zFamily Activities 2024
Suggested Family Activities
#NerlSFA on Social
Fun and Creative Ideas for Your Family to Do at Home.
New Suggested Family Activities are posted on almost every Tuesday and Thursday
As with our Summer Reading Program activities, we would love to see pictures of your completed artwork, craft projects, or how your family has completed each activity. And with the parent’s permission, we will share your pictures on our Northeast Regional Library website and social media. If you have any suggestions or comments on the types of activities you would like to see, please let us know!
Send your pictures, ideas, and comments to photos@nereg.lib.ms.us
🏆 2021 Jane Smith Literacy Award Winner
🏆 2021 Library of Congress Award Winner
December 2023
Christmas 🎄 Tree Craft
Here are two ideas for making a Christmas tree craft today:
Turn a paper plate into a Christmas tree by cutting it apart into 3 wedges (imagine a watermelon slice). Glue the wedge pieces on top of each other with the fluted part of the plate pointing down and the pointy piece on the top. Then color the tree green and decorate it with stickers, sequins, beads, and other craft supplies.
Or use an empty toilet paper roll as a paintbrush! Pour out some green paint on a small paper plate and dip the end of the toilet paper roll into the paint. Then press the end onto a sheet of paper in overlapping circles to make a Christmas tree shape.
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Backyard 🔥 BonFire
Bundle up if it’s cold and have a backyard bonfire tonight (in a safe location, of course, such as a fire pit or old grill). You can roast hot dogs for supper and fix everyone’s favorite s’mores for dessert. Finish off the night with some hot chocolate or hot apple cider while you pull up your lawn chairs and cozy blankets to stargaze and enjoy the beautiful night sky.
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Home 🏡 Safety
As cooler weather arrives in our area, now is a good time to go over home safety rules with your family. In case of a fire or other emergency, where will everyone meet outside? Who grabs your family’s pets? Practice Stop, Drop and Roll with young children and do a fire drill to make sure everyone understands what to do. Help young children memorize their first and last names, address, and an adult’s phone number and teach them how to operate a phone to dial 911.
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Paper Chain Decorations
Before the time of mass-produced ornaments, people decorated their homes with paper chains, strings of dried fruit such as cranberries and orange slices, and strings of popcorn 🍿. Try one (or all) of these crafts today! Paper chains also make a fun countdown calendar to your favorite winter holiday. Make one early in the month and then pull off a loop each day. Stringing popcorn is also a fun decoration for trees and shrubs outside – it gives visiting birds and squirrels a holiday treat.
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November 2023
Leaf Stained Glass
If you love craft project with fallen leaves, try out Leaf Stained Glass. Grab brightly colored fall leaves in gold, orange, yellow, and red in a variety of shapes and sizes. Preserve their beauty by pressing them between layers of wax paper and sealing it with an iron. You will need to make sure that the piece of waxed paper you tear off is big enough that you can fold it in half. Then lift the top layer of paper and sandwich your collection of leaves in between the two layers. To add extra color, you can also shave waxed crayons over the blank spaces of the paper. Flip the top sheet back down and slowly and careful iron it on medium heat until the paper seals in the leaves.
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Improv 🎬
Have fun today by making up stories about random pictures. Take a random picture out of a book or magazine and ask your family to tell you who the main characters are, what they are doing, and why they are doing it. There’s no right or wrong answer – it’s just fun to create a story from your imagination. Young children can be asked about key details like colors and the names of objects seen in the picture.
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Donate Outgrown Clothes
Do you have a lot of winter items your family has outgrown this year? Donate any shirts, jeans, coats, sweaters, hats, scarves, thick socks, gloves, and mittens to groups and organizations who pass items along to those who need them. Local places include churches, homeless organizations, the Salvation Army, and Goodwill.
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Thankful 📔 Journal
To have a lasting reminder of the things that your family is thankful for this year, make a Thankful Journal. Journals can be purchased very inexpensively at many stores, or you can use a notebook or loose-leaf paper. Small children can use their journals to practice writing one or two words (or whole sentences as their skills allow) that express the things for which they are grateful, along with an illustration. Young children who cannot write yet can just draw their ideas or use stickers to represent them. An adult or older brother or sister could even write down an “explanation”, if necessary, on the back side of their paper so that years later, you will know what they meant! For those who need a prompt to help get their creative writing juices flowing, you can pick a different question every few days to answer or just let each family member write what comes to their heart.
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Turkey 🦃 Craft
To get ready for Thanksgiving, make a turkey today out of craft sticks. Grab some colored sticks (think orange, yellow or brown) or color plain craft sticks. Glue craft feathers (or cut your own out of paper) on one end. Then draw eyes, a red wattle, and a tiny triangle of a nose with a marker or a pen. If you have googly eyes, you can also use those. This craft is also a great way to recycle popsicle sticks.
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Grateful Pumpkin Craft
A fun craft project to make using your hand as a template is a Grateful Pumpkin. Grab some orange and green paper (or color white paper), a green pipe cleaner, a hole punch, and a pen or marker. Start by cutting a sheet of orange paper into 1-inch strips. On each strip, write down something for which you are grateful this Thanksgiving. Next, trace around your hand on the green piece of paper and cut it out. On the palm area, write “I am thankful for”. Punch holes in each end of the paper strips and at the bottom of the green paper hand. Then thread the strips of orange paper onto the pipe cleaner so that they fan out to make a rounded shape. (See our example below.) Twist the bottom end of the pipe cleaner to hold the pieces together and thread the green hand on the top and twist that end of the pipe cleaner so that it looks more leaf-like.
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The Thankful ABC Game
Play the Thankful Alphabet game today: The first player starts with the letter A and names something that begins with that letter that they are thankful for, such as Apples. The next person takes the letter B and so on. Keep going until every letter has been used. (Let us know what you come up with for X and Z!) To turn this into a memory game, you could do the same thing but each person after the first must repeat what the other person named. For example, if the first person said they were grateful for “Apples”, the second person would say, “Our family is grateful for Apples and Bananas” and so on.
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Leaf🍂Prints
It’s very easy to make decorative leaf prints using just paint and paper. Head outside and look for a fallen leaf that has a pretty shape. Since you might get messy with this project, have fun working on it outside, such as on a sidewalk, porch, or other flat outdoor surface. Cover the area with newspapers, an old sheet, or plastic tablecloth to help with accidental spills and to make clean-up go faster. Start by using a paintbrush to coat one side of the leaf with paint, then press the leaf onto a piece of paper. Press down long enough to make sure all the paint transfers to the paper. Plain white paper will show the paint color to its best advantage, but you can experiment with colored construction paper to get different results.
