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Snow Day E-Books
Winter is here! Do you want a new book to read but don’t want to travel in the snow? We got you covered! Check out some of these beginning reader and early chapter snow-inspired e-books! All e-books shown are available at BALibrary. Check them out and read with the Libby app on your phone, tablet, or computer.
Looking for some personalized selections? Fill out this form and you’ll receive a customized list direct to your inbox!
Youth Services Assistant Librarian Jessica -
Beginning Reader Kits
We have a new line of Backpacks in the Youth Department! These are the Beginning Reader Kits - a set of nine backpacks designed for pre-readers and beginning readers. There are games, BOB Book sets, and other activities to do that will introduce and build reading concepts. The kits are: CVC Words, Letter Recognition, Word Recognition, Sight Words 1 + 2, Rhyming, Word Families, Word Building, and Storytelling. Find all nine kits in our catalog to see the contents of each kit and to place any of them on hold. If you check any out, be sure to let us know what you think by filling out the provided comment card!
Be sure to check out our other kits as well! STEM Kits, Early Learning Kits, and Board Games are all available in the Youth Department!
Youth Services Assistant Librarian Claire -
And the Winner Is...
We’ve counted all the votes for our 2021 Mock Caldecott winner. The Barrington Area Library’s favorite picture book of 2021 is…
This cute little bird won our hearts with his steadfast commitment to flight (despite a loooooong fall from his nest). The book itself is beautifully designed, with cheerful artwork and a dynamic whole-book flip that makes this read-aloud (and Mel’s eventual success) so surprising and joyful. Watch MaryJo’s booktalk ofMel Fellhere.
Thank you to everyone who read our nominees and voted! We will all find out the real Caldecott Medal winner on Monday, January 24. (You can even watch the American Library Association’saward announcements live starting at 8 AM.)
Our nominees were:
Zonia's Rain Forest by Juana Martinez-Neal
Strollercoaster by Matt Ringler, art by Raúl the Third and Elaine Bay
Mel Fell by Corey R. Tabor
Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrations by Floyd Cooper
Wishes by by Mu̕ọ̕n Thị Văn, illustrations by Victo Ngai
Find out more about ourMock Caldecott here.
Youth Services Librarian Allison -
More Mock Caldecott Videos
Here are the final two contenders for our Mock Caldecott community vote. Watch our videos, read the books, and vote for your favorite picture book published in 2021!
Find all of our Mock Caldecott videos on our YouTube playlist.
You can host your own Mock Caldecott with friends, families, or classmates, in-person or online. Start by checking out one of ournew kits, complete with five outstanding books of 2021, chosen by your librarian friends, along with guides to help you make your discussion a success. Drop off a ballot, also included in the kits, to participate in the big community vote by January 19.
Zonia's Rain Forest by Juana Martinez-Neal
Strollercoaster by Matt Ringler, art by Raúl the Third and Elaine Bay
Mel Fell by Corey R. Tabor
Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrations by Floyd Cooper
Wishes by by Mu̕ọ̕n Thị Văn, illustrations by Victo NgaiFind out more about ourMock Caldecott here.
Youth Services Librarian Allison -
Top Circulating Titles of 2021
Lots of great books were checked out to our community in 2021. The top checkouts tended to be titles from the Illinois Readers Choice Awards (Caudills, Bluestems, and Monarchs). We also saw some serious circulation from the always popular Mo Willems and Jeff Kinney. Here are the most frequently checked-out books from the Youth Services department in 2021:
Picture Book:
Beginning Reader:
Juvenile Chapter Book: it was a tie!
Teen Fiction:
Graphic Novel:
Nonfiction:
Torpedoed: The True Story of the World War II Sinking of “The Children’s Ship”by Deborah Heiligman
Audiobook:
e-Book:
Want more reading lists delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for our e-newsletters to discover the newest and best books for kids.
Youth Services Librarian Allison -
Our Favorite Books from 2021
Here are a handful of our favorite books published in 2021 for young readers. Check out the full list for more great recommendations!
MaryJo recommends...
Kingston and the Magician's Lost and Found by Rucker Moses and Theo Gangi
Alyssa recommends...
