1000 Books Before Kindergarten
Track progress online with Beanstack or a printable log. If you have questions, email us at 1000books@bcpl.org.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library mails one free high-quality, age appropriate book each month to children from birth to age 5.
Tales Birthday Club
Children up to 5 years old are eligible to register for the Tales Birthday Club. During the month of their birthday, children will receive a card in the mail! Bring your Tales Birthday Card to any BCPL location to get the card stamped and receive a birthday gift.
Access Video - Just for Kids!
Stream many favorite children's programs and PBS favorites, such as Sesame Street, The Electric Company, Arthur, Reading Rainbow, and much, much more!
ComicsPlus for Kids
A growing collection of digital comics, graphic novels, and Manges specially curated for kids!
Explora for Kids
New Picture Books
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Hansel and Gretel
An Instant #1 New York Times Bestseller!
An Instant #1 Indie Bestseller!
The haunting tale of two brave children lost in a dark and dangerous forest is reimagined by literary legends Stephen King and Maurice Sendak in an all-new picture book.
Let Stephen King, global bestselling and award-winning author of The Long Walk, and Maurice Sendak, beloved creator of the Caldecott Medal-winning Where the Wild Things Are," guide you into the most deliciously daring rendition of the classic Grimm fairy tale yet. But will you find your way back out?
With a personal introduction from Stephen King, the beautiful book has been created in close collaboration with The Maurice Sendak Foundation. This stunning storybook makes the perfect gift for fans of King, Sendak, and the Brothers Grimm.
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Tenacious Won't Give Up
A tender, funny, and inspirational picture book for fans of The Magical Yet, and every child who, like Tenacious, might need a little reminder of what it means to persevere.
When Tenacious made up her mind
to do something, she tried her hardest.
No matter what.
The Wheel Parade is coming up, and Tenacious is determined to join on her two-wheeler. But no matter how hard she tries--Crash! Crash! Crash!--Tenacious just can't get it right. With a little sage advice from her sister, she comes to see that sometimes trying smarter, not harder, is the best way to get where you want to go. With humor and heart, an experienced coach offers a fresh perspective on learning to ride.
Ride along with Tenacious as she learns how to ride her bike, and discovers something much greater in the process! -
Grumpkin
Grumpkin the grumpy pumpkin is determined to get out of the pumpkin patch and leave the annoying season of fall behind in this humorous board book for children ages 3-6.
Grumpkin is a grumpy pumpkin who dislikes fall and Halloween. All those costumes and candy-obsessed kids...but the worst part is that Grumpkin has to babysit his five little cousins! Why couldn’t he have been a coconut on a tropical island instead? He’s determined to get out of this muddy pumpkin patch, and NO ONE is going to squash his dreams . . . . -
I Don't Wanna Hibernate!
In this cozy picture book, it's time to hibernate—but our little groundhog is NOT sleepy. So she tries to stay up all winter . . . and almost misses Groundhog Day!
As snow gently blankets the land, the Groundhogs prepare for their long, snuggly hibernation. But little Tess is wide awake!
Tess's parents try everything to get her to sleep, but she knows every trick in the book. When Mommy and Daddy fall asleep without her, will Tess be able to stay up all winter? Or will she snore her way through Groundhog Day?
Join Tess in this wintery bedtime story perfect for readers who are wide awake when the rest of their world is sleepy. -
Something Good
In need of a bad day remedy? One girl's terrible day takes an unexpected--and extraordinary--turn when she comes upon a pair of magic socks.
Blah. Nothing good ever happens to me.
This morning a little girl wakes up with a chicken on her head. (Ouch.) Then she finds worms in her cereal (after she's had a few bites--yuck!). Then she realizes, too late, that her boots are full of mud. Ack! Then her best friend ignores her, a big hole appears where it wasn't yesterday, and it starts to rain--cold rain, of course. Could this day get any worse? When a mysterious gift shows up out of nowhere, wrapped in a bow, the girl dares to wonder if it could finally be something good. Get ready for a high-flying tale as the beloved creator of Wild Honey from the Moon brings his signature deadpan humor, quirky charm, and appealingly simple text to a fantastical adventure sure to turn even the worst days around. -
Together We Remember
In this tender debut picture book about finding joy despite grief, a little girl wishes to make Father’s Day even better by using imagination to honor and remember their happiest memories with a lost loved one.
Giselle and Papi are happy together, but there was a time when their two was three, and sometimes remembering is painful. It can also be a lot of fun! They embark on an imagination adventure that includes rainforest hikes, intergalactic planet-hopping, and most of all, remembering Mami through her favorite activity—creating stories and new memories.
This book's vivid, emotive prose makes the complicated themes of grief and absence accessible for young readers in this personal story that centers family, love, and journeys that memory can lead us on. -
It Simply Can't Be Bedtime
Bedtime routines get a jolt of silliness and creativity when a dad and daughter face off in this timeless scenario.
When dad says it’s bedtime and his daughter strongly disagrees, her stuffy hilariously comes to her defense.
