School Break

Staff Picks for Kids

Get coding! : learn HTML, CSS, and JavaScript and build a website, app, and game / Young Rewired State.

Cover art for It's not bragging if it's true / Zaila Avant-garde

It’s not bragging if it’s true / Zaila Avant-garde, with Marti Dumas.

Avant-garde, Zaila, author.

Mythologica / written by Steve Kershaw illustrated by Victoria Topping.

Kershaw, Stephen, author.

Cover art for Arab fairy tale feasts : a literary cookbook / tales by Karim Alrawi recipes by Sobhi al-Zobaidi & Tamam Qanembou-Zobaidi

Arab fairy tale feasts : a literary cookbook / tales by Karim Alrawi recipes by Sobhi al-Zobaidi & Tamam Qanembou-Zobaidi, and Karim Alrawi illustrations by Nahid Kazemi.

Alrawi, Karim, author.

Children of the dragon : selected tales from Vietnam / Sherry Garland with illustrations by Trina Schart Hyman.

Garland, Sherry.

The legend of the Christmas witch / Dan Murphy & Aubrey Plaza illustrated by Julia Iredale.

Murphy, Dan (Producer), author.

Scary stories to tell in the dark / collected from American folklore by Alvin Schwartz with drawings by Stephen Gammell.

Schwartz, Alvin, 1927-

Sign language ABC / by Lora Heller.

Heller, Lora.

Cover art for Awesome kitchen science experiments for kids : 50 STEAM projects you can eat! / Dr. Megan Olivia Hall

Awesome kitchen science experiments for kids : 50 STEAM projects you can eat! / Dr. Megan Olivia Hall, photography by Paige Green.

Hall, Megan Olivia, author.

Cover art for Gross science experiments : 60 smelly

Gross science experiments : 60 smelly, scary, silly tests to disgust your friends and family / Emma Vanstone.

Vanstone, Emma, author.

Eclipse / Andy Rash.

Rash, Andy, author.

Cover art for The kids' book of weather forecasting : build a weather station

The kids’ book of weather forecasting : build a weather station, read the sky & make predictions / with meteorologist Mark Breen and Kathleen Friestad illustrations by Michael Kline.

Breen, Mark, 1960-

Humongous fungus / written by Lynne Boddy illustrated by Wenjia Tang.

Boddy, Lynne, author.

Flower talk : how plants use color to communicate / Sara Levine illustrations by Masha D’yans.

Levine, Sara (Veterinarian), author.

We need to talk about vaginas ! / author: Dr. Allison K. Rodgers illustrator: Annika Le Large.

Rodgers, Allison K., author.

Sex is a funny word / by Cory Silverberg and Fiona Smyth.

Silverberg, Cory, author.

Food play! / Amy Palanjian.

Palanjian, Amy (Recipe developer), author.

David Atherton’s Christmas cookbook for kids / David Atherton illustrated by Katie Cottle.

Atherton, David (Food writer), author.

Cooking class global feast! : 44 recipes that celebrate the world’s cultures / Deanna F. Cook.

Cook, Deanna F., 1965- author.

Cover art for Houses with a story : a dragon's den

Houses with a story : a dragon’s den, a ghostly mansion, a library of lost books, and 30 more amazing places to explore / Yoshida Seiji translated by Jan Mitsuko Cash.

Yoshida, Seiji (Illustrator), author.

Cover art for Clay lab for kids : 52 projects to make

Clay lab for kids : 52 projects to make, model, and mold with air-dry, polymer, and homemade clay / Cassie Stephens.

Stephens, Cassie, author.

Origami made simple : 40 easy models with step-by-step instructions / Russell Wood photography by Ted + Chelsea Cavanaugh.

Wood, Russell, author.

Avatar, the last airbender. The search / script, Gene Luen Yang art and cover, Gurihiru lettering, Michael Heisler.

Yang, Gene Luen, author.

