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Wellness Wonders: Mental Health Awareness Month
Mental health is important all year round, but May is the month where we bring awareness to this important topic! Mental health is just like physical health – you need to do things to take care of your mind so that it works at its best. This will help you do all the things you want to do like coming to the library to play and read!
To learn more about mental health, check out our Wellness Wonders: Mental Health Awareness Month Books mobile display. The display includes Board Books, Picture Books, Juvenile Non-Fiction, Juvenile Fiction, and Teen Fiction books. The mobile display will be up all month long located in the YS department near the beginning of the non-fiction shelves.
Want to participate in mental health focused programming? Check out Little Kids, Big Feelings and Meditation Story Time or check out our Early Learning Mindfulness Kits.
Youth Services Assistant Librarian Jessica -
Grow Your Mindset
Grow Your Mindset
Putting yourself out there or trying something new can be a scary process. The What-If’s creep in and may even prevent you from trying something new. However, if more focus is placed on the journey and learning rather than the outcome, it can open the door to so many possibilities.
Here are some wonderful books that emphasize the saying; “Progress Over Perfection.”
Looking for more recommendations? Fill out our form to get an individualized list of reads sent to your email!
Youth Services Assistant Librarian Erin -
Celebrate Teachers With These Books
It's Teacher Appreciation Week! Here are some stories that celebrate the teachers that go above and beyond for their students!
Looking for some personalized selections? Fill out thisform and you’ll receive a customized list direct to your inbox!
Youth Services Assistant Librarian Claire -
Never Fear, Superhero Story Time Is Here!
It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... two librarians wearing capes!
That's right -- to celebrate the beginning of Fandom Fest at the Barrington Area Library, Youth Services Librarians Chris and MaryJo have donned their capes and put together a great story time for your little superhero.
Be sure to check out all of the great Fandom Fest events this year!
Looking for more great programming? Visit balibrary.org. Don't forget to sign up for our free e-newsletter!
Youth Services Librarian Chris -
14 Books to Read With Those You Love on Valentines Day
This Valentine's Day, check out some books that show your little ones how much you love them!
Looking for something fun to do with your young one? Here’sa list of upcoming events at the library.
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 -
18 Books to Read for Indigenous Peoples' Day
Many people in the United States are celebrating Indigenous Peoples' Day on October 11 this year, a holiday that celebrates and honors Indigenous peoples, and their histories and cultures. Celebrate the holiday with us by picking up one of these amazing titles!
We also invite you to check out the South Barrington Conservancy's StoryWalk® featuring the book We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga by Traci Sorell and Frane Lessac. The installment will be available October 11 through November 30.
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 -
The Top 5 Buzzworthy Books This Fall
Autumn is such a stellar season here in the Barrington area. The days get cooler and crisper, creatively decorated scarecrows abound, and pumpkin suddenly is flavoring EVERYTHING. But the best thing about fall? The books! Here are five chapter books for kids we know you can’t wait to get your hands on.
From the oh-so-good creative voice behind Newbery Medal winning The One and Only Ivan as well as the Endling trilogy and our 2019 Book of the Summer Wishtree comes this brand new fantasy adventure about one girl and her quest to help the most unlovable creatures in her world. Yes please! 
by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Sophie Blackall
A story set in medieval times about Beatryce, who just may be the girl prophesied to end the rule of the king, so must hide herself in the dangerous woods, away from those in power who want her dead. With sure-to-be stellar writing from the author of Newbery winnerThe Tale of Despereauxand artwork from the creator of Caldecott winnerHello Lighthouse,everybody is going to want to see this book.
A modern reimagining of10,000 Leagues Under the Sea? Hmm, I’m not sure about that… Wait, it’s by Rick Riordan, ofPercy Jacksonfame? Sign me up!
Selznick’s books are absolutely dazzling, combining stunning pencil artwork with amazing and ambitious stories. This newest book is a collection of stories and images that touch on themes of discovery and loss. Sounds like it will be a great book for grown-ups and kids alike.
Amos McGee Misses the Bus
by Philip C. Stead, illustrated by Erin E. Stead
Ten years ago, the Stead duo won the Caldecott Medal for their oh-so-charming story ofA Sick Day for Amos McGee.Now, the beloved zookeeper and his animal friends are finally getting a sequel.
What books are you excited to see this fall?
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 -
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 -
15 Books to Inspire Budding Environmentalists
Whether your aspiring environmentalist is looking to make small changes in their little corner of the world, or one day hopes to write world-changing legislation, there's something here for everyone.
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 -
Reading About Rears
Here’s a not-so-secret secret we librarians count on during Story Time: underpants always work. Kids love the silliness of seeing underwear or even bare bottoms in picture books. Here are some recent books celebrating the joys of the posterior.
Sign up for our monthly newsletters to learn about the latest and greatest books coming to the Barrington Area Library.
Youth Services Librarian Allison -
Books to Read After Attending Story Time Dance Party for Pride!
You danced, you read some good books, and you celebrated Pride Month with the Barrington Area Library! But there are so many fantastic LGBTQ+ affirming books in our collection, and you want to read them all! Here are some of our most recent favorites you can read during Pride Month, and any time of the year. And if you're looking for some recommendations for all ages, we have a list for that too.
Looking for more recommendations? Fill out our form to get a custom list of reads or a Book Bundle for pickup.
Youth Services Specialists Stefanie & MaryJo & Youth Services Librarian Allison
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8 Books for Endangered Species Day
Here are 8 books for kids featuring conservation of threatened or endangered animals. Find out more about Endangered Species Day here.
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 -
Staff Favorites of 2021 So Far
Looking for an exciting new read? Look no further! Our staff in Youth Services have picked out their favorite books of the year so far.
Looking for more recommendations? Fill out our form to get a custom list of reads or a Book Bundle for pickup.
Youth Services Assistant Librarian Stefanie -
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
