Library Resource: Bookflix

Are you a parent of kindergarten–3rd grade children? Are you a grandparent, caregiver, or an educator of elementary-aged children? Do you have children in your life in any capacity? If so, you need  BookFlix! 

BookFlix is an eResource that features a pairing of fiction and nonfiction books for children. Expert narrators read the fictional story to you as you watch the pictures come to life with amazing graphics! Calming background music and sound effects add to the immersive experience. 

For the nonfiction selection, the book is shown on the screen, with the pages being "turned" by clicking the arrow. You can read the book aloud with your child, your child can read to you, or you can take turns! At the end of the nonfiction book there is the option of participating in games that increase vocabulary, help reading comprehension, and assist the reader in placing events in order. The games are entertaining and eye-catching, with pictures that highlight the subject of the story. 

This is the featured pairing for this month:

You will "watch the story" of Just a Few Words, Mr. Lincoln and read the nonfiction selection about  Abraham Lincoln.

There are currently 163 pairs of books (326 titles), with 42 pairs that are also available in Spanish. New titles are added every year, usually in August or September. 

The categories that are available are: Animals and Nature, Earth and Sky, People and Places, ABCs and 123s, Adventure, Family and Community, Celebrations, Music and Rhyme, and Imagination. 

Start exploring BookFlix in our eLibrary today!  

Jeanine Thompson
FCPL Outreach Specialist

Celebrating Black History Month - Illustrated Biographies of African American Musicians

This February marks the 50th anniversary of Black History Month, established by President Gerald Ford in 1976 and passed into law in 1986 by the United States Congress. 

These inspiring biographies teach children about the lives and legacies of three iconic African American musicians.  

R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul by Carole Boston Weatherford; Illustrated by Frank Morrison

G-R-O-O-V-E Aretha finds her groove when she’s rocking R&B

No woman of her time has more chart-toppers than she.  

Aretha Franklin was born in a family devoted to God and music and is known as the Queen of Soul. As a girl, Aretha learned to play piano and sang in her church choir. She recorded her first record at age fourteen and is one of the best selling music artists in history. Lively illustrations and simple, rhyming text highlight special moments from Aretha Franklin’s musical journey alongside moving depictions of Civil Rights leaders and key events in American history.  

That Swingin’ Sound: The Musical Friendship of Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong by Rekha S. Rajan; Illustrated by Ken Daley

Everyone who loves music will enjoy this lively story of young Ella Fitzgerald dancing her way from an orphanage in New York City to singing at the Apollo Theater while young Louis Armstrong sings his heart out on street corners in New Orleans and grows up to play his trumpet on riverboats in New Orleans and jazz clubs in Chicago. The two friends even got to perform together at the Hollywood Bowl concert in California. Illustrations by Ken Daly bring this inspiring story to life. 

Discover more children's books about African Americans on our African American Culture Picture Books booklist.

Alicia Cavitt
Information Specialist

Sharon Forks Library

Sharon Forks Library Wants to Be a Millionaire!

If you saw the following front page of the Forsyth County News last July, you already know that in terms of physical circulation, Sharon Forks Library is the busiest library in Georgia.  

This year, the Sharon Forks Library has set out become even busier by reaching 1,000,000 physical checkouts by the end of 2026. Sharon Forks Library is determined to achieve this goal, and we feel confident in our patrons to help us reach it!

Every physical check out is counted in our total—from the smallest of picture books to the chunkiest of novels, every book counts! And don’t forget about magazines, books on CD, DVDs, Launchpads, Chromebooks, Storytime Kits…any physical item. They all count!

Forsyth County Public Library has the highest number of physical checkouts per capita among the 60 public library systems in Georgia, with Sharon Forks Library being the highest circulating branch in the state in terms of physical checkouts, followed closely by Post Road Library and Cumming Library (Source: FY2024 data tables from Georgia Public Library Service).  

To keep up with our goal, Sharon Forks has created a visual tracker in our lobby. The theme is “Sharon Forks Wants to Be a Millionaire,” inspired by the gameshow “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” On the first of every month, the previous month's physical circulation numbers will be posted. So far in 2026, we have already achieved over 60,000 checkouts. Stop by the Sharon Forks Library to track our progress and help us get on our way to ONE MILLION checkouts!

Basil M.

Information Specialist

Sharon Forks Library

Claire L.

Youth Specialist

Sharon Forks Library