Closed for Veterans Day, 11/11/24

All Ventura County Library branches will be closed November 11th in observance of Veterans Day.

Todas las sucursales de la Biblioteca del Condado de Ventura estarán cerradas el 11 de noviembre en celebración del día de los veteranos.

Children & Families

Children reading and carrying books

Upcoming Events

Lego Play

1:30pm - 4:30pm
Elementary
Library Branch: Ojai Library
Age Group: Elementary
Program Type: Games & Play
Event Details:

Calling all master builders! Join us for a world of imagination and creativity at our drop-in Lego Play. 

LEGO PLAY

2:00pm - 4:00pm
Children, Elementary, Teens, Middle School, High School, Family
Library Branch: E.P. Foster Library
Age Group: Children, Elementary, Teens, Middle School, High School, Family
Program Type: Games & Play, Science & Technology
Event Details:

Join us for for a world of creativity and fun. Build a tower or craft fantastical creatures, each session is a chance to explore new worlds and express your creativity brick by brick. 

Doodle Time

2:00pm - 5:00pm
Preschool, Elementary, Teens, Middle School, High School
Library Branch: Ojai Library
Age Group: Preschool, Elementary, Teens, Middle School, High School
Program Type: Arts & Crafts
Event Details:

Explore different doodling techniques with friends.

LEGO Play

4:00pm - 5:00pm
Elementary, Middle School, High School
Library Branch: Albert H. Soliz Library
Room: ELR-Library Branch
Age Group: Elementary, Middle School, High School
Event Details:

The club is For grades K-12. Club is at capacity, please register at the library to be placed on the waitlist.

Family Coloring

10:00am - 5:00pm
Children, Adults, Family
Library Branch: Avenue Library
Age Group: Children, Adults, Family
Program Type: Arts & Crafts
Event Details:

Coloring sheets and crayons are provided for children and their families.

Stay & Play

10:00am - 5:00pm
Children, Teens, Adults, Family
Library Branch: Avenue Library
Age Group: Children, Teens, Adults, Family
Program Type: Games & Play
Event Details:

All are welcome to "stay and play" at the Avenue Library.  Board games, card games, puzzles and more are available during open hours.

Resources for Children & Their Grown Ups

Reading Resources

Picture Books & Early Readers

Image for "Cornbread and Poppy for the Win"

Cornbread and Poppy for the Win

PRAISE FOR CORNBREAD & POPPY (Book 1):



An IndieBound Bestseller * An Amazon Best Book of the Year * A 2022 Kirkus Best Children's Book



★ "A rewarding choice for young readers."--Booklist, starred review



★"Cornbread and Poppy are endearing characters, poised to join the ranks of other memorable early reader sets of best friends old and new, including James Marshall's George and Martha."--Bookpage, starred review



★ "Delightful." -- Kirkus, starred review



This book in Caldecott medalist Matthew Cordell's bestselling early reader series tells a story about championship-level teamwork.



Poppy LOVES shiny new racing gear. Cornbread does not. Poppy ADORES top secret master plans. Cornbread does not. Poppy IS super competitive. Cornbread...is not. But Cornbread and Poppy are the best of friends, so when Poppy is determined to win the Small Rodents Competitive Cycling Championship Classic Cornbread agrees to train by her side. Cornbread has fun just spending time with his friend, but Poppy's goal is scoring the Winner's Cup. Is a finish line all these mice will discover at the end of their race?

Celebrating both partnership and the value of what makes us individuals, young readers will find this classic odd couple irresistible as they encounter relatable issues with humor and heart.



Cornbread & Poppy (2022), was an Indiebound bestseller and the recipient of more than a dozen best books of the year citations.



Publishing simultaneously in hardcover and paperback.

Don't miss the other books in the series:

Cornbread & Poppy

Cornbread & Poppy at the Carnival

Cornbread & Poppy at the Museum
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Friendbots



 

Let's read comics! I Can Read Comics is an early reader line that familiarizes children with the world of graphic novel storytelling and encourages visual literacy in emerging readers.

Blink and Block are back in another STEM-inspired I Can Read Comic by author-illustrator Vicky Fang!

Blink is silly and Block is logical, and they're best when they're working together! Whether they're searching for treasure, playing pretend, or learning to compromise, Blink's imagination and Block's clever ideas turn any ordinary day into the most fun ever. This time, the pair find a pile of boxes perfect for making a fort. But when the friendly competition starts heating up, will they be able to find a middle ground

Friendbots: Blink and Block Build a Fort is a Level Two I Can Read Comic, geared for kids who are comfortable with comics and can read on their own but still need a little help.
Image for "Sketty and Meatball"

Sketty and Meatball



 

"A pair we would happily hang out with again." --Kirkus Reviews

From Sarah Weeks, creator of the beloved series Mac and Cheese, comes Sketty and Meatball, a Level One I Can Read about two irrepressible dog best friends.

