We Shall Overcome
The Electric Slide and Kai
Staff Picks

#OwnVoices: Picture Books of 2021

  • Taelor J.
  • Saturday, January 08
Each year #OwnVoices authors and illustrators work to close the gap and insure that the black and brown community is equally represented in the literary world. Below you can find a list of picture books published in 2021 written and/or illustrated by African Americans.
Blog
Richland Library North Main

2022

  • Zsuzsanna C.
  • Thursday, December 30
The Bad Seed
The Good Egg
Staff Picks

Top Checkouts 2021: Children's eBooks 📱

  • Richland Library
  • Wednesday, December 29
Curious as to what your friends' and neighbors' children were reading in 2021? Us too! Long story, short. It was a good year to be a wimpy kid, a teen wizard, or Dog Man.
A Wrinkle in Time
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Staff Picks

Top Checkouts 2021: Children's Audiobooks 🎧

  • Richland Library
  • Wednesday, December 29
Curious as to what your friends' and neighbors' children were listening to in 2021? Us too! Long story, short. It was a good year to be a teen with magical powers.
Blog
Richland Library Main

Top Checkouts of 2021

  • Richland Library
  • Thursday, December 30
2021 ushered in a year of stellar new releases from old favorites, a barrage of debut authors, and lots of titles that broadened our bookshelves (and minds) and filled up our streaming queues. Here's a look at the top 10 books, movies, and songs by age group and format.
Blog
Richland Library Main

Peppermint Catapults

  • Richland Library
  • Saturday, December 18
Launch yourself into the holiday spirit by learning how to create a peppermint catapult.
Blog
Richland Library Edgewood

Dinner Table Talks: Buffalo Bird Girl: A Hidatsa Story

  • Taelor J.
    Heather M.
    Jocelyn T.
  • Friday, November 04
Dinner Table Talks create the opportunity for families to have important conversations centered around books. This conversation focuses on the nonfiction children's biography, Buffalo Bird Girl: A Hidatsa Story by S.D. Nelson.
Blog
Richland Library Main

A-maize-ing Corn Husk Dolls

  • Richland Library
  • Monday, November 29
A perfect Fall activity to spice up your holiday; the art of corn husk doll making is steeped in tradition and fun for the whole family.
I Am a Bird
They Call Me River
Staff Picks

StoryWalk®: I Am a Bird Read-Alikes

  • Richland Library
  • Friday, November 12
Visit Richland Library's I Am a Bird StoryWalk® at Doko Meadows Park or pick up the book from your neighborhood library and get your family soaring and gliding while enjoying a great story. Next, check out some of these good books to continue the fun at home!
Blog
Richland Library Edgewood

Dinner Table Talks: Fry Bread

  • Taelor J.
    Heather M.
    Jocelyn T.
  • Thursday, June 23
Inspired by his family, author Kevin Noble Maillard writes about the love a family has for each other and how the food they make, in this case fry bread, brings them even closer together.
Blog
Richland Library Main

DIY Storytime: How Do You Wokka-Wokka?

  • Heather M.
  • Wednesday, October 27
Curated storytimes that families can share at home with an ebook (How Do You Wokka-Wokka?), songs and rhymes ( Peel Banana | Drama Warm Up, Banana Banana Meatball Song by Blazer Fresh and If All of The Raindrops by Old Town School of Folk Music) and activity (Learn 5 dance sequences choreographed by Barbara Howse-Diemer)
Black is Brown is Tan
Black is Brown is Tan.
Staff Picks

Read All About It: Multiracial Families in Picture Books

  • Jocelyn T.
  • Friday, October 01
Families across the world might look different from yours or have different customs, and they might even have different challenges that you might not know much about or fully understand. Some of these families might consist of people from different races, however, at the root of it all, is love. Below is a list of beautiful and thoughtful picture books about multiracial families that you and your family are sure to enjoy and learn from!
Blog
Richland Library Main

iRead: Selina Alko

  • Heather M.
  • Friday, September 24
iRead features the best ebooks, eaudiobooks and print books for children and teens curated by the Children's Room and Teen Center staff. Growing up in Vancouver, British Columbia with a Turkish Jewish father who spoke seven languages and taught painting, and a Jewish mother who worked in the family’s century-old metal recycling business, Selina Alko was surrounded by the melody of words and stories from different places and varied visual possibilities.
Blog
Richland Library Main

iRead: Sean Qualls

  • Heather M.
  • Friday, September 24
iRead features the best ebooks, eaudiobooks and print books for children and teens curated by the Children's Room and Teen Center staff. Artist and Children's book illustrator Sean Qualls finds inspiration everywhere.
Go Long!
Goal Line
Staff Picks

