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...

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 ...

In May 2025, my youngest (adult) child graduated from college. After living with us for the summer, she moved into her first apartment in September. Our older daughter went to school in Washington, D.C., and has been living down there for the three years since she graduated. My spouse and I are now officially empty nesters! Although apparently, some people are now calling this situation “free bird” instead of “empty nest” https://www.shelovpsychologygroup.com/blog/free-bird . This newer term is intended to emphasize the positive aspects of having more freedom, and to avoid some of the negative associations with being an empty nester. Our younger daughter lives about twenty minutes away from us, and one of her jobs is in our town, so she has been stopping by our house regularly. Honestly, right now we see her more often than we did when she was in school! But it is probably just a matter of time before she moves further away and my husband and I will see her less. Of course, technology ...

Children often don’t encounter standard-sized fonts (like Times New Roman 12-point) until third or fourth grade, since early elementary books usually use larger print. I was a student at the top of my class, but something had happened to me as soon as the fonts became smaller. Some of my issues midway through elementary school included:      ■  Falling asleep after 15 minutes of reading, particularly if I did not find the book meaningful, fun, or interesting;      ■  Taking too long to read due to a combination of re-reading the same lines, eye strain, and headaches;     ■  Never finishing any books as an elementary school kid except for Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey, Running Out of Time by Margaret Peterson Haddix, and The Giver by Lois Lowry;     ■  Feeling sad when adults said to me, “You’re really smart; you must read a lot!” because my options seemed like I could lie and nod my head at their belief, or explain...

Tips for reading aloud with your kids by Matheson Westlake, West Windsor Branch Broad Kid Appeal Whether all your kids are eager to cuddle up on the couch and read over your shoulder, or you’re appealing to a mix of attention spans and interest levels, your best bet is to read a story that can capture everyone’s imagination. Position yourself strategically in a roomy spot within earshot of any reluctant readers. Even if they appear to be only half-listening, the right book may draw them closer. The five titles listed below are geared toward independent readers age 8-12, but when read aloud, they may be enjoyed by children as young as 5 (or even college students home for the summer). Cliffhangers Episodic adventures that alternate everyday choices with high-stakes action keep readers guessing. Short chapters that end with a tiger leaping at the main character, or a bear chasing a robot off a cliff, will leave your audience wanting more. (Admit it, you’re already wondering how the ro...

September is the time for students and their families to head back to school. It can be both a stressful and exciting time. Fortunately, Mercer County Library System has a number of resources you can turn to - not only at the beginning of the school year, but all through the months ahead, helping to ensure a successful, enjoyable educational experience! Middle School Superpowers: Raising Resilient Tweens in Turbulent Times by Phyllis L. Fagell. Are you concerned that middle school will wreak havoc on your tween's well-being and sense of self? Wondering how you can ward off the decline in confidence research shows kids experience during these vulnerable years? Seeking strategies that will help your child emerge from middle school with even more resilience than when they started? This book will address these issues and more. Autism & Education: The Way I See It: What Parents and Teachers Need to Know by Temple Grandin. Dr. Temple Grandin discusses the real issues that parents...