Tagged Childrens Books
No Rules, Just Read: Children's Book Week
Happy Children’s Book Week, Philadelphia! Founded in 1919 — thus marking its 105th anniversary this year — Children’s Book Week is the nation’s longest-running national literacy initiative. This year,…
Snow-Drop: A Märchen, a Mouse, and a Mystery
The exhibition Into the Night features two paintings by N. C. Wyeth, The Admiral's Ghost and Snow-Drop . The first's title is somewhat explanatory ( It's a ghost! ), but the second is more confusing. Who or what is…
Celebrate Lunar New Year with the Free Library
Lunar New Year is celebrated in some parts of Asia, and is important to many Asian immigrants and communities around the world. Lunar New Year is called Chūnjié (Spring Festival) in China and Taiwan, Seollal in Korea, and Tết in…
The 2024 Youth Media Award-Winners
Bright and early on January 22, while many of us were still sleeping, breakfasting, or commuting, librarians and other youth literature enthusiasts gathered excitedly in person at the Baltimore Convention Center, or virtually…
The Central Children's Department Best Books for 2023
The Parkway Central Children’s Department has a fun tradition of giving our favorite books very specific awards crafted just for them, and here they are! These are our best reads of 2023. What did you enjoy reading this year?…
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month With Your Family
Is your family excited to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month with the Free Library? We are too! The mid-month heritage celebration is set from September 15–October 15 in order to include the Independence Days of…
Picture Book Highlights | Get Ready for Kindergarten!
August is Get Ready for Kindergarten Month. It's a big step for little ones and an important milestone for both kids and parents. Some kids are very excited to go, while others need a little time adjusting to a new routine…
Picture Book Highlights | Disability Pride Month
July is Disability Pride Month, celebrating the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in July 1990. It was a landmark legislation that changed the way people with disabilities were viewed and treated. Thanks to…
Picture Book Highlights | It's Beach Time!
It's July, it is hot outside, and what could be better than a trip to the beach? Imagine yourself spending a day in the sun, dipping into the ocean, playing in the sand, and having an all-around fun time. Beach days can be loud…
Children's Books Featuring Trans and Non-Binary Characters
One thing I’ve enjoyed lately in my reading is getting to savor the explosion of LGBTQ+ characters who get to be out and themselves on the published page. It gives me great joy to offer these books featuring trans and nonbinary…
10 Middle-Grade Titles for Pride Month
A perfect ten of terrific titles to accompany your celebrations during this Pride Month, this set of middle-grade tales tells us stories of discovery, decisions, determination, coping, and caring. Wednesday Wilson Gets Down to Business…
Picture Book Highlights | 50th Anniversary of Hip Hop
Get ready to party! We are celebrating 50 years since hip hop entered the music scene and changed everything. Learn how it all began and see for yourself how the music, the beat and the rhythm can make storytelling even more fun!…
9 Middle-Grade Titles for Juneteenth
All holidays have a story, a history, and a message. Juneteenth is no different. The name comes from combining "June" and "nineteenth" and is celebrated on the anniversary of the order, issued…
6 New Children's Books Celebrating Juneteenth!
We have some new books about Juneteenth to recommend! Last year our similar blog post suggested new titles that had been published and added to our collection. Here are some more to add to your reading list! A Flag for…
The Human Who Was Amazed by "The Cat Who Wished to Be a Man"
In 1973, author Lloyd Alexander (1924-2007) wrote The Cat Who Wished to Be a Man , a comical fantasy novel about a housecat who is magically transformed by his wizard-owner into a human. The story is everything you'd…
Picture Book Highlights | Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month — a perfect time to highlight some recent books written and/or illustrated by Asian creators. We've done it in the past, and you can find more inspiring reads here and…
Profiles in Literature
The Free Library of Philadelphia has some wonderful resources for people researching the history of children's literature in America. With just a library card , several databases are available to help you learn more about the…
Picture Book Highlights | Earth Day
Planet Earth is our only home, and it belongs to more than human beings; it is home to all animals and plants, all life forms above and below water. It is such a magic, glorious, and fragile world. And we can all…
Autism Acceptance Month: Great Reads for Young People
Stories are powerful forces in the lives of young people; they help us connect, learn, heal, dream, and transform. Stories help us become who we most fully are when we see ourselves and our experiences reflected in them. For…
Picture Book Highlights | National Poetry Month
April is National Poetry Month. It is fitting for it to be so, at the start of spring, at the start of renewal and new life. Everyone can be a poet and see poems in the world, in everyday life. Stop and take a moment…