Cover art for Kristy's great idea : a graphic novel / [text]

Kristy’s great idea : a graphic novel / [text], Ann M. Martin [art] by Raina Telgemeier with color by Braden Lamb.

Telgemeier, Raina.

Bright family / written by Matthew Cody with Carol Klio Burrell art by Derick Brooks colors by Warren Wucinich.

Cody, Matthew, author.

Viewfinder / Christine D.U. Chung and Salwa Majoka.

Chung, Christine D. U., author, artist.

Terry’s crew / by Terry Crews and Cory Thomas.

Crews, Terry, 1968- author.

Danny Phantom. A glitch in time / written and illustrated by Gabriela Epstein background and colors by Killian Ng.

Epstein, Gabriela, author, artist.

Things in the basement / Ben Hatke colors by Zack Giallongo.

Hatke, Ben, author, artist.

How it all ends / Emma Hunsinger.

Hunsinger, Emma, author, illustrator.

Cover art for Marvel. Into the heartlands / written by Roseanne A. Brown illustrated by Dika Arajo

Marvel. Into the heartlands / written by Roseanne A. Brown illustrated by Dika Arajo, Natacha Bustos, Claudia Aguirre layouts by Geoffo colors by Cris Peter letters by VC’s Ariana Maher.

Brown, Roseanne A., author.

D&D dungeon club. Roll call / [writer] Molly Knox Ostertag [artist] Xanthe Bouma.

Ostertag, Molly Knox, author, artist.

Camp Midnight / written by Steven T. Seagle drawn by Jason Adam Katzenstein.

Seagle, Steven T., author.

Bog Myrtle / Sid Sharp.

Sharp, Sid, author, artist.

Bean : the stretchy dragon / Ari Stocrate.

Stocrate, Ari, author, illustrator.

The arrival / by Shaun Tan.

Tan, Shaun.

Parachute kids / Betty C. Tang.

Tang, Betty C., author, illustrator.

Delicates / Brenna Thummler.

Thummler, Brenna.

Sheets / by Brenna Thummler.

Thummler, Brenna, author, illustrator.

Star Wars maker lab / Liz Lee Heinecke and Cole Horton.

Heinecke, Liz Lee, author.

Eco-crafts : 40 fun earth-friendly projects / by Marcy Morin and Heidi E. Thompson.

Morin, Marcy, 1980- author.

Super slime / [editor, Sophie Parkes].

T is for trails : a hiking alphabet / written by Judy Young and illustrated by Sharisse Steber.

Young, Judy, 1956- author.

How to write a story / by Kate Messner illustrated by Mark Siegel.

Messner, Kate, author.

Planting stories : the life of librarian and storyteller Pura Belpré / words by Anika Aldamuy Denise illustrations by Paola Escobar.

Denise, Anika, author.

Mary Kom / Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara illustrated by Jen Khatun.

Sánchez Vegara, Ma Isabel (María Isabel), author.

Astrid Lindgren / written by Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara illustrated by Linzie Hunter.

Sánchez Vegara, Ma Isabel (María Isabel), author.

Balloons over Broadway : the true story of the puppeteer of Macy’s Parade / written and illustrated by Melissa Sweet.

Sweet, Melissa, 1956-

The crossover / by Kwame Alexander.

Alexander, Kwame.

The one and only Ivan / Katherine Applegate illustrations by Patricia Castelao.

Applegate, Katherine.

The one and only Bob / Katherine Applegate illustrations by Patricia Castelao.

Applegate, Katherine, author.

Sounder / by William H. Armstrong. Illus. by James Barkley.

Armstrong, William Howard, 1914-

Eb & flow / Kelly J. Baptist.

Baptist, Kelly J., author.

Zombiekins / Kevin Bolger illustrated by Aaron Blecha.

Bolger, Kevin.

Caprice / Coe Booth.

Booth, Coe, author.

This again? / Adam Borba illustrations by Mercè López.

Borba, Adam, author.

Nightmare island / Shakirah Bourne.

Bourne, Shakirah, author.

