QPL Day Closure

Quincy Public Library will be closed Friday, April 25th for all-day staff training. Normal hours resume on April 26th. 

Children’s Corner

Pre-K

Image for "Hello Hello Opposites"

Hello Hello Opposites

Caldecott Honor-winning illustrator Brendan Wenzel's irresistible animal images take the spotlight in this new series of concept board books for young children, based on his award-winning picture book Hello Hello.



Say HELLO to learning fun!



Little ones will learn about opposites with the help of a heavy walrus and light butterfly, a tough rhino and gentle fawn, a loud tiger and quiet salamander, and many more delightfully different pairs!



A parade of wild animals walks, swims, and flies across the sturdy pages of this colorful book. Read the playful text. Find the opposites. Marvel at the incredible array of animals--big and small--that populate our planet. A key at the end of the book identifies each animal for those who want to learn even more.



LEARNING OPPOSITES: Delightful duos of animal friends--from big and small to short and tall--make their hellos and introduce young children to opposites.



ENGAGING AND EDUCATIONAL: Kids will enjoy discovering the dazzling variety of animals in nature, from speedy cheetahs to slow sloths and hot-weather camels to ice-cool penguins. An answer key at the back identifies the names of each animal in the book.



FUN TO READ ALOUD: Simple rhythmic text and funny, appealing pictures make a joyous read-aloud experience for parents and children.



GENTLE MESSAGING: Each entry in this series continues to celebrate the richness of animal life with a gentle underlying message of the importance of saving endangered species and caring for the environment.



BELOVED AND BESTSELLING AUTHOR-ILLUSTRATOR: Brendan Wenzel is a bestselling Caldecott Honor-winning artist and a sought-after speaker at schools and libraries. His books They All Saw a Cat, Hello Hello, and A Stone Sat Still have received multiple starred reviews and state awards and are family and classroom favorites.



Perfect for:

  • Fans of Brendan Wenzel
  • Parents, grandparents, caregivers, and educators
  • Preschool and kindergarten level readers
  • Anyone looking for early concept board books with compelling visuals or a fun, interactive family read-aloud book
  • Gift-giving for baby showers and toddler birthdays
  • Animal lovers and fans of opposites books like Crane Truck's Opposites: Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site; Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?; The Very Hungry Caterpillar Eats Snacks: An Opposites Book; and Flora and the Ostrich
Image for "Hello Hello Shapes"

Hello Hello Shapes

Caldecott Honor-winning illustrator Brendan Wenzel's irresistible animal images take the spotlight in this new series of concept board books for young children, based on his award-winning picture book Hello Hello.



Say hello to early learning concepts and the wild world of animals!



Little ones will learn their shapes with the help of a couple of polar bears, some tree frogs, and a whole host of parrots! More than forty wonderful and endangered creatures from earth, sea, and sky parade across the pages and show the beauty and variety of our planet. A key at the back of the book identifies the animals for even more nature fun.





LEARNING SHAPES: An appealing collection of wild animals--such as giraffes, polar bears, and wild cats--introduce young children to the world of shapes.



WONDERFUL INTRODUCTION TO ANIMALS: Kids will enjoy discovering the dazzling variety of animals in nature, from tree frogs to polar bears, parrots to chameleons. An answer key at the back identifies the names of each animal in the book.



FUN TO READ ALOUD: Simple rhythmic text and funny, appealing pictures make a joyous read-aloud experience for parents and children.



NATURE BOOKS FOR KIDS: This new series celebrates the richness of animal life with a gentle underlying message of the importance of saving endangered species and caring for the environment.



BELOVED AND BESTSELLING AUTHOR-ILLUSTRATOR: Brendan Wenzel is a bestselling Caldecott Honor-winning artist and a sought-after speaker at schools and libraries. His books They All Saw a Cat, Hello Hello, and A Stone Sat Still have received multiple starred reviews and state awards and are family and classroom favorites.





Perfect for:

  • Fans of Brendan Wenzel
  • Parents, grandparents, caregivers, and educators
  • Preschool and kindergarten level readers
  • Anyone looking for early concept board books with compelling visuals or a fun, interactive family read-aloud book
  • Gift-giving for baby showers and toddler birthdays
  • Animal lovers and fans of shape books like Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site Bulldozer's Shapes; The Shapes Trilogy (Square, Circle, and Triangle); The Day the Crayons Quit; and The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Image for "Run, Run, Run!"

