Mercer County Library Blog

As the weather warms and we recover from a very cold and snowy winter, adults and children alike are excited to get outside and enjoy the great outdoors. Warmer weather means playing, exploring, and enjoying the amazing natural world around us. Going for walks, digging in the garden, and smelling the flowers help kids engage with nature and each other. Whether your child loves getting muddy in the backyard or prefers looking for flowers, there are so many ways to encourage a love of the outdoors. Children can get messy, smell the breeze, and explore the sensory feast of a backyard walk while sparking their curiosity. Whether you plan to stick close by or go further afield, Mercer County Library System can get your family’s outdoor experiences jump-started at your local branch. Books like  The Wildest Thing  by Emily Winfield Martin celebrate children who love the wild and immersing themselves in wild exploration.  Fairy Walk  by Gaia Cornwall offers a story of whol...

Happy Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Month! Did you know that the origin of AANHPI Heritage Month dates to 1977? This is when a joint resolution was passed by Congress designating a seven-day period beginning May 4 as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week to recognize the history and contributions of Asian Pacific Americans in the United States. President Jimmy Carter signed it into law in 1978. In 1990, President George H.W. Bush expanded the week-long celebration to a month-long celebration. Then in 1992, the official designation of May as Asian/Pacific Islander Month was signed into law. The month of May was chosen to honor two important events: 1) the arrival of the first Japanese immigrant in the United States on May 7, 1843, and 2) the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad on May 10, 1869. Later in 2021, President Joe Biden changed the name to Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month to recognize and include the many divers...

Hatching chicks is a special, fascinating experience! Anticipation and excitement build for approximately three weeks, and then… “cheep! cheep!” the baby chicks peck their way out! For the next two weeks, you watch their adorable antics as they figure out the world, interact with each other, double in size, and start getting feathers. The West Windsor Branch has been able to share this experience for four years now, once a year starting in 2023, and it’s something that patrons and staff look forward to each spring. For those who haven’t been able to observe each stage or for those who want to know more, read on for an overview of the process, some interesting facts about chickens, and a book list of kids’ non-fiction titles for more information, pictures, and activities. The Process Various companies and farms offer chick-raising experiences. The company we have used is Rent the Chicken. They deliver all the supplies and instructions needed for a 5-week hatching experience and then ta...

Eid Mubarak! On Saturday, March 14 th , we celebrated Eid al-Fitr at the Hightstown Branch with crafts, decorations, and snacks. This was our third year doing the program and the most successful one yet. It’s always wonderful to see everything come together after working so hard to create a program that will be enjoyable for both people who are familiar with the holiday, and those who are not. Growing up in New Jersey with no close relatives and few families that my parents knew well, Eid was always hit or miss. We would go to prayer in the morning, my sister and I would put mehndi (henna art) on each other, and we would eat seviyan (a pudding made with thin pasta). The rest of the day was not spent doing much. Occasionally, we would be invited to lunch or dinner at someone’s house, which for kids was more boring than being home and watching TV. We did not really decorate the house, except for putting up Christmas lights outside when Ramadan started. However, my parents would sometime...

Have you ever found yourself in a “reading rut"? Finished one book and can’t move on to the next? This can happen to readers of any age, and I am currently in a reading slump right now. Try as I might, I cannot get interested in a book enough to want to read it. This is a common problem that can happen to both readers and non-readers alike. I find it especially difficult for my non-reading children to get out of it. When reading is a struggle to begin with, it can be hard to figure out what to read next after finishing a book or series. Maybe they finished a favorite series and aren’t excited to read anything else. Or maybe reading is just always a struggle. I’ve dealt with both situations as a parent and a librarian, and it can be frustrating in any circumstance.   Here are some ideas if your child (or yourself!) needs help breaking through a reading slump… Browse New Books At the Lawrence Branch, our new books are very easy to browse. Most are facing out so you can check ...