Take the Field! Football Novels for Children

  • Jenny D.
  • Wednesday, September 08
Who's ready for some football? If you just can't get enough gridiron action to satisfy your love of the game, take a look at these novels featuring plenty of pigskin!
Blog
Richland Library North Main

#OwnVoices: The Case for Loving: The Fight for Interracial Marriage

  • Jocelyn T.
  • Thursday, June 23
To some, 1967 seems like it was so long ago, but that was only fifty-four years ago. Only fifty-four years ago, Richard and Mildred Loving were fighting the state of Virginia to recognize their marriage. Only fifty-four years ago, two people (who just happened to be different races) had to fight to legally show their love to the world.
Ghost
Simon and Chester
Staff Picks

Ghost Stories for Young People

  • Caitlin B.
  • Tuesday, September 07
Ghost stories have been told for as long as storytelling has existed. There are ghosts and spirits of the dead in Homer's Odyssey, the Old Testament of the Bible, in One Thousand and One Nights, as well as in several of Shakespeare's plays. Children's literature is no exception. From picture books, folktales, and even graphic novels, ghosts are the subject of all sorts of stories. Below is a list of picture books, graphic novels, and novels that contain fascinating stories of ghosts.
This is the Rope
Alma and How She Got Her Name (read Along.
Staff Picks

Read All About It: Family History in Picture Books

  • Jocelyn T.
  • Friday, September 03
Learning about the people who came before you can be a fascinating, exciting, and emotional adventure. It helps you gain more knowledge about your family, as well as who you are. Below are wonderful picture books about different families and what makes them special and unique.
Antiracist Baby
The Talk
Staff Picks

Let's Talk Race (as a Family...)

  • Heather M.
  • Friday, August 27
Having "The Talk" can feel daunting. Whether it's sexuality, staying safe or race--it can be difficult to know where to begin. By talking about these important topics early and often, parents and caregivers can increase the whole family's comfort and skill in conversation, making these discussions part of their family culture.
Charlotte the Scientist Finds a Cure
Charlotte the Scientist is Squished
Staff Picks

Scientists Real and Imagined

  • Caitlin B.
  • Tuesday, August 17
Scientists have been learning about the world for hundreds of years. If you like to ask the questions “why?” and “how?” you’ll find the lives and stories of these scientists enthralling! Here are some great picture books and biographies of scientists--both real and imagined. Want more books? Ask your librarian for their recommendations or call the Children's Room at Richland Library Main (803.929.3434). We can send books to your closest Richland Library location.
Blog
Richland Library Northeast

Buttermilk Pecan Ricotta Pancakes

  • Caroline B.
  • Thursday, September 02
Ricotta cheese and beaten egg whites create a light, fluffy batter that will make you crave breakfast anytime. Our buttermilk pecan ricotta pancakes combines the flavors of vanilla, nutmeg and lemon to create a delicious breakfast that tastes as good as it looks.
How Do You Wokka-wokka?
Tap Tap Boom Boom
Staff Picks

StoryWalk®: How Do You Wokka-Wokka? Read-Alikes

  • Richland Library
  • Monday, August 16
Pick up a copy of How Do You Wokka-Wokka?, one of our StoryWalk® titles, at one of our Richland Library locations and get your family moving and grooving while enjoying a great story. Next, check out some of these good books to continue the fun at home! Looking for even more good books? Check out our personalized recommendations or call us at 803-799-9084.
Blog
Richland Library North Main

DIY: Viruses Science Activity

  • Jocelyn T.
  • Wednesday, March 23
In this experiment, you will follow directions and learn how important it is to protect yourself from viruses by washing your hands.
Best of Japan.
Seeing Kyoto
Staff Picks

