Writing your own poem about the USA counts towards an activity badge for Summer Library Challenge. Make sure you go back to Beanstack or talk to a staff member to mark your activity! Summer is here!…
Making your own patriotic decoration counts towards an activity badge for Summer Library Challenge. Make sure you go back to Beanstack or talk to a staff member to mark your activity! This special blog post is…
If you do this activity, it counts towards an activity badge for Summer Library Challenge. Make sure you go back to Beanstack or talk to a staff member to mark your activity! This special blog post is written…
A is a pretty boring gray-tan. B is brown. C is where it gets good: the exact color of Crayola's "Macaroni and Cheese" crayon. My initials, J and M, are…
Sometimes, we all need a quick shot of pure fun! Here are some picture books guaranteed to put a smile on your face. Every Monday Mabel by Jashar Awan -…
Can a book be judged by its cover? Well... yes. In fact, there is an entire industry of artists whose primary job is to convey something about the story within,…
What is Digital Art? Digital art is an image that is created using a digital device like a computer, phone, or tablet. All the other media in this blog series…
You may not know his name, but I guarantee you know his work. Drew Struzan, aptly named, drew countless iconic movie posters over the course of his 30+ year career.…
What is Gouache? Gouache is the only medium in this series that I have not personally worked with. It is pigment with a water soluble binding agent, just like watercolor,…
What is Pastel? No, not the pale color schemes you see in the spring! Pastels, the art medium, are similar to chalk. Pigmented powder and a touch of a binding…
India is a huge country, with an enormously rich pantheon of folklore that changes depending on which part of the country you’re from, and I wanted to tell a story…
What is Pen & Ink? "Pen & Ink" is a common way to refer to the field of ink drawing, especially when using a dip or fountain pen. Ink is…
What is 3D and Unusual Media? 3D art is anything that isn't flat. This includes traditional sculpture (like clay or stone), as well as diorama-style setups, knitting and sewing, and…
First, foremost, and forever, my answer is The Mysterious Benedict Society. When I first read this, I was just at the age where I started to notice how carelessly written some…
What Is Oil Paint? Oil paint is simply pigment mixed into an oil medium, often linseed oil. Most famous artists of history used oil paint. Oil paint is similar to…
Do you know who John Cena is? Of course you do. He's the guy from the memes. Also a wrestler. Also an actor. Also... a picture book author? In 2018,…
What is Charcoal? What is Graphite? Charcoal and graphite are both made of carbon, but the element is structured differently for each. This means that graphite and charcoal have different…
What Is Acrylic Paint? Art supplies get their color from pigment. That pigment can be mixed with a "medium," which changes the way the pigment is handled. In the case…
It's hard to believe that I've written eleven installments of the Folklore Fun series! Yet, I knew that there was still a huge geographical region that I hadn't explored yet:…
What Is Papercraft? Papercraft, broadly speaking, is a work of art that is created out of paper. The interesting thing about papercraft is its variety of forms. There is the…
The University of Findlay's Mazza Museum is home to a stunning collection of original art from picture books. As a UF alumnus from their illustration program, I spent a lot…
How Can a Book Be Undead? I'll be honest: I've never liked zombies. They're scary. They're gross. They bear the faces of humans—people who once laughed, and dreamed, and fell…
In honor of WPPL's Welcoming Week, we're going on a whirlwind trip around the world! Let's ease in with some broader collections. The books will feature familiar tales, as well…
This post was updated in October 2026 to reflect WPPL’s current collection. I started this blog post with zero knowledge about Chinese folklore. Fortunately, WPPL has a great selection of…