For Kids - Fondulac District Library

FDL Reads: Everything Awesome about Sharks

Everything Awesome About Sharks and Other Underwater Creatures! by Mike Lowery

Reviewed By: Alice Mitchell, Youth Services Manager

Genre: Nonfiction

Suggested Age: Kids (7-12)

What is This Book About? So many cool things are hiding in this mammoth book of ocean facts. Did you know the largest mountain range in the world is underwater? And that some sharks eat plants? In this book we learn about sharks, including some neat prehistoric sharks, before talking about ocean habitats and other ocean animals. The fifth section might be the most important, discussing actions that we can take in order to protect sharks and all other ocean life. Plastic is one of the biggest threats to our oceans, and there are some easy ways anyone can follow to help reduce the amount of plastic reaching our oceans.

My Review: This book is about so much more than just sharks! The cartoon illustrations reminiscent of Dav Pilkey and Ben Clanton make this book fun for kids without taking away from its informative nature. Kids are guaranteed to find something new and fascinating here – I certainly did! Even people who aren’t artistically inclined will be able to follow the directions in the back of the book on how to draw sharks. The call to action at the end of the book has practical, easy-to-follow tips that will inspire any reader. This is a great book for shark enthusiasts and reading for fun.

Three Words that Describe this Book: informative, funny, engaging

Give This A Try if You Like… Narwhal and Jelly by Ben Clanton; Ultimate Oceanpedia by Christina Wilsdon, Wild Kratts, Shark Week

Rating: 5/5

Find it at the library!

FDL Reads

Susie Rivera2024-11-13T14:28:34-06:00November 13th, 2024|

Children’s Book Highlight: Let’s Fill This World With Kindness

Title: Let’s Fill this World with Kindness: True Tales of Goodwill in Action

Authors: Alexandra Stewart and Jake Alexander

Age: Grades 4-6

“The perfect book for troubled times, this collection of over twenty-five real-life stories shows how heroic acts of kindness can change our world for the better.

Let’s Fill This World with Kindness explores the science of how our brains and bodies behave when we give and receive kindness. Featuring biographies of thinkers and philosophers from across different cultures who have celebrated the power of goodwill toward others, each chapter concludes with a list of questions for readers to help them reflect on the ways they too can be a kindness superhero.” (editor’s notes)

Highlights:

There are examples of kindness in a lot of ways – in sports, towards animals, in the face of prejudice, during war, and more. Every section includes some critical thinking questions too.
This book is really optimistic! Yeah, sometimes humans are mean to each other and life is unfair. But when you go looking for the helpers, you’ll still find a lot of people.
Kindness is infectious! The book talks about the science behind kindness but the stories share many examples about how the kindness of one person encourages similar actions in others.

-by Alice Mitchell, Youth Services Manager

Julie Nutt2024-11-08T16:19:25-06:00November 8th, 2024|

New Book Highlight: Young Zoologists

Title: Giant Panda: A First Guide to the Bamboo-Loving Bear from China

Author: Vanessa Hull

Age: 6-8

With the return of Giant Pandas to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, I thought it would be interesting to learn more about these mysterious mammals.

This is a very informative book. There are lots of bite-sized facts about the life cycle and behavior of the Giant Panda. Also included in this volume are chapters on the threats and conservation of Giant Pandas. I love the colorful illustrations which are lifelike.
The copy of Giant Panda that I read and listened to was a Chapter Book That Talks, so I could get a good look at the wonderful picture while I listened to the information. Best part, you can actually hear the noises that Giant Pandas make and what they mean.
If you have a budding Zoologist, you might want to check out this book, or any of the other books in the Young Zoologist Series. FDL has 5 books from the series:

by Kris Tyler, Youth Services Assistant

Julie Nutt2024-10-29T11:27:51-05:00November 1st, 2024|

Automatic Renewals at FDL!

Fondulac District Library offers automatic renewals as a time-saving convenience to its patrons!

Effective November 1, 2024, items checked out at Fondulac District Library eligible for renewal will be renewed automatically on their due date.

