Banned Books Week is September 22 through September 28, and the American Library Association has reported historic highs in the number of challenged and banned book titles.
It is more important than ever, as a community of readers who appreciate the depth, richness, and diversity of perspectives that all books offer, to stand united against censorship.
We encourage you to check out our booklists, our upcoming programs, and our Banned Books Library Card Design Contest—the winning selection will be featured on QPL’s first Banned Books Special Edition Library Card!
Learn more about how QPL is celebrating the freedom to read, during Banned Books Week and beyond.
Banned eBooks List: Always Available on OverDrive & Libby
QPL's 100 Most Popular Banned Books
Banned Books Library Card Design Contest
Banned Books Teen Takeover: QPL Teens Instagram
Banned Books Bookmark Shelf Talkers
Banned eBooks List: Always Available
The best way to fight censorship is to read banned books!
You can download these great eBooks, which will be available with no wait from September 22 through October 31, on OverDrive and the Libby app.
Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson
Our Skin: A First Conversation About Race
by Megan Madison, Jessica Ralli, and Isabel Roxas (Illus.)
The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander and Kadir Nelson (Illus.)
Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison
All Boys Aren't Blue: A Memoir-Manifesto by George M. Johnson
Sold by Patricia McCormick
QPL's 100 Most Popular Banned Books
Get inspired by our list of the 100 most popular banned and challenged books in circulation at Queens Public Library from 2012-2022.
How many of them have you read? Use our list to borrow them from your local library!
Banned Books Library Card Design Contest
Calling all local artists ages 13 and up!
Submit your original artwork that celebrates the freedom to read. Get creative and take a stand against censorship.
The winning artwork will be featured on QPL’s first Banned Books Special Edition Library Card, to be released in 2025.
The winner will also receive a $2,000 cash prize.
Stay tuned for official rules and how to enter the Banned Books Library Card Design Contest, which will run from September 23 to November 30, 2024.
Banned Books Programs
Here’s a selection of our Banned Books virtual and in-person programs, including movie marathons, book talks, storytimes, and much more!
Click the title of each program to learn more about it, and visit our online QPL Calendar to see the full list!
Banned Books Week: September Movies at Forest Hills Library (In-Person)
Wednesdays, September 18 and 25, 2pm
Forest Hills Library, 108-19 71 Avenue
Banned Books Movie Festival: Freedom to Read, Freedom Between the Reels (In-Person)
Monday, Sept. 23; Tuesday, Sept. 24; Thursday, Sept. 26; Friday, Sept. 27, and Saturday, Sept. 28
Download the flyer for movie titles, times, and locations!
Art 2 Heart: Illustrating Banned Books (In-Person)
Monday, September 23, 3pm
Cambria Heights Library, 218-13 Linden Boulevard
Banned Books Bingo! (In-Person)
Wednesday, September 25, 3pm
Auburndale Library, 25-55 Francis Lewis Boulevard, Flushing
Culture Connection: Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books with Kirsten Miller and Tim Barnes (Virtual)
Wednesday, September 25, 6pm
Join us on Facebook and YouTube
Banned Books Storytime (In-Person)
Thursday, September 26, 11am
Cambria Heights Library, 218-13 Linden Boulevard
CLDC Banned Books Movie Festival: Captain Underpants (In-Person)
Thursday, September 26, 3pm
Central Library, 89-11 Merrick Boulevard, Jamaica
Friends of Ridgewood Library Banned Book Giveaway (In-Person)
Thursday, September 26, 4pm
Saturday, September 28, 11am
Ridgewood Library, 20-12 Madison Street
Banned Books: Necklaces for Teens (In-Person)
Friday, September 27, 3:30pm
Woodside Library, 54-22 Skillman Avenue
Banned Books: Library Card Design Contest Workshop (In-Person)
Wednesday, October 2, 3:30pm
Monday, October 28, 3:30pm
Wednesday, November 13, 3:30pm
Ozone Park Library, 92-24 Rockaway Boulevard
Day of Action on October 19
In conjunction with the American Library Association and the Association for Rural and Small Libraries, New York City’s public libraries are spearheading a nationwide day of action to rally for the freedom to read!
On Saturday, October 19, libraries across the country will gather their patrons and supporters to unite against book bans and demonstrate that the freedom to read is an enduring, non-partisan American value that must be protected.
Stay tuned for more details, and join us, Brooklyn Public Library, and The New York Public Library for the Freedom to Read Community Day of Action on October 19!
Banned Books Teen Takeover: QPL Teens Instagram
Teens will make their voices heard on our QPL Teens Instagram page!
Starting September 22, visit the QPL Teens Instagram page to see great content about banned books by the teens in our community—including Instagram Stories, Reels, polls, games, and much more.
Banned Books Bookmark Shelf Talkers
During Banned Books Week, when you visit our branches, be sure to look for our special Banned Books Shelf Talkers!
These visual displays will be in our book stacks and on our book shelves, indicating a book that has been challenged or banned.
It's an easy way for you to find banned books at the library, and make them part of your reading list.
Remember: the best way to fight censorship is to read banned books, and you will always be able to find them at Queens Public Library!
Queens Public Library And 5pointzlic Developer Reach Tentative Deal For A New Court Square Branch
Jackson Avenue Residential Complex Set to Replace QPL’s Former Home at One Court Square
QUEENS, NY _ Queens Public Library announced today that its Board of Trustees last night unanimously approved the terms of a lease agreement for a new Court Square branch at the 5PointzLIC residential complex at 22-44 Jackson Avenue in Long Island City.
