Free Play Activities
Free Play activities are a important part of your child's development. Free Play encourages children to interact with the world around them. These activities also help children conquer fears, build…
All Ages Book Talk
All books are available to order for curbside pick up and some are available in digital formats. Call (440) 871-2600 or visit us at westlakelibrary.org for details. https://youtu.be/CSUvtoymyEg Chad's Picks:…
Author Spotlight: Jasper Fforde
If you like creative word-play, dangerous situations, and endearing characters, then Jasper Fforde is the author for you! For those of you who read my post on Walter Moers and…
Read It Make It: Cat Chalk Drawing
Mr. Wuffles! written and illustrated by David Wiesner is about a beautiful black and white cat. The book Mr. Wuffles! is a Caldecott Honoree Book of 2014. Mr. Wuffles, the…
Cooking Vegan Slowly
Veganism is something that has always appealed to me. While I am currently not a vegan, I have been one for a couple of years. I guess you could currently…
Summer Concerts
... are just a computer click away with Qello Concerts by Stingray June 19 First Energy Stadium concert postponed Summer and concerts go together like lazy days at the beach…
Classic Horror Film Sampler (Part 3)
Want to read more? Check out Part 2 here! We'll wrap up this warped list of creepy classics with five more fiendish titles! All titles can be accessed through Hoopla…
The Grant of History
Beginning on Memorial Day, the History Channel began airing a three-part miniseries on the life of Ulysses S. Grant (similar in style and format to the Washington miniseries the History Channel aired back…
Researching Your House While You’re Stuck In Your House
If you're like many of us, you've become very, very familiar with your house over the past couple of months. Why not use the opportunity to become even more familiar with it?…
Make Sure You Count … Census 2020
Every 10 years the United States conducts a census of its entire population. By now all of you should have received a postcard in the mail asking you to respond to…
Read It Make It: Seed Bombs
In a Garden written by Tim McCanna and illustrated by Aimee Sicuro is a rhyming picture book. It is the perfect book to read this time of year. It will…
Suma Goes Bird-watching
https://youtu.be/qkN7KydRhUY When we last saw Suma, she was visiting the Storywalk at Westlake Recreation Center where she enjoyed reading One Duck Stuck. With birds still on her mind, Suma decided…
Classic Horror Film Sampler (Part 2)
Missed part 1? Check it out here! I love classic horror films! The spooky, the campy, and the utterly bizarre--I just can't get enough of them! Here are a few…
Digital Stories for Greater Comprehension for Children with Special Needs
Interactive E-Books have been shown to be helpful for comprehension for those with language processing problems. The best digital stories for comprehension for children with special needs have: Full color…
Binge-worthy Sci-fi/Fantasy series
You know that feeling when you sit down on your couch to binge an entire new season of a show? Amazing, right? Reading a completed series in one (albeit long)…
Author Spotlight: Mary Roach
In a previous post, I said that AJ Jacobs was my favorite author to suggest when someone wanted a book that was smart and fun. That's certainly true, but it's…
May is Mental Health Awareness Month
The month of May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Whether you are suffering, or you know someone who is suffering from mental illness or an addiction disorder, please know you…
Celebrate APIA Heritage Month
May is Asian and Pacific Islander American (APIA) Heritage Month, a time to recognize the contributions and influence of Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans to the history and culture of the United States. Celebrate by…
Classic Horror Film Sampler (Part 1)
You may or may not know this, but in addition to my usual responsibilities at the desk, I also run the library's Horror Film Club. I'm a huge fan of…
Author Spotlight: Walter Moers
I'll admit this right up front...I'm not much of a Fantasy reader. I've enjoyed many titles from the genre, but would not list it among my favorites. However, there are…
Job Search Resources
Are you looking for a new job? Do you need to update your resume or brush up on your interviewing skills? Check out these titles for tips and tricks on how to…
Recording with Audacity
Ever haul around a tape recorder to record audio of things that interested you—and wonder what the digital equivalent is of that today? Maybe you'd like to record some audio…
Graduation Advice
In 1997, Mary Schmich, a columnist for the Chicago Tribune, wrote a commencement speech that, according to her, she would have given had she been asked. Later, the Australian film…
Help Children Cope: Web Resources
Perseverance. Resilience. Flexibility. Who knew one year ago that we would be asked to model these traits to our children? Or that we would be asking our kids to display…