The beloved children’s novelist, Beverly Cleary, passed away last month. This former children’s librarian became one of the most popular authors of children’s literature, touching several generations of readers. Children, parents, teachers, librarians, and people all around the world have enjoyed her works throughout the years. Clicking on the links and pictures below will help you learn more about this fascinating, humble, and timeless writer.

On her webpage, you will find her biography and information about her books and characters.

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These interesting facts (and many more) come from the site “100 Things You Might Not Know About Beverly Cleary“:

3. In her writing, she never forgot the advice her mother gave her: “Keep it funny. People always like to read something funny.”

18. When she was working as a children’s librarian, a student angrily asked her, “Where are the books about kids like us?” That inspired Cleary to create characters like Henry Huggins and Ramona Quimby.

58. After reading aloud an essay Cleary had written, her seventh-grade teacher told the class, “When Beverly grows up, she should write children’s books.”

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Here is an excerpt from mentalfloss.com, a shorter list of interesting tidbits:

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More than a decade ago, the Library of Congress declared Cleary a living legend, and her birthday, April 12, is celebrated with Drop Everything and Read Day, held every year in many U.S. libraries and schools. Will your school be participating? Be sure to tell us about it!

Activities related to the Drop Everything and Read program can be found here and by clicking on the pictures from the website below:

We hope you’ve learned a little bit more about Beverly Cleary and her many works. Come in and pick out some books by her, or any of your favorites, to join in a special D.E.A.R. celebration this year!

We are cautiously, optimistically ready to celebrate spring in the library! Bulletin boards and displays have been updated to reflect the hope of the new season. Here’s a peek at what you’ll see when you visit…

At the YS Main Desk there are QR codes to scan for our social media sites:

And back by the tree, the shelves are buzzing with our new picture book additions:

As promised, here’s the spring bitmoji page of spring-y activities to explore when you click on each of us:

The shelves around the tree area are also blooming with even more books to celebrate the season!

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Trees and shrubs are budding…

while plants and weeds are greening up….

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So make like a bunny and hop in for some great choices we’ve found for you…

or look around to discover your own!

See you soon!

After a February full of snow, March has indeed entered like a lamb with some wonderful, warm weather. But is it here to stay? We shall soon find out! As the seasons change, so do our displays and… ta-da! …new staff picks!

Whether you stop in to pick something from our display or check out the cool bitmoji page by Ms. Liz Y with e-book links, you’re sure to find something interesting or entertaining to read.

This display is right next to our main desk:

Grab a bookmark to help decide what you’ll read next.

Check back soon for another fun bitmoji page for spring! Hope you’ve been out enjoying the fresh air!

Let’s keep our fingers crossed that spring is really here, but just in case, remember this:

The peaceful blanket of snow covering the brown, barren backyards and far-reaching fields has provided a blank canvas for our furry or feathered friends searching for food & shelter. Have you found a trail or followed footsteps this winter? Did you make your own set of frosty footprints? Or have you found or created a message sketched in the snow?

Even though we were bombarded for a few weeks with snow and cold, I have enjoyed the wonders of winter this year. I especially like discovering footprints in the snow, whether they belong to humans or animals. Where are they going? Did they come from a nearby den? Are they searching for food? Or just exploring like me?

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Take a walk while we still have a cover of snow and see what you see! Look for clues about who made the frosty footprints you find or imagine where they might lead. Here are just a few of the books we have in the library that could assist you in your quest:

Even though these are picture books, these suggestions offer insight into the workings of winter:

• The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats (E KEA)
• Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner (E MES)
• Footprints in the Snow by Mei Matsuoka (E MAT)
• Little Fox in the Snow by Jonathan London (E LON)
• Who’s Been Here? A Tale in Tracks by Fran Hodgkins (E HOD)
• In the Snow: Who’s Been Here? by Lindsay Barrett George (E GEO)
• Tracks in the Snow by Wong Herbert Yee (E YEE)

There are also many resources in non-fiction, so let us help you find what you’d like. The snow may be starting to melt, but any time there is a fresh dusting, a new adventure awaits!

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Stay safe, stop in, and savor the scenery…spring is on the way!

Now don’t even get me started on icicles….

It’s February, and most thoughts go to hearts, love, and Valentine’s Day. We have plenty of those books for you, so why not pick up a few books about history as well? Stop in to browse our Black History Month display. There are some really great books to “know the past, shape the future”.

Miss Jen has put together a large array of biographies, picture & chapter books, and non-fiction books for you to learn more about Black History Month, and a handy bibliography sheet.

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Many of these resources are available online too in Libby, Overdrive, & Axis 360:

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…and in our newest addition of online resources, hoopla! Sign up with your library card for access to even more good stuff, including movies! There is a tutorial to help explain things for you on the webpage:

Here at the library, we “heart” books, we “heart” history, and we “heart” seeing you back in the building.

Bundle up and visit us soon!

When I’m coming up with topics to share with you, I sometimes check out a few websites that focus on daily or monthly holidays and observances. Some days are serious, while others are humorous or uplifting. From Susan B. Anthony Day, to Spaghetti Day, to Science Fiction Day… you’re sure to find something to celebrate!

National Today gives you the options of searching by month or date:

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January has a few silly days left…or you can get an early start on February!

Time and Date gives you the same options:

Clicking on the link for each day will provide you with more information or resources…like Groundhog’s Day, for example:

One more calendar page to check out is from Demco. There is an activity calendar and a literacy calendar for each month.

