Crafts can be an amazing way to spend our time as the weather becomes colder. Aside from being a form of entertainment when the weather outside is frightful, crafts can be a great way for children to participate in gift giving without needing to spend much money. Below is a list of crafts that kids can make at home or librarians can use in library programs.

Popsicle Stick Boxes

This is a super fun craft that can double as a great homemade gift!

Supplies:

Popsicle sticks

Glue (tacky glue works better than regular)

Optional:

Decorations - rhinestones, markers, feathers, buttons, pipe cleaners

Instructions:

Step 1: Make the base

Place 11 popsicle sticks next to each other on your work space and then glue 2 popsicle sticks horizontally across them at the top and the bottom of the original 11 sticks.

Step 2: Make the sides

Glue 2 popsicle sticks vertically (one on each side) connecting the popsicle sticks that were placed horizontally. Then layer 2 more horizontally on top of the 2 that had been previously placed.

Continue to layer popsicle sticks horizontally and then vertically until you build the sides as high as you’d like.

Step 3: Make the lid

You can repeat step 1 and make a base for a lid, or you can use fewer popsicle sticks, leaving spaces between the popsicle sticks to allow for further decoration. Here is an example with spaces between the popsicle sticks.

Step 4: Decorate!

Add sparkles, color, feathers, pipe cleaners, or whatever else you like!

Paper Chain Crafts

Making paper chains is a great way to teach patterns, counting, and colors. Making the paper chains into animals is another way to make these crafts fun.

Supplies:

Construction paper

Glue or tape

Markers

Scissors

Instructions:

Step 1: Cut strips of paper

You can try different lengths, widths, and colors.

Step 2: Make a circle out of one of the strips.

Step 3: Make the chain

Put another strip through the first circle and tape or glue its ends together, making the second circle on the chain.

Repeat this step for as many chains as you would like. Make patterns with the colors or count the number of chains as you make them.

Step 4: Make it into an animal

To make it into a snake, cut out a strip of paper with a snake head at the end. Attach this chain in the same way you attach other chains.

Another option is to make the chains into a jellyfish by cutting out a jellyfish body. When making the final chain on the jellyfish tentacles, leave tabs to make it easier to glue the chains to the body.

Step 5: Add faces

Use markers or construction paper to bring these animals to life.

Salt Dough

Salt dough is an amazing craft that can act as a homemade play dough or, if left to dry, an alternative to clay.

Supplies:

1/2 cup all-purpose flour - or gluten-free flour

1/4 cup salt

1/4 cup water

Instructions:

Step 1: Make the dough

Combine the flour and salt in a large mixing bowl. Gradually add a little water at a time, mixing as you pour, to form a ball of dough.

Step 2: Knead the dough

Knead until the dough is smooth and firm. Additional water may be needed, depending upon humidity.

Step 3: Play and enjoy!

Store the salt dough for future use in a Ziploc bag or airtight container to prevent it from drying out, or shape it into whatever form you like and then leave it out to dry.

Yarn Mosaics

Supplies:

Paper

Pencils

Yarn scraps

Scissors

Instructions:

Step 1: Plan and draw out your mosaic.

Use pencil to lightly sketch out the image you would like to make

Step 2: Begin gluing pieces of yarn to create the image.

You can cover the entire paper with yarn or choose specific elements of the image to emphasize with yarn.

 

Find more ideas like these in the 740s of our nonfiction section:

Libraries are the important physical location where community teams up with the power of books, creativity, and education. Here are a few books that celebrate these magical spaces and their influence on the world.

Picture Books

Stacey’s Remarkable Books by Stacey Abrams

This bright and fun book follows Stacey introducing a new friend to the library where together they start a book club that celebrates other languages and cultures along with friendship and trying new things. 

No Cats in the Library by Lauren Emmons

A cat who loves the pictures in books is determined to get access to the Library. How will she convince the librarian that she should be allowed to enjoy the books as well?

The Library Book by Tom Chapin

This fun book follows a little girl singing a song about how she is spending her rainy day going to the library. It features many popular book characters and has a great rhythm that keeps the story moving.

The New LiBEARian by Alison Donald

When it’s time for storytime and the librarian has gone missing, Dee and her friends search the library and find a bear instead! This humorous picture truly brings books to life.

