We visited the 45th Branch of the Los Angeles Public Library‘s 72, the Mark Twain Branch Library. This branch is in the neighborhood of Vermont Vista— between The Forum and the Watts Towers Arts Center. It was a lovely library.
The children’s section is in a comfortable corner and there were lots of new books out on display. We ended up taking quite a few that were out on the display shelves. . .
A helpful and kind librarian (and I cannot remember her name!) helped us find Vox Playback books, a new section of books in the LAPL system. They are the next step from the books and CD combos! Instead of a CD, the recording is attached to the edge of the actual book. We checked out The Bad Mood and the Stick by Lemony Snicket and art by Matthew Forsythe to try one out.
Riley liked the recorded story, but did prefer me reading it to her. . . the librarian had said her kids said the same thing. But — it’s a good option to be able to listen to the recorded version as a different way to hear a story! Though I agree with my daughter, that a real voice of someone sitting next to you is the best way to hear a story (if you’re lucky enough to be able to do that).
Riley pulled some books from the shelves as well. She was not in the mood to hang out at the library that day, so our visit was somewhat brief. That’s life with a 2 and a half year old.
We did take a bunch of books home that we could read at our leisure. (I tried getting Riley in the pictures at home but it is a hit or miss. . . even with one of the cats I’m lucky to get a picture with one of them nowadays. . .)
We got … Soup Day by Melissa Iwai, which was perfect since Riley had made soup with her G earlier in the day — and we ate it when we got home from the library, with our soup book!
Hush A Bye, Baby by Alyssa Stain Capucilli and illustrated by Shahrzad Maydani
Goodbye Brings Hello, words by Dianne White, pictures by Daniel Wiseman
Right Now by Jessica Olien
The Airport Book by Lisa Brown
Ta-Da! by Kathy Davis and illustrated by Kaylani Juanita
Solomon Crocodile by Catherine Rayner
Hello Hello by Brendan Wenzel
We March by Shane W. Evans
The Wonderful Fluffy Little Squishy by Béatrice Alemagna
We enjoyed different things about each book.
Next time you’re in the Vermont Vista neighborhood, visit the 45th branch, the Mark Twain Branch Library! There are great books, activities, programs and resources available to you!
And if you need plans this coming weekend, visit the Central Library downtown for the Central Library 25th Anniversary Reopening on October 13th and 14th! I wish the conversation with Susan Orlean, author of The Library Book wasn’t sold out! But I’m told that there will be a live video stream . . .
Thank you LAPL. Here’s to the next 25 years and beyond.