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
-
Papa Doesn't Do Anything! (But Love You)
Jimmy Fallon, host of NBC's The Tonight Show and #1 New York Times bestselling author, is back with a book for grandfathers.
It may seem like PAPA doesn’t do ANYTHING but sit in his chair. But he does so much more!
From flying a plane to playing in a band, there’s so much this PAPA has done. But through all the things he’s accomplished in his life, there’s nothing he wouldn’t do for you.
Jimmy Fallon, one of the most popular entertainers in the world, reminds us that even though it may not look like it, PAPAs are always doing SOMETHING.
Collect the whole Fallon family of picture books!
Your Baby’s First Word Will Be Dada
Everything is Mama
This Is Baby
Nana Loves You More
Papa Doesn't Do Anything! -
Big Family Beach Day
"The love that binds this family together is as warm as the summer sun." --Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
An extended family enjoys a day at the beach in this intergenerational tribute to family, friendship, new experiences, and summertime fun by the acclaimed author-artist Nina Crews. A fresh take on Cynthia Rylant's classic, The Relatives Came.
Every summer, Maya goes to the beach with her mom, grandma, aunts, uncles, and cousins. There are a lot of them. It's a big family beach day! Full of sand, sun, splashing, sandwiches, swimming, and (of course) sunblock, Maya loves every moment of it.
Inspired by her own childhood and extended family reunions, Big Family Beach Day is Nina Crews's celebration of summertime fun, friendship, family, and love. With her rich, vibrant art and accessible, read-aloud text, Nina Crews captures the joys of a memorable summer day with family.
-
George & Lenny Are Always Together
This rabbit and bear are inseparable best friends—until now, that is! An irresistible, funny read for fans of Frog & Toad and Elephant & Piggie.
George and Lenny are always together. And it's terrific. They are never alone! So what happens when one of them decides it's time to try some alone time? Is there a way for them to be alone together?
Award-winning picture book creator Jon Agee is at his very best in this endearing, silly story of friendship—of asserting yourself, taking a risk, and still being there for your best buddy. -
Dreaming of a Quinceañera
Perfect for fans of The Proudest Blue and Alma and How She Got Her Name -- a warm tale about celebrating sisterly love, family, and quinceañeras by Pura Belpré winner, Yamile Saied Méndez!
Two sisters, Ellie and Isabella, have been dreaming of Isabella's quinceañera for months and now the day is finally here. The house is bustling with preparations for the party and Ellie is determined to help make her big sister's day as special as possible. But making flower arrangements is harder than Ellie expected and decorating the cake almost ends in disaster! Will Ellie be able to do something special for Isabella before the party is over?
Award-winning author Yamile Saied Méndez has crafted a beautiful ode to sisterly love and the magic of quinceañeras. Acclaimed illustrator Christine Almeda's bright and colorful art brings a lively energy to this sweet story.
-
Rose Weaves a Garden
This heartfelt picture book about the love shared between generations--and the traditions that bind them--shows how a grandfather teaches his grandchild to weave a beautiful rug.
Rose’s Baba joon (her grandfather) loves three things most in the world: His loom, where he weaves fine rugs for family and friends; his garden; and most of all, Rose!
When Rose decides she wants to weave her own rug -- its design inspired by a drawing she made of their garden--Baba is thrilled to teach her. Working side-by-side at the loom, grandfather and granddaughter tie colorful strands of yarn into thousands of knots. But just as the rug slowly begins to take shape, Baba falls ill.
Rose knows one thing that will make him feel better: a beautiful -- and finished! -- garden rug. But will she be able to weave the rest of the rug on her own?
This tender portrait of a young girl and her grandfather is a moving tribute to the joy of learning from someone you love. -
100 Goats and Granny!
With a hefty dollop of humor, Atinuke's rollicking counting story takes on a life of its own when Granny's mischievous goats start escaping.
Granny's got a goat! Granny's got a goat!
Not 1, not 2, not 3, not 4,
but more and more and more and more!
