1000 Books Before Kindergarten
Track progress online with Beanstack or a printable log. If you have questions, email us at 1000books@bcpl.org.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library mails one free high-quality, age appropriate book each month to children from birth to age 5.
Tales Birthday Club
Children up to 5 years old are eligible to register for the Tales Birthday Club. During the month of their birthday, children will receive a card in the mail! Bring your Tales Birthday Card to any BCPL location to get the card stamped and receive a birthday gift.
Access Video - Just for Kids!
Stream many favorite children's programs and PBS favorites, such as Sesame Street, The Electric Company, Arthur, Reading Rainbow, and much, much more!
ComicsPlus for Kids
A growing collection of digital comics, graphic novels, and Manges specially curated for kids!
Explora for Kids
New Picture Books
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Camping Fun
Emma and her family want to try new things this summer. The first activity on their list is camping. Will this adventure be family fun or a family disaster? Emma is Deaf and often uses sign language to communicate. This early chapter book includes an ASL fingerspelling chart and a sign language guide.
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Heartfelt
From the creators of the “wonderfully evocative” (BookPage) Thankful comes a cozy picture book about a child who finds that small acts of kindness can change the world.
A child makes paper hearts to give to her teacher, to a friend, at the library, and more. As she spreads kindness around her neighborhood, she soon finds that sharing love is the best gift of all. With Samantha Cotterill’s stunning diorama illustrations, this loving story is sure to capture hearts and inspire acts of kindness. -
Happy Mother's Day from the Crayons
In a wonderful celebration of Mother's Day, the hilarious crayons from the #1 New York Times bestselling The Day The Crayons Quit love their moms--and mother figures in their lives--so much, they wrote a book about it!
Red Crayon loves his mom because she works extra hard, especially on the holidays. Yellow and Orange Crayons love their grandma who has a been like a mom to them. And White Crayon loves his mom a ton, even if he can't always see her. In this inclusive celebration of all kinds of families, the Crayons from The Day the Crayons Quit show how much the crayons love celebrating their moms--and other family members--on Mother's Day. -
Lily's Dream
A flightless fairy befriends a human girl and discovers her magic in this enchanting picture book from the New York Times bestselling illustrator of Parker Looks Up.
Lily is a young fairy determined to learn to fly just like the others who soar on shimmering, jeweled-colored wings, but she’s worried her own colorless wings will never lift her off the ground. Then she meets a young girl named Willow who helps her not only discover her special magic, but the truly magical gift of friendship. -
To See an Owl
An endearing story about a girl’s efforts to spot an owl from the Caldecott Medal winning creator of Wolf in the Snow. This gorgeous picture book that encourages patience and perseverance will resonate with readers of all ages who have longed to see one of these elusive creatures in the natural world.
When will I find you?
Where could you be?
What will it take?
To see an owl.
Silent and wide-eyed, owls are hidden creatures of the night. Janie has always dreamed of finding one. She searches everywhere for signs of an owl – on the open prairie for short-eared owls, on the beach for snowy owls, and for great horned owls in the woods near her home. But months go by, and she sees no owls. She wonders, what will it take to see an owl?
Her teacher, Mr. Koji, a fellow bird-lover, shares that he, too, waited a long time to see an owl. He assures her, “If you are very quiet and very patient, and if you look very close, you might just find them.”
When the snow begins to fall, Janie and her mother head into the woods again, and as she looks carefully, hidden high up in the trees, what she sees is pure magic.
From Matthew Cordell, the creator of Wolf in the Snow that was awarded the Caldecott Medal, comes this beautiful story about quiet perseverance that will resonate with anyone who has experienced the anticipation of discovering a rare treasure in the wild. -
Cranky Makes a Friend
In this second picture book from the #1 New York Times bestselling illustrator of the Food Group series, Pete Oswald, and acclaimed picture book author Phuc Tran's bestselling Cranky series, Cranky is feeling extra cranky when a new crane joins the crew.
There's a new crane on the construction site! His name is Lefty and he's the opposite of Cranky--smiley, talkative, and a jokester. Everything Lefty does makes Cranky feel extra cranky. But everyone else seems to love him. What if Cranky's friends like Lefty more than him
Find out how self-acceptance and a supportive crew help one cranky truck make a new friend in this humorous story about big trucks, big feelings, and even bigger friendships. With Phuc Tran's hilarious text and Pete Oswald's bold, expressive illustrations, this read is perfect for fans of Grumpy Monkey and construction vehicles.
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Me and Other Bunnies
Mo Willems, #1 New York Times bestselling, award-winning author-illustrator creates a hare-larious picture book about bunnies.
There are ME bunnies.
There are YOU bunnies.
There are US bunnies . . . and WE bunnies . . . and THEM bunnies.
There are a lot of bunnies in Me and Other Bunnies. -
Wee Unicorn
Fresh, cotton-candy-colored illustrations and important messages about being yourself and kindness towards others makes this adorably cute unicorn story a tasty treat kids will love.