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October 2023
Pumpkin 🎃 Seeds
When you carve your pumpkin for Halloween this year, don’t throw away the seeds inside. They make a great sweet or savory snack for your family, depending on what types of seasonings you decide to put on them. Start by washing the seeds in a colander to remove all the pulp. Dry the seeds with a towel before tossing them in a bowl with olive oil or butter, salt, and garlic powder. You can also experiment with other seasonings, such as cinnamon, black pepper, paprika, dill, and onion power to see what your family likes. Spread the seeds on a baking sheet and roast them at 350 degrees for up to 15 minutes, tossing the seeds every 5 minutes. When they turn golden brown, they are ready.
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National Black Cat Day
Use a popsicle stick and a few pieces of paper to make a black cat for National Black Cat Day. Cut two large round circles to be the body and head of the cat. Glue them to one side of your popsicle stick. Cut triangle shapes from black paper to be the ears and a pink square and oval for his mouth. Glue them down. Next, cut four crescent moon shapes from yellow paper to be the spooky pupils to the cat’s eyes. Glue these down standing on their points and facing towards each other. Then cut out small black strips to be the whiskers (or use pipe cleaners, if you have any).
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Pumpkin 🎃 Science
If you have a pumpkin on your front porch or steps, you have everything you need to conduct a STEM experiment. To learn how vegetable matter decomposes, have kids make a chart or write down each day’s progress as the pumpkin rots. Small children can draw pictures, while older children can record details about how the pumpkin looks, what the temperature is outside, and other details, such as if there is a frost or it rains. They can even document how the outside of the pumpkin feels – if they are brave enough to touch it!
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‘J’ for Jack O Lantern 🎃
Have your young ones make a ‘J’ for Jack O Lantern this month. Draw a large ‘J’ shape out of orange construction paper, a short brown piece for the stem, and a leaf shape out of green. Make a scary, funny, or traditional face by arranging black triangles for the eyes, nose, and mouth. Once all the cutting is complete, glue it all down on a black piece of construction paper.
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National Outdoor Sports Day
Get creative and try some of these unusual outdoor games today for National Outdoor Sports Day:
- Play shaving cream Twister by adding shaving cream mixed with food coloring to the dots.
- Play Sardines – one person hides and everyone else tries to find them. When each person does find the one hiding, they quietly join them until only one person is left searching. Then that person becomes the one who hides.
- Have races while walking like various animals, such as crabs, horses, elephants, etc.
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Jack O Lantern Craft
For a new twist on a Jack O Lantern, cut a pumpkin shape out of white or orange paper and then cut apart an old magazine, looking for funny expressions on people’s faces or various parts (noses, eyes, mouth, etc.) to mix and match to make a face collage for your pumpkin. Everyone in the family can get into the fun and make one. You can make your face scary, funny, or try to make it look like yourself.
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National Eat Better, Eat Together Month
October is National Eat Better, Eat Together Month. This month, families are encouraged to gather at the same table to enjoy mealtimes. When people eat meals together (as opposed to grabbing snacks at different times or individual meals ‘on the go’), they tend to eat healthier and make better food choices. So make it a priority to eat at least one meal together as a family this month. Eating together is also a great way to spend time together and share what you did during the day. Ask your family: What was the best thing that happened to you today? What was the worst? What was the funniest? Did you meet someone new today?
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National Do Something Nice Day
Today is National Do Something Nice Day so try to take every opportunity you can to do something nice for those around you. Your kind deed could have the power to change the course of someone else’s day from a bad to good. Your kind deed could be as simple as letting someone go in front of you in line, holding the door open for someone, or picking up your neighbor’s newspaper out of their driveway and putting it on their doorstep.
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Autumn Tree 🍁 Craft
Try this variation to make a cute Autumn Tree: Cut paper links (like you are making a traditional paper chain) in a variety of fall leaf colors, such as gold, yellow, red, and orange. Glue each link together individually, though, instead of making them into one long chain. Next cut a wide strip of brown paper for the tree’s trunk and glue it onto a sheet of paper. Finally, glue each paper chain individually in a cloud formation at the top of the trunk until you have a full and beautiful autumn tree.
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September 2023
National Good Neighbor Day 🙂
Celebrate National Good Neighbor Day by getting to know your neighbors. If you see someone in your neighborhood who needs help with something, whether it is mowing their yard occasionally or carrying a heavy package in for them, give them a few minutes of your time. If you have extra produce from your garden, why not share them with a neighbor? Or if you bake cookies for your family, take a few to a neighbor. And don’t forget that it is always neighborly of you to check on people in your neighborhood who live alone.
Check out this website for great ideas, tips, and coloring sheets to promote being a good neighbor: https://www.hopefulneighborhood.org/good-neighbor-day.
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Sticky Note 📒 Art
Make some sticky-note art by grabbing different sizes and colors of sticky note pads and challenging everyone to see what they can make with them. Pick a large area (like a window, door, or blank stretch of wall) and make it into a family mural. For an added spark, you can even draw on the sticky notes to really make it clear what they represent.
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Secret *Invisible* Messages
Let’s learn how to write secret, invisible messages today. Squeeze some lemon juice into a bowl and mix in a few drops of water. Using a cotton Q-tip dipped in the liquid, write a message on a blank sheet of white paper. After the message has completely dried and can’t be seen anymore, heat the paper by holding it close to a light bulb. (Kids, get an adult’s help!)
How does it work? The lemon juice is made up of starches, sugars, and other components that break down and turn brown when it is heated. You can experiment with other natural liquids like apple and orange juice, honey, milk, or vinegar.
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Squeeze the Juice: Start with one large lemon, cut it in half and squeeze the juice into a small bowl.
- Prepare Your ‘Ink’: Dip a cotton swab or a paintbrush into the lemon juice.
- Write Your Message: Use the soaked cotton swab or paintbrush to write your secret message on a piece of paper.
- Let it Dry: Allow the paper to dry completely. Your message will become invisible once the lemon juice dries.
- Reveal the Message: When you’re ready to read your invisible message, hold the paper up to a light bulb or another heat source. The heat will cause the writing to darken to a pale brown, so your message can now be read.
🥓🍳 Better Breakfast Month
September is Better Breakfast Month so take some time each morning to eat something for the most important meal of the day. A great breakfast should contain a balance of all the major food groups – protein, dairy, fat, and carbohydrates. Taking time to eat breakfast can have helpful health benefits, as many nutritionists believe that starting your day by eating a regular morning meal can help control weight by setting a pattern of eating smaller, healthy meals throughout the day. Children who have a healthy breakfast before school often think more clearly and are better behaved while they are at school.
