IndyPL Blog

Cuando estás de vacaciones, haciendo mandados, o fuera de casa, leer historias convierte las horas de espera en momentos de diversión. ¡Es la hora del cuento en línea! Nuestra biblioteca de cuentos está disponible las 24 horas del día, los 7 días de la semana. Disfruta de tus historias favoritas en cualquier momento. Haz clic en la portada de un libro para leer o escuchar cuentos en español. Sumérgete en la magia de la lectura.

Para fomentar el gusto de los niños por las historias, explora más recursos. Consulta la International Children’s Literature Database: Los Libros en Español. Este recurso ofrece una rica colección de literatura infantil en español. Además, Uniteforliteracy: Los Libros en Español proporciona una selección de libros con narración en español, ideales para que los niños disfruten mientras desarrollan sus habilidades de escucha. También puedes visitar Plaza Sésamo en Español. Presenta cuentos y actividades educativas en un formato atractivo. Estos recursos mantienen a los niños entretenidos y comprometidos con la lectura.

No te pierdas la Hora del Cuento Bilingüe – Español. Únete a la Señora Laura para una sesión de cuentacuentos en inglés y español. Los preescolares disfrutarán de libros, canciones y juegos que fomentan el amor por la lectura y el aprendizaje de nuevos idiomas. Esta experiencia bilingüe es una oportunidad para que los niños se sumerjan en historias cautivadoras y desarrollen habilidades en ambos idiomas. ¡No te lo pierdas!

¿Necesitas ayuda? Llame o pregunte a un miembro del personal de la biblioteca en cualquiera de nuestras ubicaciones o envíe un mensaje de texto a un bibliotecario al 317 333-6877.

title - Jorge el Curioso monta en bicicleta

title - Martí's Song for Freedom/ Martí Y Sus Versos Por La Libertad

title - Mike Mulligan y su maquina maravillosa

title - Silvestre y la piedrecita magica

Historias en Español – Hora de Cuentos Bilingüe

Event: Bilingual Storytime at Wayne – Baby and Toddler
Date & Time: Tuesday, November 04, 10:30am
Location: Wayne Branch
Description: Babies and toddlers up to age 2 with an adult are invited for an active class featuring stories, songs, and rhymes followed by socialization and playtime with age appropriate toys.
No Registration Required.

Event: Bilingual Storytime at Glendale – Spanish / Hora del cuento bilingüe – en español
Date & Time: Wednesday, November 05, 10:30am
Location: Glendale Branch
Description: Young children will enjoy books, songs, and games in this bilingual storytime in English and Spanish! / ¡Los niños pequeños disfrutarán de libros, canciones y juegos en esta hora de cuentos bilingüe en inglés y español!
No Registration Required.

Event: Bilingual Storytime at Fort Ben – Spanish / Hora del cuento bilingüe – en español
Date & Time: Wednesday, November 05, 10:30am
Location: Fort Ben Branch
Description: Young children will enjoy books, songs, and games in this bilingual storytime in English and Spanish! / ¡Los niños pequeños disfrutarán de libros, canciones y juegos en esta hora de cuentos bilingüe en inglés y español!
No Registration Required.

Event: Bilingual Storytime at Franklin Road – Spanish / Hora del cuento bilingüe – en español
Date & Time: Thursday, November 06, 10:30am
Location: Franklin Road Branch
Description: Young children will enjoy books, songs, and games in this bilingual storytime in English and Spanish! / ¡Los niños pequeños disfrutarán de libros, canciones y juegos en esta hora de cuentos bilingüe en inglés y español!
No Registration Required.

Event: Bilingual Storytime at Wayne – Baby and Toddler
Date & Time: Tuesday, November 11, 10:30am
Location: Wayne Branch
Description: Babies and toddlers up to age 2 with an adult are invited for an active class featuring stories, songs, and rhymes followed by socialization and playtime with age appropriate toys.
No Registration Required.

Tags Hispanic/Latino

collage of historical fiction book covers including "Sacrificio," "Lavender House," "Siren Queen," "The Rib King," and more.

If you enjoy reading about characters living in a different time or navigating real historical events, here are some tips to help you find your next historical fiction read! Browse award winners, get recommendations from our staff, or make a selection from our list of historical fiction authors linked directly to our catalog, so you can conveniently place holds and check item availability. You might also find reading suggestions at If You Like Historical Romance.

Find award winners.

The Walter Scott Prize recognizes historical fiction novels published in the last year. Browse the Walter Scott Prize award winners.
The Society of American Historians awards a Prize for historical fiction every other year. View the Society of American Historians award and past winners.
The Crime Writers’ Association awards the Historical Dagger for a historical crime novel published in the last year in the UK in English.
Make a selection from the Goodreads Readers’ Favorite Historical Fiction of 2024.

Awards for Young Adult and Children’s Historical Fiction:

Get reading recommendations from library staff.

Adults:

Kids:

Staff Picks 2024 – Best of Historical Fiction

Here are a few of our staff members’ favorite historical fiction selections of 2024– covering a span of hundreds of years. Read a trippy reimagining of Montezuma and Cortez’s meeting, see how an 18th century midwife handles being on trial for murder, or experience Huckleberry Finn from the point of view of James, the enslaved man at the center of the narrative. Looking for epic narratives that deal with the present as well as history? Take a peek at our Best of Fiction list.

New this year: we’ve included some recommendations at the bottom of the list that were our favorite reads from previous years. Hopefully, these will have a shorter hold list for you!

Use your Library card to access Novelist Plus.

On Novelist Plus you’ll find reading recommendations, read-alikes, series lists, reviews, and lists of award-winning books. There are several historical fiction categories to choose from including:

Subscribe to the historical fiction newsletter from NextReads.

Receive a monthly list of historical fiction books in your email. Listed books are linked to the Indianapolis Public Library catalog, so it’s easy to place a hold on anything that catches your eye. See a sample issue of the historical fiction list or sign up for NextReads newsletters.

Make a selection from one of these historical fiction authors.

Upcoming Author Talks & Book Discussions

Event: BYO Book: A Different Kind of Book Club
Date & Time: Tuesday, November 04, 6:00pm
Location: Central Library
Description: Join a community of readers for an evening of reading and talking about books. There is no assigned book – just bring your current read and let’s chat!
No Registration Required.

Event: Adult Book Discussion at Glendale – Tuesday Night Readers
Date & Time: Tuesday, November 04, 6:30pm
Location: Glendale Branch
Description: The book to be discussed is “Freshwater” by Akwaeke Emezi.
No Registration Required.

