books Archives – Spokane County Library District

Homemade apothecary: DIY beauty products

Posted in Explore and Discover on January 20, 2021 at 6:00 am

By Crystal Miller If the winter cold and extra hand washing have made your hands slightly (or very!) dry like mine, I offer you the idea of handmade lotion bars. Instead of grabbing hand lotion at the store, you can make these lotion bars with help from our digital resource Creativebug. By making your own […]

Kids share their favorite books: Winter break edition

Posted in kids on December 22, 2020 at 6:00 am

By Rachel Edmondson When I was in school, one of my favorite things about winter break was that I didn’t have to read books assigned for class because that meant I had time to read books I picked myself! Studies have shown that kids are more motivated to read when they are allowed to pick […]

Escape screen time this winter

Posted in Explore and Discover on November 25, 2020 at 6:00 am

BY MELISSA RHOADES Several excellent virtual library programs are happening this winter, and we hope to see you at them! We also hope you’re taking breaks from screen time—especially if you’re one of the many people currently working, socializing, and playing virtually these days. Screen time is any time spent in front of a television, […]

Feeling inspired: Virtual author visit with Tiffany Midge & resident artist workshops with Brandy Seistrup

Posted in News on October 29, 2020 at 4:30 am

VIRTUAL AUTHOR VISIT: TIFFANY MIDGE Author Tiffany Midge joins us for an exclusive virtual author visit and reading. She discusses how the regions of the Pacific Northwest, the Inland Northwest, and Montana have informed her writing over the years. She will also read selections from her works in progress, her poetry and prose, and from […]

Trick-or-treat alternatives for an enjoyable celebration

Posted in Explore and Discover on October 21, 2020 at 6:00 am

By Alison Johnson I really love Halloween. Thinking up the perfect costume is fun, and then there is the excuse to indulge in sweets! You may be wondering, as am I, how we can still have a fun Halloween celebration with the restrictions we face right now. Many of us may err on the side […]

Yoga and mindfulness for stressed and anxious kids

Posted in kids, Parents and Teachers on October 14, 2020 at 6:00 am

By Rachel Edmondson Life is stressful. Life during the COVID-19 pandemic is extra stressful. As adults, we’ve had to navigate so much this year that nobody would have imagined in 2019. And our kids pick up on our stress. Plus, they have stressors of their own. School is completely different, they’re wearing masks, and they […]

1000 Books Before Kindergarten programs foster early literacy skills

Posted in News, Parents and Teachers on September 24, 2020 at 6:00 am

BY MARY ELLEN BRAKS We’re starting a new online reading challenge for parents and caregivers of young children in October. You can track the books you’re reading as your child grows! The 1000 Books Before Kindergarten program is designed to foster early literacy skills during the time period in a child’s development where the brain […]

Tags: books, reading

15 trivia questions for Banned Books Week

Posted in Explore and Discover on September 23, 2020 at 6:00 am

BY ABRA COLE Banned Books Week is next week, September 27–October 3. So, usually at this time of year, I would be working on a banned books display for the Teens section at the Spokane Valley Library. It is one of my most favorite displays to put together, not just because it is such an […]

Tags: adults, ALA, banned books, books, reading, teens, trivia

Are you up for a reading challenge?

Posted in News on September 15, 2020 at 6:00 am

The online reading challenge has begun for the Spokane Is Reading Diverse Voices booklist. As a co-sponsor of Spokane Is Reading, we always look forward to the annual book selection and author visit in the fall. So when Spokane Is Reading had to switch gears to do something different for 2020, we couldn’t be more […]

Books & cocktail mixes: Find your perfect pairing

Posted in Explore and Discover on August 14, 2020 at 6:00 am

By Melissa Rhoades Recently, The New York Times published an article declaring the return of cocktail hour. I, for one, am celebrating. Mixed drinks can be enjoyed with or without a buzz. Those who choose to not imbibe alcohol can still find plenty to get shaken and stirred about. I’ve noted books that include non-alcoholic […]

TAG: books