Please carefully read the courtesy notices sent by the library. Email notices will show you which items renewed and which did not. Providing your current email address allows you to receive courtesy notices from the library.

As a reminder, no overdue fines will be charged on any item checked out at FDL, regardless of who owns the item, which library issued your card, or where the item is returned. Learn more about the library’s fine-free procedures here.

FAQs

What is Automatic Renewal?

You no longer need to manually renew your library items! The library’s automatic renewal service will take care of the renewals for you! All items checked out at Fondulac District Library that are eligible for renewal will be automatically renewed on their due date.

How does it work?

Any items on your account that are eligible for renewal will now renew automatically on their due date.

How will I know an item renewed?

If you have an email address associated with your account, you will receive notification via email that lists which items were successfully renewed and which items were not, if applicable. (To sign up for email notifications, login in to your library card account or call or visit the library.)

Patrons without an email address registered with their account can check their account online or via the RSACat app. Patrons may also contact the library.

Which items are eligible for renewal?

Most items are eligible for one renewal, as long as another patron has not placed a hold on the item and your account is in good standing.

Items will not renew automatically if:

There is a hold on the item.
The item has already been renewed.
Your account is blocked due to fines or fees.
Your account must be renewed or will expire before the end of the renewal lending period.
The item is part of a non-renewable collection.
The item is on interlibrary loan from outside of the RSAcat collection.
The item is a digital item (eBooks, eAudiobooks, etc.).

Can I still renew my items manually?

Yes. If you wish to renew an item prior to its due date, simply renew it through your account online or speak to a staff member at the library. Manual renewals will extend the borrowing period from the date of the manual renewal.

Patrons may manually renew eligible borrowed items in-person, over the phone at (309) 699-3917, by text, or online. To renew items over the phone, please have your library card number ready. To renew items in-person, please have the items, and your library card or a current photo ID in hand.

To renew items online:

Select Renew Materials under My Account on this site.
Input your library card number and PIN. If you are unsure of your PIN, please call the library at (309) 699-3917.
Select the Checkouts tab.
Check the items you wish to renew.
Click Renew.

Can I opt-out of automatic renewals?

Patrons cannot opt-out of automatic renewals at this time.

genna2024-10-30T12:55:47-05:00October 30th, 2024|

Fall Reads for Kids

With us reaching towards the end of October, it is finally starting to feel like fall. The leaves are changing and the temperature is cooling down. It is truly one of the best times of the year. It brings us fun holidays with Halloween and Thanksgiving. There are so many great things to do such as visiting orchards, carving pumpkins, and reading books! Here at FDL, we offer a great selection of fall themed books to enjoy. Here are some selections that are perfect for this season!

Picture Books

It’s Fall! by Linda Glaser

A child explores fall in nature outside. Also includes fall activities for children.

Apple Cider Making Days by Ann Purmell

Some children help work on their family’s apple farm.

More Picture Books

Thanksgiving is for Giving Thanks by Margaret Sutherland
A child thinks about what he is thankful for at Thanksgiving.

Pumpkin Town by McKy
A story about a town that is taken over by pumpkins and the brothers that help solve the problem.

J is for Jack o’ Lantern: A Halloween Alphabet by Denise Brennan-Nelson
This book goes through the alphabet with Halloween topics for each letter.

Juvenile Non-Fiction

Carving Pumpkins by Dana Meachen Rau

Learn how to carve pumpkins with this fun book!

Fall Crafts Across Cultures: 12 Projects to Celebrate the Season by Megan Borgert -Spaniol

This book includes festive crafts that celebrate fall.

More Non-Fiction

A Fall Treasury of Recipes, Crafts and Wisdom by Angela Ferraro-Fanning
A beautifully illustrated book filled with fall activities for families such as cooking, crafting, and gardening.

Autumn by Phyllis S. Busch
Full of fall activities related to nature, this book explores how the fall season impacts plants and animals.

The Story of the Jack O’ Lantern by Katherine Brown Tegen
A spooky tale inspired by Irish folklore about how the Jack O’ Lantern was created.