Event: Virtual Author Talk: Community, Power, and the Search for Indigenous Identity
Date & Time: Wednesday, November 05, 2:00pm
Location: Online
Description: You’re invited to learn from journalist and author Joseph Lee as he chats online with us about his stirring memoir, “Nothing More of This Land: Community, Power, and the Search for Indigenous Identity.”
Register Here

Event: Adult Book Discussion at Warren
Date & Time: Thursday, November 06, 10:30am
Location: Warren Branch
Description: The book to be discussed is “Their Eyes Were Watching God” by Zora Neale Hurston. Adults are invited to this monthly book discussion program. Book lists with titles selected by group members are available at the Library. New members are always welcome.
Register Here

Event: Adult Book Discussion at West Indianapolis
Date & Time: Monday, November 10, 5:00pm
Location: West Indianapolis Branch
Description: We will be discussing “Supercommunicators” by Charles Duhigg. Copies of this month’s book can be picked up from the West Indianapolis Branch. Adults are invited to this free monthly book discussion program. We meet on the second Monday of the month.
No Registration Required.

Need more help?

Ask a Library staff member at any of our locations or call, text or email Ask-a-Librarian. The Tinker Station helpline at (317) 275-4500 is also available. It is staffed by device experts who can answer questions about how to read, watch and listen on a PC, tablet or phone.

Tags If You Like

If you need help finding books by LGBTQ+ authors, we can help! Here are some tips to help get you started as well as a convenient clickable list of authors linked directly to our catalog for placing requests or checking out e-books and audiobooks.

Read an award winner.

Make a selection from some of the most distinguished honors in literature.

Awarded since 1971, The Stonewall Book Award goes to books of exceptional merit relating to the gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender experience. See the Stonewall Award winners in our catalog.

The Lambda Literary Awards (or “Lammys”) have been awarded for more than 30 years. The Lammys are given in 24 categories celebrating LGBTQ storytelling. See the Lambda Literary Award winners in our catalog.

Borrow e-books or downloadable audiobooks.

Browse OverDrive’s LGBTQIA+ collections of e-books and downloadable audiobooks.

If you have never borrowed from OverDrive or the OverDrive Libby app before, both OverDrive browser directions and Libby app directions are available as well as an OverDrive video tutorial and Overdrive/Libby Support.

Need more help? Ask a Library staff member at any of our locations or call, text or email Ask-a-Librarian. Additionally, the Tinker Station helpline at (317) 275-4500 is also available. It is staffed by device experts who can answer questions about how to read, watch and listen on a PC, tablet or phone.

Get reading recommendations from Library staff.

Browse through one of our featured lists or see our full listing of LGBTQ+ staff created book lists.

LGBTQ+ Graphic Novels

Graphic novels where LGBTQ+ characters and themes are relevant to the plot.

Title - My Lesbian Experience With Loneliness

Use your Library card to login to Novelist Plus.

On Novelist Plus you’ll find recommendations, read-alikes, series lists, reviews, and lists of award-winning books by LGBTQ+ authors. There are several LGBTQ+ categories to choose from including:

Subscribe to the Rainbow Reads newsletter from NextReads.

Subscribe to NextReads to receive reading recommendation in your inbox monthly for help finding books by LGBTQ+ authors. Book suggestions are linked to our catalog for easy requesting. It’s FREE! See a sample issue and Subscribe to NextReads!

LGBTQ+ Adult Authors

LGBTQ+ Teen Authors

LGBTQ+ Childrens Authors

Carlos Aponte
Christine Baldacchino
Kacen Callender
Kirstin Cronn-Mills
Deborah Ellis
Brian Farrey

Alex Gino
James Howe
Liz Kessler
Arnold Lobel
Ann M. Martin
Hannah Moskowitz

Leslea Newman
Gayle Pitman
Maurice Sendak
Ken Setterington
Cory Silverberg

Tags Authors, LGBTQ+

We want all children to grow up without fear, but know that even while they are still very young, children will experience stressful and traumatic situations. Events in the news can cause children who are aware of them anxiety or fear. It is comforting and empowering to know that there are skills children can learn to help them cope. And there are experts who can help us teach them. These experts can support us helping children cope with tragic events.

The books and resources listed below are designed by early childhood experts to help you talk through fear and anxiety with your child. It is clear from the resources we have gathered that one of the best things we can all do is simply reassure children that many people – their family, their teachers, their neighbors, the people at daycare or church, or the library, love and care about them and are looking out for their safety.

Favorite stories can also be steadfast old friends to count on in times of trouble. Open a book. Start to read. Hold them close and revisit old friends together; Curious George, Arthur, The Little Engine That Could. Find the books in the bookcase with the dog-eared pages and the tell-tale bite marks on the spine; the ones you can probably recite without looking at the pages. Choose the one with the coffee ring on the cover for having been on the bedside table every night. Take advantage of the comfort and security that time spent with you and a good book can provide.

Helping Children Cope with Tragic Events: Professional Advice

NPR: How to talk to children about the violence in Israel and Gaza
Colorín Colorado: 15 Tips for Talking with Children About Violence (This page has been updated with information specific to the shootings in both Uvalde, Texas and Buffalo, New York. Colorín Colorado offers bilingual, research-based information, activities, and advice for educators and families.)
PBS Kids for Parents: Helping Children with Tragic Events in the News
Colorín Colorado: Talking About Racism and Violence: Resources for Educators and Families
EmbraceRace: Nurturing Resilience in a World of Racial Aggression and Violence
KidsHealth: How to Talk to Your Child About the News
Greater Good Science Center: How to Talk With Kids About Scary News
Peace Learning Center: Ukraine Guidance This is an informative, printable .pdf with many helpful resources.
American Academy of Pediatrics: How to Talk With Your Child About the War in Ukraine Dr. David Schonfeld offers his thoughts including a helpful FAQ of commonly asked questions from kids with ideas for how to answer them.

Helping Children Cope with Tragic Events: Sesame Street Traumatic Experiences Guide

The experts at Sesame Street have put together an online coping guide called Traumatic Experiences to help adults explain community violence to young children. The guide includes a variety of helpful videos that show familiar Muppet characters modeling various coping strategies. The guide also provides practical ideas for helping children cope with tragic events. Related tools include storybooks, activities, and printables.

Violence in Communities

Violence in Communities (también disponible en español: Violencia En La Comunidad) In this video, Rosita comes to Allan upset after hearing that somebody hurt a lot of people. Allan’s skilled responses are shared in the printable guide Troubling Times that provides helpful advice for answering some of the most challenging questions children ask. What happened? Why did these people do bad things? Will the bad people come to hurt us? Will this happen again?

