Giants of history and unsung heroes shine in the books listed below.  Read how these African Americans changed America for the better. Take a glimpse into history and learn tolerance through their stories, this month and every month.

Summer is still going strong, but school is just around the corner. Soon, the stores will be filled with backpacks and lunchboxes. I love all those displays. They make me nostalgic for the days of number 2 pencils. Those that are going to school for first time may be feeling a mix of excitement and dread at the sight of all those supplies. The best way to capitalize on the excitement and downplay the dread is to talk and read about school, and even play school. Knowing what to expect goes a long way. And, the library will go a long way to help support you through the school year with good books and resources. So, don’t forget to get my favorite school supply – a library card.

How many nursery rhymes do you know? Can you think of 8 of them? If a child knows 8 nursery rhymes by heart by the time he is 4, he will likely be among the best readers by the time he’s 8. Let imaginations run away with the dish and the spoon by singing, saying and reading the rhymes you love, and unearth some new favorites to share.

Make learning letters fun!  Experiment with various books and hands-on activities to help children learn their alphabet.  Knowing that letters are different from each other, knowing their names and sounds and being able to recognize letters everywhere in kindergarten is a strong predictor of reading ability in tenth grade.

Did you know that scribbling is a very important part of literacy development in toddlers? When young children are given crayons, paints, play-dough and the freedom to explore their creativity, they are learning about artistic expression and working on their fine motor skills. More importantly, however, they are learning how to tell a story, and taking the first steps to learning to read. Those scribbles will eventually turn into letters, words, and will contribute to the early reading skills required for a child to develop a healthy appetite for learning.

Thinking about homeschooling? Whether you are a long-time pro or just starting out, the Richland Library has a wealth of resources to offer.  You might be surprised at how many ways Richland Library can enhance your homeschool journey. We are more than books and movies, although we have plenty of those too!

At birth, a baby's brain is the only part of his body still developing. Read to your baby and his brain will grow big and strong. Books help you introduce your baby to rare words, language and the whole wide world. Come to the library for storytime every week and share books at home every day.

You may not come from a land of ice and snow, but you can go there through books. The stories below illustrate those worlds with words such as: flakes, powdery, heaping, crystalline, radiant, glistening, and even the dreaded infirm. Beautiful language helps define a world. The world of picture books is defined by rare words (words heard outside of regular conversation). And, the amount of words children hear before the age of five defines 90% of their vocabulary for the rest of their lives. Leave word poverty and low literacy rates out in the cold by reading aloud to children everyday.

Want more books like Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney? Check out our book list below. These funny stories will keep you busy reading until Greg's next wimpy kid adventure comes out!