Remember Sack Races?
Today is National Kids Take Over The Kitchen Day
Today is National Kids Take Over the Kitchen Day, so get your older kids to give you a break and cook up a delicious meal for the family. If you have little ones, it’s a great day to introduce them to the steps involved in making a meal. Helping with the planning, preparation, and cooking of meals is also a great way to spend time together as a family.
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September Is National Library Card Sign-Up Month
September is National Library Card Sign-Up Month. If you do not have a library card from one of your local library branches, we encourage you to stop by one today to sign up. Getting a library card is FREE and easy – all you need are a picture ID and your current address. Most people use a driver’s license, although two separate documents will also work. Children between the ages of 6 and 17 will need a parent or guardian to sign their application.
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National 📖 Read a Book Day
It’s National Read A Book Day! Spend time today relaxing and reading a great book. You can read on your own or read out loud to your children or other family members. Family members or neighbors with poor eyesight will enjoy being read to as well. Children can get into the fun too, by reading out loud to other family members, reading to their pets, or even just reading to their favorite stuffed animals.
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National 🥔🍎🥫 Food Bank Day
Today is National Food Bank Day. Donate cash or nonperishable food items to a local food bank or donate your time to volunteer to sort donated items or hand them out to those in need.
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August 2023
Dinosaur Craft
Make a Q-tip dinosaur today by grabbing a handful of Q-tips. Use them as they are to make long leg bones and backbones, then cut them into smaller pieces to make claws, spikes, horns, and other parts of a dinosaur. Once you have it arranged just right, glue the Q-tips to a sheet of paper.
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National Park Service 🏞 Founders Day
Today is National Park Service Founders Day – a day set aside to recognize the superior conservation and preservation efforts of the National Parks System. Head over this weekend to one of the many nearby national parks we have in our area to check out their walking and biking trails, lakes, ponds, and other types of outdoor recreation.
There are several national parks near Corinth, Mississippi. Some of the closest ones are:
- Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield Site in Baldwyn, MS
- Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument in Sumner, MS
- Gulf Islands National Seashore in Gulf Breeze, Florida and Ocean Springs, Mississippi
- Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument in Jackson, MS
- Natchez National Historical Park in Natchez, MS
- Natchez Trace Parkway in the states of AL, MS, TN
- Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail in Tupelo, MS also AL and TN
- Shiloh National Military Park in Shiloh, TN
You can find more information about these parks on the National Park Service website.
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Magic Wand 🎩 Pointer
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Dirty Socks 🧦 S.T.E.M. Experiment
Try this fun S.T.E.M. experiment with your family: Have everyone wear an old sock over their shoe and then go out for a walk. After you’ve had time to walk around, take the old socks off and spritz the bottom of each sock with water. Then put each sock in a separate resealable plastic bag. Hang the bags in a sunny window for 2-3 weeks and see what grows. You will be amazed! Just make sure you keep the bottom of the sock moist for the best growing condition.
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Navajo Code Talkers Day
Today is National Navajo Code Talkers Day, a day to honor the contributions of Native Americans during World War II. During the war, Navajo speakers were recruited to create a code system based on their language, which had never been written down. They created a secret code that they used to send and receive messages that the Axis powers were never able to break. The program was classified until 1968, at which time the United States presented the original 29 Navajo Code Talkers with Congressional Gold Medals.
The library has several books that will help young children learn about this fascinating part of our history. You also check out the CIA’s website to learn more about the history of the project or this article from The National WWII Museum in New Orleans.
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Family Obstacle Course
You can use all sorts of things you already have to set up obstacle course stations for your family. Think hula hoops, jump ropes, or Frisbees to really get your family moving. If you have a driveway, sidewalk, patio, or porch, you can trace a tightrope onto them with colored chalk. Or you can turn all your empty cardboard boxes into tunnels that children can climb through. Pool noodles can be used to create a pathway or use it as a Limbo stick.
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National Book Lover’s Day
Today is National Book Lovers Day so visit your nearest public library to see what they have new. Library staff are happy to help you find something fun and exciting to read, whether you like fiction or non-fiction, classic or contemporary writers, or any in the wide variety of genres the library carries, such as westerns, political intrigue, romances, mystery, science fiction, fantasy, and more.
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Sun 🌞 Prints
Since we are in the middle of a heat wave, take advantage of the sun shining down to create Sun Prints. Construction paper works best as it fades easily. Have your family collect several different kinds of objects to experiment with – natural objects, such as leaves or flowers or even some of their toys. Leave the objects on the paper in full sun and check on them often to see how they are progressing.
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School 📝📏 Supplies
Don’t let your kids have all the fun – let everyone in your family pick out new school supplies this year. Brand-new pencils, pens, markers, journals, notebooks, colored pencils, stickers, and crayons are fun for everyone. They can use the items to work on their own craft projects, make a journal, or draw fun pictures. Dollar stores are heavily stocked with inexpensive school supplies right now, so this treat doesn’t have to be expensive.
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July 2023
Buffalo Soldiers
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Pool Noodles
Do you have a pool noodle hanging around? Cut it in half and it will make a great racetrack for marbles, small bouncy balls, or small vehicles (think Matchbox car size). Have your kids experiment with different placements to see what works best – and is the fastest! Does putting one end up too high make it too steep? Does it make it faster? What happens to the opposite end of your noodle if you prop one end up?
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Making Bouncy Balls
Did you know you can make your own homemade bouncy balls using just a few simple things from the grocery store? Just follow these steps:
Step One: Grab two disposable plastic cups.
Step Two: Pour 2 tablespoons warm water into one of the cups. Add ½ teaspoon borax and stir using a disposable stirrer until the mixture is dissolved.
Step Three: Into the second cup, add 1 tablespoon white glue and 1 tablespoon corn starch. If you would like to color your bouncing ball, add a few drops of food coloring to the mixture.
Step Four: Finally, add ½ teaspoon of the 1st cup containing borax and mix it into the second mixture.
Step Five: Allow the mixture to sit for 15 seconds, then stir it. Once it become difficult to stir, pour it out of the cup and roll it into a ball with your hands.
You can store any leftover mixture and your bouncy ball in an airtight container so that they do not dry out.
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Summer Vegetables
Summer is the best month to try out a new veggie! Head out to your garden, a Farmer’s Market, or the grocery store and have your family look at all the colors of vegetables. Pick out something interesting and then work together to look up recipes. If children are more involved in the process of preparing food, they are often more inclined to try it.
