As you read this, I’m sure you are well aware that we are “sheltering in place” and looking for ways to stay connected. The Youth Services department -and the whole library- is keeping in touch with virtual meetings, emails, texts, etc., to think of ways to reach out and support you. We miss you…our peeps! There are so many things available online to help everyone stay engaged and active. I will post a few things today with a short description of what you can find if you click on the link. Our own New Lenox Library has so much to offer online, so I hope you are exploring our website as well! Be sure to visit the online resources and e-books we have available to you. A previous blog tells you about Libby and our website has easy step-by-step instructions about how to access the digital library.

Below is a blog from one of my librarian friends in the school district where I previously worked. She and her colleague have put together a tremendous page- called Library Bookends– of daily live author/illustrator read-alouds. Be sure to visit them each day, along with their resource tab for many other ideas and activities….a big, happy thanks to Steph & Mary!

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Here is an example of a video from beloved author/illustrator Mo Willems that I found in their blog:

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If you’ve read some of my past postings, you know I have a special place for the Forest Preserve of Will County. Their website has some kid-friendly activities for you too.

The Joliet YMCA also has kid activities on their website with fun things to do with materials you probably have around the house:

A scavenger hunt, whether outdoors or indoors, is always a creative exercise. Have mom or dad, grams or gramps, or whomever you are sheltering with look around for one to try. Below are just a few images of some scavenger hunts searching Bing, Google, and Pinterest….or better yet, make up your own for someone in your family!

Here’s one to get your ideas flowing:

Check back soon for more resources for you to investigate. The Library has a Facebook and Instagram account for your caregivers with frequent updates, so visit those when you can! Stay safe, stay healthy, stay happy, and stay connected! Most of all, remember…

“Tis the season when everyone is a wee bit Irish with the wearin’ o’ the green…but enough of this blarney, here’s a quick post about St. Patrick Day facts, festivities, and fun!

To start out with facts, you can learn about St. Patrick’s Day at the History Channel link below:

National Geographic for Kids also has some information to help explain this holiday:

And for good measure, here’s one more site to visit to explore the customs and traditions:

Now that you’ve done a little research, it’s time to zero in on those pesky leprechauns and their gold. Holidappy.com has facts galore about leprechauns:

This brings us to the best part….trying to catch a leprechaun! There are many creative ways to construct a trap, so here are some ideas to help you get started:

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As always, you can search our e-book selection online, or come in to browse and we can help you locate titles like these:

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Above all, we wish you a….

About two months ago, the first reports of coronavirus disease (COVID-19)  began surfacing in the news. You may have heard the word pandemic, but what does that mean? Our kid’s database TrueFlix has put together some information about this and other health emergency situations in this special monthly publication:

A simple way to prevent the spreading of germs is to wash your hands properly. A simple science experiment has been getting a lot of attention lately because of its obvious results:

Here are some other sites with information and graphics to show you how to attack those germs! And don’t be too quick about the method…it’s recommended you hum or sing “Happy Birthday” twice while washing your hands!

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These posters provide more visual references for you:

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Besides washing your hands, another way to prevent the spread of any kind of germs is by covering your cough or sneeze, please. You probably have heard about the vampire method or even the dab.

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Practicing these good habits can help you stay healthy!

It’s time to update you with a few changes in the Youth Services Department. We have moved and improved a few areas, so here goes!

Our latest addition, near the New Book section, is called Perfect Pair. These shelves feature books with their audio-book counterparts. It’s a fun way to enjoy listening to books while reading them, or vice versa.

The holiday books are located on the shelves under the windows in the tree area. These books are grouped by holiday; featuring St. Patrick’s Day right now. There are also special stickers on the spine to help you find the particular celebration you’d like.

Our Spanish collection has been moved to the corner by the Storytime Room. You will find an assortment of books here, as well as cds. You can also find Spanish e-books in TumbleBooks on the NLPL webpage.

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TumbleBooks has a collection of Language Learning books.

Mango, found on our database page, is another resource to learn Spanish and several other languages. All you need is your library card to try it out:

Last, but certainly not least, the fish tank received a colorful make-over. On your next visit, see who really lives in that pineapple under the sea…

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As you’re finishing up your visit, stop by the main desk to vote for your favorite Caudill nominated book if you are in grades 4-8 and have read at least 3 of the books.

Voting for this ends February 27th. The Monarch and Bluestem voting will begin soon, so be on the lookout for that!

Are you working on a report or project for school? Did you know there are databases available online at newlenoxlibrary.org? When you visit the Homework Help section in the Kids tab of our website, you will find resources to help you with research.