Japan 2021 for Olympics 2020

  • Helene F.
  • Wednesday, July 14
We now get to see Japan, her culture and history after seeing China and Korea present their cultures in previous Olympic Games. What do you want to learn about first, anime, manga, the language, the food, and the places they all come together in? Looking for more, and in different formats? Check out our personalized recommendations here or call us at 799-9084.
Blog
Richland Library Northeast

The Grilled Peaches You Didn't Know You Needed

  • Caroline B.
  • Thursday, July 22
This grilled peach with strawberry goat cheese recipe combines the sweetness of peak season peaches with the tanginess of goat cheese blended with strawberries. Topped with toasted walnuts and honey, this quick low-fat dessert is a great finish to a summer meal.
Rainbow Stew
Fry Bread
Staff Picks

StoryWalk®: Rainbow Stew Read-Alikes

  • Richland Library
  • Saturday, June 19
Visit Richland Library's Rainbow Stew StoryWalk® at Hyatt Park or pick up the book from your neighborhood library and get your family soaring and gliding while enjoying a great story. Check out this list below for more inspiration to get you moving, growing and cooking together!
A Story About Afiya
A Story About Afiya
Staff Picks

#OwnVoice Picture Books for Caribbean Heritage Month

  • Kenyanah B.
  • Monday, June 14
Caribbean Heritage Month celebrates and honors the achievements and contributions of Caribbean immigrants and their descendants living in the United States, particularly in government, sports, entertainment, and the arts. Caribbean Heritage Month was first officially observed on June 5th 2006. The following recommended titles are all from OnwVoice authors.
Black is Brown is Tan
The Case for Loving
Staff Picks

Celebrate Loving Day for Families

  • Heather M.
  • Thursday, June 10
Celebrate Loving Day by sharing stories of families brought together by love. "The “Loving” in Loving Day is actually the last name of Mildred and Richard Loving. The Loving Day Story begins when they were arrested for being married in 1958 because they were an interracial couple living in Virginia.
The Boy Who Grew a Forest
The Proudest Blue
Staff Picks

SC Picture Book Award Nominees 2021-2022

  • Heather M.
  • Wednesday, June 09
"Since 1976 when sixteen schools participated, the South Carolina Book Award program created by the South Carolina Association of School Librarians has expanded to include almost 64,000 participating students.
Black Brother, Black Brother
Things You Can't Say
Staff Picks

SC Junior Book Award Nominees 2021-2022

  • Heather M.
  • Wednesday, June 09
"Since 1976 when sixteen schools participated, the South Carolina Book Award program created by the South Carolina Association of School Librarians has expanded to include almost 64,000 participating students.
Mañanaland
Once Upon an Eid /.
Staff Picks

SC Children's Book Award Nominees 2021-2022

  • Heather M.
  • Tuesday, June 08
"Since 1976 when sixteen schools participated, the South Carolina Book Award program created by the South Carolina Association of School Librarians has expanded to include almost 64,000 participating students.
When Sue Found Sue
The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins.
Staff Picks

Read All About It: Dinosaurs & Fossils

  • Heather M.
  • Thursday, June 03
Dig into these books all about dinosaurs and fossils. Discover how we learned about dinosaurs from their bones and what they left behind. Find out about paleontologists like Mary Anning and Barnum Brown. Looking for even more good books? Check out our personalized recommendations or call us at 803-799-9084.
Our Favorite Day of the Year
The Boy Who Dreamed of Infinity
Staff Picks

CSMCL's Best Multicultural Children's Books of 2020

  • Caitlin B.
  • Tuesday, June 01
The following books were all named in the Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature's Best Multicultural Children's Books of 2020 . This list offers a variety of picture books, novels, and nonfiction for children and teens. Want more books? Ask your librarian for their recommendations or call the Children's Room at Richland Library Main (803.929.3434). We can send books to your closest Richland Library location.
Blog
Richland Library Main

Making Summer Count

  • Richland Library
  • Monday, June 12
Avoid the Summer Slide with a summer full of reading and learning thanks to expert book suggestions, the Summer Learning Challenge and, of course, school reading lists.
Blog
Richland Library Edgewood

