Early Literacy Calendars Available

St. Louis County Library is all about early literacy for our youngsters! We provide lots of tips during our lap times and story times but there is a lot that you can do at home. To help with that, we have created a monthly calendar with ideas of what you can do at home to encourage learning. 

You can pick up a copy at a branch story time or you can download it at your home. Check back each month for new fun!

--Desiree S., Headquarters

Kids Music Friday: "I'm a Little Fish" by Laura Doherty

Need a little swim to brighten your day? Strap on some fins and join these adorable sea creatures as Laura Doherty sings "I'm a Little Fish." Keep your eyes open for the banjo-playing octopus!

--Andrea W., Headquarters

Dewey Discoveries: "Mission: Wolf Rescue" by Kitson Jzynka with Daniel Raven-Ellison

Wolves are beautiful animals with a complex social structure that scientists have been studying for years. "Mission: Wolf Rescue" by Kitson Jazynka is packed full of facts about wolves, ideas for getting involved in conservation, and the gorgeous photographs that National Geographic is famous for. Check it out for the young scientist in your house by clicking on the link above.

Dewey Number: 599.773

--Andrea W., Headquarters

Staff Review: "Bluebird" by Lindsey Yankey

In the face of beauty, sometimes words aren't enough. I know that's a bit ironic of me to say, since I have to use my words to tell you about "Bluebird" by Lindsey Yankey, a picture book so lovely that words fail me. Which means you'll just have to check it out and experience it for yourself!

The plot centers around a little painted bluebird who wants to fly, but can't find his friend, the wind, to help him out. So he hunts and hunts for his friend in its favorite haunts, but all for naught. In the end, the bluebird discovers that his friend has been waiting for him to learn to fly on his own. It's a nice little story, but the mixed media illustrations of a quaint European town and people going about their daily lives in rich detail steal the show. Ms. Yankey did such a smashing job that I'd like to crawl inside her book and stay for a day or two. This story is wonderful for anyone age three and up, and you can reserve a copy by clicking on the link above.

--Andrea W., Headquarters

American Girl Beforever Series

American Girl's newest series makes YOU the main character!  Imagine if you could go back in time Julie.  Or you were transported back to the Great Depression with the young journalist, Kit.  The Beforever books are a choose your own adventure story with the historic girls at a faster pace than the other titles.  You decide if you give Samantha a bike riding lesson or give her a friendship bracelet.  It's similar to the Innerstar University books, but it isn't set in present-day.  Don't worry about making choices because you can go back and reread them and choose differently again and again!
to 1970s San Francisco with big dreamer
This week on Project Runway, on Lifetime, there will be a special American Girl challenge featuring the fresh, new Beforever dolls.  You can tune in to see what the professionals think these girls should be wearing.  Maybe it will even inspire you to design your own clothes like the 2014 Girl of the Year, Isabelle.

If you like American Girl books, you might also like these:

--Angie RH, Headquarters

Ivy and Bean Author to Visit SLCL

We are excited that one of our favorite authors is coming to the library!  Annie Barrows, the author of Ivy and Bean books, will be at the Daniel Boone branch on Saturday, September 20th. The event starts at 6:00 p.m. with doors opening at 5:00 p.m.

"Magic in the Mix" is the sequel to "The Magic Half" in which the time-traveling twins Molly and Miri are off on an adventure to the Civil War where they race against the clock to save two unusual soldiers. Brimming with lovable characters, this long-awaited sequel will bring a whole new batch of readers to Annie Barrows' wonderfully popular world of twin-inspired magic.

"The Magic Half" Eleven-year-old Miri Gill feels left out in her family, which has two sets of twins and her, until she travels back in time to 1935 and discovers Molly, her own lost twin, and brings her to the present day.           





We would love to see you there!


--Desiree S., Headquarters
          

Kids Music Friday: "The Bossy E" by Mister G

Nobody pushes around letters in the alphabet like the letter "E"! See just how bossy that E is in this fun animated video by Mister G called "The Bossy E." Check out the new CD too!

--Andrea W., Headquarters