While social distancing, children and young adults can still enjoy their favorite books and activities from the safety of home. In fact, authors, librarians and book lovers across the nation are working to bring entertainment and literature straight to your couch.
Although the Crawfordsville District Public Library is temporarily closed to the public, e-books and audiobooks are always available to enjoy online. Thousands of age-appropriate books are accessible via Hoopla and Overdrive, through the Libby app. With a library card, or a blue digital access card, teens and children can continue to borrow new and popular titles to read at home. To use these applications, please visit http://www.cdpl.lib.in.us/econtent to access our “Getting Started” guides.
Among the many titles available in e-book and audiobook format are “Children of Blood and Bone” by Tomi Adeyami, recipient of the 2019 Audie Award for Audiobook of the Year, and “Geekerella,” a Cinderella story with a nerdy twist. Younger children can listen to popular titles such as “Pete the Cat and the Missing Cupcakes” by James Dean or delve into the hilariously wacky short stories in Louis Sachar’s “Wayside School” series. Even more staff recommendations for e-content are available on CDPL’s Facebook and Instagram pages.
Are you missing CDPL’s youth programs? If so, you can visit the Story Time Facebook page to print a free “April Showers” reading challenge. The prompts invite children to color, solve puzzles and exercise their imaginations as they read. Children may redeem a prize in exchange for a completed challenge once the library opens.
More time at home might spark a teen’s desire to create their own stories. Young aspiring authors can attend free virtual writing classes with Kelly Yang, bestselling author of Young Adult contemporary novel “Parachutes.” Yang hosts the live lessons at 3 p.m. every Monday, Wednesday and Friday on her Instagram account, @kellyyanghk. Acclaimed children’s author and Newbery Medalist Kate DiCamilo is also offering her expert writing advice via the Candlewick Press YouTube channel.
Listening to a story read aloud can be an excellent way to relax as a family. Author and actor LaVar Burton is delighting book lovers of all ages with live storytime sessions on his Twitter page, @lavarburton. Children can tune in for a story on Mondays at noon., while teens can enjoy a live reading of a Young Adult book every Wednesday at 6 p.m. Dolly Parton is also reading bedtime stories during “Goodnight with Dolly,” a series of videos accessible on ImaginationLibrary.com.
If your child dreams of attending Hogwarts with Harry Potter and pals, they will be thrilled to hear the School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is open for online enrollment. On WizardingWorld.com’s “Hogwarts at Home” page, the whole family can quiz each other on Harry Potter trivia, attempt a magical craft or learn to draw a “fantastic beast” (no magic wands required).
The CDPL Youth Department is posting even more ways to enjoy children’s literature during this time on the Story Time Facebook page. Current circumstances may have altered the way we check out books, but it can’t stop the youth of our community from reading. If you are experiencing issues with your library card, e-mail us at circ@cdpl.lib.in.us.
Noel Marquis is a Youth Librarian Assistant at the Crawfordsville District Public Library.