Win it Wednesday: Bones in the White House: Thomas Jefferson's Mammoth

Every Wednesday we will give away a new book. For a chance to win, just fill out the form at the bottom of the page and you'll be entered into a drawing. The drawing will run from Wednesday through 11:59 PM Sunday. Winners will be announced on Mondays. (Note: you must be a Fresno County resident to be eligible for Win it Wednesdays.)

Bones in the White House: Thomas Jefferson's Mammoth

By Candice Ransom

Thomas Jefferson: Third president of the United States. Author of the Declaration of Independence. Obsessive prehistoric mammal hunter?? It's true! In this little-known slice of American history, see Thomas Jefferson as never before!

In the late 1700's, America was a new nation, with a vast west that held age-old secrets: Bones! Massive tusks and enormous animal skeletons were being discovered and Thomas Jefferson - politician AND scientist - was captivated. What were these giant beasts? Did they still roam on American soil? Jefferson needed to find out.

Funding explorers, including the famed Lewis and Clark, Jefferson sought to find a complete prehistoric mastodon skeleton - one which would advance the young science of paleontology, but would also put this upstart young country on the world stage. Follow along on the incredible journey - full of triumphs and disappointments, discoveries and shipwrecks, ridicule and victory.

Fill out this form for a chance to win our next Win it Wednesday!

Win it Wednesday: The Magnificent Makers #3: Riding Sound Waves

Every Wednesday we will give away a new book. For a chance to win, just fill out the form at the bottom of the page and you'll be entered into a drawing. The drawing will run from Wednesday through 11:59 PM Sunday. Winners will be announced on Mondays. (Note: you must be a Fresno County resident to be eligible for Win it Wednesdays.)

The Magnificent Makers #3: Riding Sound Waves

By Theanne Griffith

A wacky scientist, Dr. Crisp loves to invite students to the her Maker Maze for a STEM-filled adventure! Just solve a riddle and the portal to the Maze will appear! But there's a catch...if the kids don't complete a challenge fast enough, they can never come back to the Maze!

Pablo and Violet are on a field trip to the science museum and today they're paired up with a classmate they don't know very well--Henry. As they enter the Maze and learn about touch, hearing, and vision, Pablo and Violet learn that there's more to Henry and his odd behavior than meets the eye - Henry has a sensory processing disorder. Together they'll learn a little something about feelings (literally!), acceptance, and what makes us special.

Congrats, Johnelle A.! You're this week's Win it Wednesday winner!

Book Recommendations: Winter Books to Keep You Warm

It might be cold outside, but you can visit the library to pick out some cozy picture books to keep you warm. If you don't want to leave your toasty house, then you could check out our ebook and audiobook options on our free app, Libby!

The books pictured are:
❄️ Yetis are the Worst! by Alex Willan
❄️ Winter is Here by Kevin Henkes
❄️ Olaf and the Three Polar Bears by Calliope Glass
❄️ Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter by Kenard Pak
❄️ The Snow Thief by Alice Hemming
❄️ Not Quite Narwhal by Jessie Sima
❄️ Twinkle, Twinkle, Winter Night by Megan Litwin
❄️ Little Penguins by Cynthia Rylant
❄️ Polar Bear's Underwear by Tupera Tupera

Stay safe and have a wonderful January!

Miss Anna ⛄

(Click on the book covers above to view them in our catalog and place a hold on them. Additionally, click on the arrow to make the book list bigger).

Win it Wednesday: What Is a Refugee?

Every Wednesday we will give away a new book. For a chance to win, just fill out the form at the bottom of the page and you'll be entered into a drawing. The drawing will run from Wednesday through 11:59 PM Sunday. Winners will be announced on Mondays. (Note: you must be a Fresno County resident to be eligible for Win it Wednesdays.)

What Is a Refugee?

By Elise Gravel

An accessible picture book that oh-so-simply and graphically introduces the term "refugee" to curious young children to help them better understand the world in which they live.

Who are refugees? Why are they called that word? Why do they need to leave their country? Why are they sometimes not welcome in their new country? In this relevant picture book for the youngest children, author-illustrator Elise Gravel explores what it means to be a refugee in bold, graphic illustrations and spare text. This is the perfect tool to introduce an important and timely topic to children.

Congrats, Emma P.! You're this week's Win it Wednesday winner!

Monthly Early Literacy Activities Calendar: January

Spread the love of literacy year-round. Each day of these monthly calendars features an activity to boost fundamental literacy skills, including reading, writing, singing, talking, playing, and counting.

(Click on the arrow in the top right corner to make the calendar larger, view the second page, or print.)

Win it Wednesday: The Long Ride

Every Wednesday we will give away a new book. For a chance to win, just fill out the form at the bottom of the page and you'll be entered into a drawing. The drawing will run from Wednesday through 11:59 PM Sunday. Winners will be announced on Mondays. (Note: you must be a Fresno County resident to be eligible for Win it Wednesdays.)

The Long Ride

By Marina Budhos

In the tumult of 1970s New York City, seventh graders are bussed from their neighborhood in Queens to integrate a new school in South Jamaica.

Jamila Clarke. Josie Rivera. Francesca George. Three mixed-race girls, close friends whose immigrant parents worked hard to settle their families in a neighborhood with the best schools. The three girls are outsiders there, but they have each other.

Now, at the start seventh grade, they are told they will be part of an experiment, taking a long bus ride to a brand-new school built to "mix up the black and white kids." Their parents don't want them to be experiments. Francesca's send her to a private school, leaving Jamila and Josie to take the bus ride without her.

Congrats, Carolyn H.! You're this week's Win it Wednesday winner!

Win it Wednesday: Dirt Cheap

Every Wednesday we will give away a new book. For a chance to win, just fill out the form at the bottom of the page and you'll be entered into a drawing. The drawing will run from Wednesday through 11:59 PM Sunday. Winners will be announced on Mondays. (Note: you must be a Fresno County resident to be eligible for Win it Wednesdays.)

Dirt Cheap

By Mark Hoffman

A young entrepreneur sets out to earn some money and discovers the value of a dollar (and of dirt)! Perfect for fans of Lemonade in Winter, The Most Magnificent Thing, and Rosie Revere, Engineer.

Birdie doesn't know much about money. All she knows is that she wants a new soccer ball that costs $24.95. The fastest way to that $24.95 is going into sales, but what to sell?

All her belongings?

Not much of a market for those.

Congrats, Emmanuel A.! You're this week's Win it Wednesday winner!