Youth Services Department
The Youth Services Department’s goal is to meet the information needs of young people from infants to teens as well as their parents, caregivers, and teachers. In addition to an excellent book collection, the department offers an extensive selection of DVDs, books on CD, magazines, and online databases for children, teens, families, and teachers. The department also offers a full spectrum of fun and educational programs for all ages and interests.
Award Winners
Have you checked out this year’s award winners? To see the current and past award winners, click here.
Library Lists
Need help finding something to read? Take a look at NoveList, ask our staff for recommendations, and check out our library lists for kids.
STEAM Team
STEAM Team is a program for children ages 8 to 12 who have an interest in science, technology, engineering, art, and math. Join us for our monthly program where STEAMers will have the chance to be active, build fun things, and maybe even make a mess. Learning is fun with the Library’s STEAM Team! Looking for STEAM projects that you can do at home with supplies you already have? Click here for a list of the projects.
What's New for Kids
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Creepy Sheepy
View Catalog EntryFrom New York Times bestselling illustrator of The Big Cheese and the Food Group series, Pete Oswald, and critically acclaimed author Lucy Ruth Cummins comes a Halloween adventure for Sleepy Sheepy. A story all about learning when to blend in and when to stand out that is perfect for fans of Pig the Monster and Creepy Pair of Underwear! It's Halloween, which means Sleepy Sheepy needs to find the perfect costume for trick-or-treating! And Sheepy MUST be the scariest, hairiest, werewolf of all!
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Never Take Your Rhino on a Plane
View Catalog EntryA zany picture book packed with rhythm, rhyme, and rambunctiousness about the nonsense you might expect if you take your pet rhino on a plane. For fans of Mo Willems's Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus and Aaron Blabey's Piranhas Don't Eat Bananas. You can take him on a ship, hail a taxi for the trip, waltz him gladly to the car or to the train-- but absolutely never believe it safe or clever to take your rhinoceros on a plane. A cautionary tale about the daredevil stunts and embarrassing antics you will face when traveling with your pet rhinoceros.
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Hannah and the Wrong Note
View Catalog EntryA young pianist realizes that mistakes can sometimes lead to joyful discoveries When Hannah plays piano, music dances in the air. Her notes line up and hold hands, stand straight and spin. They keep perfect pitch and a steady tempo. And Hannah, elegant and serious, dreams of becoming a famous musician. For her school concert, Hannah chooses an ambitious piece and vows not to play a single wrong note. But no matter how diligently she practices, a wrong note sneaks into her music--including on the day of the performance. Ashamed and upset at the imperfection, Hannah sulks ...
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The Great Dinosaur Sleepover
View Catalog EntryA young boy's disappointing birthday party gets turned upside down with a blast from the prehistoric past in this hilarious, dino-mite picture book adventure. Jake loves dinosaurs, so with his birthday coming up, he knows just what kind of party he wants — a dinosaur sleepover! Dino games, dino balloons, dino cake. Dino everything! But when the big day arrives, his friends all come down with the flu, and the party seems to be on the edge of extinction. Then, in the middle of the night, Jake hears a strange noise and goes to investigate.
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Crocodiles Need Friends, Too!
View Catalog EntryThis action-packed story full of humor and heart follows a lonely predator on the hunt...for pals. Perfect for fans of Grumpy Monkey. Croc isn't like other crocodiles. She is a reptilian ballerina! An aquatic architect! A croc 'n' roll STAR! She is creative, cool, and fun. But the other animals only notice her sharp teeth and scary eyes. It's lonely when nobody sees who you are deep down.
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Giraffe’s Book is Missing a Story
View Catalog EntryFurry, feathered, and scaled—our favorite animal friends are back and finally ready to read . . . IF they can figure out what story to tell. Fresh off of their first adventure, the six friendly animals face a new puzzling predicament—a blank page! (Which can be a little scary, but it can be fun, too.) With colorful speech bubbles, each of the animals—Giraffe, quiet Mouse, problem solving Snake, anxious Elephant, grumpy Cheetah, and Flamingo, who just wants everyone to get along—join in telling an increasingly wild story.
