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Picture Books to Inspire Summer Fun

July 20, 2023

The heat has hit the Pacific Northwest and pretty much everywhere else. Stay inside and read a great summer picture book — or use these books as inspiration for fun activities. Blackout, by John Rocco When the lights go out in the city, a family finds ways to enjoy a summer night without power. Activity: Go out and stargaze! If the lights are too bright, see what else you can observe in your neighborhood at night. Blueberries for Sal, by Robert McCloskey

Read More
THe cover of the picture book Pink Blue and You, which features cartoons of diverse children and a dinosaur

Pride Picture Books for Kids of All Ages

June 30, 2023

Pride Month is a great time to celebrate the beauty and diversity of humanity with a good book. Here are some LGBTQIA+-friendly picks for kids of all ages. BOARD BOOKS Federico y Sus Familias / Federico and All His Families, by Mili Hernández, illustrated by Gómez A neighborhood cat has many families, and all his families are different! The original text is in Spanish, and an English version is available, too. Love Makes a Family, by Sophie BeerThis sweet book celebrates many kinds of

Read More

Picture Book Library for AAPI Heritage Month

May 31, 2023

In honor of Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, advocates are encouraging schools and libraries across the country to add books by and about Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to their collections.     The Very Asian Foundation and We Need Diverse Books launched the May Book Project in 2022. They offer free lists of recommended books for all age groups. Here are five picks from the picture book list to add to your child care library!     Drawn Together by

Read More
A graphic that reads "bring into April with flowery children's books" over a field of flowers

Spring into April with These Flowery Children’s Books

April 14, 2023

Spring is in the air — and in these beautiful books about flowers! Plant the Tiny Seed, by Christie Matheson Little readers help plant a row of flowers in this interactive book that’s perfect for toddlers and preschoolers. Read (and play) along with the author in this video! Bloom, by Ruth Forman The hairstyles of Black and brown girls match with fields of flowers in this sweet and celebratory book. This author has a video read-along, too! Planting a Rainbow, by Lois

Read More
A graphic with the text "Books about pioneering women in STEAM" and an illustration of brown-skinned woman with curly hair doing a chemistry experiment

Picture Books that Tell Stories of Women in STEAM

March 21, 2023

Women throughout history have made amazing discoveries and achieved incredible things.  Here are five fantastic books for Women’s History Month, one for each letter in STEAM: Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics. ScienceShark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean’s Most Fearless Scientist, by Jess Keating, illustrated by Marta Álvarez Miguéns Growing up in the 1920s and ’30s, Eugenie Clark loved sharks and wanted to learn everything about them—even when teachers told her women couldn’t be zoologists. Kids

Read More
A graphic that reads "Stories of Black joy and excellence, Picture books for Black History Month"

Stories of Joy and Excellence for Black History Month

February 17, 2023

This Black history month, share picture books that tell stories of Black joy, love and excellence. Another, by Christian Robinson Kids will love making up their own story for this wordless picture book featuring a little girl and her cat who crawl through a portal and enter a wild and colorful world. Robinson has brought his vibrant illustration style to many other picture books, including Twenty Questions, which comes out in March 2023. Little Melba and Her Big Trombone by Katheryn Russell-Brown,

Read More

Holiday Activities for Kids

December 30, 2022

There is a lot going on this time of year, and it’s important to help kids celebrate the different winter holidays. Whether they celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanza, making an activity for the holiday is a good way to help kids celebrate, and learn about the different days people observe. Here are just a few ideas to get kids interested and involved this time of year. New Year Resolutions List – This can be something you do with kids that is easy

Read More
A graphic that says "Holiday Picture Books for children of all ages," including a cartoon illustration of children reading in a tree

Holiday Picture Books for Kids of All Ages to Enjoy

December 16, 2022

This holiday season, share the love of books. Here are great books to snuggle up and read together with children of all ages. For Babies and Toddlers Tres Reyes Magos: Colors – Colores by Patty Rodriguez and Ariana Stein This bilingual board books uses vibrant illustrations of the Nativity story to introduce color names in English and Spanish.       The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s 8 Nights of Chanukah by Eric Carle A very familiar caterpillar explores traditional food, games and more

Read More
A picture of a family enjoying a winter or holiday activity.

Winter Activities for Kids This Season

December 9, 2022

With the weather getting colder, many providers are looking for activities to do indoors this Winter. We are also getting closer to several holidays, but no matter what you celebrate, these activities will have kids enjoying the season and having fun! Coffee Filter Snowflakes – There are a number of ways to have kids make snowflakes, but using a coffee filter seems to be the easiest. Use the round filters and have kids paint or draw designs on them. You can also

Read More
A cartoon child reading a book while sitting on top of a stack of books. Text reads, "Picture Books by Pacific Northwest Native Authors"

Picture Books by Pacific Northwest Native Authors

November 30, 2022

It’s the last day of Native American Heritage Month, but it’s always a good time to share the stories of indigenous people. Check out these picture books by Native writers from Washington State and the Pacific Northwest. Baby Speaks Salish by Emma Noyes This eye-catching black-and-white book introduces babies and toddlers (and their caregivers!) to Salish, a family of languages spoken by indigenous people across the Northwest. Author Emma Noyes is a member of the Sinixt band of the Confederated Tribes of