Noe Wiley is excited to move to a new house after a sleepwalking incident that ended in her accidentally hurting her friend. But soon she’s confronted with a group of hostile girls that live on her new street and a note that says only, “Don’t go into the basement of your house at night.” Curious, she does exactly what the girls told her not to do and ventures into her basement after dark to find a flat, grinning man oozing out of a crack in the wall. Now she’ll need the girls’ help if she wants to rid her house—and the world—of this monster, but can they figure out who he is and where he comes from in time to save their families and each other? This book was so wonderfully creepy and fast-paced that I read it in a single day. You may want to read this tale of friendship and monsters with the light on. And don’t go into the basement at night!
Allison recommends...
Stefanie recommends...
Travel through the four seasons with Little Witch Hazel, a little witch who is all about helping the inhabitants of her forest community. Her adventures include rescuing an orphaned egg, rafting with her friends, encountering a haunted tree stump, and tending to her many patients in the midst of a blizzard. Heartwarming and cozy, Little Witch Hazel is the perfect choice for fans of books like Frog and Toad and Mister Putter and Tabby.
See even more of our 2021 favorites!
Subscribe to our monthly e-newsletters to see the newest and best books for kids.
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Meet the Picture Books in our Mock Caldecott Videos
We are excited to share five fantastic picture books with you, available in our Mock Caldecott Kits! Here are three of the five contenders up for the prize of 2021's Favorite Picture Book by the Barrington Area Library community.
You can host your own Mock Caldecott with friends, families, or classmates, in-person or online. Start by checking out one of ournew kits, complete with five outstanding books of 2021, chosen by your librarian friends, along with guides to help you make your discussion a success. Drop off a ballot, also included in the kits, to participate in the big community vote by January 19.
Zonia's Rain Forest by Juana Martinez-Neal
Strollercoaster by Matt Ringler, art by Raúl the Third and Elaine Bay
Mel Fell by Corey R. Tabor
Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrations by Floyd Cooper
Wishes by by Mu̕ọ̕n Thị Văn, illustrations by Victo NgaiFind out more about ourMock Caldecott here.
Youth Services Librarian Allison -
5 Spine-Chilling Books to Share Around the Campfire
Looking for the perfect creepy stories to share around the campfire (or by candlelight) this weekend? We've got you covered! This selection of stories ranges from very light scares to truly terrifying tales, and everything in between.
The Doll in the Hall and Other Scary Stories by Max Brallier, illustrated by Letizia Rubegni
This third book in the Mister Shivers series is perfect for those ready to dip their toes into some scary content. These five standalone stories include a little something for everyone, including a creepy doll, an eerily itchy cast, a vengeful tooth fairy, and so much more.
Recommended for Grades K-2
Scary Stories to Read When It's Dark
Scary Stories to Read When It’s Dark is a classic collection of thrills and chills featuring your favorite amphibians, Frog and Toad, and along with a handful of other popular folktales and retellings.
Recommended for Grades K-3
An anthology of tales from around the world, divided into themes such as strangers at the door, home of the spirits, enchanted places, and frozen lands.
Recommended for Grades K-4
Hide and Don't Seek: And Other Very Scary Stories by Anica Mrose Rissi
In this contemporary collection of 20 hair-raising stories, you’ll be sure to find the right fit for your campfire storytelling. From a murder of murderous crows, to an unconventional summer camp, and an even more unconventional teacher, and so much more, these stories are guaranteed to have you peeking over your shoulders for days.
Recommended for Grades 4-6
Through the Woods by Emily Carroll
This graphic novel is truly terrifying and not for the faint of heart, perfect for fans of the classic book,Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark.
Recommended for Grades 6+
Looking for more recommendations? Fill out our form to get a custom list of reads or a Book Bundle for pickup.
Youth Services Specialist Stefanie -
Books About the Refugee Experience
Thousands of refugees have entered America in the wake of the Afghanistan takeover by Taliban forces, with500 people likely to settle in Illinois. These big numbers and far-off places and situations are hard to understand (often, for adults as well as children!) without the empathy-building stories behind the statistics and news headlines. These books for children of all ages help bring refugee experiences - from all over the world - to light and life.
Sign up for our monthly newsletters to learn about the latest and greatest books coming to the Barrington Area Library.
Youth Services Librarian Allison -
Unconventional School Stories
During the COVID pandemic, the start of a school year has felt a little different. Whether your kids are going to class wearing masks and unable to hug friends, or moved completely to homeschooling, school time has required adaptations from all of us. Find some inspiration in these stories of different school situations, across time and around the world.
