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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

Kick Off Kindergarten

Who's ready for a party just for kids starting kindergarten?  I am!  Me too!  Don't forget me!  Sounds like everybody's ready for Kick Off Kindergarten on Tuesday, July 30, 2019 at 10:30 a.m.  This event is just for kindergarteners and their caregivers.  We will be celebrating this major milestone with a series of fun activities inspired by the school day.

Art - Create an apple for teacher.
Library - Listen to Miss Katie Jane read a funny story called The Pigeon HAS to Go to School by Mo Willems.
Math - Where will your name fall on our community graph?
Music - Dance and play along with some toe-tapping tunes!
Recess - Take a break from learning and get moving!
Science - Work with fellow kindergarteners to create a giant marble run.
Snack - Enjoy a cool popsicle treat.

Every child will also receive an official Going to Kindergarten button badge when they arrive.  And make sure you experience Picture Day in our Class of 2032 photo booth.  You do not have to register for this event.  Just follow the stars to the Youth Program Room.
 

Lion King

Nants ingonyama bagithi Baba
Sithi uhm ingonyama

The opening song to The Lion King has been belted (often badly) by almost every person who has ever seen and loved the animated classic movie (or the Broadway musical).  The iconic song also opens the live-action The Lion King, which debuted in theaters this past weekend (and dominated the box office).  The translation of the Zulu is "The lion is coming, Father."  But the Zulu for lion can also be translated as king.  Whoa.  James Earl Jones reprises his role as Mufasa in a star-studded voice cast that includes Donald Glover, Chiwetel Ejiofor, John Kani, Beyonce, John Oliver, Seth Rogen, and Billy Eichner.  The CGI is astonishingly photorealistic.  "Each hair and whisker on a mandrill’s face is defined. Every creature moves with seeming weight and realism, every landscape looks straight off a postcard. The African night sky is rendered so realistically that even Neil deGrasse Tyson won’t take to Twitter to nitpick." [from Reed Tucker's New York Post review]  I didn't see it yet, but don't worry.  I will take my place in the Circle of Life and see it soon on the big screen.

Teen Titans GO! at KidCon

This is Hoover Public Library's fifth anniversary of our Sci-Fi/Fantasy Fest!  We hope you'll take part in Sci-Five in as many ways as possible, July 26-28, 2019.  But DEFINITELY mark your calendar for the KidCon portion.  Teen Titans GO! is taking over the Kid Zone on Saturday, July 27, 2019 at 10:30 a.m.  Join Robin, Starfire, Raven, Beast Boy and Cyborg for a dance party, a trip through Jump City, Pin the Tail on Beast Boy, & more comedic superhero fun!  After the event, swing by the movie collection to pick up some episodes or the full-length feature starring our favorite team of 5.  They're shelved under J  TEE  DVD.

Mr. Molecule's Bing Bang Boom Science Show

We're ending our Summer Reading season with a Hoover debut performer.  When Mr. Molecule unleashes the power and excitement of science -- BING! BANG! BOOM! -- he creates an explosion of fun and learning that kids can't resist.  This fast-paced, interactive show is filled with wild and wacky experiments for grades K-8, including a 12-foot tall Foam Monster and the Bernoulli TP Challenge.  Yep, we're definitely ending summer with a BANG!

Mr. Molecule's Bing Bang Boom Science Show
Tuesday, July 23, 2019
10:30 a.m., 2:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, July 24, 2019
10:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

Thursday, July 25, 2019
10:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

* IMPORTANT SEATING GUIDELINES *
Seating in the Library Theatre is restricted to 250 guests.  All guests will be seated on a first come, first served basis by library staff.  All parties must be present to be seated.  Saving seats is not allowed.  Please arrive early to ensure your spot!

2019 Ezra Jack Keats Award

While writing yesterday's blog, I realized that there is another award I failed to blog about earlier this year.  An EPIC fail on my part!  The Ezra Jack Keats Award is presented each year to an outstanding writer and illustrator who have created an extraordinary children’s book that reflects the diverse nature of our culture.  It is named in honor of the author/illustrator who gave us 1963 Caldecott Medal-winning The Snowy Day.  I absolutely adore the two 2019 winners!  Read them, then read their reactions to winning the EJK.

Kitten and the Night Watchman by John Sullivan, illustrated by Taeuun Yoo
E  SUL
The story gently weaves the work a night watchman does with the poetry of a sleeping construction site, the warmth of a new kitten and the pleasure of going home at sunrise to a loving family.  Inspired by the true story of the author meeting a stray cat while working as a night watchman. The cat, Beebe, was John’s companion for seventeen years.

Thank You, Omu written and illustrated by Oge Mora
E  MOR
In the busy city who would think that Omu’s fragrant and tasty stew could bring people together as if they lived in a small town? This is a playful kind of stone soup tale, but told in reverse! The bright illustrations, reminiscent of Keatsian collage, show us that kind human connections form intimate support groups amidst any kind of bustle.

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