School Break

Staff Picks for Kids

Get coding! : learn HTML, CSS, and JavaScript and build a website, app, and game / Young Rewired State.

Cover art for It's not bragging if it's true / Zaila Avant-garde

It’s not bragging if it’s true / Zaila Avant-garde, with Marti Dumas.

Avant-garde, Zaila, author.

Mythologica / written by Steve Kershaw illustrated by Victoria Topping.

Kershaw, Stephen, author.

Cover art for Arab fairy tale feasts : a literary cookbook / tales by Karim Alrawi recipes by Sobhi al-Zobaidi & Tamam Qanembou-Zobaidi

Arab fairy tale feasts : a literary cookbook / tales by Karim Alrawi recipes by Sobhi al-Zobaidi & Tamam Qanembou-Zobaidi, and Karim Alrawi illustrations by Nahid Kazemi.

Alrawi, Karim, author.

Children of the dragon : selected tales from Vietnam / Sherry Garland with illustrations by Trina Schart Hyman.

Garland, Sherry.

The legend of the Christmas witch / Dan Murphy & Aubrey Plaza illustrated by Julia Iredale.

Murphy, Dan (Producer), author.

Scary stories to tell in the dark / collected from American folklore by Alvin Schwartz with drawings by Stephen Gammell.

Schwartz, Alvin, 1927-

Sign language ABC / by Lora Heller.

Heller, Lora.

Cover art for Awesome kitchen science experiments for kids : 50 STEAM projects you can eat! / Dr. Megan Olivia Hall

Awesome kitchen science experiments for kids : 50 STEAM projects you can eat! / Dr. Megan Olivia Hall, photography by Paige Green.

Hall, Megan Olivia, author.

Cover art for Gross science experiments : 60 smelly

Gross science experiments : 60 smelly, scary, silly tests to disgust your friends and family / Emma Vanstone.

Vanstone, Emma, author.

Eclipse / Andy Rash.

Rash, Andy, author.

Cover art for The kids' book of weather forecasting : build a weather station

The kids’ book of weather forecasting : build a weather station, read the sky & make predictions / with meteorologist Mark Breen and Kathleen Friestad illustrations by Michael Kline.

Breen, Mark, 1960-

Humongous fungus / written by Lynne Boddy illustrated by Wenjia Tang.

Boddy, Lynne, author.

Flower talk : how plants use color to communicate / Sara Levine illustrations by Masha D’yans.

Levine, Sara (Veterinarian), author.

We need to talk about vaginas ! / author: Dr. Allison K. Rodgers illustrator: Annika Le Large.

Rodgers, Allison K., author.

Sex is a funny word / by Cory Silverberg and Fiona Smyth.

Silverberg, Cory, author.

Food play! / Amy Palanjian.

Palanjian, Amy (Recipe developer), author.

David Atherton’s Christmas cookbook for kids / David Atherton illustrated by Katie Cottle.

Atherton, David (Food writer), author.

Cooking class global feast! : 44 recipes that celebrate the world’s cultures / Deanna F. Cook.

Cook, Deanna F., 1965- author.

Cover art for Houses with a story : a dragon's den

Houses with a story : a dragon’s den, a ghostly mansion, a library of lost books, and 30 more amazing places to explore / Yoshida Seiji translated by Jan Mitsuko Cash.

Yoshida, Seiji (Illustrator), author.

Cover art for Clay lab for kids : 52 projects to make

Clay lab for kids : 52 projects to make, model, and mold with air-dry, polymer, and homemade clay / Cassie Stephens.

Stephens, Cassie, author.

Origami made simple : 40 easy models with step-by-step instructions / Russell Wood photography by Ted + Chelsea Cavanaugh.

Wood, Russell, author.

Avatar, the last airbender. The search / script, Gene Luen Yang art and cover, Gurihiru lettering, Michael Heisler.

Yang, Gene Luen, author.