The provisions negotiated with the development’s owner, G-M Realty L.P., include a fifteen-year lease, plus a five-year renewal option, for a 4,500-square-foot space on the building’s second floor. The lease is expected to be finalized and executed in the fall, and the estimated two-year construction project for the library could start as early as next summer. The branch replaces QPL’s location at the former Citi building at One Court Square, which closed in February 2020 following a change in building ownership.
"The board’s vote to approve the terms of the lease for a new Court Square branch is a critical step toward bringing library service back to one of New York City’s most vibrant neighborhoods and providing a welcoming, dynamic space that is open to all for free,” said Dr. Earl G. Simons, Chair of Queens Public Library’s Board of Trustees. “On behalf of my fellow trustees, I would like to thank President Walcott and his team for their hard work and determination to uphold the Library’s commitment to identifying a new space for the branch.”
“We have continuously made clear our resolve to find another site for a library in this ever-growing neighborhood, and we could not be happier about the prospect of reestablishing our presence there,” said Queens Public Library President and CEO Dennis M. Walcott. “As we approach the finish line to a lease agreement, I want to thank the many individuals and organizations who have brought us to this point, including Mayor Eric Adams, Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Council Member Julie Won, Community Board 2, and the Department of City Planning. We also are deeply grateful to the local civic leaders and to the public for their unwavering support and advocacy.”
The deal comes as the Adams administration and Council Member Julie Won advance the Long Island City Neighborhood Plan, a comprehensive planning process to develop a vision for the future of the area.
"Our administration is dedicated to providing New Yorkers with the best library systems in the world, and the deal for the new Court Square Branch is proof of our commitment," said Maria Torres-Springer, Deputy Mayor for Housing, Workforce, and Economic Development. "The new Court Square Branch's co-location at the 5PointzLIC residential complex also fulfills our vision for ensuring New Yorkers are close to amenities and necessities. From the FY25 budget's significant investment in the library systems to this announcement, the Adams Administration is doing everything it can to ensure New Yorkers can easily access books, computers, youth resources, and everything else our amazing libraries provide. This project also shows the promise of the Long Island City Neighborhood Plan, as this library, as well as the LIC planning process, can only be completed with the partnership of many parties across levels of government, the private sector, and other civic leaders."
“Long Island City families deserve high quality, state-of-the-art library space — something those living in the Court Square area have been missing for more than four years since their original library’s closure. But I couldn’t be more excited that this local lack of library services is coming to an end,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. “Thank you to all our city and community partners who worked collaboratively to begin restoring library services for these families. I look forward to construction beginning as soon as possible.”
“After years of advocacy, Court Square Library at the 5PointzLIC building is finally moving towards reopening,” said Council Member Julie Won. “Court Square is a rapidly growing neighborhood and this new library will give our neighbors access to countless books, technology, and vital, free programming. I look forward to working with our partners at the Queens Public Library and the City to ensure that this project stays on track and does not experience further delays.”
“As we collaboratively develop the Long Island City Neighborhood Plan, we’ve heard directly from the community about the importance of investing in infrastructure and services like libraries. The re-opening of the Court Square Library reflects our shared commitment to addressing these needs through holistic planning,” said Dan Garodnick, Director of the Department of City Planning. “We look forward to continuing to work together with Council Member Won, Long Island City residents, and community stakeholders to build a more vibrant and inclusive future for LIC.”
“We are excited to have Queens Public Library here at 5PointzLIC, and we are thrilled that the Court Square community will once again have a great library branch,” said G-M Realty President David Wolkoff.
About Queens Public Library
Queens Public Library is one of the largest and busiest public library systems in the United States, dedicated to serving the most ethnically and culturally diverse area in the country. An independent, non-profit organization founded in 1896, Queens Public Library offers free access to a collection of more than 5 million books and other materials in 50 languages, technology and digital resources. Each year, the Library hosts tens of thousands of online and in-person educational, cultural, and civic programs and welcomes millions of visitors through its doors. With a presence in nearly every neighborhood across the borough of Queens, the Library consists of 66 locations, including branch libraries, a Central Library, seven adult learning centers, a tech lab in the nation's largest public housing complex, five teen centers. It also has two bookmobiles and two book bicycles.
Contact: Ewa Kern-Jedrychowska, ekern@queenslibrary.org
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The general election is coming up on November 5—it’s time to get ready to vote!
Voters in New York will help elect the next president and vice president of the United States, members of the U.S. Congress and the New York State legislature, district attorneys, judges, and other officials.
New York City voters will also have a say in city and state ballot proposals this fall.
Any registered voter can vote regardless of registered party. Visit NYC Votes or TurboVote to register to vote.
Take some time to make sure you are registered. If you’re not sure that you are registered to vote, you can check your status here or call 1-866-VOTE-NYC (1-866-868-3692) (TTY-212-487-5496 for the hearing impaired).
Register early—September 17 is National Voter Registration Day! On that day, all of our library locations will have voter registration forms and absentee ballot request forms available for you to pick up.
The deadline to register to vote in New York State is Saturday, October 26. Make sure to register so that your voice is heard!
Important Dates
National Voter Registration Day: Tuesday, September 17
Voter Registration Form Request Deadline (online or by mail): Saturday, October 26
Early Mail/Absentee Ballot Request Deadline (online or by mail): Saturday, October 26 (request an early mail or absentee ballot)
Voter Registration Application Deadline: Saturday, October 26
Early Voting: Saturday, October 26 to Sunday, November 3
Early Mail/Absentee Ballot Request Deadline (in-person): Monday, November 4
Election Day: Tuesday, November 5
FAQs About NYC Voting
How do I register to vote?
- Visit NYC Votes or TurboVote online to register.
- Visit your local Board of Elections (BOE) office in person.
