I can’t believe it, we’ve finally visited the 63rd branch of LAPL! Chinatown Branch Library is in the neighborhood of, you guessed it, Chinatown. The 63rd branch (out of 72 branches) is near Dodger Stadium (go, Dodgers!), Union Station (which is currently celebrating its 80th birthday, Happy Birthday Union Station!) and Grand Park in DTLA.
I have driven by this branch numerous times (especially when I lived in Lincoln Heights), and I was excited to visit with Riley.
Walking in, we were met with beautiful cases full of information and crafts.
Riley was eager to find the children’s section, as we do, and she eagerly waited for me to return our books from the previous branch . . .while taking off the T of Tea Ceremony May 4th at 2pm. Don’t worry, she put it right back. The Chinese tea ceremony is part of the LA Made 2019 – check out this cool cultural series happening all over Los Angeles!
We made our way to the children’s books and toys. . . which included a very fun treehouse — where the figurines and furniture were available for kids to use at the Information Desk.
Riley played and then picked out some books.
We read some books, hugged some teddy bears, then walked the aisles and listened to the class going on in the conference room (a Citizenship Class).
I’m inspired by the people who visit the library, take classes, and those who volunteer their time. The library is such a wondrous place, for everybody.
We got a bag full of books to take home (though we’d already read a bunch while there, and had to leave many behind for the next visit).
We got:
Shelby’s Snack Shack by Educational Insights and illustrated by Lucia Giaggotti;
Skeleton Bones & Goblin Groans : Poems for Halloween by Amy E. Sklansky and illustrated by Karen Dismukes;
On Our Street : Our First Talk About Poverty by Dr. Jillian Roberts and Jaime Casap, illustrations by Jane Heinrichs;
Liu and the Bird : A Journey in Chinese Calligraphy, written and illustrated by Catherine Louis, calligraphy by Feng Xiao Min, translated by Sibylle Kazeroid;
Sasha & Malia Obama : a Big Buddy Book, by Sarah Tieck;
Fangsgiving by Ethan Long;
Clothesline Clues to Jobs People Do by Kathryn Heling and Deborah Hembrook, illustrated by Andy Robert Davies;
Natsumi! by Susan Lendroth and illustrated by Priscilla Burris;
Please, Puppy, Please by Spike Lee & Tonya Lewis Lee and illustrations by Kadir Nelson;
Polka Dot Penguin Pottery by Lenore Look and illustrated by Yumi Heo;
Riley enjoyed all of the books. She’s especially enamored with puppy dogs lately. . . our puppy Maximus Twinkle is now 5 months old and growing every day. Just like his 3 year old human sister… don’t ask the cats how this is going.
Next time you are in Chinatown in Los Angeles, go visit the Chinatown Branch Library. Take a Knitting For Fun class, Mandarin Chinese Conversation Class or English Conversation Class (or the ever present online language courses). . . . among many other resources and services (there are even a Health Coverage Clinic and Medi-Cal & CalFresh sign up sessions). And don’t forget to pick up the new limited edition Art Card!
Baby and Toddler Storytime is on Tuesdays or Tai Chi on Fridays . . . There is never a dull moment. Seriously.
I was really excited to see a CSHA and ASHA related flier for May’s Better Hearing and Speech Month as well!
Happy Asian Pacific American Heritage Month!
Thank you, as always LAPL.