Children’s Services

COVID-19 Challenges

Heights Libraries understands that this is a particularly challenging time for caregivers due to the COVID-19 outbreak. In addition to the resources listed below, we have a special page of resources to help you keep your children healthy and engaged during the shelter-in-place order from the state of Ohio.

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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.

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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

Fun Reads for ALL kids!

Racial and ethnic diversity in children’s literature is an important topic for children, parents, and the people who serve them. There are many books that discuss heavy issues such as race, history, immigration, etc. While these books certainly have their place, we must also remember that reading is fun! Children from all walks of life should be able to see other children from all walks of life having fun, discovering the world around them, and using their imagination. Here are several new titles that feature characters of color that are just about kids being kids. First up, we have Memory Jars, by Vera Brosgol. Freda is devastated when she can’t eat all the delicious blueberries she’s picked. She has to wait a whole year before they’re back, and she doesn’t want to lose them! Then Gran reminds her that they can save blueberries in a jar, as jam. So Freda begins to save all her favorite things. But it turns out that saving everything also means she can’t enjoy anything, and Freda realizes that some things are best saved as memories. This is an adorable and funny story about family, friendship, and memories. I especially love the whimsical and cartoon-like artwork. Next is The Rice in the Pot Goes Round and Round, by Wendy Wan-Long Shang A lovely variation of “The Wheels on the Bus” song, this book features a Chinese family enjoying a meal and good times together. The artwork has a classic, 1950s feel with bright pictures that will engage your little one. I’m also a fan of books you can sing, and books with onomatopoeia. This title has both! Carpenter’s Helper, by Sybil Rosen and Camile Garoche Join a girl as she helps a mama and papa bird build a nest in her bathroom, hatch their eggs, and teach their babies to fly away. This is a great STEM focused title. We all know that the road to good science starts with discovery, observation, and questioning. Amira’s Picture Day, by Reem Raruqi Ramadan has come to an end, and Amira can’t wait to stay home from school to celebrate Eid. There’s just one hiccup- it’s also school picture day. How can Amira be in two places at once? This book features a Middle-Eastern girl who is super excited about celebrating Eid with her friends and family. Islam is a global faith, and the artwork of this book shows that via children of many ethnicities dressed in their finest holiday attire. Lastly, we have I Am the Subway, by Kim Hyo-eun (translated by Deborah Smith) This is a lovely snapshot into the daily life and hustle and bustle of South Korea. Take a ride on the subway with Mr. Wanju as we meet many people on the train. Don’t hesitate to pick up one or more of these great titles at your nearest library!
Celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Celebrate or expand your knowledge by checking out some of these books from your local library! Eyes That Kiss in the Corners by Joanna Jo Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao by Kat Zhang Drawn Together by Minh Le A Different Pond by Bao Phi The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi No Kimchi for Me! by Aram Kim Hot Pot Night! by Vincent Chen ‘Ohana Means Family by Ilima Loomis Bilal Cooks Daal by Aisha Saeed Bee-Bim Bop! by Linda Sue Park Hush: A Thai Lullaby by Minfong Ho A Map into the World by Kao Kalia Yang Thread of Love by Kabir Seghal The Sound of Silence by Katrina Goldsaito Home is in Between by Mitali Perkins Our Favorite Day by Joowon Oh Puddle by Hyewon Yum Natsumi! by Susan Lendroth Leila in Saffron by Rukhsanna Guidroz A Big Mooncake for Little Star by Grace Lin A Gift for Amma: Market Day in India by Meera Sriram Ho’onani: Hula Warrior by Heather Gale Danbi Leads the School Parade by Anna Kim
Herstory with Picture Book Biographies