- Mail in a registration form. You can pick one up at your local library or local Board of Elections (BOE) office, or download a form online.
- If you are experiencing homelessness, you can register and vote. Your home address should be where you stay at night, whether it is a street corner, shelter, or any other location. This decides where you vote. Your mailing address does not have to be your home/residential address, and can be the address of a shelter, outreach center, or other place willing to receive your mail.
- If you are in jail for a misdemeanor or on probation, you can register and vote. As of May 2021, all New Yorkers after a felony conviction can, upon release from prison, immediately register to vote without special documentation. Learn more about your rights.
How can I check my registration?
- Visit the BOE registered voter search page.
- Call the BOE at 1-866-VOTE-NYC (1-866-868-3692) (TTY-212-487-5496 for the hearing impaired).
How can I make a plan to vote?
To find your poll site and early voting sites, visit this webpage or call 1-866-VOTE-NYC.
If you have language or other access needs, know your rights. You have the right to bring an interpreter, or someone who will help you vote in general. Apply for an accessible ballot here.
To request an early mail or absentee ballot, go online, visit your local BOE office in person, or send in a form by mail. You can track your ballot request here.
- Early Mail/Absentee Ballot Request Deadline (online or by mail): Saturday, October 26 (request an early mail or absentee ballot)
- Early Mail/Absentee Ballot Request Deadline (in-person): Monday, November 4
- Deadline to Return Your Early Mail/Absentee Ballot: Tuesday, November 5
Upcoming QPL Programs
Voter Registration Drive with the League of Women Voters (In-Person)
Monday, September 16, 4pm
Central Library, 89-11 Merrick Boulevard, Jamaica
For Teens: Voter Registration
Wednesday, October 2, 2:30pm
Cambria Heights Library, 218-13 Linden Boulevard
For other non-partisan information, call or visit these organizations.
NYC Board of Elections: https://www.vote.nyc or call 1-866-VOTE-NYC
New York State Board of Elections: https://elections.ny.gov
NYC Votes: https://www.nycvotes.org
NYC Civic Engagement Commission: https://www.nyc.gov/site/civicengagement/our-programs/poll-site-language-access.page
League of Women Voters of the City of New York: https://linktr.ee/lwvnyc
VOTE411: https://www.vote411.org
Disability Rights New York: https://www.drny.org
Coalition for the Homeless: https://www.coalitionforthehomeless.org/get-help/know-your-rights/voting-rights
Queens Public Library’s voter education and engagement activities are made possible by the GoVoteNYC Fund in The New York Community Trust.
Every year, Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15) celebrates the achievements of Hispanic Americans and their contributions to our nation and our culture.
Our theme “Pioneers of Change: Shaping the Future Together” embodies the essence of the Hispanic journey and pays tribute to the pioneering spirit of Hispanics and Latinos who have paved the way for future generations.
Explore our virtual and in-person programs, discover our special Hispanic Heritage booklists for all ages, check out our movie recommendations, download our informative Hispanic Heritage brochure, and don’t miss our Tapiz Cultural Art Exhibit at Central Library!
Hispanic Heritage Month Brochure
Hispanic Heritage Month: Movie Lists
Hispanic Heritage Month: Programs
Hispanic Heritage Month: Adult Books
Hispanic Heritage Month: Young Adult Books
Hispanic Heritage Month: Children's Books
Hispanic Heritage Month Brochure
Our special Hispanic Heritage Month Brochure contains many interesting facts about Hispanic countries from around the world!
Pick up a copy soon at your local QPL branch, or download a digital copy now!
Tapiz Cultural Art Exhibit
This vibrant art exhibition will showcase diverse, original artwork created by the Queens community. Our exhibit, centered around the theme “Pioneers of Change: Shaping the Future Together,” features pieces that beautifully capture memories, experiences, family histories, and personal stories.
Join us at Central Library, 89-11 Merrick Boulevard in Jamaica, from Thursday, September 5 through Tuesday, October 8!
Hispanic Heritage Month: Movie Lists
Here are some great movie picks in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month!
Check out our lists, and then borrow the DVDs from the Library!
Hispanic Heritage Movies Part 1
Hispanic Heritage Movies Part 2
Hispanic Heritage Month Programs
We have nearly 100 wonderful virtual and in-person programs planned for this year’s celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, including concerts, book talks, art classes, panel discussions, storytimes, and so much more!
Here’s a selection of our programs. Click the title of each program to learn more about it, and visit our online QPL Calendar to see the full list!
