EBRPL Kids – East Baton Rouge Parish Library InfoBlog

44th Annual Author-Illustrator: Salina Yoon

Mark your calendar now! Join us virtually for the FREE 44th Annual Author-Illustrator Program featuring award-winning children’s author and illustrator Salina Yoon! A Geisel Honor-winner, Yoon is author and illustrator of a dozen picture books and early readers, and nearly 200 innovative novelty books, with more than 4.5 million books sold worldwide. Kiki & Jax: The Life-Changing Magic of Friendship, which was released in November 2019, is a picture book she co-authored and illustrated with international tidying superstar and bestselling author, Marie Kondo. Yoon’s other awards include the Award for Excellence in a Picture Book for Found, the New York State Reading Association Charlotte Award for Penguin and Pinecone, Maryland Blue Crab Young Reader Award for Duck, Duck, Porcupine!, and many more.

Everyone is invited to join us via Zoom at 9 a.m. Thursday, October 7, for a FREE program suitable for children and anyone who is interested in Yoon’s work. Pre-registration is required. Visit the Events Calendar at www.ebrpl.com to register. A Zoom link will be sent to registrants before
the program.

Teachers, librarians, writers, artists and children’s literature enthusiasts are invited to reconnect with the Library via Zoom at 10 a.m. Friday, October 8, for a special FREE virtual workshop presented by Yoon. In this workshop, “Creating a Culture of READERS!”, Yoon will highlight how to inspire students to find those books that they can connect to, and show educators/librarians how to create their own concept book using their creative thinking skills, which is an activity they can recreate in their classroom and use with their students. Yoon will also share the many different ways to create a culture of readers, for today, tomorrow, and the future. To register for the Friday, October 8 virtual workshop, call the Main Library Children’s Room at (225) 231-3760, or sign up on the Events Calendar. The workshop will be archived and freely accessible to all registered participants for two weeks.

Selected books by Yoon will be available for purchase throughout October. For more information, contact Children’s Services at (225)231-3760. Pre-autographed book plates will be included with book sales. This program is sponsored by Children’s Services of the East Baton Rouge Parish Library and the Patrons of the Public Library. For more information about author and illustrator Salina Yoon and her books, visit her website.

Learn and Play Online with Sites for Kids

Early childhood development is so important. Here are some great resources your child can learn from while they play games, watch videos, and more – all of them are free with your library card, and they all look great on a tablet or smartphone, as well as on a computer screen.

Miss Humblebee’s Academy – your kiddos can take interactive lessons in everything from social studies to music, and you can track their progress with weekly reports emailed directly to you. The site can even remind you to make regular check-ins on soft skills needed for kindergarten. What better way to prep your children for school than by letting them play with your iPad? They’re going to do it anyway – sneak in some learning!

PebbleGo and PebbleGo Next – With lessons that read themselves, you can encourage your kid’s love of dinosaurs, animals, science, social studies, or famous historical figures by setting them up on PebbleGo. Each category offers facts in a variety of categories that they can even use in school reports. The citations and an article version of the fact in question are included right in the app. PebbleGo Next is great for older kids or more advanced learners!

ABDO Zoom – Looking for more sources for your child’s first report? Check out ABDO Zoom, an interactive encyclopedia for beginning readers. Kids can navigate on their own with simple image-and-text pairings.

Scholastic Watch and Learn – If you’ve ever wished YouTube was more educational, check out Scholastic Watch and Learn! With videos on a huge variety of topics and included vocabulary prep, optional worksheets, and quick little quizzes at the end of every video, kids can learn while they watch TV. Videos are even available in Spanish!

Tumblebooks – eBooks for Kids!

Does your kid love to play on your iPad? Show them TumbleBooks and get them reading while they stay connected to the internet! With over 250 animated, talking picture books, some of which even come in other languages, your child will love both reading and interacting with technology (and you can, too).

There are no downloads required – you just need to go to the library’s website, click on “Kids,” and click on “Tumblebooks” to get started reading. They’ve even got educational games, graphic novels, and more!

Tumblebooks is free with your library card.

