Unicorns are legendary creatures, described since antiquity as beasts with a single, large, pointed, spiraling horn projecting from its forehead. They appear in fairy tales from around the world, but interestingly are not found in Greek mythology – because the ancient Greek writers of natural history were convinced of unicorns’ reality, believing that they lived in India, a “distant and fabulous realm.” And don’t forget their mythical beast cousins, dragons. These legends also cross cultures and time periods. Described as a combination of bird, cat and snake, the eastern myths attribute dragons with high intelligence but no wings. The west’s versions typically include wings and fire breathing. Sample some of our favorite fairy tales and myths in Picture Book, Beginning Reader, and Chapter Book format to determine which you prefer!

Come enjoy the last days of summer with some fun learning opportunities at the library! You can watch a movie with us, create a craft, meditate, catch a concert, share stories, improve your financial literacy, celebrate our furry friends, and much more this coming month. Read on to see some highlights from our August program offerings.

We are excited to share our newest educational platform for kids, Just for Kids Access Video. Just for Kids offers a kid-safe and advertisement-free streaming platform where young patrons can learn, explore, and enjoy.

Pets, Pets, Pets!!! In celebration of our Summer Reading Program, “Tails and Tales,” we have some wonderful books about amazing pets for you to check out. In these fun tales you can learn how Arthur adopts an adorable pet puppy, Norman the goldfish becomes the perfect pet and an adventurous pup meets a high-energy toddler!

Research shows that spending time outdoors has many benefits for people of all ages, including better overall health, and lower stress levels. One good way to realize those benefits and connect with nature is to go on a hike. Whether it’s planning a stroll through a local park or exploring a new hiking trail further afield, we have resources for every age that can help you make great choices and get excited about spending time outside.

We have so many new programs coming up in the month of July, both in-person and online! Join us for some awesome movies, stories, crafts, and lots of learning all month long.

Starting this week, our in-person and virtual storytimes have a brand-new schedule, and can be found on their own dedicated calendar. Read on for more information about upcoming storytimes!

Reading is the one activity that can increase the bonds between parent and child, teach your little one about the world around them, and open their eyes to concepts they might not encounter every day. Read and Discuss Stories is the last pillar of the Basics. The idea is to make reading fun while your kids are young, and instill a love of reading that will persist beyond childhood.

Starting June 15, the more books you read and the more activities you take part in this summer, the more prizes you will be eligible to win! Log reading, writing, and other literacy activities online to earn badges and prizes. Summer Reading is sponsored by the Friends of Henrico County Public Library. Keep reading to find out more.