Intro to Salsa Dance Workshop for Adults (In-Person)
Thursdays, September 12, 19, 26, 6:30pm
Hollis Library, 202-05 Hillside Avenue
Thursdays, October 3, 10, 17, 6:30pm
Rochdale Village Library, 169-09 137 Avenue
Saturdays, October 5, 12, 19, 3pm
Bayside Library, 214-20 Northern Boulevard
Costa Rican Rainforest Macaw Craft for Early Learners (In-Person)
Friday, September 13, 11am
Astoria Library, 14-01 Astoria Boulevard
Hispanic Heritage Month Festival (In-Person)
Saturday, September 14, 11am
Langston Hughes Library, 100-01 Northern Boulevard, Corona
STEM Club for Kids: Celebrating with Costa Rican Crafts (In-Person)
Saturday, September 14, 2:30pm
Queensbridge Tech Lab, 10-43 41 Avenue, Long Island City
Pioneering Hispanic Accomplishments (Virtual)
Tuesday, September 17, 6pm
Join us on Facebook and YouTube
Hispanic Heritage: Toddler Time (In-Person)
Wednesdays, September 18 and October 2, 10:30am
Auburndale Library, 25-55 Francis Lewis Boulevard, Flushing
Read-Aloud with Local Children's Author Nathalie Alonso (In-Person)
Wednesday, September 18, 3:30pm
Woodside Library, 54-22 Skillman Avenue
Voices of Latin Music by Irene Failenbogen (In-Person and Virtual)
Wednesday, September 18, 6pm
Flushing Library, 41-17 Main Street
or join us on Zoom
Meeting ID: 837 1422 4225
Passcode: 0918
How to Make Latin Dishes with Tarsis Payano (Virtual)
Wednesdays, September 18-October 9, 6pm
Join us on Zoom
Culture Connection: Hispanic Heritage with Pulitzer Prize-Winning Composer Tania León (Virtual)
Wednesday, September 18, 6pm
Join us on Facebook and YouTube
Soprano Celia Castro Celebrates Hispanic Heritage! (In-Person)
Friday, September 20, 2pm
Central Library, 89-11 Merrick Boulevard, Jamaica
Wepa! Latin Dance For Kids with Urban Stages (In-Person)
Friday, September 20, 3pm
Sunnyside Library, 43-06 Greenpoint Avenue, Long Island City
Celebrate with Mariachi Tapatío de Álvaro Paulino (In-Person)
Saturday, September 21, 1pm
Elmhurst Library, 86-07 Broadway
Celebrate with David Cedeño and his Orchestra (In-Person)
Saturday, September 21, 2pm
Jackson Heights Library, 35-51 81 Street
Superstar Latinas in STEM (Virtual)
Tuesday, September 24, 6pm
Join us on Zoom
Meeting ID: 897 8004 7455
Passcode: 817980
Author Talk with Felipe Luciano (In-Person)
Thursday, September 26, 6pm
Central Library, 89-11 Merrick Boulevard, Jamaica
Piñata Workshop for Families (In-Person)
Saturday, September 28, 2pm
Forest Hills Library, 108-19 71 Avenue
Saturday, October 12, 11am
Douglaston/Little Neck Library, 249-01 Northern Boulevard, Little Neck
Saturday, October 12, 2:30pm
Peninsula Library, 92-25 Rockaway Beach Boulevard, Rockaway Beach
Mexican Bark Painting (In-Person)
Thursday, October 3, 3:30pm
Ridgewood Library, 20-12 Madison Street
Tapiz Cultural Artist Talk (In-Person)
Thursday, October 3, 5pm
Central Library, 89-11 Merrick Boulevard, Jamaica
Literary Thursdays: Melissa Rivero, Author of Flores and Miss Paula (Virtual)
Thursday, October 3, 6pm
Join us on Microsoft Teams
Hispanic Heritage Bingo (In-Person)
Friday, October 4, 3:30pm
North Forest Park Library, 98-27 Metropolitan Avenue, Forest Hills
Latin American Cultural Milestones and Primacies (Program in Spanish) (Virtual)
Saturday, October 5, 2pm
Join us on Facebook and YouTube
Sunday Concerts at Central: William Cepeda's Afro-Rican Jazz (In-Person)
Sunday, October 6, 3pm
Central Library, 89-11 Merrick Boulevard, Jamaica
Hispanic Pioneers Bingo (In-Person)
Thursday, October 10, 3pm
Ozone Park Library, 92-24 Rockaway Boulevard
Literary Thursdays: Javier Fuentes, Author of Countries of Origin (Virtual)
Thursday, October 10, 6pm
Join us on Microsoft Teams
Latin Dance for Kids with Cucala Dance Company (In-Person)
Saturday, October 12, 3pm
Fresh Meadows, 193-20 Horace Harding Expressway
Hispanic Heritage Month Booklists
Adult Books
The Wind Knows My Name by Isabel Allende
Book | eBook | Audiobook
When We Left Cuba by Chanel Cleeton
Book | eBook | Audiobook | Libro
Aleph by Paulo Coelho
Book | eBook | Audiobook | Libro
You Dreamed of Empires by Álvaro Enrigue
American Like Me: Reflections on Life Between Cultures by America Ferrera
The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World by Melinda Gates
Book | eBook | Audiobook | Libro
Harvest of Empire: A History of Latinos in America by Juan González
Book | eBook | Libro
The Great Divide by Cristina Henríquez
Book | Libro
Stamped from the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi
Book | eBook | Audiobook | Libro
The Puerto Rican War: A Graphic History by John Vasquez Mejias
Sacrificio by Ernesto Mestre-Reed
Book | eBook
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Book | eBook | Audiobook | Libro
Flamin' Hot: The Incredible True Story of One Man's Rise from Janitor to Top Executive
by Richard P. Montañez
Book | Libro
Love Poems by Pablo Neruda
Delirium by Laura Restrepo
Book | Libro
Havana Year Zero by Karla Suárez
Solito: A Memoir by Javier Zamora
Book | eBook | Audiobook | Libro
Más libros en español para adultos
Disrupción: más allá de la innovación de Mario Borghino
Mis recetas de cocina anticáncer de Odile Fernández Martínez
Foodtropia: cómo comer rico y sano de Paola Freire
Los 7 pasos para el éxito en el amor de Dra. Isabel Gómez-Bassols
Emma y las otras señoras del narco de Anabel Hernández
Libro | Libro electrónico | Audiolibro
La casa del placer de Zoé Valdés
El fixer de Miguel Ángel Vega
La invasión del pueblo del espíritu de Juan Pablo Villalobos
Young Adult Books
The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
Book | eBook | Audiobook | Libro
Frontera by Julio Anta and Jacoby Salcedo (Illus.)
