April is National Autism Awareness Month

According to the National Institute of Mental Health Autism is...

a neurological and developmental disorder that affects how people interact with others, communicate, learn, and behave. Although autism can be diagnosed at any age, it is described as a “developmental disorder” because symptoms generally appear in the first two years of life.

Did you know?

• About 1 in 44 children are diagnosed with Autism
• Autism occurs in all races, genders, and socioeconomic groups
• Boys are diagnosed with ASD four times more often than girls
  • Source: CDC

Want more info?

National Institute of Mental Health

Black History Month is celebrated in February of each year. Although it is celebrated annually during the month of February, we are reminded of African American Inventors’ achievements and contributions every day. During the month of February, we recognize and celebrate the perseverance of African Americans determination in the United States.

According to the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), “Why does Black History Month occur in February?” the relevance of February goes back to 1926, when ASALH’s founder Dr. Carter G. Woodson first established “Negro History Week” during the second week of February. And, why that week?  Because it encompasses the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass—both men being great American symbols of freedom. However, Woodson never confined Negro History to a week.  His life’s work and the mission of ASALH since its founding in 1915 represent a living testimony to the year-round and year-after-year study of African American history.”

Whether you celebrate a holiday during the season or just enjoy winter, we've got some newer books for kids to read!

Newer Kids Books for Hanukkah

The Eight Knights of Hanukkah
On the last night of Hanukkah, Lady Sadie summons her children, the Eight Knights of Hanukkah, to stop the dastardly dragon that is interrupting party preparations, using kindness and bravery. Includes notes on the traditions of Hanukkah and directions for playing the dreidel game.

Is it Hanukkah yet? 
A little girl waits with great anticipation all day until the sun sets and Hanukkah can begin. 

Diwali or Deepavali is the festival of lights and we've got some newer kids books to help celebrate!

Diwali Picture Books

Archie celebrates Diwali (Mitali Banerjee Ruths) 2021
Archie is worried that her school friends won't like Diwali, her favorite Hindu holiday, and when a storm knocks out the electricity, it looks like the party may be ruined.

Ideal for preschools, daycare centers, and homeschool groups, Storytime in a Bag is a book club for little ones.  Each Storytime in a Bag kit includes 15 board book copies of a beloved children’s picture book, along with a copy for facilitators to read aloud, so each child has their own copy to hold and explore!  Each kit comes with early literacy tips to get your group talking, singing, reading, writing, and playing -- the building blocks of early literacy that help get children ready to read!  Kits can be reserved through the library catalog and shipped to a Buffalo & Erie County Public Library near you!

Storytime in a Bag titles include:

National Hispanic Heritage Month was created to honor the diverse experience of Americans with ancestors from Spain,
Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. The first day, September 15th, is especially significant as "the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua." Children's Library Assistant Ms. Lucylle has curated a selection of books, poems and activities to honor our Latinx community:

Have a young non-fiction reader at home and need some reading inspiration? Why not explore some of these favorite fact-filled animal books available at your local B&ECPL location?

Even though the Emancipation Proclamation was made effective in 1863, it could not be implemented in places under Confederate control. In the westernmost Confederate state of Texas, enslaved people would not be free until much later. Freedom finally came on June 19, 1865, when some 2,000 Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas. The army announced that the more than 250,000 enslaved black people in the state, were free by executive decree. This day came to be known as "Juneteenth," by the newly freed people in Texas. (from the National Museum of African-American Museum of History & Culture- https://nmaahc.si.edu/blog-post/historical-legacy-juneteenth)

For the first time, Juneteenth will be celebrated as a National Federal Holiday.  This is the first new holiday to be created in the U.S. since President Reagan signed Martin Luther King Day into law in 1983.

Rainbow Book Month,™ is a nationwide celebration of the authors and writings that reflect the lives and experiences of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, pansexual, genderqueer, queer, intersex, agender, and asexual community.  As of 2020, GLBT Book Month™ (celebrated by the American Library Association since 2015) has been renamed Rainbow Book Month™. Originally established in the early 1990s by The Publishing Triangle as National Lesbian and Gay Book Month, this occasion is an opportunity for book lovers and libraries with the very best in LGBTQIA+ literature. 

In honor of Rainbow Book month, here are some young children's books available at BECPL featured on the Rainbow Booklist, a bibliography consisting of quality LGBTQIA+ literature intended for readers from birth to age 18.

Nonfiction

May is National Mental Health Awareness month, and the library has partnered with the Erie County Infancy Leadership Circle to develop videos to support parents with young children.  The Erie County Infancy Leadership Circle is a group of professionals in local communities who work with infants and toddlers and their families to facilitate professional networking, development, and communication. The network also works on the state level to advance better policies and comprehensive services for babies and their families. The ILC represents a broad array of professionals from all fields who provide services to infants and toddlers and their families.