Blog: PreK-12 Teaching and Learning

10 Vocabulary Building Books for Rising Readers

One of the many ways we can improve reading comprehension is to strengthen children’s vocabulary and background knowledge. Try these tips from the Library's Ready to Read team to raise a confident reader.

5 Books to Develop Fluency in Young Readers

Fluency is the ability to read with the speed, accuracy, and inflection needed to approximate natural speech patterns. Try these resources as you help strengthen your growing reader's fluency.

World Nursery Rhyme Week

Help children learn to read by celebrating World Nursery Rhyme week singing or rhyming your favorite rhymes!

Dyslexia-Friendly Books for Juvenile Readers

Fact: Dyslexia is one of the most common learning disabilities to affect children. Here is a selection of juvenile fiction about dyslexia, some even written in dyslexia-friendly typeface.

Decodable Books for Young Readers

Learning to read takes a lot of practice. Let the Library's Ready to Read team help you discover a few decodable books to try with early readers at any stage.

History of Crayons

Crayons have been around for a long time! Here are some great titles featuring crayons and their history.

Social Emotional Learning Resources for Grades 1-5

Social emotional learning (SEL) encourages the development of self control, self awareness and the interpersonal skills needed to succeed in school and life. We hope this collection of library materials will inspire you to think of many ways you can promote social emotional learning among the children in your life.

Best Books for Preschool and Kindergarten

Is your preschool or kindergarten-aged child looking for something new to read? Check out this curated list of best books for Preschoolers and Kindergarteners for your little one to enjoy!

Best Series Books for Grades 4-5

A book series motivates children to continue reading to see what happens next. This selection highlights the first book in these popular children’s series.

Energy Education for Grades 4-5

In honor of Earth Day, take a deeper look at how we get electricity to power our homes (and lives) and whether there are more sustainable and healthier ways to obtain this resource from the environment.

Mystery Resources for 4-8 Graders

Are you wishing your middle grade reader is into Nancy Drew or the Boxcar Children as much as you were (or are)?! Check out this list of middle grade novels with a tried and

Graphics and Comics for Grades 6-8

Adventure, magic, and good friends can be found in these books of amazing artwork. Try one of our recommendations for middle schoolers!   A Library card and PIN will be required to access many

Best Books for Grades 7-8

Finding just the right book for a seventh or eighth grader can be a challenge. Let your librarians help you with a few of our favorite fiction titles.

Comics and Graphic Novels for Grades PreK-3

Are you an avid comic reader and looking for comics and graphic novels to share with your little one? This list will introduce your child to the wonderful world of comics and graphic novels!

Best Books for Second Grade Readers

Looking for books for a second grader? Here are wonderful picture books and easy readers specifically chosen for this age group. Books in series are noted. A Library card and PIN will be required to access many of the resources listed. Need help with your card or PIN? Contact your nearest location or call 419-259-5200. Need a new card?

April Fool’s Day for Grades PreK-3

April Fool’s Day is celebrated this year on Thursday, April 1, 2021. Whatever your prank, joke or pun, make it a great time to celebrate with a smile.

Top Ten Teen Books

In 2020, teens across the country voted these 10 books as their most favorite. Be a part of the vote for 2021!

Realistic Fiction for Grades 4-5

Read these fictional inspiring stories that resemble realistic situations, issues or experiences that could have happened in real life.A Library card and PIN will be required to access many of the resources listed. Need

Poetry for Middle School Readers

Middle school comes with a lot of feelings. Poetry is a beautiful outlet of those feelings. Share these great books with your middle schooler.

Presidents’ Day for Grades PreK-3

President’s Day is celebrated on the third Monday of February. It was originally a celebration of George Washington, the first president, but now it is a celebration for all presidents.

Mysteries for Grades 4-5

Are you ready for some mysteries to keep you warm with anticipation this winter? Check out our list for some ideas on what to read!

