Truck Full of Ducks by Ross Burach If you haven’t already discovered author and illustrator Ross Burach, you are in for oodles of fun! Ross Burach is a fantastic children’s picture book author whose stories and illustrations make me snort with joy! One of my favorite books of his is Truck Full of Ducks . Now, what do you think about when you see this title? Maybe some ducks just chillin’ in a truck right? Well these ducks in this truck are hilarious ducks! They work for a burly dog who makes duck deliveries because you know who wouldn’t want the help of a duck or two? What do ducks in a truck do exactly then? They drink lots and lots of “Bladder Buster”. Yes, you heard me right! These ducks who are all stuck on a truck each helped themselves to a shared Dunkin’ Donuts looking plastic cup full of “Bladder Buster” and wouldn’t you know-they all have to wee! Bumpy ride ensues. We learn that one of the ducks accidentally eats the delivery directions...so just who called for a truc...

Many of the mysteries that are highlighted here are a part of a series. Worcester doesn't own all of the titles listed in the series but we are more than happy to help you get them from another library! Precious and The Mystery of the Missing Lion : A Precious Ramotswe Mystery for Young Readers (Book #3) written by Alexander McCall Smith and illustrated by Iain McIntosh While filming a movie outside of her Aunt Bee’s house, a trained lion named Teddy escapes! Will Precious survive the African bush to track down Teddy and bring him back? Check out more Precious Ramotswe Mysteries here:  *Precious Ramotswe's First Cases series: Book 1: The Great Cake Mystery Book 2: Precious and the Mystery of Meerkat Hill Book 3: The Mystery of the Missing Lion (Also available in eBook and audiobook formats) Book 4: Precious and the Zebra Necklace (Books 2 and 4 are currently unavailable in Worcester) Fabio, The World’s Greatest Flamingo Detective: Mystery on the Ostrich Express (Book #2) ...

Have you checked out this month's escape room: The Case of the Missing Time Capsule! Find it here ! In honor of The Case of the Missing Time Capsule (and all its mysteriousness) we would love to highlight our favorite mysteries!  Look out for Mystery Books Part 2! The Incredibly Dead Pets of Rex Dexter by Aaron Reynolds When Rex’s new pet chicken dies a little over an hour after getting him, he is suddenly able to see and understand the ghosts of dead animals. Although this mystery has a creepy plot, it is also quite funny much like some of Aaron Reynolds' other books! Julieta and the Diamond Enigma by Luisana Duarte Armendáriz A diamond has gone missing from the Louvre and it is up to nine-year-old Julieta to prove her father’s innocence and find the real thief. The Longest Night of Charlie Noon by Christopher Edge Johnny, Dizzy, and Charlie are lost in the woods at nightfall and must work together to find a way out! Midnight at the Barclay Hotel  written by Fleur Bradley ...

Grace Lin's The Last Marshmallow is a great early math book. Two girls come in from playing outside and decide to warm up with hot cocoa. There are two girls, the two cups of cocoa, and three marshmallows. The girls must problem solve what to do with the uneven number! They quickly decide to pull it in half. Both girls are happy. The simple story and basic introduction to fractions is just right for the preschooler in my life. There are a few other books in the "Storytelling Math" series (Check out our blog post "Storytelling Math" series for the other titles).   We've also been enjoying:  In the Half Room  written by Carson Ellis . This book is a bit of a strange one, matter-of-factly describing a house where everything is in half. The illustrations are lovely, as is the simple satisfaction of some things left half, and other things made whole. The Blue House  written by Phoebe Wahl shows the tranquil familiarity of a father and son who live in a very lov...

Have you checked out WPL's monthly virtual cooking program 5-ingredient Cooking with Kids ?  You can practice your kitchen skills with simple, yummy recipes using mostly pantry staples! A new cooking video will be posted on our website in January and February (check out December's class for Overnight Oats  here ). It's recommended for ages 7-11. January's video will be all about making a delicious and healthy smoothie. Are you wild about cooking and can't wait to make some more yummy recipes at home? Check out our list below! We guarantee that you've never before seen recipes like these! Cookie Monster's Foodie Truck : A Sesame Street Celebration of Food by Heather E. Schwartz The Gross Cookbook : Awesome Recipes for (Deceptively) Disgusting Treats Kids Can Make by Susanna Tee The author promises that these recipes are actually really tasty. You just have to have a strong stomach and be brave enough to open up the book and look at the pictures! Mermaid Coo...

  The Worcester Public Library is thrilled to announce the start of the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten reading program! This program is designed to encourage reading to children at even the youngest of ages, and, in the process, encourage parent and child bonding time. The program is for newborns through age five. Reading 1,000 books before kindergarten will stimulate your child’s imagination, improve listening and communication skills, foster a love of reading, and has indicated academic success in the future (to read more information about this click here ). Completing the 1,000 books program will help prepare children for kindergarten and for beginning to read on their own! Along the way, your child can earn prizes and receive recognition for their milestones! We realize 1,000 books is a lot! If you and your child read even one book a night, the challenge can be completed in just under three years. It is a commitment, but it certainly can be done! It is free and easy to pa...