Book Talks

It was invented by Melvil Dewey (kind of the father of modern public libraries), who was born on December 10, 1851.
The Dewey Decimal classification system first appeared in U.S. libraries in 1876.
It organizes non-fiction books and materials.
It helps patrons browse more easily for books since it’s organized by topic, not by the order in which the library bought the book.
It’s organized into 10 main “classes” (i.e. categories).
000 Computer science, information & general works
100 Philosophy & psychology
200 Religion
300 Social sciences
400 Language
500 Science
600 Technology
700 Arts & recreation
800 Literature
900 History & geography
Each class is divided into another 10 sections, which can also be subdivided.
The book’s call number is the Dewey number plus letter(s) from the author’s last name.
Call numbers work across languages, ages and libraries in the US and around the world.
The system has been revised multiple times since 1876, but is still

October 9 2020

Masks Made Comfortable for Littles: Reads to Explain the New Norm

STPL Children’s Staff Book Talks, Families, Reading Recommendations

As we continue to wear masks during our daily lives, and social distancing is still the norm, children may have questions about why all of these things are still necessary. Thankfully for us, some wonderful authors and illustrators have written excellent picture books all about the topic!

Click on any book cover to place a hold on the title!

Dragon’s Mask by Steve Herman

In this newest title in the Dear Dragon series, children learn that having a pet dragon is really fun and you can teach him to do lots of cool things…but what if your dragon doesn’t know how to properly wear a mask? What if he’s struggling with wearing a mask because he doesn’t understand how important it is to wear a mask in public because of a virus outbreak?

How do you teach him about germs, viruses and the pandemic? How do you show him what needed to be done to keep himself and everyone safe? Use this book to learn with Diggory Doo the dragon why wearing masks are important during this time!

A Little Spot Wears a Mask by Diane Alber

Schools and businesses are now requiring everyone to wear masks and that can cause some confusion and anxiety for kids. A Little SPOT Wears A Mask is a fun story that helps kids not only feel more comfortable wearing a mask but also shows them how to wear them properly.

Heroes Wear a Mask by Sesame Street Workshop

Today is going to be a SUPER day! Elmo is heading to school, and he wants to be a school superhero! Young children will join Elmo as he gets ready like a hero and learns about wearing masks and washing hands. With the help of Elmo and his mommy, this all new story from world-renowned education brand Sesame Workshop will help children calm school anxiety and understand new and different routines they may experience.

Let’s Smile From Ear to Ear! by Kaitlyn Chu

We’re all having to get used to wearing face masks in our daily lives. Let’s see how our favorite animals wear their masks and still have fun! Smiling From Ear to Ear is a cute, colorful picture book that shows friendly animal characters wearing face masks when they go to the park, the store, the doctor’s office and more. It’s made with love for parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, older siblings, teachers and anyone who interacts with young children and wants to make wearing face masks less frightening and more normalized for common activities.

September 10 2020

Get A Clue: Mysteries for Middle Graders

STPL Children’s Staff Book Talks, Families, Reading Recommendations

The world of middle grade graphic novels has expanded exponentially over the last few years! Regardless of what genre your child is interested in, there is certain to be a book they’ll love!

This week, we wanted to highlight our top four favorite middle grade mysteries. As always, titles will be linked to make placing a hold quick and easy! Simply click on the image of the cover photo to be taken directly to STPL’s Catalog.

The Pathfinder’s Society, Book 1

Perfect for fans of The Last Kids on Earth, Lumberjanes, or Tales from the Five Worlds, The Mystery of the Moon Tower is sure to delight and capture readers’ attention!

In this first book of the series, readers will meet five kids who are unlikely to form a team, or become best friends for sure. However, they soon find there is indeed “more beyond” in their pokey town with its weird weather and sudden geysers of smelly air. Deciphering a route of historical markers leads them to Merriweather’s old castle, which is lined with ornate, beautiful tiles in hallways that lead to secret rooms full of odd objects–and where time itself is warped!

This is the path our heroes are meant to follow, on a journey that will take them back and forth through time, through woods, and across waterways revealed by moonlight, right up to the looming Moon Tower itself–which holds Merriweather’s secret . . . and the treasure

The Dam Keeper, Book 1

First in a three book series, readers who are fans of mysteries with a spooky edge will enjoy The Dam Keeper.

