Pair public libraries with parks for play days
Along with parks & nature centers, libraries are one of our greatest free community resources!
Do you have a library card? I have at least FIVE! You can get library cards to all the library systems in Orange County! My kids had a childhood filled with bags of books that we lovingly checked out and returned for the next readers.
OC Public Libraries (32 branches + Mobile Library)
Newport Beach Public Library (1 main library + 3 branches)
Yorba Linda Public Library (1 main library)
Anaheim Public Libraries (1 main library + 6 branches + Mobile Library + STEAM Adventures)
Mission Viejo Library (1 main library)
City of Orange Libraries (1 main library + 2 branches)
Placentia Library District (1 main library)
Buena Park Library District (1 main library)
Santa Ana Public Library (
1 main libraryclosed until Spring 2026 + 1 branch)Huntington Beach Public Library (1 main library + 4 branches)
Fullerton Library (1 main branch)
Cerritos Library (1 main branch) – in LA County, but near north OC
And, did you know? You can return books checked out at OC Public Library branches to other OC Public Library branches.
So, if you check out a few books at the OCPL branch in Laguna Niguel — you can return it to the OCPL branch in Laguna Hills when you go to Dinosaur Park. It just has to be within the same library system.
That way, you can almost library hop each week through the system to explore all the locations!
So, I hope you go to your local library and get a library card! Read, read, read, and gather together for storytimes or other events that our lovely librarians work so hard to provide! Thank them for their efforts and let them know how much you appreciate them.
In reading and in play,
Michele
As a friendly reminder, make sure you ALWAYS check official sources when you are heading out to any of the locations I share. These are merely suggestions. Only you know what works for your family. Plus, your experience may not be the same as mine — and there can be changes to the hours or unforeseen circumstances or conditions at the suggested locations.
5 awesome park + library play trips!
I love when the libraries are close to parks!
Lions Park in Costa Mesa + Costa Mesa Donald Dungan Library
Tustin Sports Park + Katie Wheeler Library in Irvine
Seal Beach Pier and Eisenhower Playground + Seal Beach Library
Imperial Park in Anaheim Hills + Anaheim Public Library: Canyon Hills Branch
Jessamyn West Park + Yorba Linda Public Library
PLAY: Playful Early Chapter Books
This is the section of the newsletter where we talk about PLAY or connecting to nature each week. I might share a video, an article, a book, or something inspiring. Just trying to help keep you empowered to prioritize play to benefit development and preserve childhood!
These are also super fun read-alouds for younger kids!
Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle
It surprises me how many parents don’t know about Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle and her “cures.” They are so much fun when read aloud! We always have tons of giggles with her names — and I’m particularly entertained reading about this Beaver Cleaver world. Things were sure simple back then. Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle’s Farm isn’t included in the Treasury, so you’ll want to get that one separately.
The Boxcar Children
My sister, cousin and I used to play out this book in make-believe outdoors. We’d wrap up our cheese and bread in a bandana and tie it to a stick like traveling hobo. Then we’d pretend we were taking shelter in an abandoned boxcar during a storm. Gertrude Chandler Warner wrote almost 20 stories about these brothers and sisters.
Magic Tree House
These books got my son hooked on reading. I handed him a highlighter and had him highlight any words he didn’t know. He could get the rest from context and didn’t really need my help! Pretty soon, the highlighter disappeared and he’s been such a big reader and researcher ever since. The references to history in these fictional books make them especially fun. HINT: The Magic Tree House website has a lot of activities for kids and educator guides for adults.
Geronimo Stilton
Oh, Geronimo! One of my very favorite book series! Get ready for lots of cheese puns and entertaining illustrations. Even the words are illustrated to represent their meanings – just flip through the pages next time you’re at a bookstore. The books in the series don’t need to be read in any special order.
Half Magic and Edward Eager’s Tales of Magic
This one is almost like Boxcar Children but with magic. But it’s not “normal” magic – things always seem to be going wrong here. Parents will be guessing what’s going to happen next along with the kids!
E.D. Baker Books
She makes all sorts of twists to existing fairy tales. You never know who or what is going to pop up in these stories! The series that starts out with The Wide Awake Princess — yes, Sleeping Beauty’s sister — is my favorite series of Ms. Baker’s books.
What are your favorite young reader chapter books? Hit “Reply” to let me know!
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