A fun read-aloud for fans of The Teeny-Weeny Unicorn and for anyone that’s ever felt different or misunderstood will fall for this winning picture book.
Wee Unicorn isn't what everyone expects in a unicorn. She's noisy, and she's not magical. She feels misunderstood. Then she meets another misunderstood creature—a monster others are scared of—and she reacts in an unkind way. Will she be able to make things right?
A bright, inviting world of colors and creatures, Wee Unicorn is pure eye candy—it dazzles and sparkles with its messaging of not making assumptions and loving who you are.
Readers young and old will very much relate to feeling different and misunderstood while falling hard for this irresistible unicorn read-aloud! -
One Day at a Time
Poppy and Robin learn to adjust to their family's new circumstances in this thoughtful story about divorce told over the course of a year of healing.
"Tender and empathetic--and a road map for families undergoing similar shifts." --Kirkus Reviews
When Poppy and Robin's parents separate, everything starts to transform around them. But as their new everyday lives take shape, the two slowly discover that even the biggest changes get easier with time. And just like a garden, it takes love and patience before seeds of joy begin to grow.
This heartfelt and honest picture book can be a springboard for discussing the emotional topic of divorce with children. It's a gentle and hopeful reminder that happiness can bloom from even the toughest days.
"...Allows readers to connect with and reflect their own feelings about changes that might be taking place in their lives, now or in the past. Illustrations capture the emotional journey; these brim with love and reassurance . . . a story that is clear and honest without being didactic." --School Library Journal -
Bruce Saves the Planet
From unwitting mother to unwitting . . . environmental activist?
Save the planet with #1 New York Times best-selling author-illustrator Ryan T. Higgins's beloved Mother Bruce.
Bruce was a bear who liked to be by himself. But that wasn't easy for him, as mother to four geese and three mice. Luckily, he could enjoy a day of peace and quiet while fishing.
But his quiet haven is full of beetles stealing his lunch. And protestors loudly trying to save the forest from the construction of a factory. Will Bruce and the residents of Soggy Hollow manage to save the planet?
This book is part of the Disney Planet Possible Books program, aiming to inspire and empower young readers to take care of planet Earth through amazing stories and kid-friendly environmental activities. Books are manufactured with care in the United States.
New Graphic Novels for Kids
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Bog Myrtle
Best Books of 2024 lists: NYPL, New York Magazine, Quill & Quire * JLG Gold Standard Selection * Moonbeam Children's Book Award Winner * Kids Indie Next Pick
From the acclaimed author of The Wolf Suit comes another weirdly hilarious, masterfully thought-provoking, and lushly painted early reader graphic novel.
Two sisters, one stubbornly cheerful (Beatrice) and one relentlessly grumpy (Magnolia), live in a drafty old house with a family of helpful spiders. When Beatrice is gifted magic yarn from a giant forest spider obsessed with sustainability named Bog Myrtle, she and the spiders set to work knitting up a perfectly warm sweater.
But greedy Magnolia sees only the opportunity for profit, and quickly converts the old house into a magic sweater factory. The exhausted spiders are driven to strike, and Bog Myrtle is not pleased . . .
Bog Myrtle is a witty modern folktale that touches on themes of capitalism, environmentalism, labor rights, and being a nice person.
"I adore this book as much as I adore empowered spiders, poker-faced narrators, and cooperative bookstores. It's wry, whip-smart, and freaking gorgeous. Sid Sharp is a maestro of comic timing and subversion." --Kyo Maclear, author of It Began With a Page
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Fantasy Sports No. 2: The Bandit of Barbel Bay
Wiz and Mug are back and this time they're headed to a mysterious beach town to meet its amphibious inhabitants!
Wiz and Mug's adventure continues as a teleportation spell accidentally drops them off in a ruined beach town. A mysterious tournament and the town's amphibious inhabitants confront Wiz and Mug with the revelation that the United Order of Mages may not be exactly what it seems. In order to fulfill their mission, however, they're going to have to abide by the ancient law of the land and better their opponent in a game of beach volleyball! The question is, can they trust each other and work together to defeat the great and powerful volleyball champions Yahma and Yahmi? -
Kitty Quest: Phantom Frenzy: A Graphic Novel
The fourth book in the funny graphic series for younger readers, featuring a heroic team of cats!
Perfect for fans of Dog Man and The Investigators!
After returning from a mission at a nearby haunted house, the Kitty Quest team discovers that Meowminster has become overrun with ghosts! And even worse, their trusted phantom mentor Mortimore has somehow been split into nine different personalities, each more bizarre than the next. What could have opened this pandora's box of paranormal peril?
The cats must travel to Skitten Dedsbury, the city of the dead, in order to get some answers. But it turns out getting to a place that only ghosts can see is harder than it sounds. And when a little magic goes awry, Woolfrik and Perigold get seperated from the others, leaving the entire quest in their paws. So what if Woolfrik is really spooked out by ghosts?