March is Women’s History Month, four weeks dedicated to celebrating and highlighting the accomplishments of women throughout history. Picture book biographies are an excellent way for kids to explore the impact women have had on all areas of society. These real-life stories are inspiring and eye opening; I always learn something new and hope that you will too! Below is a list of new(er) picture book biographies about women who have made significant contributions in art, science, politics, sports, social justice and more, with their perseverance, smarts, charm, and bravery. Check them out at your nearest Heights Libraries branch or online. Exquisite: the Poetry and Life of Gwendolyn Brooks written by Suzanne Slade, illustrated by Cozbi A. Cabrera The Only Woman in the Photo: Frances Perkins and Her New Deal for America written by Kathleen Krull, illustrated by Alexandra Bye It Began with A Page: How Gyo Fujikawa Drew the Way written by Kyo Maclear, illustrated by Julie Morstad Listening to the Stars: Jocelyn Bell Burnell Discovers Pulsars by Jodie Parachini, illustrated by Alexandra Badui *published April 1, 2021 Mamie on the Mound: A Woman in Baseball’s Negro Leagues written by Leah Henderson, illustrated by George Doutsiopoulos Shaped by Her Hands: Potter Maria Martinez written by Anna Harber Freeman, illustrated by Barbara Gonzalez, Aphelandra *published April 1, 2021 There Goes Patti McGee! written by Tootie Nienow, illustrated by Erika Medina We Wait for the Sun written by Katie McCabe, illustrated by Raissa Figueroa Selena: Queen of Tejano Music written by Silvia Lopez, illustrated by Paola Escobar Secrets of the Sea: The Story of Jeanne Power, Revolutionary Marine Scientist written by Evan Griffith, illustrated by Joanie Stone The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read written by Rita L. Hubbard, illustrated by Oge Mora The World is Not a Rectangle: A Portrait of Architect Zaha Hadid written and illustrated by Jeannette Winter All the Way to the Top: How One Girl’s Fight for American with Disabilities Changed Everything written by Annette Bay Pimentel, illustrated by Nabi H. Ali Shirley Chisholm is a Verb! written by Veronica Chambers, illustrated by Rachelle Baker Michelle’s Garden: How the First Lady Planted Seeds of Change written and illustrated by Sharee Miller Dumpling Dreams: How Joyce Chen Brought the Dumpling from Beijing to Cambridge written by Carrie Clickard, illustrated by Katy Wu Jump at the Sun: The True Life Tale of Unstoppable Storycatcher Zora Neale Hurston written by Alicia Williams, illustrated by Jacqueline Alcántara Separate is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and her Family’s Fight for Desegregation written and illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh Try It! How Frieda Caplan Changed the Way We Eat written by Mara Rockliff, illustrated by Giselle Potter A Computer Called Katherine written by Suzanne Slade, illustrated by Veronica Miller Jamison Send a Girl! The True Story of How Women Joined the FDNY written by Jessica Rinker, illustrated by Meg Hunt R-E-S-P-E-C-T! Aretha Franklin, Queen of Soul written by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Frank Morrison Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré written by Anika Aldamuy Denise, illustrated by Paola Escobar Maya Lin: Artist-Architect of Light and Lines written by Jeanne Walker Harvey, illustrated by Dow Phumirok
Black History Month

It’s February and with it comes Black History Month! It’s the perfect time to pick up some books and read about the numerous and amazing accomplishments of Black Americans, past and present. Check out some of our favorite titles below: Mae Among the Stars by Roda Ahmed Freedom in Congo Square by Carole Boston Weatherford The ABCs of Black History by Rio Cortez This is the Rope by Jacqueline Woodson Henry’s Freedom Box by Ellen Levine The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read by Rita Lorraine Hubbard Let the Children March by Monica Clark-Robinson Respect: Aretha Franklin, Queen of Soul by Carole Boston Weatherford I Have a Dream by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly Josephine: The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker by Patricia Hruby Powell Sit-In: How Four Friends Stood Up by Sitting Down by Andrea Davis Pinkney The Youngest Marcher: The Story of Audrey Faye Hendricks, A Young Civil Rights Activist by Cynthia Levinson This is Your Time by Ruby Bridges Preaching to the Chickens: The Story of Young John Lewis by Jabari Asim
Library, Cedar Lee District collaborate on holiday Storywalk®