DIY Egg Carton Flower Bouquet

  • Taelor J.
  • Tuesday, May 11
Ready to plant the seeds of creativity in your kiddo? Grab these common household items and usher in a burst of color and creativity.
Maya Lin
Fred Korematsu Speaks Up
Staff Picks

Read All About It: Asian & Asian American Biographies for Children

  • Jocelyn T.
  • Friday, April 30
Celebrate the amazing accomplishments and stories of Asians and Asian Americans of yesterday and today, by reading the wonderful and powerful titles below. Looking for even more good books? Check out our personalized recommendations or call us at 803-799-9084. Find more resources on race, equity, and inclusion, here.
Blog
Richland Library Main

AiR Presents: Local Artist Directory!

  • Ashley Warthen
  • Friday, April 30
Let’s give our local artists as much of the spotlight we can! With the pandemic and other issues facing our community, I’m elated to share that One Columbia’s artist directory now lives here on Richland Library.com
Blog
Richland Library Main

Augusta Baker and the Art of Storytelling

  • Rebecca T.
  • Thursday, March 24
"Storytelling at its best is mutual creation. Children listen and, out of the words they hear, create their own mental images; this opening of the mind's eye develops the imagination." - Storytelling: Art and Technique by Augusta Baker and Ellin Greene
Blog
Richland Library Edgewood

Dinner Table Talks: A Place Inside of Me: A Poem to Heal the Heart

  • Taelor J.
    Heather M.
    Jocelyn T.
  • Thursday, June 23
Dinner Table Talks create the opportunity for families to have important conversations centered around books. These discussions will build our capacity for talking about race and define our roles in fighting against both every day and systemic racism.
Back to Front and Upside Down!
My Three Best Friends and Me, Zulay
Staff Picks

Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month - Recommendations for Younger Readers

  • Jenny D.
  • Saturday, March 27
March has been recognized as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month since 1987 when President Ronald Reagan issued a public proclamation urging Americans to provide individuals with developmental disabilities “The encouragement and opportunities they need to lead productive lives and to achieve their full potential.” Developmental disabilities include disabilities such as cerebral palsy, autism, muscular dystrophy, down syndrome, or fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and affect a person's growth and/or cognition. The aim of Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month is to ra
Stella Diaz Has Something to Say
Anna Hibiscus
Staff Picks

Read All About It: Ramona & Friends

  • Heather M.
  • Friday, March 26
In the spirit of Ramona Quimby, these girls are the stars of their own stories all while sharing their (mis)adventures, making us laugh and introducing us to their family and friends. These friends of Ramona may be new, but they are sure to find a place on your family's bookshelf and in your family's heart.
Blog
Richland Library Main

iRead: My Happy Life Book Series

  • Leslie Tetreault
  • Sunday, March 28
In the spirit of Ramona Quimby, meet Dani, a young girl who has faced sadness but still looks for happiness in her life.
1, 2, 3. Play with Me!.
1, 2, Trees!.
Staff Picks

Playaway Launchpads for Children

  • Jenny D.
  • Wednesday, March 24
Have you tried our Playaway Launchpads for children yet? These tablets are pre-loaded with content for children, designed with a simple, easy-to-use interface. No need to worry about download time and or Wi-Fi. There are all kinds of tablets to try - interactive learning, stories, math, science, STEAM, short movies, languages - there is something of interest to every child. Fun for road trips or just an afternoon at home - try one today.
Blog
Richland Library Main

SC ELA Standards: Reading for Information Part 3

  • Shannon G.
  • Friday, April 30
Reading for information is commonly paired with nonfiction books. However, some fiction books hold good information about nonfiction subjects in a fictional setting. Because storyline is more complex, children can to gather information over time and wonder what will happen next or how the story ends. Helping your second grader learn to read carefully for details increases comprehension, introduces new vocabulary, and opens interest to related topics.
45-love
55 Dynamic Agility & Conditioning Drills for Tennis
Staff Picks

Swing into Tennis (Game, Set, Match)

  • Ariel H.
  • Thursday, March 11
A list of Tennis related material has been compiled as you gear up for the courts. Lace up your shoes and tighten your strings, it's time to ace this year's season.