Ruby Finley vs. the Interstellar Invasion / K. Tempest Bradford.

Bradford, K. Tempest, 1978- author.

Unfadeable / Maurice Broaddus.

Broaddus, Maurice, author.

Finch house / Ciera Burch.

Burch, Ciera, author.

Sincerely Sicily / Tamika Burgess.

Burgess, Tamika, author.

Moonflower / Kacen Callender.

Callender, Kacen, author.

One big open sky / Lesa Cline-Ransome.

Cline-Ransome, Lesa, author.

I got you babe / Paul Coccia.

Coccia, Paul, author.

The many fortunes of Maya / Nicole D. Collier illustrations by Sawyer Cloud.

Collier, Nicole D., author.

Just right Jillian / by Nicole D. Collier [illustrations by Kitt Thomas].

Collier, Nicole D., author.

Rain rising / Courtne Comrie.

Comrie, Courtne, author.

Elijah of Buxton / Christopher Paul Curtis.

Curtis, Christopher Paul.

J.D. and the family business / written by J. Dillard illustrated by Akeem S. Roberts.

Dillard, J., author.

J.D. and the great barber battle / written by J. Dillard illustrated by Akeem S. Roberts.

Dillard, J., author.

Blended / Sharon M. Draper.

Draper, Sharon M. (Sharon Mills), author.

Maya and the robot / Eve L. Ewing illustrated by Christine Almeda.

Ewing, Eve L., author.

Game over, Super Rabbit Boy! / Thomas Flintham.

Flintham, Thomas, author, illustrator.

The great Zoodini / PJ Gardner illustrations by David Mottram.

Gardner, P. J., author.

Ghostly, ghastly tales : frights to tell at night / by Anastasia Garcia illustrated by Teo Skaffa.

Garcia, Anastasia, author.

If you read this / Kereen Getten.

Getten, Kereen, author.

The last last-day-of-summer / by Lamar Giles illustratiaons by Dapo Adeola.

Giles, L. R. (Lamar R.), author.

Not an easy win / Chrystal D. Giles.

Giles, Chrystal D., author.

The girl who kept the castle / Ryan Graudin.

Graudin, Ryan, author.

Theodore Boone : kid lawyer / John Grisham edited by Julie Strauss-Gabel.

Grisham, John.

The Oodlethunks : Oona finds an egg / Adele Griffin Mike Wu.

Griffin, Adele, author.

Puppet’s payback and other chilling tales / Mary Downing Hahn.

Hahn, Mary Downing, author.

Marcus makes a movie / Kevin Hart with Geoff Rodkey illustrated by David Cooper.

Hart, Kevin, 1979- author.

Marcus makes it big / Kevin Hart with Geoff Rodkey illustrated by David Cooper.

Hart, Kevin, 1979- author.

The reckoning / Wade Hudson.

Hudson, Wade, author.

The Parker inheritance / Varian Johnson.

Johnson, Varian, author.

The land of forgotten girls / Erin Entrada Kelly.

Kelly, Erin Entrada, author.

The skull : a Tyrolean folktale / Jon Klassen.

Klassen, Jon, author, illustrator.

Elizabeth Webster and the court of uncommon pleas / by William Lashner.

Lashner, William, author.

Tight / Torrey Maldonado.

Maldonado, Torrey, author.

From the desk of Zoe Washington / Janae Marks.

Marks, Janae, author.

The firefly summer / Morgan Matson.

Matson, Morgan, author.

It happened to Anna / Tehlor Kay Mejia.

Mejia, Tehlor Kay, author.

Anne of the island, by L. M. Montgomery.

Montgomery, L. M. (Lucy Maud), 1874-1942.

Anne of Windy Poplars / L.M. Montgomery.

Montgomery, L. M. (Lucy Maud), 1874-1942.

Anne’s house of dreams / L.M. Montgomery.

Montgomery, L. M. (Lucy Maud), 1874-1942.

Shiloh / by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor.

Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds.