Heights Libraries and the Cedar Lee District are pleased to announce their collaboration on the neighborhood’s first Storywalk®, featuring the timeless children’s favorite The Snowy Day, by Ezra Jack Keats. A Storywalk® is a family-friendly, outdoor activity where pages of a book are presented along a popular walking route for people to read in order as they move through the neighborhood. The reproduced pages of the book are featured in windows along Lee Road at local merchants S’Wonderful Gifts, Dewey’s Pizza, CLE Urban Winery, Heights Arts, The Wine Spot, Voodoo Brewery, Atma Center, and the Lee Road branch of Heights Libraries. The installation of the Heights Libraries-Cedar Lee District Storywalk® coincides with the beginning of the holiday shopping season, specifically Small Business Saturday, which falls on November 28, the Saturday after Thanksgiving, and last until January 4, to finish out the holidays. “We wanted to find a way to promote our local businesses and offer our families a fun, safe holiday activity, too,” said Kelley Robinson, director of the Cedar Lee Special Improvement District, or SID. “We hope that while families are enjoying the story, they’ll do some holiday shopping in the district.” Robinson added, “I think folks will appreciate a reason to get outdoors, especially with so many of the wee ones learning from home this year due to COVID-19. Household groups can walk together safely, while easily maintaining a safe distance from others.” Heights Libraries hopes the Storywalk® will also inspire families to make books, movies, and music from the library part of their holiday routines. “With school winter breaks heading our way, we hope our community remembers to stock up on books and movies while everyone is home,” said Heights Libraries Director Nancy Levin. “Even though our buildings are closed, customers can still pick up books and movies curbside, and also enjoy our free online streaming services for music, movies and TV shows and eBooks and audiobooks through Overdrive and other services.” Levin continued, “The Library is happy to create this beautiful display for families and to partner with the SID once again to promote Small Business Saturday.” Story Walk stops, in book order: 1. S’Wonderful Gifts, 2254 Lee Road 2. Dewey’s Pizza, 2194 Lee Road 3. CLE Urban Winery, 2180 Lee Road 4. Heights Arts, 2175 Lee Road 5. The Wine Spot, 2271 Lee Road 6. Voodoo Brewery, 2279 Lee Road 7. Atma Center, 2319 Lee Road 8. Heights Libraries Lee Road branch (Lee Road side), 2345 Lee Road The StoryWalk® Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT and developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. Storywalk is a registered service mark owned by Ms. Ferguson.
Social Media and Children

If your teen or tween child were to say to you that they were on TikTok or Kik or Tinder, would you know what they were talking about? Would you as a parent know whether what they were doing was safe? I’m lucky in that when my children started getting an online presence, there wasn’t much social media for them to get into. They had to use the family PC, which was in the family room so that my wife and I could watch their every move. With today’s tablets and smart phones, it’s my grandchildren that I worry about. Your child can be on many different social media sites without your knowledge and certainly not when you are watching. In this blog post, we will give you resources to know what is out there and what you need to know to help you guide your children through the social media minefield of criminals, child predators, cyberbullies, and more. Let’s start with learning what apps are out there and are popular with today’s teens. Here a few links to some good websites that can give you some guidance to your child’s online activity. A Complete Guide to Potentially Dangerous Apps All Parents Should Be Aware Of 18 Social Media Apps and Sites Kids Are Using Right Now The Most Popular Apps for Teenagers: What’s Hot, What’s Not Top Apps Teens are Using Right Now Now that we know what is out there and what is popular right now (which may not be the case next week, month or year), what can you do as a parent to help avoid the pitfalls that these social media sites present to you children? Most experts agree that communication is the key, and knowledge is power. Get to know the social media sites that your kids are using. Set up an account, cruise around the site, and educate yourself on what each offers and how kids are using it. Be familiar with sites’ age restrictions and know that kids can easily get around them. If you have a child under the age of 13, check the browser history and all apps on their device. If you see something like Facebook listed, assume your child has created an account. Talk to them about why the age requirement exists and how it might be a good idea for them to hold off on joining. Talk to your children and try to keep an open line of communication. Let them know it is okay for them to talk to you about whatever is going on. Since many of the social media apps allow users to post anonymously, child predators and cyberbullies flourish in those environments. It may be hard for you as a parent to have these types of conversation (no parent wants to have adult-type conversations with their children even if your children are adults!), but if your child is armed with the knowledge that a trusted caregiver has their back, and they can trust you to help and not lecture them about a problem, that is something very powerful. The most important thing is to be proactive in your child’s online activities, not reactive. This site not only list seven apps that are bad for children, but also gives some great advice on how to be involved. 7 Bad Apps for Kids That You Don’t Want on Their Phones Can I monitor what my child is doing online? How about an app for me to watch them? Yes, there are also apps available to you as a parent to help you monitor your child’s devices. 10 Apps for Parents to Monitor Kids’ Mobile Use Best Apps & Devices To Monitor Your Kids Online Activity 5 Effective Safety Apps for Parents of Tweens/Teens Surely there must be some apps out there that my child can be on without fearing the worst for them, right? Yes, there is, and here are a few websites that tell you about the good apps out there. Best Social Media Apps for Kids Social Networks Made for Children Yes, social media can be scary, but hopefully you, with the information we’ve put forward here, are better equipped to help guide your children successfully through the social media minefield and keep them safe.
What’s New in Children’s

