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)
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.
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.
The Olympics, A Very Peculiar History
Olympic Track and Field
Staff Picks

Tokyo Olympics 2020

  • Helene F.
  • Tuesday, July 13
Tokyo Olympics 2020 games are about to begin! The trials for the USA team members are going on now. You can pick and choose which parts of the games you watch, the gymnastics, track and field, soccer, equestrian, or one of the new sports like surfing. Looking for more? Check out our personalized recommendations here or call us at 799-9084.
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!
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.
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

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.
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.
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.
Blog
Richland Library Main

#OWNVoices: Hip-Hop Lollipop

  • Cassie G.
  • Thursday, June 23
Teeth brushing Music crushing Bass thumping Shoulders pumping Head rotation Jubilation!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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

DIY Storytime: Grandma's Tiny House

  • Children's Room
  • Tuesday, December 07
Curated storytimes that families can share at home with an ebook (Grandma's Tiny House: A Counting Story), songs and rhymes ( Dos Manitos Diez Deditos and 5 Green & Speckled Frogs) and activities (Counting with Nature, Matching with LEGOs & Number Scavenger Hunt).
I Dissent
American Women Activists' Writings
Staff Picks

Remembering Ruth Bader Ginsburg

  • Mahogany S.
  • Monday, September 21
From The Notorious RBG to I Dissent, explore the life and work of Ruth Bader Ginsburg with these books and movies that span all age ranges.
Lift As You Climb
Dreams of Freedom
Staff Picks

The Power of Protest for Families

  • Heather M.
  • Saturday, August 22
Inspire your future leaders with these stories of people who made a difference. Discover how these activists found their voice, fought for their rights and used the power of protest to create change. You can also take action with our DIY Storytime: Get Up, Stand Up.
Blog
Richland Library Main

iRead: Nikki Grimes

  • Children's Room
  • Monday, August 24
Born and raised in New York City, Nikki Grimes has earned several accolades for her writing and poetry. She writes so that children will see themselves in literature.
Kamala Harris
Almost Zero
Staff Picks

Read All About It: Nikki Grimes

  • Heather M.
  • Friday, August 21
Born and raised in New York City, Nikki Grimes has earned several accolades for her writing and poetry. Ms. Grimes has said that reading and writing helped her get through her darkest times as a child. Helping children process grief through stories is a significant part of her writing. She wants children to see themselves in literature.
Blog
Richland Library Blythewood

Create Your Own Bubbles + Wand

  • Kelly H.
  • Monday, August 03
You can buy commercial bubble solution and plastic wands, or you can make your own for a day filled with both learning and fun.
My Rainbow
Neither
Staff Picks

Read All About It: LGBTQIA+ Picture Books

  • Heather M.
  • Tuesday, July 28
Read the rainbow and discover these LGBTQIA+ picture books that show us love is love and that we are truly free to be you and me. Looking for more good books? Get personalized reading recommendation lists  from children's literature experts.
Blog
Richland Library Main

DIY Musical Instruments

  • Sarah Gough
  • Saturday, July 25
Create a musical ensemble using everyday materials you can find around your house and yard.
Blog
Richland Library Main

DIY Storytime: Frog and Toad Are Friends

  • Children's Room
  • Monday, August 24
Curated storytimes that families can share at home with an ebook (Frog and Toad Are Friends), songs and poems ( Jambo; Hello, Friends; and I Am a Little Toad) and activities (Search and Find Jar).
Blog
Richland Library Ballentine

Create Your Own Fairy House

  • Caitlin W.
  • Monday, July 13
What do you get when you combine a scavenger hunt, engineering skills, and imagination? A do-it-yourself fairy house, of course!
Blog
Online

Make Your Own Frog 🐸

  • Kelly Kinard
  • Tuesday, July 07
Make your own frog in celebration of all the different creatures we get to hear and see during the summer months.
Blog
Richland Library Main

iRead: Holding Tight to Family

  • Children's Room
  • Monday, June 29
iRead features the best ebooks and eaudiobooks for children and teens curated by the Children's Room and Teen Center staff. Celebrate family with Lil Alan, the Gaither sisters and the Watsons by sharing their stories, their connection and their love.
Blog
Richland Library Main

DIY Storytime: Get Up, Stand Up

  • Children's Room
  • Friday, June 26
Curated storytimes that families can share at home with an ebook (Get Up, Stand Up), songs and poems ( Funga Alafia; Warrior; and I Love You Too) and activities (Making Space: Speak Up; Chalk Your Walk; and Yard Signs).
Blog
Richland Library Main

Adventures with Kids: Knee Deep in the Garden

  • Emily J.
  • Wednesday, September 30
Flowers—even weeds—tell an important story about the climate and ecosystem of an area. These simple activities require very little preparation, but they pack a big learning punch.
Harriet and the Garden
Waiting for Wings
Staff Picks

In the Garden with Children: Stories and Activities

  • Emily J.
  • Monday, June 01
Columbia's plants and flowers are bursting with color and life, so it's the perfect time to enjoy a good garden story or activity. Want more eaudiobook or ebook recommendations? Call Richland Library Main (803) 799-9084, One of our staff members would be happy to create recommendations just for you.
Blog
Richland Library Main