Excitement is in the air as Granny collects more and more goats! Eight are great, fifty are nifty . . . but when their number reaches one hundred, things start to get out of hand. There's a brown goat beeping on the bus, a gray one sitting in the salon, a white goat stealing panties from the line, and one has gone missing altogether--who can count in all this mayhem? Beloved storyteller Atinuke has a field day following goats throughout the town, while a gleeful crowd of children try their best to track them. With colorful, spirited illustrations by Lauren Hind, here's an uproarious read-aloud you can count on to bring giggles and smiles. -
Charley Mouse Cleans House
Join Charley Mouse during her busy week as she visits some familiar fairytale characters whose houses are in need of her talents in this beautifully illustrated picture book packed with tiny details cleverly hidden in the art
Charley Mouse loves cleanliness and order. Her bed linens smell of lavender and her drawers are filled with clean socks. Even the cheese crusts in her cupboard are organized by variety and size! Keeping the house in order is not difficult for her. She's actually a real professional: she works as a house cleaner. And there is nothing that makes her happier than to help her neighbors to keep their homes clean, too. It's Monday, and Charley has a busy week ahead and a long list of folks to visit. She can't wait to get to work! Let's see where her working week will take her. Meet the residents of both the Wild Wood and the Magical Forest and discover how everyone lives in the land of fairytales as Charley cleans up each house. Charley needs your help to count and find the missing keys, the dirty socks, the witch's broomsticks, red dragon eggs, and a host of other treasures hidden throughout the book. Every page is a rich visual feast, packed with humor and details to explore which transport the reader to a curiously familiar and magical fairytale land providing hours of seek-and-find fun. -
Hazel the Handful
What happens when a new baby moves in--and the doted-on "older sibling" is a pampered pooch?
People stop to say, "Oh, what a cutie patootie baby!"
What? Is it not clear? I am the patootie.
Follow the adorable puppy Hazel through a typical day at home, where she rules the roost. Check out the dozens of toys, the nifty stroller, the comfy places to take her (many) naps, the various tasty snacks, and most of all, lots of quality time with her girl, Bea. Together, Hazel and Bea are sensational. Until the baby arrives, that is, and everything changes. Now Hazel isn't always the center of attention--even Nana barely has time for a cuddle. Things have gone too far! But when Hazel runs off to hide, the family is desperate to find her, and Hazel is reminded just how much she is loved. In this endearing comedy for dog lovers and expanding families from a stellar creative team, there's room for everyone in the hug circle--and messy new arrivals who drop enticing crumbs turn out to be not so bad after all. -
A Thank You Letter to My Homeschool
"I'm thankful to my homeschool because with homeschool, I'm free to be me!"
In this heartwarming picture book, a homeschooled child thanks his school for everything it offers -- from indoor inventions to outdoor adventures, from finding new friends to puzzling out problems. His school day might include robotics with friends, silent study time, planting seeds at the community garden, and more. One thing is for sure- homeschool is not boring!
A Thank You Letter to My Homeschool celebrates the unique learning opportunities and life experiences this popular lifestyle offers. A celebration of homeschool in all its forms, it's the perfect book for every family who homeschools and those who may be considering the lifestyle
Homeschool is not just at home or in a classroom.
It takes me on adventures - Here. There. Everywhere.
I'm thankful for all the ways homeschool helps me grow.
Sowing, waiting, wondering, and watching.
Collecting and counting.
Mixing, matching, discovering.
I'm thankful for the time it gives me to invent.
Building up, tearing down, and starting all over again.
Asking questions and unlocking new answers.
If you homeschool your children or know someone who does, grab a copy today! -
The Jellyfish Bus
"Jellyfish buses are the best way to travel the great, big ocean. Slowpoke, the jellyfish, loves his job driving the bus and his passengers, but unfortunately, he can't keep up with demands for faster travel. One day he is called into the jellyfish bus headquarters and told that he should find a career that suits him better. Slowpoke is sad. He decides to go on a relaxing vacation but quickly becomes bored. So he travels to the deepest, darkest parts of the ocean to go sightseeing. But it's too dark to see! He almost turns back when a sudden light appears-attached to an anglerfish, who needs help getting to the Ocean Night Bazaar. So Slowpoke takes on a new passenger, who helps light their way across the deep, deep ocean. As they travel, they encounter other deep-sea creatures who have never been to the "above," and soon Slowpoke finds himself full of excited passengers. There's just one problem: will Slowpoke get his passengers to the bazaar on time? Through dark, unfamiliar terrain, bustling traffic, and even a dangerous pod of sleeping whales, Slowpoke determinedly buses his passengers to their destination-where they have a ton of fun before it's time to head home. As they begin the long return journey, Slowpoke decides that vacation can wait. He has found his new career-as a deep-ocean jellyfish tour bus! A humorous tale about a jellyfish who is feeling a little washed up ... until he makes the most out of a salty situation and turns his luck around on a deep-sea adventure with new friends!"--
New Graphic Novels for Kids
-
Sea Legs
Set sail for adventure! Dive in to this hilarious and moving middle grade graphic memoir about friendship, growing up, and life at sea.
