New Year’s Resolution:  Teach the family to open a book and have a blast!

Steps:

1. Sign up to receive Book|Blasts by email.
2. Get a library card (if yours has expired).
3. Reacquaint yourselves with the children’s section of the library.
4. Actively participate in the OnceUponAGoodTime.com community – leave comments, tell your friends about us, and enjoy the Book|Blasts!

If your kids need a little extra persuasion, make your next visit to the library be to the Scottsdale Civic Center Library. Their children’s section is one of the coolest around. Prime the pump a little by reading Library Lion . . . you’ll be sure to have a roaring good time.

The Book

Title: Library Lion

Click here to find the book and more in our Amazon store.

Author: Michelle Knudsen

Illustrator: Kevin Hawkes

Recommended Age: 4-8

Book Brief: Miss Merriweather, the head librarian, is very particular about rules in the library. No running allowed. And you must be quiet. But when a lion comes to the library one day, no one is sure what to do. There aren’t any rules about lions in the library. And, as it turns out, this lion seems very well suited to library visiting. His big feet are quiet on the library floor. He makes a comfy backrest for the children at story hour. And he never roars in the library, at least not anymore. But when something terrible happens, the lion quickly comes to the rescue in the only way he knows how.

About the Author: Michelle Knudsen has worked in libraries in New York City and Ithaca, New York. She is the author of the Brand New Reader Fish and Frog, among many other books for children. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.

About the Illustrator: Kevin Hawkes is the illustrator of many award-winning books for children, including Weslandia and Sidewalk Circus, both by Paul Fleischman, as well as Handel, Who Knew What He Liked and Me, All Alone at the End of the World, both by M.T. Anderson. He lives in Gorham, Maine.

The Blast

Scottsdale Civic Center Library

(Below is a video someone shot of the kids’ section of the library.)

Location:

3839 N Drinkwater Blvd

Scottsdale, AZ 85251

(480) 312-2476

http://library.scottsdaleaz.gov/

Hours:

Monday – Thursday: 9 am to 9 pm
Friday & Saturday: 10 am to 6 pm
Sunday: 1 pm to 5 pm

It’s a Blast! Despite the advent of the digital age, the library still holds power to inspire your children to be lifelong readers. Become frequent visitors at your local library. If you want to make a special excursion, visit the Scottsdale Civic Center Library. The section for kids is filled with thematic environmental elements that somehow make the reading experience more fun than usual. A castle, trees, clouds, streams, bridges, and more bring familiar stories to life. Your kids can find comfy, secluded places to curl up with a book. Let them explore the space, and they’ll soon be picking up books and enjoying the atmosphere.

Extra tips for a Good Time:

• Plan to spend at least an hour at the library. Since you’re probably only there for a one-time visit, you may not want to check any books out. Make the trip worth it by finding a stack of books to read with your kids.
• Extend the excursion by doing some shopping at the nearby Scottsdale Fashion Square or grabbing a bite to eat at any of the numerous nearby eateries. (We like Fuddruckers.)
• Make sure your kids have their own library cards. It’ll make them feel special, and you’ll be able to take home significantly more books.
• Team up with another grown-up. If you’re like us, the library grabs you. You’ll want a few minutes to explore the shelves for your own gratification.