February 11th is the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. This day was created by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015, as a way to recognize the accomplishments and achievements of women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (or STEM).

Here are some books from our nonfiction collection about some of these amazing women in science or other STEM fields. These books highlight women specifically, but they are great role models for anyone with an interest in science and the world around them!

Picture Book Biographies (PreK-3rd Grade)

Dinosaur Lady: The Daring Discoveries of Mary Anning, the First Paleontologist by Linda Skeers (OverDrive)

The Girl Who Thought in Pictures: The Story of Dr. Temple Grandin by Julia Finley Mosca

Queen of Physics: How Wu Chien Shiung Helped Unlock the Secrets of the Atom by Teresa Robeson

Joan Procter, Dragon Doctor: the Woman Who Loved Reptiles by Patricia Valdez

Hidden Figures: the True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly (OverDrive)

Life in the Ocean: the Story of Oceanographer Sylvia Earle by Claire Nivola

Easy Chapter Biographies (1st-4th Grade)

Virginia Apgar by Sayantani DasGupta (Axis 360)

Sally Ride by Atia Abawi ages (Axis 360)

Jane Goodall by Libby Romero

Secrets of the Sea: The Story of Jeanne Power, Revolutionary Marine Scientist by Evan Griffith

Space Engineer and Scientist: Margaret Hamilton by Domenica Di Piazza

NASA Mathematician Katherine Johnson by Heather E. Schwartz

Chapter Book Biographies (5th-8th Grade)

Wonder Women of Science: Twelve Women Who Are Currently Rocking Science, Technology, and the World by Tiera Fletcher (Axis 360)

Changing the Equation: 50+ US Black Women in STEM by Tonya Bolden (OverDrive)

Blast Off into Space like Mae Jemison by Caroline Moss

The Girl Who Drew Butterflies: How Maria Merian’s Art Changed Science by Joyce Sidman

The Tornado Scientist: Seeing Inside Severe Storms by Mary Kay Carson

Path to the Stars: My Journey From Girl Scout to Rocket Scientist by Sylvia Acevedo

– Alyssa Young, Youth Services Assistant

Imaginations are a beautiful thing! That imagination flourishes when a child reads a book that flies in the face of reality. Books about unicorns help to fuel that imagination. Unicorns are magical, mystical, one-horned, fairy tales in horses’ bodies. Most children are unaware of the myths surrounding unicorns. They don’t care. All they know is that magnificent, rainbow glittered horses are enchantingly beautiful.

Check out the following books available at the library!

Picture Books

How to Catch a Unicorn by Adam Wallace

Lily the Unicorn by Dallas Clayton

Thelma the Unicorn by Aaron Bladney

A Unicorn Named Sparkle by Amy Young

Unicorn Thinks He’s Really Great by Bob Shea

Unicorns 101 by Cale Atkinsons

Unicorns Are the Worst! by Alex Willan

EZ Readers

Are Unicorns Real? by Ginjer Clarke

Pearl the Proper Unicorn by Sally Odgers

Pete the Kitty and the Unicorn’s Missing Colors by Kim Dean

Unicorn Wings by Mallory Loehr

Uni the Unicorn by Lissy Marlin

EZ Chapter Books

Princess DisGrace, a Royal Disaster by Lou Kuenzler

Sparkleton by Calliope Glass (series)

Unicorn Diaries by Rebecca Elliot (series)

Unicorn Riding Camp by Sophie Tilley

Unicorn University by Daisy Sunshine (series)

Fiction

Even and Odd by Sarah Beth Durst

Unicorn Chronicles by Bruce Coville (series)

Waiting for Unicorns by Beth Hautala

Graphic Novels

Grumpy Unicorn by Joey Spiotto

Phoebe and Her Unicorn by Dana Simpson (series)

Unicorns by Gary Jeffrey

Nonfiction

Unicorns: Magic, Myth and Mystery by Virginia Loh-Hagan

Unicorns by Dana Meachen Rau

The Truth about Unicorns by Molly Blaisdell

Drawing Unicorns and Other Mythical Beasts by Steve Beaumont

– Sharon Crawford, Youth Services Specialist

Every kid has hopes and dreams, and every kid achieves those dreams differently from each other. Everyone has different abilities, and no two people are exactly alike! Here are a variety of books where kids make friends, experience new things, and work hard to achieve their goals. Some of these kids are blind, or have Autism, or need sensory accommodations for noisy places. Try out some of these books and explore how you’re similar and different! (Some books are also available from our digital collections.)

