Since my daughter was a very little girl we’ve read books together. In the early days this was easily accomplished. Bedtime stories and cuddling on the couch with picture books brought smiles all around. As she has gotten older this has become more of a challenge. We compete with schoolwork, screen time, and activities of… View more
You remember being a child and desperately wanting to make your parents a delicious breakfast in bed. You head to the kitchen to gather the flour, sugar, chocolate chips, maple syrup and black beans. Then you hit the fridge and grab eggs, milk, ginger and orange juice. You set about making the greatest breakfast on… View more
The unicorn is the official national animal of Scotland and this Sunday the tiny country will celebrate this mythical creature on National Unicorn Day! While you may think this is an odd choice of national animal, if you delve into Scottish and Medieval folklore a little, you will discover that the unicorn is synonymous with… View more
Winter weather is creeping in and children are reveling in freshly fallen snow. What better time to get the hot cocoa going and curl up with them and a great book? CRPL has you covered. Below is a list of great reads for elementary aged children from the past year. These books are a perfect… View more
“I was surprised, as always, by how easy the act of leaving was, and how good it felt. The world was suddenly rich with possibility.” – Jack Kerouac Before there were Google maps and GPS, there were Atlases. I remember as a child scouring over villages and towns; examining how cities oozed into suburbs and suburbs… View more
Perhaps the kids are signed up for swim lessons, you’re road tripping to the Black Hills, or they’re pitching on the mound all summer. At any rate there will still be days when you need some great reads and ideas for things to keep their little hands occupied. CRPL has you covered! Below is a… View more
Moshe Cotel is a composer who loves to listen to the sounds of the city. He listened outside himself and he listened inside himself, just as his teacher had taught him when he was a boy. When he was done listening, he would turn all those wonderful sounds into beautiful music. One day, after he… View more
Awake Beautiful Child Words by Amy Krouse Rosenthal Illustrated by Gracia Lam What a wonderful ABC book! Awake Beautiful Child, written by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, is a mesmerizing walk through a child’s day. On each page, a three-word “ABC” description tells the reader about what’s pictured. It’s the illustrations that captivated me. There’s a crisp,… View more
It’s Spring Break! Whether you’re going to Grandma’s and need some books for bedtime, heading to Florida and need an alternative to puzzles, dolls and TV on the road, having a stay-cation or you’re anywhere in between, here are some great kids reads to see you through… The Adventures of Beekle the Unimaginary Friend- Dan… View more
There’s nothing like reading aloud as a family on a long winter night, and some of our favorite children’s book authors have new books to take the chill right out of the brisk Iowa air. Here are a few of my favorite new children’s books that are suitable for the whole family…. View more
