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HPL Kids

The Kidzone has programs galore as well as books, movies, and other cool stuff. Read our blog below for more information and check out our upcoming events to get an idea of what's happening at the Kidzone! Our main phone number is 205.444.7830.

Recent Book Reviews

Horten's Incredible Illusions: Magic, Mystery & Another Very Strange Adventure
Lula Bell on Geekdom, Freakdom & the Challenges of Bad Hair
A Mutiny in Time
Starry River of the Sky
Pickle: The (Formerly) Anonymous Prank Club of Fountain Point Middle School
Iron Hearted Violet
Jake and Lily
Paris Pan Takes the Dare
Me and the Pumpkin Queen
Read All About It!
The Boy on Cinnamon Street
Nerd Camp
The Classroom
Smells Like Dog
Mission Unstoppable
On the Road to Mr. Mineo's
The Mark of Athena
A Whole Lot of Lucky
Alien on a Rampage
One for the Murphys

More of our favorite books on GoodReads »

Kidzone Blog

National Golf Day

April 25, 2018 is National Golf Day . .  . and that is today!  I've never played the real sport.  I'm not even good at the putt-putt version!  But I'm celebrating today because of a new picture book biography about golfing pioneer Charlie Sifford.

Charlie Takes His Shot: How Charlie Sifford Broke the Color Barrier in Golf by Nancy Churnin (January 1, 2018)
JB  SIF
Churnin details the life of Charlie Sifford, the first black man to compete in the Professional Golfers' Association of America (PGA).The narrative opens with a young Sifford playing a game of golf by himself at night ("If anyone saw him, he'd be in trouble"), before detailing Sifford's life as a caddie and how segregation forbid him from entering PGA tournaments. Inspired by a meeting with Jackie Robinson (who "didn't quit or lose his temper" when faced with racism), and with the help of lawyer Stanley Mosk, Sifford would eventually win a discrimination case against the PGA in 1960. The overturning of the PGA's Caucasians-Only clause allowed Sifford to go on to win the Greater Hartford Open in 1967, the Los Angeles open in 1969, and the Senior PGA Championship in 1975 to become known as the "Jackie Robinson of golf." Churnin provides a thoughtful overview of discrimination and how it impacted the world of sports through the 1960s. [from School Library Journal]

Reynolds & Santat? Dude!

Aaron Reynolds, oh how I love your words and story ideas.  Dan Santat, oh how I adore your illustrations and enthusiastic extras.  And now your epic powers have joined forces.  Can I handle it?!?!

Dude! by Aaron Reynolds & Dan Santat (April 24, 2018)
Dude! You have to read this book.  It's totally about this platypus and this beaver who are friends. They want to go surfing but dude, there's this shark who's in the ocean, too.  But don't worry. This shark approaches and you'll never guess what happens.  Written entirely in dude!

Spring Sips at Kid Lit Coffee Break

It's time for the spring edition of Kid Lit Coffee Break!  Adults who love children's literature can join me this Sunday, April 29, 2018 at 3 p.m. for a laid-back discussion of current kid lit trends, fueled by booktalks of recent releases . . . and coffee and desserts from East 59.  There will also be door prizes.  This group includes parents, teachers, librarians, and other book-minded adults, and we'd love for it to include you!  No need to RSVP.  Simply follow the stars through the Kid Zone.

Last Week of Storytime

Our final week of storytime is here.  Hope to see you at one of these!  And go ahead and get excited about our summer storytime series.  More info coming soon!

Together with Twos = Birthday Bash = Monday, April 23, 2018 at 9:30 & 10:30 a.m. (registration required)
Story Lab = Messy Monday = Monday, April 23, 2018 at 4 p.m.
Mother Goose = Under the Sea = Tuesday, April 24, 2018 at 9:30 & 10:30 a.m. (registration required)
Early Birds = Baby Favorites = Tuesday, April 24, 2018 at 10 a.m. (registration required)
Story Sprouts = Silly Stories = Wednesday, April 25, 2018 at 9:30 & 10:30 a.m.
ExploraStory = How Does Your Garden Grow? = Thursday, April 26, 2018 at 10:30 a.m.
PJ Storytime = Libraries Rock = Thursday, April 26, 2018 at 6:30 p.m.
Movers & Shakers = Fun in the Sun = Friday, April 27, 2018 at 11 a.m. (registration required)

BONUS!
Storytime Allstars is Saturday, April 28, 2018 at 10:30 a.m.  Join Miss Katie Jane for Super Smelly Fun!

Staff Favorites at Book Bites

This Sunday, April 22, 2018 is our final Book Bites of the school year.  It will feature Staff Favorites.  Join Miss Traci and Mr Justin at 3 p.m. to hear about some of your favorite Kid Zone librarians' most-loved titles.  Maybe you'll add them to your summer reading list!  That is just around the corner.  Stay tuned for more information about that fun.  You might decide to read them right away.  After the booktalks, you're welcome to check out any of the books that sounded good to you.  You'll also get to eat a snack.  Book Bites is geared for Kindergarten to 5th grade.  No need to sign up for this event.  Simply follow the stars on Sunday.

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