Stand Tall Together

Stand Tall Together (también disponible en español: Con la cabeza erguida) In this video Big Bird learns how movement can help focus a person’s mind when it is overwhelmed with big feelings. Big Bird learns the tree pose to help himself feel steady and confident. You can follow along with the video and use this tree pose printable to model this self-calming technique.

Super Grover’s Super Pose

Super Grover’s Super Pose (también disponible en español: La pose de poder de Súper Grover) In this video Super Grover shows how holding his body in a confident manner and saying encouraging things to himself can help ease his worry and anxiety. Even Super Grover doesn’t always feel super, but doing these self-care techniques helps him remind himself, “I am super!”

Big Bird’s Comfy Cozy Nest

Big Bird’s Comfy Cozy Nest In this video Big Bird is feeling lots of things all mixed together and he doesn’t know what to do with them. He feels sad, angry, confused, and anxious. Big Bird learns a self-calming technique imagining a safe place in which he can feel calm and peaceful. Big Bird’s Nest includes helpful conversation prompts and Let’s Play Activity Book offers several ideas to help children explore their emotions as well as a storybook version of “Imagine a Safe Place with Big Bird” in both English and Spanish.

Count, Breath, Relax

Count, Breath, Relax Learn a simple self-calming technique with the Count and Cookie Monster by slowly blowing out pretend birthday cake candles.

Care, Copy & Connect

Care, Cope & Connect is a printable online guide to help adults comfort and support kids going through community stress. It includes ideas to help kids feel safe and secure, activity pages, and self-care tips for parents and caregivers. It is available in Korean and Arabic.

Books

When children are afraid, it is common for them to fear being separated from their trusted adults. Three stories that are particularly good for talking about coping with separation anxiety are Owl Babies. Llama Llama Misses Mama, and The Kissing Hand. Just click on one of the book covers to watch the story in a video read aloud. I Am Peace a Book of Mindfulness and Bee Calm the Buzz on Yoga also might be helpful for practicing self-calming techniques.

More Books You Can Check Out to Help Children Cope

When young children are feeling scared, it can be helpful to read a book together that helps talk with them about their anxious feelings; or helps answer questions about difficult topics like violence or tragic events children hear about on the news. Below are several sensitive and insightful children’s stories that address separation fear, anxiety, and grief. These stories can help children learn to recognize and name these emotions, they can offer reassurance, and they can provide ideas for helping children (and you) cope.

Title - What to Do When the News Scares You

Title - Pig and Horse and the Something Scary

Tags Mental Health

Here are some tips for finding books by Black authors, including a convenient list of authors linked directly to our catalog for placing requests or checking out e-books and e-audiobooks. Find compelling fiction and nonfiction by both contemporary and classic Black authors, including books in every genre from literary fiction to romance, to science fiction to personal memoirs, whether you are looking for a thrilling page turner are recognized prize-winner!

Visit the Center for Black Literature & Culture at Central Library.

The Center for Black Literature & Culture (CBLC) is home to our largest collection of materials by Black authors. Take as long as you’d like to browse this collection that features authors whose work impacts local, national, and global culture in literature, sports, business, politics, science, and music. Also don’t miss the CBLC’s website, The Power of Black Voices. This online collection includes artifacts, photographs, and articles across many categories including Black Literature and The African Diaspora. The CBLC can provide both in-person and online help finding books by Black authors.

Read an award winner.

Make a selection from some of the most distinguished honors in literature. The Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA) Literary Award, the NAACP Image Awards for Literature, and the Earnest J. Gaines Literary Award all recognize excellence in writing by Black authors. To place convenient requests browse the winners in our catalog:

Borrow e-books and e-audiobooks

You can use your Library card to use OverDrive, our e-book and e-audiobook lending platform. Browse OverDrive’s African American Fiction or OverDrive’s African American Nonfiction collections. If you have never borrowed from OverDrive or used the OverDrive Libby app before, both OverDrive browser directions and Libby app directions are available as well as an OverDrive video tutorial and Overdrive/Libby Support.

Need more help? Ask a Library staff member at any of our locations or call, text or email Ask-a-Librarian. The Tinker Station helpline at (317) 275-4500 is also available. It is staffed by device experts who can answer questions about how to read, watch and listen on a PC, tablet or phone.

Screenshot of four book covers that display from a search in the Libby app.

Get reading recommendations from Library staff

Click on a featured booklist to get reading recommendations or see all our staff book lists featuring Black authors.

Use your Library card to login to Novelist Plus

On Novelist Plus you’ll find recommendations, read-alikes, series lists, reviews, and lists of award-winning books by Black authors. Browse the Black Authors category in Novelist Plus.

Subscribe to the Black Literature Newsletter from NextReads

Receive reading recommendation in your inbox monthly for recent novels featuring stories by Black authors. Book suggestions are linked to our catalog for easy requesting. It’s FREE! See a sample issue and Subscribe to Next Reads today!

Black Authors

Tags Authors, Black History

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. According to the Pew Research Center, “Asian Americans trace their roots to more than 20 countries in East and Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent, each with unique histories, cultures, languages and other characteristics.”

Heritage months like this one are annual reminders to acknowledge the experiences of various marginalized people and to elevate their contributions that are too often ignored. These months are also celebrations of their culture. This year, you can use this time to immerse yourself in the diverse histories, cultures, and traditions of people of Asian-Pacific ancestry.

Graphic Novel Memoirs Featuring Asian American and Pacific Islander Authors

A memoir is a narrative book, written from the perspective of the author, that tells about a particular portion of their life. Memoirs give individual perspective and share what a person felt during a particular experience. A memoir may or may not begin in childhood as an autobiography often does, whose purpose spans the author’s life time. Memoirs instead focus on a particular moment or influential experience that has shaped the author. Memoirs create empathy and understanding at a deeper level beyond the facts. The story is told as the author remembers it. The author is the only one who can tell the story. Our staff have selected several graphic novel memoirs to recommend during Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage month.

For even more reading ideas see our guide to Finding Books by Asian and Pacific Islander Authors.

