Thanksgiving Closure

The Palm Desert Library will be closed on Thursday, November 28, and Friday, November 29 in observance of the Thanksgiving Holiday.

Children

New Children Books

Image for "The Book That Can Read Your Mind"

The Book That Can Read Your Mind

Prepare to be amazed by this magic trick in a book!

This is not an ordinary book--it''s a magical one! Lady Rabbit goes beyond pulling a rabbit out of a hat or making herself disappear. For her next act, she will READ YOUR MIND! That''s right: You pick a member from the magician''s adorable audience--don''t tell which one you''ve chosen--and this book will guess who it is!

Inspired by 17th‑century magic books, this interactive game in a book will enchant readers of all ages, compelling them to pick among many intriguing, illustrated characters and play over and over (and over) again. Now, without further ado . . . let the magic show begin!


A MAGIC TRICK--AND GAME!--IN A BOOK: This book is pure fun--perfect for fans of Press Here, Bunny Slopes, and Tap the Magic Tree. Turn the pages and prepare to be amazed! Kids will interact with this book and experience many different and delightful outcomes.

CELEBRATES THE MAGIC OF BOOKS: This picture book is brimming with energy and interactivity. An ideal alternative to screens, it is a celebration of the book as "an experience." Kids won''t want to put it down!

PERFECT FOR INDEPENDENT READING AND SHARING: Kids who are reading independently will find joy in interacting with this book, trying to outsmart it, and delighting in what it does. Parents will find joy in reading it repeatedly with their children and sharing in the book''s literal magic. And, speaking of "sharing," kids will also enjoy sharing this book with their friends!

Perfect for:

  • Kids who love magic and magic tricks
  • Parents, grandparents, and teachers seeking a fun and interactive picture book for young children
  • Fans of critically acclaimed author-illustrator Marianna Coppo
  • Gift givers looking for a game in a book different and delightful outcomes.
Image for "Heroes"

Heroes

The instant #1 New York Times bestseller!

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Refugee, Ground Zero, and Two Degrees comes this heart-pounding, inventive, and powerful new novel about the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor... as only Alan Gratz can tell it!

December 6, 1941: Best friends Frank and Stanley have it good. With their dads stationed at the Pearl Harbor naval base in Hawaii, the boys get to soak up the sunshine while writing and drawing their own comic books. World War II might be raging overseas, but so far America has stayed out of the fight. There's nothing to fear, right?

December 7th, 1941: Everything implodes.

Frank and Stanley are touring a battleship when Japanese planes zoom overhead, dropping bomb after bomb. As explosions roar and sailors screa, Frank and Stanley realize the unthinkable is happening: Japan is attacking America! The war has come to them.

Frantically, the boys struggle to find safety. But disaster and danger are everywhere--from torpedoes underwater to bullets on the beach... to the shocking cruelty that their friends and neightbors show Stanely. Because his mom is Japanese-American, Stanely is suddenly seen as the "enemy." And Frank, who is white, cannot begin to understand what his friend is now facing.

If the boys make it through this infamous day, can their friendship--and their dreams--survive? Or has everything they know been destroyed?

Told with the immediacy, high-stakes action, and inventive storytelling that make Alan Gratz (Refugee, Ground Zero) one of today's biggest authors, this riveting look at the attack on Pearl Harbor explores themes of prejudice, power, and what it truly means to be a hero.

Plus: The book ends with an all-original, 10-page black & white comic that brings to life the comic book idea that Frank and Stanley brainstorm in the novel. The comic is written by Alan Gratz and illustrated by Judit Tondora.

Image for "One Big Open Sky"

One Big Open Sky

Three women narrate a perilous wagon journey westward that could set them free—or cost them everything they have—in this intergenerational verse novel that explores the history of the Black homesteader movement.

1879, Mississippi. Young dreamer Lettie may have her head in the stars, but her body is on a covered wagon heading westward. Her father, Thomas, promises that Nebraska will be everything the family needs: an opportunity to claim the independence they’ve strived for over generations on their very own plot of land.

But Thomas’ hopes—and mouth—are bigger than his ability to follow through. With few supplies and even less money, the only thing that feels certain is danger.

Right after the war ended/and we were free/we believed/all of us did/that couldn’t nothing hurt us/the way master had when we were slaves/Couldn’t no one tell us/how to live/how to die.

Lettie, her mother, Sylvia, and young teacher Philomena are free from slavery—but bound by poverty, access to opportunity, and patriarchal social structures. Will these women survive the hardships of their journey? And as Thomas’ desire for control overpowers his common sense, will they truly be free once they get there?

Coretta Scott King Honor-winning author Lesa Cline-Ransome’s striking verse masterfully portrays an underrepresented historical era. Tackling powerful themes of autonomy and Black self-emancipation, Cline-Ransome offers readers an intimate look into the lives of three women and an expansive portrait of generations striving for their promised freedom.

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

Image for "Active Learning Stars and Planets"

Active Learning Stars and Planets

Learn all the essential facts about our solar system and beyond in this illustrated, interactive, and educational activity book for kids.

How old is the universe? How was the Earth formed? What lies beyond our solar system? Active Learning: Stars & Planets covers all these questions and more! Children will have fun learning through doing, with dozens of different activity types to fully engage with and explore the stars and planets in outer space.

Kids aged 8-12 will be occupied for hours as they pore over the information-packed pages in this space activity book and tackle the wide range of puzzles - including mazes and tangles, code-breakers, matching games, anagrams, word searches, logic games, classification and identification games, quizzes, sudoku, odd one out, drawing, and coloring. 

This exciting stars and planets activity book for children includes: 

- Detailed, high-quality illustrations and photography alongside informative text to engage children aged 8-12 with learning.
- Fascinating facts and information with write-in exercises and activities inspiring children to truly understand and interact with the universe we live in.
- Over 100 fun activities and puzzles to help children learn and test their knowledge.
- In-depth information on astronomy and how it all works, including how stars and planets are born and die, and how humans and machines are exploring the cosmos.

This book on stars and planets for kids is filled with fascinating facts, detailed illustrations, and over 100 write-in activities and puzzles to keep budding atronomers-in-the-making busy, and to inspire children to truly engage with space knowledge. 

About the series

Active Learning is a series of interactive, educational activity books combining accessible information with engaging activities and puzzles. Designed to support teachers, educators, and parents around the world, Active Learning books are ideal for supplementing your child's education at home.

Digital Books for Kids

Freading

Freading

Freading has over 11,000 ebook titles! HIGHLIGHTS: Large collection of romance and non-fiction: Lonely Planet travel guides, cook books, self-help, wellness, and SparkNotes study guides.

View Resource

Hoopla

Hoopla - Logo

Borrow movies, music, audiobooks, ebooks, comics and TV shows to your personal device or TV. Compatible with Apple TV, Roku, and more.

View Resource

Libby

Libby - Logo

Borrow new and popular eBooks and eAudiobooks to your personal device. Compatible with Amazon Kindles.

View Resource More Details

Learning Resources

Beanstack

Beanstack - Logo

Beanstack is a digital way to participate in your library's reading challenges. Track your reading, earn badges, and have fun!

View Resource

Brainfuse helpnow

Brainfuse helpnow Logo

Connect by chat with a tutor for help in all Grades K-12 subjects. You can also get help by sending them a question or an entire paper to review.

View Resource

Britannica Escolar

Britannica Escolar logo

Una enciclopedia en dos partes con portales para estudiantes de primaria y secundaria.

View Resource