Hampstead Stage Company Presents Stories in the Stars

Join the Hampstead Stage Company at the Library this month for a special presentation of Stories in the Stars! Children ages 5-11 are invited to soar through the stars in this compilation performance of Greek myths. Hear stories of the wind, sun and moon, and seasons, plus explore various constellations and starry legends. Registration is required for all. For more information and to register, call the Children’s Room at the Library location directly. Here’s the schedule:

10 a.m. Monday, July 8, Delmont Gardens Branch
2:30 p.m. Monday, July 8, Jones Creek Regional Branch
10 a.m. Tuesday, July 9, Pride-Chaneyville Branch
2:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 9, Zachary Branch
10 a.m. Wednesday, July 10, Scotlandville Branch
2:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 10, Baker Branch
10 a.m. Thursday, July 11, Eden Park Branch
2:30 p.m. Thursday, July 11, Bluebonnet Regional Branch
10 a.m. Monday, July 15, Fairwood Branch
2:30 p.m. Monday, July 15, Carver Branch
10 a.m. Tuesday, July 16, Central Branch

Lady Chops Presents: Drumroll Please!

Elizabeth “Lady Chops” Vidos is a professional percussionist who performed in the Off-Broadway show STOMP for ten years. Kids ages 4-11 are invited to the Library to enjoy her exciting show, which is an interactive journey of sound exploration! Hear beats and melodies from local and international instruments, buckets and body percussion. You won’t believe your ears! Here’s the schedule:

10 a.m. Monday, July 1, Greenwell Springs Road Regional Branch
2:30 p.m. Monday, July 1, Central Branch
10 a.m. Tuesday, July 2, Delmont Gardens Branch
2:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 2, Jones Creek Regional Branch
10 a.m. Wednesday, July 3, Fairwood Branch
2:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 3, Pride-Chaneyville Branch
10 a.m. Monday, July 15, Zachary Branch
2:30 p.m. Monday, July 15, Main Library at Goodwood
10 a.m. Tuesday, July 16, Scotlandville Branch
2:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 16, Eden Park Branch
10 a.m. Wednesday, July 17, Baker Branch
2:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 17, Bluebonnet Regional Branch
10 a.m. Thursday, July 18, River Center Branch
2:30 p.m. Thursday, July 18, Carver Branch

2018 Author-Illustrator: Brian Floca

The East Baton Rouge Parish Library is proud to present author and illustrator Brian Floca as the featured speaker for the 41st Annual Author-Illustrator Program, which will be held Thursday and Friday, October 11 and 12, at the Main Library at Goodwood, located at 7711 Goodwood Blvd.

Brian Floca is the author/illustrator and illustrator of numerous award-winning books for children, including Locomotive, winner of the 2014 Caldecott Medal, a Robert F. Sibert Honor Book, an Orbis Pictus Honor Book, a New York Times 10 Best Illustrated Books of the Year selection and a New York Times bestseller; Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11, a Sibert Honor Book, New York Times 10 Best Illustrated Books of the Year selection and Society of Illustrators silver medal winner; Lightship, a Sibert Honor Book and a Booklist “Top of the List” picture book; and The Racecar Alphabet, an ALA Notable Children’s Book and a Kirkus Reviews Editor’s Choice.

Adults, teens and children are invited to attend the FREE Thursday evening program on October 11. Then on Friday, October 12, Floca will present a program for teachers, librarians, writers, parents and lovers of children’s and young adult literature. The registration fee for this event is $25 for adults and $10 for students with a valid school I.D. Both events will include a book sale and autograph session. You can find registration information online, or by calling the Children’s Department at (225) 231-3760.

The Author-Illustrator Program affords an excellent opportunity to hear “the story behind the story” from prominent writers and illustrators of literature for children and young adults. Some notable names in the field of literature who have been featured during these annual programs have included: Rosemary Wells, Gene Yang, David Adler, Katherine Paterson, Linda Sue Park, Avi, Jack Gantos, Patricia and Fred McKissack, and Richard Peck.

Summer Reading Parties Start Monday!

Has your child signed up for summer reading? Summer reading parties start this Monday! Check the list below for the celebration at your local branch:

Central Branch – Monday, July 23rd, 10AM
Bluebonnet Regional Branch – Monday, July 23rd, 6:30PM
Carver Branch – Tuesday, July 24th, 10AM
Fairwood Branch – Wednesday, July 25th, 10AM
Zachary Branch – Wednesday, July 25th, 10AM
Jones Creek Regional Branch – Wednesday, July 25th, 6:30PM
Delmont Gardens Branch – Thursday, July 26th, 10AM
Eden Park Branch – Thursday, July 26th, 3PM
Scotlandville Branch – Monday, July 30th, 10AM
Greenwell Springs Road Regional Branch – Monday, July 30th, 6:30PM
Baker Branch – Tuesday, July 31st, 10AM
Pride-Chaneyville Branch – Tuesday, July 31st, 3PM
Main Library on Goodwood – Wednesday, August 1st, 10AM

