The holidays are over and now it is time to look forward to…more cold weather. You may be tired of bundling up just to go outside, but making these simple snowglobe crafts will brighten even the dreariest winter day: https://www.allkidsnetwork.com/crafts/winter/plastic-plate-snowglobe-craft.asp. Here are 10 more display ideas for February:
American Heart Month
Arrange your “heart-healthy” cookbooks on a table that also includes books about walking and other exercises. Print off this list of 30 classic games for simple outdoor play that are fun no matter if the sun is shining or the snow is still covering the ground: https://www.wired.com/2009/08/simpleoutdoorplay/.
Black History Month
Celebrate Black History with kids of all ages by displaying and reading stories of African-Americans overcoming adversity and making their multicultural mark on the world. With books about everything from jazz and Jackie Robinson to slavery and segregation, there are many rich biographies and themes to explore. Plan a virtual visit to the newly opened National Museum of African American History & Culture in Washington, D.C. Browse their collection of close to 37,000 items by visiting https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/collection.
National Carrot Cake Day (February 3, 2017)
Make a small display of books with the word “carrot” or pictures of carrots on the covers. Serve your patrons small pieces of this kid-friendly carrot cake: https://food52.com/recipes/14185-kid-friendly-carrot-cake.
Take Your Child to the Library Day (February 4)
Take Your Child to the Library Day (TYCLD) is an international initiative that encourages families everywhere to take their children to their local library. Launched in 2011, TYCLD raises community awareness about the importance of the library in the life of a child, and promotes library services and programs for children and families. Get some balloons, serve snacks, play games, etc.
National Send a Card to a Friend Day (February 7)
Display your craft books that include card-making. Provide supplies, such as construction paper, markers, stamps, and stickers, and hold a card-making workshop.
Mo Willems’ Birthday (February 11, 1968)
Display Mo Willems’ books in your children’s area. Explore this Pinterest page of Elephant and Piggie activities you can use to bring this favorite children’s book series to life. https://www.pinterest.com/kirkseye/elephant-and-piggie/
Valentine’s Day (February 14)
Love is in the air. Prepare a quick and easy display of romance books with a pink or red plastic tablecloth, white paper doilies, and hearts of all sizes.
Gumdrop Day (February 15)
Are you thinking of starting a makerspace in your library? Got a bag of gumdrops and a box of toothpicks? That’s all you need to make some amazing feats of candy engineering. Here are some architectural tips for making tall towers: http://littlebinsforlittlehands.com/building-gumdrop-structures-engineering/.
Pluto Discovered (February 18, 1930)
Pluto was discovered on this day by Clyde W. Tombaugh. Roughly 70 years later, the International Astronomical Union downgraded the status of Pluto to that of “dwarf planet.” Create a display of books about Pluto and the planets.
Polar Bear Day (February 27)
Celebrate these beautiful animals by displaying fiction and nonfiction books about them. Watch polar bears in the wild via Animal Planet Live’s Polar Bear Cam at http://www.apl.tv/explore-polar-bears.htm.
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