Book Talk: Spring New Books
Beanbag, Children's Librarian, Children's Librarian
Twice a year, in the spring and fall, the Children's Book Showcase Committee holds a meeting to present some of the highlights of recently published kids' books. Committee members each choose three or four titles from a subcategory of books: picture books, fiction for younger readers, fiction for school-age readers, graphic novels, non-fiction, etc. See below for some of the highlights of the highlights of this spring's picks. Neither written and Illustrated by Airlie Anderson In the Land of This and That, everyone is either one way or the other. Neither does not fit in. So Neither…
Book Talk: Growl
Beanbag, Children's Librarian, Children's Librarian
Here at the BKLYN Kids Blog, we endeavor to post new content every Thursday. The reason that this post is going live just over the wire (it is 12:44am on Friday as I am about to hit "publish") is not entirely because I am a procrastinator, but because it has changed form, changed tone, grown and shrunk a number of times since I started working on it a few weeks ago. It began, when in the lead up to the Academy Awards, I saw an infographic illustrating the percentage of lines in Oscar winning films spoken by men vs those spoken by women. The results are unfortunately not hard to surmise but no…
Book Talk: Mock Newbery and Caldecott Awards
Beanbag, Children's Librarian, Children's Librarian
The Newbery and Caldecott Awards (the "Oscars of the children's book world") are presented annually by the Association for Library Services to Children, a division of the American Library Association. The John Newbery Medal was established in 1922, and is given to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children up to the age of fourteen. It has customarily been given to works of fiction for middle-grade readers, but in recent years has been awarded to graphic novels, picture books, works of poetry, and nonfiction as well. The Randolph Caldecott Medal was…
Book Talk: Notable Books of 2017
Beanbag, Children's Librarian, Children's Librarian
There are books that move us, others that make us laugh and some that provide us with endless inspiration. As the year is coming to an end our children's librarians look back on some of the most notable books of 2017. These books show great artistic appeal, are creatively put together and encourage children to explore their interests and relationship with reading. Younger Readers Before & After by Jean Jullien Graphic artist Jean Jullien cleverly illustrates a series of situations where there is a “before” and “after” and sometimes even an “in-…
Comic & Manga Fan? Let's test that...
The Brooklyn Public Library has a great collection of new comics and manga for kids. But before we get into that, let’s see how much you already know. . . The Brooklyn Public Library’s Ultimate Comic Trivia Quiz! Loading... Point Breakdown: 0-1 points: Total newb 2-3 points: Budding nerdist 3-4 points: Respectable comic connoisseur 5 points: Ultimate comic maven Looking for new comics? Here are some our favorites. . . Nightlights by Lorena…
#IndigenousReads by Indigenous Writers: A Children’s Reading List
Our friends at Seattle Public Library shared an article which includes a curated list of recommended children’s books by Indigenous authors and illustrators. The list was curated by The Conscious Kid Library and American Indians in Children’s Literature, in partnership with Brooklyn Children’s Museum. The article opens with a statistic that should sound the alarms in children’s publishing offices across the U.S., and shines light on the extreme disparities in Indigenous representation and authorship in children’s books: Only 1% of the children’s books published in the U.S. in 2016…
Spooktacular Stories
Ask a Librarian Pumpkin (Courtesy of CliffLandis) When I was a kid, I was obsessed with scary stories. One of my favorites? Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark . Those illustrations haunt me to this day! Scary stories can help us deal with our fears in a safe environment, and experience the adrenaline / excitement of those fears without being in any real danger. As a shy, reserved child, they served as an exciting outlet for me. I think Horror gets a bad rap - often dismissed as a lesser genre, purely there for our entertainment. In reality, the best scary…
You are YOU-nique!
Sometimes creating your own path or doing things your own way is difficult but it is ultimately rewarding. These picture books caught my eye not only because they are fun and quirky, but they also inspire individuality and encourage kids to embrace their differences. All make for great read-alouds and are suitable for kids from pre-K to about first grade. More and more inclusive, diverse and mindful books are being written for children these days. Most of the books on this list are fairly recent publications. For more suggestions, check out these other lists by Brooklyn Public Library…
Picture Books in Translation
Beanbag, Children's Librarian, Children's Librarian
Storytime is my absolute favorite time of the week in the library. I love discovering weird, wonderful, beautiful, baffling books and then getting to share them. And I've found that some of the weirdest, wonderfulest, most beautiful and baffling books are those that have made their way into English via translation from another language. I'm excited to share some of my recent finds with you! A Most Mysterious Mouse written by Giovanna Zoboli, illustrated by Lisa D'Andrea, translated by Antony Shugaar From Italian. An industrious cat spends all his time thinking of mice: a mouse…
Inspire Young Inventors with STEM Picture Books
Each of these titles focuses on a different element of STEM: science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. These work best as books to read aloud or read together for children ages 3-9. Explore Nanobots with Chris Gall, or follow Max through his adventures in Max Speed, before having your own adventure in STEM. View our events calendar to attend a STEM program at your local branch. Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn by Kenard Pak As trees sway in the cool breeze, blue jays head south, and leaves change their colors, everyone knows—autumn is on its way! Join a young girl as she takes a…
5 Historical Fiction Books For Winter
These five titles make excellent picks for readers interested in historical fiction: made up stories that take place during real historical times or events. Ideal for readers aged 7-12, these books transport readers to Depression-era Key West, the 1860s Great Plains, and 1970s California, among others. Paper Wishes by Lois Sephban When 10-year-old Manami and her family are suddenly ordered to move to a prison camp just because they're Japanese, Manami loses her voice and can only speak through her drawings. Pair with Weedflower by Cynthia Kadohata or Remembering Manzanar:…