Life in Sunrise Valley is tranquil, but beyond its borders lies certain death. A dangerous black fog looms outside the village, but its inhabitants are kept safe by an ingenious machine known as the dam. Pig’s father built the dam and taught him how to maintain it. And then this brilliant inventor did the unthinkable: he walked into the fog and was never seen again.

Now Pig is the dam keeper. Except for his best friend, Fox, and the town bully, Hippo, few are aware of his tireless efforts. But a new threat is on the horizon―a tidal wave of black fog is descending on Sunrise Valley. Now Pig, Fox, and Hippo must face the greatest danger imaginable: the world on the other side of the dam.

Shirley & Jamila Save Their Summer

Jamila Waheed is staring down a lonely summer in a new neighborhood–until she meets Shirley Bones. Sure, Shirley’s a little strange, but both girls need a new plan for the summer, and they might as well become friends.

Then this kid Oliver shows up begging for Shirley’s help. His pet gecko has disappeared, and he’s sure it was stolen! The mystery of the missing gecko turns Shirley and Jamila’s summer upside down. And when their partnership hits a rough patch, they have to work together to solve the greatest mystery of all: What it means to be a friend.

The Montague Twins: The Witch’s Hand

Pete and Alastair Montague are just a couple of mystery-solving twins, living an ordinary life. Or so they thought. After a strange storm erupts on a visit to the beach, they discover there is more to their detective skills than they had thought. Their guardian, David Faber, a once prominent professor, has been keeping secrets about their parents and what the boys are truly capable of.

At the same time, three girls go missing after casting a mysterious spell, which sets in motion a chain of events that takes their small town down an unexpected path. With the help of David’s daughter, Charlie, they discover there are forces at work that they never could have imagined, which will impact their lives forever.

Written by Ms. Mara, STPL Children’s Outreach Librarian

August 26 2020

Online Back-To-School Resources

STPL Children’s Staff Book Talks, Families, Parenting E-Learning, Families, Kids, Parenting

As we move into the start of the 20/21 school year, and depart from the traditional back-to-school routine, we have put together this blog post to help out with your school journey. In this post, you will find resources for remote learning, hybrid learning, or homeschooling!

Get A Library Card:

In order to access the following resources, make sure you have a library card! If you’re new to getting a card, click here to fill out our online card application. A library card will be your most important back-to-school tool!

With your library card, you will be able to put holds on any print materials through our catalog, access the databases and online book platforms below, and submit requests for additional materials to supplement your student’s learning through our Homework Help form!

Try Our Databases:
Did you know that with your library card you can access a variety of educational databases, all filled with helpful resources for students?

Use Explora Primary Schools for topics such as:

Animals
Arts and Music
Biographies
Geography
Language Arts
Math
Science and Health
Social Studies

Use BiblioBoard Library for topics such as:

Architecture
Art
Biography & Autobiography
Computers
Cooking
Foreign Language Study
Health & Fitness
History
Music
And more!

Try NoveList K-8 Plus for:

Recommended reads for grades K-8

Try Primary Search for:

Primary sources for grades 1st-6th on a variety of subjects

Check Out An E-Book:
eBooks and eAudiobooks are a fantastic way to keep your child reading from home! STPL currently has the following e-content platforms available:

Tumblebooks:
This platform features a large selection of English, Spanish and French eBooks and games for children and tweens. You can access Tumblebooks through your browser or download the app to your mobile device!

OverDrive/Libby
OverDrive/Libby has a fantastic selection of eBooks and e-Audiobooks from a wide range of authors!

Hoopla
Access thousands of movies, TV shows, music, eBooks, audiobooks and graphic novels when and where you want!

If You’re Homeschooling:

If you’ve decided to homeschool your child, we’ve created this handy virtual homeschool resource guide, filled with online and print materials, all available at STPL! Click HERE to access the guide.

Get in touch:

As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at (815) 725-4368 or email us at childrensdept@shorewoodtroylibrary.org!

Book Talks

New Non-Fiction Reads to Celebrate Dewey Decimal Day

Top 15 Most Popular Non-Fiction Titles Sept.-Nov. at STPL

Masks Made Comfortable for Littles: Reads to Explain the New Norm

Get A Clue: Mysteries for Middle Graders

Online Back-To-School Resources

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