With poltergeist problems, a ghost invasion, and a new villain behind it all, Kitty Quest will have to overcome their fears and get to the bottom of this mystery if they're going to have any hope of saving their kittydom from descending into supernatural chaos. -
Boss Battle (Spy Ninjas Official Graphic Novel #3)
YouTube stars Chad Wild Clay and Vy Qwaint of the Spy Ninjas are back and ready to defeat Project Zorgo once and for all in their third original graphic novel!
Another day, another threat looming from Project Zorgo! This time, these determined hackers kidnap tech genius Joseph Banks to steal ideas to finally defeat the Spy Ninjas. Hold on just a minute! Chad and Vy rescue Banks with the help of their Spy Ninjas recruits, but it looks like it was a little too late. Project Zorgo created a 3D printer that allows them to send video game bosses to the real world! This can't be good.
Soon the Spy Ninjas are on the case battling, crafting, and smashing their way through the Project Zorgo plan. Will their expert moves be enough to stop this video game takeover or will Project Zorgo get the upper hand? With quick thinking and some sweet skills, the Spy Ninjas are ready for another graphic novel adventure!
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Disney Manga: Stitch! the Manga Collection
You know and love Stitch's Hawaiian adventures ... so join your favorite alien as he visits a Japanese island near Okinawa, where he befriends a young girl named Yuna who excels at karate. Come along as Yuna and Stitch go fishing, enter a costume contest, and even attempt to bake a cake. You never know what sticky situations they'll find themselves in next!
This edition combines the first two volumes of the Stitch! manga series.
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Jimmy's Elbow
Jimmy has an elbow! Do you have one, too? Well, what if it could talk? Award-winning graphic novelist James Kochalka explores surreal frontiers of the body and mind in this psychedelic comedy for all ages.
Jimmy is a very good boy. He even wears a tie! But when he bumps his elbow on a table, this very good boy starts feeling very bad. Did his elbow die? Was that just a dream? Or has Jimmy's magic elbow come to life and unlocked his superpowers? Well, no matter what, it's time for Jimmy and his elbow to go to school... What else could go wrong?
Cartoonist James Kochalka has delighted generations of readers with series like Johnny Boo, Banana Fox, and American Elf. Now he's back with a sprawling and silly graphic novel about childhood, toys, and the mysteries inside us. Explore the nature of sensation, the meaning of America, and the fundamental silliness of having a body, in this surreal and spectacular roller coaster ride for kids, families, and very serious adults.
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Mia's Baker's Dozen The Graphic Novel
The bestselling Cupcake Diaries series is now available in graphic novel format! In this adaptation of the sixth book, Mia finds that one more in the mix is always better!
Mia loves all her friends in the Cupcake Club, and things are good at home with her new stepdad and stepbrother and going to her dad’s house on the weekends. School is okay too with one exception: Mia is failing Spanish! She can speak it at home with her family, but writing is a different story. And when it’s parent-teacher night, Mia has a new dilemma: Who goes to that? Mom and Eddie? Mom and Dad? All of them? Mia soon realizes that sometimes having an extra (or a “baker’s dozen”) of something can be a very good thing.
Fun, bright, full-color graphic panels tell the story with the same humor and heart as the original novel. -
Tryouts
It's warm up time in this newest installment in the Brinkley Yearbook series. Will Alexandra make the cut and help the historically boys baseball team defend their 9-year championship title?
Alexandra, also known as Al, has been playing baseball with her older brothers for as long as she can remember. But when she ages out of Little League, it seems like it’s the end of the road for Al and the sport she loves. Until, that is, her friend Sammy suggests that Al try out for the middle school team—a team that has always been boys-only.
Al is prepared to fight for her right to try out, but to her surprise, the coach is delighted by her interest. When Al makes the team, it seems like everything is going to work out. But with a tenth consecutive championship on the line for Brinkley Middle School and a team that can’t seem to get along, will their season ground out faster than Al can say “home run”?
Look for the whole Brinkley Yearbooks series:
PICTURE DAY • TRYOUTS • SCHOOL DANCE (Coming August 2025!) -
The Inflatables in Air to the Throne (the Inflatables #6)
The Inflatables don't get pumped. They stay pumped! Inflata-pals and bouncy BFFs Cactus, Flamingo, Donut, and Watermelon are ready for a fresh wave of drama in this hilariously action-packed graphic novel series that's perfect for fans of Dog Man and The Bad Guys!
When an Airy Frogfather grants Flamingo's wish for a fancy new home for his inflata-pals, he's pumped! But to claim the palace, the gang will have to go up against Sir-Spits-A-Lot, an evil inflatable llama who won't give up the castle easily. Will Flamingo have what it takes to survive llamagedon and become the rightful air to the throne?