American Born Chinese by Gene Luen

American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang is made up of three seemingly unrelated stories blending modern day issues with a beautiful old Chinese myth to tell a story about racism, identity, and acceptance. It won the 2007 Best Book Award from The Chinese American Librarians Association, the 2007 Michael L. Printz Award, and the 2007 Eisner Award for Best Graphic Album. In addition, it was a finalist for the 2006 National Book Award. IndyPL_KristenF

The Best We Could Do by Thi Bui

In the graphic novel memoir The Best We Could Do, Thi Bui tells the story of her family, starting with the birth of her son and then working back in time. She chronicles the lives of her parents through the ever shifting turmoil in Vietnam and their escape to the United States. Through it all, she questions whether or not she will be as strong as her parents and if she is worthy to even be a parent. Bui’s book was an American Book Award winner, a National Book Critics Circle finalist in autobiography, and an Eisner Award finalist in reality-based comics. IndyPL_MarianneK

They Called Us Enemy by George Takei

Finally, you may know George Takei from his performance as Sulu on the TV show Star Trek and from his wonderful social media presence. What you might not now is that when he was a child during World War II Takei spent time in an internment camp for people of Japanese descent. Takei sheds light on this dark part of American history in his emotional memoir They Called Us Enemy. It’s a story of legalized racism, the love of family, and perseverance. Takei’s book won the 2020 Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association Literature Award, the 2020 American Book Award, and the 2020 Eisner Award. IndyPL_KristenF

Browse More Asian American Memoirs

This is a list of memoirs celebrates the unique and varied voices of Asian American authors. It provides representation for the different countries and cultures that make up the Asian American experience.

Movies

Set aside an evening or two to enjoy a movie feature from one of our streaming movie services. Kanopy features collections of Chinese Cinema, Indian Cinema, Japanese Cinema, Korean Cinema, and Thai Cinema. In addition, Hoopla feature an Asian Cinema collection.

Poetry

Enjoy the online National Poetry Foundation portal Asian American Voices in Poetry. This collection is intended to introduce readers to Asian American poets. Simply click on a poet’s name to learn about them and read selections of their work.

Online Sources

Yamato hasedera digital file from original print

To take a deep dive online, visit the PBS site, Ancestors in the Americas, which provides a comprehensive list of resources related to Asian American heritage or explore this comprehensive web portal that is a collaborative project of the Library of Congress, the National Archives and Records Administration, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Gallery of Art, the National Park Service, the Smithsonian Institution, and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

For a look at local history, explore the Encyclopedia of Indianapolis articles featuring Chinese, Filipino, Japanese and Asian Indian histories in Indianapolis. You can also browse the Indianapolis Sister Cities International Digital Collection which features the Sister Cities Taipei, Taiwan, and Hangzhou, China and Hyderabad, India.

Especially for Kids

Enjoy these online read alouds featuring stories by Grace Lin, Demi, Ji-li Jiang, Virginia Loh-Hagan, Minh Lê, and more. You can also listen to stories read aloud in Mandarin brought to you be Scholastic Treasures.

To find even more great titles for kids, children’s book author Linda Sue Park has created and manages a site called KiBooka that highlights kids’ books by Korean Americans.

Tags Asian & Pacific Islander

Here are tips to help you find your next read as well as a convenient clickable list of authors linked directly to our catalog for placing requests or checking out e-books or audiobooks. See also If You Like Amish and Mennonite Fiction.

1. Find award winning Christian fiction.

The Christy awards are presented annually to recognize novels of excellence written from a Christian worldview. See Christy Award winners in our collection here.

2. Borrow e-books or downloadable audiobooks.

Browse our OverDrive Christian Fiction Collection of e-books and downloadable audiobooks you can borrow with your IndyPL library card.

3. Get reading recommendations from Library staff.

4. Make a selection from one of these Christian fiction authors.

5. Use your Library card to login to Novelist Plus.

On Novelist Plus you’ll find reading recommendations, read-alikes, series lists, reviews, and lists of award-winning books. There are several horror categories to choose from including:

6. Subscribe to a Christian fiction email newsletter.

Subscribe to NextReads to receive romance reading recommendation in your inbox monthly. Book suggestions are linked to our catalog for easy requesting. It’s FREE! See a Christian fiction sample issue. Subscribe to NextReads!

7. Find a book discussion near you!

You are invited to join in one of our many in-person or online book discussions that take place several times each month. In our book discussion groups we read and talk about both fiction and non-fiction books. We express our opinions (both likes and dislikes!) with other avid readers in the city.

Event: BYO Book: A Different Kind of Book Club
Date & Time: Tuesday, November 04, 6:00pm
Location: Central Library
Description: Join a community of readers for an evening of reading and talking about books. There is no assigned book – just bring your current read and let’s chat!
No Registration Required.

Event: Adult Book Discussion at Glendale – Tuesday Night Readers
Date & Time: Tuesday, November 04, 6:30pm
Location: Glendale Branch
Description: The book to be discussed is “Freshwater” by Akwaeke Emezi.
No Registration Required.

Event: Virtual Author Talk: Community, Power, and the Search for Indigenous Identity
Date & Time: Wednesday, November 05, 2:00pm
Location: Online
Description: You’re invited to learn from journalist and author Joseph Lee as he chats online with us about his stirring memoir, “Nothing More of This Land: Community, Power, and the Search for Indigenous Identity.”
Register Here

Need help?

Tags If You Like, Religion

Child wearing a backpack going to school for the first time.

In The King of Kindergarten, a little boy’s parents encourage him and fill him with confidence in the time leading up to his first day of school. He can be the King of it, even if he doesn’t know everything yet! “It sounds like a lot, but you’re the King of Kindergarten. Piece. Of. Cake.” This joyful attitude about how to welcome new experiences helps him have a great first day of kindergarten! The parents in The King of Kindergarten help by passing on the excitement of learning and the perspective that even if something is difficult at first – there will be a classroom of friends and a teacher to learn with. Learning will be fun! You can listen to The King of Kindergarten right now, read by Alvin Irby from Barbershop Books. Its starting school storytime online!

Talk!

After listening to the story, talk about some of the things that happened in it.

What did the boy eat for breakfast? What is your favorite breakfast?
What did the boy in the story do that was very brave?
How was the boy going to get to school?
What did the father use to measure how tall the boy was?

Read!

Another great idea to get ready for the first day of school is reading books about other kids and favorite characters who are ALSO worried about the first day of school. Stories featuring the Berenstain Bears, Amelia Bedelia, Curious George and more can help your child practice what it might feel like to be anxious about school and learn great strategies for having fun instead!

Use your indyPL Library Card to check out books about starting school at any of our locations, or check out e-books and audiobooks about starting school from OverDrive Kids right to your device! If you have never used OverDrive before, you can learn how to use it for both e-books and audiobooks.

Click on the book covers below to listen to more video read aloud stories about starting school right now! It’s starting school storytime online! Did you like these? You can find more stories at Free Video Read Alouds and enjoy even more themed reading and activity fun at IndyPL’s DIY Online Storytimes at Home.

Kindergarten Jitters – More Books to Check Out

Starting school for the first time can be scary or overwhelming! Covering topics from leaving parents and siblings at home, to riding the school bus, to meeting new classmates and eating lunch in the cafeteria, these picture books help new students understand what to expect on their first day, and teach them to cope with nervousness or anxiety.

