The following was written by Youth Services Manager, Teri Rankin, and was featured in a recent edition of the O’Fallon Weekly.

The north wind doth blow,
And we shall have snow,
And what will the robin do then?
Poor thing!

He’ll sit in a barn,
To keep himself warm,
And hide his head under his wing,
Poor thing!

~ Mother Goose

It feels like 2022 went out with a bang! Much of the country is dealing with “weather” and 2023 may commence with equal fanfare. Growing up in Colorado, I remember some big storms and a few weeks without electricity. As a kid it seemed like an adventure – my brother and I built snow forts and tunnels to and from our house. I’m sure it wasn’t nearly as much fun for our parents trying to keep food from spoiling and the house warm.

Although I have never been in a real do-or-die situation, I love reading a good survival story. Here are some suggestions for young readers who like the thrill of an adventure from the comfort of their imagination.

Alone written by Megan Freeman. When twelve year-old Maddie hatches a scheme for a secret sleepover with her two best friends, she ends up waking up to a nightmare. She’s alone–left behind in a town that has been mysteriously evacuated and abandoned.

Hatchet written by Gary Paulsen. A boy is traveling by chartered plane to visit his dad in Alaska when the pilot has a heart attack, dies, and the plane crashes. Will he survive? A classic beginning to a great series.

I Survived…series written by Lauren Tarshis. Each volume tells the story of a natural or man-made disaster, including the sinking of the Titanic, Hurricane Katrina, and the Hindenburg Disaster.

Life As We Knew It written by Susan Pfeffer. Through journal entries sixteen year-old Miranda describes her family’s struggle to survive after a meteor hits the moon, causing worldwide tsunamis, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions. Young Adult.

As January kicks off, we have fun activities planned. Did you know we have microscopes for check out? During the month of January, we challenge you to hunt for magnified pictures of winter objects hidden around the children’s area. Turn in your answer sheet and you will receive a small prize.

Warm up with some stories and songs around the indoor “campfire.” There will also be a yummy hot chocolate bar to warm up our fingers and toes. Saturday, January 14, 10:30 AM. For families. Register at https://ofpl.info/events/stories-and-songs-around-campfire.