I wanted to write a blog post about my favorite picture books of 2020; all the books that touched me through their text and art... but that is not an easy thing to do. There are so many wonderful books published every year – how do you even start to choose? Even harder, how do you limit your choice to just 10? There is definitely an… continue reading Picture Book Highlights | My Favorite Books of 2020
By written by Monica C. December 10, 2020
Kindness is a gentle, hopeful act. Being kind is one of the easiest ways to have an impact on the world. A simple act of kindness can grow exponentially, from one person to many, many more, spreading all over the world. Being kind is also a choice. We need to work at it, practice it, and do it with intention. November 13 is World… continue reading Picture Book Highlights | World Kindness Day
By written by Monica C. November 13, 2020
Are you getting ready for Halloween? It’s going to be a bit different this year, I know. But what never changes are the books that help us celebrate this fun (and spooky!) holiday. You will have plenty to choose from this mix of all-time favorites and brand new titles. Stumpkin by Lucy Ruth Cummins ebook available from Overdrive A… continue reading Picture Book Highlights | Happy Halloween
By written by Monica C. October 23, 2020 1
Is Fall your favorite season? Many people would say yes! Where I grew up, we didn’t have very defined seasons. That is, seasons would blend one into another, without any clear sign that something different was happening in our surroundings. This changed when I moved to the Northeast. My first fall brought an amazing new experience: the… continue reading Picture Book Highlights | Fall Is in the Air
By written by Monica C. September 22, 2020
Today, September 15, marks the beginning of National Hispanic American Heritage month. As part of the celebration, we want to highlight the works of Latinx authors and illustrators of picture books. These books will entertain, teach, and inspire young readers all year long! Evelyn Del Rey is Moving Away written by Meg Medina ; illustrated by… continue reading Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with Latinx Authors and Illustrators
By written by Monica C. September 15, 2020
This year going back to school looks very different than ever before. No school buses, no first day back at school, no new classrooms, no field trips, etc. At least, not yet. It will take some adjusting, for sure. But through these uncertain times, there is something that will always be there for you: books. Books can be your constant… continue reading Picture Books Highlights | Books and Reading
By written by Monica C. September 10, 2020
Have you ever gone bird watching? It’s amazing what you discover when you’re paying attention. Birds living right in your backyard, on your street, in the park. Once you start to notice them, there is so much more to learn! Birds big and small, nesting near your home and far away in the world,… continue reading Picture Books Highlights | Let’s Learn About Birds
By written by Monica C. August 20, 2020
In these times of social distancing and no indoor activities, what better way to spend time than venturing outside and going for a hike in the great outdoors? You don’t have to go far—here in Philly we have both Fairmount Park and Wissahickon Valley Park . Explore nature and breathe in the fresh air. Go ahead, plan an outing with… continue reading Picture Book Highlights | Let's Go Hiking
By written by Monica C. August 13, 2020
Do rainy days get you down? For some people, rain seems to spoil the day. I used to think of rainy days as gloomy and gray, but these books have changed my mind. Rain written by Linda Ashman ; illustrated by Christian Robinson ebook available in Overdrive. One rainy day in the city, an eager little boy exclaims, "Rain!" Across… continue reading Picture Book Highlights | Rain
By written by Monica C. August 6, 2020
It’s always time to celebrate friends, but did you know National Friendship Day is celebrated on the 2nd Sunday of August? Friends make everything better, don't they? New and old friends, young and old, from your neighborhood or from around the world—there are many kinds of friends. Celebrate friends with these ebook… continue reading Happy National Friendship Day!
By written by Monica C. July 30, 2020
Have you ever wondered how bees make honey? The books below will give you a good idea – and they are so much fun to read! Beehive by Jorey Hurley ebook available via Overdrive With just one word on each page and the vivid illustrations Joey Hurley is known for, this book showcases the cycle of bees making honey. Detailed… continue reading Picture Book Highlights | Let's Talk About Bees!
By written by Monica C. July 21, 2020 1
Do you have a favorite season? I do – mine is summer. What’s not to like, I say? Long days, open windows, warm weather, shorts and sandals, water and bathing suits, reading on hammocks… I could go on and on! Here are some picture books about summer to bring a little sunshine your way: Summer written by Cao Wenxuan;… continue reading Picture ebooks Highlights | It's Summertime!
By written by Monica C. July 16, 2020
We are back with another Picture ebook Highlight , a series where we put the spotlight on an ebook that you can read at home, using the Free Library's Digital Media portal. This time we are going to talk about a book published back in January 2020 – and it’s one of my favorite books of this year! The Old Truck by Jerome and… continue reading Picture ebooks Highlights | The Old Truck
By written by Monica C. July 9, 2020 1
Some authors / illustrators have a special talent for creating stories perfect for storytime, for audience participation, and plenty of belly laughs. Today we will talk about one of them: Jan Thomas and her deceptively simple but masterfully written and illustrated books for toddlers and the preschool crowd. It all started when Jan attended a… continue reading Picture ebook Highlights | Author and Illustrator Jan Thomas
By written by Monica C. July 2, 2020
We are back with another Picture ebook Highlights , a series where we put the spotlight on an ebook that you can read at home, using the Free Library's Digital Media portal. And this one is a winner: It’s Click, Clack, Moo, Cows That Type , written by Doreen Cronin and Illustrated by Betsy Lewin . This year marks the book's 20th… continue reading Picture ebooks Highlights | Click, Clack, Moo, Cows That Type
By written by Monica C. June 11, 2020 1
We are back with another Picture ebook Highlight , a series where we put the spotlight on an ebook that you can read at home, using the Free Library's Digital Media portal. This time our selection is Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star by Jane Cabrera . All around the world, from the sleeping city to the icy pole, baby animals and their parents… continue reading Picture ebooks Highlights | Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
By written by Monica C. June 4, 2020
We are back with another Picture ebook Highlights blog, a series where we put the spotlight on an ebook that you can read at home, using the Free Library's Digital Media portal. And this time, it’s a book that has two of my favorite things: dogs and books! I am extremely fond of books with dog characters and in this case, we have one… continue reading Picture ebooks Highlights | Dog Loves Books
By written by Monica C. May 28, 2020 1
We are back with another Picture ebook Highlight, a series where we put the spotlight on an ebook that you can read at home, using the Free Library's Digital Media portal. And bonus: we will actually be talking about two books today! We are all feeling a bit stir crazy at home. So how about using all that pent-up energy for some fun reading… continue reading Picture ebooks Highlights | Dancing Feet and Farmyard Beat
By written by Monica C. May 21, 2020 1
We are back with another Picture ebook Highlight , a series where we put the spotlight on an ebook that you can read at home, using the Free Library's Digital Media portal . In 2005, author and illustrator Anna Dewdney introduced an endearing new character: Baby Llama. Since then, we've fallen in love with the character. In the… continue reading Picture ebooks Highlights | Llama Llama Red Pajama
By written by Monica C. May 13, 2020
Today we start a new series of blog post where we will highlight an ebook – a picture ebook, no less – that you can read at home, using the Free Library's Digital Media portal. The library is here for you and your little one. We miss seeing you in person, but while we wait to re-open, you can count on our strong collection of… continue reading Picture ebook Highlights | Float
By written by Monica C. April 17, 2020 3