Best friends Sketty and Meatball do everything together. They play together. They bark together. If Sketty sniffs a flower, Meatball sniffs a flower too. If Meatball wags his tail, Sketty's tail is wagging too.

Young readers will be delighted by two pals called Sketty and Meatball, who happen to look quite a bit like their names.

Sketty and Meatball is a Level One I Can Read book, which means it's perfect for children learning to sound out words and sentences. Whether shared at home or in a classroom, the short sentences, familiar words, and simple concepts of Level One books support success for children eager to start reading on their own.
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Dalmartian

From the bestselling creator of Stumpkin and Vampenguin comes a whimsical picture book about the unexpected friendship that blooms between a boy and a dog of intergalactic origins.

A visitor from outer space comes to Stephen’s yard one night. It may look like a Dalmatian, but it certainly doesn’t act like one. At first, Stephen and the visitor get off on the wrong paw. They quibble over kibble, debate sleeping arrangements, and must abandon earth dogs’ approach to bathroom breaks altogether to keep the peace. Is a shared love of bacon a strong enough foundation for this ordinary earth boy and extraordinary out-of-this-world canine to learn to live in harmony?
Image for "Jump for Joy"

Jump for Joy

Kid seeks dog. Dog seeks kid. In this charming and imaginative tale of friendship, picture book readers will delight in what it means to have a furry best friend.

For as long as she can remember, Joy has wanted a dog. It doesn’t matter what kind: big, little, spotted, curly. She wants one so fiercely, she makes dogs out of snow, seashells, or whatever’s at hand! However, none of the dogs Joy makes are quite what she yearns for. The seashell dog washes away, and the snow dog melts into a puddle. Little does Joy know that her perfect dog friend is just around the corner—wishing just as fiercely for a kid—and waiting to be discovered.

Award-winning artist Hadley Hooper creates a world that is both timeless and magical as she weaves ink, paint, and collages made from vintage etchings together in a style that perfectly complements the classic feel of Jump for Joy. Readers will rejoice in this satisfying kid-meets-dog story, and will savor returning to this world again and again.
Image for "The Squish"

The Squish

Meet Sandcastle.

Sandcastle's world was new and exciting until their very first...

SQUISH!

In an effort to protect themselves from ever getting squished again, Sandcastle tries to be bigger and taller and stronger! But is that enough to stop all the squishes?

From Breanna Carzoo, the acclaimed creator of Lou and Greenlight, comes an uplifting picture book story that reminds us that while we can't stop all of life's squishes, we can reach out to others, reconnect with our ingrained resilience, and maybe even have some fun!
Image for "I Want to Be a Scientist"

I Want to Be a Scientist

"An informative and accessible child's-eye view of STEM careers" --Kirkus Reviews

This Level One I Can Read and Guided Reading Level K is perfect for learning to sound out words and sentences. Whether shared at home or in a classroom, the short sentences, familiar words, and simple concepts of Level One books support success for children eager to start reading on their own.

For anyone looking for books about community helpers for kids, the I Can Read My Community books are a great choice. The books are bright and upbeat and feature characters who are diverse in terms of gender, race, age, and body type. Kids ages 3-7 will enjoy finding out more about the people who do so much to help all of our communities.

Meet these scientists:
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More Dung!

For fans of Jon Klassen and Peter Brown comes MORE DUNG!, a slyly funny and stunningly illustrated picture book about a greedy dung beetle by debut author-illustrator Frank Weber.

The dung beetle thinks he has everything he needs- the warmth of the sun, a gurgling river, and as much dung as he could ever want. But when a leopard tells him of a farm with even MORE dung, the beetle's world suddenly looks small. And so he sets off to the farm, accruing more and more dung, building a veritable DUNG EMPIRE! But a tower of dung comes with a tower of risk, and soon our insect hero finds himself buried in his greed. (Yes, he's buried in poop.)

Frank Weber seamlessly blends philosophical questions about greed with scatological humor and truly gorgeous artwork to create this special debut.
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My Book and Me

A celebration of books and reading from Newbery medal winner Linda Sue Park and illustrated by two-time Caldecott medal winner, Chris Raschka.

This is my book.
My favorite book.
I carry it with me
wherever I go.