Book | eBook
The Making of Yolanda la Bruja by Lorraine Avila
Book | eBook | Libro
Más Freak de lo Normal (Libro) de Francisco Balbuena, Maximo Montero y Darwin Nuñez
¡Viva Lola Espinoza! by Ella Cerón
Book | Libro
Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Córdova
Book | eBook | Audiobook
Mexican WhiteBoy by Matt de la Peña
Book | Libro | Libro electrónico | Audiolibro
Borderless by Jennifer De Leon
Book | eBook
Rima's Rebellion: Courage in a Time of Tyranny by Margarita Engle
Book | Libro
Canto Contigo by Jonny Garza Villa
Once Upon a Quinceañera by Monica Gomez-Hira
No Filter and Other Lies by Crystal Maldonado
Book | eBook | Libro
Furia by Yamile Saied Méndez
Book | eBook | Libro
Road Home by Rex Ogle
The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School by Sonora Reyes
Book | eBook | Audiobook
I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez
Book | eBook | Audiobook | Libro | Libro electrónico | Audiolibro
The Moonlit Vine by Elizabeth Santiago
Book | eBook
Northranger by Rey Terciero and Bre Indigo (Illus.)
Book | eBook
We Are Not from Here by Jenny Torres Sánchez
Book | eBook | Audiobook | Libro
When We Make It: A Nuyorican Novel by Elisabet Velasquez
Book | eBook | Libro
Children's Books
Something Like Home by Andrea Beatriz Arango
Book | eBook | Libro
Besos for Baby: A Little Book of Kisses by Jen Arena and Blanca Gomez (Illus.)
Book | eBook
Letters from Cuba by Ruth Behar
Book | Audiobook | Libro
Only for a Little While by Gabriela Orozco Belt and Richy Sánchez Ayala (Illus.)
Book | Libro | Audiolibro
Big Apple Diaries by Alyssa Bermudez
Book | eBook
Marcus Vega Doesn't Speak Spanish by Pablo Cartaya
Book | eBook
Efrén Divided by Ernesto Cisneros
Book | eBook | Audiobook | Libro
Falling Short by Ernesto Cisneros
Book | eBook | Audiobook
Cuba in My Pocket by Adrianna Cuevas
Book | eBook | Audiobook | Libro | Libro electrónico
Stella Díaz Has Something to Say by Angela Dominguez
Book | eBook
Miss Quinces by Kat Fajardo
Book | eBook | Libro | Libro electrónico
Lucía the Luchadora by Cynthia Leonor Garza and Alyssa Bermudez (Illus.)
The Coquíes Still Sing
by Karina Nicole González and Krystal Quiles (Illus.)
Book | Audiobook
The Dragon Slayer: Folktales from Latin America by Jaime Hernandez
Book | eBook
The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera
Book | eBook | Audiobook
Definitely Dominguita: Knight of the Cape by Terry Catasús Jennings and Fatima Anaya (Illus.)
Book | eBook | Audiobook
Mexikid by Pedro Martín
Book | eBook | Audiobook | Libro
Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal
Book | eBook | Audiobook | Libro
Juana & Lucas by Juana Medina
Book | Libro
Merci Suárez Changes Gears by Meg Medina
Book | eBook | Audiobook | Libro
Where Are You From? by Yamile Saied Méndez and Jaime Kim (Illus.)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | Libro | Audiolibro
Frizzy by Claribel A. Ortega and Rose Bousamra (Illus.)
Book | eBook | Libro
Martina Has Too Many Tías by Emma Otheguy and Sara Palacios (Illus.)
Book | Libro
Coquí in the City by Nomar Perez
Book | eBook | Audiobook | Libro | Libro electrónico | Audiolibro
My Papi Has a Motorcycle by Isabel Quintero and Zeke Peña (Illus.)
Book | eBook | Audiobook | Libro | Libro electrónico | Audiolibro
Your Mama by NoNieqa Ramos and Jacqueline Alcántara (Illus.)
Book | eBook
If Dominican Were a Color by Sili Recio and Brianna McCarthy (Illus.)
Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan
Book | Audiobook | Libro | Audiolibro
Abuela’s Super Capa by by Ana Siqueira and Elisa Chavarri (Illus.)
Book | Libro | Audiolibro
Turning Pages: My Life Story by Sonia Sotomayor and Lulu Delacre (Illus.)
Book | Libro
Blancaflor, The Hero with Secret Powers: A Folktale from Latin America by Nadja Spiegelman and Sergio Garcia Sanchez (Illus.)
Book | eBook | Libro
Round Is a Tortilla: A Book of Shapes by Roseanne Greenfield Thong and John Parra (Illus.)
Book | eBook | Audiobook
Más libros en español para niños
Pele, King of Soccer/Pele, El Rey del Futbol de Monica Brown y Rudy Gutierrez (Illus.)
Te quiero de Glòria Fort
Little Sunny Sunshine/Sol Solecito de Susie Jaramillo
Dream with the Latinitas/Sueña con las Latinitas de Juliet Menéndez
Plátanos Go With Everything/Los plátanos van con todo de Lissette Norman y Sara Palacios (Illus.)
Libro | Audiolibro
¡1, 2, 3 Merengue! English-Spanish Instruments & Sounds Book de Delia Ruiz
y Graziela Andrade (Illus.)
My Town/Mi Pueblo de Nicholas Solis y Luisa Uribe (Illus.)
Libro | Libro electrónico | Audiolibro
Abuelas: Cada una a su manera de Bea Taboada
The 2024-2025 School Year is here!
Are you and your family feeling prepared for Back-to-School season?
QPL has got you covered! Learn about our Back-to-School programs, resources, book recommendations, and much more.
