family in a way she can’t really explain.

September 24 - 30 is Banned Book Week! Pick up a children's book that someone has tried to ban. In other words, the complaint was meant to rid the library of that particular title...forever! Go to http://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/childrensb… for a list of banned books and get reading!