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Paper Bag Puppets
That’s it! You have made a beautiful friendship bracelet with colored embroidery floss. Enjoy!
See what you can make out of a paper bag today. Lunch sized bags turn into great puppets with just crayons and markers. Draw a funny, sad, silly, angry, or happy face on your puppet to give it some personality. Look around your home for something to make hair for your puppet – yarn, feathers, and pipe cleaners are good choices, or you can let your imagination run wild and find something unique to dress up your puppet.
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Friendship Bracelets
Remember old-school friendship bracelets – the kind made from knots tied into embroidery floss? Make one today! Embroidery floss is very inexpensive and is the only supply you will need. Your family can make some to keep and then make lots of others to give away to friends and family. Younger family members can participate using larger supplies, such as parachute cording.
All you need is some colored embroidery floss, scissors, tape and a ruler. Here’s how to do it:
1. Cut four strands of floss, each about 24 inches long. You can use different colors or the same color, depending on your preference.
2. Tie a knot at one end of the strands, leaving a few inches of tail. Tape the knot to a flat surface, like a table or a clipboard.
3. Arrange the strands in the order you want them to appear in your bracelet. For example, if you have red, blue, green and yellow floss, you can arrange them as RBGY or YGBR.
4. Start with the strand on the left (red in our example) and make a “4” shape over the next strand (blue). Then, bring the red strand under the blue strand and pull it up through the loop of the “4”. Pull it tight to make a knot.
5. Repeat step 4 with the same strand (red) and the next strand (green). Then, do it again with the same strand (red) and the last strand (yellow). You have completed one row of knots with the red strand.
6. Now, pick up the next strand on the left (blue in our example) and repeat steps 4 and 5 with the remaining strands (green and yellow). You have completed another row of knots with the blue strand.
7. Keep repeating steps 4 to 6 with each strand on the left until your bracelet is long enough to fit your wrist. Make sure to keep your knots tight and even.
8. Tie another knot at the end of your bracelet, leaving a few inches of tail. Cut off any excess floss.
9. To wear your bracelet, wrap it around your wrist and tie the tails together in a double knot.
You can also exchange bracelets with your friends as a symbol of your friendship!
That’s it! You have made a beautiful friendship bracelet with colored embroidery floss. Enjoy!
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Thank a Community Service Worker
Write a letter to a community service worker to let them know how much your family appreciates them. Ones to think about are those who work for the street department, sanitation department, police department, fire department, and so on. Don’t forget health care workers such as doctors, nurses, paramedics, and those who work at the hospital. Your “Thank You” can take the form of a note, a card, or a letter. Young children can even draw a picture to show their thanks.
Share your photos with us at photos@nereg.lib.ms.us
Thank a Community Service Worker
Write a letter to a community service worker to let them know how much your family appreciates them. Ones to think about are those who work for the street department, sanitation department, police department, fire department, and so on. Don’t forget health care workers such as doctors, nurses, paramedics, and those who work at the hospital. Your “Thank You” can take the form of a note, a card, or a letter. Young children can even draw a picture to show their thanks.
Share your photos with us at photos@nereg.lib.ms.us
June 2023
Meditation Minute
Take time today to have a meditation minute. Gather all your family together in a comfortable place and spend a minute or two concentrating on your breathing technique. Even little ones can be taught how to breathe deeply. As everyone relaxes, have them focus on breathing in through their nose, allowing their chest to fill fully, and then slowing release the air through their mouth. Once everyone has the technique down, you could put on some gentle music or a soothing story to further put everyone in a relaxed mood.
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Colored Chalk Drawings
Colored chalk is a fun way to entertain your kids, plus it is very inexpensive to purchase. If you have a sidewalk near your house or a cement porch, patio, or driveway, your kids can spend hours drawing designs on it with chalk. Let them unleash their creativity by drawing whatever comes to mind or give them suggestions to see what they make.
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Artist Eric Carle
Check out the website for children’s book author and illustrator Eric Carle for inspiration for making beautiful collage art. You’ll find interviews and videos of Carle talking about how he made his colorful collages using tissue paper, crayons, and paint, plus resources for parents, educators, and caregivers. https://eric-carle.com/
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National Aquarium Month
Visit a virtual aquarium today for National Aquarium Month. Some of our favorites are the Monterey Bay, California Aquarium Cams, where you can see live views of sea nettles, moon jellyfish, sardines, and leopard sharks swimming through a kelp forest, as well as sharks and many other fish inside their aquarium. They even have live feeds from outside in the nearby Monterey Bay waters.
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National Smile Power Day
On National Smile Power Day today, show us your best smile! Try to smile at everyone today. Smiling helps us to feel happier and in a good mood. It’s also catching – if you smile at someone, they most likely will smile back. Show us your smile today by sending a picture to photos@nereg.lib.ms.us. We’ll post them on our website and social media!
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Kindness Chain 🔗
Hold a kindness challenge with your family this summer. Write down acts of kindness on small strips of colored paper. Every time someone in your family does something kind, glue or tape the slip together to make a Kindness Chain
Are you looking for a fun and meaningful way to spend quality time with your family this summer? Do you want to foster a culture of kindness and gratitude in your home? If so, you might want to try holding a kindness challenge with your family.
A kindness challenge is a simple but powerful activity that encourages everyone in your family to practice kindness every day. It can help you strengthen your relationships, boost your mood, and make a positive impact on others.
Here’s how it works: First, you need to prepare some materials. You will need some colored paper, scissors, glue or tape, and a marker. Cut the paper into small strips and write down different acts of kindness on each strip. For example, you can write things like “give someone a compliment”, “help with the dishes”, “donate to a charity”, or “write a thank you note”. You can also leave some strips blank for your family to come up with their own ideas.
Next, you need to set a goal and a time frame for your challenge. How long do you want the challenge to last? How many acts of kindness do you want to complete each day? You can decide these as a family or individually. You can also choose a reward or a celebration for completing the challenge, such as going out for ice cream, watching a movie, or having a picnic.
Finally, you need to start the challenge and keep track of your progress. Every time someone in your family does something kind, they can glue or tape the corresponding slip of paper together to make a Kindness Chain. You can hang the chain somewhere visible in your house, such as on the wall, the door, or the window. The longer the chain gets, the more kindness you are spreading!
A kindness challenge is a great way to have fun and make a difference with your family this summer. It can help you create lasting memories and habits of kindness that will benefit you and others for years to come. Why not give it a try and see how it goes?
