Kansas City Public Library

This #TeenThursday Ms. Chinesa's got a great historical fiction recommendation for you--The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. Snag a copy from our catalog here: https://bit.ly/2JMjeKt Set in Germany during the second World War, The Book Thief tells the story of Liesel, who is effectively living as an orphan in a new home. She never knew her father, her mother disappears after delivering her to her new foster parents in Molching, just outside of Munich. While the story is all about ...Liesel, it is told from the perspective of a different character- Death. The story begins when Death first encounters nine-year-old Liesel after she steals her first book from a gravedigger. The book offers an interesting insight to what most Germans lives were really like during World War 2. Although Liesel and her foster parents, Mr. and Mrs. Herbermann, are German citizens, they do not buy into the propaganda that Jews are evil and should be exterminated. This is further illustrated when Max, the son of an old friend of Mr. Herbermann, comes to them for help. They do not hesitate to shelter him despite the risks they too would face. This leads to a friendship between Max and Liesel, who bond over their shared love of storytelling. Liesel is very real, a child living a child's life of soccer in the street, stolen pleasures, and childhood crushes. Even though she is living amid one of the worsts genocides in human history, she still finds a way to continue being a child and not be consumed by the evil that surrounds her on all sides. This book will make you cry there is no way around that. But there are things that prevent this book from being all-out depressing. It is never morbid. Despite the darkness, humor dances across the pages, and the rich descriptions as well as the purity of the characters' hearts will not fail to lift you up. Also, it is refreshing to read a balanced story, where ordinary Germans are as much at risk of losing their lives as their Jewish neighbors. Be prepared, this book is long. But every word of the story matters, and every moment it will stick with you for a long time. Whether you choose to read the words or listen to the audio. The Book Thief is a modern classic that should definitely be on your to-read list.

Happy Dewey Decimal System Day! You can find topics in our non-fiction section using the system that Melvil Dewey came up with in the late 1800s. This system assigns a topic to a number based on the subject category it falls under! Every month in our CYS Zine, we feature a different topic for you to check out. Did you know that if there's something you're looking for, but you don't know where to find it in our non-fiction section, you can type the topic into our catalog, and it will tell you what number to look under? For example, if you have to do a research project on the planet Saturn, and you look for books on Saturn, you can see that they will be shelved under the Dewey number 523.46!

Have you had a chance to stop by your branch and grab your November activity kit yet? This month we have the materials to build your own catapult! We also have an instructional video on our youtube to help you assemble it: https://youtu.be/z8B-qktel-U

Follow along with Ms. Julia's directions during this "storytime snack" and you just might make a new dinosaur friend! Watch here: https://youtu.be/afEd-rK5yj4

Join Miss Kristan for a fun and relaxing pajama storytime this evening featuring one book and a few songs! https://youtu.be/FkdtpxXSLrk

Night 10 of "Bedtime Stories with Friends" features Marcia Warwick! Marcia is on the Board of the Friends of the Kansas City Public Library. Watch here: https://youtu.be/L9vtoYknXLo

Happy #GratitudeTuesday! Second up from our Central Youth Services staff is Ms. Alli, who is thankful for all of the incredible trails in the Kansas City area. This is a stressful year for everyone, and she says that getting her heart rate up surrounded by nature is her favorite way of recharging. She loves exploring these trails with her son, a fellow nature enthusiast, and her dog Dax, who is always up for an adventure.

It's National Llama Day! Remember that time Ms. Clare started growing a llama chia pet (no? here's a refresher: https://bit.ly/37QizQ2) Well, friends, here's the llama update-- Although his fur is a little patchy, he's working hard to grow a nice thick coat for winter!

Put on your coziest pjs and join Miss Molly for a relaxing pajama "storytime snack" that can help you start (or continue) a bedtime routine! Watch here: https://youtu.be/RJofJM9M750

Night 9 of "Bedtime Stories with Friends" features Elizabeth Warwick! Elizabeth is a sixth grade reading teacher in the Kansas City Public Schools Watch here: https://youtu.be/fiG7JIpZFjY

Do you need stories? Do you need songs? Well, my friend, we have songs and stories for you ALL. WEEK. LONG! Check out our Storytime line up this week at youtube.com/kclibraryyouth

This week's 7-day Dial-a-Story forecast predicts a 100% chance of loveable stories. Give us a call at (816)701-3456, or follow the link to hear this week's books! https://kclibrary.org/kids/dial-story

Ms. Lauren has some warm fuzzy book recommendation for cold winter days!

Night 8 of "Bedtime Stories with Friends" features Brian Lowry! In addition to being a friend of the Library, Brian can be found in Kansas City arts circles--especially around Orpheus KC and the KC film community. Brian is a local software developer who lives with his partner Carolin in their old-but-newly-adopted Diebel Tudor just a stone's throw from their favorite Public Library branch in Waldo. Watch here: https://youtu.be/WM1Tv3ELRlE

The second Sunday in November is Tongue Twister Day! Are you a master of meticulous mouthfuls or do these tricky twisters trip you up? Try them out, or perfect your practice with one of these books from our tongue twister list! https://bit.ly/36fOKYy

Join Miss Elizabeth for this "Storytime Snack!" Get ready to clap and sing along! https://youtu.be/KvhzVpoJrAc

Night 7 of "Bedtime Stories with Friends" features Ann Mackey! Ann is a retired pharmacist who worked for the Food and Drug Administration. She is currently on the Board of the Friends of the Kansas City Public Library and likes to encourage people to read! Watch here: https://youtu.be/ju7ZMObHLVw

The November CYS Zine is here! Check out the great book recommendations, activities, and hilarious jokes contained within! Grab a copy at Central, or download the printable version here: https://kclibrary.org/blog/november-cys-zine

Join Miss Clare for this extra special "Storytime Snack" where she'll be reading one of her very favorite (and extremely hilarious) books! https://youtu.be/neS3_QZmsW4

Night 6 of "Bedtime Stories with Friends" features an extra special guest: Mayor Quinton Lucas! Quinton is the mayor of Kansas City, Missouri. Watch here: https://youtu.be/EWmaGNeR-_Q