All Jacksonville Public Library locations are closed Tuesday, December 24 and Wednesday, December 25 for the Christmas holiday.
Regency Square Branch Library is closed for facilities upgrades.
Ever wonder what it takes to become a published author? As the author of Teemu the Emu and other upcoming releases, our friend Mr. Joe offers a unique behind-the-scenes glimpse. This is a chance for your budding artists and authors to discover the magic of storytelling within themselves. Don't miss this Junior Lit Chat with Mr. Joe, Saturday, September 7, from 2-3 p.m. at Mandarin Branch Library!
Jax Book Fest returns September 20-21 to the Main Library in downtown Jacksonville with the #1 New York Times bestselling creator of Big, Little Leaders, Little Dreamers, and Little Legends and the illustrator of Andrea Beaty's I Love You Like Yellow, Matthew Cherry’s Hair Love, and Stephanie V.W. Lucianovic’s Hello, Star, among others. She received a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor for Lupita Nyong’o’s Sulwe and is also a two-time recipient of the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work for Children.
Junior Lit Chat with Jewell Parker Rhodes, Friday, June 7, from 4:30-5:30 p.m. This event will take place live at the Brentwood Library and is intended for kids ages 5-12. The first half hour will be a presentation by the author; the second half hour is time for book signing. A limited number of copies of Bayou Magic will be given away to participants, first come, first served.
Moving into your middle school years can be challenging. Not only are kids hard at work figuring out who they are and their place in the world... They are also starting to read independently and select their own books. It can sometimes be hard to find reading material that's both interesting and relatable (not to mention developmentally appropriate). That's where middle-grade fiction and characters like Stella Diaz come in!
Step into a world where bravery, teamwork, and a pair of magic shoes unite for thrilling adventures that are sure to ignite readers' imaginations! Mike the Friendly Firefighter: The Wild Car Fire by Brittany D. Jones follows the extraordinary journey of a Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department Engineer, who discovers that his job goes far beyond extinguishing flames. The first 50 children in attendance will receive a FREE copy of Mike the Friendly Firefighter: The Wild Car Fire, along with some other goodies!
Get lost in a world of reading and adventure this March 3-9 during Jacksonville's annual Celebrate Reading Week! Jacksonville Public Library and our partners at Kids Hope Alliance, Jacksonville Public Education Fund, Early Learning Coalition Duval, Read USA, Duval County Public Schools, Read Jax, and WJCT have put together a fantastic series of programs and events at libraries and locations across Jacksonville! There will be book giveaways, a chance to learn more about Beanstack and Mayor Deegan's River City Readers challenge, and more!
"When her father dies, Amie’s ability to play music dies, too. Nothing short of a miracle can bring back what she has lost." Karen S. Chow's lyrical narrative, Miracle, is a story about the complexity of grief - told in a way that's accessible to children. Learn more about this remarkable book at a special author event intended for kids, ages 5-12.
Jax Book Fest is back at the Main Library on Friday, September 20 from 12-5 p.m. and Saturday, September 21, from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. This year, we've got an amazing lineup of New York Times bestselling authors and over 70 local authors for you to get to know! See who's scheduled to appear!
Dan Santat is the author and illustrator of over a hundred books for young people including the New York Times–bestselling book After the Fall (How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again). Though he's probably best known for The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend, the magical story of a would-be imaginary friend who sets off on a journey looking for the child he's destined to befriend!
It's never easy when your magic goes wonky. For Nory, this means that instead of being able to turn into a dragon or a kitten, she turns into both of them at the same time -- a dritten! A two-time Boston Globe/Horn Book Award Honor winner and recipient of the Sydney Taylor Book Award, author Emily Jenkins is a favorite with children for her humor and sensitivity. Join the Junior Lit Chat Tuesday, September 5 from 6-6:30 p.m. at Southeast Library (intended for kids ages 5-12). A limited number of copies of Harry Versus the First One Hundred Days of School will be given away to participants, first come, first served.