Janey's family is about to set sail for the adventure of a lifetime! The only problem? Janey must leave her school, her life, her best friend, the entire country behind for new adventures - coral reefs, colorful markets, and new cultures. Life at sea is exhilarating, but there's a major downside: when you're raising anchor every few days with sights on a new harbor, it's almost impossible to make new friends.
Finally, Janey meets the cool and aloof Astrid - a fellow boat kid who's equally starved for friendship. But Astrid can be a challenging friend to navigate, and beyond that, hurricane season has only just begun . . . .
At turns laugh-out-loud hilarious and heartbreakingly poignant, this stunning graphic memoir charts both the turbulence and joys of growing up.
-
I'm a Dumbo Octopus!
Meet Grimpy! He’s a dumbo octopus, and he’s taking us on a tour of the whole cephalopod class—underwater creatures such as cuttlefish, nautiluses, octopuses, and squids.
Grimpy knows all about what makes these many-armed marvels so special, like how the coconut octopus uses tools or the cuttlefish talks with color! It seems like every creature has a special ability—except him. When Grimpy gets stuck on everything a dumbo octopus can’t do, the other cephalopods show him why it’s great to be a dumbo.
-
Good Boy
“Hilarious and heartfelt.” —Megan Wagner Lloyd, author of Allergic
Good Boy is a graphic novel about a boy named Charlie and his rescue dog, Ralph. Together, they take on agility course training—but do they have what it takes to compete?
Charlie’s life is a series of obstacles, not least of which is an uncontrollable urge to barf when his anxiety overwhelms him. Ralph is an unpredictable rescue dog with more energy than manners. The two make an unlikely pair but are the best of friends.
When Ralph causes a scene by following his boy to school, it’s suggested the two join a dog agility training group. Ralph is a natural—zipping in, around, and over obstacles at lightning speed. Agility training is a fun way for the pair to bond, but when Charlie even considers joining the other handlers at the big contest, his stomach begins to turn. Can the duo take a leap and cross the finish line? -
How to Draw a Secret
For fans of Raina Telgemeier's Sisters and Jen Wang's Stargazing comes the empowering autobiographical story of a young Taiwanese American artist struggling to find her voice to save what matters most.
Twelve-year-old Cindy relishes drawing flawless images, but she is stumped by an art contest prompt: "What family means to me." No one at school can know that Cindy's dad moved back to Taiwan four years ago, so Cindy sketches out the perfect plan to draw the perfect picture while keeping her parents' separation secret.
Then an unexpected trip to Taipei reveals devastating new secrets. Suddenly everything from Cindy's art to her family is falling apart. With her dream of perfection in tatters, Cindy must figure out how to draw from her heart and share her secrets. But can she really reveal the truth, messy lines and all
-
Creature Clinic
"A hilarious mix of pharmacy and fantasy that you won't want to miss!" —John Patrick Green, bestselling author of InvestiGators
Nurse, we've got a unicorn with a broken horn! Bring that healing potion—STAT!
Welcome to Creature Clinic, the world’s finest—and only—hospital for mythical beings. Here, everyone from trolls and unicorns to tooth fairies and giants can expect the very best treatment. Well, with one exception. Humans are absolutely, 100 percent not welcome.
Doctor-in-training Kara Orc has worked hard and followed the rules her entire life to get where she is now. But when a human in need shows up at the hospital, her obedience is put to the test. Sure, most humans are dangerous, destructive beasts, but Kara took an oath to help all creatures. Even humans deserve care and compassion. How long can she keep such a big secret from her boss . . . who also happens to be her mother? And will her decision to do what’s right cause a rift between Kara and her mom that no medicine can cure? -
The Yes Bunny
Join Sofi--an inquisitive, clumsy, brave bunny--as she starts saying YES in ten stories for children learning to look after themselves and their things in The Yes Bunny
Meet the Yes Bunny: the bunny who says no to everything . . . except for having fun! She doesn't want to wash her bunny ears; she doesn't want to clean her room; she only brushes her big buck teeth for a single second . . . until one day when she discovers that learning how to do things is actually quite FUN.
With a little imagination, she discovers that she can make her bunny ears into airplane wings at bath time; she can make her bed into a pirate carrot ship when she cleans her room; she can have a toothpaste foam party when she brushes her teeth . . . and more!
