FDPL Kids
Looking for book recommendations, information about upcoming events, or our resources for kids? Learn more about our services for children and families on this page, or contact us by phone at 515-573-8167 ext. 6242 if you have any questions!
FDPL Bird Ambassador
FDPL has had a Bird Ambassador in the Children’s Department for more than 50 years. Be sure to stop by the Kids’ Reference Desk and say “Hi!” to our current Bird Ambassador Blueberry.
AWE Kids Computers
We have four AWE Learning All-in-One computer workstations with software programs geared toward kids ages 2-12 in the Children’s Department. Featuring preloaded educational games that are STREAM-aligned, kids can sit and play at any one of the workstations up to 30 minutes per visit.
Interactive Play Touch Table
FDPL has two interactive play touch tables by the Kids’ Reference Desk. These interactive gaming tables are geared toward kids ages 3-14 and feature 12 fun games. Most games can be played by a single child or by up to four children. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to join their kids for this unique experience. Play at the touch tables is limited to 30 minutes per visit.
Vincent House Puppet Theater and Busy Blocks
Kids are encouraged to let their imaginations run wild by engaging in creative storytelling through play with our puppet friends in the Vincent House Puppet Theater. Our busy blocks encourage motor skill development through engaging play and our collection of big books allow kids and their caregivers to share stories in a whole new way.
Featured Resources for Kids
AtoZ Food America
Educate Station
Learning plans, worksheets, and activities for students to do at home or at school created by educators from across the country. Log in with your library card.
Mometrix eLibrary
Create a free account to access over 1,000 different standardized exams and a wide range of study materials , including flashcards, and guides, covering subjects from foundational education to specialized trades and advanced academic fields.
Events for Kids
New Easy and Picture Books
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The Lair of the Owl King
"PAWSSIBLY the sweetest books on the shelf!"
-- Ben Clanton, bestselling author of the Narwhal and Jelly series
Follow the antics of Squash and Ginny in the sixth installment of Cat & Cat Adventures from popular webcomic creator Susie Yi! This chapter book graphic novel series is perfect for fans of Catstronauts, Babymouse, and Catwad.
Into the belly of the beast! After recovering the orbs of the Past and Present, Squash, Ginny, and the rest of the crew head to the zoo to secure the Orb of the Future from their greatest enemy yet: the Owl King. But their mission will be no easy feat. After all, the Owl King holds the Orb of the Future, which means he knows their next move even before they do. Their best plan of attack: to have no plan at all!
Armed with nothing but their wits (and some snacks, of course) the Spirit Squad must find a way to rescue the third orb and restore the Staff of Knowledge. If not, the Spirit Realm, Human World, and the future of snacking all hang in the balance!
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I Survived the California Wildfires, 2018 (I Survived Graphic Novel #13)
A vividly rendered graphic novel adaptation of Lauren Tarshis's bestselling I Survived the California Wildfires, 2018, with text adapted by Georgia Ball and art by Cassie Anderson.
All across California, deadly wildfires rage . . .
Still reeling from the life-changing challenges that propelled him and his mother across the country, Josh finds solace in the California wilderness and in the newfound friendship with his cousin Holly.
But on a trip into the nearby forest, Josh and Holly suddenly find themselves in the middle of a frighteningly powerful firestorm, one which threatens to burn down everything in its path. Josh needs to confront the family issues burning him up inside, but first he'll have to survive the flames roaring all around him.
Lauren Tarshis's New York Times bestselling I SURVIVED series blazes to life in this graphic novel edition. Perfect for readers who prefer the graphic novel format, or for existing fans of the I Survived chapter book series, these graphic novels combine historical facts with high-action storytelling that's sure to keep readers turning the pages. Includes a nonfiction section at the back with facts and photos about the real-life event.
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The Poisoned King
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • THE SECOND BOOK IN THE LANDMARK NEW FANTASY SERIES THAT BEGAN WITH IMPOSSIBLE CREATURES
“Rundell is back with a sequel . . . which offers magical thrills for young readers and adults alike.”—The New York Times
Return to the magic of the Archipelago in the dazzling sequel to the runaway, smash hit Impossible Creatures, hailed as “an instant classic” (Katherine Applegate, Newbery Medal Winner for The One and Only Ivan)!
*This spectacular book features foil and embossing on the jacket, full-color designed endpapers, and brilliant stained edges*
Christopher Forrester woke to find a dragon chewing on his face—and his heart leapt for joy! He’d been dreaming of going back to the Archipelago, the secret cluster of islands where all the creatures of myth still live, and here was his summons.
