Archive for the ‘Non-Fiction’ Category

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Drip, Drip, SPLASH: Books and Activities about the Water Cycle

Wednesday, August 15th, 2012

Was that glass of water you are drinking once a slurp for a thirsty dinosaur? Did that water once course down the side of a mountain in a river of rocky mud? Maybe it was swallowed up inside a great white shark or a refreshing drink for Abraham Lincoln – you never know, because water gets around!

It is called the water cycle and it is definitely wet and wild.

To learn more about the surprising history of your H2O, check this out:

So how exactly does water get around so much? It cycles. Here are some fun books and engaging activities to help you explore…

Read about it!

Watch it!

Check out Bill Nye the Science Guy make a cloud in captivity! Find more Bill Nye fun in our catalog.

Do it!

Take a cue from the educational blog, Corkboard Connections, and make your own mini version of the water cycle.

For a coloring page version of the water cycle, visit the EPA’s raindrop spokesperson Thirstin’s coloring page.

Does your little one love science stories and experiments? Is she naturally curious or does he constantly ask you WHY? Then you should enjoy our newest story time offering, STEM Story Time. In this new program, kids aged 3-6 and their parents will explore Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematical ideas through picture books and related activities. Register here.

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Happy 189th Birthday Mendel: Books and more about Genetics!

Wednesday, July 20th, 2011

Do you have your Grandma Beth’s wavy hair or your Uncle Murray’s big feet? Do you like music like your dad or are you good at math like your mom? If you are interested in these things and asking questions about them, you are interested in studying genetics!

If you have visited Google today you may have noticed the neat-o pea doodle in honor of Gregor Mendel’s 189th birthday! Celebrate your genetic diversity with these books and websites about genes, DNA and Mr. Mendel.

Here are some great books about genetics to get your quest started and teach you the basics. When you are ready to explore some more, fire up the Internet and visit the American Museum of History’s Ology site, The Gene Scene to make a model of DNA, meet real genetic scientists in the field and learn how long a single strand of your DNA would be if you uncoiled it.

Ok-think you got the basics down? Test what you know by playing this game at PBSkids.org that challenges you to breed puppies for specific characteristics.  Wow–nice way to use those smarts you inherited from your great-great-great-great…well you get the idea….

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Discover Dinos: Great Dinosaur Books and Crafts

Wednesday, July 13th, 2011

Where are the dinosaur books?

Youth librarians probably hear that question once a day! Kids love dinosaurs and why not? They are pretty awesome and they never go out of style. Don’t believe me? Dinosaurs are even tweeting on Twitter! Pretty slick for creatures who have been dead for millions of years!

We LOVE to see faces light up when we show kids the shelves of dinosaur books–we have a bunch!

Can’t get enough of that dino stuff? Help your child discover dinosaurs–make fun dinosaur feet out of recycled tissue boxes and paint, take a virtual tour of the Smithsonian’s dinosaur collection or play some dinosaur games at PBSkids.org and discover the fun!

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Kids can cook!

Tuesday, March 22nd, 2011

With Spring Break quickly approaching, moms and dads and grandmas and grandpas all over Westerville will have houses full of hungry (and after five minutes home) bored kids. Why not have some fun in the kitchen with these new themed cookbooks!

Still hungry? Try these awesome kids cookbooks! Or these fun non-fiction readers about food!

STILL HUNGRY!? Check out one of our favorite kids’ artists, Laurie Berkner singing “Song in my Tummy” off of her album Under a Shady Tree.

Want more ideas? Check out our Cooking 101 for Kids guide!

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Trees Please!

Monday, March 14th, 2011

Trees are everywhere and we love them! Get ready to watch the trees around your neighborhood slowly bud, flower and grow beautiful green leaves! While you are waiting, enjoy books,  songs and finger-plays about our green friends.

Read stories about trees!

Learn facts about trees with books from our new Non-Fiction Readers section!

