Author – Spokane County Library District

Finding Fall Picture Books: Good Reads for the Holidays & Every Day

Posted in Parents and Teachers on October 11, 2023 at 6:00 am

Autumn is a beautiful time. Deciduous trees make their colorful transformations. Cooler temperatures prevail. People revel in steaming beverages and cuddly sweaters. Autumn is also the time when seasonal children’s books are especially popular for check out. Even with over 100 picture book titles that come up in our catalog for searches for autu […]

Microorganisms, Machine Learning & More: Check Out Fascinating Books on STEM Topics for Adults

Posted in Explore and Discover on September 13, 2023 at 6:00 am

I’m still lousy at science and math, but my interest in how these fields affect the world around me has grown. I’ve come to learn that you don’t have to be good at STEM to enjoy discovering some of the latest advances in these fields. So as summer winds down and children get ready to dive back into STEM at school, why not dive in with them? […]

Festive & Informative Juneteenth Children’s Books to Help You Celebrate

Posted in kids on June 7, 2023 at 6:00 am

By Melissa Rhoades Juneteenth became a U.S. federal holiday in 2021. I admit I first heard of the commemorative day just a couple years before, but some American communities have been celebrating Juneteenth for 157 years. This year, I decided to learn more about the holiday celebration. It’s been enjoyable to discover its history and […]

Ways to Connect with Poems & Celebrate National Poetry Month this April

Posted in Explore and Discover on April 5, 2023 at 6:00 am

By Melissa Rhoades Since 1996, April has been designated as National Poetry Month to recognize and honor this long-lived and varied artform. Poems can be emotional expressions, political statements, a spiritual practice, a way to convey narrative, a whimsical play with language, and many other things. Likewise, poems can fulfill specific rhythms, s […]

How to Talk with Children About the Holocaust: Expert Tips & Suggested Books

Posted in Parents and Teachers on January 24, 2023 at 6:00 am

By Melissa Rhoades Historic atrocities can feel like they’re not related to our lives today. But historic events were shaped and experienced by regular people like you and me. And regular people like you and me are shaping the future right now. As author Deborah Hopkinson writes in We Must Not Forget, “… it’s up […]

The Great Thanksgiving Listen: Discover the Uplifting Effect of Family Stories & Memories

Posted in Explore and Discover on November 9, 2022 at 6:00 am

By Melissa Rhoades & Dana Mannino Would you like this year’s Thanksgiving celebration to make your guests feel uplifted, connected, and hopeful? If so, you can participate in The Great Thanksgiving Listen, created by StoryCorps. Each Thanksgiving, StoryCorps encourages us to sit down with an elder, mentor, family member, friend, or someone we […]

Celebrate Victorian Literature During #Victober, from Horror to Happily-Ever-After

Posted in Explore and Discover on September 30, 2022 at 6:00 am

October’s cooling weather and crisping leaves offer the perfect excuse to transition to indoor activities—like curling up with a steaming beverage and a substantial book. Perhaps that’s why reading Victorian literature in October has become a recent tradition for some and with its own hashtag: #Victober. […]

Fantastic International Fiction: Read Beyond the Beaten Path & Expand Your World

Posted in Explore and Discover on August 2, 2022 at 6:00 am

By Melissa Rhoades This summer’s reading challenge dares us to “Read Beyond the Beaten Path.” Reading stories by international authors is a wonderful way to do that. International fiction—also called foreign fiction—allows us to not only imagine the sights, smells, and sounds of other landscapes but also gain exposure to diverse customs, […]

New Picture Books in Rhyme Bring Family Fun to Your Storytime

Posted in Parents and Teachers on May 4, 2022 at 6:00 am

Presenting storytimes again also gives me the perfect excuse to explore the new picture books added to our collection. Believe it or not, we’ve purchased over 650 picture books between January 2021 and April 2022. That’s a pretty hefty amount for one person to peruse! Here are eight new picture books that provide a great introduction to stories […]

Celebrate International Women’s Day with New & Groundbreaking Books

Posted in Explore and Discover on March 8, 2022 at 6:00 am

International Women’s Day takes place each year on March 8 to acknowledge women’s social, economic, cultural, and political achievements in the face of historical disadvantages. It’s also a day to advocate for women’s rights worldwide. I’m normally a fiction reader, so I’ve decided to celebrate International Women’s Day this year by e […]

Author: Melissa Rhoades