Blog
Richland Library Edgewood

Read Woke Across America Week

  • Taelor J.
  • Friday, March 05
Let’s show out children a world where everyone does not look the same, worship the same, or even think the same—and that this is the beauty of the world. Let’s teach them that in spite of our differences, we’re more alike than different, and learning brings us closer together. Let’s join together and Read WOKE Across America!
Blog
Richland Library Main

iRead: Jason Reynolds

  • Richland Library
  • Monday, March 01
Jason Reynolds is an author and poet who grew up in Oxon Hill, Maryland. Inspired by Queen Latifah and the other rappers he listened to in his youth, he began writing poetry at the age of 9. In January 2020, Jason Reynolds was named as the Library of Congress’s national ambassador for young people’s literature, a position designed to encourage young people to develop an interest in reading.
Blog
Richland Library North Main

#OwnVoices: The Undefeated

  • Jocelyn T.
  • Thursday, June 23
Unforgettable. Undeniable. Unflappable. Unafraid. These are just a few of the words that can be used to describe this Caldecott Medal and Coretta Scott King Award-Winning book by author Kwame Alexander and illustrator Kadir Nelson.
Blog
Richland Library Main

DIY Storytime: A Story About Afiya

  • Children's Room
  • Thursday, March 11
DIY Storytimes are curated storytimes that families can share at home with an ebook, songs and activities. Children and adults alike will be mesmerized by the sweet story of Afiya and her dress, written by the late Coretta Scott King Book Award-winning Jamaican poet, James Berry, with fresh illustrations by Anna Cunha.
Blog
Richland Library Edgewood

African Americans in Art: Beverly Buchanan

  • Taelor J.
  • Saturday, February 27
There is much more to Black history than civil rights activists and inventors. This project explores the cultural contributions of African American artist, Beverly Buchanan, and gives you the opportunity to make your own artwork inspired by her! Beverly Buchanan was born in Fuquay, North Carolina, but grew up in Orangeburg, South Carolina. She is best known for her shack structures which explore the Southern vernacular through architecture
Black Widow
Lumberjanes. Campfire Songs
Staff Picks

100 New Graphic Novels for Children

  • Jenny D.
  • Monday, February 15
Grab a stack of these new graphic novels from 2020-2021 and catch up on what you've been missing. There are 100 here to chose from!
Blog
Richland Library Edgewood

#OwnVoices: Black History Is American History

  • Taelor J.
  • Thursday, June 23
Black History Month should not be just a time to celebrate African Americans who have paved the way for us all to thrive. It should be a time to challenge the stubbornly persistent tendency to teach Black History as a footnote to American history.
Stop Drop and Roll
Elmo Visits the Firehouse.
Staff Picks

Read All About It: Fire Safety

  • Heather M.
  • Saturday, February 06
It's always a good time to talk about fire safety. Share these books with your child and discuss what to do if there's a fire in your home or in their school. Reading together will make them feel safe and confident that they know what to do in case of an emergency. If you want to know more about firefighters and how they keep us safe, check out Read All About It: Firefighters & Fire Trucks.
What Do Firefighters Do?
Fire Engine.
Staff Picks

Read All About It: Firefighters & Fire Trucks

  • Heather M.
  • Saturday, February 06
Firefighters work hard to keep us safe. Find out more about how they keep us safe, what they wear to keep them safe and the equipment they use (especially fire trucks) by reading these fiction and nonfiction titles about these first responder heroes. If you want to know how to keep yourself safe around fire, check out Read All About It: Fire Safety.
Blog
Richland Library Edgewood

Dinner Table Talks: One Crazy Summer

  • 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.
Blog
Richland Library Eastover

Name 3 Things

  • Kimberly Jones
  • Friday, June 24
This is a quick game you can play with a family member during your #brainbreak to get your brain recharged and ready for more learning.
Standing on Her Shoulders
Because I Was a Girl
Staff Picks

Women Making History for Tweens & Teens

  • Heather M.
  • Monday, February 01
From Vice President Kamala Harris to Michaela Goade, the first BIPOC woman to win a Caldecott medal, these are just a few of the women making history in 2021. Let's be clear. Women have always made history. Sadly, they have been overshadowed, overlooked or just plain erased from many history books. But no more.
Blog
Richland Library Main

iRead: Women Making History

  • Alison B.
    Heather M.
  • Monday, February 01
From Vice President Kamala Harris to Michaela Goade, the first BIPOC woman to win a Caldecott medal, these are just a few of the women making history in 2021. Discover unsung heroes and (good) troublemakers in these books and appreciate the impact that women have made.
The Rabbit Listened
Captain Starfish
Staff Picks

