Hundreds of refugees come to Oregon each year in hopes of finding a safe place to live. In fact, since 1975 Oregon has welcomed more than 60,000 refugees. Refugees came from all over the world, but most arriving in Oregon in recent years come from Ukraine, Somalia, Cuba, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Here are some incredible resources created for kids to introduce the stories, history, and experiences of refugees.
Read MoreBetween ice storms, wildfires, and heat waves, Oregon has had its fair share of wild weather! Kids will encounter information about the environment and climate change in school, in the news, and at home. This big and complex topic can feel like a lot to explore with your kiddos, so here are some suggested resources for navigating the conversation.
Read MoreIn addition to wonderful first experiences, children also have their first encounters with less positively-associated subjects, including death. While no book is a substitute for gentle conversations and listening to your child, these titles seek to provide some structure and support for navigating the challenges of a subject often ignored.
Read MoreRobots, scientists, outer space...exploring Mars has it all! Check out some of our favorite web resources for kids on the planet Mars, along with a links to our catalog to find books for exploring for space-enthusiasts of all ages.
Read MoreHitting the road this summer? Check out our suggestions of listens great for the whole family. Whether you check out audiobooks on CD in the library, or download them through either of our digital services, you’ll be able to listen up while you travel out into the world.
Read MoreThe Juneteenth holiday is a time to celebrate as well as a time to examine our history, to reflect on the legacy of slavery, and to look toward the future. Here are some picture books by Black authors and artists that celebrate African American culture, resistance and achievement.
Read MoreFrom noticing the colors and textures to digging deeper into the symmetry and mathematics of plants, there is a lot to discover and enjoy. Creating temporary art with plants is an easy way to encourage kids to notice these patterns and create some of their own.
Read MoreLooking for some great chapter books by and about people of Asian and Pacific Islander heritage? Here are some of our favorites to get you started.
Read MoreChildren of all ages benefit from experiencing art processes and materials without the goal of a particular product that can be stuck on the fridge or given as a present. Process art can seem messy and daunting but there are some tricks for making it an enjoyable experience for everyone.
Read MoreYay, spring! After the cold, rainy months, the blue skies, warmer temps, and growing things sure do seem exciting. Have fun exploring this new season with your kiddo. Here are our ideas for having some springtime fun.
Read MoreWe've gathered some stellar recent children's literature by Black authors, from early readers to chapter books. How about celebrating Black History Month by reading a title by a Black author that is new to you? And, keep reading Black books all year long . . . there are so great books!
Read MoreI love reading to my kids, but sometimes I need a break. And other times, they want the agency to listen to a story as many times as they want. Enter the audiobook! Here are our options for listening for younger kids.
Read MoreSending and receiving mail is practically magical. When they write their own letters, kids have the power to communicate as they wish, whether it's a drawing, a story, or just them writing their name down. Learning how to address an envelope has it's own art as well, understanding the importance of place in the world. But how does it all work? Here's our guide to the true and, well, exaggerated magic of mail.
Read MoreWhen children are young, it’s easy to see the benefit in parents reading out loud to their child. Children who are read to have better vocabularies, stronger reading skills and healthy social/emotional development. But why stop there?! Keep reading for some of our favorite books to listen to for upper elementary through middle school.
Read MoreThere is so much excitement when your family grows. Making the transition from single child to more can be a monumental change, especially for the soon-to-be-no-longer-only child. Here are some of our favorite books for sharing with your child from pregnancy to becoming a big sibling.
Read MoreDon't know if you know, but librarians love books! We love sharing books and especially giving books as gifts. Books are great gifts on their own, but sometimes it's nice to make a whole bundle of fun to go with it.
Read MoreIn a culture where it is easy to consume, purchase, and receive, it can be a challenge to instill a sense of gratitude. Balance with that the want to provide joy, excitement, and enrichment for our kids. Here are some ideas of sharing thankfulness as a family.
Read MoreEach season brings a special opportunity to explore and discover the world around us. As someone who grew up in a place with mostly one season (ah, Louisiana, the land of muggy and hot, and muggier and hotter), the beautiful relief and joy of autumn is something to celebrate! Here are some of our suggestions for exploring the season with your kiddos.
Read MoreHispanic Heritage Month, September 15 - October 15, celebrates the contributions to American society and culture of Americans with roots in Mexico, Central America, South America, the Spanish-speaking nations of the Caribbean, and Spain. To celebrate, we're highlighting some recent books by phenomenal Latinx authors and illustrators.
Read MoreGrowing up, body positivity was not a term I heard. Now raising my kids, I am acutely aware of messages about bodies (their abilities and differences) and facing questions from my kids about how bodies work. Here are some picks for cultivating a sense of awareness of our amazing, fascinating, and sometimes bizarre bodies.
Read MoreKids are starting school, but it doesn’t look or feel the way it usually does. The standard books about starting school just don’t apply this year. We've gathered some books about doing something new. We looked for titles that address the inner thoughts and emotions of children. We hope that that sharing one or two of these books with your child helps them to acknowledge and talk about feelings of excitement, fear, or worry accompanying the start of this school year. Searching for ways to make this time feel special? We’ve included books that celebrate growing up and being you!
Read MoreMore and more families are having open conversations about big issues, including politics. We most often associate politics with big moments in history, things like presidential elections. But when you boil it down, politics is how people in groups make decisions, at many different levels. Here are some ideas of how to introduce this concept of politics, voting, and what it means to be a citizen to your kid.
Read MoreIf you’ve ever browsed our Early Reader section, you’ve probably noticed numbers on the sides of many of the books, or friendly names or colors. To make it more complicated, your child might have really like a Level 1 of a particular series, but when you pick up a Level 1 of another series it’s way too hard or too easy. Why is it so difficult?!
Read MoreIs your kiddo ready to start reading? Each kid is ready in their own time, but sharing simple text with lots of repetition can help develop their literacy skills. The world of early readers can be a complex place with leveling (set by publishers), movie/franchise tie-ins (with complicated words), and lots of very little spines. Here are our suggestions of great first books to share with your kid.
Read MoreKids are natural scientists. As a grownup without much of a science background, it can be daunting to try an experiment at home, because I feel like I don't have the vocabulary or knowledge to answer my kids' questions. But, it really doesn't matter! Science is about discovery, questioning and exploring. Look for the answers together! And just enjoy the process.
Read MoreLooking for elementary and middle school books featuring LGBTQIA+ characters? We’ve got you covered! Here are a few new titles we love. Chapter Books with Lesbian Characters The Mighty Heart of Sunny Saint James by Ashley Herring Blake Hurricane Child by Kacen Calendar One True Way by Shannon Hitchcock Redwood and Ponytail by K. A. ...
Read MoreLGBTQIA+ Picture Books & Parenting Resources
Read MoreParenting is hard. Having big discussions, even with other grownups much less kids, can feel daunting. Navigating what to share, how much detail and all of the other decisions can make you feel like it’s easier just not to talk about it. But kids know stuff happens. They hear it from friends, hear their grownups ...
Read MoreWe believe kids need to see characters who look like they do in stories, and we strive to have a collection that allows all children to see themselves in books. We hope that these titles can offer kids who may not often see themselves reflected in the media, the chance to imagine starring in their own adventures.
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