Books are powerful vessels for allowing children to see themselves reflected in stories. When they read about a character like them, they can be empowered and gain a sense of belonging and familiarity. Reading books that feature disabled characters can help children with disabilities see themselves represented in literature and validate their experiences. These books also inform and educate children without disabilities about the experiences of others, building empathy and understanding. In the end, reading books that feature characters with disabilities is positive for all children. Read on for some recommended titles from our librarians.

Helping Henrico families develop strong foundational literacy habits is something we are very passionate about at Henrico County Public Library. RVA Basics is an early learning campaign being widely embraced in the region that focuses on five essential aspects of a child’s development.

Reading to young children as early as possible can help strengthen the bond between parent and child, increase vocabulary, and teach kids about the wider world. HCPL offers storytimes for all ages, from birth to preschool, and we wanted to share tips caregivers can use to read like a librarian.

We are debuting a new, on-demand storytime service called Storyline this month.  Storyline offers recorded stories over the phone, and is geared toward preschool and early elementary children and their families.  For people looking for an opportunity to share stories offline, the library will offer newly recorded stories each week.  

Physics, chemistry, biology, astronomy, geology and meteorology are regarded as physical sciences because they apply to the natural world and can be investigated by using data and models to form a hypothesis that can be tested through carefully controlled experiments. This list is for anyone who’s ever looked at their homework (or the lab) and wondered: What am I ever going to need this for?!?

Are you a member of the BTS Army? Do you belong to BLINK? As interest in K-Pop only continues to grow, more and more books are featuring characters chasing their dreams of K-Pop fame. Aspirational young stars have to learn complicated choreography while hitting every note and following strict training regimes. It doesn’t take much to push these teens to their limits. Whether you’re a die-hard K-Pop fan or just dipping your toes into the world of Korean pop, you’ll find plenty to enjoy in these titles.

It’s October and we are right in the midst of the spooky season. The days are shorter, Halloween decorations are going up, and there’s a chill in the air. For horror fans, it’s the perfect time of year to share some of our favorite titles.

What’s better than a feel-good romance to bring you out of a reading slump? Each of these titles is a delight to read, and we’ve paired them with a food or drink so you can snack while you read. Best of all, everything has a happy ending.

September 27 - October 3, 2020 is Banned Books Week. Banning books is a form of censorship, and this week we are joining libraries across the country to bring awareness to the harms of censorship and the importance of intellectual freedom.