Hello readers! Today I want you to think back to your childhood. Do you remember listening to books at bedtime? What was your favorite story? I begged to hear Madeline over and over. I laughed at the sight of Miss Clavell dashing to prevent a disaster, and wished I could live in an “old house in … Continue reading 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten
Kids
A Good Day for Chocolate!
Hello, readers! Did you know that August 4th is National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day? Or that September 12th is National Chocolate Milkshake Day? In fact, there are two (or more) chocolate holidays in every month of the year! You can see the whole list here. Now, I think every day is a good day for … Continue reading A Good Day for Chocolate!
National Picture Book Month
November is National Picture Book Month! What a great excuse to talk about picture books. I freely confess, I'm a picture book fanatic. When we get shipments of new books at the library, the picture books are usually the ones I'm most excited about. Picture books offer so much, in both words and pictures. They … Continue reading National Picture Book Month
The Shortest Day
December. Short days, long chilly nights. As we drive to work in the dark, and drive home in the dark, we begin to wonder, will we ever see the sun again? If we feel this way in these modern, enlightened times, imagine how it must have felt millenia ago, when the sun seemed to struggle … Continue reading The Shortest Day
It’s time for school!
All across the country, kids are starting school -- either for the new school year or for the first time. Some schools are already in session, while others start in the next few weeks. Of course, this got me thinking about books related to the start of school. As usual, my thoughts first jump to … Continue reading It’s time for school!
Picturing Mental Health
May is Mental Health Month across the country. In our libraries, you can view displays, attend programs, and check out books and videos related to mental health. One place you might not think to look for mental health resources is the picture book section of your library. But there are amazing, wonderful picture books that … Continue reading Picturing Mental Health
Winter Wonderlands!
All my life I've had a fascination with winter. Maybe it's because I grew up in coastal Southern California, so winter for us was a novelty, an annual drive up into the mountains to experience sledding, snowmen, and other winter fun. But we always went on a clear day (so as not to get stuck … Continue reading Winter Wonderlands!
Discovering Kids Films on Kanopy
Kanopy, the free-with-your-library-card film streaming service provided for FRL card holders, recently added a large section of films for kids. If you haven't browsed through it yet, you are really missing out! It's easy to access; from the Kanopy homepage, just click on "Kids" at the top. Here you will find a wealth of films and … Continue reading Discovering Kids Films on Kanopy
Guest Blog: Local author, Tyler Cook, reflects on Macon County Public Library’s Read Local Book Fair
As I reflect on the fifth annual Read Local Book Fair in Franklin, I can’t help but feel excitement, as if I’m attending it for the first time. Each year brings a new experience, and a new group of customers gets to experience a new book, whether they buy mine or someone else’s. For us … Continue reading Guest Blog: Local author, Tyler Cook, reflects on Macon County Public Library’s Read Local Book Fair
Stepping Stones
A few weeks ago a riveting image showed up on my Facebook page. It was something like this: I was immediately captivated by the artist's style and searched out more images of Syrian artist Nizar Ali Badr's work. It turns out some of his creations, which he shares mainly via Facebook, have been used to … Continue reading Stepping Stones
Shelf Life in the Mountains 