The Loud Librarian by Jenna Beatrice

Penelope is very excited to be this week’s class librarian, but she struggles with her “library voice.” This fun book follows Penelope as she takes on her role as librarian and finds how she fits in at the library while being true to herself.

Abuela’s Library by Lisette Norman

Alfonso and his Abuela’s favorite tree is cut down because it is dying, and they decide to make it into a library. This beautiful book is about community, determination, and turning something horrible into something amazing. 

Bunny’s Book Club by Annie Silvestro

When Bunny overheard the librarian’s outdoor storytime, he fell in love with books. This adorable picture book follows bunny as he falls in love with reading, shares that love with his friends, and learns how to use the library.

Nonfiction

The Librarian of Basra: A True Story from Iraq by Jeanette Winter

Jeanette Winter tells the true story of Alia Muhammad Baker, a librarian in Iraq amidst a war in 2003. When the city of Basra was invaded, Baker was able to save 70% of the collection before the library burned to the grown nine days later. This emotive book describes the realities of war while still being appropriate for children and emphasizing the unifying power of books and learning. 

Digging for Words: José Alberto Gutiérrez and the Library He Built by Angela Burke Kunkel

This book follows José Alberto Gutiérrez, the founder of the first library in the La Nueva Gloria barrio in Bogotá, Colombia. This beautiful narrative incorporates Spanish words seamlessly and discusses the power of books and libraries’ abilities to build community.

All about Librarians by Brianna Kaiser

The characters of Sesame Street introduce readers to librarians, their jobs, and libraries.

Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré by Anika Aldamuy Denise

This biography follows Pura Belpré, who was born in Puerto Rico and moved to New York City in 1921. Soon, she became a bilingual assistant at the New York Public Library, where she would retell the folktales from Puerto Rico. In order to share her stories, she soon became a puppeteer and author as well, and her work is now celebrated with a yearly award by the American Library Association. This inspiring story emphasizes the importance of seeing yourself reflected in books and at the library while displaying the difference that a person can make.

Graphic Novels

The Night Librarian by Christopher Lincoln

In Lincoln’s world set at the New York Public Library, books are magical and require night librarians to tame their forces. When twins Reed and Paige accidentally set off a magical upheaval where characters are set free from their books, adventure ensues. This book is filled with iconic characters and underscores the power of books and family. 

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library: the Graphic Novel by Chris Grabenstein

After twelve years without, Alexandriaville is getting a new library! Mr Lemoncello, a famous game designer and the library’s benefactor, has chosen twelve seventh graders to compete in games escaping the library for its grand opening. This adventure-filled book is full of fun and literary references.

Chapter Books

The Secret Library by Kekla Magoon

Eleven-year-old Dally doesn’t want to run Peteharrington Enterprises, despite her mother’s wishes. She is grieving the loss of her grandfather, who encouraged her love of adventure. When Dally opens an envelope from her late Grandpa, she finds a map to an enchanted library, taking her on an mystery-filled adventure through time and her family’s secret history.

Property of the Rebel Librarian by Allison Varnes

When June’s protective parents decide one of her books is inappropriate, they first go through her personal books before going after books in the school’s library and having the school librarian suspended. This funny chapter book starts important discussions about book banning, censorship, and activism.

The Forbidden Library by Django Wexler

When Alice moves in with her long-lost uncle, he tells her that the library is forbidden. When she gives in to temptation and opens a book, she finds herself trapped inside it! This fast-paced book is full of adventure and wit.

I hope this list helped you find a fun, new read!

-Alyssa

September 15 to October 15 is Hispanic Heritage Month! Here is a list of fifteen books for all ages to celebrate and learn more about people and cultures from Hispanic countries.

Picture Books

With Lots of Love by Jenny Torres Sanchez

Rocio has moved from Central America to the United States, and she is missing home. She misses her grandmother’s cooking and the piñatas her grandmother makes, but most of all she misses her grandmother. One morning, she wakes up to a birthday package that brings her a little taste of home and her grandmother’s love. This heartwarming book allows readers to relate to the heartache of moving to a new country while learning small pieces of Central American culture through Rocio’s eyes.

¡Mistaco! by Eliza Kinkz

This book follows Izzy, the self-proclaimed president of mistakes, as she is upset after making a huge mistake at school. After sharing with her Lito about her mishap, he encourages her to put her mistakes into tortillas – allowing her and her family to forgive themselves and laugh about their mistakes. This book is a fun celebration of Hispanic heritage and includes Spanglish as a way to honor the author’s dual identity.