Run, Run, Run!

Run, Run, Run! is a fun, fun, fun board book for on-the-go toddlers!



It's time to run a race like no other! Finish line? Winning? None of that matters here. Exploring is the goal! In this colorful board book by bestselling author-illustrator Taro Gomi, follow the racer as he runs far past the finish line and through fields, a farm, a forest, and more. Toddlers will delight in turning the pages to find out where he will run, run, run to next!



Ideal for fans of Taro Gomi and his popular children's books, including the classic Everyone Poops, My Friends, Little Truck, and Little Chicks, this board book combines irresistibly expressive artwork and energetic text to create a read-along story parents and kids will not walk but run to read again and again.



PERFECT FOR ACTIVE TODDLERS: Not only do toddlers love to run--they love to run everywhere! This spirited board book gives little ones a glimpse of what it's like to run in cities, farms, forests, and more, letting them live out their dreams of running free with the whole world at their feet. It's the ultimate board book adventure!



CELEBRATES THE POWER OF IMAGINATION: It's a toddler's dream come true: running (and running) everywhere! The youngest readers will delight in exploring a variety of scenes and reveling in the little racer's ideal race.



A GREAT GIFT: This colorful, detail-rich board book is the perfect present for young ones just starting to walk and run. Not only will it inspire them, but it will help to redefine what winning means when experience is the goal! Great for baby shower, new baby, or child's birthday gift giving.



Perfect for:

  • Fans of Taro Gomi and Everyone Poops
  • Gift-givers seeking a sweet and engaging board book
  • Parents, grandparents, caregivers, and storytime leaders who love sharing fun stories and vibrant art with babies and toddlers
  • Runners and joggers who want to share their outdoor hobby with the kids in their lives
Image for "My First Trucks and Diggers"

My First Trucks and Diggers

This busy board book encourages hands-on fun for your toddler as they learn about busy trucks!

Introducing My First Trucks and Diggers, a busy board book with tabs to get toddlers aged 0-3 thinking, talking, and learning new words.

This interactive book is packed with colorful pictures and fun-filled activities to get your little ones thinking and talking. There are entertaining questions and challenges that encourage play, such as counting the yellow diggers, matching the workers to their trucks, and making honk-honk noises!

This truck board book offers: 

- 13 picture tabs of different trucks, builders, and diggers with corresponding word labels.
- A sturdy and chunky board book with safe rounded tabs, thoroughly tested for babies and toddlers.
- Easy-to-read text with names and descriptions to encourage language development.

This board book encourages early learning and helps your child develop early speaking, listening, and observation skills. The strong board pages are made especially for young children, and the chunky tabs are easy to grab to help with early motor control. Young children will be able to quickly recognize the picture on the tab which will take them straight to the page with their favorite trucks. 
At DK, we believe in the power of discovery. So why stop there?

There's so much more to explore and love with DK's My First series. With over 15 titles in the series, your child can discover new topics, people and places to keep them entertained time and time again. Discover all the colors of the rainbow with My First Colours, meet playful puppies and cuddly kittens with My First Animals, and have a fabulous time on the farm with My First Farm.

Image for "Hello Hello Colors"

Hello Hello Colors

Caldecott Honor-winning illustrator Brendan Wenzel's irresistible animal images take the spotlight in this new series of concept board books for young children, based on his award-winning picture book Hello Hello.



Say hello to early learning concepts and the wild world of animals!



Little ones will learn their colors with the help of a zebra, a swordfish, a sloth, and . . . an axolotl? More than sixty wonderful and endangered creatures from earth, sea, and sky parade across the pages and show the beauty and variety of our planet. A key at the back of the book identifies the animals for even more nature fun.







COLOR LEARNING: A rainbow of animal friends, from familiar everyday animals like house cats to rare and endangered animals like seahorses, make their hellos and introduce young children to colors at the same time.



WONDERFUL INTRODUCTION TO ANIMALS: Kids will enjoy discovering the dazzling variety of animals in nature, from baboons to swordfish, poison dart frogs to red pandas. An answer key at the back identifies the names of each animal in the book.