Read All About It: Worry & Anxiety

  • Caitlin B.
  • Thursday, January 28
2021. We made it, but not without a heaping dose of anxiety and fear. If worry is affecting you, you can bet it’s also affecting your little one.
Explorer
The History of Ancient Egypt.
Staff Picks

Booklist: Exploration for fun

  • Helene F.
  • Thursday, January 28
Exploration Generation Do you want to explore history and geography, whenever you want? Then welcome to a new way of thinking of generations. Ask your local librarian for even more suggestions!
Camp of the Angel
Ghost in the Capitol
Staff Picks

Children's Novels Set in South Carolina

  • Jenny D.
  • Friday, January 15
See South Carolina through the eyes of many different authors - these children's novels are set in the palmetto state. Try a few of these and explore the state through historical fiction or contemporary stories.
Blog
Richland Library Main

#BrainBreaks: Self-Portraits

  • Heather M.
  • Friday, June 24
Take a #brainbreak and create a self-portrait. Whether it's a new year, a new season or a new day, it's always a good time to document who you are.
Blog
Richland Library Main

#OWNVoices: Hip-Hop Lollipop

  • Cassie G.
  • Thursday, June 23
Teeth brushing Music crushing Bass thumping Shoulders pumping Head rotation Jubilation!
The Cure for Cold Feet
Izzy Kline Has Butterflies
Staff Picks

Children's Novels in Verse

  • Jenny D.
  • Friday, January 08
Want to try something different? Choose one of these novels where the narrative is told entirely through a series of poems. Once you read one, you'll be hooked on this creative way to tell a story.
Baseball Crazy
Beware!
Staff Picks

A Long List of Short Stories for Children

  • Jenny D.
  • Friday, January 08
Collections of short stories are a great way to bite off a little reading at a time - and a fun way to discover new authors you have never read before. Funny, sad, scary, sporty, thought-provoking - there's a short story collection on this list for you. Curl up and enjoy one story or devour the whole thing all at once.
D is for Dragon Dance
A Gift
Staff Picks

Read All About It: Lunar New Year

  • Jocelyn T.
  • Saturday, January 02
On February 12 of this year, Lunar New Year will begin and will introduce the Year of the Ox. Every lunar new year is a time of celebration throughout Asian countries and the Asian American community to bring in the coming twelve months, according to the traditional Chinese calendar or lunar calendar. Lunar New Year typically begins on the lunar calendar's first new moon and ends fifteen days later on the lunar calendar's full moon. Read the stories listed below to learn more about the Lunar New Year celebration!
Blog
Richland Library Main

Take a Reading Challenge

  • Morgan R.
  • Tuesday, December 28
Break out of your reading comfort zone with these book-focused challenges for the new year.
Already a Butterfly
Breathe and Be
Staff Picks

Read All About It: Being Mindful & Finding Calm

  • Heather M.
  • Wednesday, December 23
Being mindful, taking a breath and finding your calm can be challenging on a good day. Add in busy schedules, family stresses, worries and world events, it can seem impossible--especially for children who haven't mastered self-regulation. Even good changes like holidays or vacations can make children feel overwhelmed:
The Midnight Library
Clap when You Land
Staff Picks

Goodreads Choice Awards: Best Books of 2020

  • Ariel H.
  • Tuesday, December 08
The 12th Annual Goodreads Choice Awards, the only major book awards decided by readers, posted the winners December 8, 2020--after three rounds of voting that started late October 2020. The Midnight Library by Matt Haig won overall best book of the year. Listed below are the winners for all 20 categories ranging from Fiction, Humor, Memoir & Autobiography, Food & Cookbooks, Graphic Novels, Debut Novels, Picture Books and many more.
Blog
Richland Library Edgewood

Dinner Table Talks: Inside Out & Back Again

  • Taelor J.
    Heather M.
    Jocelyn T.
  • Thursday, June 23
Based on the author's own childhood, Inside Out & Back Again tells the story of a pivotal year in the life of a South Vietnamese family. Once a wealthy family with two parents, 1975 brings a reversal of fortune for Hà, her brothers and mother.
Recipe for Trouble
Just Add Magic
Staff Picks

