Sending 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 MoreThe Juneteenth holiday (a portmanteau of June and nineteen) commemorates June 19, 1865, when Union general Gordon Granger read federal orders in Galveston, Texas, that all previously enslaved people were free — finally freeing slaves in Texas over two years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. The Juneteenth holiday is a time to celebrate ...
Read MoreLGBTQIA+ kids, teens, parents, and families: we see you! LGBTQIA+ authors and stories are in our collections. Your stories matter. We have picture books and parenting resources for gender nonconforming kids, queer comics for all ages, books to support questioning kids and teens, and more. We are here for you. You are part of our ...
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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