Back-to-School Guide
Queens Public Library is here for kids, parents, caregivers, and educators with our extensive Back-to-School Guide!
This year's Back-to-School Guide includes:
- Library Resources and Databases for Students
- Early Learning, School Aged, and Young Adult Booklists (which you can also find below)
- Articles about Preparing Children for the Back-to-School Transition and Teen Mental Health
- The 2024-2025 NYC Public School Calendar
- and much more!
You can download QPL’s 2024-2025 Back-to-School Guide in four languages:
Back-to-School Programs
Join us in-person at the Library for fun giveaways and get ready for the new school year.
Learn More about our Back-to-School programs.
Kick Off to Kindergarten & Toddler Learning Centers
You’re never too young to start your educational journey!
QPL’s Kick Off to Kindergarten (K2K) program enables young children (ages 3-5) to develop their early literacy skills—and begin a lifelong love of reading! Meanwhile, their parents and caregivers will receive guidance to become confident in their ability to support their child’s development. Classes are offered virtually and in-person, with translation support in Mandarin Chinese and Spanish.
Designed to serve the needs of toddlers (approx. ages 18-38 months) and their caregivers, QPL’s Toddler Learning Centers (TLCs) are hosted at multiple Queens Public Library locations across the borough. While your children play in a safe, nurturing environment and participate in guided activities, early learning professionals will offer you advice about speech development, nutrition, early literacy, gross motor development, and much more.
Our Fall 2024 K2K and TLC programs are starting soon; visit our Early Learning Services webpage for more information and to register.
College Readiness
Hey QPL Teens! Make sure that you’re getting ready to tackle your college applications, take your college entrance exams, and much more!
Queens Public Library’s College Readiness team is here to help you on your college admissions journey. On Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout the school year, the Library hosts virtual programs led by experts in the college access field.
In addition, the College Readiness team also hosts in-person programs at the Central Library Teen Center, the Cambria Heights Teen Center, and the Far Rockaway Teen Library during school breaks.
We also offer college coaching services to students, parents, and guardians who want personalized help navigating the college admissions process. College coaches can help 9th-11th grade students get ready early for college admissions, help 12th grade students complete their applications at every step of the way, and help families find ways to pay for college.
For more information about these programs and resources, visit the QPL Calendar or contact the College Readiness team at college.readiness@queenslibrary.org.
Brainfuse HelpNow: Live Online Tutoring Available Every Day
Brainfuse HelpNow offers personalized academic and homework help, in both English and Spanish, for children in Grades K-12.
Find expert support in core subjects (math, reading, writing, science), a Language Lab for language learners, a 24/7 Writing Lab, SAT prep and practice tests, and much more.
Plus—live online tutoring is available every day from 2-11pm!
All you need to access Brainfuse HelpNow is your library card. Visit the Brainfuse HelpNow webpage to learn more.
Back-to-School Booklists
Here are some books from the Library for early readers, school-age children, and teens that will help kids deal with first-day-of-school anxiety, and get them excited for the classroom and beyond!
Early Learning
The Queen of Kindergarten by Derrick Barnes and Vanessa Brantley-Newton (Illus.)
Book | eBook | Audiobook
The First Week of School by Drew Beckmeyer
Olu's Teacher by Jamel C. Campbell and Lydia Mba (Illus.)
The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi
Book | eBook | Audiobook (Read-Along)
El Cucuy Is Scared, Too! by Donna Barba Higuera and Juliana Perdomo (Illus.)
Book | eBook | Español
The Yellow Bus by Loren Long
My First Day by Phùng Nguyên Quang and Huỳnh Kim Liên
Book | eBook
Back to School, Backpack! by Simon Rich and Tom Toro (Illus.)
The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson and Rafael López (Illus.)
Book | eBook | Audiobook (Read-Along) | Español
School Aged
The World According to Humphrey by Betty G. Birney
Book | eBook | Audiobook | Español | Libro Electronico
New Kid by Jerry Craft
Book | eBook | Audiobook
The Liars Society by Alyson Gerber
All's Faire in Middle School by Victoria Jamieson
Book | eBook | Español
Mindy Kim and the Yummy Seaweed Business by Lyla Lee and Dung Ho (Illus.)
Book | eBook | Audiobook
Merci Suárez Changes Gears by Meg Medina
Book | eBook | Audiobook | Español
The First Rule of Punk by Celia C. Pérez
Book | eBook | Audiobook
Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar
Book | eBook | Audiobook
A Royal Conundrum (The Misfits) by Lisa Yee and Dan Santat (Illus.)
Young Adult
Study Break: 11 College Tales from Orientation to Graduation by Aashna Avachat (Editor)
Twelfth Knight by Alexene Farol Follmuth and Little Chmura (Illus.)
New York City SHSAT Prep 2022 & 2023 (eBook) by Kaplan Publishing
Goodnight Homeroom: All the Advice I Wish I Got Before Going to High School by Samuel Kaplan, Keith Riegert, and Emily Fromm (Illus.)
I Hope This Doesn't Find You by Ann Liang
575+ Practice Questions for the Digital PSAT/NMSQT by The Princeton Review
SAT Power Vocab by The Princeton Review
The Luis Ortega Survival Club by Sonora Reyes
Book | eBook | Audiobook
Surviving Middle School: Navigating the Halls, Riding the Social Roller Coaster, and Unmasking the Real You by Luke Reynolds
Book | eBook
SHSAT Prep Books 2024-2025: 4 Practice Tests by Test Prep Books
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Congratulations to the young people who participated in our Reading Challenge this summer, making them eligible for our Summer Reading Raffle!
We just finished our prize drawing, and here are our winners!
