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Archive: 2022 (50 Posts)

Two moderators and 3 authors laugh together on stage at the National Book Festival.

Best of the National Book Festival 2022: Young Adult

Posted by: Alli Hartley-Kong

This is a guest post by Sasha Dowdy, a program specialist in the Literary Initiatives Office. It was originally published in the National Book Festival blog.  The Young Adult stage was a busy spot at the National Book Festival this year, for both teens, adults and everyone in-between. Plus, we welcomed three teen moderators on …

Five different kinds of homemade candy, cream caramels, Christmas keepsake fudge, peanut brittle, sponge candy and fondant stars.

Cooking Up History: Candy Recipes for the Holidays

Posted by: Rachel Gordon

The winter holidays are almost here! If you can’t face any more shopping, prefer to make gifts, or would simply like to brighten someone’s day, this post has suggestions for last-minute treats you can whip up yourself. Homemade candy is a welcome seasonal confection that’s perfect to share. It’ll mean a trip to the grocery …

Jason Reynolds poses with his ambassador medal against a black background

Closing Celebration for National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Jason Reynolds

Posted by: Alli Hartley-Kong

This post was co-written by Monica Valentine and Alli Hartley-Kong of the Library’s Informal Learning Office On January 16, 2020, award-winning writer Jason Reynolds began his tenure as the seventh National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature. While the role of the ambassador is to “raise national awareness of the importance of young people’s literature,” Reynolds …

Two authors sit on the stage at the National Book Festival. Nic Stone is a Black woman with long hair, and Kwame Alexander is a bald Black man speaking animatedly with his hands.

Best of the Festival 2022: Kid Lit

Posted by: Alli Hartley-Kong

This post was written by Sasha Dowdy, a program specialist in the Literary Initiatives Office. It was originally published in the National Book Festival blog. The National Book Festival has always welcomed families and children, and this year was no exception. On the KidLit stage, the stage devoted to middle-grade writers and their latest books. …

A homemade Advent calendar, featuring images from Library collections, displayed on a mantel with holiday greens, decorations, and candles.

Crafting from the Collections: Making an Advent Calendar

Posted by: Rachel Gordon

Growing up, having an Advent calendar was a fun part of my family’s holiday celebrations. Opening up a little cardboard door or window each morning from December 1st added a nice sense of anticipation and a handy visual countdown to how many days were left until Christmas. Later, my own children invariably squabbled over who …

An archival box with a picture of a boy demonstrating a website and a tank on it.

Veteran’s Day Activities for Children and Families: Highlighting Artists and Aviators

Posted by: Alli Hartley-Kong

This is a guest blog by Siobhan Miller, Teaching with Primary Sources intern at the Young Readers Center & Programs Lab.  With thanks to Megan Harris of the Veterans History Project. For more information on the Teaching with Primary Sources internship opportunity, please follow this link. As Veterans Day approaches, many of us are reflecting …

A newspaper article with the headline "Larry Doby Welcomed Home by Citizens"

Baseball History Part Two: Finding Larry Doby in the Newspaper Collections

Posted by: Alli Hartley-Kong

This summer, I was inspired by our programs at National Park to explore my own family connections with baseball. This post is a follow-up to my colleague Lauren’s post, “Baseball History: Reflections & Family History Activities”. My grandfather grew up in Paterson, New Jersey, home of his baseball hero—Larry Doby. After serving in World War …

A large pumpkin, painted black with purple tentacles, sits on a wooden deck. Atop the pumpkin sits a mannequin torso and head painted to look like Ursula from The Little Mermaid.

Halloween Family Day- Your Favorite Ghoulish Gourds

Posted by: Lauren Windham Roszak

On Saturday, October 22, the Library of Congress hosted a Halloween Family Day, featuring Goosebumps author R.L. Stine and Magic Tree House author Mary Pope Osborne discussing 30 years of their series. The Library’s Informal Learning Office also hosted spooky art and reading activities for families in the Jefferson Building before the author program. One …