This Is My Home, This Is My School
For young Jonathan and his sisters, Mom is the teacher and a whole lot more, and Dad is the best substitute any kid could want. From math, science, and field trips to recess, show-and-tell, and art, a school day with this intrepid, inventive family will seem both completely familiar and totally unique.
by Katy Beebe & Sally Wern Comport
A boy growing up in Ancient Egypt begins his first day of scribe training by traveling the Nile to his school. A twist on the first-day-of-school story that shows readers that feeling nervous is universal, even for kids growing up in an ancient civilization.
Steamboat School: Inspired By a True Story
by Deborah Hopkinson & Ron Husband
In 1847 St. Louis, Missouri, when a new law against educating African Americans forces Reverend John to close his school, he finds an ingenious solution to the new state law by moving his school to a steamboat in the Mississippi River.
The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read
by Rita Lorraine Hubbard & Oge Mora
In 1848, Mary Walker was born into slavery. At age 15, she was freed, and by age 20, she was married and had her first child. By age 68, she had worked numerous jobs, including cooking, cleaning, babysitting, and selling sandwiches to raise money for her church. And at 116, she learned to read. An inspirational story of a woman whose long life and determination proved that you're never too old to learn.
Off to Class: Incredible and Unusual Schools Around the World
Education is not readily available for kids everywhere, and many communities are strapped for the resources that would make it easier for kids to go to school. In short, it's not always easy getting kids off to class -- but people around the world are finding creative ways to do it. In this book, travel to India, Burkina Faso, Brazil, Uganda, and a dozen other countries, to visit some of these incredible schools, and, through personal interviews conducted by author Susan Hughes, meet the students who attend them too.
Every morning, a young girl walks her grandmother to the Aajibaichi Shala, the school that was built for the grandmothers in her village to have a place to learn to read and write. A moving story about the power of education.
Want more reading lists delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for our e-newsletters to discover the newest and best books for kids.
Youth Services Librarian Allison -
New! Read-Along Chapter Books
In addition to our popular Read-Along Picture Books and Beginning Readers, we now offer Chapter Books with a built-in audio player! These are perfect for elementary kids who are gaining confidence and fluency, or any kids who just enjoy hearing a book read aloud.
They are simple to use, have a long-lasting battery, and you can either listen with the built-in speaker or your own headphones. When you pause the recording, the device will hold your place for you.
Find all of our Read-Alongs at the Library, or request one from home using our online catalog.
Tip: Want personalized reading suggestions? Fill out this form and you’ll receive a customized list direct to your inbox!
Youth Services Librarian Allison -
May the Fourth Be with You! Celebrate Star Wars Day with These Great Titles
No Jedi mind tricks necessary -- thesearethe books you’re looking for.
The following titles are available at the Barrington Area Library.
Star Wars: The Prequel Trilogy Stories
Various writers; illustrations by Brian Rood
Your littleStar Wars historian can read great stories by Elizabeth Schaefer, Ivan Cohen, Rebecca L. Schmidt, and others, brought to life by long-time franchise illustrator Brian Rood. From a tense podrace to a deadly duel with the villainous Count Dooku, experience the prequel trilogy in this kid-friendly format.
The Clone Wars: Ahsoka in Action!
Written by Jon Richards
Anakin’s padawan, Ahsoka Tano, springs into action against the deadly droids of the Trade Federation. Meet other great Clone Wars-era characters in this Level 1 beginning reader.
Star Wars: Jedi Academy
Written and illustrated by Jeffrey Brown
Star WarsandDiary of a Wimpy Kid fans alike will enjoy this silly retelling of theStar Wars saga… with a twist! Follow Jedi trainee Roan’s wacky misadventures through school -- lightsaber duels, baking soda volcano disasters, and awkward slow dances await.
First in a series.
I Am a Princess
Written by Courtney B. Carbone
Illustrated by Heather Martinez
Fans of Little Golden Books will adore this picture book retelling of the Original Trilogy from the perspective of Leia Organa, Princess of Alderaan. Follow Leia’s journey from theTantive IV to her adventures aboard theMillennium Falcon.
Are You Scared, Darth Vader?
Written and illustrated by Adam Rex
Witches? Ha! Ghosts? Don’t make me laugh. Darth Vader isn’t scared ofanything!
...Right?
Trapped in the Death Star!
Written by Michael Siglain
Art by Pilot Studio
Oh, no! Luke, Leia, Han, and Chewie are trapped in the Galactic Empire’s terrifying superweapon, the Death Star! Can they use their bravery -- and wits -- to escape?
Level 2.