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National Best Friends Day
Today is a great day to show your bestie just how much they mean to you – it’s National Best Friends Day. Here are a few ideas to celebrate: Write a special note or draw a picture for them. Spend some time together – go for a walk, head out for coffee, or grab some ice cream. Watch a movie together. Cook them a special meal or a sweet treat, such as brownies or cookies.
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🔖 Making Bookmarks
There are all sorts of ways to make your own bookmarks:
- Cut images from old greeting cards, Christmas cards, or other recycled paper
- Draw your own design on cardstock paper or a similar type of thicker paper
- Use stickers to decorate scrapbooking papers
You can use a hole punch and some fabric ribbon, curly ribbon, or embroidery floss to make a tassel for the top. Make enough for all your friends and family, plus extras to donate to the library, local schools, or assisted living facilities
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Donut Day 🍩
For National Doughnut Day today, treat your family to doughnuts and enjoy them while reading Laura Numeroff’s If You Give a Dog a Donut. Children might be tempted to see how many doughnuts they can eat without getting sick – after all, you can’t eat just one! A better idea might be to buy a dozen donuts and see how many you can share with those around you.
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Summer Journal 📔
Keep a journal or a diary of all your summer activities this year. In addition to serving as a reminder of all the fun things your family did over the summer, it can also be a keepsake for future generations. Accent your journal or diary with pressed 🌻 flowers, 📸 photographs, and paper ephemera, such as ❇ stamps, 📫 postcards, 🎟 event ticket stubs, 🎫 movie tickets, etc. You can also draw in illustrations of your favorite activities, such as a Fourth of July 🎆 fireworks show, or let your kids draw in funny sketches.
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May 2023
🏊♂️ Pool Noodles
Pool noodles can be used for a lot of other things besides playing in water. You can bend colored noodles into tunnels for your kids to crawl through or shape them into hurdles for them to jump over. And the best thing? If they miss a hurdle, the noodles are made of foam, so no one gets hurt! You can also turn them into a tightrope for kids to walk along or a limbo stick to see how low they can go. Try creating a variety of obstacles outside this summer to turn your yard into an obstacle course. Young children can work through the obstacles at their own pace or challenge older kids to tackle each section as quickly as they can.
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🎖 Memorial Day Weekend
Memorial Day weekend kicks off tomorrow. To honor the men and women of the military who have sacrificed their lives for our freedom, try some of these ideas:
- Watch the yearly Memorial Day concert on your local PBS channel or through their website.
- Learn to sing a patriotic song – traditional ones such as “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “America, the Beautiful” or some of the many contemporary patriotic songs that have been released over the years.
- If you know a veteran, ask them to share their stories from their military experience this weekend.
- Visit local cemeteries to put out small flags or flowers on soldiers’ graves.
- Write thank you cards and handwritten letters to soldiers and veterans. If you don’t know where to send a letter, the organization A Million Thanks collects letters and mails them out to active, reserve, and retired military. Visit https://amillionthanks.org/letter/ for more information.
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📦 Decorative Storage Containers
Have a lot of cardboard boxes and don’t know what to do with them? Cover them with pretty paper, such as leftover wallpaper or wrapping paper, to make decorative storage containers. Or you can cover one with a solid-colored piece of paper and let your children decorate the box with crayons, markers, or stickers to make storage containers for their stuff.
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🦘 Hopscotch
Play the outdoor game hopscotch today. Draw a hopscotch outline in the classic pattern (stacked squares) or get creative by drawing spaces in a spiral pattern. Hopscotch can be played by one person or several. The only other thing you need is a stone, bean bag, small rock, bottle cap, or other small object to mark your space. It’s a great way to encourage your kids to get some physical exercise, while also having a lot of fun!
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🏡 Do Something Good for Your Neighbor Day 🏠
Today is National Do Something Good for Your Neighbor Day so take some time today to do something nice for those who live around you. You could write your neighbor a quick note to compliment them on something about their yard or home, such as beautiful flower beds or a pretty door hanger. Or if you have lots of flowers blooming in your yard and your neighbor doesn’t, you could take them a small bouquet. If you have an elderly neighbor or someone with mobility issues, offer to help them out by moving their trash cans after garbage day or assisting with light yard work, such as picking up limbs that have blown out of trees.
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🐝 Bee Finger Puppet
🐝 Bees are out and buzzing around flowers! Here’s how to make a bee finger puppet of your own: Cut out a 2 ½ inch circle and a 3-inch circle from yellow paper. (If you do not have any colored paper, just use white paper, and color your circles with crayons or markers.) Also cut two 2-inch white circles for the wings. After your paper pieces are cut out, draw black stripes across the largest yellow circle with a black marker, Sharpie, or black crayon.
You’ll need to cut holes for your fingers to go in next. Use a craft punch or hole punch if you have one. Or use a dime to trace two small circles and carefully cut them out. The other yellow circle is the bee’s head so glue it to the body circle at the opposite end of the finger holes. Then draw in eyes and a smile. If you have a craft supply that is stiff, like a pipe cleaner or even a twist tie from a plastic bag, poke pieces into the head to make your bee’s antenna. Next attach your wings by trimming off just a little bit of one side to make one straight edge. Then glue this edge to each side of your body.
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☔ Rainy Day Fun 🌧
Rainy Day Fun 🌧 Spring weather can jump from wet and gloomy to bright and sunny from day to day. If it rains soon, it could be the perfect day to plan a “do nothing” day with your family. You can watch fun family movies together, play lots of board or card games, put together puzzles, or work on craft or art projects together – whatever relaxes you! You could make quick and easy snacks (don’t forget the popcorn if you watch movies!) and just spend the day together having fun
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✨ National Star Wars Day 🌑
Today is National Star Wars Day, a.k.a. May the Fourth Be with You Day. What can you and your family do to join in the fun? You could wear your favorite Stormtrooper, Darth Vader, or Princess Leia costume or just your favorite Star Wars shirt. You could have an epic lightsaber battle with pool noodles. You could also watch some of the many Star Wars films or television series or read some of the books that have been written about the franchise.
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May is Get Caught Reading Month so we challenge people of all ages to get caught reading whenever they can! And if you send us the photographic evidence, we would love to share your reading moments on our website and social media.
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April 2023
It’s not too late to visit your closest public library this week during National Library Week! Join the Northeast Regional Library branches as we celebrate all the things you can find at your local library: a wide variety of books and other materials, business services such as faxing; copying; and printing, interesting programs for people of all ages and, of course, friendly library staff!