FUN TO READ ALOUD: Simple rhythmic text and funny, appealing pictures make a joyous read-aloud experience for parents and children.



NATURE BOOKS FOR KIDS: This new series celebrates the richness of animal life with a gentle underlying message of the importance of saving endangered species and caring for the environment.



BELOVED AND BESTSELLING AUTHOR-ILLUSTRATOR: Brendan Wenzel is a bestselling Caldecott Honor-winning artist and a sought-after speaker at schools and libraries. His books They All Saw a Cat, Hello Hello, and A Stone Sat Still have received multiple starred reviews and state awards and are family and classroom favorites.



Perfect for:

  • Fans of Brendan Wenzel
  • Parents, grandparents, caregivers, and educators
  • Preschool and kindergarten-level readers
  • Anyone looking for early concept board books with compelling visuals or a fun, interactive family read-aloud book
  • Gift-giving for baby showers and toddler birthdays
  • Animal lovers and fans of color books like Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?; The Day the Crayons Quit; Blue Hat, Green Hat; and Press Here

1st Grade

Image for "Aardvarks to Zebras"

Aardvarks to Zebras

Explore the enchanting world of animals in a fun, alphabetical adventure! Unveil the hidden lives of creatures big & small with humor & alliteration. A delightful storytime journey for little readers!

From Aardvarks to Zebras - An Animal Alphabet Adventure is a whimsical journey through the animal kingdom that will captivate your child's imagination. This magical trip takes young readers from A to Z, introducing them to a world of fascinating creatures and their intriguing lives.

The book is a treasure trove of playful alliteration and charming humor, making learning fun and engaging. The magic of alphabet sounds comes alive as children meet animals from all over the globe. Each page offers a new creature and a new adventure, making it a perfect read for little explorers keen on discovering the wonders of nature.

This delightful book also has a unique twist! It takes young readers on a secret tour to discover what animals do when no one is watching. From the aardvark's after-dark escapades to the zebra's zany antics, there's always a surprise waiting on the next page.

This book isn't just a fun and exciting read; it's also a wonderful learning tool. It's designed to stimulate curiosity, enhance vocabulary, and foster a love for reading. Each page is filled with vibrant illustrations that captivate young minds.

From Aardvarks to Zebras - An Animal Alphabet Adventure is more than just a children's book; it's a joyful journey into the enchanting world of animals. It sparks imagination, encourages learning, and offers endless fun. This book is a must-have for every little reader's library.

So, embark on this alphabetical adventure and let your child discover the magic of the animal kingdom. From Aardvarks to Zebras - An Animal Alphabet Adventure is a delightful, whimsical peek into the secret lives of animals that will surely captivate and enchant readers of all ages. Get ready for a journey filled with laughter, learning, and lots of animal antics!

Image for "On a Summer Night"

On a Summer Night

Step into the quiet magic of this celebration of summer nighttime and the mystery of a world lit differently by the moon.



On a summer night, the world is still. Even the crickets think it's too hot to sing. But all at once, a girl wakes. In the kitchen, the cat rolls onto its soft paws. A neighbor's small white dog yaps, a brown rabbit peeks from a hedge, and the leaves of a cherry tree begin to stir in the breeze. Readers witness and wonder: Who has woken them all? In this soothing bedtime story, the quiet of a warm summer night is brought to vivid, magical life with the soft steps of bare feet, the padding of paws, and the bright, golden light of the moon. One by one, each creature is roused and then gently returned to sleep in a lovely and lyrical exploration of wakefulness, restfulness, and the mysterious calm of the night.



PERFECT FOR BEDTIME . . . OR ANYTIME: This beautifully illustrated children's book is ideal for soothing young readers to sleep--or encouraging a contemplative break in an energetic day. The story's engagement with the wonders of nighttime will help children feel comforted by the dark and the prospect of going to sleep rather than afraid of them.



READ-ALOUD READINESS: With its lyricism and short refrains, this gentle story is just right for sharing.



CONNECTION TO NATURE: This magical book gradually reveals the moon as a character as it wakes girl, cat, dog, rabbit, tree, air, and cloud in turn--and connects them to one another through the welcoming quiet and wonder of a world gilded by moonlight.



THE POWER OF SLOWING DOWN: Picture books are often wonderful excuses to slow down and share a moment of gentleness in kids' (and parents') busy lives; this book feels like a deep breath and offers a chance to wonder and reflect.



