Starting on February 18, all library communications, including hold notices, courtesy notices and bills, will be sent in emails. Please keep your email address updated with us in order to receive messages from the library promptly.
A culturally diverse list of Cinderella stories available at the Oakland Public Library.
Here’s a bit of library fun for you: pick a fairy tale, any fairy tale. Go see how many variations of that traditional story are available at your local branch. For some, like Rumpelstiltskin or the Ugly Duckling, your options will be relatively few.
Legos in the library? YES.
Did you know that you can play with Legos (R) at Oakland Libraries? Six of our branches have monthly Lego parties. We don't even care if the children make noise!
Dimond Branch - First Fridays at 3:30
Eastmont Branch - First Tuesdys at 4:00
Lakeview Branch - Second Fridays at 3:00
Main Library/Children's Room - Second Thursdays at 3:00
Piedmont Avenue Branch - First Fridays at 3:00
Sometimes, the right book for a young reader is one about someone they already know.
I had a great children's lit teacher in library school. She assigned huge, huge masses of books each week that I read in tottering stacks at the Bezazian Branch of the Chicago Public Library-- I told my friends that I didn't count the books I read for that class in numbers, but in feet. In one of our earliest classes, I remember this teacher going on a rant about how there were so many wonderful children's books that there was never any need for a library to buy any "crap," and she never wanted to come to any of our libraries in the future and see "crap on the shelves." I hiss-whispered to another student, "what does she mean by crap?" She shrugged and said, "like, TV tie-ins and stuff."
TV tie-ins are books based on TV series. I don't know if that is what my teacher meant by "crap" or not, but as my classmate demonstrated, they're often
Create art with us at the library.
Come join us as we create art with MOCHA. The programs, for children from 3 to 18, travel to OPL libraries every Wednesday at 2:00 pm. MOCHA's brand new home is not opening until November, but you can do art with their fabulous artists at four of our branches right now.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Branch
MOCHA artist workshops have been weekly events at OPL branches for over three years now. The programs have been very popular at all the sites
A list featuring craft books that may be found at the Oakland Public Library.
Have you ever stumbled upon the library’s collection of craft books for children? They’re in the 700s (near the art books), and chock full of great ideas for creative kiddos of all ages. Origami? Absolutely. Knitting? Indeed. Sewing? Mask-making? Scrapbooking? Ceramics? Yes, it’s all there! Check out some of these favorites, and let us know which craft books your kids adore:
Singing soothes the savage beast (and also helps prepare your child to be ready to read).
Songs are a wonderful way for children to learn about language and pick up new words. Singing also slows down language so they can hear the different sounds that make up words. This helps when children begin to read printed language. There are some easy and fun things you can do with your child with songs and music.
You are your child's first teacher, and your home is where your child begins to learn. Help your child get ready to read by providing early literacy opportunities around your home. In addition to singing, you can talk, read, write, and play with your child to help him
What will happen when a young reader discovers a kind of book he didn't know existed? True love, perhaps? Read--this week in comics form!
A friend and I have been doing a 30 Day Drawing Challenge; every day we draw from a prompt, then post the pictures to each others' Facebook walls. Results are somewhere between poignant and hilarious. In that spirit, I decided to draw today's story about a reluctant reader who finds a kind of book he'd never dreamed existed...... Enjoy!
Results of the grand prize drawings for the children's Summer Reading Program
More than 5000 kids read for more than 8 hours each this summer in the Oakland Public Library Summer Reading Program, and collected wonderful rewards including a book of their own, and coupons to attractions all over Oakland.
Two lucky kids are the recipients of this year's city-wide grand prizes. For the under-5 category, Children's Fairyland generously donated a one-year family membership, and the lucky recipient is Kiran Beattie, age 4. Here she is with her older sister Amba, who likes Fairyland too. Since the whole family helped Kiran read this summer, we're glad they all get to share in the prize.
A list of recommended books on CD for kids of all ages that can be found at the Oakland Public Library.
If you’re looking for something to captivate youngsters during an end-of-summer road trip, OPL has you covered! Each of our library locations carries a selection of children’s audiobooks to engage even the wiggliest of passengers. Ask library staff to help you find book/CD kits, too; these are books that include a CD so kiddos can read along with the audio.
Have you tried audiobooks with your kids? Let us know which ones they have especially enjoyed!
Sara Palacios is coming to Oakland Public Library!
Sara Palacios, award willing children's book illustrator, is visiting the César Chávez branch of the Oakland Public Library on Saturday, August 24 at 3:30. She will share illustrations from her books and answer questions regarding how she creates her images.
Sara Palacios is the recipient of the 2012 Pura Belpré Illustrator Honor for her work on Marisol McDonald Doesn't Match/MarisolMcDonald no combina (Children's Book Press, 2011), which has been described as "vibrant" and "eclectic." A native of Mexico, Sara graduated from the Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana with a degree in Graphic Design. She also obtained an Associated Degree in Artistic Illustration from la Universidad del Claustro de Sor Juana, and another one in Digital Graphic Techniques from the National Institute of Fine Arts in Mexico. After graduation in