Win it Wednesday: The Vanquishers

Every Wednesday we will give away a new book. For a chance to win, just fill out the form at the bottom of the page and you'll be entered into a drawing. The drawing will run from Wednesday through 11:59 PM Sunday. Winners will be announced on Mondays. (Note: you must be a Fresno County resident to be eligible for Win it Wednesdays.)

The Vanquisher

By Kalynn Bayron

Malika “Boog” Wilson and her best friends have grown up idolizing The Vanquishers, a group of heroic vampire hunters who wiped out the last horde of the undead decades ago. Nowadays, most people don't take even the most basic vampire precautions--the days of garlic wreaths and early curfews long gone--but Boog's parents still follow the old rules, much to her embarrassment.

When a friend goes missing, Boog isn't sure what to think. Could it be the school counselor, Mr. Rupert, who definitely seems to be hiding something? Or could it be something more dangerous? Boog is determined to save her friend, but is she ready to admit vampires might not be vanquished after all?

No one ever expected the Vanquishers to return, but if their town needs protection from the undead, Boog knows who to call.

Congrats, Zoey A.! You're this week's Win-it-Wednesday winner!

Family Activities for National Poetry Month

April is National Poetry Month!

Try these fun activities for the whole family:

1. Write a food poem!
Poets love writing about food. Enjoy a meal together and write about what you notice and feel!

2. Visit an art museum!
Write with the eyes of a painter. Poems about art are called "ekphrastic".

3. Get a Parks Pass & touch some grass!
Write about what you see, smell, hear, and feel!

Ask a librarian how you can get a California State Parks Pass for free!

Win it Wednesday: Welcome Home

Every Wednesday we will give away a new book. For a chance to win, just fill out the form at the bottom of the page and you'll be entered into a drawing. The drawing will run from Wednesday through 11:59 PM Sunday. Winners will be announced on Mondays. (Note: you must be a Fresno County resident to be eligible for Win it Wednesdays.)

Welcome Home

By Aimee Reid

This cozy, lyrical picture book is an ode to the joy of welcoming a new baby—perfect for baby showers and new parents!

There are so many people waiting to welcome a new baby into the world! First mom and dad, then siblings, then grandparents—then aunts, uncles, cousins, and neighbors surround the new little one with love. With gentle, rhyming text and warm, exuberant illustrations, this celebratory book shows babies how much they are cherished.

Congrats, Loretta D.! You're this week's Win-it-Wednesday winner!

Win it Wednesday: When Stars Are Scattered

Every Wednesday we will give away a new book. For a chance to win, just fill out the form at the bottom of the page and you'll be entered into a drawing. The drawing will run from Wednesday through 11:59 PM Sunday. Winners will be announced on Mondays. (Note: you must be a Fresno County resident to be eligible for Win it Wednesdays.)

When Stars Are Scattered

By Victoria Jamieson & Omar Mohamed

Omar and his younger brother, Hassan, have spent most of their lives in Dadaab, a refugee camp in Kenya. Life is hard there: never enough food, achingly dull, and without access to the medical care Omar knows his nonverbal brother needs. So when Omar has the opportunity to go to school, he knows it might be a chance to change their future . . . but it would also mean leaving his brother, the only family member he has left, every day.

Heartbreak, hope, and gentle humor exist together in this graphic novel about a childhood spent waiting, and a young man who is able to create a sense of family and home in the most difficult of settings. It's an intimate, important, unforgettable look at the day-to-day life of a refugee, as told to New York Times Bestselling author/artist Victoria Jamieson by Omar Mohamed, the Somali man who lived the story.

Congrats, Tori P.! You're this week's Win-it-Wednesday winner!

Book Recommendations: National Poetry Month

In honor of April being National Poetry Month, here are some poetry books you can read yourself or read with your kid!

Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein (1974)

This collection of poems brings satirical humor to difficult topics. While published decades ago, the poems remain timeless and are still read worldwide.

A Stick is an Excellent Thing by Marilyn Singer (2012)

These poems are all about the wonder and fun of playing outside. This collection is meant to be read aloud, with joy and laughter abound.

I Am the Seed that Grew the Tree by Fiona Waters (2018)

Fiona Waters showcases short and long poems detailing nature's wonders, with a poem for each season of the year. The words and illustrations match to bring a beautiful flow to the book.

Poetry for Kids: Emily Dickinson, edited by Susan Snively (2016)

This collection features poems by the famous poet, Emily Dickinson. While some of her poems may seem challenging to children, the book helps by putting the definition of more complicated words at the bottom of each poem. This book will help children to learn more challenging words while also exposing them to poems by a classic poet.

(Click the book titles to check them out on our catalog!)

Win it Wednesday: The Passover Mouse

Every Wednesday we will give away a new book. For a chance to win, just fill out the form at the bottom of the page and you'll be entered into a drawing. The drawing will run from Wednesday through 11:59 PM Sunday. Winners will be announced on Mondays. (Note: you must be a Fresno County resident to be eligible for Win it Wednesdays.)

The Passover Mouse

By Joy Nelkin Wieder

It's the morning before the start of Passover, and all the villagers have swept their homes clean of leavened bread, in keeping with the traditions of the holiday. Suddenly, a small mouse steals a piece of bread and tears through the town, spoiling everyone's hard work. But just when it seems as if the townsfolk will never be ready for their Seder, the little mouse's actions unwittingly bring everyone together, to work as a group to save the holiday.

Jewish families at Passover will embrace this rollicking, funny, and ultimately inspiring story—based on an original tale from the Talmud—that weaves together the themes of community, kindness, charity, and forgiveness. It's sure to become a modern holiday classic that's shared year after year among the generations.

Congrats Adriel S.! You're this week's Win-it-Wednesday winner! 

Read Across America: April- Share Your Poetic Voice

The theme for April is Share Your Poetic Voice: Help students embrace who they are and use their unique voice to share the best of themselves.

Here are the recommended books for the month. Find discussion questions and more resources on their website.

Elementary: The Book that Almost Rhymed

by Omar Abed

Middle Grade: Poetry Comics

by Grant Snider

Young Adult: How the Boogeyman Became a Poet

by Tony Keith, Jr.