Do you have a favorite book? Who’s your favorite character in that book? Share that character with the libraries! During the week of November 30th through December 6th, download the character cut out and draw in your favorite character! Bring it to your local library branch and it will be sent and displayed at the Bensalem branch during the month!
Archives for November 2020
Charge into Chapter Books!
Know a reader who’s ready to charge ahead into chapter books? There’s no greater rite of passage in a growing reader’s journey than the transition from easy readers to chapter books.
You can help your young reader make a smooth transition by looking for titles with interesting stories, large text, big spaces between the lines, frequent illustrations, and the all-important numbered chapters. Here are some great books to try!
[Read more…] about Charge into Chapter Books!Virtual Youth Art Show
Join us for our first ever Virtual Youth Art Show on December 1 through December 4 on our Facebook page!
Starting today, we are asking all children, tweens and teens to send us a piece of original artwork around the theme of “Celebrate What You Love” for us to display on our Facebook page in a specific Virtual Youth Art Show Album. We will be collecting artwork submissions until Nov. 30 at 4pm.
The theme “Celebrate What You Love” asks artists to find a topic, person or place they love and “celebrate” it by creating a piece of artwork. This could include: family, celebrations, parks, sports, animals, celebrities, books, the library, friends, tv shows, etc. Whatever it is that you love and wish to celebrate!
How to send us your art:
1.) Create an original piece of art whether it be a drawing, painting, photography or other medium of art.
2.) Take a photo of the artwork or scan it to a digital file. We are accepting these digital file formats: .jpeg (or .jpg) or .png.
3.) Provide the title of your artwork (if you have one) and your name, age and the library branch you most frequent in an email along with the digital image file.
4.) Send all the above to this email address: childrensservices@buckslib.org.
If you cannot send an image file or are unsure how, each library branch has a scanner where you can scan 2D pieces of art into an image file to be emailed.
Raring to Read
Know a brand-new reader who’s raring to go? Reading a book with a story or topic they love is a great way for beginning readers to build confidence in their reading skills and develop a love of reading – crucial for motivating them to keep at it if the going gets tough.
Short sentences, repetitive text, a small number of words on each page, and common sight words make these terrific titles suitable for the most beginner of readers. What kind of book will your new reader love?
[Read more…] about Raring to ReadMake and Play the Action Game!
Feeling restless and bored?
Join us for a virtual good time playing the Action Game! Playing is easy. All you’ll need is to click the link below to download the rules and printables. Print and cut out the materials, and play whenever you’d like! The Action Game can be played almost anywhere, all you need is dice, the printouts, and energy!
Levittown Branch Closed beginning November 16
The Levittown Branch of the Bucks County Free Library will be closed for renovations beginning Monday, November 16. The closure is expected to last through the end of December. Damaged and defective windows are being replaced throughout the library.
During the closure:
- Book drops will be open for return of materials.
- Curbside services will be available Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Phone services will be available.
- WiFi is accessible in the parking lot in labeled spaces.
For those who need in-building services please visit a nearby branch in Bensalem, Langhorne, or Yardley-Makefield or check out our Locations page for other options.
This renovation project is supported in part through a grant from the Office of Commonwealth Libraries, Pennsylvania Department of Education, with funds provided from the Keystone Recreation, Park, and Conservation Fund.
Picture Your Favorite Picture Books
November is National Picture Book Month! As a children’s librarian, I love a good picture book, but what makes picture books so important?
As children, picture books are our first form of literature. They are a bonding experience between parents, caregivers, teachers, and children. They allow us that first glimpse into worlds like our own or worlds other than our own. Picture books provide those building blocks to literacy, which become more and more important with each passing day.
Now, picture books aren’t just for children. They’re for everyone. A good picture book can bring back fond memories or give you a chance to look at something in a different way. Revisiting your favorite picture books, whether as an adult or child or in between, can be an adventure in its own right.
In honor of Picture Book Month, some of the Youth Services Staff have compiled their favorite picture books. See if there are any on the list that you’ve read and loved!
Miss Shannon
The Dark by Lemony Snicket: This book takes such a scary topic and handles it with such delicacy. The dark in our houses can be scary, but this book shows there is nothing to be afraid of. Not to mention, the author is one of my favorites!
Yonie Wondernose by Marguerite de Angeli: I remember reading this book with my grandmother when I was younger. There was something about the language used and the illustrations that made the story feel so real in my head.