Compiled by Angela Risinger, Youth Services Assistant

Julie Nutt2024-10-25T12:48:17-05:00October 27th, 2024|

New Kids’ Games for the Whole Family

As many of our patrons know, at Fondulac Library we love our board games! However, did you know we also have new additions to our children’s collection? Here are some of my favorite new board games for kids just learning how to play games with their family!

Bluey Scavenger Hunt

Who doesn’t like Bluey and Bingo?! This is another silly game, where the family draws cards and is tasked with being as goofy as possible. The game’s goal is to collect all the toys before bedtime. This is a great game for any kids who struggle with not winning. The family works as a team and loses and wins together!

Dogman: The Hot Dog Card Game

Just like everybody loves Bluey, who doesn’t love Dog Man?! Add hot dogs into the mix, and this card game just makes sense! The game is exactly like it sounds. One player slowly reveals cards on the table. As hot dogs appear, players must follow certain rules, then everybody tries to grab up as many hot dogs as they can before their opponents!

Happy Salmon

Happy Salmon takes traditional Go Fish to a new level! It is a matching game, just like Go Fish, but instead of hiding your cards everybody yells out what they have at the same time. Once you find a match for your card, both players do a silly action together and discard their cards. This game works for both kids who can read and kids who can’t read, because of how colorful and unique each card is.

Hurry Up, Chicken Butt

This game is “laugh-out-loud” fun for both parents and kids. The game consists of you passing a chicken around as it clucks. Each person who gets the chicken gets to shake it, draw a card, and do something silly. Every now and then a player must also run out of the room and find the “chicken butt” token as one of the actions in the game!

by Jacob Roberts, Youth Services Specialist

Julie Nutt2024-10-15T12:10:46-05:00October 21st, 2024|

Election Day for Kids

Election Day is coming up! Are you excited to vote? The library has a bunch of books to get the whole family motivated to get out to the polls and have your voice heard. Take a look at some of these books about the importance of elections and voting, and how our elections work. Looking for sample ballots or voter guides? Library staff have a variety of resources at their fingertips to help you out.

Picture books

Vote For Me by Ben Clanton
Vote for Our Future by Margaret McNamera
I Voted: Making a Choice Makes a Difference
by Mark Shulman
Your Voice, Your Vote by Leah Henderson
The Walk by Winsome Bingham
Vote by Eileen Christelow
I Can Be – President by Christy Webster
If I Ran for President by Catherine Stier

Chapter books

Sofia Valdez and the Vanishing Vote
by Andrea Beaty
Pizza and Taco: Who’s The Best
by Stephen Shaskan
Eva for President by Rebecca Elliott
Mayor Hubble is in Trouble by Dan Gutman
Heidi Heckelbeck for Class President
by Wanda Coven
The Case of the Crooked Campaign
by Lewis B. Montgomery
Jayson Goes for It by Brayden Harrington
Gabriela Speaks Out by Teresa Harris
Twins by Varian Johnson

Nonfiction

Why Voting Matters by Kip Almasy
Equality’s Call: The History of Voting Rights in Amerca by Deborah Diesen
Because They Marched: The People’s Campaign for Voting Rights that Changed America
by Russell Freedman
Give Us the Vote: Over 200 Years of Fighting for the Ballot by Susan Goldman Rubin
Political Elections by Davis Miller
Understanding U.S. Elections and the Electoral College by Grace Houser
Our Country’s Presidents: A Complete Encyclopedia of the U.S. Presidency
by Ann Bausum
Power to the People: How We Elect the President and Other Officials
by Kevin Cunningham

Julie Nutt2024-09-26T16:49:23-05:00October 2nd, 2024|

FDL Reads: Yummy: A History of Desserts

Yummy: A History of Desserts by Victoria Grace Elliot

Reviewed by: Chelsea Bunton, Library volunteer

Genre: Graphic novel, nonfiction

Suggested Age: (9-12)

What is the book about? Yummy is a nonfiction graphic novel explaining the delicious history of some of the most popular desserts of all time. This book is organized almost like a talk show, hosted by some fun and witty sprites (fairies). Each chapter covers a different dessert, telling of its deepest origins and its development over time into our modern day versions. The sprites include historical figures, legends and lore, and scientific explanations as they dive into the sweetest histories known to humankind. If you think ice cream has only existed since the invention of the refrigerator- you may want to read this book.