The Mighty Chewbacca in the Forest of Fear!
Written by Tom Angleberger
Illustrated by Andie Tong
What started as a simple cat-sitting job has turned into a real headache for everyone’s favorite fuzzball! Join Chewbacca as he fights off strange monsters, uncovers hidden treasure, and rescues his best pal Han Solo.
Guardians of the Whills
By Greg Rucka
When the Empire destroys the Jedi Temple on Jedha, best friends Baze and Chirrut must band together to save their people. This book for upper elementary readers serves as a prequel toStar Wars: Rogue One.
The Galaxy Needs You
Written by Caitlin Kennedy
Illustrated by Eda Kaban
It doesn’t matter who you are or where you’re from -- you have it in you to be a hero! Follow Rey as she gears up to save the galaxy from the First Order in this companion to the Sequel Trilogy.
BB-8 on the Run
Written by Drew Daywalt
Illustrated by Matt Myers
Poor BB-8! He’s been separated from his best buddy, hotshot pilot Poe, and now he’s stuck on Jakku! Will our little droid find his way home?
Adventures in Wild Space, Book 1: The Snare
By Cavan Scott
First in a series. After Milo and Lina’s parents are abducted by the Empire, the kids set out on an epic adventure to rescue them. Explore the farthest edges of the galaxy in this amazing series!
Tip: Want personalized reading suggestions? Fill outthis form and you’ll receive a customized list direct to your inbox!
Youth Services Librarian Chris -
Count on These Mathematically Marvelous Books for Pi Day
Check out one of these books that celebrate math-minded kids and might even teach your reader a new mathematical concept.
Want more reading lists delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for our e-newslettersto discover the newest and best books for kids.
Youth Services Librarian Allison -
New Graphic Novels We Can't Wait to Read
So many books, so little time! These new graphic novels are sure to make your TBR list grow longer.
Looking for more recommendations? Fill out our form to get a custom list of reads or a Book Bundle for pickup.
Youth Services Librarian Ann -
New! Browsing Bundles: Bring a Little Bit of the Library Home
We are so pleased to share a new service:Browsing Bundles!
With the Library building currently closed to the public, we know that our customers are missing the experience of browsing. Especially with children, the time spent in person - paging through books, seeing the artwork, and gauging text complexity - is often so helpful, even necessary, to ensure that young readers are finding what they need.
Now a Barrington Area Library cardholder can complete abrief online form (or call us, if you’d prefer), and we’ll create a bundle full of fantastic options (books or movies) hand-selected by your local book experts based on your child’s age and interests. Simply come to the Library for Parking Lot Pickup once you’re notified the Bundle is ready, and we’ll check them out and bring them to your car.
Perhaps your preschooler is all-about teddy bears (we can relate)...
Or your middle schooler is looking for more thought-provoking and moving realistic fiction likeWonderorA Good Kind of Trouble...
We’ve got you covered! Give our newBrowsing Bundles a try to make choosing books for your reader a breeze.
Youth Services Librarian Allison -
3 Library Databases to Help with eLearning
Did you know that the Barrington Area Library has databases which can help with elearning and homework? Before going straight to Google or Wikipedia, try these databases first. To access the databases from home, you will need a Barrington Area Library card.
Britannica Library - A great place to start your research. Britannica Library has articles on a wide variety of topics including history, science, geography, and biographies. For kids in grades K-5 try Britannica Library Children. Kids in middle school, or those looking for more complex articles try Britannica Young Adult. Both versions allow you to favorite, email, cite, and send articles to Google Drive.
HelpNow-Looking for help on your homework? Try HelpNow by Brainfuse. HelpNow lets you connect to a live tutor every day from 2:00 PM-11:00PM. This database also has practice tests and lessons on reading, writing, math, social studies, and science for kids in grades 3-12. To access the lessons and tests, click on the SkillSurfer section. Make sure to create your own account, which will allow you to save your progress on tests and access past sessions with tutors.
Mango Languages -Mango Languages is great for kids studying a foreign language or for those who would like to start learning a new language. With over 50 languages, including Pirate, this database will help you with vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar.
Looking for more resources to help with eLearning? Contact the Youth Services department to receive additional help.
Youth Services Librarian Ann
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Read and Listen with New Read-Alongs!
We are excited to offer a brand new collection in Youth Services. Read-alongs are books that have an audio player built right into the book, so readers can listen to the audio recording as they page through the story.
