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Books about Space

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March 16 is the one hundredth anniversary of Goddard’s legendary first liquid-fueled rocket launch. To celebrate, let’s read some books about space! Picture Books Usha and the Big Digger by Jagannath Knight When Usha’s big sister, Aarti, tells her about the Big Dipper, Usha sees a big digger instead. This book helps teach kids the math concepts of rotation and perspective through a fun and relatable story about the sky. Mae Among the Stars by Roda Ahmed This book tells the inspiring tale of a girl who wants to be an astronaut and achieves her dream. It is based on the life of Mae Jemison, the first African American woman to travel to space, and it encourages young readers to dream big. Field Trip to the Moon by John Hare This picture book follows a child with a love of coloring on a field trip to the moon. What happens when they get left behind? This wordless picture book is full of expression, allowing readers to sympathize with the child and create their own prose for the tale. How...
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Nonfiction Books about the Olympics

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With the spirit of the Olympics in the air, the Children’s Librarians at Worcester Public Library thought it would be fun to share some amazing nonfiction books to explore more about the Olympics. Crossing the Finish Line by Thushanthi Ponweera When Sri Lankan Olympian Rantunge Karunanada raced in the 1964 Olympics, he quickly learned that he did not have much of a chance of winning the 10,000-meter race. However, just competing in the Olympics was a dream come true, and nothing was going to stop him from reaching the finish line. Declan Farmer Paralympic Hockey Star by Matt Chandler Declan Farmer is a two-time Paralympic gold medalist. This inspirational book details his life, challenges, and athletic career. History and Stars of the World’s Greatest Sporting Event: From Athens 1896 to Paris 2024 by Vijayan Bala Learn all about the modern Summer Olympics in this book! It includes information about the history of the games (including details on each event from 1896 to 2024), features...
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Black History Month Book Recommendations

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February is Black History Month! Here is a list of amazing books to celebrate the month and continue reading throughout the year. Picture Books The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander Accompanied by powerful oil paintings, Kwame Alexander’s poem honors Black American History from the unspeakable horrors of slavery to Martin Luther King Jr. and Black Lives Matter. This book won both the Caldecott Medal and a Newbery Honor. We Could Fly by Rhiannon Giddens Inspired by a book about Black American Folktales, Rhiannon Giddens wrote a beautiful song and turned it into a powerful picture book. The beautiful illustrations, lyrical verses, and evocative repetition all depict the deep ancestral connection and spirituality intrinsic to this book.  What My Daddy Loves by Raissa Figueroa  This book is a beautiful celebration of a father’s love.  The History of We by Nikkolas Smith This book pairs poetic text with gorgeous paintings to tell the beginnings of human civilization in Africa. ...
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New Hobbies for the New Year

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Welcome to 2026! Lots of us are looking for new activities to explore in the new year, and Worcester Public Library is here to help. Below is a list of great activities to try this year, and all the ways that WPL can help you explore them. Crochet  Crafting is always a favorite of our library! Many youth services librarians at Worcester Public Library love to crochet. This has allowed us to offer a monthly program teaching children to crochet (the library also has a program for adults ). Worcester Public Library has a Library of Things that allows patrons 18+ to check items out. These items include crochet hooks, knitting needles, and more! Books are always a great resource when trying something new. My favorite crochet book for kids is Kids! Picture Yourself Crocheting . Dungeons and Dragons Dungeons and Dragons (also known as D&D) is a roleplaying game that uses dice and your imagination. The library offers great programs to play D&D in a group as well as to learn how ...
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2025 Favorites: Nonfiction

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Worcester Public Library Children’s Librarians are on a quest to talk about all of our favorite books of 2025! Let’s look at all of the nonfiction books we loved this year. 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. 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. Follow Chester: A College Football Team Fights Racism and Makes History  by Gloria Repress-Churchwell This book follows Chester Pierce, the firs...
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