Spirit hunters / Ellen Oh.

Oh, Ellen, author.

The nest / Kenneth Oppel illustrated by Jon Klassen.

Oppel, Kenneth, 1967- author.

Cover art for Link + Hud : heroes by a hair / Jarrett Pumphrey

Link + Hud : heroes by a hair / Jarrett Pumphrey, Jerome Pumphrey.

Pumphrey, Jarrett, author.

Stuntboy, in the meantime / Jason Reynolds drawings by Raúl the Third.

Reynolds, Jason, author.

It came from the trees / Ally Russell.

Russell, Ally, author.

Echo : a novel / by Pam Muñoz Ryan decorations by Dinara Mirtalipova.

Ryan, Pam Muñoz, author.

Omar rising / Aisha Saeed.

Saeed, Aisha, author.

Amal unbound / Aisha Saeed.

Saeed, Aisha, author.

Wedgie & Gizmo / Suzanne Selfors illustrated by Barbara Fisinger Skorjanc.

Selfors, Suzanne, author.

Betty before X / by Ilyasah Shabazz with Renée Watson.

Shabazz, Ilyasah, author.

Dancing in the storm / Amie Darnell Specht and Shannon Hitchcock.

Specht, Amie Darnell, author.

The screaming staircase / Jonathan Stroud.

Stroud, Jonathan.

The song of the swan / Karah Sutton illustrations by Pauliina Hannuniemi.

Sutton, Karah, author.

Ben Yokoyama and the cookie of doom / by Matthew Swanson and Robbi Behr.

Swanson, Matthew, 1974- author.

Dragonbreath / by Ursula Vernon.

Vernon, Ursula.

Dragonbreath : attack of the ninja frogs / by Ursula Vernon.

Vernon, Ursula.

Honey / Sarah Weeks.

Weeks, Sarah, author.

The braid girls / Sherri Winston.

Winston, Sherri, author.

When Winter Robeson came / Brenda Woods.

Woods, Brenda (Brenda A.), author.

Upcoming School Break Events

Create Animated GIFs (Ages 10-12)

Registration Required

Friday March 14 2:45pm

South Trail Branch (South Trail - Computer Lab)

Event Categories: Graphic Design; Web Design

Learn the frame animation capabilities of Adobe Photoshop through the creation of an animated GIF.

Learn more>

LEGO Spike Prime: Science & Engineering

(Ages 6-12)

Registration Required

Saturday March 15 10:15am

South Trail Branch (South Trail - Meeting Room 2)

Event Categories: Coding & Robotics; Games & Activities; Science & Math

Build and program machines with LEGO® Education SPIKE™. Join us as apply physical science concepts and the engineering design process through hands-on learning.

Learn more>

Fun Family Film

Pocahontas

No Registration Required

Saturday March 15 10:30am

South Trail Branch (South Trail - Ask at Desk)

Event Categories: Games & Activities

Join us for a movie that's fun for the whole family!

Learn more>

Code with Osmo (Ages 7-9)

Registration Required

Saturday March 15 10:30am

Southwest Branch (Technology Classroom)

Event Categories: Coding & Robotics

Go on a coding adventure. Help Awbie, the loveable monster, find his animal friends with the use of tangible Osmo coding blocks in this fun game.

Learn more>

LEGO Spike Essentials: Great Adventures (Ages 6-9)

Registration Required

Saturday March 15 2:00pm

Southwest Branch

Event Categories: Basic Tech Skills; Coding & Robotics; Games & Activities; Science & Math

Build and program machines with LEGO® Education SPIKE™. Join us on a Great Adventure as we discover STEAM concepts, use creative problem solving, and tell stories.

Learn more>

Painting with Georgia

Registration Required

Saturday March 15 4:00pm

South Creek Branch (South Creek - Meeting Room 1)

Event Categories: Arts & Crafting

Discover the art style of Georgia O’Keefe and paint your own larger than life work of art. Recommended for lower and upper elemetnary.