DIY Storytime: Tiny T Rex and the Impossible Hug

  • Children's Room
  • Monday, June 01
Curated storytimes that families can share at home with an ebook (Tiny T. Rex and the Impossible Hug), songs (Open Them, Shut Them; Bounce, Tickle, Hug; and I Have a Little Heart) and activities (Mail a Hug; Whose Hug? Game; and Me Too Game).
Blog
Richland Library Main

Sensory Dough Learning Activities

  • Sarah Gough
  • Thursday, July 02
Using sensory dough to promote learning and play at home is easier than you might think. And you probably already have everything you need to get started.
Blog
Richland Library Main

Create Your Own Sensory Dough

  • Sarah Gough
  • Monday, June 15
Making sensory dough at home is much easier than you might think, and you probably already have everything you need waiting in your pantry.
Two Hands to Love You
The Berenstain Bears and the Mama's Day Surprise
Staff Picks

Read All About It: Celebrating Moms

  • Heather M.
  • Friday, May 08
Whether it's Mama or Mommy, your mom or someone who is like a mother to you, these wonderful family read alouds and listens will help you celebrate the person who helps you feel safe, gives you courage and makes you feel loved. To start reading or listening today, all you need is your Richland Library card, a laptop or mobile device and Wi-Fi access.
Blog
Richland Library Main

Managing Children’s Emotions 

  • Leslie Tetreault
  • Tuesday, March 31
Eight things you can do today to help your entire family understand, process and cope with this new, temporary normal.
Blog
Richland Library Main

How to Do a Storytime

  • Leslie Tetreault
  • Friday, November 13
Four easy steps to help you keep reading, singing, playing and talking every day.
Chloe and the Lion
Extra Yarn
Staff Picks

The Magic of Mac Barnett

  • Rebecca T.
  • Thursday, February 27
Picture books push and stretch a child's imagination, breathing magic into the everyday. And Mac Barnett is a master of this magic. Ready to sprinkle some magic into your child's world? Try some of my favorite books by Mac Barnett.
Crown
The Stuff of Stars
Staff Picks

Contemplative Picture Books

  • Bryan B.
  • Tuesday, January 07
These picture books feature introspective characters and themes, allowing young and developing readers to explore not only their thoughts, but the world around them. These range from simple poems on top of beautiful photographs and illustrations, to wordless expressions of art and narrative.
What Riley Wore
Worm Loves Worm
Staff Picks

LGBTQ+ Picture Books

  • Bryan B.
  • Monday, December 16
Enjoy these diverse and wholesome books, each sharing a message of inclusiveness and acceptance. Subjects range from non-traditional families to a child's budding gender identity, and even a true story about a family of penguins.
Pirates & Pompons
Playful Learning
Staff Picks

Toys, toys, and more toys!

  • Laura Rogers
  • Wednesday, November 27
“Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood.” – Fred Rogers Explore titles about making toys, the importance of play, and great picture books that show the magic of simple playthings.
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
Biscuit Visits the Pumpkin Patch
Staff Picks

Pumpkin Spice for Kids

  • Laura Rogers
  • Thursday, August 29
Make your little one a pumpkin spice steamer to sip alongside these reads just right for pumpkin time. Pumpkin Spice Steamer for Littles Warm a cup of your favorite milk (soy, dairy, coconut, or almond), add a teaspoon of pumpkin spice syrup or a sprinkle of cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, and a splash of vanilla flavoring. Make sure the milk is not too hot and serve it up with a good book!
Blog
Richland Library Blythewood

STEAM Ahead With Reading

  • Kelly H.
  • Friday, August 23
I’m proposing a new acronym: STREAM – Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics.
Blog
Richland Library Main

What Was Our Son Trying to Say?

  • Emily J.
  • Thursday, April 18
How connecting with other parents helped us discover Columbia's wealth of organizations committed to helping children with language development, reading, and much more.
Dem Bones
Baby Danced the Polka
Staff Picks

Picture Books you Can Sing and Dance to

  • Mahogany S.
  • Monday, March 11
Enjoy these books that have songs or dances woven throughout the stories. Some are new twists on old classics. The syncopation and rhyming can liven up any home storytime session. Also, it gives you a reason to sing and dance with your little ones. Come by the Sandhills location for more suggestions!
My House
From Head to Toe
Staff Picks

Great Books for Toddlers

  • Morgan R.
  • Monday, January 14
When your little one starts walking, all bets are off! He's ready to explore and move; sitting still is not his forte. Here are a few books that are sure to catch his attention and grow his love of reading with you. Reading at least three books each day will prepare your child to be ready to learn to read when the time comes, will instill a love of books, and will give you precious, memorable moments of bonding. Be sure to ask your local librarian for even more suggestions! You can check out 60 books with your library card.
Blog
Richland Library Main

Most Checked-Out Children's Books (2018)

  • Emily Stoll
  • Monday, February 25
Richland Library is recapping what caught the attention of our customers in 2018. It's your access to the most checked-out items over the last year.