Title - Butterflies on the First Day of School

Sing!

This sing-a-long will help you get excited to go to school! Watch Marshall, Skye, Chase, Blaze, Shimmer and Shine, Molly, Gil, Bot, and Geo reimagined as fuzzy felt friends singing about school.

Write!

Find a pencil or pen, some crayons or markers to color a school picture, practice writing the letters , or see if you can follow your way through a maze without getting stuck.

Play!

Here are nine classic preschool games your new student is bound to play at school. Give them a heads up by pre-playing some of these crowd pleasers together!

Join Us for In-Person Storytime!

Event: Storytime at Michigan Road
Date & Time: Tuesday, November 04, 10:30am
Location: Michigan Road Branch
Description: Preschoolers, toddlers, and their caregivers are invited for stories, fingerplays, crafts and activities.
No Registration Required.

Need Help?

Ask a Library staff member at any of our locations or call, text, or email Ask-a-Librarian. The Tinker Station helpline at (317) 275-4500 is also available. It is staffed by device experts who can answer questions about how to read, watch and listen on a PC, tablet or phone.

Tags Storytime Online

Urban Fiction, or Street Lit, share the socio-economic realities and culture of its characters in a city landscape. Profanity, sex, and violence are usually explicit and it is common that authors of this genre draw upon their own past experiences to inform their stories. Here are several ways to easily find and check out urban fiction reading recommendations with your IndyPL library card.

1. Borrow e-books or downloadable audiobooks.

Browse urban fiction lists from OverDrive to find e-books and downloadable audiobooks. If you have never borrowed from OverDrive before, both OverDrive app directions and OverDrive browser directions are available as well as an OverDrive video tutorial and access to Overdrive Support.

Browse Urban Fiction from OverDrive

2. Make a selection from this list of urban fiction authors.

3. Get reading recommendations from Library staff.

4. Use your Library card to login to Novelist Plus.

On Novelist Plus you’ll find reading recommendations, read-alikes, series lists, reviews, and lists of award-winning books. Browse the Novelist Plus Urban Fiction category.

5. Find a book discussion near you!

Event: BYO Book: A Different Kind of Book Club
Date & Time: Tuesday, November 04, 6:00pm
Location: Central Library
Description: Join a community of readers for an evening of reading and talking about books. There is no assigned book – just bring your current read and let’s chat!
No Registration Required.

Event: Adult Book Discussion at Glendale – Tuesday Night Readers
Date & Time: Tuesday, November 04, 6:30pm
Location: Glendale Branch
Description: The book to be discussed is “Freshwater” by Akwaeke Emezi.
No Registration Required.

Event: Virtual Author Talk: Community, Power, and the Search for Indigenous Identity
Date & Time: Wednesday, November 05, 2:00pm
Location: Online
Description: You’re invited to learn from journalist and author Joseph Lee as he chats online with us about his stirring memoir, “Nothing More of This Land: Community, Power, and the Search for Indigenous Identity.”
Register Here

Need help?

Tags If You Like, Urban Fiction

e-Books & Audiobooks

Browse OverDrive’s Amish and Mennonite fiction collection of e-books and downloadable audiobooks you can borrow with your IndyPL library card.

Amish & Mennonite Fiction Authors

Find a book discussion near you!

Event: BYO Book: A Different Kind of Book Club
Date & Time: Tuesday, November 04, 6:00pm
Location: Central Library
Description: Join a community of readers for an evening of reading and talking about books. There is no assigned book – just bring your current read and let’s chat!
No Registration Required.

Event: Adult Book Discussion at Glendale – Tuesday Night Readers
Date & Time: Tuesday, November 04, 6:30pm
Location: Glendale Branch
Description: The book to be discussed is “Freshwater” by Akwaeke Emezi.
No Registration Required.

Event: Virtual Author Talk: Community, Power, and the Search for Indigenous Identity
Date & Time: Wednesday, November 05, 2:00pm
Location: Online
Description: You’re invited to learn from journalist and author Joseph Lee as he chats online with us about his stirring memoir, “Nothing More of This Land: Community, Power, and the Search for Indigenous Identity.”
Register Here

Need help?

Tags If You Like, Religion

That’s it… the geeks have finally won! No longer relegated to drug-store paperback spinner racks, the science fiction genre is undergoing a huge cultural surge right now, and we have the books, movies, television shows, and graphic novels to prove it! If you like science fiction, we have the content at the Library to keep you satisfied and Indianapolis has several unique resources and conventions to keep you entertained all year round. You might also like If You Like Fantasy.

Science Fiction Book Group at Central Library

Embark on interstellar journeys of imagination with Ad Astra, Central Library’s science fiction book group. Explore distant galaxies, encounter alien civilizations, and unravel the mysteries of the cosmos. Join us for an out-of-this-world reading experience! See the schedule.

Science Fiction Book Awards

Explore the best of science fiction and fantasy by checking out the Hugo and Nebula Awards. The Hugos are voted on by fans, while the Nebulas are chosen by authors, offering a unique blend of popular and professional recognition. Discover groundbreaking novels, short stories, and novellas that have shaped the landscape of speculative fiction and are celebrated by both readers and creators alike.

Reading Recommendations from Library Staff

Click on a featured booklist to get science reading recommendations or see all our staff science fiction lists.

In addition to books of science fiction and fantasy, the library also has many great works about science fiction and fantasy. This list of general reference science fiction resources will help you find your next series, keep you up to date on the latest short fiction, or help you while away the hours learning about the books and movies you love.

Staff Picks 2024- Best of Sci-Fi/Fantasy

2024 is the year of subverted tropes and plot lines. Fantasy villains wake up with amnesia to grapple with their crimes (Dreadful), magical girls must grapple with purchasing decisions (A Magical Girl Retires), a scholarship student destroys the academy (The Practice, the Horizon, and the Chain), and adults must return to their fantasy worlds (The Lost Story).

Of course, if you’re looking for something entirely original, there’s plenty of that too! A cannibalistic demon makes an Indian food documentary (Rare Flavours), a woman is trapped in the body of a wooly mammoth (Tusks of Extinction), and futuristic reality show sees couples raising virtual babies for the chance to have a real child (The Family Experiment).

Looking for speculative horror? Looking for speculative horror? Check out our suspense list!

Title - The Practice, the Horizon, and the Chain

Science Fiction Authors

Indianapolis Science Fiction Resources

The Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library is in the process of renovating their new building, and is currently operating a pop-up shop in the Circle Center Mall downtown.
The Center for Ray Bradbury Studies is another extraordinary resource we are lucky to have in our city. The Center contains tons of Bradbury resources, including manuscripts, drafts, notes, correspondence, recordings, personal artifacts such as his personal typewriters, photographs, and more.
If you don’t mind a short road trip, head southwest to hit up the Who North America store in Camby, Indiana. Not only do they sell Dr. Who related merchandise, they have a museum of Dr. Who memorabilia, some items dating from when the show began in the UK over 50 years ago. There is a rumor that they even have a Dr. Who pinball machine. A must for any Whovian!