Cover art for Kristy's great idea : a graphic novel / [text]

Kristy’s great idea : a graphic novel / [text], Ann M. Martin [art] by Raina Telgemeier with color by Braden Lamb.

Telgemeier, Raina.

Bright family / written by Matthew Cody with Carol Klio Burrell art by Derick Brooks colors by Warren Wucinich.

Cody, Matthew, author.

Viewfinder / Christine D.U. Chung and Salwa Majoka.

Chung, Christine D. U., author, artist.

Terry’s crew / by Terry Crews and Cory Thomas.

Crews, Terry, 1968- author.

Danny Phantom. A glitch in time / written and illustrated by Gabriela Epstein background and colors by Killian Ng.

Epstein, Gabriela, author, artist.

Things in the basement / Ben Hatke colors by Zack Giallongo.

Hatke, Ben, author, artist.

How it all ends / Emma Hunsinger.

Hunsinger, Emma, author, illustrator.

Cover art for Marvel. Into the heartlands / written by Roseanne A. Brown illustrated by Dika Arajo

Marvel. Into the heartlands / written by Roseanne A. Brown illustrated by Dika Arajo, Natacha Bustos, Claudia Aguirre layouts by Geoffo colors by Cris Peter letters by VC’s Ariana Maher.

Brown, Roseanne A., author.

D&D dungeon club. Roll call / [writer] Molly Knox Ostertag [artist] Xanthe Bouma.

Ostertag, Molly Knox, author, artist.

Camp Midnight / written by Steven T. Seagle drawn by Jason Adam Katzenstein.

Seagle, Steven T., author.

Bog Myrtle / Sid Sharp.

Sharp, Sid, author, artist.

Bean : the stretchy dragon / Ari Stocrate.

Stocrate, Ari, author, illustrator.

The arrival / by Shaun Tan.

Tan, Shaun.

Parachute kids / Betty C. Tang.

Tang, Betty C., author, illustrator.

Delicates / Brenna Thummler.

Thummler, Brenna.

Sheets / by Brenna Thummler.

Thummler, Brenna, author, illustrator.

Star Wars maker lab / Liz Lee Heinecke and Cole Horton.

Heinecke, Liz Lee, author.

Eco-crafts : 40 fun earth-friendly projects / by Marcy Morin and Heidi E. Thompson.

Morin, Marcy, 1980- author.

Super slime / [editor, Sophie Parkes].

T is for trails : a hiking alphabet / written by Judy Young and illustrated by Sharisse Steber.

Young, Judy, 1956- author.

How to write a story / by Kate Messner illustrated by Mark Siegel.

Messner, Kate, author.

Planting stories : the life of librarian and storyteller Pura Belpré / words by Anika Aldamuy Denise illustrations by Paola Escobar.

Denise, Anika, author.

Mary Kom / Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara illustrated by Jen Khatun.

Sánchez Vegara, Ma Isabel (María Isabel), author.

Astrid Lindgren / written by Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara illustrated by Linzie Hunter.

Sánchez Vegara, Ma Isabel (María Isabel), author.

Balloons over Broadway : the true story of the puppeteer of Macy’s Parade / written and illustrated by Melissa Sweet.

Sweet, Melissa, 1956-

The crossover / by Kwame Alexander.

Alexander, Kwame.

The one and only Ivan / Katherine Applegate illustrations by Patricia Castelao.

Applegate, Katherine.

The one and only Bob / Katherine Applegate illustrations by Patricia Castelao.

Applegate, Katherine, author.

Sounder / by William H. Armstrong. Illus. by James Barkley.

Armstrong, William Howard, 1914-

Eb & flow / Kelly J. Baptist.

Baptist, Kelly J., author.

Zombiekins / Kevin Bolger illustrated by Aaron Blecha.

Bolger, Kevin.

Caprice / Coe Booth.

Booth, Coe, author.

This again? / Adam Borba illustrations by Mercè López.

Borba, Adam, author.

Nightmare island / Shakirah Bourne.