For a full listing of National Library Week activities at our branches, click here
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Get your children involved in showing their love for libraries and library staff today by getting out paper, pencils, crayons, and markers and having them make their favorite library worker a ‘Thank You’ card in honor of National Library Workers Day. Or maybe they would like to draw a picture of what the library means to them to bring by the library. Library workers LOVE to hear how they have helped people of all ages, but especially their communities’ youngest members, so let your favorite librarian know how they have impacted your life today.
For a full listing of National Library Week activities at our branches, click here
Share your photos with us at photos@nereg.lib.ms.us 📷
Celebrate Earth Day on Saturday, April 22 by thinking of small things that you and your family can do every day to help the Earth. Some ideas include:
- Recycle everything you can, either by turning recyclable trash into a recycling center, repurposing an item into something else to continue using it, or passing it along to someone else if you do not need it anymore.
- Shop at secondhand stores, thrift stores, yard sales, and similar places instead of buying new items.
- When buying new items, look for things that have very little packaging that needs to be thrown away.
- Turn lights off when you leave a room.
- Plant trees to produce more oxygen or plants that will attract bees and butterflies.
- Don’t let the water run when you are brushing your teeth.
- Combine your errands into one trip so that you get several things done at one time instead of making individual trips out daily, which uses more gas.
Share your photos with us at photos@nereg.lib.ms.us 📷
For some play time today, grab a roll of paper today and cover a table or put some down on the floor. Then turn your kids loose to draw 🖍 a long network of roads 🛣 for their cars🚗, trucks🚚🚛🚒, and other small toys. They can make a whole city scene, complete with buildings, trees, water features, and roadways. If cars and trucks are not their ‘thing’, they can draw a 🦁 jungle landscape for their animal or 🦎 dinosaur figures to romp in, an 🦈 ocean scene for underwear creatures, the levels of a doll house for their dolls 🎎 to play in, or a superhero 🦸♀️🦹♀️ hideout for their action figures.
Share your photos with us at photos@nereg.lib.ms.us 📷
Got leftover Easter 🥚 eggs and don’t know what to do with them? Try having an egg drop contest 🏆. Have each of your family members design and make a protective casing for an egg using recycled materials they find around the house. You can let everyone have several days to 🧠 brainstorm and make their coverings or put a time limit on the activity, such as one hour, for everyone to get their entry put together.
After your eggs are all covered, perform an experiment on which types of coverings protect the eggs the best by dropping the eggs from somewhere high. You can use a ladder, a step stool, or just roll them off a counter.
Share your photos with us at photos@nereg.lib.ms.us 📷
Today is National Pet Day! If you are thinking of getting a pet, your local library can help you research various options. New titles include:
- Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Happy by Zazie Todd
- How to Speak Animal: A Guide to Learning How Animals Communicate by Aubre Andrus
- My Dog Eats Better Than Me: Recipes Your Dog Will Love by Fiona Rigg
National Pet Day is a special holiday that celebrates the furry, feathered, and scaly friends that bring joy and companionship to our lives. Whether it’s a cat, dog, bird, or reptile, pets are an important part of our families.
Here are some ways to celebrate National Pet Day:
Spend quality time with your pet: Spend time playing, cuddling, or simply being with your pet. Take a walk, play fetch, or enjoy a snuggle on the couch.
Treat your pet: Show your pet some extra love by giving them a special treat, such as a new toy or a favorite snack.
Volunteer at a pet shelter: Give back to animals in need by volunteering at a local animal shelter. Walk dogs, play with cats, or help with cleaning and organizing.
Donate to an animal charity: Make a donation to an animal charity to help support animals in need.
Learn about pet care: Take some time to learn more about pet care, such as nutrition, exercise, and training. Attend a workshop or read a book on pet care.
National Pet Day is a day to celebrate the love and companionship of our pets. So spend quality time, treat your pet, volunteer, donate, and learn about pet care to show your appreciation for your furry, feathered, or scaly friend!
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April is 🌪 tornado season in the South so now is a good time to go over what to do in case of a weather ⚡ emergency. Does your family know the difference between a tornado watch and a tornado warning?
Does everyone know where the safest place to be during a 🌪 tornado? Do you have 🔦flashlights, 🕯 candles, and 🔋 battery-operated 💡 lanterns ready in case the power goes out or a 📻 radio to take with you to listen to 🌩 weather reports? Do you have a plan for where to meet outside your home 🏡 should a tornado or other emergency force you to leave it unexpectedly? Check out www.ready.gov for more information.
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Did you know the Iuka Public Library has cake and baking pans for you to check out and use? Spring and Easter themed pans include a sheet with 6 mini lambs, several different pans of Easter bunnies, an Easter egg sheet that makes 8 mini eggs, and a large oval Easter egg to make one big egg-sized cake. If you don’t live in Iuka, don’t worry! Your local library can request a pan for you.
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March 2023
If the weather is nice today, send your kids outside for a game of 🦎 dinosaur tag. Whoever is ‘it’ has to scrunch up their arms insides their shirt to make their arms short like a T-Rex. Then, they try to tag the others with their T-Rex arms! 🏆 Bonus points goes to anyone who also makes T-Rex noises as they run around! The variations on this game are endless. Whoever is ‘it’ could pretend to be an 🐘 elephant and try to catch others with one arm swinging like an elephant’s trunk or ‘it’ could act like a 🐊 crocodile or an 🐊 alligator and use their arms to make chopping motions to catch the others.
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Sock Puppets 🧦 Encourage your children’s creativity today by making puppets out of mis-matched socks or those with holes in them. Children can add interesting features such as hair, eyes, and a mouth, using things you have around the house – 🧶 yarn, 🧵 string, pipe cleaners, 🔵⚪ pom poms, etc. Or they can draw on features with markers or a 🖊 Sharpie.
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Today is National Puppy Day, a day to celebrate the joy and happiness that can be found in a puppy! Need help training your new puppy? Check out How to Housetrain your Puppy in 14 Days or Less: The Complete Guide to Training your Dog by Gretchen Pearson.
No room in your life for a new puppy right now? Satisfy your family’s love of puppies by reading some of the picture books available at our libraries, such as:
Wallace and Grace and the Lost Puppy by Heather Alexander
Muddypaws’ Day at the Farm by Steve Smallman
Bad Dog, Flash by Ruth Paul
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The approaching arrival of spring also means it is time for 🧼 Spring Cleaning! Make it into a fun family activity by turning it into a game. Set timers to see who can clean an area the fastest or create a chart that lists all the areas in your house that need cleaning. Create a prize or family activity that will reward everyone when all the cleaning is finished, such as a Pizza 🍕 Night, a special dessert 🍨, or Family Movie 🍿 Night.