My Review: I always enjoy absorbing information in interesting ways. Textbooks or documentaries are fine but they lose my interest quickly. Learning in the form of a comic book? Sign me up! This book was so amusing! The “host” sprites were delightful as they spun the story of delectable treats from history. I genuinely learned so much from this book, including how ancient peoples were able to keep ice in the summer and the origins of the necessity of baking powder for cakes. Each chapter ended with a recipe, and though I am no chef, I actually think I could successfully make some of these goodies (if comic book fairies can do it, why can’t I?) Whether you have a sweet tooth, or just a craving for some sweet learning- this book is certain to satiate your hunger.

Three Words That Describe This Book: Delicious, sweet, intriguing

Give This a Try if You Like…Baking competition shows, light-hearted manga or anime, non-fiction graphic novels, cookbooks

Rating: 5/5

Find it at the library!

Susie Rivera2024-09-27T10:06:13-05:00September 27th, 2024|

Digital Collections for Kids

With the school year in full swing, and our lives busier this fall, it might be hard to find time to stop by the library. The good news is, Fondulac staff have been working hard, not only for Summer Reading these past few months, but also to offer alternatives to our physical location this new school year. Of course, we have always had our digital collections, but over the summer we have added new collections! We hope our new digital collection makes it easier to access your library on your terms, with the content you are most interested in! Here are some of the new services we have added to our digital library!

Comics Plus offers thousands of comic books that the whole family will enjoy, completely free! The kids comics range from Minecraft-Inspired series to the Legend of Korra series. It also has lots of manga for teens and adults. If you are familiar with logging into Libby, Boundless, or your Fondulac District Library account, all you need is your library card number and PIN to get started! When first setting up this account, it will be important to make sure to help your kids sign up for the Comics Plus Children’s Library.

Kanopy is a great alternative to many of the streaming subscriptions that cost in our world today. Kanopy is completely free for our patrons. It offers tv shows, movies, and educational courses for both adults and kids! At FDL we offer 15 credits for our general Kanopy services per month, but the good news is kids are able to watch unlimited content in the Kanopy Kids section all month long!

FDL has also revamped our language learning services! We switched from Mango languages to Rocket Languages. This new language app can be used on the computer or with an app on your phone! It gives even more in-depth lessons than our previous service as well!

–Jacob Roberts, Youth Services Specialist

Julie Nutt2024-10-01T14:12:45-05:00September 27th, 2024|

New Kids’ Fiction Highlight: Dealing with Tough Stuff

My Brother is Away
by Sara Greenwood

Recommended Ages: 5-8

This is an interesting book that touches on a sensitive, yet realistic subject. A young girl must face her friends and her feelings because her older brother has been incarcerated. Her friends talk about her brother being a bad person. She must face the truth that he did something wrong, nonetheless she still loves him and misses him terribly. The little girl and her parents must take a very long drive to visit him at the prison where he currently resides. She is anxious about visiting her brother at the prison, but instantly feels excitement when she sees him and he greets her with a big hug. She quickly learns that she is not the only person to have someone they love in prison.

Gut Reaction
by Kirby Larson and Quinn Wyatt

Recommended Ages: 8-12

My reason for recommending this book is that it deals with a chronic illness (Crohn’s Disease) and all the obstacles that go along with being sick while trying to remain active and social. Tess is an 8th grader who has just moved to a new school and is dealing with the loss of her father while trying to fit in and make new friends. She believes her stomach pains are due to stress from all the new challenges she is facing, but later finds out she has a serious medical condition that she must learn to live with. Tess is also a very talented baker and is competing in an elite baking contest while dealing with her health condition. This book demonstrates the importance of mental and physical health and how they are so closely connected. It also endorses the positivity of friendship and support.

–Christy Schurter, Youth Services Assistant

Julie Nutt2024-09-17T12:57:04-05:00September 19th, 2024|