Bourne, Shakirah, author.

Ruby Finley vs. the Interstellar Invasion / K. Tempest Bradford.

Bradford, K. Tempest, 1978- author.

Unfadeable / Maurice Broaddus.

Broaddus, Maurice, author.

Finch house / Ciera Burch.

Burch, Ciera, author.

Sincerely Sicily / Tamika Burgess.

Burgess, Tamika, author.

Moonflower / Kacen Callender.

Callender, Kacen, author.

One big open sky / Lesa Cline-Ransome.

Cline-Ransome, Lesa, author.

I got you babe / Paul Coccia.

Coccia, Paul, author.

The many fortunes of Maya / Nicole D. Collier illustrations by Sawyer Cloud.

Collier, Nicole D., author.

Just right Jillian / by Nicole D. Collier [illustrations by Kitt Thomas].

Collier, Nicole D., author.

Rain rising / Courtne Comrie.

Comrie, Courtne, author.

Elijah of Buxton / Christopher Paul Curtis.

Curtis, Christopher Paul.

J.D. and the family business / written by J. Dillard illustrated by Akeem S. Roberts.

Dillard, J., author.

J.D. and the great barber battle / written by J. Dillard illustrated by Akeem S. Roberts.

Dillard, J., author.

Blended / Sharon M. Draper.

Draper, Sharon M. (Sharon Mills), author.

Maya and the robot / Eve L. Ewing illustrated by Christine Almeda.

Ewing, Eve L., author.

Game over, Super Rabbit Boy! / Thomas Flintham.

Flintham, Thomas, author, illustrator.

The great Zoodini / PJ Gardner illustrations by David Mottram.

Gardner, P. J., author.

Ghostly, ghastly tales : frights to tell at night / by Anastasia Garcia illustrated by Teo Skaffa.

Garcia, Anastasia, author.

If you read this / Kereen Getten.

Getten, Kereen, author.

The last last-day-of-summer / by Lamar Giles illustratiaons by Dapo Adeola.

Giles, L. R. (Lamar R.), author.

Not an easy win / Chrystal D. Giles.

Giles, Chrystal D., author.

The girl who kept the castle / Ryan Graudin.

Graudin, Ryan, author.

Theodore Boone : kid lawyer / John Grisham edited by Julie Strauss-Gabel.

Grisham, John.

The Oodlethunks : Oona finds an egg / Adele Griffin Mike Wu.

Griffin, Adele, author.

Puppet’s payback and other chilling tales / Mary Downing Hahn.

Hahn, Mary Downing, author.

Marcus makes a movie / Kevin Hart with Geoff Rodkey illustrated by David Cooper.

Hart, Kevin, 1979- author.

Marcus makes it big / Kevin Hart with Geoff Rodkey illustrated by David Cooper.

Hart, Kevin, 1979- author.

The reckoning / Wade Hudson.

Hudson, Wade, author.

The Parker inheritance / Varian Johnson.

Johnson, Varian, author.

The land of forgotten girls / Erin Entrada Kelly.

Kelly, Erin Entrada, author.

The skull : a Tyrolean folktale / Jon Klassen.

Klassen, Jon, author, illustrator.

Elizabeth Webster and the court of uncommon pleas / by William Lashner.

Lashner, William, author.

Tight / Torrey Maldonado.

Maldonado, Torrey, author.

From the desk of Zoe Washington / Janae Marks.

Marks, Janae, author.

The firefly summer / Morgan Matson.

Matson, Morgan, author.

It happened to Anna / Tehlor Kay Mejia.

Mejia, Tehlor Kay, author.

Anne of the island, by L. M. Montgomery.

Montgomery, L. M. (Lucy Maud), 1874-1942.

Anne of Windy Poplars / L.M. Montgomery.

Montgomery, L. M. (Lucy Maud), 1874-1942.

Anne’s house of dreams / L.M. Montgomery.