July 25th – August 7th Browse our new books from the comfort of your own home! Follow the link to read a summary and place a hold. Picture Books Natsumi’s Song of Summer by Robert Paul Weston Nola’s Scribbles Save the Day by Cristina Lalli Our Favorite Day of the Year by A.E. Ali Plenty of Hugs by Fran Manushkin Rescuing Mrs. Birdley by Aaron Reynolds Runaway Signs by Joan Holub Sloth Went by Adam Herhaupt Tad by Benji Davies Tiger Wild by Gwen Millward Ways to Welcome by Linda Ashman Weasel Is Worried by Ciara Gavin My Ocean is Blue by Darren Lebeuf Foodie Faces by Bill and Claire Wurtzel Home Base: A Mother-Daughter Story by Nikki Tate Non-Fiction How Women Won the Vote by Susan Campbell Bartoletti Seagulls Soar by April Pulley Sayre My Encyclopedia of Very Important Sports by Chris Hawkes 50 Reasons to Love Animals by Catherine Barr National Geographic Kids: Almanac 2021 Graphic Novels Minions: Viva Le Boss! by Stéphane Lapuss Peter & Ernesto the Lost Sloths by Graham Annable This Was Our Pact by Ryan Andrews
Pride in Picture Books

Happy Pride! Yesterday was the last day of June which means it was the last day of Pride Month! To celebrate we are sharing picture books that celebrate identity and the LGBTQIA+ community. Each title focuses on the topics of identity, gender expression, or experiences of members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Whether they feature characters that buck gender norms, show love between same sex couples, contain information on pronouns, or share questions about identity, each book encourages children and families to be true to themselves. Hopefully, they will also inspire love and acceptance, offer reinforcement of identity, and encourage open conversations. Enjoy the books in the list below ALL YEAR LONG by calling your nearest Heights Libraries branch to order. Neither by Airlie Anderson Worm Loves Worm by J.J. Austrian Rainbow: A First Book of Pride by Michael Genhart They, She, He, Me, Free to Be by Maya Gonzalez Maiden & Princess and Prince & Knight by Daniel Haack Jacob’s Room to Choose by Ian Hoffman and Sarah Hoffman I’m a Girl by Yasmin Ismail I Am Jazz by Jazz Jennings Julián is a Mermaid by Jessica Love When Aidan Became a Brother by Kyle Lukoff Plenty of Hugs by Fran Manushkin Jamie is Jamie by Afsaneh Moradian Be Amazing: A History of Pride by Desmond Napoles Sparkle Boy by Lesléa Newman The Family Book by Todd Parr Who are You? The Kid’s Guide to Gender Identity by Brook Pessin-Whedbee This Day in June by Gayle E. Pitman Stella Brings the Family by Miriam B. Schiffer Jack Not Jackie by Erica Silverman Pride Colors by Robin Stevenson From the Stars in the Sky to the Fish in the Sea by Kai Cheng Thom It Feels Good to Be Yourself: A Book about Gender Identity by Theresa Thorn Introducing Teddy by Jessica Walton
Black Stories to Share with Young Children

