Children’s Services

Classroom Visits

Attention elementary teachers! Schedule a classroom (grades PreK-5) visit to one our Heights Library branches! Guest readers and library visits are just a click away. Simply fill out the request form below and a staff member will be in touch. We hope to see you soon!

Click here to fill out a request.

Our Collection

Picture books, chapter books, graphic novels, books on CD, Playaway Views, magazines, and a large non-fiction collection ensure that there is something for every reading level.

Visit our branches and talk to a librarian, check out recommendations on our blog, or browse our catalog.

Programs

From storytimes for babies and toddlers to special programs for the school-age set, our children’s programs make learning fun.

Online Resources

Sign up for Heights Little Learners, Heights Libraries’ e-newsletter aimed at caregivers of children ages 0 to 6, featuring upcoming programs, early literacy tips, book recommendations, and more!

Our Youth Librarians have selected a wide variety of digital resources for teachers, parents/guardians, and other caregivers.

Children’s Blog Recent Posts

Storytelling through Math

I must admit, math is not my strong suit. Sometimes kids will come up to the reference desk to ask me for some homework help, and I always panic internally if it’s math-related. The inevitable incredulous question: “didn’t you learn this in school?!” (An opportunity to demonstrate first-hand that adults don’t know everything!) Once upon a time, as a space-loving grownup, I thought I could read myself into loving (and understanding) math. I tried to read Sagan, and Hawking, and David Foster Wallace, and tagged along with my theoretical physicist friend to lectures. None of this really helped but it did solidify my deep appreciation for math as its own language, one that can describe and tell stories about the universe in different ways than words can. I am in awe of minds that are fluent in this language, and in honor of them I would love to share some picture books that represent and affirm mathematical ways of thinking, especially in a medium that is about storytelling – math is also storytelling! Leo + Lea, by Monica Wesolowska, illustrated by Kenard Pak Isobel Add It Up, by Kristy Everington, illustrated by AG Ford Count on Me, by Miguel Tanco Too-Small Tyson, by JaNay Brown-Wood, illustrated by Anastasia Magloire Williams We Are One: How the World Adds Up, by Susan Hood, illustrated by Linda Yan Seven Golden Rings: A Tale of Music and Math, by Rajani LaRocca, illustrated by Archana Sreenivasan Crash! Boom! A Math Tale, by Robie H. Harris, illustrated by Chris Chatterton Too Many Pigs in the Pool, by Wendy Hinote Lanier, illustrated by Iris Amaya Math Curse, by Jon Scieszka, illustrated by Lane Smith Rosie Revere, Engineer, by Andrea Beaty, illustrated by David Roberts Arithmechicks Add Up: A Math Story, by Ann Marie Stephens, illustrated by Jia Liu The Librarian Who Measured the Earth, by Kathryn Lasky, illustrated by Kevin Hawkes
Always, Clementine

With Always, Clementine, Carlie Sorosiak delivers a heartfelt tale of wonder that will hold strong appeal for budding animal advocates. A highly intelligent mouse named Clementine escapes a research lab and tries to find a place where she can be safe. Clementine is discovered by an eleven year old boy named Gus who lives with his grandfather. Gus sets up a hiding spot for his tiny new friend and soon discovers he has a genius mouse in his company. Throughout her emotional adventure, Clementine’s thoughts take the form of imagined letters to her dear chimpanzee friend at the lab, and she worries about the threats that face all of the animals she left behind. Eventually word spreads about her impressive intellectual ability and a reward is offered for her return. But returning her to the lab raises concerns about her wellbeing and might even risk her life. Instead of financial gain, Gus values friendship and the opportunity to learn from a being whose perspective is so unlike his own. Gus discovers his new rodent friend is not only good at chess, but great, and hatches a plan to bring attention to her plight. In the process, Gus realizes he might be able to help other animals who remain trapped at the lab too. Multiple intelligences are touched on with a minor subplot about Clementine’s quiet mouse-friend who demonstrates a keen spatial awareness and creative building skills. The realistic threat of being returned to the lab for continued experiments and dissection create tangible tension throughout, yet the imagery and situations are developed with sensitivity. Compassionate friendships define this gentle middle grade animal fantasy.
Take a Super Seat and Read!

Where is your favorite place to sit? What seat do you know the best? When you’re out and about, where do you sit for a rest? Are there enough places to rest? Are you someone who needs to think about that, or not? In Sam’s Super Seats, we meet a young girl who must think about where she’ll rest. Luckily, her world has many super seats and super seats in training for her! This delightful picture book follows a day in the life of Sam, her parents, and her best friends as they go shopping at the mall. As we get to know Sam and her family and friends, we also get to know the seats that help her through the day, each with its own name and personality. Sam has cerebral palsy, so rest is an essential part of a fun day. Sam’s Super Seats absolutely radiates love. Each vibrantly illustrated spread shows fun, encouragement, and support between every character. Sam and her dad name four things they like about themselves every morning. The young girls act out their aspirations, pick out cute, comfy clothes, and talk about how smart and strong they are. The love they have for themselves is remarkable. When it is time for Sam to rest, her able-bodied mother and friends are glad to rest as well: “‘I will only be a few more minutes,’ [Sam] says. ‘Take your time. People watching is fun!’ Sydney says. Mommy squeezes my hand like she does when she wants me to remember that she loves me. I remember. I love her too.” A “take your time,” a reassuring hand squeeze; so much love is captured in these small moments. Author Keah Brown, an author, journalist, actor, and screenwriter who has cerebral palsy herself, set out to create a book about disability that centers joy and self-love. She more than succeeded! Illustrator Sharee Miller is the creator behind books such as Don’t Touch My Hair!, another picture book that delightfully encourages the bodily autonomy of young Black girls. I invite you to find your own super seat and curl up with someone you love (even just yourself!) and and any book that helps you feel comfy and self-assured. Remember: rest is your right!
Middle Grade Thrills & Chills: Shadow Grave by Marina Cohen

Cohen delivers her fourth shiveringly fun middle grade novel with the standalone book, Shadow Grave. Primarily set in an isolated New Hampshire logging town where nothing is quite what it seems, readers meet twelve year old Arlo after a difficult year dealing with his mom’s illness, her tentative recovery, and his own resulting anxiety. Arlo, his younger sister Lola, and their mom venture together on a family road trip that’s meant to offer a fun break together, but a disorienting car accident throws off their plans. The wreck totals the car and leaves their mom with a seriously injured foot, broken phone, and no way to call for help. The trio make their way through a strange forest and arrive in the dreary, fictional town of Livermore, where instead of assistance or concern they find a creepy town without electricity. Full of peculiar residents, odd occurrences, and ominous warnings, Arlo struggles but eventually manages to confront his fears while investigating secrets that the whole town seems complicit in hiding. The clarity of Arlo’s emotional life enhances the increasing tension around the family’s need to escape Livermore in this imaginative, supernatural page turner. The sharp imagery and immersive storytelling capture a full range of horrors, from the physical vulnerability of broken bones to unsettling situations, and otherworldly threats. A delightful treat for fans of suspense and thrills. Author Marina Cohen will join Lora Senf (The Clackity, 2022), Kim Ventrella (The Secret Life of Sam, 2020), and David Neilsen (Beyond the Doors, 2017) for a virtual visit to Heights Libraries on January 25 at 4 p.m. to talk about writing spooky middle grade fiction. Readers and aspiring young authors won’t want to miss this chance to meet these authors as we celebrate stories that go bump in the night. Registration begins January 11.

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