Yummy Cooking Novels for Children

  • Jenny D.
  • Monday, November 23
With the holidays fast approaching, cooking and food is on everyone's mind. Feed your reading hunger with these children's novels featuring characters whipping up culinary delights in the kitchen.
Beauty and the Beaks
Gus, the Pilgrim Turkey
Staff Picks

Thanksgiving Books to Share with Children

  • Jenny D.
  • Monday, November 23
Sharing a Thanksgiving story as a family is a fun and meaningful way to spend some time preparing for the holiday. Here are some books you will want to gobble up.
My Diary from the Edge of the World
The Middle of Somewhere
Staff Picks

Road Trip! - Children's Novels

  • Jenny D.
  • Thursday, November 19
Who doesn't love a good road trip? This time of year, lots of folks are usually traveling - but this year, many people are postponing their traditional trips over the river and through the woods. Never fear, you can still go on a virtual road trip by picking up one of these children's novels featuring traveling by car. Happy trails!
Tree
Wishtree
Staff Picks

An Arbor Day Celebration

  • Richland Library
  • Thursday, November 19
Arbor Day (the first Friday in December) is the beginning of tree planting season in South Carolina. Celebrate safely by finding moments to walk among the trees and appreciate their quiet majesty. Reading can also deepen our knowledge of even every day subjects. This curated selection of books offers titles for everyone - stories about the importance of trees, the science and even hands-on activities.
Firefly. The Complete Series
Stranger Things.
Staff Picks

Friendship

  • Helene F.
  • Saturday, November 14
Friendships near and far Connecting with friends and family, we are able to listen to each other's experiences. Let these items show us that we are not alone in how it feels to be human. Looking for more? Check out our personalized recommendations here or call us at 799-9084.
Blog
Richland Library Edgewood

Dinner Table Talks: Going Down Home with Daddy

  • Taelor J.
    Heather M.
    Jocelyn T.
  • Thursday, July 14
This 2020 Caldecott Honor book gently and proudly tells the story of Lil Alan and his family as they return to his father’s childhood home in the South to celebrate traditions and family history.
One Family
Black is Brown is Tan
Staff Picks

Read All about It: Diverse Families in Picture Books

  • Heather M.
  • Saturday, November 07
Celebrate all kinds of families and their love for one another by reading these wonderful picture books with your very own family. 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

iRead: Ninjas RULE!

  • Children's Room
  • Friday, November 06
iRead features the best ebooks, eaudiobooks and print books for children and teens curated by the Children's Room and Teen Center staff. Ninjas are AWESOME! They are stealthy, strong and full of surprise. Discover the real ultimate power of ninjas--both fact and fiction--and read some super stories along the way.
I Walk with Vanessa
Each Kindness.
Staff Picks

Read All About It: Kindness & Caring

  • Heather M.
  • Tuesday, November 03
Everyone can show kindness and everyone needs a little kindness. Waving hello, offering to help someone carry a heavy load or making a card for a friend can brighten someone's day. Let these books inspire you to find ways to let people know that you care. Looking for even more good books? Check out our personalized recommendations or call us at 803-799-9084.
Ira Crumb Feels the Feelings
Way Past Worried
Staff Picks

Read All About It: Feelings and Mental Health

  • Heather M.
  • Tuesday, October 27
Sharing books about feelings gives children the language to name their emotions. These stories can also give children the opportunity to explore feelings and imagine how they might behave if they were a character in the story. Talking about emotions with a trusted caregiver builds a solid foundation of mental health. Check out some of these great read-alouds and start your conversation today!
Blog
Richland Library Main

iRead: Spooky Stories

  • Children's Room
  • Friday, October 23
Fears--real and imagined--abound in these scary stories featuring a missing mother, killer buttons, a ghost and a suspicious rabbit. (And we won't tell if you decide to sleep with the light on...)
Me, Frida, and the Secret of the Peacock Ring
I Lived on Butterfly Hill
Staff Picks

Read All About It: Hispanic Heritage Month in Novels

  • Children's Room
  • Wednesday, October 14
Hispanic Heritage month is a celebration of the countless contributions of Hispanic culture. Check out these chapter books and novels to learn more about how Hispanic culture has influenced our literature and our lives. Don't miss our Hispanic Heritage Month in Picture Books list!
Going Down Home with Daddy
Going Down Home with Daddy.
Staff Picks

