Central Plains Library System

A New Book Set of a Classic Title

Posted on October 2, 2025 by Denise

Old Yeller by Fred Gipson — 18 copies (Grades 3-6)
When his father sets out on a cattle drive toward Kansas for the summer, fourteen-year-old Travis Coates is left to take care of his family and their farm. Living in Texas Hill Country during the 1860s, Travis comes to face new, unanticipated, and often perilous responsibilities in the frontier wilderness. A particular nuisance is a stray yellow dog that shows up one day and steals food from the family. But the big canine who Travis calls “Old Yeller” proves his worth by defending the family from danger. And Travis ultimately finds help and comfort in the courage and unwavering love of the dog who comes to be his very best friend.

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Deb’s Preschool Project – November

Posted on September 29, 2025 by Denise

This big turkey has brightly colored ribbons woven across his feathers. Use school glue or tape to hold the ribbons in place. Cut the hearts you receive in half to form the turkey’s red wattle. Glue it on with a glue stick or school glue. The eye is self-adhesive and is ready to put in place.

Please email your request by October 17, 2025.

Suggested Books

Turkey Goes to School
by Wendi Silvano
Preschool – 2nd Grade

Taylor the Thankful Turkey
by Sonica Ellis
2-7 Years Old

Never Ever Tickle a Turkey
by Adam Wallace
2-7 Years Old

Turkey Trouble
by Wendi Silvano
Preschool – 2nd Grade

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Posted on September 9, 2025 by Denise

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Grants for Little Free Libraries

Posted on July 23, 2025 by Denise

We are happy to announce the opening of applications for mini-grants of up to $500, offered by the Nebraska Library Commission, as a part of our initiative to get childhood literacy back on track. We’ve partnered with the Little Free Library organization to offer these grants, with a focus on improving access to books in unserved (communities with no library) and underserved (communities that have a library, but would benefit from additional access points, or increased hours of availability) areas. The applications can be submitted now, and the applications are set to close at midnight on August 22, 2025.

If the applicant already has an existing little free library, grants of up to $250 are available for the purchase of early literacy books to stock the LFL location. For those communities seeking to install a little free library, grants of up to $500 are available for the library box, post, and children’s books.

For some facts about how Nebraska has fallen behind when it comes to childhood literacy, and how little free libraries can help, visit our webpage here: https://nlc.nebraska.gov/lfl

Here is a link to more information about the grants, and a link to the online application:

https://nlc.nebraska.gov/lfl/grants.asp

Questions? Feel free to contact me.

Sam Shaw
402.471.3216
800.307.2665
sam.shaw@nebraska.gov

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Annual Meeting Registration Deadline

Posted on July 15, 2025 by Denise

The CPLS Quarterly Board Meeting and the Annual Meeting are scheduled for Friday, July 25, 2025. We will meet at the Stuhr Museum in Grand Island. The deadline to register is this Friday, July 18th.

9:30 am CPLS Quarterly Board Meeting
10:30 am CPLS Annual Meeting
11:45 am Report from the Nebraska Library Commission
Noon Lunch
1:00 pm Guided Tour of the Summer Art Display

Registration Fee: Free

1 CE per participant

Click here to register.

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Plain Speaking Newsletter

Posted on June 18, 2025 by Denise

The June/July edition of the Plain Speaking Newsletter is available! Click here to read it!

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Deb’s Preschool Project – May

Posted on April 4, 2025 by Denise

Deb’s craft projects feature shapes made by the System’s die cutting equipment. Our intent is to save our CPLS librarians valuable time each month. Place your order for the craft materials before the posted deadline by emailing Deb at cplsasst@gmail.com. There is no charge for this service.

The Preschool Projects are provided for the months of September through May. Since we work one month ahead, this is the last craft for this session. Watch for the September craft on August 1st.

This butterfly has her own personality, and she is ready to fly into spring. Your preschoolers will need school glue to attach the wings (handprints) to the craft stick. If you choose, you could provide markers to color the craft stick. We will send googly eyes, a half chenille stem, and stickers to complete each craft.

The deadline to request the butterfly craft is April 21, 2025.

Here are some books that Deb recommends for your story time.

My, Oh My–A Butterfly! All About Butterflies, by Tish Rabe
(The Cat in the Hat’s Learning Library)
3-6 years old

Pinkalicious and the Little Butterfly
by Victoria Kann
3-5 years old

Explore My World Butterflies
by Marfe Ferguson Delano
2-6 years old

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Deb’s Preschool Project – April

Posted on February 27, 2025 by Denise

This colorful and fuzzy caterpillar is not only easy to make, but also fun to play with! Use school glue to attach the 6″ puppet handle to the cardstock caterpillar. Then glue on the colorful 1″ pom poms, and the fun begins.

Order your craft supplies by emailing Deb at cplsasst@gmail.com by March 18, 2025.

Here are some books Deb recommends for your story time.

Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
1-3 years

Jack and the Caterpillar by Bryan Fleegel
2-8 years

Caterpillar to Butterfly by Laura Marsh
3-6 years

Monarch Butterfly by Gail Gibbons
4-8 years

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New Games to Borrow

Posted on December 10, 2024 by Denise

Blokus XL is the perfect strategy game for the whole family — it takes less than a minute to learn with fun challenges for all ages!

Players take turns placing their 21 pieces on the board: each piece must touch another of the same color, but only at the corners!

Blokus Duo is a unique strategy game that offers a fun challenge for two players, age 7 and up!

The game ends when no more pieces can be placed down, and the player with fewer pieces remaining wins!

Blokus Trigon reimagines the classic Blokus game with a triangular twist! The goal is to fit the most pieces on the board.

Be careful! You can block and be blocked at any moment. Stake your claim and protect your territory.

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Deb’s January Preschool Project

Posted on December 3, 2024 by Denise

These craft projects feature shapes made by the System’s die cutting equipment. Our intent is to save our CPLS librarians valuable time each month. Place your order for the craft materials before the posted deadline by emailing Deb at cplsasst@gmail.com. There is no charge for this service.

These five little snowmen are in a snow globe made with two colors of cardstock. The base needs to be trimmed with scissors on the dotted line and then the three pieces can be assembled with school glue or glue sticks. The children will need a crayon or marker to add the faces and hats. Snowflake stickers are provided.

Please email your request early since Deb will be out of the office close to the holidays.

Deadline: December 17th.