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
Children's
New Year, Old Books
Hello, readers! Happy New Year, and welcome to 2022. How are you at making New Year’s resolutions? Perhaps the better question is how are you at keeping New Year’s resolutions? There seems to be only one resolution I am sure to keep: this year, I will read more books! Actually, I have to confess, reading more … Continue reading New Year, Old Books
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
The Creepiest Month
It's October, and thoughts often turn to skeletons, ghosts, zombies, vampires, and other things that go bump in the night. To prepare, I've been reading (or re-reading) some of the creepiest books out there, and I'm sharing some of my favorites with you. Scary stories have been around for a long time. The 19th century … Continue reading The Creepiest Month
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
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
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
Number 18 in ‘18
This blog is my eighteenth. It’s also my last one for Shelf Life in the Mountains. (Long story short: moving out of state) I did my first one almost exactly 2 years ago, so I’ve done about nine a year since then. Rather than tout some favorite books or videos or music, as I’m wont … Continue reading Number 18 in ‘18
Libraries Rock this summer!
This summer the Summer Learning Program theme for children and teens is "Libraries Rock!" What a great way to think about libraries. They do rock, especially today, when the era of the silent library and the Shushing Librarian is firmly in the past. Mind you, most libraries offer quiet spaces for those who want or … Continue reading Libraries Rock this summer!
Shelf Life in the Mountains 