Read All About It: Kelly Starling Lyons

  • Rebecca K.
  • Friday, October 09
Award-winning author Kelly Starling Lyons grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, surrounded by creativity and artistic expression. She has now written more than a dozen books for children, from picture books to beginning readers to chapter books, focusing on the African-American experience and giving young people stories to reflect their own lives and culture.
Blog
Richland Library Main

iRead: Kelly Starling Lyons

  • Rebecca K.
  • Monday, October 12
Award-winning author Kelly Starling Lyons grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, surrounded by creativity and artistic expression. She has now written more than a dozen books for children, from picture books to beginning readers to chapter books, focusing on the African-American experience and giving young people stories to reflect their own lives and culture.
Blog
Richland Library Main

Learning at Home: Multisensory Spelling

  • Emily J.
  • Monday, October 19
Many times, children have trouble identifying the separate letter sounds or phonemes in words. Fingerspelling is a handy multisensory strategy to help children learn how to spell. They learn to pull apart words into separate sounds (segmenting) and to associate a letter’s sound with the letter’s written form.
Blog
Richland Library Main

SC Science Standards: Plant Growth and Survival

  • Emily J.
  • Friday, October 30
Plants tell an important story about the environment. Take time to explore and investigate the plants in the backyard with your kindergartener. Visit local gardens and discuss the types of plants in the area. Ask questions about how the environment provides plants with the resources they need to survive, water and sunlight
A Snake Falls to Earth
Ancestor Approved
Staff Picks

Read All About It: Indigenous & Native People in Middle Grade & Teen Novels

  • Saturday, October 03
Discover the stories, cultures, traditions and history of indigenous and native people of the Americas in these compelling novels for middle grade and teen readers. 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.
Rock Your Mocs
Una Huna
Staff Picks

Read All About It: Indigenous & Native People in Picture & Board Books

  • Saturday, October 03
Understand and celebrate the stories, culture, traditions and history of indigenous and native people of the Americas in these beautifully illustrated picture and board books. 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

iRead: On The Run

  • Richland Library
  • Friday, October 23
iRead features the best ebooks, eaudiobooks and print books for children and teens curated by the Children's Room and Teen Center staff. Whether it's running from danger or running towards adventure, these are stories of friends and family discovering new things about the world and themselves.
A Big Mooncake for Little Star
Freedom Soup.
Staff Picks

Fry Bread, Bi-Bim-Bop, & More!

  • Jocelyn T.
  • Friday, October 02
While we all have our differences, one thing we can all agree on is food! There are so many cultures and countries all over the world that have delicious dishes that everyone can enjoy. From kimchi to tamales, our tastebuds await the next yummy surprise and insight into both familiar and new worlds. Read these stories to learn more about different types of tasty cuisines, the unique characters behind these cuisines, and how these cuisines bring us all together.
Dreamers
Dreamers.
Staff Picks

Read All About It: Hispanic Heritage Month in Picture Books

  • Children's Room
  • Thursday, October 01
Hispanic Heritage month is a celebration of the countless contributions of Hispanic culture. Check out these picture books to learn more about how Hispanic culture has influenced our literature and our lives. And don't miss our Hispanic Heritage Month in Novels book list!
Blog
Richland Library Main

DIY Storytime: Grace for President

  • Children's Room
  • Tuesday, October 12
Curated storytimes that families can share at home with an ebook (Grace for President), songs and rhymes ( Sunny Day by Elizabeth Mitchell, I Am Special and Young Soul by Secret Agent 23 Skidoo) and activities (Make Your Own Campaign Poster, "If I Were President," Make Your Own "I Voted" Badge & Design Your Own Readers Make Leaders Bookmark)
Blog
Richland Library Northeast

Halloween Egg Hunt: A Social Distanced Trick-or-Treat Tutorial

  • Shinelle P.
  • Wednesday, September 30
Keeping our distance doesn’t mean we can’t still have fun! A Halloween Egg Hunt is a playful way to keep the Halloween spirit, whether you organize a neighborhood event or just hide the eggs around your home for the kiddos to find. This two-for-one tutorial is a great craft for kids and preparation for a fun Halloween event!
Blog
Richland Library Main

iRead: Sharon Draper

  • Caitlin B.
  • Friday, October 09
“I learned to dream through reading, learned to create dreams through writing, and learned to develop dreamers through teaching. I shall always be a dreamer. Come dream with me."--Sharon Draper