Looking for something new or different to read? We asked our Children’s staff for their recent favorites and here are a few of their picks! The Deceivers by Margaret Peterson Haddix Until their mother vanished, the Greystone kids–Chess, Emma, and Finn–knew nothing about the other world. Everything is different there. It’s a mirror image, except […]
Reading
Shake Up Shakespeare: 8 YA Books in Verse You’ll Love
There are books that rock and books that rollBut Shakespeare’s works can oft be droll Enjoy these YA choices, poetry in verseWritten by a cast that’s incredibly diverse The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo A young Latino girl must decideTo strut forward, or stay and hide Bull by David Elliott The myth of the Minotaur […]
Get Outside: 5 Books That Celebrate the Natural World
Spring has officially arrived! Things are warming up outside; flowers are blooming, leaves are coming back to the trees, and the urge to get outside and spend some quality nature time is real. As a reader, Spring’s arrival often translates to getting curious about and connecting to nature through books. Whether it’s a writer’s descriptive experience of a solitary mountain trail adventure, a meditation on the song of wild birds, or a how-to guide for observing and recording the animals in your backyard, nature writing brings the world […]
10 Kids Non-fiction Books to Reel You In!
I know, I know. You should never judge a book by it’s cover. But it’s so hard with these silly and super eye-catching kids nonfiction books. Which cover do you like best? If you’re looking for more, check out Cloud Library and Hoopla for more eye-catching titles! Radiant Child: The Story of Jean-Michel Basquiat by […]
Coretta Scott King Award Winners
Celebrate Black History Month by reading a book by a Coretta Scott King Award-winning author or illustrator! Coretta Scott King Awards and honors are given “to outstanding African American authors and illustrators of books for children and young adults that demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values.”* First awarded by the American Library Association in […]
Read-a-Thon Wrap-up!
2020? 2020 who? We here at BCFL Beanstack Headquarters* would like to offer a hearty congratulations to everyone who participated, fought, and struggled through our very first Read-a-Thon! Together, we read over 2,700 books in just over 3 months—how cool is that? And, of course, a special shout-out to those happy few who managed against […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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.