MCBA 2021-2022
The titles selected for the Massachusetts Children’s Book Awards list are always popular. See one you’re interested in? Reserve a copy today!
Becca Spotlights: Jan Brett
Author and illustrator Jan Brett has captured the hearts of adults and children alike over the past four decades. Her books often feature adorable animal characters getting into mischief and you can find a hedgehog either front and center or secretly hidden in many of her stories. You can check out many of Jan’s books…
Lisa Spotlights: The Scholastic Storybook Treasure Series
Do you want to bring some of the Scholastic Classic stories to life? Enjoy the Scholastic Storybook Treasure DVDs! There are 12 different topics including: Family Adventures, Nature Stories, Holiday Adventures and more! Each DVD includes 20 stories that come to life! Perfect to enjoy with the family! Titles currently available in the children’s DVD…
Lisa Spotlights Holiday Children’s Movies
Here’s a list of the top 30 Holiday Movies that the Danvers Children’s Room has available. These are in the interest of children under 8 years old, but could be older too. Enjoy some new movies and some classics! A personal favorite is Prep & Landing about Santa’s elves doing their job to get your…
Lisa Highlights: New Arrivals on Playaway for Children
True Tales of Childhood: by David Stabler & Robin Stevenson The Children’s Room recently added a new series to our Playaway collection: True Tales of Childhood by David Stabler and Robin Stevenson. There are six editions to borrow: Kid Presidents, Kid Authors, Kid Artists, Kid Athletes, Kid Activists, and Kid Scientists. Did you know that…
Karen Reviews: Scary Stories for Young Foxes – Christian McKay Heidicker
If you’re looking for some spooky stories for this Halloween season, look no further than the 2020 Newbery Honor recipient, Scary Stories for Young Foxes by Christian McKay Heidicker. A collection of eight scary stories told by an older fox that have been called “dark and skillfully distressing”. But the interconnected stories are also a thrilling…
Karen Reviews: Song for a Whale – Lynne Kelly
Song for a Whale, a middle grade novel, and one of the 25 books on this year’s MCBA List is a beautiful story! Iris is a twelve year old tech genius who loves to work on repairing antique radios. She takes them apart, rebuilds them, and sells them to a local shop. She is also…
Sarah Recommends Picture Books by Mo Willems
As a young child I adored picture books. Now my niece, who has recently turned three has picked up an interest in reading. The books illustrated and written by Mo Willems have been among my favorites that I’ve come across while in my travels through the children’s room at the library. I have seen his…
Ari Reviews: A Hat for Mrs. Goldman – Michelle Edwards
The book tells the story of a woman named Mrs. Goldman who loves to knit hats for everyone in the neighborhood. Sophia is one of the neighbors who helps Mrs. Goldman out in making the pom-poms since she feels knitting is a hard task. Mrs. Goldman herself does not have a hat of her own…
Karen Recommends: Children’s e-audiobooks
MCBA 2020-2021
Looking for something for your children to read? Check out this year’s MCBA list!
New Books for Children on Hoopla
Check out these new ebook offerings available on Hoopla!
Becca Recommends: Mo Willems
Click here to see what’s available on Hoopla.
Becca’s Teaching Book Reviews: SEL
Teaching children how to be kind friends, how to see things through a growth mindset, how to cope with anger and sadness, and simply how to manage the highs and lows of life is perhaps just as important as teaching children how to add and subtract or sing the alphabet song. Within the past few…
Patrick Recommends: Massachusetts Children’s Book Award Non-Fiction Graphic Novels
The Peabody Institute of Danvers not only has superhero graphic novels, but a growing collection of non-fiction titles. These books use sequential art to make complex topics more accessible. They work especially well with reluctant readers. Make no mistake; these books are complex, funny, and smart. Several of the titles have even made it onto…
Staff Review: Coraline – Neil Gaiman
Reviewed by Rachel By all accounts, Neil Gaiman’s children’s book Coraline is a strange and creepy piece of fiction. It features another set of parents for its protagonist, Coraline Jones, who live through the hallway behind the door that goes nowhere. Copies of her next door neighbors, Miss Spink and Miss Forcible, perform nightly for…
The Last Olympian – Rick Riordan
I have to confess I put off reading this last (sob) book in the Percy Jackson series for about a week and a half because I just couldn’t stand to see it end. When I picked it up, I tried to read it as slowly as possible in order to savor each scene, but that…
Two great books for children on dogs and dog rescue/adoption
Before You Were Mine by Maribeth Boelts and David Walker A young boy is delighted with his new puppy that he adopted from a shelter. He muses on what the puppy’s life was like before he found his “forever” home : maybe the poor pup was mistreated and ran away, or abandoned because his owner…