Virtual Book Talk: Women's History Month

For my virtual program in March, I decided that I would do my first virtual book talk on Women's History Month. It was a challenge because it was my first program that wasn't in a storytime or craft format, but I so enjoyed doing this and to promote some of the incredible women who had made a difference.

I ended up using Google Slides and Screencast to make a video on some of the great female biographies for young readers that I came across. I wanted to make sure that I chose books that were diversified and had women from all walks of life. 

Originally, I came up with the idea to physically hold up the books as I was talking about them-which is the traditional way of doing these virtually it seems, but because I wasn't able to get a hold of any books I set aside in the library, I decided to take this as a challenge and see what e-books we offered on Hoopla and our other e-book sources. 

After seeing that a lot of e-books on my list were available on Hoopla, I decided to narrow down my list from those and thought this worked out perfect because everyone watching could check out these books either physically from the library or on Hoopla. I loved how we have these great books on women available both the physical copy and the e-book copy. 

Below is a list of the books I decided to narrow down to and present, but there are so many women biographies for kids that are so inspiring! These twelve book suggestions vary from picture books to chapter books. Happy Women's History Month!

25 Women Who Fought Back by Jill Sherman (chapter book)

111 Trees: How One Village Celebrates the Birth of Every Girl by Rina Singh, Marianne Ferrer (picture book)

A Woman in the House (and Senate): How Women Came to the United States Congress, Broke Down Barriers, and Changed the Country by Ilene Cooper (chapter book)

Dolores Huerta: Labor Activist by Kate Moening (easy reader/early reader)

Emmy Noether: The Most Important Mathematician You've Never Heard Of by Helaine Becker (picture book)

Mamie on the Mound: A Woman in Baseball's Negro Leagues by Leah Henderson (picture book)

On Wings of Words: The Extraordinary Life of Emily Dickinson by Jennifer Berne (picture book)

The Bug Girl: Maria Merian's Scientific Vision by Sarah Glenn Marsh (picture book)

The International Day of the Girl: Celebrating Girls Around the World by Jessica Dee Humphreys (chapter book)

The Radium Girls: The Scary But True Story of the Poison That Made People Glow in the Dark by Kate Moore (chapter book)

The Voice That Won the Vote: How One Woman's Words Made History by Elisa Boxer  (picture book)

Women Inventors Hidden in History by Petrice Custance (chapter book)

Book of the Month: The Radium Girls: The Scary But True Story of the Poison That Made People Glow in the Dark

 I was researching books for an upcoming Women's History Month program and I came across this gem from Kate Moore. The Radium Girls: The Scary But True Story of the Poison That Made People Glow in the Dark is both captivating and enraging being a true story about how young, female workers were getting poisoned by radium while working on making clock dials in the early twentieth century. These are one of those nonfiction stories that will keep kids reading and entertained.

Summary: The acclaimed national bestseller about America's glowing girls and their brave fight for justice, now adapted for young readers.

Ages: 8-12 years

"As Katherine walked into the studio on her first day, she saw the other dial-painters were already hard at work. Young girls sat in rows, painting dials at top speed. Yet it wasn't the dials that caught Katherine's eye. It was the material they were using to paint them. It was the radium."

This book would be a great book club pick or an excellent choice to read along with a parent since there is the adult version as well. There is also a movie available on Netflix that pairs well with this book. I enjoyed how this true story shows how young girls and women can make a difference when they see a terrible wrong. Inspiring and empowering!

Virtual Program: Let's Be Kind Storytime

For my February virtual program, I put on a kindness storytime. I wanted to do a different spin on Valentine's Day and I thought this theme fit very well.

The first book that was read was Be Kind by Pat Zietlow Miller. This really is a sweet book that shows all the ways you can make a person feel better just by being kind and showing empathy. This book really fit my theme and was a perfect introduction to kindness.

After we read our first book, it was time for a flannel board activity. Since we are so close to Valentine's Day, I decided to do a Valentine's Day flannel board using a rhyme and some different Valentines in the shape of hearts. 

Our following book was Finding Kindness by Deborah Underwood. I liked how this was another book that really explained being kind well. Both of these picture books allow children to understand all the different ways you can be kind to others.

For our sample craft to make at home, I used construction paper hearts and made a Valentine Bee that they could give to someone else for Valentine's Day to be kind. "Be kind and be my Valentine!"