But there is a poison spreading in the Archipelago. Rooting it out will involve a daring rescue mission on the back of a sphinx, a stealthy entrance to a dragon’s lair, and a death-defying plan to save a prisoner held in the heart of a castle. At the center of this storm is Anya: a small girl with a flock of birds at her side, a new-hatched chick in her pocket, and a ravenous hunger for justice.
Katherine Rundell’s second thrilling installment in the Impossible Creatures series involves castles, dragons, and revenge—the things of which great stories are made. The splendors within are brought to life with fifty illustrations, including a map and a bestiary of magical creatures.
A GOOD HOUSEKEEPING KIDS' BOOK AWARD • A WALL STREET JOURNAL BEST CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE YEAR -
Huck 'n' Hairball and the Litterbox Time Machine
For fans of Catwad and The First Cat in Space, here is a hilariously over-the-top middle-grade graphic novel about a cat and his genius hairball who accidentally destroy the universe.
Huck does NOT like change. In fact, he lives the same day on repeat. Same canned cat food. Same indoor luxury. Same time spent with his brainy, yet insecure, best friend Hairball--a damp lump of hair that Huck hacked up.
But when Hairball invents a time machine with the hopes of gaining the respect of the scientific community, Huck accidentally sets in motion a series of events that breaks the universe and ruins his string of unchanging days. Oops.
With the end of the world in balance, it's up to these unlikely heroes to save it. What they find out is that the key to saving the world is also what they want most of all ...
Rich Moyer's take on time travel is without-a-doubt hilarious, and the duo he's crafted is perfectly suited for kids who are searching for a good laugh. And his vibrant colors and energetic panels add the perfect amount of visual humor to the story, making Huck 'N' Hairball a rip-roaring graphic novel. -
The Lions' Run
An Instant New York Times Bestseller and Indie Bestseller
“Lucas DuBois is proof that a mere kitten can be the bravest of lions by always standing up for what's right.” —Alan Gratz, New York Times bestselling author of Refugee
The acclaimed, New York Times bestselling author of Pax delivers an historical novel about an orphan during WWII who discovers unexpected courage within himself when he becomes involved with the Resistance.
Petit éclair. That’s what the other boys at the orphanage call Lucas DuBois. Lucas is tired of his cowardly reputation, just as he’s tired of the war and the Nazi occupation of his French village. He longs to show how brave he can be.
He gets the chance when he saves a litter of kittens from cruel boys and brings them to an abandoned stable to care for them. There he comes upon a stranger who is none too happy to see him: Alice, the daughter of a horse trainer, who is hiding her filly from German soldiers.
Soon Lucas begins to realize they are not the only ones in the village with secrets. The housekeeper at the German maternity home and a priest at the orphanage pass coded messages; a young mother at the home makes dangerous plans to keep her baby from forced adoption; and a neighbor in town may be harboring a Jewish family.
Emboldened by the unlikely heroes all around him, Lucas is forced to decide how much he is willing to risk to make the most courageous rescue of all.
Perfect for fans of Alan Gratz, Ruta Sepetys, and Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, this accessible novel, told in short chapters, illuminates a little-known aspect of World War II history. -
Hypergifted
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Gordon Korman comes the funny and heartwarming sequel to the word-of-mouth hits UNGIFTED and SUPERGIFTED.
School has never been a problem for twelve-year-old super-genius Noah Youkilis--at least not until he gets an admission letter to the prestigious Wilderton University. The last thing Noah wants is to go straight from eighth grade into college. Will his life ever just be normal!
Meanwhile, Noah's best friend, Donovan, has been looking forward all year to a summer of doing nothing. But when Wilderton allows Noah to bring a friend for the summer term, Donovan's parents jump at the chance. Suddenly, Donovan's summer of slack has turned into hanging with Noah and working as a summer camp counselor for professors' kids.
Once they arrive on campus, Noah's determined to fit in--and to him, that means joining the top-secret Society of the Gavel. But becoming a Gaveler is harder than it seems, and it's made all the harder when Noah and Donovon smuggle Wilderton's mascot, a two-hundred-pound pig named Porquette, into their dorm. Now Noah and Donovan must combine all their middle-school smarts to keep their pig-sized secret, fix a haywire AI program before it pretty much ends the world, and keep track of Donovan's campers.
It's going to be a summer to remember in the newest book from #1 New York Times bestselling author Gordon Korman.
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The Incredibly Human Henson Blayze
Newbery Honoree Derrick Barnes tackles timely issues of race and prejudice in this powerful, nuanced novel about an accomplished Black boy who strives to be seen as human.