Science Fiction and Fantasy Conventions

Looking to have some fun and meet other fans of science fiction and fantasy? Indianapolis is home to many gatherings of fans from all over the globe.

If you are purely interested in fiction you might want to try InConJunction, a local science fiction and fantasy convention put on and run by fans. Past guests include George RR Martin, Timothy Zahn, Tobias Buckell, and Mercedes Lackey.
GenCon hosts some amazing authors thanks to their Writer’s Symposium series. Robin Hobb, Cherie Priest, Scott Lynch, Elizabeth Hand, Patrick Rothfuss, John Scalzi, Jo Walton, and Brandon Sanderson have all made appearances there.
If you are more interested in science fiction and fantasy television and movies, then save up for Indy Popcon and the Indiana Comic Convention! Both conventions feature panels about varied topics and includes visits from some of your favorite actors and creators.

Online Science Fiction and Fantasy Resources

If you would rather stay at home there are luckily several places on the internet (beyond Goodreads and Twitter) that encourage reasoned discussion on all things fantastical or futuristic.

Reactor Magazine (formerly Tor.com) is a go-to hub for science fiction and fantasy fans. It offers insightful commentary on beloved series, essays by prominent authors, and a vast collection of free original short fiction. You can also connect with a community of like-minded readers.
Locus magazine is considered the trade magazine for the science fiction, fantasy, and horror field. It has everything from exhaustive lists of new releases, to author interviews, reports on conferences, writing workshops, industry events, and award ceremonies. Pages and pages of book reviews every month ensure you will never miss out on the best new thing.
Fantastic Fiction is the perfect site if you are looking for the full bibliography of an author you are reading. With lists organized neatly and easily into series and links from author to their pseudonyms, it is an easy and quick way to find that next book.
Lastly, Novelist is the place librarians go to help someone find their next favorite book to read – and you can use it to! You will just need a valid Indianapolis Public Library card number. Type in an author or book you enjoy and the database will generate lists of similar books or authors you may enjoy, based either on expert recommendations or similar appeal factors.

Use your Library card to login to Novelist Plus

On Novelist Plus you’ll find reading recommendations, read-alikes, series lists, reviews, and lists of award-winning books. There are several science fiction categories to choose from including:

Science Fiction Newsletter from NextReads

Receive science fiction reading recommendation in your inbox monthly. Book suggestions are linked to our catalog for easy requesting. It’s FREE! See a sample issue. Subscribe to NextReads!

Find a book discussion near you!

Event: BYO Book: A Different Kind of Book Club
Date & Time: Tuesday, November 04, 6:00pm
Location: Central Library
Description: Join a community of readers for an evening of reading and talking about books. There is no assigned book – just bring your current read and let’s chat!
No Registration Required.

Event: Adult Book Discussion at Glendale – Tuesday Night Readers
Date & Time: Tuesday, November 04, 6:30pm
Location: Glendale Branch
Description: The book to be discussed is “Freshwater” by Akwaeke Emezi.
No Registration Required.

Event: Virtual Author Talk: Community, Power, and the Search for Indigenous Identity
Date & Time: Wednesday, November 05, 2:00pm
Location: Online
Description: You’re invited to learn from journalist and author Joseph Lee as he chats online with us about his stirring memoir, “Nothing More of This Land: Community, Power, and the Search for Indigenous Identity.”
Register Here

Need more help?

These are just some of the many resources available to Nap-town residents. Be sure to check the library’s website periodically for events, author signings, and new titles. And may the nerds continue to reign supreme for a long time to come!

Tags If You Like, Science Fiction

1. Read an award winner.

If you like fantasy here are several awards that are good sources for finding outstanding novels, short stories, or anthologies.

The Nebula Awards are presented each year for the best science fiction or fantasy published in the United States during the previous year. Browse Nebula Award winners in our collection.
The Hugo Awards are presented each year by the World Science Fiction Society. Browse Hugo Award winners in our collection.
The World Fantasy Awards are presented annually by the World Fantasy Convention to writers of fiction. Browse World Fantasy Award winners in our collection.
The Ignyte Awards are presented by FIYAH Literary Magazine and are intended to celebrate excellent Speculative Fiction written by people of color.

2. Borrow e-books, downloadable audiobooks & movies.

Here are some short cut links to easily borrow materials online with your IndyPL library card. If you have never borrowed from OverDrive before or used OverDrive’s Libby app, both Overdrive/Libby app directions and OverDrive browser directions are available as well as an OverDrive video tutorial and Overdrive Support. If you have never borrowed from Kanopy before, you can get Kanopy directions.

3. Get reading recommendations from Library staff.

Click on a featured booklist to get reading recommendations or see all our staff fantasy book lists.

Staff Picks 2024- Best of Sci-Fi/Fantasy

4. Make a Selection from these authors.

5. Use your Library card to login to Novelist Plus.

On Novelist Plus you’ll find reading recommendations, read-alikes, series lists, reviews, and lists of award-winning books. There are several fantasy categories to choose from including:

6. Subscribe to the Fantasy newsletter from NextReads.

Receive fantasy reading recommendation in your inbox monthly. Book suggestions are linked to our catalog for easy requesting. It’s FREE! See a ample issue or Subscribe to NextReads!

7. Find a book discussion near you!

Event: BYO Book: A Different Kind of Book Club
Date & Time: Tuesday, November 04, 6:00pm
Location: Central Library
Description: Join a community of readers for an evening of reading and talking about books. There is no assigned book – just bring your current read and let’s chat!
No Registration Required.

Event: Adult Book Discussion at Glendale – Tuesday Night Readers
Date & Time: Tuesday, November 04, 6:30pm
Location: Glendale Branch
Description: The book to be discussed is “Freshwater” by Akwaeke Emezi.
No Registration Required.

Event: Virtual Author Talk: Community, Power, and the Search for Indigenous Identity
Date & Time: Wednesday, November 05, 2:00pm
Location: Online
Description: You’re invited to learn from journalist and author Joseph Lee as he chats online with us about his stirring memoir, “Nothing More of This Land: Community, Power, and the Search for Indigenous Identity.”
Register Here

Need help?

