The Ames Free Library will be closed on Monday, May 29 in observance of Memorial Day.
Kwame Alexander is a multi-award-winning poet/author known for his middle-grade books about basketball, and more recently for the Caldecott Award winning book The Undefeated, but these are just two examples of his many works spanning from picture books to YA novels.
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month (LGBT Pride Month) is celebrated annually in June to honor the 1969 Stonewall riots, and works to achieve equal justice and equal opportunity for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) Americans. Today, celebrations include pride parades, picnics, parties, workshops, symposia and concerts, and LGBT Pride Month events attract millions of participants around the world.
The following are some LGBTQ+ YA titles to check out!
Writing…the most difficult to understand of the pre-literacy skills. How can I work on writing when my baby can’t even hold her own bottle? Writing definitely comes later when preschoolers have refined their motor skills and strengthened their muscles – but pre-writing skills are anything that can build those fine motor skills and muscles.
Although our summer events look different this year, we are still hosting a variety of family and children’s activities and events. The Family Fun events that are usually held in our garden will instead be held in YOUR garden (or living room)! Our traditional season opener, Mr. Wayne Potash, will host a Zoom concert tonight, Monday, June 22 at 6:00 PM. If you miss the live event, you can watch the recording for two weeks following the event (through Monday, July 6).
If you’ve ever played Pictionary or Telestrations, you’ll probably love this family activity! If you haven’t played those games, this is a good substitute (it’s basically a homemade, simplified version of Telestrations).
Lazy days of summer are perfect for spreading out a blanket in the shade and sharing some books with your baby. Picture books – even those written for very young children – are perfect for building your little one’s vocabulary, which in turn expands their entire world view. You might not use the word gigantic in everyday speech – but it’s in that story you just read about a dragon! Your little ones are hearing words from books that they won’t hear anyplace else at this age.
School’s out!! This year did not exactly shape up the way anyone was expecting when we started last fall, but here we are. Whether you (parent or student!) limped across the finish line or sprinted – you did it. Take a deep breath, pat yourself on the back, and take a few days to just take a break.
Ever thought about writing a book? Maybe a really short one? Literally… short…
