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

STEAM Free Play

Registration Required

Friday May 30 10:30am

Windermere Branch (Windermere - Ask at Desk)

Event Categories: Games & Activities; Science & Math

Explore and play as we have fun with STEAM-related toys! Kits such as LEGOS and K'NEX are available for anyone to play. All ages are welcome.

Learn more>

“Hola Amigos” – Spanish from Zero for Kids with Ms. Brenda

Registration Required

Tuesday June 3 6:00pm

Online (Virtual Room - Southeast)

Event Categories: Education & Learning; Language Learning

Virtual Class - Basic Spanish for children and families with Ms. Brenda

Learn more>

“Hola Amigos” – Spanish from Zero for Kids with Ms. Brenda

Registration Required

Tuesday June 10 6:00pm

Online (Virtual Room - Southeast)

Event Categories: Education & Learning; Language Learning

Virtual Class - Basic Spanish for children and families with Ms. Brenda

Learn more>

Hand Sewing Sashiko Camp

(Ages 12-17) (3-Day)

Registration Required

Monday June 16 10:30am

Southwest Branch

Event Categories: Life Skills; Maker/DIY

Learn the geometry of hand sewing using the simple running stitch to form geometric patterns.

Learn more>

LEGO Spike (Ages 6 – 12)

Science & Engineering

Registration Required

Monday June 16 2:00pm

Southwest Branch (Technology Classroom)

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>

Hand Sewing Sashiko Camp

(Ages 12-17) (3-Day)

Registration Required

Tuesday June 17 10:30am

Southwest Branch

Event Categories: Life Skills; Maker/DIY

Learn the geometry of hand sewing using the simple running stitch to form geometric patterns.

Learn more>

Design Minecraft Characters (Ages 6 – 12)

Registration Required

Tuesday June 17 2:00pm

Southwest Branch (Technology Classroom)

Event Categories: Game Design & Virtual Reality; Graphic Design

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

Learn more>

“Hola Amigos” – Spanish from Zero for Kids with Ms. Brenda

Registration Required

Tuesday June 17 6:00pm

Online (Virtual Room - Southeast)

Event Categories: Education & Learning; Language Learning

Virtual Class - Basic Spanish for children and families with Ms. Brenda

Learn more>

Hand Sewing Sashiko Camp

(Ages 12-17) (3-Day)

Registration Required

Wednesday June 18 10:30am

Southwest Branch

Event Categories: Life Skills; Maker/DIY

Learn the geometry of hand sewing using the simple running stitch to form geometric patterns.

Learn more>

Paper Possibilities :Handmade Books and Boxes Camp

(Ages 11-17) (3-Day)

Registration Required

Monday June 23 10:30am

Southwest Branch (Technology Classroom)

Event Categories: Life Skills; Maker/DIY

Learn how to create various book and paper structures such as origami kimonos, bound books, thread and gift boxes.

Learn more>

Paper Possibilities :Handmade Books and Boxes Camp

(Ages 11-17) (3-Day)

Registration Required

Tuesday June 24 10:30am

Southwest Branch (Technology Classroom)

Event Categories: Life Skills; Maker/DIY

Learn how to create various book and paper structures such as origami kimonos, bound books, thread and gift boxes.

Learn more>

“Hola Amigos” – Spanish from Zero for Kids with Ms. Brenda

Registration Required

Tuesday June 24 6:00pm

Online (Virtual Room - Southeast)

Event Categories: Education & Learning; Language Learning

Virtual Class - Basic Spanish for children and families with Ms. Brenda

Learn more>

Paper Possibilities :Handmade Books and Boxes Camp

(Ages 11-17) (3-Day)

Registration Required

Wednesday June 25 10:30am

Southwest Branch (Technology Classroom)

Event Categories: Life Skills; Maker/DIY

Learn how to create various book and paper structures such as origami kimonos, bound books, thread and gift boxes.

Learn more>

Algodoo with Physics (Ages 10-12)

Registration Required

Wednesday June 25 2:00pm

Southwest Branch (Technology Classroom)

Event Categories: Game Design & Virtual Reality; Science & Math

Have fun with physics! Simulate physics in the real world with Algodoo. Experiment with objects and see how they react to the forces of gravity and friction.

Learn more>

It’s Sew Easy – Pillow (2 Part)

Camp for Ages (12-17)

Registration Required

Tuesday July 1 10:30am

Southwest Branch (Technology Classroom)

Event Categories: Life Skills; Maker/DIY

We will teach you everything you need to know to start sewing like a pro. Learn to sew your own small pillow. Fabric and Notions provided.

Learn more>

Video Game Design: Role-Playing Games (Ages 7-9)

Registration Required

Tuesday July 1 2:00pm

Southwest Branch (Technology Classroom)

Event Categories: Game Design & Virtual Reality

Design your own role-playing video games. Use Tynker to create a classic top-down role-playing game complete with enemies to fight and treasure to find.

Learn more>