Black lives matter. Black creators matter. Black stories matter. The list below features picture books written by Black authors. Most are also illustrated by Black artists. These books capture multiple facets of life: family, new beginnings, tall tales, conquering fears, friendships, and more. These books include joy, hurt, anger, love, laughs, tears, and hugs. These books celebrate and affirm Black children’s lives and show a variety of lived experiences. These books are for every family, every child, and should be enjoyed and read no matter your skin color. Check them out online, linked if available, or call your Heights Libraries branch to order. And, also, this is by no means (very much, not at all) a comprehensive list! For more resources and book lists, including information on Juneteenth, scroll to the bottom. Picture Books King of Kindergarten by Derrick Barnes, illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton (ebook) and Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut by Derrick Barnes, illustrated by Gordon C. James (ebook) Grandma’s Purse (ebook) and Just Like Me by Vanessa Brantley-Newton (ebook) Brown Baby Lullaby by Tameka Fryer Brown, illustrated by AG Ford Grandma’s Tiny House by JaNay Brown-Wood, illustrated by Priscilla Burris (ebook) Hair Love by Matthew Cherry, illustrated by Vashti Harrison (ebook) Max and the Tag-Along Moon by Floyd Cooper Shortcut by Donald Crews One Hot Summer Day by Nina Crews Parker Looks Up: An Extraordinary Moment by Parker Curry and Jessica Curry, illustrated by Brittany Jackson (ebook) My Mommy Medicine by Edwidge Danticat, illustrated by Shannon Wright Chocolate Me and Mixed Me by Taye Diggs, illustrated by Shane W. Evans (audio file) Magnificent Homespun Brown: A Celebration by Samara Cole Doyon, illustrated by Kaylani Juanita Just Like a Mama by Alice Faye Duncan, illustrated by Charnelle Pinkney Barlow Not Quite Snow White by Ashley Franklin, , illustrated by Ebony Glenn Honey, I Love by Eloise Greenfield, illustrated by Jan Spivey Gilchrist Bedtime for Sweet Creatures by Nikki Grimes, illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon My Friend Maya Loves to Dance by Cheryl Willis Hudson, illustrated by Eric Velasquez (ebook) That is My Dream by Langston Hughes, illustrated by Daniel Miyares (ebook) Black is a Rainbow Color by Angela Joy Please, Baby, Please and Please, Puppy, Please by Spike Lee, illusrated by Kadir Nelson Going Down Home with Daddy by Kelly Starling Lyons, illustrated by Daniel Minter (ebook) Hands Up! by Breanna J. McDaniel, illustrated by Shane Evans (ebook) What is Given from the Heart by Patricia McKissack, illustrated by April Harrison (ebook) The Proudest Blue by Ibtihaj Muhammad with S.K. Ali, illustrated by Hatem Aly (ebook) Thunder Rose by Jerdine Nolen, illustrated by Kadir Nelson Sulwe by Lupito Nyong’o, illustrated by Vashti Harrison (ebook) I Got Next by Daria Peoples-Riley Hey Black Child by Useni Eugene Perkins, illustrated by Bryan Collier (ebook) Bedtime Bonnet by Nancy Redd, illustrated by Nneka Myers Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold Another and You Matter by Christian Robinson M is for Melanin by Tiffany Rose Layla’s Happiness by Mariahadessa Ekere Tallie, illustrated by Ashleigh Corrin Mommy’s Khimar by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, illustrated by Ebony Glenn Looking for Bongo by Eric Velasquez (ebook) Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by E.B. Lewis (audio file) More resources and booklists: The Brown Bookshelf We Need Diverse Books The Conscious Kid Here Wee Read Diverse Book Finder Social Justice Books This week also marks the 155th anniversary of the holiday Juneteenth. On June 19, 1865, news finally reached (or was shared with) Galveston, Texas, that the Civil War had ended and that enslaved people were free. Also known as Freedom Day or Jubilee Day, now, each year on June 19, this special day is a celebration of freedom and a call to reflect on the history of enslavement and the path to freedom in America. The holiday also serves as a reminder of how much more there is to achieve in the realm of civil rights and equality for all. As former President Barack Obama tweeted, “Juneteenth has never been a celebration of victory, or an acceptance of the way things are. It’s a celebration of progress. It’s an affirmation that despite the most painful parts of our history, change is possible––and there is still so much work to do.” Juneteenth Books Juneteenth for Mazie by Floyd Cooper Juneteenth Jamboree by Carole Boston Weatherford All Different Now: Juneteenth the First Day of Freedom by Angela Johnson Juneteenth by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson Juneteenth Resources Juneteenth – a website launched in 1996 to provide a channel in which to connect all who share the vision of [the Juneteenth] celebration Juneteenth Book Festival – virtual event organized by YA author, L.L. McKinney, and book publicist, Saraciea Fennell. “Things are hard right now, and my goal is that we take a moment to celebrate us during all of this,” said McKinney. The online event, “seeks to use this day of jubilation to boost and celebrate Black American stories and the people behind them.” Dozens of writers and industry insiders, including Angie Thomas, have signed on to participate. You might discover your next favorite book or author! RSVP here or follow on social media, @JuneteenthBkFst, and YouTube for updates. National Museum of African American History and Culture – offers a tour of the “Slavery and Freedom” exhibition given by the Founding Director, Lonnie Bunch III. Teaching Tolerance – offers a guide to adults and educators on discussing and teaching the holiday.
National Poetry Month