Montgomery, L. M. (Lucy Maud), 1874-1942.

Shiloh / by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor.

Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds.

Spirit hunters / Ellen Oh.

Oh, Ellen, author.

The nest / Kenneth Oppel illustrated by Jon Klassen.

Oppel, Kenneth, 1967- author.

Cover art for Link + Hud : heroes by a hair / Jarrett Pumphrey

Link + Hud : heroes by a hair / Jarrett Pumphrey, Jerome Pumphrey.

Pumphrey, Jarrett, author.

Stuntboy, in the meantime / Jason Reynolds drawings by Raúl the Third.

Reynolds, Jason, author.

It came from the trees / Ally Russell.

Russell, Ally, author.

Echo : a novel / by Pam Muñoz Ryan decorations by Dinara Mirtalipova.

Ryan, Pam Muñoz, author.

Omar rising / Aisha Saeed.

Saeed, Aisha, author.

Amal unbound / Aisha Saeed.

Saeed, Aisha, author.

Wedgie & Gizmo / Suzanne Selfors illustrated by Barbara Fisinger Skorjanc.

Selfors, Suzanne, author.

Betty before X / by Ilyasah Shabazz with Renée Watson.

Shabazz, Ilyasah, author.

Dancing in the storm / Amie Darnell Specht and Shannon Hitchcock.

Specht, Amie Darnell, author.

The screaming staircase / Jonathan Stroud.

Stroud, Jonathan.

The song of the swan / Karah Sutton illustrations by Pauliina Hannuniemi.

Sutton, Karah, author.

Ben Yokoyama and the cookie of doom / by Matthew Swanson and Robbi Behr.

Swanson, Matthew, 1974- author.

Dragonbreath / by Ursula Vernon.

Vernon, Ursula.

Dragonbreath : attack of the ninja frogs / by Ursula Vernon.

Vernon, Ursula.

Honey / Sarah Weeks.

Weeks, Sarah, author.

The braid girls / Sherri Winston.

Winston, Sherri, author.

When Winter Robeson came / Brenda Woods.

Woods, Brenda (Brenda A.), author.

Upcoming School Break Events

Zero to Five Storytime

No Registration Required

Monday December 29 10:15am

Hiawassee Branch (Hiawassee - Meeting Room)

Event Categories: Storytime

From the rhythm and repetition of nursery rhymes to the use of picture books, songs and flannel board stories, your child will be encouraged to develop early literacy skills. Recommended for ages 0-5.

Learn more>

Make a Stop Motion Movie (Ages 6-12)

Registration Required

Monday December 29 10:30am

Windermere Branch (Windermere - Ask at Desk)

Event Categories: Photography; Video Production

Explore the basics of animation while creating your own stop motion movie! Use the Stop Motion Studio app to bring objects to life, add titles, credits, sound, and more. Registration required.

Learn more>

Caregiver Connect: Stay and Play

No Registration Required

Monday December 29 10:45am

Hiawassee Branch (Hiawassee - Ask at Desk)

Event Categories: Games & Activities

Connect with other caregivers to meet and mingle while your little ones, ages 0-5, explore imaginary play with new and old friends. Recommended for families.

Learn more>

Code with Minecraft – Adventurer (Ages 6-12)

Registration Required

Monday December 29 12:00pm

Windermere Branch (Windermere - Ask at Desk)

Event Categories: Coding & Robotics; Game Design & Virtual Reality; Games & Activities

Join Alex and Steve on a Minecraft Adventure! Solve code challenges to explore, gather resources, and defeat mobs. Create algorithms, use loops, and debug your code. Registration required.

Learn more>

Python Programming Camp

(Ages 13-18)

Registration Required

Monday December 29 2:00pm

Windermere Branch (Windermere - Ask at Desk)

Event Categories: Coding & Robotics

Beginner-friendly Python coding classes for teens. Students will learn the core concepts of Python including variables, data types, conditional statements, loops, and functions. Registration required.

Learn more>