Read More

Picture Books to Inspire Summer Fun

July 20, 2023

The heat has hit the Pacific Northwest and pretty much everywhere else. Stay inside and read a great summer picture book — or use these books as inspiration for fun activities. Blackout, by John Rocco When the lights go out in the city, a family finds ways to enjoy a summer night without power. Activity: Go out and stargaze! If the lights are too bright, see what else you can observe in your neighborhood at night. Blueberries for Sal, by Robert McCloskey

Read More
THe cover of the picture book Pink Blue and You, which features cartoons of diverse children and a dinosaur

Pride Picture Books for Kids of All Ages

June 30, 2023

Pride Month is a great time to celebrate the beauty and diversity of humanity with a good book. Here are some LGBTQIA+-friendly picks for kids of all ages. BOARD BOOKS Federico y Sus Familias / Federico and All His Families, by Mili Hernández, illustrated by Gómez A neighborhood cat has many families, and all his families are different! The original text is in Spanish, and an English version is available, too. Love Makes a Family, by Sophie BeerThis sweet book celebrates many kinds of

Read More

Picture Book Library for AAPI Heritage Month

May 31, 2023

In honor of Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, advocates are encouraging schools and libraries across the country to add books by and about Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to their collections.     The Very Asian Foundation and We Need Diverse Books launched the May Book Project in 2022. They offer free lists of recommended books for all age groups. Here are five picks from the picture book list to add to your child care library!     Drawn Together by

Read More
A graphic that reads "bring into April with flowery children's books" over a field of flowers

Spring into April with These Flowery Children’s Books

April 14, 2023

Spring is in the air — and in these beautiful books about flowers! Plant the Tiny Seed, by Christie Matheson Little readers help plant a row of flowers in this interactive book that’s perfect for toddlers and preschoolers. Read (and play) along with the author in this video! Bloom, by Ruth Forman The hairstyles of Black and brown girls match with fields of flowers in this sweet and celebratory book. This author has a video read-along, too! Planting a Rainbow, by Lois

Read More
A graphic with the text "Books about pioneering women in STEAM" and an illustration of brown-skinned woman with curly hair doing a chemistry experiment

Picture Books that Tell Stories of Women in STEAM

March 21, 2023

Women throughout history have made amazing discoveries and achieved incredible things.  Here are five fantastic books for Women’s History Month, one for each letter in STEAM: Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics. ScienceShark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean’s Most Fearless Scientist, by Jess Keating, illustrated by Marta Álvarez Miguéns Growing up in the 1920s and ’30s, Eugenie Clark loved sharks and wanted to learn everything about them—even when teachers told her women couldn’t be zoologists. Kids

Read More
A graphic that reads "Stories of Black joy and excellence, Picture books for Black History Month"

Stories of Joy and Excellence for Black History Month

February 17, 2023

This Black history month, share picture books that tell stories of Black joy, love and excellence. Another, by Christian Robinson Kids will love making up their own story for this wordless picture book featuring a little girl and her cat who crawl through a portal and enter a wild and colorful world. Robinson has brought his vibrant illustration style to many other picture books, including Twenty Questions, which comes out in March 2023. Little Melba and Her Big Trombone by Katheryn Russell-Brown,

Read More

Holiday Activities for Kids

December 30, 2022

There is a lot going on this time of year, and it’s important to help kids celebrate the different winter holidays. Whether they celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanza, making an activity for the holiday is a good way to help kids celebrate, and learn about the different days people observe. Here are just a few ideas to get kids interested and involved this time of year. New Year Resolutions List – This can be something you do with kids that is easy

Read More
A graphic that says "Holiday Picture Books for children of all ages," including a cartoon illustration of children reading in a tree

Holiday Picture Books for Kids of All Ages to Enjoy

December 16, 2022

This holiday season, share the love of books. Here are great books to snuggle up and read together with children of all ages. For Babies and Toddlers Tres Reyes Magos: Colors – Colores by Patty Rodriguez and Ariana Stein This bilingual board books uses vibrant illustrations of the Nativity story to introduce color names in English and Spanish.       The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s 8 Nights of Chanukah by Eric Carle A very familiar caterpillar explores traditional food, games and more

Read More
A picture of a family enjoying a winter or holiday activity.

Winter Activities for Kids This Season

December 9, 2022

With the weather getting colder, many providers are looking for activities to do indoors this Winter. We are also getting closer to several holidays, but no matter what you celebrate, these activities will have kids enjoying the season and having fun! Coffee Filter Snowflakes – There are a number of ways to have kids make snowflakes, but using a coffee filter seems to be the easiest. Use the round filters and have kids paint or draw designs on them. You can also

Read More
A cartoon child reading a book while sitting on top of a stack of books. Text reads, "Picture Books by Pacific Northwest Native Authors"

Picture Books by Pacific Northwest Native Authors

November 30, 2022

It’s the last day of Native American Heritage Month, but it’s always a good time to share the stories of indigenous people. Check out these picture books by Native writers from Washington State and the Pacific Northwest. Baby Speaks Salish by Emma Noyes This eye-catching black-and-white book introduces babies and toddlers (and their caregivers!) to Salish, a family of languages spoken by indigenous people across the Northwest. Author Emma Noyes is a member of the Sinixt band of the Confederated Tribes of

Read More

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