Kids will enjoy cheering on the Yes Bunny as she discovers how to do ten new things:- The Yes Bunny Puts On Her Winter Clothes
- The Yes Bunny Makes Her Bed
- The Yes Bunny Has a Bath
- The Yes Bunny Waits For Her Turn to Speak
- The Yes Bunny Looks After a Plant
- The Yes Bunny Says Sorry and Means It
- The Yes Bunny Tries New Foods
- The Yes Bunny Tidies Up
- The Yes Bunny Gets Ready for Bed
- The Yes Bunny Shares Her Special Thing
At the end of each story are easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions that kids can use for trying each task themselves. Children will gain confidence and thrive as they gain more independence.
Charmingly illustrated by Ella Bailey, this first of its kind graphic novel is the perfect book for parents who want to help children to do basic things without the struggle . . . and for kids who need the fun put back into everyday tasks. -
Drive
"An inspirational, information-packed tale inspired by a real feminist trailblazer." --Kirkus
START YOUR ENGINES!In 1964, Janet Guthrie is on her way to becoming one of the most successful female race car drivers in history--the first ever to qualify for and race in the Indianapolis 500. But the road ahead of her will not be easy. She'll have to drive with broken bones and in rickety cars, while constantly proving to the press and the racing world that she's every bit as good as the men on the track.
In 2019, twelve-year-old Alex finds a vintage Jaguar her grandfather never finished restoring. It's a dream come true for a "car girl," and she dives into teaching herself how to repair and restore it--with the help of her favorite mechanic's videos. Alex's father thinks she's wasting her time, and the local car community isn't eager to welcome a girl. But there's a car show coming up, and Alex is determined to prove her skills.
No matter what gets in their way, Janet and Alex are passionate trailblazers who know that the only way forward is to keep your foot on the gas. Told in alternating timelines, highlighted by two different color palettes (Janet's story is in a limited palette, while Alex's is in full color), Drive is an immersive story of how far we've come and how far we have yet to go.
-
Big Nate: Attack of the Cheez Funk Breath
Sixth grade renaissance man Nate Wright is bombastic, enthusiastic, and larger than life -- it's why his friends call him "Big Nate." But behind the bravado, Nate is a faithful friend whose antics crack up his classmates, impart life lessons to readers, and bring a smile to comics lovers everywhere.
Snack-loving sixth-grader Nate Wright always has his hands full--of Cheez Doodles! But those delicious orange curls make his breath stink, and when he tries to quit them cold turkey, poor Nate's a hot mess. And that's not the end of his problems. Out of nowhere, Nate gets dumped by his best buddy Francis. He strikes out at the school dance. And a close encounter at the beach with a spiky-haired look-alike has everyone seeing double. Can our favorite troublemaker turn the funk back into fun? Find out in this uproarious new collection of Big Nate comics, Attack of the Cheez Funk Breath! -
The Cartoonists Club: A Graphic Novel
#1 New York Times bestselling cartoonists Raina Telgemeier and Scott McCloud team up for a one-of-a-kind friendship story about creativity and self-expression that blends how-to and comics magic. Welcome to the club!
Makayla is bursting with ideas but doesn't know how to make them into a story. Howard loves to draw, but he struggles to come up with ideas and his dad thinks comics are a waste of time. Lynda constantly draws in her sketchbook but keeps focusing on what she feels are mistakes, and Art simply loves being creative and is excited to try something new. They come together to form The Cartoonists Club, where kids can learn about making comics and use their creativity and imagination for their own storytelling adventures!
-
Crumble (a Graphic Novel)
A heartfelt and magic-filled graphic novel for fans of Sheets and Real Friends about baking, friendship, and feeling every kind of emotion--no matter the flavor.
Emily, her mom, and her aunt Gina have a very special magical power: They can bake emotions into the desserts they sell at their family bakery. Need a dash of confidence? Try their millionaire shortbread! Want relief after a stressful day? The cheesecake will lighten your spirits! There is only one rule: Never bake a bad feeling.
Every day after school, Emily and her best friend, Dae, make tried-and-true recipes, while she and Aunt Gina brainstorm new ones. But when Aunt Gina dies in an accident, Emily's life is turned upside down. Not knowing what to do, Emily breaks the rule and bakes her bad feelings into. . . a crumble. It looks gross. Dae says it tastes gross. But they can't stop eating it. Neither can Emily's classmates. And with her grief and pain baked into the crumble, Emily gets the comfort of being at least a little numb. So even though she's not supposed to, she makes it again, and again, and again.
But baking (and eating) bad feelings doesn't really make them go away . . .
Praise for Crumble
★ "Deliciously cute, funny, and touching." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review
★ "Equal parts love and heartbreak.... Unique and poignant." --BookPage, starred review