children’s books
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Q&A with Kelly J. Baptist
Kelly J. Baptist is the author of several works for young readers. Her published works include the middle-grade novels The Swag is in the Socks, Eb & Flow and the Isaiah Dunn series. She won the 2015 We Need Diverse Books short story contest with her story, The Beans and Rice Chronicles of Isaiah Dunn.…
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Mental Health Awareness Month – Q&A with Sumer Strawbree
Sumer Strawbree is a middle school student in Central Florida and the author and illustrator of two coloring books Black, Brown and Beautiful and Glow Up. She has a third book on the way called My Career Glow Up. We caught up with her for Mental Health Awareness Month to discuss her mission to boost…
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Q&A with Adrianna Cuevas
Adrianna Cuevas is a first-generation Cuban American originally from Miami, Florida. She is the award-winning author of several middle-grade novels for young readers including Cuba in My Pocket and The Ghosts of Rancho Espanto. In 2021, she won the Sunshine State Young Reader Award for her grade 3–5 novel, The Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez.…
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Pilar Winter Hill
At just 15 years old, Pilar Winter Hill is an accomplished violinist and children’s book author who is passionate about classical music and being a positive role model. She was first introduced to the violin at age 6, and she’s been mesmerizing audiences ever since, performing at prestigious venues like the Lincoln Center and Carnegie…
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#OCLSReads: 2022 Early Childhood Literacy Calendars
Now available in English and Spanish! Our 2022 Early Learning Calendar includes twelve months of learning activities, book lists and nursery rhymes. One side has a calendar with a fun skills-building activity for every day of the month, and the other contains supplementary content like nursery rhymes, early literacy tips, song lyrics and suggested reading…
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Bringing Readers Together Through Mayor Buddy’s Book Club
Throughout the year, Orange County Library System, City of Orlando’s Mayor Matching Grant recipient, proudly partners with Mayor Buddy’s Book Club, a City of Orlando youth program, to host monthly book clubs at local neighborhood centers across Orlando. These book clubs connect young readers with literacy coaches and community helpers, such as firefighters, police officers and public officials who participate in lively book discussions and trivia. The…
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Books About Love for Preschoolers
I Am Love: A Book of Compassion by Susan Verde, illustrated by Peter H. ReynoldsA celebration of love in all its forms, this book asks readers to look inward when they feel afraid and to act with compassion and kindness, to live with gratitude, and to take care of themselves by practicing self-love. Worm…
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Barbershop Books Fosters Reading Among Young Black Boys
Alvin Irby was getting a haircut when inspiration struck. One of his students was also at the barbershop, clearly bored. “He should be practicing his reading,” Alvin thought to himself. That thought led to Barbershop Books. The non-profit leverages the cultural significance of barbershops in Black communities by placing bookshelves, stocked with books geared toward…
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Best Books Of The Year, as Chosen by a 3 and 6-Year-Old
I have two very opinionated readers. The eldest, L, has helped me make these lists the past two years. The youngest, M, is now joining the blogging game and is excited to share her favorite books that were published in 2020. As noted in previous years, these are favorites as chosen by my children –…
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#OCLSReads: 2021 Early Childhood Literacy Calendars
Now available! Our 2021 Early Learning Calendar, which includes twelve months of learning activities, book lists and nursery rhymes. One side has a calendar with a fun skills-building activity for every day of the month, and the other contains supplementary content like nursery rhymes, early literacy tips, song lyrics and suggested reading material. Scan the provided QR…
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