Have you ever wondered what inspires your favorite author or wanted to hear about their experiences writing books? NYPL KidsLIVE! are special programs that feature thought-provoking conversations between authors and librarians!

About the Program

Join us below for a special program with Carole Lindstrom, author of the book We Are Water Protectors which is featured on our Best Books for Kids 2020 list. Carole shared with us her inspirations for writing the book and the importance of protecting our planet. Then she joined NYPL librarians for a Q&A session.

KidsLIVE! with Carole Lindstrom from The New York Public Library on Vimeo.

You can read the video transcript here.

Borrow Carole Lindstrom’s Books from the Library

Thanku: Poems of Gratitude by Carole Lindstrom and 32 other, illustrated by Marlena Myles 

Book

This poetry anthology, edited by Miranda Paul, explores a wide range of ways to be grateful—from gratitude for a puppy to gratitude for family to gratitude for the sky—with poems by a diverse group of contributors, including Carole Lindstrom, Joseph Bruchac, Margarita Engle, Cynthia Leitich Smith, Naomi Shihab Nye, Charles Waters, Jane Yolen and more. 

We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom, illustrated by Micheala Goade 

Book/ E-book

Inspired by the many Indigenous-led movements across North America, We Are Water Protectors issues an urgent message to safeguard the Earth's water from harm and corruption. This Caldecott and multi award-winning picture book inspires readers to educate themselves on water conservation, and how to raise their own voices for a cause.

Looking for more books like The Water Protectors? Check these out:

10 Things I Can Do to Help My World by Melanie Walsh

Book 

A beautifully simple book for small children where transforming pages reveal ten things that everyone can do to help conserve their world. Many of them, such as turning off the television, and turning off lights when leaving a room are about conserving energy. Others will encourage an understanding of nature and conservation.

Wangari Maathai: The Woman Who Planted Millions of Trees by Franck Prévot, illustrated by Aurélia Fronty

Book / E-book

Read about the importance of following through with an idea that can change the world.

 

The People Shall Continue by Simon Ortiz, illustrated by Sharol Graves

Book / E-book

Originally published in 1977, this is a story of Indigenous peoples of the Americas, specifically in the US, as they endeavor to live on lands they have known to be their traditional homelands from time immemorial. Even though the prairies, mountains, valleys, deserts, river bottomlands, forests, coastal regions, swamps and other wetlands across the nation are not as vast as they used to be, all of the land is still considered to be the homeland of the people.

Here are some at-home activities inspired by We Are Water Protectors:

• Download this activity guide created for We Are Water Protectors by publisher Macmillan Kids Press. The guide includes a drawing activity, water conservation checklist, and tips for community engagement and raising your voice.
• Make a nature journal! Our awareness of the world around us is important to the story We Are Water Protectors. How can we best observe it? With a nature journal—a book where you can keep track of your observations about the world around you. In your journal, take notes of what types of plants, animals and other objects you see. Describe what you see with words or draw a picture! You can even save small pieces of nature like leaves or stems in your journal.  Check out a video on how to make one here.
• Explore your neighborhood’s history! As we saw in We Are Water Protectors, oral histories passed on through families are important to traditional Indigenous storytelling and culture. Histories also give us the right information we need to take action for the future. Ask a favorite grownup about their memories of the neighborhood. If your grownup moved from another place, you can ask them about similarities and differences about where they used to live.

Kids, check out these awesome online resources:

• History comes to life with  FreedomFlix video clips and e-books. Pop up features such as maps, timelines, virtual tour clips, primary source videos, and audio clips provide easy-to-follow walks through some of history's most important events.
• Scholastic GO is a perfect resource for any research subject. The site provides the most comprehensive source of nonfiction content targeted for grades 3 and up, and includes eight encyclopedia databases.
• ScienceFlix combines curriculum-driven, leveled content with a focus on our favorite subjects in nature and science: space, earth and life science, the human body and more. A wealth of experiments to try at home or in the classroom are also provided.

Want to learn more about Carole Lindstrom?

Visit Carole Lindstrom’s website to learn more about her and her writing projects, and make sure to follow her updates on Twitter @CaroleLindstrom
 

This blog post is authored by Aimé Casillas (67th Street Library), Andrea Grassi (Harlem Library), and Irfan Ali (St. Agnes Library).

KidsLIVE!

KidsLIVE events at The New York Public Library feature thought-provoking conversations, real debates, and exciting spectacular performances with your favorite authors, artists, filmmakers, musicians, fashionistas, and more.

KidsLIVE takes children and their families on an enriching cultural and educational journey—including musical performances, live theatre, opportunities to meet authors and illustrators, and much more. KidsLIVE programs feature presenters who reflect the rich diversity of New York City and help young audiences develop their creativity, talents, and love for learning.

KidsLIVE programs are sponsored by the Andreas C. Dracopoulos Family Endowment for Young Audiences.