Book of the Month: The Worry (Less) Book: Feel Strong, Find Calm, and Tame Your Anxiety

 

For February's Book of the Month, I chose a nonfiction children's book about worry and anxiety to help children who might be having trouble with our new normal because of Covid-19 or those that like me, tend to having worry and anxious tendencies. The Worry (Less) Book: Feel Strong, Find Calm, and Tame Your Anxiety! by Rachel Brian is our Book of the Month. I read a lot of self-help nonfiction for adults on worry and anxiety and wanted to see what we have out there for our children to read on the subject. 

Summary: Start worrying less and enjoying life with this book for people who worry or struggle with anxiety (so yeah--everyone)!

Ages: 6-10 years

"What this book can do: explain how your body reacts to worries. Help you recognize anxiety. Give you ideas for calming yourself. What it can't do: tell you how to worry. Pick up your dirty socks. Make all anxiety disappear."

In kid-friendly speak and fun comic illustrations, Rachel Brian presents a helpful book on worry and anxiety for children and like she says, "for everyone!" Particularly helpful is how she presents ways middle graders and adults can manage their stressful moments and how to understand their feelings better. This is a great book to explain worry to children and how there are good worries and being overly worried. 

The pictures really get emotions across that will help the reader understand even better. There's also valuable information explaining worry from a scientific and medical perspective. I also liked how the author pointed out the different ways you can recognize it's anxiety and how anxiety can get in the way of new opportunities and all the ways you can take care of you to avoid worry's ugly moments. 

This book is a great introduction on worry and how to alleviate them. 

Virtual Program: Penguin Storytime

 For my January virtual program, I was able to do a storytime about penguins. I have to remember just how many great penguin books and activities there are to do with little ones! For my virtual storytimes, I usually read two books tops and include a flannel board follow-along activity and a craft idea. I followed the same template for this program.

For our first book, I read Be Brave, Little Penguin by Rachel Elliot. This book tells the story of a cute, little penguin who wants to swim and play in the water despite being afraid, but pulls through and conquers his fear. I enjoyed how this book had a great message for kids and cute illustrations to go along with it.

After our second book, I did a short flannel board activity involving the concept of colors and different color penguins. Of course we counted our penguins too!

My last book was Little Penguin and the Lollipop by Tadgh Bentley. This is a fun book to read and hopefully got the kids at home involved by saying, "razzle dazzle lollipop!" Who doesn't love a story about penguins and lollipops?

For a sample craft to make at home, I showed viewers how to make a simple penguin out of construction paper or with any type of paper if the kids wanted to color. 

With all the picture books on penguins, it's no wonder they are one of everyone's favorite animals!

Book of the Month: I'm Sticking with You

I chose I'm Sticking with You by Smriti Prasadam-Halls and illustrated by Steve Small for January's Book of the Month. If you are looking for a picture book that is sweet and loving while teaching friendship this is a great choice to read.

Summary: It's wonderful to have good friends to see you through the good times and the bad. But sometimes, friends can also be a bit...well...overbearing. 

Ages: 4-8 years

"I'm ready to listen to all your ideas. Ready to be there to help you along...Even if sometimes it goes a bit wrong."

Rhyming words and simple pictures complete this book on friendship and love. Prasadam-Halls explains that friendship involves sticking together through the hard times and understanding that sometimes you'll need a break only to miss your friend. 

This is a great book for a frienship storytime because it is short and teaches the characteristics of friendship and love. 

Virtual Program: Cozy Cuddles Storytime

 For another December virtual program, I enjoyed putting on a Cozy Cuddles storytime. This storytime was for everyone to snuggle up together with their stuffed animals and get warm and cozy with some theme-liked books.

The first book I read was Penguin in Love by Salina Yoon. This is an adorable book about a penguin who finds a lost mitten and is trying to find its owner. The pictures are so cute and is a book that warms your heart.

The next book I read was appropriately called So Cozy by Lerryn Korda. I like this book because it's about a dog who is trying to get cozy and take a nap when other animals come along and want to join him. Perfect for kids to practice naming the animals in the book.

In between the two books, I did a quick flannel board activity using flannel mitten cutouts and a rhyme for those to follow at home to practice their colors. 

At the end of storytime, I suggested a simple mitten craft that kids can do at home using paper, glue, cotton balls, and string. 

Another great book to read for a cozy cuddle storytime is William's Winter Nap by Linda Ashman. Perfect selection to read right before bedtime.

Keep cozy!