Lady Pigsworth is quick to point out the many ongoing projects that just can’t be abandoned, the danger of sleeping in a butterfly costume, the alarming spinach stuck in the girl's teeth, and more. Each over-the-top declaration of why it can’t possibly be bedtime yet leads the group through common bedtime routines in animated and heartwarming scenes—until Lady Pigsworth’s demands reach questionable heights, even to the little girl, so she takes matters into her own hands to get both of them into bed.
Dreamy illustrations and the hilarious Lady Pigsworth make for a perfect read-aloud that will leave any kid content to shut their eyes, at least for a little bit. -
The Bear Who Had Nothing to Wear
There once was a bear who had NOTHING to wear, and normally, teddy bears don't really care, / They’re happy to dress how you want them to dress, but Albie was not, I am bound to confess.
Each outfit that Albie purchases—from fairy to pirate, from cowboy to elegant city gent—proves unsuitable in some way, and by the end of the week, his bedroom is heaped with discarded clothes. How will he dress in order to feel like himself?
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I Am Tree Rex!
A character-driven dinosaur story about protecting the environment, one tree at a time.
Rex loves counting and hugging every one of his twenty-one trees. So, he is absolutely heartbroken when one of his trees goes missing? Where could it be? Who could have taken it? Rex isn't the only one who wants to know. A little bird who lost her home comes to him for help. Together, and with a group of feathered friends, they hatch a plan to scare away the tree takers once and for all.
Tree Rex and his friends will inspire readers to care for the trees around them and protect them with all their might, in this hopeful story of environmental activism.
New Graphic Novels for Kids
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Sugar Shack
In the final volume of the bestselling Peapod Farm series, a city kid turned country girl whose life has been changing nonstop is settling into her new place in the family—only for unexpected drama to strike between sisters.
“Understated and full of heart.”—Kirkus Reviews
Jen couldn't be more excited to spend time on Peapod Farm with her stepsisters, Andy and Reese. For months, Jen has been so focused on trying to figure out how she fits into her new blended family that she hasn't realized she's found her place... that is, until Reese calls her "sister."
Excited and content, Jen thought she had figured everything out, but now she's not so sure. A rift emerges between the girls as Andy doubles down on being Reese's ACTUAL sister, while Jen is just the STEP sister. With Andy's attitude bringing a cold front to the farm, it seems like it's going to be a long winter.
Maybe between Peapod Farm's first snow and learning how to tap a tree for sugar at winter's end, Jen and Andy both will have a chance to truly understand what it means to be family.
Look for the whole Peapod Farm series
STEPPING STONES • APPLE CRUSH • SUGAR SHACK -
Miss Camper: A Graphic Novel
A companion to Miss Quinces, Kat Fajardo's bestselling, award-winning middle-grade graphic novel!
Sue is heading to Camp Willow this summer! She's looking forward to hiking, archery, and making comics in the fresh air. She's especially excited about LARPing (live-action role-playing) and can't wait for the freedom of being away from home. But she won't be far from family because her big sister, Carmen, is a camp counselor and her little sister, Ester, is a fellow camper and won't give her any space! All Sue wants is to make memories with her friends, but they're assigned to only a few of the same activities. To make matters even worse, her best friend, Sam, has a best camp friend named Marisol? And Sue's good friend Izzy has a crush on Sue?! This summer isn't at all going as planned!
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Cosmo Park
This rollercoaster ride through the galaxy is a bright and thrilling comic, following a narrative that is packed full of fascinating science facts and concepts about cosmology within a exciting and funny adventure story.
The Universal Nature Park is a place of wonder and scientific adventure, but watch out - there are mysterious and nefarious plots afoot, and it's not all fun and learning when the Universe is at stake...
Hop on a hover-buggy to the centre of the Milky Way and catch a ride around the Universal Nature Park to learn some amazing facts about our galactic neighbourhood. Maybe you'll spot some tricksy black holes trying to escape their enclosure, or perhaps you'll get caught in a meteorite storm (don't forget your comet-repellent umbrella!), and make sure you wrap up warm for the freezing end of the Universe!
This colourful comic informs and explains some of the key tenets of cosmology in an engaging and accessible way, following a narrative and packing in fascinating facts and concepts along the way. Kids will emerge from this world with new-found knowledge about the nature of our Universe, and a thirst to learn and explore on their own. -
Kingdom of Water: A Graphic Novel (the Rema Chronicles #2)
Tabby's adventures in the rich and captivating world of Rema continue!
Even though Rema's portals no longer work for Tabby, she hasn't given up on finding a way back to her world. Her father's last words urge her to search for a lost geist prince, but the escalating hunt for geists means that Philip and the others are in more danger than ever. When Philip is apprehended, Tabby must expose the lost history of Rema and those who want to distort it. But the secrets of the geists, Tabby's father, and the ghost that haunts them threaten to overturn everything Tabby knows -- and change her relationship with Philip forever.
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Pumpkin and Beetle: Two Vampire Cats
Meet Pumpkin and Beetle, two vampire cat best friends, as they explore their cozy-spooky town together in this early graphic novel.
Vampire cats are just like other cats, except they sleep during the day, they only eat red foods, and they go to school at night!