Here is a fun song about the parts of a tree sung to the tune of “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes”

Leaves (wiggle fingers above head), Branches (hold arms out to the sides),
Trunk (touch belly) and Roots (touch toes). Trunk and Roots.
(repeat)
Squirrels (hold up hands like paws) and Birds (flap arms) and Nests (cup hands together) and Fruits (pantomime picking apples)
Leaves, Branches, Trunk and Roots! Trunk and Roots!

Talk to your child about what animals live in trees. In Ohio, we see LOTS of squirrels! Here is a fun fingerplay about these  ubiquitous critters:

Grey Squirrel, Grey Squirrel, (hold hands up like paws)
Shake your bushy tail! (shake bottom)
Grey Squirrel, Grey Squirrel,
Shake your bushy tale!

Wrinkle up your little nose! (wrinkle nose)
Put a nut between your toes! (tap paws together)
Grey Squirrel, Grey Squirrel,
Shake your bushy tail!

Looking for more? Stop by the Arbor Day Society’s “Teaching Youth about Trees” page for more games, printables and fun!

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Posted in All, Juvenile Fiction, Non-Fiction, Readers, Rhymes, Songs | No Comments »

Have you met our new friends?

Wednesday, February 23rd, 2011

The only thing better than a good book is a good friend. Did you know the Westerville Library is now home to three new friends?

This is Guinevere. She is a gorilla!

Find books about gorillas!

This is Lancelot. He is a lion!

Find books about lions!

This is Galahad! He is a giraffe!

Find books about giraffes!

Gorillas, lions and giraffes are all animals that live in Africa! You can find lots of books about African animals at the library and then go on a reading safari!

Or stop in to say “Hi!” to our new friends and read to them while you are visiting!

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Posted in All, Juvenile Fiction, Non-Fiction, Picture Books | 1 Comment »

Read This: Zoo Borns!

Monday, December 20th, 2010

ZooBorns! Zoo Babies from Around the World by Andrew Bleiman and Chris Eastland

Well, this is just about the cutest book you’ll ever pick up.  Each two-page spread features a beautiful photograph of a baby animal born in a zoo, along with a brief introduction.  My favorites are Radar Ears, the fennec fox (who looks a lot like SkippyJon Jones!); Hoover, the tawny frogmouth; Monifa the pygmy hippo; and of course Beco, the Asian Elephant from our very own Columbus Zoo and Aquarium!

The limited text and short sentences make this a great book for sharing, or for kids starting to read on their own.

If you still can’t get enough mini paws, claws, scales and tails, check out these other baby animal books!

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Summer Reading is Upon Us!

Tuesday, June 8th, 2010

It’s finally summer!  Yippee!  Time for lazy days at the pool, family vacations, and non-school-required reading! 

Need help getting started?  Check out our suggested books for: reading aloud; babies, toddlers and preschoolers; very beginning readers (kindergarteners); readers who are moving up (first grade); second graders; third graders; fourth graders; fifth graders; middle schoolers; and teens.

And don’t forget to come to our Summer Reading Program Kick-Off Party this Thursday, June 10th from 9:00 — 5:30.  We’ll have balloon animals, face painting and jugglers! 

Don’t worry, even if you miss the party, you can still sign up for the SRP anytime starting Thursday.  With programs and prizes for pre-readers, kids, teens, and adults, we’ve got something for everyone!

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Posted in All, Chapter Books, Non-Fiction, Picture Books, Readers, Summer Reading | No Comments »

Save the drama for your mama…

Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010

So last week’s circus post got your creative juices flowing, and now you’re looking for the next big adventure?   Why not give puppetry a try?  It’s easy to make your own puppets from materials you’ve probably got lying around the house, and making up stories is a great way for the kiddies to work on narrative skills.  So break out the craft glue and googly eyes and get cracking!  Then come to our Winter Puppet Show to see how the librarians do it!

More books about puppets and puppetry!

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Why? Why? Why?

Monday, December 14th, 2009

What are clouds made of?  Why is the sky blue?  Why do cats purr?  Why does soap make bubbles?  Why do stars twinkle?  Answer these unaswerable questions, and keep the kids entertained during the holiday break, with books about children’s questions and answers.

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