From their website: “Share the February early literacy calendar to help kids grow a love of learning at home. They’ll discover something new every day with songs, games, and much more.”

“Inspire a love of learning with a February calendar full of ideas for engaging children’s activities, craft projects, books suggestions, and more.”

There are lots of good ideas to make these winter days a little more enjoyable and engaging, so have fun with these or search for other fun sites! Stay warm & healthy, and stop in soon to see us!

Another season, another Staff Picks List-Winter Edition!! Here is the latest Bitmoji-stravaganza featuring our choices, compliments of Ms. Liz Y.

‘Snow time like the present to hunker down and read!

Click on each book for a link to check it out online with our e-resources: Libby, Overdrive or Tumblebooks. The globe, owl, computer screen and newspaper are also links to resources on our library’s website-Culturegrams, Kids Zone, the online catalog and Scholastic Go!

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When you’re not sure what to read, take a look at our list for ideas or request a book bundle or mystery bag. We’re here to help you out as much as we can to keep you eagerly reading!

Remember to check out the Kids Section of our website, too. Along with e-resources, there are many things to explore, such as programs, new books, videos, homework help (well, maybe not while you’re on break)…and previous blog posts!

As 2020 comes to an end, we look forward to a new year, new beginnings and new challenges. I will repeat what I’ve said several times over the past few months…we really miss seeing you, but we are thankful to be able to help you find what you need and hopefully keep you reading and coming back for more.

We wish you all the best for the new year!

Have you visited the Commons yet this holiday season? Even with pandemic precautions in place, it’s a hustling, bustling scene. If you haven’t walked the walk, perhaps now is the time!

How do Yetis tell the time?

With a sasq-watch.

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In addition to all the decorations and phenomenal lights in the evening, we have contributed a Storybook Walk to the festivities. The story featured is How to Catch a Yeti by Adam Wallace. It’s a delightful part of the “How to Catch” series available to check out from the library.

Bigfoot is sometimes confused with Sasquatch….Yeti never complains.

The elusive Yeti is the mascot for our Winter Reading Program. The Kids’ tab on the New Lenox Library website has all the information, along with the Reading Log and Bonus Log for you to print at home. They are also available in the lobby of the library or included in any Mystery Bag requests. Look for all this information on our webpage:

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This year’s theme is Yeti, Set, Read! Follow the Yeti tracks through the mountains and color in one big foot track for every 15 minutes that is read. Once kids read 8 hours and help the Yeti get home after his adventure they will get a certificate to fill out for 2 free tickets to a Chicago Wolves Ice Hockey Game*, a Buy One/Get One smoothie coupon from Smoothie King, a little winter-themed prize bag, and an entry into our weekly raffle. Bonus logs will be available for you to earn extra raffle entries. Be sure to sign up if you haven’t yeti…..

Has the abominable snowman called?

Not yeti.

Don’t forget to look for the Yeti around town too! Call us and let us know where you’ve seen him to earn a raffle ticket for an amazing, abominable prize!

Experts say it is the best yeti!

Be sure to check the previous blog post from Ms. Elizabeth with lots of fun activities, and even last year’s blog post for links to the Santa Tracker and more:

And coming soon…our interactive Winter Staff Picks!!

Remember we can still be in touch with you & are thinking of you when you request a mystery bag or book bundle. The Kid’s Tab also has links to videos of many of our programs:

We wish you all a healthy and happy holiday season, and hope the new year brings us back together soon!

My friends are sick of my puns about The Abominable Snowman….

(and probably my bitmojis…)

Yeti keep doing it.

‘Tis the season to be thankful and tackle some turkey trivia! Hopefully you will find some new facts to dazzle your family with at the dinner table… First read about different traditions at National Geographic Kids to see how your celebration compares:

One tradition in the article is the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. This is a favorite of mine for many different reasons. I remember always watching it while my mom and grandmother were preparing our family feast. Later, it was always on the television for my kids to watch while we adults prepared the meal. One year, we were so excited to tune in because my daughter and her high school pom squad were invited to perform in the parade! It’s always entertaining to watch the balloon handlers wrestle the giant sized Snoopy, Spiderman, or Kermit and guess what new character might make an appearance. A great book that we have tells about Tony Sarg who came up with the idea for these grand “Balloons Over Broadway” that make this a beloved holiday tradition:

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Perhaps you would like to know more about turkeys or how they became a Thanksgiving tradition. The Farmer’s Almanac has facts and figures to help you. Be sure to scroll all the way to the end of their article for other Thanksgiving topics:

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All About Birds is another great website to prepare yourself to talk turkey around the table. Keep it in mind to find out about any other birds that might interest you:

Care.com has a list of Thanksgiving activities, some of which you may already be doing:

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or their page geared for children:

The Good Housekeeping website also has some ideas for starting new traditions or updating old favorites:

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And everyone is a pro at this or zooming:

Before you call or zoom, visit this riddle website to keep the call fun for all!

Try these for a few laughs….

Is turkey soup good for you?
Not if you’re the turkey.

What do turkeys like to eat on Thanksgiving?
Nothing, they’re already stuffed.

Why did they let the turkey join the band?
Because it had the drumsticks.

This Thanksgiving may be a little different this year for all of us, but we truly are grateful for all of you,

and we wish you a safe, healthy, and Happy Thanksgiving!