Perfect for:

  • Kids who can't sleep on hot summer nights
  • Parents, grandparents, and caregivers seeking a sweet bedtime book
  • Librarians and storytime leaders looking for a summer read-aloud
  • Gift givers who want to share a beautiful, lyrical book with someone special
  • Readers of such classic bedtime stories for kids as Goodnight Moon and The Going to Bed Book

5th Grade

Image for "The First State of Being"

The First State of Being

WINNER OF THE NEWBERY MEDAL

A FINALIST FOR THE 2024 NATIONAL BOOK AWARD

A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

INDIE BESTSELLER

Chicago Public Library Best Fiction for Older Readers of 2024

Shelf Awareness Best Books of 2024 for Kids and Teens

BookPage Best Middle Grade of 2024

Common Sense Media Best Books of 2024

2025 Excellence in Children's and Young Adult Science Fiction Notable List

When twelve-year-old Michael Rosario meets a mysterious boy from the future, his life is changed forever. From bestselling author Erin Entrada Kelly, also the winner of the Newbery Medal for Hello, Universe and a Newbery Honor for We Dream of Space, this novel explores themes of family, friendship, trust, and forgiveness. The First State of Being is for fans of Rebecca Stead's When You Reach Me.

It's August 1999. For twelve-year-old Michael Rosario, life at Fox Run Apartments in Red Knot, Delaware, is as ordinary as ever--except for the looming Y2K crisis and his overwhelming crush on his sixteen-year-old babysitter, Gibby. But when a disoriented teenage boy named Ridge appears out of nowhere, Michael discovers there is more to life than stockpiling supplies and pining over Gibby.

It turns out that Ridge is carefree, confident, and bold, things Michael wishes he could be. Unlike Michael, however, Ridge isn't where he belongs. When Ridge reveals that he's the world's first time traveler, Michael and Gibby are stunned but curious. As Ridge immerses himself in 1999--fascinated by microwaves, basketballs, and malls--Michael discovers that his new friend has a book that outlines the events of the next twenty years, and his curiosity morphs into something else: focused determination. Michael wants--no, needs--to get his hands on that book. How else can he prepare for the future? But how far is he willing to go to get it?

A story of time travel, friendship, found family, and first loves, this thematically rich novel is distinguished by its voice, character development, setting, and exploration of the issues that resonate with middle grade readers.

Finalist for the National Book Award and Winner of the Newbery Medal.

 

Image for "Spirals and Stars"

Spirals and Stars

Its 1993. Beth McMaugh is eleven years old and about to start her final year of middle school. Her best friend since kindergarten is Ashlee, but Ashlee is changing. She wears surf brand clothes now, and watches teenage TV and knows all the words to all the songs by Girlfriend and Peter Andre. Beth is terrified of losing her when they get to senior school, but Ashlee assures her that grade six is going to be the best year ever.
On the first day, though, Beth enters her new homeroom to find Ashlee sitting with Kristy, Abbi and Nikki – the popular girls. The mean girls. What is Beth going to do? Ashlee cant really want to be one of them. They must have trapped her into being part of their group, through some sort of heinous bribery. Beth has to save Ashlee, but how?
Further complicating matters, there is a new kid in class – a strange, loud, smart kid from Brisbane, called Jools, who listens to Queen and is obsessed with science fiction and all things nerdy. So obsessed that, on her first day at her new school, she starts the Cooee Middle School Nerd Club and she wants Beth to be her first member – despite the fact that Beth has never even seen Star Wars! Behind all of this – behind everything – is a secret from Beths past, a secret so terrible it stays with her, every day, whispering in her ear: Wash your hands.
Behind everything is that day at the beach, when Kristy saw her in her worst moment. Is that why Ashlee doesnt want to be friends with Beth anymore? Is that why her mother doesnt want to be near her? Has Beth ruined everything? And if she has, can a nerdy girl with mismatched socks, a rebellious punk, a popular boy and a science fiction movie trilogy set it all to right?
Real Friends, by Shannon Hale, meets Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, meets The Friendship Matchmaker, by Randa Abdel Fattah, this is a story of growing up, of friendship, of finding your tribe and unlocking your hidden talents ... plus Star Wars.