Teens can celebrate, too! The teen summer reading party schedule is as follows:

Fairwood Branch – Tuesday, July 24th, 3:30PM
Greenwell Springs Road Regional Branch – Saturday, July 28th, 3PM
Baker Branch – Monday, July 30th, 2PM
Eden Park Branch – Monday, July 30th, 3PM
Pride-Chaneyville Branch – Monday, July 30th, 4PM
River Center Branch – Tuesday, July 31st, 1:30PM
Delmont Gardens Branch – Tuesday, July 31st, 2:30PM
Jones Creek Regional Branch – Tuesday, July 31st, 2:30PM
Bluebonnet Regional Branch – Tuesday, July 31st, 4PM
Main Library on Goodwood – Wednesday, August 1st, 12PM
Zachary Branch – Tuesday, August 7th, 6PM

Not finished with your reading logs? No problem! Finished reading logs can be turned in until August 15th to win prizes and an entry into the big prize drawing! Keep reading, Baton Rouge!

Summer Reading 2018!

Summertime is FUN time! Your East Baton Rouge Parish Library has planned a Summer Reading Program for every age group, so the whole family can participate.

Parents and guardians can pick up registration materials for kids ages 0-11 in the Children’s Room at any library location starting Tuesday, May 29, through Tuesday, July 31. Children who reach their reading goals or read at least five books by Wednesday, August 15, will receive a reading certificate, a FREE book, and other cool prizes, plus have their name entered into a drawing for a $50 gift certificate!

Summer reading keeps your brain working, and can help you get ready for college and even your future career! It also helps you prepare for the reading comprehension portions included in most standardized tests. Teens going into grades 6-12 can sign up in the teen section at any branch and pick up their reading log starting Tuesday, May 22nd. To complete the program, read any six regular books, or 18 graphic novels, by Wednesday, August 15th, and you’ll receive six Library Bucks (good for paying off fines!), a drawstring backpack and a pair of earbuds! Plus, if you keep reading, you’ll be entered into the weekly prize drawing. Every three regular books or nine graphic novels you read gets you an entry into the drawing for cool prizes like autographed books, virtual reality headsets and more! Read as much as you can, because the top reader across East Baton Rouge Parish will receive a Kindle Fire Tablet bundle!

Why should kids and teens have all the fun this summer? We’ve got a Summer Reading Program designed just for adults ages 18 and older that will get your pages turning! Adults are asked to read three books starting Friday, June 1, and can pick up a log through Tuesday, July 31. Each reader has until Wednesday, August 15, to submit their list of completed books in order to receive a summer prize pack. For more information about the 2018 Summer Reading Program for all ages, contact your Library location directly, or visit us online.

DIY Gifts at the Library

The holidays are a wonderful time of year to let the people in your life know what you mean to them. If you’re broke as a joke, or at least as broke as a witty comment, come to one of the library’s truly excellent craft programs and leave with something handmade for that special someone. Here is a convenient list of what’s coming up before the end of the year!

Bluebonnet

Morse Code Jewelry, December 20th, 3-4 PM – Teens, come to Bluebonnet to make an awesome bracelet or necklace using morse code to spell out a special message! Keychains can also be made. All materials will be provided.

Carver Branch

Crafty Christmas, December 19th-December 23rd, 4-5 PM – Teens can come any day or every day to make a new Christmas craft from ornaments to wrapping paper. Materials will be provided.
Rocky and Rita Reindeer, December 27th, 10 AM-1 PM – Children can make their own Rocky or Rita Reindeer to use for holiday decorating. Materials will be provided while supplies last.

Central Branch

Silly Santa Make and Take, December 19th-December 22nd, all day (while supplies last) – Children can celebrate the upcoming holidays by making crafts where silly Santa Clauses are popping out of chimneys feet first! Ages 3 and up.

Delmont Gardens Branch

Burlap Rudolph Ornament Storycraft, December 20th, 4-5 PM – Children ages 8-11 will read “The Animals’ Santa” by Jan Brett and make burlap Rudolph ornaments. Limited to 12 children. Preregistration required; please call (225) 354-7060 to register.
20somethings Holiday Felties, December 21st, 5-7 PM – 20somethings will make weirdly adorable Christmas tree felties.
Charlie Brown-themed Christmas Wreath Storycraft, December 22nd, 10-11 AM – Children read “A Charlie Brown Christmas” by Charles Schulz and then make a Charlie Brown-themed Christmas wreath. Limited to 12 children, ages 5-9. Preregistration required; please call (225) 354-7060.
New Year’s Eve Noisemaker Storycraft, December 30th, 10-11 AM – Children will read “Frog and Friends Celebrate Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve” by Eve Bunting and make a New Year’s Eve noisemaker. Preregistration required; please call (225) 354-7060. Limited to 10 children, ages 8-11.

