These are unprecedented times we are living in and if you’re finding yourself in need of new snack, craft or activity ideas, you are not alone. And, as always, the library is here to provide you with books to fill that need.
The aptly-named “100 Screen-Free Ways to Beat Boredom!” by Kris Hirschmann (j 790.191 Hir) has lots of fun and easy ideas to engage bored youngsters, such as origami puppies, clothespin butterflies, homemade stress balls, window doodling and string art. “The Best Homemade Kids’ Snacks on the Planet” by Laura Fuentes (641.53 Fue) has more than 200 healthy homemade snacks you and your kids will love. Some of my favorites to make are drop cookies, pretzel haystacks, minty thins, avocado egg salad wraps, and peanut butter apple wraps. Yum! Check out “101 Things for Kids to Do Outside” by Dawn Isaac (796.083 Isa) for activities like cooking with energy from the sun, or making butterfly feeders, nature walk bracelets, and flower fairies to provide hours of entertainment for the entire family.
Still feeling like there’s nothing to do? Get a jumpstart on the holidays with fun craft ideas like family themed T-shirts, knitted slippers and custom cookie gift tags. Craft your way through these and more than 40 festive projects in the title “Homemade Holiday” by Sophie Pester & Catharina Bruns (745.5941 Pes).
This is just a small sampling of a few of my favorite activity books that are available and the library has many other choices, for all kinds of interests and age ranges. We recommend that you keep an eye on Wowbrary, our weekly email newsletter, so that you can be the first to know about (and place requests for) newly-purchased items!
If you’re just looking for some good reading to do, we obviously have no shortage of those here, too. A few of the newer books that I’m intrigued by include: “National Geographic Guide to State Parks of the United States” (917.3 Nat) which lists more than 950 parks with 300 full-color photographs; “Tamales 101” by Alice Guadalupe Tapp (641.8 Tap), a beginner’s guide to making traditional tamales; “The Nature Cure” by Andreas Michalsen (615.535 Mic), a doctor’s guide to the science of natural medicine; “Noisemakers,” a graphic collection from Kazoo Magazine (j 920 Noi) highlights 25 women who raised their voices & changed the world; “The Last Unicorn” by Peter S. Beagle (FIC Bea) comes alive when a unicorn ventures out from the enchanted forest on a quest for others of her kind; “The Kingdom of Back” by Marie Lu (YA FIC Lu) is a lyrically-told story of music, magic, and the unbreakable bond between Nannerl Mozart and her younger brother Wolfgang; and “Three Hours in Paris” by Cara Black (CDBK FIC Bla) reimagines history in a pulse-pounding spy thriller narrated by Elisabeth Rodgers on CD book.
If focusing on a book is a bit difficult right now, check out Tom Hanks’ portrayal of Mister Rogers in “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” (DVD FIC Bea) based on the true story of the friendship between Fred Rogers and journalist Tom Junod; and “Christmas Jars,” based on The New York Times bestseller by Jason F. Wright (DVD FIC Chr), about a family’s acts of kindness; are both new on DVD.
These and other recommendations are available to place holds and checkout at this time. We’ve missed you, and we hope you’ll come visit the library in July, browse our new book displays, and let us know how you’ve been over the past few months. On view and available for checkout on the first floor are the Christmas in July display, July Staff Picks, and My Summer is all Booked display. You can find our Myths and Classics Remixes and Pride Reads displays on the second floor. We hope to see you soon.
Dawn Bonebrake works in the circulation department at the Crawfordsville District Public Library.