Dreamers by Yuyi Morales

This beautiful book describes the journey the author took with her young son in 1994, traveling from Mexico to the United States. This memoir depicts the hardship and hope that accompany becoming immigrants and starting a life in a new country.

¡Fiesta!: A Festival of Colors by Duncan Tonatiuh

This book is a vibrant and fun introduction to colors in both Spanish and English as author Duncan Tonatiuh depicts a street festival and various Mexican traditions that you might see there.

Nonfiction

Phenomenal AOC: The Roots and Rise of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortezby Anika Aldamuy Denise

This inspirational biography tells the story of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Puerto Rican woman who became the youngest congresswoman in United States history. Beautiful bright pictures capture readers’ attention while recounting a story of hard work, community, family, and determination.

Book of Questions: Selections by Pablo Neruda; translated by Sara Lissa Paulson

This is a striking poem of thought-provoking questions presented with both Neruda’s original Spanish and Paulson’s translation accompanied by beautiful illustration by Paloma Valdivia, whose family is from the same coastal region of Chile as Neruda.

Best Believe: The Tres Hermanas, a Sisterhood for the CommonGood by NoNieqa Ramos

This nonfiction picture book follows three sisters from Puerto Rico who moved to the Bronx and helped shape their community through activism and community service. This inspirational tale uses the refrain “you best believe” to create rhythm in the text and appeal to the reader directly.

Frida Kahlo: She Painted Her World in Self-Portraits by Amy Guglielmo

This illustrated biography includes both vibrant imagery and illustrations that grab your attention. The text is inspirational, describing how Frida Kahlo celebrated her heritage and honored and persevered through her disabilities. This book includes artistic prompts, direct quotes from Frida Kahlo, and a selection of her works at the end.

Graphic Novels

Frizzy by Claribel A. Ortega

Marlene, a young Dominican American girl, hates going to the salon, but according to her mother, having “good hair” is essential. This graphic novel follows Marlene as she learns to love her curly hair. The story tackles themes of internalized racism, anti-blackness, bullying, grief, and self-acceptance.

Mexikid: A Graphic Memoir by Pedro Martín

This graphic memoir follows Pedro, a first-generation Mexican American who is growing up in the 1970s. His family is undertaking the long road trip to Jalisco to bring Pedro’s grandfather to live with them in the United States. This is a family-centered exploration of culture and identity as Pedro revels in the opportunity to learn more about his grandfather and Mexican heritage.

Doña Quixote: Rise of the Knight by Rex Ogle

Lucia has known all her life that she wants to be a knight like her Abuelo, and when she finds her Abuelo’s armor in the attic, she starts seeing paranormal creatures. This fun, adventure-filled graphic novel follows Lucia on her path to becoming a knight as she encounters figures from Mexican lore and struggles with balancing life as a knight with school, family, and friends.

Chapter Books

Ghost Squad by Claribel A. Ortega

When Lucely Luna and her best friend Syd accidentally awaken malevolent forces, they must go on a ghost-filled, family-centric adventure to save their city. This book seamlessly incorporates Spanish and Lucely’s Dominican-American heritage.

Cuba in My Pocket by Adrianna Cuevas

Set in 1961 after the failed Bay of Pigs invasion, this book follows twelve-year-old Cumba, whose family sends him to live in Florida to keep him safe. In Florida, Cumba struggles with a new language, a new city, and overwhelming homesickness. Evenly split between life in Cuba and Florida, this historical-fiction middle-grade story beautifully depicts life in Cuba along with strong emotional themes of love, friendship, and family.

Sing It Like Celia by Mónica Mancillas

When twelve-year-old Salva’s mom disappears, she is forced to leave her familiar school and choir to live with her absentee investigative journalist father whose assignment follows the detention and deportation of an undocumented woman. Salva blends popular music with salsa beats and makes new friends through her music. This heartfelt story explores friendship, mental health, and community.

A Hero’s Guide to Summer Vacation by Pablo Cartaya

Gonzalo lost his father, and now his mother is making him spend the summer on a book tour with his estranged grandfather, Alberto. While their great road trip brings them from California to Florida, Gonzalo learns about his grandfather’s life in Cuba, and they bond over their art and grief.

I hope this list helps you find a new book!

- Alyssa