Early Learner Winners of UMIDIGI G1 Tab Kids Tablets
Anthony from Astoria Library
Julia from Glen Oaks Library
Rosalie from Ridgewood Library
Elementary Age Winners of Samsung Tablets
Devyn from Astoria Library
Benjamin from North Hills Library
Audrey from Sunnyside Library
Teen Winners of iPad Tablets
Cora from Astoria Library
Tsering from Elmhurst Library
Emily from Flushing Library
Thank you again to everyone who joined us this year for Summer Reading, and we hope that our programs, booklists, and resources kept you engaged and reading all summer long!
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Oh, Baby! Queens Public Library Welcomes Jamaica and Flushing Hospitals to Its Collaboration with Elmhurst Hospital to Support Newborns and Their Caregivers Through "QPL Baby"
“QPL Baby” Program Promotes Maternal Health and Early Literacy for Children Ages 0 to 5 and Encourages Sign-Ups for the Library’s Special Edition Baby Card
(Flushing, NY – August 28, 2024) Queens Public Library President and CEO Dennis M. Walcott today welcomed NYS Assemblyman Ron Kim, City Council Member Sandra Ung, NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst CEO Helen Landaverde, and Flushing and Jamaica Hospital Lactation Coordinator Ario Sutton-Pierre to Flushing Library to mark the expansion of "QPL Baby," a program that supports maternal health and fosters a love of learning from the earliest stages of a child's life.
QPL’s collaboration with its longtime partner, NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst, began in August 2021. At that time, QPL introduced a special library card for children ages 0 to 12 and assembled kits containing a QPL-branded baby bib and information about library resources – including a card application, a brochure with QPL’s offerings, a map of QPL locations, and a mailing list sign-up – for distribution to caregivers and their newborns when they leave the hospital. Elmhurst Hospital now distributes 2,800 kits each year. With the addition of Flushing and Jamaica hospitals to this collaboration, an additional 4,400 kits will be handed out this fiscal year.
“Anyone who has ever had or cared for a newborn, myself included, knows the excitement and joy of bringing a baby into our world,” said Queens Public Library President and CEO Dennis M. Walcott. “At the same time, there is so much for parents to know. With ‘QPL Baby,’ the Library wants to help start their children on a journey of learning and discovery with free access to life-changing resources and services. We look forward to collaborating with Flushing and Jamaica hospitals to expand the work we started with NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst.”
The QPL Baby program also provides virtual and in-person programming about early childhood development and maternal health. This information, along with details about getting a card, a mailing list signup, and recommended resources, is available on the QPL Baby section of the QPL website.
To date, the Library has issued 15,000 baby cards since the program’s inception. The QPL Baby library card features a fairy tale illustration of a bear reading to a cub, surrounded by the forest, designed to reinforce the close bond between a parent reader and a listening child.
Also on Wednesday, President Walcott and a Flushing Library staff member read a bilingual book in Chinese and English to dozens of children during a regularly scheduled storytime at the branch.
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About Queens Public Library
Queens Public Library is one of the largest and busiest public library systems in the United States, dedicated to serving the most ethnically and culturally diverse area in the country. An independent, non-profit organization founded in 1896, Queens Public Library offers free access to a collection of more than 5 million books and other materials in 50 languages, technology and digital resources. Each year, the Library hosts tens of thousands of online and in-person educational, cultural, and civic programs and welcomes millions of visitors through its doors. With a presence in nearly every neighborhood across the borough of Queens, the Library consists of 66 locations, including branch libraries, a Central Library, seven adult learning centers, a technology center located at the Queensbridge Houses, the nation’s largest public housing complex, and a community learning center at another public housing complex, the Ravenswood Houses. It also has five teen centers, two bookmobiles, and two book bicycles.
Contact: Elisabeth de Bourbon, QPL, 917-650-3815, edebourbon@queenslibrary.org
New York City is officially going through a heat wave, and Queens Public Library is here to help!
If you don’t have air conditioning in your home or your apartment, or if you are at risk for heat-related illness, please visit your local library.
Public libraries in New York City serve as official “cooling centers” during a heat emergency. Cooling centers are places where you can enjoy air-conditioned comfort. They are free and open to the public, even if you are not using their services.
NYC Emergency Management will let the public know when a heat emergency happens, such as an unusually hot day, or several hot days in a row.
If you need a cool place to visit, stop by your local QPL branch for great books, programs, and more—and stay for the air conditioning!
All open Queens Public Library locations except Elmhurst and Long Island City will operate as NYC Cooling Centers during this heat emergency.
Visit https://www.queenslibrary.org/about-us/locations for our hours of operation.
To check for any changes in the status of the air conditioning at your local library, please contact them directly.
If you need to find another Cooling Center closer to you, please call 311 or visit the NYC Cooling Centers webpage.
by Francesco Ferrari, MD and Abby Alten Schwartz, writer
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, a crisis was brewing in pediatric behavioral health with an estimated one in five kids living with a mental health disorder. The circumstances of the last three years have only made matters worse.
A key part of brain development in teenagers is an increased drive for peer connectedness, which starts in middle school. Forming friendships, joining groups, and participating in extracurricular activities is how teens figure out who they are and who they want to be.
While physical distancing was a necessary precaution during much of the pandemic, there were major implications for some teens. By one estimate, the rates of anxiety and depression among kids and adolescents have nearly doubled.
We’re seeing this play out in a number of ways, such as an increase in the number of kids refusing to go to school and withdrawing from social interactions. Keep in mind: Kids aren’t just learning academic subjects at school, they’re also learning social and emotional skills that are critical to their development. Pausing that for a year or more can have profound effects, though the level of impact varies by child.