One night after school, Pumpkin and Beetle discover everyone in Hallowsville is reading the latest Frightfuls comic. Everyone except them, that is. When they check their wallets, they only have a quarter and a bug. Determined not to miss out, they brainstorm all sorts of ways to make money. They'll sell crabapples! They'll set carved crabapples! They'll sell carved crabapple muffins!
Will their silly schemes work in time? Will they be the only cats in town without the comic? As the two friends explore their community in search of a solution, they'll meet witches, werewolves, and other monster neighbors in this delightful adventure for young graphic novel readers. Jannie Ho's adorably cute art is filled with Halloween town worldbuilding. The book also includes a town map, a recipe for muffins, and even a sample of the treasured Frightful comic!
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection -
My Little Pony: Friendship Is Spooky
As the weather cools and leaves start falling, it's spooky season in Ponyville!
Something terrifying is happening at Sweet Apple Acres. Bad apples have come alive and are determined to take over all of Ponyville in "Night of the Apples!" Then, the Ponies go on an adventure to a newly erupted geyser and after some fun playing in the water, they begin to act a bit strange, perhaps even...sinister, in "Ponies of Dark Water!"
Collects My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic issues #32-33 and #43-45 by writer Thom Zahler and artist Tony Fleecs. -
Karmopolis (Book 1): the Land of Cars
Welcome to a world on wheels! It's nonstop excitement in this nutty graphic novel starring two kids in a fast-paced future.
Karmopolis is a world made up of super-highways and super-vehicles! Drivers zip from their wheeled houses to the moving super-mall without ever touching the ground, while the few mysterious Walkers skulk within the highway median. Two young Drivers, Pooja and her brother Om, are out shopping when they accidentally find a beautiful gem. After two angry men demand that they hand it over, a head-spinning adventure begins-Pooja and Om race across Karmopolis in search of the meaning of the gem, with the two creeps hot on their tailpipe.
Award-winning cartoonist Nick Bertozzi (Lewis & Clark; Shackleton- Antarctic Odyssey) combines old-fashioned comic book thrills with futuristic frenzy and super-cool diagrams in the endlessly imaginative Karmopolis- The Land of Cars. -
Quest for the True Dragon: A Graphic Novel (City of Dragons #3)
Perfect for fans of dragon adventure graphic novels like Wings of Fire! Grace and friends return for a new adventure in this third installment of the bestselling City of Dragons series.
Daijiang's continued pursuit of Grace has made it clear that she and Nate are crucial to his plan. But as her Hùnxuè powers grow stronger, Grace can't help but feel it's unfair she might be missing out on a normal school life. Other kids get to relax, watch movies with friends, and go on dates, while Grace is risking her life to save the world. Something has felt off about her connection with Nate lately, and she keeps dreaming of her father and his ominous insistence that she must wake the dragon kings.
When a trip to rendezvous with an old ally goes awry, Grace and her friends find themselves stranded in Tokyo with only one day to wake the Southern Dragon King. But with the race against the clock exacerbating tensions on the team, can Grace get back in sync with Nate and her friends before it's too late?
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Cat and Cat Adventures: Magic at the Mansion
Follow the antics of Squash and Ginny in the fifth installment of Cat & Cat Adventures from popular webcomic creator Susie Yi! This chapter book graphic novel series from Susie Yi is perfect for fans of Catstronauts, Babymouse, and Catwad.
The search is afoot! Squash and Ginny must locate the second orb of the Staff of Knowledge before the Spirit World leaks further into the Human World. Not only that, but their best friends Fern and Lotus are still missing!
Thankfully, their wand tracks Fern, Lotus, and the orb to a mysterious mansion, where they're shocked to discover all three are about to be auctioned off. Can Squash and Ginny save their friends and the orb--or will they lose them to the highest bidder . . . forever?
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Welcome to the Forest: the Harvest Party
A group of quirky forest creatures embark on heartwarming adventures in this graphic novel series opener featuring original gouache art. Perfect for beginning readers and graphic novel fans, especially those who love the Studio Ghibli films, Kasing Lung's Labubus, and Tove Jansson's Moomin. Includes nonfiction information at the back of the bookâe‹ about the autumnal season.
Deep in the heart of the Forest lives a handful of monsters. The Forest is home to many creatures, big and small, like:- boisterous Mossman, who is much kinder than he looks;
- cautious but cheerful Wallace;
- carefree, kind Grumpkin;
- and a sweet, mysterious entity named Shadow.
The creatures prove that every day is an adventure as new discoveries draw them closer together.
In this book, readers will get a glimpse at the woodland creatures' lives and discover three bite-sized stories, perfect for the autumnal harvest season. In Welcome to the Forest: The Harvest Party, Mossman and Wallace decorate pumpkins, Grumpkin meets a new friend, and the creatures celebrate fall with a lively Harvest Party.
Cottagecore and Studio Ghibli meet in this graphic novel by debut author and illustrator Katie Risor. Risor's breathtaking gouache mixed-media illustrations shine throughout this graphic novel. It features a Dyslexia-friendly font and is perfect to share with emerging readers, English and Second Language (ESL) learners, and veteran graphic novel enthusiasts alike.