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Pajammin'
View Catalog EntryInspired by Bob Marley's iconic song "Jamming," this joyful picture book by eight-time Grammy winner Ziggy Marley about a fun-filled pajama party celebrates screen-free family time, creativity, and connection. Join a family's pajama party sleepover as they spend a fun night together filled with games, pillow fights, music, and stories. It's a time to break normal routines, turn off electronics, build a blanket fort, and stay up late--to start family traditions and make memories that will last a lifetime.
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Narwhal vs. Kindergarten
View Catalog EntryA gentle tale from the beloved creator of The Box Turtle about a narwhal whose horn keeps getting in the way during his first week of school, until his new friends help him find just the right accommodations Hugo has a problem. A big, tall problem. One that refuses to go away, no matter how many hats (or donuts) he puts on his head to try and hide it. His horn is a barrier to the bus and a calamity in the classroom, and nothing Hugo tries seems make it better.
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The Monarch
View Catalog EntryA gorgeous, lively picture book companion to Kirsten Hall and Isabelle Arsenault’s beloved and acclaimed The Honeybee that celebrates the inspiring journey of the monarch butterfly. What’s that? In the air! Over here? Over there! It’s the start of a brand-new story… With sweetly fluttering verse and lush, gorgeous illustrations, this brightly beautiful picture book celebrates the wonders of monarch butterflies—a treasured species in need of care and preservation!
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Growing Home
View Catalog EntryAn unlikely team of talkative plants, a curious spider, and a grumpy goldfish use their newfound magical abilities to defend their family from a greedy human in this charming middle grade novel from New York Times bestselling author Beth Ferry, with illustrations from the award-winning Fan brothers. Ivy is the beloved houseplant of young Jillian Tupper of Number 3 Ramshorn Drive, much to the constant dismay of Toasty the goldfish, who is technically the family pet—swimming in his special place of honor, the antique octagonal fish tank—and should be the most loved.
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Kids' Blog Entries
Explore Our New Yoto Collection!
Audiobooks are a great options for eager new readers and young bookworms alike. Audiobooks can be a fantastic resource for children, offering numerous benefits for their development and enjoyment of stories. They can improve listening skills, vocabulary, comprehension, and even spark a...
Upcoming Events for Kids
A bottled water drive for the Day Room at Next Step Homeless Services will be held during the month of August at all Fort Smith Public Library locations. Bottled water is essential for Next Step clients, especially those who are unsheltered.
Your little one will love a hands-on experience exploring textures, colors, and materials with sensory activities! There will also be a movie, a craft, snacks, and other fun activities!
The Dallas Street Branch Library invites customers to guess the number of pieces of candy in the candy jar at the service desk. The closest guess will receive the candy jar! Customers may submit one guess per day during the first two w
To celebrate Library Card Sign-Up Month, adopt a reading duckie at the Fort Smith Public Library!
In celebration of National Library Card Sign-Up Month, the Dallas Street Branch Library will host a bookmark decorating craft. Select a bookmark pattern and decorate it however you wish. This make and take craft for all ages may be comp
Help celebrate Library Card Sign-Up Month with the Fort Smith Public Library! Each time you use your library card at any Fort Smith Library Location during the month of September, you'll be entered to win prizes!
Now at the Main Library! A love of reading starts early. Babies and their caregivers are invited to join the Main Library for this special storytime geared toward children 0 to 24 months old. There will be rhymes, songs,
Disclaimer(s)
This program is designed for children and accompanying adults. Please plan to attend and be engaged with your child for this program. Drop offs will not be permitted.
Databases for Kids
ABC Mouse
ABCmouse.com offers the most comprehensive online curriculum for children ages 2-8+, including reading and language arts, math, beginning science, social studies, art, and music.