Tags Fantasy, If You Like

In How to Make Ice Cream in a Bag follow step-by-step directions at home for making your own ice cream. Find out the science behind how this works. Smart as well as delicious! Watch a demonstration of how this works in the video below. With a few simple ingredients you can be eating a DIY slushie cold treat in no time! Even on a very hot day!

A little bit simpler science recipe you can try is making a DIY slushie from your favorite drink. The same science principles apply! Your favorite drink is pretty good with ice floating in it. When your drink has ice cubes in it, the ice cubes make the drink colder, but the ice cubes don’t make the drink itself freeze. The ice cubes IN the drink melt because they are colder then the drink itself. The drink melts the ice cubes by lowering their temperature. If you want a slushie you need to put ice AROUND your drink instead of IN it.

Melting point is the temperature at which a solid will melt. For ice this temperature is 32 degrees. If you put a drink in the freezer, where the temperature is 32 degrees or colder, the drink itself will freeze. Solid. You won’t be able to drink it!

To make your DIY slushie you want the temperature around your favorite drink to be lower than 32 degrees so the drink itself will get really cold. Keep an eye on it and stir it a lot so it doesn’t freeze solid. Make an easy slushie using ice cubes and salt. Note: the salt does NOT go IN your drink!

Salt lowers the melting point of water. Adding salt to ice cubes makes them stay frozen longer. If ice with salt added to it is packed around a liquid, like your drink, the salted ice will make your drink so cold that it will turn into a slushie!\

What You Need:

Your Favorite Drink (Soda, orange juice, lemonade, etc.)
Quart-size zip-lock bag
Gallon-size zip-lock bag
2 cups ice
1/4 cup salt
Bowl

Fill the quart size bag with your favorite drink and zip it closed. HINT: Make sure the bag is zipped really good or your slushie will taste bad when some of the salt leaks into your bag. Put the quart size bag inside the gallon bag. Add the ice and salt to the gallon bag. Next, zip the gallon size bag closed. Finally, shake the bag a lot – even play catch with it…gently. In about 15 minutes you will feel the ingredients in the quart size bag starting to firm up. What started out as a liquid is changing to a solid. When it feels done take the quart size bag out of the gallon size bag. Rinse it off good in clean water. Then open the bag, squeeze the slushie into a glass and enjoy!

When you add salt to the ice cubes you lower the melting point of the ice cubes by several degrees. The ice cubes stay colder, longer – long enough to turn your drink slushie. The secret is the catalyst – the salt. A catalyst is a substance that increases the rate of a reaction.

Science Experiment Idea

Make 3 different quart size bags each filled with the exact same amount of your favorite drink. Fill each of three gallon size bag with the exact same number of ice cubes. Add 1/8 cup of salt to the first gallon size bag and label it with a sharpie, “1/8”. Then add 1/4 cup of salt to the second gallon size bag and label it “1/4”. Finally, add 1/3 cup of salt to the third gallon size bag and label it “1/3”. Have a couple friends help you shake and smoosh the bags to make the slushies. Time how long it takes each of the bags to turn into a slushie. Which amount of salt makes a DIY slushie the fastest?

Websites, Activities & Printables:

You can also ask a math and science expert for homework help by calling the Ask Rose Homework Hotline. They provide FREE math and science homework help to Indiana students in grades 6-12.

e-Books & Audiobooks

Use your Library Card to check out kitchen science books at any of our locations, or check out kitchen science e-books and audiobooks from OverDrive Kids right to your device! If you have never used OverDrive before, you can learn how to use e-books and alearn how to use audiobooks.

Need more help? Ask a Library staff member at any of our locations or call, text or email Ask-a-Librarian. The Tinker Station helpline at (317) 275-4500 is also available. It is staffed by device experts who can answer questions about how to read, watch and listen on a PC, tablet or phone.

Ice Cream and Other Edible Science for Kids

Let your kitchen become a science lab and bake, melt, freeze, or boil an experiment you can eat!

Title - The Ultimate Science Cookbook for Kids

Title - Super Fun Kitchen Science Experiments for Kids

Title - 10-minute Kitchen Science Projects

Title - The Complete Cookbook for Young Scientists

Title - Hack Your Kitchen : Discover A World of Food Fun With Science Buddies

Tags Homework Help, Science Experiments

Central Library proudly presents its annual small business series of free, in-person workshops plus a dedicated legal clinic tailored specifically for both established business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. This year’s series promises to be more comprehensive than ever. The series includes workshops delving into crucial topics such as financial statement analysis, legal considerations for businesses, effective marketing strategies, , and safeguarding intellectual property. This year’s series also includes two workshops presented in Spanish.

In addition to our hands-on workshops, we offer a curated selection of business books designed to inform, inspire, and guide you through every stage of your business journey. Whether you are just starting out or looking to refine and expand your existing enterprise, our resources will provide valuable insights and practical advice.

Join us at Central Library to gain expert knowledge, connect with fellow entrepreneurs, and access tools that will help drive your business forward. We are dedicated to supporting your success and equipping you with valuable resources to help you thrive in today’s competitive business environment.

Questions? Call Central Library and ask to speak with a Business Librarian.

Feel free to walk in, but we encourage you to register.

2025 Small Business Series

More Business Resources

Tags Business Skills

Two children looking at a tablet while hiding in a tent fort.

Picture book read along stories play like a movie and are great for listening practice as well as really fun! You can stream picture book videos free with your IndyPL library card. Illustrations move as you watch the narrated stories. Video picture books are especially convenient for car trips. You can check out several at a time and play them multiple times while you have them checked out. They are perfect for “read it again!”

To stream these videos for kids you will need a Hoopla account. Hoopla is the service the Library uses to deliver these videos to you.

Get Started Streaming Picture Book Videos on Hoopla

You can access Hoopla to stream picture book videos from any device, including iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, and Chromecast.
Visit Hoopla to sign up with your Library card.
Once you borrow a movie, you have 3 days to view it as many times as you like.
Your total borrows reset on the 1st of the month.
Once you have reached your 10 items a month borrowing limit, you will not be able to borrow any Hoopla content until the new month starts and your 10 borrows reset.
Need help? Watch a video tutorial.

Here are a few favorites to get you started, or see Hoopla’s complete list of picture book videos for kids.

Need more help? Ask a Library staff member at any of our locations or call, text, or email Ask-a-Librarian. The Tinker Station helpline at (317) 275-4500 is also available. It is staffed by device experts who can answer questions about how to read, watch and listen on a PC, tablet or phone.

Tags e-Books & Streaming, Storytime Online

Child drawing or writing with a variety of colored pencils.

Drawing, coloring, and writing can help your child practice early learning skills with their favorite book characters. You can even use them to plan a fun book character birthday party on the cheap! All you need is a computer, printer, some time…and your Library card! We also have the books, movies, and music to make your party a memorable hit! Look for online video read alouds to go with the book character printables at Free Video Read Alouds and MORE Free Video Read Alouds.