Meet the child who loves books in this lyrical tribute to the joys of books and reading by Newbery medalist Linda Sue Park and featuring the jubilant illustrations of celebrated Caldecott artist Chris Raschka. My Book and Me invites us to reflect on beloved books which are friends we hold dear; books we read over and again; books that may take us to places afar to experience the world in different ways, and books that comfort and reassure us. This jubilant paean to literature is a celebration of our favorite authors, characters, and stories; those that we cherish the most and are friends for life . . . which books are your favorite? My Book and Me features a diverse group of children, all enjoying their favorite books.
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Libros en español para jóvenes

Image for "En El Fútbol Está La Fuerza"

En El Fútbol Está La Fuerza

Dominic no quiere jugar fútbol, pero cuando su mamá lo inscribe, no tiene opción. Se pasa los entrenamientos haciendo tonterías en la cancha, aunque en secreto admira las destrezas de Carlos, la estrella de su equipo. Cuando Carlos tiene que faltar a un partido, Dominic se da cuenta que podría ser su oportunidad para destacar. Pero después de sus travesuras, ¿será que el entrenador y sus compañeros de equipo confiarán en Dominic?suras, ¿el técnico y sus compañeros de equipo confiarán en Dominic?
Image for "La Maleta de Tesoros"

La Maleta de Tesoros

A warm, gentle ode to cherished visits with grandparents and the people and places that make us who we are even if we haven’t met them yet, by an acclaimed author and illustrator.

It’s been three years since Abuela’s last visit, and Dulce revels in every tiny detail—from Abuela’s maletas full of candies in crinkly wrappers and gifts from primos to the sweet, earthy smell of Peru that floats out of Abuela’s room and down the hall. But Abuela’s visit can’t last forever, and all too soon she’s packing her suitcases again. Then Dulce has an idea: maybe there are things she can gather for her cousins and send with Abuela to remind them of the U.S. relatives they’ve never met. And despite having to say goodbye, Abuela has one more surprise for Dulce—something to help her remember that home isn’t just a place, but the deep-rooted love they share no matter the distance.
Image for "La Camita de la Sala / The Cot in the Living Room"

La Camita de la Sala / The Cot in the Living Room

Una celebración al poder de la empatía y a la comunidad dominicana en Estados Unidos

Noche tras noche, una pequeña observa cómo su mamá arma una camita en la sala de su apartamento en Washington Heights, para los invitados como Raquel (quien es un poco aburrida) y Edgardo (que deja migajas por todas partes). Le molesta que los niños que llegan a dormir tengan toda la sala para ellos y la vista de las ventanas al puente George Washington, mientras ella sólo tiene un pequeño dormitorio con vista a su hermana y sus ronquidos. ¡Hasta que una noche no viene nadie a dormir y por fin es su oportunidad para dormir en la sala! Pero resulta que dormir en la camita en la sala no es tan maravilloso como ella pensaba.

Con un texto encantador de Hilda Eunice Burgos y bellas ilustraciones de Gaby D'Alessandro, La camita de la sala es una celebración a la solidaridad de la comunidad dominicana. A la vez que muestra a los jóvenes lectores que, a veces, la mejor manera de ser un buen vecino es imaginar cómo se siente dormir una noche en la almohada de otra persona.

ENGLISH DESCRIPTION

A young Dominican American girl in New York City moves from jealousy to empathy as her parents babysit children whose families work overnight shifts in this honest and warm picture book debut.

Night after night, a young girl watches her mami set up a cot in the living room for guests in their Washington Heights apartment, like Raquel (who's boring) and Edgardo (who gets crumbs everywhere). She resents that they get the entire living room with a view of the George Washington Bridge, while all she gets is a tiny bedroom with a view of her sister (who snores). Until one night when no one comes, and it's finally her chance! But as it turns out, sleeping on the cot in the living room isn't all she thought it would be.

With charming text by Hilda Eunice Burgos and whimsical illustrations by Gaby D'Alessandro, The Cot in the Living Room is a celebration of the ways a Dominican American community takes care of one another while showing young readers that sometimes the best way to be a better neighbor is by imagining how it feels to spend a night sleeping on someone else's pillow.
Image for "Pato Y Ganso"

Pato Y Ganso

"Pato y Ganso tienen que esforzarse por llevarse bien. Al principio, a Pato no le gusta mucho Ganso, y a Ganso no le gusta Pato. Pero ambos quieren el huevo que cada uno reclama como suyo. A medida que los dos cuidan de su huevo y hacen planes para el futuro, llegan a apreciar los puntos fuertes del otro. Y cuando un pájaro azul señala que en realidad no es un huevo, sino una pelota de lunares, ninguno se inmuta. Al fin y al cabo, es una pelota preciosa..."--Provided by publisher.
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