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As the weather begins to turn 🌡 warmer, pool noodles are already showing up at some dollar stores. You can make kids their own blocks with pool noodles by cutting them into 3-inch circles 🟢 for young builders. They will be easy to pick up – and won’t make a lot of noise when they crash 💥 down! Pieces this size will also make a fun indoor soccer activity that is quiet and will not hurt your furniture if a piece goes haywire. Just have your kids kick them into an empty cardboard box 📦 to get in some exercise.
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Today is National Learn About Butterflies Day, which encourages us to start watching for butterflies as they begin to appear outside. Like 🐝 bees, 🦋 butterflies help spread pollen from place to place, which allows plants 🌱 to grow.
Butterfly 🦋 populations have been declining in recent years, so you can help them out by planting more flowers 🌼 for them to use for fuel. To learn more about butterflies, ask your local library branch for books on the subject. Read more at https://bit.ly/3dC2vpK
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March is Women’s History Month so check out some of these new titles:
For junior readers, we have a new history of the Women’s National Basketball Association – WNBA by B. Keith Davidson, as well as a new entry in the “Women Who changed History” series – Cleopatra: Queen of Egypt by Xina Marie Uhl.
For adult readers, check out Off with Her Head: Three Thousand Years of Demonizing Women in Power by Eleanor Herman and She Led the Way: Stories of Black Women who Changed America by Suzanne Curtis Briggs.
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Today is National Read Across America Day, otherwise known as Dr. Seuss Day. Read Across America, a project created by the National Education Association, is celebrated each year on March 2nd, the birthday of Dr. Seuss. This project hopes to inspire a love of reading in children by celebrating all things Dr. Seuss. In school systems nationwide, teachers and students often dress up like Dr. Seuss characters and read Dr. Seuss books all throughout the day (or even week!). Often, special visitors stop by to read a Dr. Seuss book to children in their classrooms.
Pick up some Dr. Seuss books at your local NERL library branch today. Everyone knows The Cat and the Hat and The Lorax, but what other Dr. Seuss books are your favorites? Horton Hears a Who!? Fox in Socks? Oh, the Thinks You Can Think? The list goes on and on … Let us know what your favorite Dr. Seuss book is by sending us a photo of you with your favorite title at photos@nereg.lib.ms.us.
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February 2023
Diaries 📒 and Journals 📔 are a great way to organize your thoughts, set plans and goals for the future, and focus your attention on the things that really matter. They can also help you relieve stress by getting irritating things out of your system and onto paper. The process doesn’t have to be time-consuming – you can start by spending just five minutes a day writing down your thoughts and then increase it as you can. You can use your phone, a laptop or computer, or a paper-bound journal. They don’t have to be expensive either, many can be found inexpensively at local dollar stores.
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To get everyone up and moving today, play The Floor is Lava. 🌋
In this popular game, everyone walks around until the leader shouts, “The floor is lava!,” at which point everyone must jump on something to get their feet out of the way.
Play it outside, if the weather permits, and watch your kids try to jump and climb anything around them. You can also play the game inside but if you don’t like the idea of everyone jumping on your furniture to escape the ‘lava’, make sure they take their shoes off and scatter pillows and small blankets to represent ‘safe zones’.
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📚 Book Series📚
Did you know that many of your children’s favorite book series have interactive websites you can visit? In addition to being a great place to see all the titles in each series, many sites have free coloring sheets and other printables, online games and interactive activities, as well as classroom kits and educational resources for parents and teachers. Some authors include answers to questions they are frequently asked, as well as writing tips for young readers. Some of our favorites include:
https://geronimostilton.com/US-en/home/ – for fans of Elisabetta Dami’s “Geronimo Stilton” and “Thea Stilton” book series
https://wimpykid.com/ – for fans of Jeff Kinney’s books
https://www.ronroy.com/books_atoz.html – for fans Ron Roy’s “A-Z Mysteries” and “Calendar Mysteries” series
https://www.magictreehouse.com/ – for fans of Mary Pope Osborne’s fun series
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Pillow & Blanket Fort
Have some fun today by setting up the winter version of a pillow and blanket fort – an indoor igloo camp! Use a variety of blankets stretched over tables, chairs, and other furniture and plenty of pillows to make a cozy play area and reading nook. The addition of sleeping bags if you have any turns your camp into a fun napping space or a sleeping area for a full-blown family slumber party.
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Fluffy Valentine’s Day Slime
If you are looking for a fun sensory activity that children (and adults) will love, try making your own Fluffy Valentine’s Day slime. The mom behind the Natural Beach Living blog has a fun recipe using a few simple ingredients: white glue, pink or red food coloring, shaving cream, and cornstarch. For step-by-step instructions, check out her website here: https://www.naturalbeachliving.com/fluffy-slime/.
If you just have some shaving cream at home (the plain white kind works best), kids will go crazy playing in it – and the activity can be educational. One way to use it is to just squirt some out on a table and spread it out so that they have a thick patch to practice writing their name, letters of the alphabet, or to draw pictures. Check out our photos below to see it in action.
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Love 💓 is in the air for the whole month of February! Help us celebration National Library Lover’s Month by telling us why you LOVE your local library. Libraries have traditionally been the best place you can find free books to read for pleasure or for learning. Now libraries carry not only physical books, but audio books and digital books as well. And they even carry your favorite movies!
The public library is also a great place to send a fax 📠, make a photocopy 🖨, or print something off your phone 📱 or from your email. Need to apply for a job online or create a resume? Our free public access computers are waiting! We have fast free wifi also!
Tell us why you love your library at photos@nereg.lib.ms.us. We would also love to see pictures of you enjoying the library this month.
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Today is National Send a Card 🎴 to a Friend Day…
So take some time today to pick out a card and send some good cheer through the mail. You can use cards you purchase from a store, or make your own with paper, crayons, markers, and stickers.
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, why not make a Valentine themed card? You can use white, pink, or red paper and decorate it with hearts, sweet messages such as “Thinking of You,” and anything else that speaks to your heart.
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It’s Groundhog Day!