Learn more>

Google Earth (Ages 10-12)

Registration Required

Monday March 17 10:15am

South Trail Branch (South Trail - Computer Lab)

Event Categories: Basic Tech Skills

Fly around the globe and view famous world landmarks using Google Earth.

Learn more>

LEGO WeDo Animal Camp (Ages 5-6)

Registration Required

Monday March 17 10:30am

Windermere Branch (Windermere - Ask at Desk)

Event Categories: Coding & Robotics; Science & Math

Discover how different animals move as you build and program robotic LEGO animals. Recommended for ages 5-6, registration required.

Learn more>

LEGO Spike Prime: Science & Engineering: Hopper Race

Ages 6-12

Registration Required

Monday March 17 11:00am

Chickasaw Branch (Chickasaw - Combined Meeting Room)

Event Categories: Basic Tech Skills; Coding & Robotics; Games & Activities; Science & Math

Build and program machines with LEGO® Education SPIKE™. Join us as apply physical science concepts and the engineering design process through hands-on learning.

Learn more>

Design D&D Miniatures Camp (Ages 9-12) (3-Part)

Registration Required

Monday March 17 12:00pm

Windermere Branch (Windermere - Ask at Desk)

Event Categories: Basic Tech Skills; Graphic Design; Maker/DIY

Let your inner hero shine with HeroForge, create the fantasy hero of your dream adventures through 3D design options. Learn the process of exporting models to a slicer software for 3D printing.

Learn more>

OCSO Mobile Video Game Theater

No Registration Required

Monday March 17 1:00pm

Windermere Branch

Event Categories: Games & Activities

GAME ON! The OCSO Mobile Video Game Theater boasts 11 screens and can engage up to 44 players. The deputies look forward to gaming with you! Recommended for families with youth ages 5 and up.

Learn more>

LEGO Spike Prime Camp (Ages 7-12)

Registration Required

Monday March 17 1:30pm

Windermere Branch (Windermere - Ask at Desk)

Event Categories: Basic Tech Skills; Coding & Robotics; Games & Activities; Science & Math

Build and program machines with LEGO® Education SPIKE™.

Learn more>

Budgeting with Excel (Ages 10-12)

Registration Required

Monday March 17 2:00pm

Southeast Branch (Southeast - Computer Lab)

Event Categories: Basic Tech Skills

Perform numerical calculation in Microsoft Excel and learn how to use the tools needed to create a budget.

Learn more>

Design Minecraft Characters (Ages 7-9)

Registration Required

Monday March 17 2:00pm

North Orange Branch (North Orange - Computer Lab)

Event Categories: Game Design & Virtual Reality

Give Steve and Alex fresh new looks. Design characters, items, blocks and mobs for Minecraft using Tynker.

Learn more>

Little Chef: Rainbow Snacks

St. Patrick’s Day

Registration Required

Monday March 17 2:00pm

Alafaya Branch (Alafaya - Meeting Room 1)

Event Categories: Cooking & Food

Bring your little one to join in the fun as we create colorful rainbow-themed snacks for St. Patrick’s Day! Registration is required. Recommended for ages 3-5.

Learn more>

Solar Observing

No Registration Required

Monday March 17 2:30pm

Windermere Branch

Event Categories: General Events; Science & Math

Celebrate Solar Maximum with this four-day event. Stop by to observe the sun, safely, with our solar telescope!

Learn more>

Online Class: Code with Blocky (Ages 7-9)

Registration Required

Monday March 17 3:00pm

Online (Online Technology Classroom 1)

Event Categories: Coding & Robotics

Learn about the use of variables, functions, loops, and more using Blockly.

Learn more>

Arcade Bingo

Super Arcade Week

Registration Required

Monday March 17 3:00pm

Fairview Shores Branch (Fairview Shores - Meeting Room 1)

Event Categories: Games & Activities

Game on! This month's Bingo will feature classic arcade games. Recommended for families. Level up all week long by exploring programs inspired by classic video games and characters!

Learn more>