The recording will play out loud through its built-in speaker, or readers can plug in their own headphones or earbuds to listen.
Picture books, nonfiction, beginning readers, and Spanish-language titles are all available now. Browse ourfull list to find your next favorite!
Watch this video to see how these books work:
Tip: Want personalized reading suggestions? Fill out this form and you’ll receive a customized list direct to your inbox!
Youth Services Librarian Allison -
5 Ways Your Child Can Fight Anxiety -- and Have Fun, Too
We live in an unusual, sometimes frightening time, and it’s only natural that your little one may be a little stressed out. Now that school is back in session, that stress may have doubled -- but don’t worry! Here are 5 fun, anxiety-busting activities the whole family will enjoy.
1. Calm Down Jars
Using warm water, glitter, glue, and a jar, kids can create a simple sensory object that can aid in stress reduction. Children can focus on the dancing glitter, practice deep breathing, or simply distract themselves by shaking the jar. Calm down jars offer a simple introduction to mindful practice -- consciously focusing on a present moment or object without worrying about the looming, larger concerns in your life.2. Worry boxes
Worry boxes are exactly what they sound like -- kids can make little boxes, write down their worries, and put those worries away in the box. This symbolic exercise affords children a sense of control over their anxieties, allowing them to create boundaries for intrusive thoughts and stressors and putting them out of sight for a while… and maybe out of mind, too.
Slime isn’t just fun to play with -- it can be therapeutic, too. Manipulating slime can be an enjoyable source of sensory stimulation for little ones.
Playing with slime can also give children a sense of control over their environment. COVID totally transformed the way children interact with their peers and environment -- it changed what behaviors are acceptable or unacceptable, where they can go, who they can be around, etc. -- and retaining a semblance of control can help ease a troubled mind.
Plus, slime is justfun.
Blowing bubbles can help children practice deep breathing, which regulates anxiety. Bubbles can’t be formed by sharp, violent exhalations; they can only form when the blower is gentle and deliberate. This simple deep breathing exercise can help children regain a sense of control over their own physiological response to anxiety or stress.
Kids -- and adults -- can also visualize their anxieties flowing into the bubble. When the bubble pops and disappears, so does the image of whatever’s bothering the blower.
5. Coloring
Children can use coloring as a gateway to mindful practice: when you color, you give in to “the moment” and shut out big, intrusive thoughts as you devote yourself to this simple activity. Extraneous thoughts are pushed to the side, allowing children to “meditate” while coloring.
Looking for more fun activities? We’ve got you covered:
- 8 Activities for Treating Anxiety in Children
- 10 Therapist (and Child)-Approved Activities to Support Kids with Anxiety
- 31 Days of Sensory Play Ideas. Kid Approved!
Why these activities can help:
- 9 Reasons Kids Calm Down Coloring
- Amazing Benefits of Making Slime with Kids
- Blow Anxiety Away on a Bubble
- What Is Mindfulness Coloring?
- Why is my kid obsessed with slime?
- Why Putting Worries in a Box (or Jar) Calms Anxious Kids
Youth Services Librarian Chris -
5 Hilarious Graphic Novels to Read During a Study Break
Taking a break from schoolwork? Rest, refresh, and check out these laugh-out-loud graphic novels, available now on Overdrive:
For fans ofCaptain Underpants! Dog Man’s got the head of a dog, the body of a human, and the heart of a hero, and he’s going to clean up crime all over the city! First in a series.
Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute by Jarrett J. KrosoczkaMeet Lunch Lady! When she’s not serving up the Daily Special at school, she’s fighting villainy and saving the day! For fans of superhero stories, science fiction, and mystery. First in a series.
Phoebe and Her Unicorn by Dana SimpsonAfter skipping a stone across a pond and accidentally hitting a unicorn in the face, Phoebe is granted one wish. Her wish? For a unicorn best friend! First in a series.
Cucumber Quest: The Doughnut Kingdom by Gigi D.G.Cucumber doesn’t want to be a hero, he just wants to go to school. That’s too bad, because the evil Queen Cordelia has returned to take over the world! A lighthearted fantasy-adventure series for fans ofAdventure Time. First in a series.
Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea by Ben ClantonNarwhal is silly. Jelly is serious. Together these two best friends go on adventures, throw parties, eat waffles, and discover everything the ocean has to offer. First in a series.
Looking for some personalized selections? Fill out thisform and you’ll receive a customized list direct to your inbox!
Youth Services Librarian Chris