Eden Park Branch

Mindful Crafts and Meditation, December 20th and 27th, 5:30-6:30 PM –Adults are welcome to join us for a craft that increases awareness, inner peace and mindfulness. Examples include creating mandalas, prayer flags, or aromatherapy.
Holiday Ornaments, December 21st, 5:30-6:30 PM – Adults and 20somethings will make some beautifully unique holiday ornaments using yarn and plastic canvas.
Holiday Cake Balls, December 22nd, 3:30-4:30 PM – Teens will make some yummy, no-bake cake balls.

Fairwood Branch

Christmas Stocking Storycraft, December 17th, 11 AM-12 PM – Children will listen to the classic How the Grinch Stole Christmas! by Dr. Seuss. Then the children will decorate a stocking made out of felt. They can hang up their unique stocking just in time for Christmas. For ages 4-11. Please register by calling (225) 924-9386.

Jones Creek Branch

DIY Sugar Scrubs, December 22nd, 3-4 PM – Teens, learn how to make your own luxurious sugar scrubs to use as a gift or to keep for yourself!
Countdown to New Year’s Make and Take, December 28th, 1-4 PM – Children can stop by anytime between 1:00 and 4:00 PM to make an adorable New Year’s paper plate clock, which will be wearing a festive party hat! All ages.

Main Library

Ugly Holiday Sweaters for 20somethings, December 17th, 1-3 PM – 20somethings should bring their poor, un-decorated sweatshirts to cover them with various tacky objects. Also, snacks! The snacks are for eating, not for putting on the sweaters.
Santa and Snowman Make and Take, December 19th, 10 AM-4 PM – Children will be able to choose whether they would like to make a Santa or a Snowman. For children ages 3 to 11. All children under the age of 9 must be accompanied by an adult. Sorry, no groups.
Holiday Ornaments, December 22nd, 2:30-3:15 PM – Children will sing Christmas carols and make holiday ornaments to take home. All children under the age of 9 must be accompanied by an adult. For children ages 5 to 7. Registration is required (call (225) 231-2740) and limited to 10 children. Sorry, no groups.

Pride-Chaneyville Branch

Corn Husk Angels, December 14th (today!), 4-5 PM – Teens can come to Pride-Chaneyville Branch Library and make the perfect addition to your holiday tree or to dress-up that special gift for Mom. We’ll be making angels out of real corn husks, yarn, and felt.

River Center Branch

Christmas Ornaments Make-and-Take, December 14th-17th, 10 AM-4 PM (while supplies last) – Children can make their own Christmas Tree ornaments at River Center Branch Library using pipe cleaners and beads. Bring your imagination to craft candy canes, wreaths, and more! Children 6 and up. Groups must register. For more information and to register, call 389-4959.

Zachary Branch

Trim-a-Tree Make and Take, December 19th-23rd, 10 AM-4 PM (while supplies last) – Children can design their own Christmas Tree with construction paper, pom-poms and stickers. Ages 3-11. No registration required.
Pretty Paper Ornaments, December 22nd, 4-5:30 PM – Teens, come by the Zachary Branch Library and make a variety of pretty paper Christmas ornaments, like woven paper snowflakes, origami orbs and more! All supplies will be provided.

1000 Books Before Kindergarten

2016-03-08 10_51_14-EBRPL.com _ East Baton Rouge Parish Library

Reading to your child is a great way to encourage literacy from an early age, and this program provides extra incentive for reluctant readers. There are neat prizes available for every 250 books read, and the library will provide reading logs to help you keep track:

250 books – A special sticker and a book bag
500 books – A special sticker and a decal of Off We Go! by Will Hillenbrand
750 books – A special sticker and a poster of Off We Go!
1,000 books – A special sticker and a certificate of merit, a copy of the book Off We Go! by Will Hillenbrand and an invitation to a special party to be held every August at the Main Library at Goodwood for those who complete the program.

1K-BooksBeforeKindergartenBearBookArtPosterLetterSize.pdf - Adobe Reader

Does your little one have a favorite that they want to hear over and over again? You can count it every time. Reading the same book several times lets kids get familiar with the story, and they’ll start to get an idea of the way stories work. Books read at daycare, pre-k, Head Start, and library storytimes count, too!

Check out the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten guidelines for more information, and call your friendly neighborhood children’s librarians for more information!