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Scroll down the page to see all the databases we have for you to try in our Online Learning section.

Let’s take a look at TrueFlix, a database for science and social studies topics.

On the content page of TrueFlix, you can browse the subjects to see if your topic or area of interest is listed.

Once you choose a subject area, you will see several subtopics. For example, under Information Literacy, these books are the choices available:

Clicking on the title Types of Maps will give you the option of watching a video or reading the book:

As you read or listen to the book, important vocabulary words are highlighted. When you click on the word, the pronunciation and definition pop up. (These words are also found in the glossary at the end of the book.) There are also charts, diagrams, and other features you would normally find in non-fiction books.

Once you’ve watched the video or read the book, there are ways to learn more about the topic in each of the colored tabs on the left.

Do you need to create a project for school? TruFlix has you covered! Suggestions can be found here as well, with step-by-step instructions.

The next tab has fun activities to reinforce important points of the topic with questions to answer and a word match puzzle.

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Finally, you can explore your topic further with links to other internet sites.

So give TrueFlix a try when you need to do some research, or just for fun…and while you’re visiting our website, see what other online resources we have to help with homework or boost your brain power!

Even though we rang in the new year a few weeks ago, it’s a good time to explore another culture and celebrate Chinese New Year!

I am not fond of rats in general, but they are the Chinese Zodiac symbol for the upcoming year, which starts on January 25th. According to the China Highlights website, “Rats are quick-witted, resourceful, and smart but lack courage. With rich imaginations and sharp observations, they can take advantage of various opportunities well. In Chinese culture, rats represent working diligently and thriftiness, so people born in a Rat year are thought to be wealthy and prosperous.”

Several other websites offer information about Chinese New Year. Each explanation is basically the same but presented a little differently. You can check them out below:

We can always help you find books in the library. Here is a sampling of what we have available:

The book Moonbeams, Dumplings & Dragon Boats by Nina Simonds is a great resource to find out more about the Chinese New Year and other festivals. It presents background information, related tales, and activities for celebrating Chinese festivals.

Happy Chinese New Year to you, or translated…” wishing you great happiness and prosperity”.

Did you ever wonder about the different holidays and traditions people celebrate during the winter months? Take a look at the resources and books we have to learn about holidays. You can also explore different cultures’ holidays in Culturegrams on the NLPL website. Then scroll all the way to the end of this post to find the big guy…Santa!

You can search by country, then holiday to find out about different cultures and traditions. Learn about your heritage- the climate, holidays, population, language, and even find some food favorites!

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To help you find specific holidays in the nonfiction section of the library, the following chart can be helpful to locate books:

There are also picture books in our holiday section back by the tree for some of the different winter celebrations. Stop in and check our selection. We can help you locate whatever sparks your curiosity.

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After you learn about the different traditions and cultures, you might want to see what’s going on up at the North Pole. Here is one Santa Tracker with lots of fun activities:

The Norad Santa Tracker follows Santa around the world and also has many jolly activities to keep you busy:

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We hope you find some information about your family traditions by using our online resources or with a visit. Wishes for peace and happiness this holiday season from Youth Services!

It’s time to hunker down and face winter since it will be here for awhile. The outlook is what we’ve come to expect here in the Midwest, so stay cozy with those gloves, hats, and mittens for the next few months. The Farmer’s Almanac has predicted a cold and wet winter for our area. This article highlights a few of the twists and turns coming with this year’s “Polar Coaster“.

More details can also be found on the Channel 5 website to help you to prepare -not that you’ve forgotten what it’s like!

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I recently saw a woolly bear caterpillar on the sidewalk and remembered that folklore says you can predict winter by observing the color and thickness of their fuzzy coat. The National Weather Service has interesting information about how valid this may or may not be. Either way, it’s fun to learn about these tales.

Since there’s nothing we can do about the freezing temperatures, a bit of snow would be pretty and offer outdoor activity options. Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin tells about a humble country boy who studied snowflakes throughout his life. You can read more about him and his quest to photograph and share his love of snowflakes:

Many people started taking a closer look at snow after learning about the work and inspiring photos of Wilson Bentley. We have these books available with more information and stunning photographs and illustrations:

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Another book, The Story of Snow, is available in the library and also on the website in Tumblebooks. You can watch the video presentation or read along with the Tumblepad online. Find the Kids tab, click on the Tumblebooks icon, then search for the title or subject. After you locate the book, you will be able to choose either option.

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I hope we have some snow soon so you can enjoy a hands-on experience with studying how snowflakes are formed. In the meantime, read up on the subject so you’re ready to go! Check back soon for more outside activities to try…snow foolin’!