Miss Liz
That is Not a Good Idea! by Mo Willems: That is Not a Good Idea! is one of my favorites to read at storytime because of the plot twist at the end! I also love reading it with different voices at storytime and with my kids.
Ira Sleeps Over by Bernard Waber: I love Ira Sleeps Over because my mom used to read it to my siblings and me as a bedtime story. I also loved bringing it with me if I had a sleepover with my friends or other extended family members. It brings back wonderful memories of those times whenever I read it as an adult.
Miss Kate
The Book with No Pictures by B.J. Novak: The Book with No Pictures is great for kids of all ages. I’ve read it to my nieces, and I’ve read it to small storytime groups. I’ve also read it to outreach visits with 100 children. Nothing breaks the ice like a grown up saying ‘I am a robot monkey and my head is made of blueberry pizza!’ It’s also a blast to read the book in lots of different voices. It’s really a classic, and I recommend everyone give it a read.
Miss Sam
I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen: Klassen is consistently one of my favorite picture book authors out there right now! I Want My Hat Back is always a great read in storytimes, because that bear just wants his hat back! The set up and delivery of the final joke is done so expertly that it’s always a great laugh when it lands—even if it is a little dark!
Llama Destroys the World by Jonathan Stutzman: Llama is a master of many things, but situational awareness isn’t one of them! I love this book because it has something for everyone of any age—the Cha-Cha Slide, sandwiches, black holes! There’s a sequel now, but nothing beats the original!
Miss Emily
Hello, Lighthouse by Sophie Blackall: My young niece and I were both mesmerized by this beautiful story when we read the book together. She loved noticing details in the illustrations that helped tell the story.
We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom: When I first picked up this book from our cart of new arrivals this summer, I couldn’t stop loudly exclaiming my amazement every single time I turned a page! The lush, gorgeous illustrations by Michaela Goade are incredible and (dare I say it?) Caldecott-worthy and share a powerful message about environmental advocacy with young kids.
Miss Nicole
It’s a Tiger by David LaRochelle: This is one of my favorite picture books to read in storytime! The kids love seeing where the tiger is going to appear next and it’s a fun, action-packed adventure where we’re always wondering if the tiger is going to catch us or not!
Mother Bruce by Ryan T. Higgins: As far as personal favorites go, the “Bruce” picture book series by Ryan T. Higgins is an all time favorite of mine! I get such a kick out of the grumpy Bruce character and all the animals who “bother” him and the different hijinks they get into. These books always make me smile and the illustrations are beautiful as well! If I had to choose a picture book series, I’d choose this one!
Miss Michelle
Such a Good Boy by Marianna Coppo: This offbeat gem is one of my new 2020 favorites! An adorable dog learns to be himself — even if it means being a little different than his owner might expect
Saturday by Oge Mora: Oge Mora’s illustrations are gorgeous, and this slice-of-life story about a girl and her mother mentions the library – what more could a librarian ask for? I love this story that proves that even when things don’t go as planned, you can still have a splendid day if you spend it with someone you love.
— Shannon C., Youth Services Librarian
Good Books You Might Have Missed
Because of the pandemic, many books that were due to be published last spring had their publication dates pushed back to fall. So many highly-anticipated titles have hit the shelves recently that you might have missed hearing about some other great reads. Our Collection Management Specialist recommends these fiction and nonfiction titles.
[Read more…] about Good Books You Might Have MissedVirtual Escape Room: A Most Mysterious Day, or, Oh What a Feline!
Test your skill at puzzle solving with this virtual escape room! Read the story, choose your answers, and solve the puzzles to escape a very mysterious situation that may or may not involve cute cats. Best for elementary school children and up.
Click the link to start your mysterious quest!
Resources and Support for Caregivers
Caregivers are superheroes in everyday clothes living everyday lives. November is National Family Caregivers Month, which is dedicated to supporting caregivers as they care for others. More than 65 million Americans care for their aging parents or family members with disabilities. These people often have to balance the work of caring for their loved one with the demands of their careers and raising their own children.
For those of us who are caregivers of aging family members, it is important that we have access to the vital information to perform our role to the best of our abilities and that we are able to take care of ourselves in this process. The following list will provide information on resources, self-care, and advocacy for caregivers of adults.
[Read more…] about Resources and Support for Caregivers