CORETTA SCOTT KING BOOK AWARD HONOREE
ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, The Week Junior, Audible, Chicago Public Library
KIRKUS PRIZE FINALIST
NATIONAL BOOK AWARD LONGLIST SELECTION
WNDB WALTER AWARD WINNER
JANE ADDAMS CHILDREN'S BOOK AWARD HONOR
ALSC NOTABLE CHILDREN'S BOOK
SOUTHERN BOOK PRIZE FINALIST
★ "Bold, extraordinary storytelling: not to be missed."—Kirkus Reviews, starred review
★ "A powerful tale." —Publishers Weekly, starred review
★ "A modern folktale that leaves a damning indictment." —BCCB, starred review
★ "This is Barnes at his best.” —School Library Journal, starred review
In the small town of Great Mountain, Mississippi, all eyes are on Henson Blayze, a thirteen-year-old football phenom whose talents seem almost superhuman. The predominately white townsfolk have been waiting for Henson to play high school ball, and now they're overjoyed to finally possess an elite Black athlete of their own.
Until a horrifying incident forces Henson to speak out about injustice.
Until he says that he might not play football anymore.
Until he quickly learns he isn’t as loved by the people as he thought.
Overnight, Henson's town is divided into two chaotic sides—those that support his decisions, and those that don't—when all he wants is justice. Even his best friends and his father can't see eye to eye. When he is told to play ball again or else, Henson must decide whether he was born to entertain those who may not even see him as human, or if he’s destined for a different kind of greatness.
Written for children ages 10 and up, Derrick Barnes's groundbreaking novel masterfully combines a modern-day allegory with classic-style tall tales to weave a compelling story of America's obsession with relegating Black people to labor or entertainment. Spanning the 1800s to today, this exceptional novel shows how much has changed over centuries . . . and, at the same time, how little. -
Mrs. Granger Is in Danger!
With more than 36 million books sold, the My Weird School series really gets kids reading! In this tenth book of the My Weirdtastic School arc, a safety expert is called to Ella Mentry School, but can she perfectly protect the kids from...well, everything
Ella Mentry School is dangerous! Kids are falling off their bikes, skateboards, and scooters. They're running into doors. Elephants are landing on their heads. Well, we made up that last one. But kids are getting hurt, and Principal Stoker is determined to do something about it. So she brings in Mrs. Granger, who runs Safety Town, a place that helps kids have fun and stay safe at the same time. But what happens when Mrs. Granger goes overboard Can A.J. and his friends snap her back to normal without ending up in the hospital
Perfect for reluctant readers and all kids hungry for funny school stories, Dan Gutman's hugely popular My Weird School chapter book series has something for everyone. Don't miss the hilarious adventures of A.J. and his friends!
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A World Worth Saving
A NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST • A groundbreaking, action-packed, and ultimately uplifting adventure that intertwines elements of Jewish mythology with an unflinching examination of the impacts of transphobia, from Newbery Honor winner Kyle Lukoff.
“Rare and beautiful—a novel that combines wondrous fantasy, searing real-world relevance, and a frank empathetic understanding of the adolescent experience.”—Rick Riordan, author of Percy Jackson and the Olympians
★ “A stunning powerhouse of fantasy and real-world issues.”—Booklist, starred review
Lockdown is over, but A’s world feels smaller than ever. Coming out as trans didn’t exactly go well, and most days, he still barely leaves his bedroom, let alone the house. But the low point of A’s life isn’t online school, missing his bar mitzvah, or the fact that his parents monitor his phone like hawks—it’s the weekly Save Our Sons and Daughters meetings his parents all but drag him to.
At SOSAD, A and his friends Sal and Yarrow sit by while their parents deadname them and wring their hands over a nonexistent “transgender craze.” After all, sitting in suffocating silence has to be better than getting sent away for “advanced treatment,” never to be heard from again.
When Yarrow vanishes after a particularly confrontational meeting, A discovers that SOSAD doesn’t just feel soul-sucking…it’s run by an actual demon who feeds off the pain and misery of kids like him. And it’s not just SOSAD—the entire world is beset by demons dining on what seems like an endless buffet of pain and bigotry.
But how is one trans kid who hasn’t even chosen a name supposed to save his friend, let alone the world? And is a world that seems hellbent on rejecting him even worth saving at all? -
The Mouse Buffet
A group of adventurous mice decides the family buffet is the perfect way to celebrate the holidays, as long as they can avoid the family cat.
'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a . . . Oops! As it turns out, one house has a lot of activity this Christmas holiday! A quartet of mice is wide awake and looking for some tasty treats. When what to their wondering eyes should appear, but a mouthwatering buffet and no humans near.
There are pies and pastries, cookies and tarts. A yummy gingerbread house offers the sweetest sugary treat of all. And there's a big bowl of punch to wash it all down. But when the mice try to escape with some grapes, one bounces toward a sleeping cat. Is their holiday caper over?
Rhyming text and lively artwork bring this fun treat to life!