Characters A-E

Amelia Bedelia

I can Read! Amelia Bedelia Activity Sheet s

Arnie the Doughnut

Arthur

Babymouse

Bad Kitty

Biscuit

Bruce the Bear

Bruce Activity Sheets

Captain Underpants

Captain Underpants Printables

Clark the Shark

Clifford the Big Red Dog

Clifford the Big Red Dog Activities

Corduroy

Corduroy Downloadable Activities

Curious George

Daniel Tiger

Daniel Tiger Printables

Danny and the Dinosaur

Danny and the Dinosaur printable activities

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Diary of a Wimpy Kid Fun Zone

Dog Man

How 2 Draw Dog Man

Doreen Cronin (Click Clack Moo Cows That Type)

Click Clack Peep Activity Book

Eric Carle (The Very Hungry Caterpillar)

Eric Carle Coloring Pages

Characters F-Z

Fancy Nancy

Frog and Toad

Frog and Toad Printable Activities

I Want My Hat Back

Kevin Henkes (Chrysanthemum, Owen, Lilly)

I Can Read Printable Activities: Penny

Library Lion

Little Critter

Little Critter Printable Activities

The Little Engine That Could, The

Dolly Partin Imagination Library Activity Sheet

Madeline

Madeline Activities

Maisy

Maisy Coloring Sheet

Mo Willems (Knuffle Bunny, Elephant & Piggie)

Downloadable Teacher’s Guides and Event Kits

Paddington Bear

Peppa Pig

Pete the Cat

Pinkalicious

Splat the Cat

Star Wars

Fun Activities for Young Jedis from Brightly

Where the Wild Things Are

Max’s Crown Coloring Page

Publisher Index Pages for Book Character Printables:

Brightly Storytime: Educator’s Guides
Harper Collins Resources & Guides and I Can Read! Printables
Candlewick Press Activity Kits
Storyline Online Activity Guides for each of their titles

Tags Arts & Crafts

Child dressed like little red riding hood reading to her stuffed animals while sitting on a blanket with a picnic basket in the woods.

There are lots of stories kids can rattle off without even thinking very much. The Three Little Pigs, The Three Bears, and Cinderella are examples of some commonly told stories children all over the world often know. Told in different places, the stories take on interesting differences that reflect a country’s environment or culture. Fairy tale variants like these can be great introductions to new places and new people!

Sometimes storytellers like to have fun with a traditional story too. Cinderella plays in a hockey game instead of going to a ball. The Big Bad Wolf tells HIS side of the story. The story happens in a new or unique place. Try one of these for a unique twist on classic tales!

Have fun with fairy tale variants – unique spins on these classics!

The Three Ninja Pigs – IndyPL_CarrieW
The Three Armadillies Tuff – IndyPL_CarrieW
Cactus Soup – IndyPL_CarrieW
The Princess and the Packet of Frozen Peas – IndyPL_CarrieW
The Little Red Hen Makes a Pizza – IndyPL_CarrieW
Jacqueline and the Beanstalk – IndyPL_CarrieW
Hank (Hansel) and Gertie (Gretel) – IndyPL_CarrieW
Moldilocks and the Three Scares – IndyPL_CarrieW
The Ninjabread Man – IndyPL_CarrieW
Cinderella Stories Around the World – IndyPL_CarrieW
Cinderelephant: Unique Spins on a Classic Favorite – IndyPL_CarrieW

Hispanic Retellings of Classic Tales

Here are some favorite classic tales and traditional stories told with details and cultural traditions of the American Southwest, Mexico, Central or South America.

Title - The Cazuela That the Farm Maiden Stirred

Need help? Ask a Library staff member at any of our locations or call, text, or email Ask-a-Librarian. The Tinker Station helpline at (317) 275-4500 is also available. It is staffed by device experts who can answer questions about how to read, watch and listen on a PC, tablet or phone.

June and July hold annual reminders of the history of independence and freedom in the United States. See our staff recommendations that will give you a variety of perspectives on pivotal events that have shaped our views.

Important Milestones

July 4, 1776
Independence Day

Independence Day commemorates the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. The declaration announced the separation of the 13 colonies from Great Britain. The declaration says, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

January 1, 1863
Emancipation Proclamation

But for America’s Black population, these words did not apply. They remained enslaved for nearly 100 more years until US President Abraham Lincoln declared in the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863 that “All persons held as slaves within any States, or designated part of the State, the people whereof shall be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free.“

June 19, 1865
Juneteenth

It took more than two years for this news of independence and freedom to travel throughout the country. On June 19, 1865 Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas and declared “The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free.” Juneteenth reminds us that the process of ending slavery, of extending independence and freedom to everyone, was not a single moment in time, but multiple moments.

In his “I have a dream” speech in 1963, Martin Luther King, Jr. referenced this ongoing fight for freedom “I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up, live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.”

July 2, 1964
Civil Rights Act

It took another 100 years for President Lyndon B. Johnson to sign the Civil Rights Act in 1964 outlawing racial discrimination in the United States. The process continues to this day.

President Joe Biden declared Juneteenth a federal holiday on June 17, 2021. “By making Juneteenth a federal holiday, all Americans can feel the power of this day, and learn from our history, and celebrate progress, and grapple with the distance we’ve come but the distance we have to travel.” He continue “After all, the emancipation of enslaved Black Americans didn’t mark the end of America’s work to deliver on the promise of equality; it only marked the beginning. To honor the true meaning of Juneteenth, we have to continue toward that promise because we’ve not gotten there yet.“

See more library resources at:

Frederick Douglass on Freedom
Martin Luther King Jr. In His Own Words
Book List: Founding Document Rsources
These resources offer valuable perspectives on the historical impact of the Founding Documents on Black Americans.

Slave Narratives: The Stories that Abolished Slavery

Today slave narratives are seen as first person stories about one of the darkest times in United States history, but when slave narratives were being published in the 1800s they were a powerful tool used in the fight for their own freedom. Through their stories they were able to contradict the slaveholders’ favorable claims concerning slavery. Through these narratives they could tell the horrors of family separation, the sexual abuse of black women, and the inhuman workload. The narratives helped show the humanity of the most dehumanized people in the country.

Title - Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass

Title - The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano

Picture Book Stars to Celebrate Independence & Freedom

Learn about the 4th of July, Juneteenth, the Emancipation Proclamation, the Thirteenth Amendment, and more! Read stories about family and neighborhood traditions all over the country from parades to fireworks to noodles to pie. #indyplkids

Tags History