Early Readers

Can Bears Ski? by Raymond Antrobus

Out Into the Big Wide Lake by Paul Harbirdge (Axis 360)

Lucas at the Paralympics and Lucas Makes a Comeback by Igor Plohl

Hello Goodbye Dog by Maria Gianferrari

My Three Best Friends and Me, Zulay by Vanessa Brantley-Newton

This Beach is Loud! By Samantha Cotterill

The Black Book of Colors by Menena Cottin

Older Readers

El Deafo by Cece Bell (Axis 360, Overdrive)

A Boy Called Bat by Elana Arnold (Axis 360)

Wink: A Novel by Rob Harrell (OverDrive)

Get a Grip, Vivy Cohen! By Sarah Kapit

The Chance to Fly by Ali Stroker (Axis 360)

The Many Mysteries of the Finkel Family by Sarah Kapit (Axis 360)

Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling (Axis 360, Overdrive)

True Stories

Unbound: The Life and Art of Judith Scott by Joyce Scott (Axis 360)

Fauja Singh Keeps Going by Simran Jeet Singh

Dark was the Night by Gary Golio

Emmanuel’s Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah by Laurie Ann Thompson (Axis 360)

Rescue and Jessica: A Life-Changing Friendship by Jessica Kensky (Overdrive)

Brayden Speaks Up by Brayden Harrington

The Girl Who Thought in Pictures: The Story of Dr. Temple Grandin by Julia Finley Mosca

General Books about Inclusion

Lovely by Jess Hong

Bodies are Cool by Tyler Feder

Just Ask!: Be Different, Be Brave, Be You by Sonia Sotomayor (Axis 360, Overdrive)

Don’t Hug Doug (He Doesn’t Like It) by Carrie Finison (Axis 360)

– Alice Mitchell, Youth Services Manager

If you asked your child what they think art is, what would they say? Would they think of coloring or making things out of paper? If you would like to introduce your child to art, we have books about artists, art history, and many books on fun ways to create art. Some of the Playaway Launchpads even involve art activities! And you don’t even have to leave home; many art museums provide virtual tours and activities now. Explore more or place a hold using the links below.

Creating Art:

Amazing Animal Art by Emily Kington

Scrap Paper Art by Susie Brooks

Art Foam Fun by Hélène Leroux-Hugon

Ralph Masiello’s Bug Drawing Book by Ralph Masiello

Christmas and Hanukkah Origami by Ruth Owen

Learning about Art and Artists:

The Art Book for Children by Amanda Renshaw

The Art of Freedom: How Artists See America by Bob Raczka

Between the Lines: How Ernie Barnes Went from the Football Field to the Art Gallery by Sandra Neil Wallace

Opposites Abstract by Mo Willems

The Usborne Children’s Book of Art by Rosie Dickins

Who was Pablo Picasso? by True Kelley

Playaway Launchpads:

By Sea. By Air. By Road! Around the World

Choo on These Facts!

Websites:

Article – The Importance of Art in Child Development

Museums – MetKids-The Metropolitan Museum of Art

National Gallery of Art-Families

by Jackie Laredo, Youth  Services Assistant

Folktales are stories or myths, often with a lesson or message, that are passed on from generation to generation through storytelling. Children can learn about different cultures and traditions through folktales. Here are a few of the great folktales you can find at FDL:

The Magic Orange Tree and Other Haitian Folktales by Diane Wolkstein

A collection of folktales gathered by the author in Haiti with comments on Haitian folklore. From orange trees growing at the command of a child to talking fish, these stories present us with a world of wonder, delight, and mystery.

The Gigantic Turnip by Aleksey Nikolayevich Tolstoy

In this traditional Russian tale, a farmer grows a turnip so big that it takes the combined efforts of him, his wife, six canaries, five geese, four hens, three cats, two pigs, one cow, and, finally, one mouse to pull it from the ground.

The Empty Pot by Demi

When Ping admits that he is the only child in China unable to grow a flower from the seeds distributed by the Emperor, he is rewarded for his honesty.

Coyote Rides the Sun: A Native American Folktale by Amanda St. John

A Native American tale of how the dusty coyote got its coloring, especially its black-tipped tail, and why the coyote is nocturnal.

Once a Mouse by Marcia Brown

When a small mouse’s life is threatened by large jungle predators, a kindly hermit uses magic to change him into a cat, a dog, and a majestic tiger. But the proud tiger must suffer the consequences when he becomes ungrateful and forgets his humble origins.

The Lion Book of Wisdom Stories by David Self

This collection includes fifteen traditional stories drawn from a variety of cultures from all across the globe. Each tale focuses on a different key issue – among them sharing resources, the downfalls of pride, and the nature of true wealth – and offers insight on how they can best be resolved.

– Jackie Laredo, Youth Services Assistant