Parents and Teachers

Finding adventure in your own backyard

Posted on May 15, 2020 at 6:00 am

By Sheri Boggs I live on a street with several young families, and during the governor’s Stay Home Stay Healthy order, I’ve really enjoyed walking my dogs along brightly chalked hopscotch games, seeing bubbles floating in the air, and marveling at the intricate fairy garden and pebble river one family made in their parking strip. […]

Helping kids understand the coronavirus with a picture book by local author

Posted on April 6, 2020 at 6:00 am

By Sheri Boggs If your kids have had a lot of questions or worries about COVID-19 and you’ve been struggling to find reassuring, age-appropriate resources, look no further. Adam Wallace, a graduate student in public health who is also stationed at Fairchild Air Force Base, launched a Kickstarter for his picture book on the virus […]

Discussing difficult topics with children

Posted on March 11, 2020 at 6:00 am

By Gwendolyn Haley I have found that parenting includes the need to have difficult conversations with children. My family recently lost a beloved dog, Pepe, who had been with us for over 14 years. He was an old dog and spent more and more of his time resting and sleeping. So while we were prepared […]

Booklist for kids: Reading for the Earth

Posted on March 4, 2020 at 6:00 am

By Sheri Boggs Although Earth Day isn’t until April 22, the blue skies, longer days, chirping birds, and tiny green spears of germinating bulbs are enough to remind us of the everyday beauty of our planet—and the increasingly alarming need for wise stewardship of it. While it can be tricky to talk to kids about […]

Kindergarten registration, plus games & activities to get ready

Posted on February 25, 2020 at 6:00 am

By Mary Ellen Braks It’s hard to believe that it is already time for parents to register their children for kindergarten. March 1 is the first day to register for most school districts in Spokane County. Even though school doesn’t start until September, this early registration allows for school districts to plan ahead to have […]

Playing games, practicing math!

Posted on February 12, 2020 at 6:00 am

By Rachel Edmondson I have always been a fan of games. When my kids were younger, I could hardly wait for them to be old enough to move on from Candy Land to more interesting games—ones that I could actually enjoy too! When thinking about games, we often think about reasoning and strategy, which are […]

Mindfulness picture books for your little ones (and you!)

Posted on January 15, 2020 at 6:00 am

By Melissa Rhoades Definitions of mindfulness can sound mystifying and impossible to achieve. Take, for example, the Merriam-Webster Dictionary definition: “the practice of maintaining a nonjudgmental state of heightened or complete awareness of one’s thoughts, emotions, or experiences on a moment-to-moment basis.” Luckily, there is a muc […]

Tags: mindfulness, picture books

College bound: The FAFSA is important for your educational future

Posted on January 8, 2020 at 6:00 am

By Stacey Goddard I have a confession to make. I never filled out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) when I was in high school. When I graduated during the mid-80s, students typically completed their FAFSA applications midway through their senior year. For me, the FAFSA deadline also coincided with my realization that […]

Getting started with graphic novels: Reluctant readers, struggling readers, and you

Posted on November 27, 2019 at 6:00 am

By Rachel Edmondson My oldest daughter is an avid reader. However, for a year or so when she had just learned to read and was a good reader, she still hated reading. As a librarian, my response was—challenge accepted! I brought home lots of books on topics I knew interested her in a variety of […]

Flavors of fall: Food and book pairings for kids

Posted on September 18, 2019 at 6:00 am

By Rachel Edmondson Fall is my favorite season. I enjoy sunny weather that is cool enough to welcome jeans and sweaters. I enjoy the beauty of the changing leaves. I relish the cooler nights that encourage snuggles and books on the couch, and I love all the fun flavors that make their way into my […]