Appalachian Regional Library is now offering curbside pick-up services at all locations. Please check each library’s webpage to see available hours. We hope you have been safe and well while we’ve been closed, and we look forward to seeing you soon.
Children's Services
Welcome to the Watauga County Library Children's Services page. Come in anytime we are open to do research, check out materials, use our computers and literary station, or play video games on our television in Youth Services.
Programs
Summer Reading 2020: Imagine Your Story * Starts in June
Family Story Time
Monday through Saturday at 11 a.m.
Join us for a joyful celebration of children and their literature on the story steps. Stories, songs, rhymes, and crafts are designed for ages 2-6.
2020-2021 Elementary Battle of the Books
Where the Watermelons Grow by Cindy Baldwin
Soft Rain by Cornelia Cornelissen
Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein
Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm
Kenny & the Dragon by Tony DiTerlizzi
Walls Within Walls by Maureen Sherry
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin
Wish by Barbara O'Connor
Pax by Sara Pennypacker
The Hero Two Doors Down by Sharon Robinson
Wildfire by Rodman Philbrick
The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl by Stacy McAnulty
Not If I Can Help It by Carolyn Mackler
The Very, Very Far North by Dan Bar-el
Baby Lap Time
Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10:30 a.m.
Join our youngest readers for an emphasis on fun and early literacy skills based around pictures, letters, and rhymes. Recommended for ages 2 and under.
Awesome Alphabet Activities
The First Friday of the month from 9 a. m. to 1 p.m.
Drop in during those hours in the Evelyn Johnson Meeting Room to interact with your children around a half dozen learning stations set up to foster conversation about alphabetic knowledge and phonemic awareness (the letters and sounds of the alphabet).
“Research has repeatedly proven that two skills in particular serve as the best predictors of early reading success. Those two skills are phonemic awareness and alphabet recognition.”
(Adams, 1990; Share, Jorm, Maclean, and Matthews, 1984; National Reading Panel, 2000)
Alphabet Ready By 5
Thursdays at 11 a.m.
We have a special storytime geared toward children working on their letters and sounds. This program is designed around a single letter of the alphabet, and focuses on pre-reading and early literacy skills while keeping kids entertained.
Lego Club
The 1st Wedneday of the full week each month at 3:30 p.m.
The word Lego comes from the Danish phrase, leg godt, meaning play well. Kids are encouraged to bring their imagination to life, one block at a time.
Beginning Coding Club
Call for more information, 828 264-8784 ext 3.
Battle of the Books
Click here for a list of the 2020-2021 Elementary Battle of the Books, 2020-2021 Middle Grades Battle of the Books.
Services
ABCMouse.com Early Learing Academy
ABCmouse.com is a high quality online educational resource for young children now available on our computers at the library. ABCmouse.com has won numerous awards and features over 5,000 learning activities, including online books, interactive learning activities, games, puzzles, songs, art activities, and more. It is designed to both fun and educational.
NC Digital Library * NC Digital Kids
The NC Digital Library is now available. Here's how it works!
- A beginning collection of 3029 eBooks, 689 audiobooks and 37 streaming videos on a custom website, http://nckids.overdrive.com or through the OverDrive app.
- 300 titles are available with simultaneous access, available anytime with no wait lists.
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All titles can be accessed via the app on all major computers and devices, including iOS®, Android™, Chromebook™ and Kindle® (U.S. only).
Easy, secure access. All that's needed to get started is a library card. Select Appalachian Regional Library as your sign in library.
Reference Assistance
Staff members at the Youth Services desk are always ready and willing to help you locate an item, get started on an assignment or find out more about a topic.
Computers
Computers for children under the age of thirteen and for parents accompanied by children are available in the Youth Services department. Children can use their own library card to log on or parents may request a guest pass for their child. Parents must keep their child(ren) in view when using the computer lab.
Story Walks in Watauga County
Look for Watauga County Story Walks at the Tot Lot Park in Boone and Blowing Rock Memorial Park. The StoryWalk Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, Vermont and was provided by a grant through the Library Services and Technology ACT EZ Literacy and Life Long Learning.
Kindles for Kids
Each Kindle is designed just for reading, which means your family can lose themselves in a good book rather than get distracted by videos or games. From timeless classics like island of the Blue Dolphin, to popular new titles like Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, Kindle has the books that will unleash your child's imagination as they discover their love of reading. Ask for them at the circulation desk.
Monthly Scavenger Hunts
Scavenger hunts are a fun way to promote the library and engaged youth in the learning process. Pick up a marker and scavenger form at the Easy book section near Big Bird.
Library Tours
Classes and formal organizations are welcome to visit the library for a tour. Please make requests for visits at least two weeks in advance. You may call (828) 264-8784 to request a tour.
A Little Free Library is a “take a book, return a book” free book exchange. They come in many shapes and sizes, but the most common version is a small wooden box of books. Anyone may take a book or bring a book to share. Little Free Libraries encourage literacy friendly neighborhoods. Look for a Little Free Libraries near you.
Valle Crucis Community Park
2892 Broadstone Road
2892 Broadstone Road
Banner Elk, NC 28604
Mabel Methodist Church
5932 Old US Hwy. 421
Zionville, NC 28698
Stone Mountain Store
1880 Bethel Road
1880 Bethel Road
Sugar Grove, NC 28679
Leola Gardens
207 Leola Street
Boone, NC 28607
Plan B
116 Meat Camp Road
Boone, NC 28607
White Laurel Apartments
White Laurel Lane
Boone, NC 28607
Resources
On Line Reading
Read a book a day with Tumblebooks!
Take a look at our Libguide to see what is available for kids. Someone in the family need homework help?
Check out Learning Express Library for help with Math, English, and more!
Does your child need to research a topic? Check out NCLive for a multitude of sources and Great Websites for Kids for a wonderful selection of websites geared to kids birth to age 14.