But the pandemic isn’t the only reason so many teens are in crisis. The proliferation of smartphones and social media platforms has also had a detrimental effect on mental health.
In many ways, technology helped mitigate isolation during the pandemic, but that upside didn’t negate the challenges inherent in social media. Apps like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram present our kids with versions of their peers they can never live up to. Teens compare themselves to carefully cultivated images that don’t reflect reality and, as a result, may feel heightened anxiety or depression.
Adding to this, increased screen time disrupts schedules, sleep patterns, and social interactions, which can harm mental health. There’s also the matter of 24/7 exposure to troubling global and national events from climate change to gun violence. Teens of this generation are under constant bombardment by alarming videos and social media posts that are formulated to grab their attention.
One other contributing factor to adolescent anxiety and depression is online bullying, which can send an already at-risk individual into a crisis that requires acute care in an emergency room or psychiatric facility. Again, this is a problem that’s been building since before the pandemic.
The bottom line is our teens need us now more than ever. As medical professionals, educators, and parents, we have a responsibility to show up for the youngsters in our community and offer support. Here’s what that can look like:
Clinicians: Teens need to be screened at their regular primary care appointments and other touchpoints. The American Academy of Pediatrics and American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry have put out recommendations for screening both young kids and adolescents for anxiety and depression.
Teachers: There’s no denying that the demands on educators have increased tremendously over the last few years. Still, the fact remains that teachers are uniquely positioned to observe our kids, spot any concerning behaviors, and to check in and reassure students that their classrooms are safe places. If you are an educator, be sure to keep the lines of communication open with kids and their parents, bring in guidance counselors, if needed, and keep your eyes open to any signs that indicate a teen is struggling.
Parents: Check in regularly with your kids and make it clear that they can come to you with anything. Teenagers often withhold information from their parents because they are afraid of burdening them with another worry. Let them know nothing they can say will scare you off or be too much to handle. Tell them, “I’m here for you no matter what. We are in this together and we will find a solution and get you help.”
Demand is high for mental health appointments—both adult and pediatric. Timely access to treatment is a challenge that isn’t going to be solved overnight, but medical professionals are aware of it and working on solutions to open more avenues to care.
One good effect of the pandemic was it normalized telemedicine as a viable alternative to in-person appointments. In addition, many hospital emergency departments are addressing the increased need for pediatric mental health services. And while these are good (and necessary) steps, there’s still more to do.
This is because teens need to feel connected to their peers, to adults, and to their surrounding communities. One of the healthier ways we can respond to trauma or tragedy is to try to create positive change. Talk to your kids about current events and find out what matters to them.
For some teens, getting involved in activism or volunteerism can increase their sense of agency and help them feel they’re working toward something good in the world. With a massive problem such as climate change, your child may question how taking action as an individual is going to make a difference. But finding others with similar interests and goals is a great reminder that while our society may feel divided, we share more in common with our neighbors than we may think.
The bottom line is that our teens are paying attention to the adults in their lives and the world around them. We need to do the same for them by being present, checking in, and getting them the mental health support they deserve. Our teens will be the ones leading the way to improve our world—so let’s help them develop the confidence and resilience they’ll need.
This article originally appeared at: https://thewell.northwell.edu/emotional-wellness/addressing-depression-and-anxiety-in-teens
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by Laurel Bongiorno, PhD
1. Children learn through their play.
Don’t underestimate the value of play. Children learn and develop:
cognitive skills – like math and problem solving in a pretend grocery store
physical abilities – like balancing blocks and running on the playground
new vocabulary – like the words they need to play with toy dinosaurs
social skills – like playing together in a pretend car wash
literacy skills – like creating a menu for a pretend restaurant
2. Play is healthy.
Play helps children grow strong and healthy. It also counteracts obesity issues facing many children today.
3. Play reduces stress.
Play helps your children grow emotionally. It is joyful and provides an outlet for anxiety and stress.
4. Play is more than meets the eye.
Play is simple and complex. There are many types of play: symbolic, sociodramatic, functional, and games with rules–to name just a few. Researchers study play’s many aspects: how children learn through play, how outdoor play impacts children’s health, the effects of screen time on play, to the need for recess in the school day.
5. Make time for play.
As parents, you are the biggest supporters of your children’s learning. You can make sure they have as much time to play as possible during the day to promote cognitive, language, physical, social, and emotional development.
6. Play and learning go hand-in-hand.
They are not separate activities. They are intertwined. Think about them as a science lecture with a lab. Play is the child’s lab.
7. Play outside.
Remember your own outdoor experiences of building forts, playing on the beach, sledding in the winter, or playing with other children in the neighborhood. Make sure your children create outdoor memories too.
8. There’s a lot to learn about play.
There’s a lot written on children and play. Here are some articles and books about play from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC): www.naeyc.org/our-work/families/play. David Elkind’s book The Power of Play is also a great resource.
9. Trust your own playful instincts.
Remember as a child how play just came naturally? Give your children time for play and see all that they are capable of when given the opportunity.
10. Play is a child’s context for learning.
Children practice and reinforce their learning in multiple areas during play. It gives them a place and a time for learning that cannot be achieved through completing a worksheet. For example, in playing restaurant, children write and draw menus, set prices, take orders, and make out checks. Play provides rich learning opportunities and leads to children’s success and self-esteem.
Laurel Bongiorno, PhD, is the director of Champlain College’s graduate program in early childhood education, with specializations in teaching and administration, in Burlington, Vermont. She has taught preschool, directed early childhood programs, and studied parents’ perceptions of preschoolers’ learning through play.
Copyright © 2013 NAEYC®. Reprinted with permission.