It is December and that means it is time for us to share our favorite books from 2020. We are starting with our favorite books for kids (and those young at heart!). Be sure to keep an eye out for our favorites for teens and adults later this week.

Books are powerful vessels for allowing children to see themselves reflected in stories. When they read about a character like them, they can be empowered and gain a sense of belonging and familiarity. Reading books that feature disabled characters can help children with disabilities see themselves represented in literature and validate their experiences. These books also inform and educate children without disabilities about the experiences of others, building empathy and understanding. In the end, reading books that feature characters with disabilities is positive for all children. Read on for some recommended titles from our librarians.

Sensory Storytime engages children through movement, music, stories, sensory activities, and play. 

Helping Henrico families develop strong foundational literacy habits is something we are very passionate about at Henrico County Public Library. RVA Basics is an early learning campaign being widely embraced in the region that focuses on five essential aspects of a child’s development.

Sharing music and singing together are great ways to connect, educate, and have fun with the children in your life. HCPL librarians have some tips for ways you and your little ones can get creative and learn together through music.

Reading to young children as early as possible can help strengthen the bond between parent and child, increase vocabulary, and teach kids about the wider world. HCPL offers storytimes for all ages, from birth to preschool, and we wanted to share tips caregivers can use to read like a librarian.

We are debuting a new, on-demand storytime service called Storyline this month.  Storyline offers recorded stories over the phone, and is geared toward preschool and early elementary children and their families.  For people looking for an opportunity to share stories offline, the library will offer newly recorded stories each week.  

Building a strong foundation for learning begins at birth. To help families maximize early learning during this critical phase of development, Henrico County Public Library has adopted The Basics. This is the first post of a blog series in which we will cover all five principles of The Basics so you can build a foundation for your child's cognitive, social, and emotional growth. Here are our tips for maximizing love and managing stress, the first principle of The Basics.

Physics, chemistry, biology, astronomy, geology and meteorology are regarded as physical sciences because they apply to the natural world and can be investigated by using data and models to form a hypothesis that can be tested through carefully controlled experiments. This list is for anyone who’s ever looked at their homework (or the lab) and wondered: What am I ever going to need this for?!?