“Get ready to celebrate Groundhog Day with a twist! NERL staff has put together a collection of heartwarming stories that will make this special occasion even more memorable. Listen to “Go to Sleep Groundhog” by Judy Cox, “It’s Groundhog Day!” by Steven Kroll, “Punxsutawney Phyllis” by Susanna Leonard Hill and “Gregory’s Shadow” by Don Freeman on our YouTube channel. Immerse yourself in a world of fun and excitement as you follow the adventures of these lovable characters. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to add some extra magic to your Groundhog Day celebration. Tune in now! https://www.youtube.com/@NERLibrary/videos
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuirV02kbz4
January 2023
Inspire Your Heart with Art Day
Today is National Inspire Your Heart with Art Day, a day set aside each year that encourages everyone to think about how much better the world is with art in it. So how should you celebrate National Inspire Your Heart with Art Day? You could look at a piece of art, like a painting, and study how it makes you feel. You can also look at pieces of art online or in a book and let it inspire you to try to paint or draw something yourself. You could watch a play, a ballet, or your favorite movie. You could watch a concert or listen to your favorite music. Or maybe today will be the day that you decide to learn a musical instrument yourself.
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Stargazing ⭐
Stargazing is a fun family activity that most people associate with summer, but have you ever looked up at the stars during winter? It’s a completely different experience! Bundle up in coats, hats, scarves, and mittens tonight and experience the crisp and clear view of the night sky while it is not obstructed by the haziness caused by summer humidity. Plus, because the Earth has rotated, different planets are visible now than during the summer. NASA’s Night Sky Network offers plenty of tips for winter stargazing, including dressing in layers, wearing waterproof boots, and bringing along a hot drink. To view more of their tips, visit NASA.
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Tomorrow is Library Shelfie Day
Tomorrow is Library Shelfie Day – a day set aside to give book lovers and book collectors a chance to share their personal libraries at home. Do you throw your books in a bookcase or shelf willy nilly? Or do you organize them alphabetically? By subject or genre? Are they arranged by size? By their cover art? Do you keep paperbacks and hardbacks separate or mix them all together? Do you have cute bookends to keep your titles in a line? Some people even like to arrange their bookshelves by color. Whether you collect first editions or equally love and treasure every dog-eared book you have ever owned, we would love to see pictures of your libraries at home!
Do your children have bookshelves filled with just books for them? Make sure to take a picture of them with their books and share it with us! It does not matter if you have two books or two hundred, we would love to see your Library Shelfies today! Share them to our Facebook page or email to photos@nereg.lib.ms.us
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National Popcorn Day is today!
Do you like your popcorn buttered or plain? How about sweet and salty, like kettle corn? Or drizzled with caramel or chocolate? If you would like to try to make an old-fashioned popcorn ball or other fun popcorn variations, check out Gourmet Popcorn: 100 Recipes for any Occasion by Georganne Bell. Other fun titles about popcorn at your local library include What Makes Popcorn Pop?: First Questions and Answers about Food and the classic children’s book The Popcorn Dragon by Jane Thayer.
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Get Moving & Imagine 🧠 Indoors
When it is cold outside, it can be hard to get much-needed physical activity with your child. If you have a toddler, let them sit on a towel or blanket and then gently pull them around the room or even your entire house. (And as a bonus, it helps you get in some exercise too!) It may not seem like much but learning to balance on the blanket while moving helps children improve their coordination.
You can also engage their imagination and creativity by pretending the towel or blanket is a train, car, or boat. You can both make noises, such as whistling like a train or imitating a car’s horn. Teach your young one to call out, “All Aboard” and describe different sceneries like being in the Arctic or in the jungle. You can even prompt them to imagine stopping at different places, like a zoo, the grocery store, or a theme park.
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Today is National Penguin 🐧 Day, so celebrate this majestic bird by reading some fun children’s stories. Titles found at your local library include:
Click on a title below to search for it in our Online Card Catalog.
Duck & Penguin Do Not Like Sleepovers by Julia Woolf
Penguins Don’t Wear Sweaters! by Marikka Tamura
Pip the Little Penguin by Roger Priddy
Penguin Cha-cha by Kristi Valiant
One Cool Friend by Toni Buzzeo
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Daily Preparation 🍞🥕🍊
Lunch prep
School has started back for the new year! Looking for ways to get your family out the door more quickly in the morning? Try these ideas to shave minutes off your time:
The night before:
- prep breakfast and lunch by setting out any non-perishable items so that all you must do in the morning is grab perishables from the refrigerator.
- make sure backpacks, bags, purses, etc. are staged near the door so that you don’t waste time looking for items.
- lay out all clothing, including shoes, socks, and accessories.
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⭐ Star Gazing
Stargazing, or looking up at the stars and constellations, is a fun family activity at any time. Many people like to stay out late during the summer to look at the stars, but stargazing is a completely different experience during the winter. It is worth the trouble of bundling up in coats, hats, scarves, and mittens to experience the crisp and clear view of the night sky while it is not obstructed by the haziness caused by summer humidity. Plus, because the Earth has rotated, different planets are visible now than during the summer. NASA’s Night Sky Network offers plenty of tips for winter stargazing, including dressing in layers, wearing waterproof boots, and bringing along a hot drink.
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🏃♀️ Exercise 🏃♂️
If a New Year’s goal for your family is to spend more time outside and to get more exercise, an easy way to do this is by taking short daily walks around your neighborhood or streets. Many people do not think of walking outside when the weather is colder, but if you bundle up, it can be a refreshing experience. Younger children can benefit from seeing how differently the world around them looks when it is a different season. Ask them questions such as, “What looks differently now than in the summer?” or “How does the air feel on your face?” You can also ask them to describe to you how the trees look now and have them think back to how trees look in the summer to compare the two versions.
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National Science Fiction Day 🛸
Today is National Science Fiction Day so embrace your inner geekiness and revel in all things science fiction today. Today is also the birthday of one of the most famous science fiction writers of all time – Isaac Asimov. In addition to numerous short stories, Asimov is the author of the famed “Foundation Trilogy,” as well as the “Robot” novels which would become the basis for the feature film I, Robot.
If you love reading science fiction, take some time today to re-read other classics, such as The Time Machine by H. G. Wells, A Canticle for Leibowitz by M. Miller, Jr., Dune by Frank Herbert, or The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin. Or try to introduce younger generations to the wonder of science fiction by reading short stories or excerpts out loud to your family. Today would also be a great day to explore new works of science fiction, such as those by Orson Scott Card, John Ringo, Tochi Onyebuchi, Andy Weir, and Marie Lu.
Upgrade by Blake Crouch and Tell Me an Ending by Jo Harkin are both new science fiction works that examines what happens to humanity when advances in genetic engineering make the impossible, possible. Living on the moon is explored in Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel, while time travel, another favorite theme of science fiction, is explored in Natalka Burian’s The Night Shift.
New science fiction titles for juvenile readers include The School for Whatnots by Margaret Peterson Haddix and The Lion of Mars by Jennifer L. Holm.
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