Posts by Chris B. (43)
Blog Articles
Hans Christian Andersen was born on April 2, 1805. Sure, he died in 1874, but let's focus on the positive. If HC were still alive today, he'd still be marching to the beat of his own… continue reading Happy Birthday, Hans Christian Andersen!
By written by Chris B. April 2, 2019
Tomi Ungerer (November 28, 1931 - February 8, 2019) was a complex man. His artwork reflected that complexity. Ungerer’s work has often been called subversive for its themes of war,… continue reading Remembering Author, Artist, and Illustrator Tomi Ungerer (1931 - 2019)
By written by Chris B. February 11, 2019 1
As you walk through the Children’s Department at Parkway Central Library , we hope you’ll stop and admire our newly-returned statue, The Young Bonaparte . We’re happy to have… continue reading Napoleon's Return (to the Children's Department at Parkway Central Library)
By written by Chris B. May 18, 2018
Author, illustrator, and Ezra Jack Keats Award winner Don Tate recently visited the Children's Literature Research Collection to research an upcoming title. During his visit, Don sat down with… continue reading Q&A with Children's Author and Illustrator Don Tate
By written by Chris B. December 14, 2017
Author Erin Entrada Kelly recently sat down with us in the Children's Literature Research Collection and spoke about illustration, cultural struggles, and how her childhood… continue reading Q&A with Children's Author Erin Entrada Kelly
By written by Chris B. December 7, 2017 1
A frequent visitor to the Free Library of Philadelphia is Geisel-winning illustrator Greg Pizzoli . Greg recently sat down with us in the Children's Literature Research Collection to discuss… continue reading Q&A with Children's Author and Illustrator Greg Pizzoli
By written by Chris B. December 1, 2017
When we hear the words "Picture book," we often think of young children, storytimes, and simple stories. This isn't the case, however. Even though children may be off to school,… continue reading Picture Book Month: Books for School-Age Readers
By written by Chris B. November 28, 2017
Picture books are fun reads, but they're also fantastic tools that support emergent literacy skills. We have to keep in mind though that simply having books in the home is not enough. To… continue reading Picture Book Month: Books for Pre-K Readers
By written by Chris B. November 21, 2017
Amy Ignatow , author of The Popularity Papers and The Mighty Odds series recently spoke to 400 students at the Free Library of Philadelphia about her career as an author/illustrator. While… continue reading Q&A with Children's Author and Illustrator Amy Ignatow
By written by Chris B. November 17, 2017
Author Jen Bryant recently visited the Free Library of Philadelphia and spoke to nearly 400 students about her career as an author and the nuances of her writing process. While visiting the… continue reading Q&A with Children's Author Jen Bryant
By written by Chris B. October 26, 2017
Author Martha Freeman recently visited the Free Library of Philadelphia and entertained nearly 400 students with stories about her career and her writing process. While visiting the library,… continue reading Five Questions with Children's Author Martha Freeman
By written by Chris B. October 11, 2017
Children will be returning to school in a few weeks. For middle schoolers, this means new teachers (and possibly new schools), new backpacks, and new school supplies. It also opens up the… continue reading Talking about Racism with Middle Schoolers
By written by Chris B. August 18, 2017
“My child loves mysteries and solving riddles. What’s a good series?” Oh how I love this question. Mystery readers can be a difficult group to please. The books recommended have… continue reading #MysteryMonday: Children's Mysteries
By written by Chris B. May 1, 2017
Katherine Milhous (1894-1977) wore many hats in her time: a supervisor for the Federal Art Project ; an artist for the Pennsylvania Art Project (a subsidiary of the Federal Art Project, which… continue reading The Art of Katherine Milhous
By written by Chris B. April 7, 2017
"I don’t read books written for readers above fourteen," is a constant phrase I use in conversations when discussing books. It’s a truthful statement; as the curator for the… continue reading #FLPNoShameNovember: A Tale of Children's Books and Drag Queens.
By written by Chris B. November 17, 2016 2
The anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks is a time for reflection, but it’s also a time for conversation. The generation of children that can remember the attack is now… continue reading Talking about September 11 with Children
By written by Chris B. September 9, 2016
Jerry Pinkney is a rock star. His fans tend to be of the toddler-variety, but he has legions of older die-hard devotees of his work as well—mostly parents, nannies, and a lot of… continue reading Jerry Pinkney Day
By written by Chris B. July 19, 2016
This summer, the Free Library of Philadelphia is excited to celebrate The Summer of Lauren Castillo! Okay, technically, it’s The Summer of Wonder—our annual Summer Reading program for… continue reading The Summer of Lauren Castillo
By written by Chris B. June 8, 2016 3
Ms. Sarah is on a well-earned vacation, so I'll be posting this week's book reviews. Today, we're looking at the Free Library's graphic novel section: The gods are… continue reading Beyond Percy Jackson: Great Graphic Novels
By written by Chris B. August 20, 2014
As you may know from the buzz around the libraries, this April marks the 450th anniversary of William Shakespeare's birth. And while Will may be celebrated for his comedies, tragedies,… continue reading Shakespearean Smackdowns!
By written by Chris B. April 9, 2014