Get Unplugged with a Day of Play

Why not choose a just one day a week to get unplugged? Encourage your family to take a digital diet away from all devices, just for a single day! A one-day “fast” from technology is a great way to refresh your senses, add spontaneity to your life and reconnect with your family!

Mysteries for Grades 1-3

Can you help crack the case? These mystery books for grades 1-3 won't leave you guessing, whodunit?!

Best Books for Third Grade Readers

Looking for great books for third graders? These books will capture the interest of all types of readers. Children this age love to read book series, and many series are included.

Homeschooling Resources for Grades PreK-12

Below are just some of the materials that may be helpful to teaching children at home. Whether you’re new or experienced, there are resources available to help you. The Independent Learner’s Guide to Successful

Biographies for Grades PreK-3

Who was the first Black woman in space? Who invented crayons? Explore colorful life stories with preschool and early elementary students.

Art resources for Grades PreK-3

Here are 12 books (a mix of fiction and nonfiction) that are perfect for introducing young readers to the world of fine art. These books are a great place to start whether you’re looking for inspiration, fun facts, or just a good story!

Explore Art for PreK-3

Art is anything that is beautiful to look at- it can express ideas or emotions. You can make art out of any material.

Animal Hibernation for PreK-3

What happens to certain animals during the Winter? Some hibernate- they stay in their homes and rest during the cold Winter months.

Caldecott Contenders – Part 1

Toledo Lucas County Public Library’s 48th Annual Caldecott Read-In is going virtual this year. It will be held Saturday, January 23 from 10-11:30 AM. A live discussion and voting will choose our local winner

Snowy Days for PreK-3

What do you like to do when there’s a snowy day? Do you make forts, have a snowball fight, or snuggle up to read?

Dealing with Sadness

It is OK to feel things. Sadness is a feeling that everyone knows. Let’s explore how to help our children understand this feeling.

American Civil War resources for Grades 9-12

Spanning four years and resulting in more than 620,000 American casualties, historians regard the American Civil War as one of the most divisive eras in US history. Let the Library guide you to some excellent resources for furthering your research of this part of our past.

Help for Homeschoolers

Jumping into homeschooling can be challenging! As a librarian who homeschooled my two kids, I have suggestions for Toledo Lucas County Public Library resources to use as you educate your children. 

Learning to Read Begins at Birth!

Many families are looking for the best ways to help their little one be ready to read. With so many resources available, it can seem overwhelming but the Ready to Read librarians are here to assist.

Thanksgiving Resources for Grades 1-3

Children’s Thanksgiving books and media range from funny stories of escaped turkeys to more sober histories of settlers and Native Americans, and reflections on thankfulness.

Biome and Ecosystem Resources for Grades 4-5

Biomes are a large naturally occurring community of plants and animals occupying a habitat. Ecosystems are the interactions between the living things and the non-living things in a biome. Want to learn more? Check out these great resources from your Library!

Stay Healthy for PreK-3

Learn about germs and how doctors help keep us healthy with these eBooks, movies and activities. Use your Library card and PIN to access these resources.

Landforms Resources for Grades 1-5

Landforms are the features that make up the surface of the Earth. From mountains to valleys, and all the plateaus in between, the library has resources to help you explore landforms.

Resources on Shakespeare for High School Learners

Are you overwhelmed with the number of resources to help your students learn? Let the Library help! Using trusted resources and expert knowledge, our resourceful librarians have gathered a collection of credible and reliable resources – both electronic and books on Shakespeare, specifically for High School learners.

Holocaust Resources for High School Learners

Are you overwhelmed with the number of resources to help your students learn? Let the Library help! Check out these trusted resources on the Holocaust, selected by our knowledgeable librarians for high school learners. 

Resources for Middle School Studies of Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome

Are you overwhelmed with the number of resources to help your students learn? Let the Library help! Using trusted resources and expert knowledge, our resourceful librarians have gathered a collection of credible and reliable resources – both electronic and books on Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome, specifically for Middle School students.