When accessing ABCmouse from home via the library website, you will need to create an account. Your account can be shared by up to three children in a household, each with their own avatar, profile, and progress-tracking on the ABCmouse Step-by-Step Learning Path.
American History
Surveys American history from the Colonial era and American Revolution through to the nation's rise to eminence as a global superpower. Analyzes American political conflict, economic development, and changing culture.
“The Traveler Statewide Resource project is made possible by a grant from U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services to the Arkansas State Library under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act.”
American Mosaic: The African American Experience
Includes student learning modules related to African American studies; includes biographies, scholarly articles, primary sources, and images.
“The Traveler Statewide Resource project is made possible by a grant from U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services to the Arkansas State Library under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act.”
CultureGrams
Primary sources, statistics, and cultural reports covering the countries of the world, states, and Canadian provinces. Explore the United States and discover state flags, maps, sports teams, recipes, symbols, songs, and more.
“The Traveler Statewide Resource project is made possible by a grant from U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services to the Arkansas State Library under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act.”
eLibrary: Academic
A general reference collection of periodical and digital media content specifically tailored for K-12 schools and libraries of all kinds, covering a variety of subjects including business, education, general interest, health, language arts, sciences, social sciences, and many other curriculum-specific subject areas.
“The Traveler Statewide Resource project is made possible by a grant from U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services to the Arkansas State Library under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act.”
eLibrary: Guided Research
Provides access to eLibrary’s periodical and digital media collection through a user interface specifically designed for student researchers.
“The Traveler Statewide Resource project is made possible by a grant from U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services to the Arkansas State Library under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act.”
Hoopla
Hoopla is a digital media service that allows you to borrow movies, music, audiobooks, ebooks, comics and TV shows to enjoy on your computer, tablet, or phone – and even your TV! With no waiting, titles can be streamed immediately, or downloaded to phones or tablets for offline enjoyment later. We have hundreds of thousands of titles to choose from, with more being added daily. Hoopla is like having your public library at your fingertips. Anytime. Anywhere.
Learning: Literature
Students can find author biographies, contemporary criticism, reviews, and multimedia resources from medieval times to the present.
“The Traveler Statewide Resource project is made possible by a grant from U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services to the Arkansas State Library under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act.”
NoveList K-8
NoveList K-8 Plus is a trusted source of read-alike recommendations specifically for younger readers. It helps kids find books that are just right for their reading level and interests.
SIRS Discoverer
General reference database for elementary and middle school learners, researchers, and educators covering curriculum areas and content sets such as reading, language arts, current events, science, social studies, history, health, and technology. SIRS Discoverer provides editorially-selected, indexed, and curated materials from over 2,100 newspapers, magazines, and websites offering guided research for young researchers.
“The Traveler Statewide Resource project is made possible by a grant from U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services to the Arkansas State Library under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act.”
TumbleBook
Fun and interactive library of animated, talking story books for preschoolers, beginner readers, and older independent readers. Read along and listen, or read on your own.
World Book Early World of Learning
Emergent learners will engage in an interactive and playful environment that encourages reading comprehension and mastery of phonetic skills. Early World of Learning is full of stories, videos, songs, and games to provide a firm foundation for 21st-century learning and digital citizenship.
“The Traveler Statewide Resource project is made possible by a grant from U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services to the Arkansas State Library under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act.”
World Book eBooks
eBooks contain something for all ages and all subjects. This digital library includes highly illustrated, engaging titles that span the curriculum and reading levels. Some books include interactive games, quizzes, and activities to enrich learning.
“The Traveler Statewide Resource project is made possible by a grant from U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services to the Arkansas State Library under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act.”
World Book Kids
Search thousands of articles, multimedia content, and a collection of biographies.
“The Traveler Statewide Resource project is made possible by a grant from U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services to the Arkansas State Library under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act.”
World Book Student
Find thousands of articles and multimedia aligned to curriculum. Contains numerous tools to engage users in 21st-century education and blended-learning practices.
“The Traveler Statewide Resource project is made possible by a grant from U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services to the Arkansas State Library under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act.”