April is National Poetry Month, and there are many ways to enjoy it while we’re staying at home. Spring can be a lovely time to add some poetry to your life, especially if you’re spending time outdoors and paying attention to the changes. The short form of poetry can also be comforting in uncertain times like these, when we may have difficulty focusing on something for longer periods of time. While brief, there is often a lot to mull over in a poem. It’s good to read a poem at least twice for comprehension and to appreciate the beauty or cleverness of it. The poem also wants you to read it out loud! As we live with more quiet and solitude, engaging with poetry might provide something we find that we want or need. Here are some ways to begin. To Read: In the digital collections offered by the library, there is a wonderful selection of poetry books you can read or listen to. On Hoopla, there are plenty of poetry Ebooks and audiobooks to choose from, and there is also a more selective list of audiobooks for Poetry Month. On each list, you can filter for children’s titles on the left-hand side, but there are not very many. You can borrow items from Hoopla immediately and check out up to 10 things each month. However, there is a lot for young people to read on Overdrive/Libby, where you can now create an account without a library card number. You just need to sign up with your mobile phone number here or in the Libby app after downloading it onto your phone or tablet. There are amazing picture books, varied poetry collections, and novels-in-verse on the list for children, and the titles for teens include a variety of novels-in-verse for different readers and fabulous collections, too. Here’s a favorite of mine from each list: One Last Word: Wisdom from the Harlem Renaissance by Nikki Grimes Blood Water Paint by Joy McCullough For little ones, there are many picture books that include rhyme, imagination, or linguistic creativity. Oftentimes, books expose young children to sophisticated words in ways that stick. A good way to help promote early literacy is to name and describe the world around us, which is also a very poetic thing to do! If you are missing storytime like I am, this video of author Micha Archer performing an interactive reading of her picture book Daniel Finds A Poem will be a nice treat. She discusses the creation of the book at the end of the video, too. To Explore: The Academy of American Poets is an organization that offers so much to readers, poets, and educators. Much of it is available on their website, poets.org. On this page, you can also also sign up for one of their great email newsletters; the poem-a-day program sends a poem to your email inbox each day. In their materials for teachers, there are curated lists of poems that children or teens might enjoy. On the Poems for Kids page, there are poem lists for seasons, holidays, topics, and themes. The themed lists on the page for teens illustrates the breadth of serious things poets explore; Poems for Teens has lists for love, loss, breakups, mental health, heritage, politics, and the self. There is also great advice for young poets, recommended reading, and essays on writing here. Finally, there are ideas for celebrating National Poetry Month while practicing social distancing and communicating virtually here. I recommend creating an account so you can save poems you like online! Book Riot also has many insightful, entertaining, and informational articles about all things related to poetry. You can find the current list here. These are two excellent places to start: Where To Find Free Poetry Online Where to Find Free Poetry Resources for Kids Online To Write: Please write if you find yourself inspired to do so. There are so many funny or strange ways to say how you view an infinite number of subjects in a poem, and you might surprise yourself by what you realize. Inspired by National Novel Writing Month in November, NaPoWriMo encourages people to write a poem every day in April. Every day of the month, there is a poetry-writing prompt, a featured submitted poem from the day before, and a unique poetry resource. Every post since 2013 is available on the website. For younger writers, the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, Jason Reynolds, has started a video series project to share writing prompts with young people each week. It’s called Write. Right. Rite. Although it’s not exclusively about poetry, Reynolds has written phenomenal poetry for young people and writes and speaks in a natural, rhythmic, and cool way. It’s how I imagine a lot of teenagers I know would write poetry. I hope that there is something for you here and wish you safety and health until we can see each other at the library again.

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