September 11 Resources for High School Students

Are you overwhelmed with the number of resources to help your students learn? Let the Library help! Using trusted resources and expert knowledge, our resourceful librarians have gathered a collection of credible and reliable resources – both electronic and books on 9/11, specifically for High School learners.

So You Still Say You Hate Musicals

Thanks to the new streaming movie, everyone's talking about Hamilton again. But you feel left out of the conversation because you hate musicals. Let us help.

Online Learning for Adults & Teens

We are all officially tasked with social distancing in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus. While our 20 locations might be temporarily closed, we’re still open in many ways to our customers –

Online Learning for Families & Kids

We are all officially tasked with social distancing in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus. While our 20 locations might be temporarily closed, we’re still open in many ways to our customers –

Spend Your New Year – At the Library

Happy New Year from your Library! Make 2020 your best year yet by taking advantage of the many resources, materials and programs we offer. We hope to see you often!

New Options for Interacting With Our Digital Content

The Local History and Genealogy department of the Toledo Lucas County Public Library has loaded a number of digitized books onto Internet Archive as an alternative means of accessing them. We also shared all the metadata about our digital collections as open data, which is now accessible through GitHub.

Online Privacy Tips & Tricks

What do you know about your online privacy? Here are some books and other resources that might help you maintain privacy online.

Replace Bad Habits With New Skills

Get a jump start on your resolutions for the new year! Trying to change a not-so-great habit? Replace it with something new, and let your library help!

Toledo Streets Newspaper Archive Now Available

The Local History and Genealogy department of the Toledo Lucas County Public Library has partnered with Toledo Streets, the local nonprofit news organization that helps those experiencing poverty with the opportunity to economically empower themselves. The first 74 issues of the newspaper are now available online through the Library.

Find Information You Can Trust with GVRL

Gale Virtual Reference Library (GVRL) provides digital access to a variety of quality eBooks geared towards students, researchers, professionals and general readers.

Babies vs Babytime

Babies are wonderful, beautiful and thoroughly amazing human beings. Baby storytime gives babies and their caregivers the chance of developing early literacy skills together at the library.

Building Great Learners Starts With Reading

Since its inception in April 2014, the Ready to Read program has provided more than 4,000 parents and childcare providers with free kits and training, impacting the lives of more than 10,000 children.

Memoir Writing Resources

Everyone has a story to tell. If you would like to tell your story, we have memoir writing resources to help.

Want Free Stuff? Get The Card!

September is National Library Card Sign-Up Month. Let's take a look at all of the amazing things that come along with being a card holder!

Celebrating YOUR Success!

It's always a great day at the Toledo Lucas County Public Library when we're able to celebrate the success of our customers!

Total (Solar) Eclipse of the Heart

We're about to witness history folks - by way of the Great American Eclipse! Mark your calendars for August 21, and join us for solar eclipse viewing safety workshops.

Kids in the Kitchen

Featuring library and web resources to help you and your family with creative culinary creations.

Babytime Rocks!

Where can you find a wild party on a weekday morning? Look no further than Babytime!

Back To School For YA

For all Young Adult readers heading back to school this month, it’s time to hit the books. Here are some great extra-curricular reads to check out.

Crazy About Jane

The great thing about Jane Austen’s work is that it’s easy to find something to love, because she writes with sincerity and humanity with a dash of wit thrown in from time to time to keep us on our toes. It's no wonder people around the world are crazy about Jane Austen to this day.

Back to School Book Lists

Is your child experiencing the back to school jitters? Check out our list of books to help kids deal with everything from riding the bus for the first time to making new friends at school!

Strategies for Success: Top 5 Blogging Tips

Anyone can blog, but what makes a blog successful? That’s the question. Why does one blog take off and another fail? Blogging isn’t just about putting something out there – the secret to success – is providing content people are actually interested in checking out. Give ‘em what they want!