Lawrence Kids, Winter 2025

Lawrence Kids

Open 7am - 2pm

House with the Little Red Door by Grace Easton

A mouse lives in an oak tree outside a house with a little red door, and readers can look inside of each home by lifting flaps in this beautifully designed book. When winter comes, the girl who lives in the house shows the mouse how to play in the snow, and when the oak tree falls, she helps him find a new place to live. If only all mice were so well potty trained!

Flurry, Float, and Fly: The Story of a Snowstorm by Laura Purdie Salas, illustrated by Chiara Fedele

I’m always on the lookout for new science books about the seasons, and this explanation of how snow is formed will be popular for years to come. A family prepares for a snowstorm as the narrator details the how and why of winter weather.

The Snowball Fight by Beth Ferry, illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld

A paean to one of winter’s most fun pastimes (until you take one in the face), by the creators of the classic picture book Stick and Stone

I’m Cool by Kate McMullan, illustrated by Jim McMullan

Kate and Jim McMullen’s picture books, in which anthropomorphized trucks describe their workdays, are perennial hits, and this one has a wintry twist. I’m Cool does for the Zamboni machine what I Stink did for the trash truck, and I’m Dirty for the backhoe. Any kid who has seen an ice resurfacer in action will love this warm story about a cool subject.

A Thousand White Butterflies by Jessica Betancourt-Perez and Karen Lynn Williams, illustrated by Gina Maldonado

A young girl from Colombia looks out her window to see falling snow on what was to be her first day of school in a new country. Instead, on her first snow day, she makes a new friend who teaches her how to make snow angels.

Seaside Stroll by Charles Trevino, illustrated by Maribel Lechuga

Why can’t a winter walk also be a seaside stroll? A child, her doll and her mom head to the beach when it snows, and every word in this charming picture book starts with the letter S.

Season’s Readings

by Dan Coleman from the Lawrence Public Library

Snuggle Season by Jaimie MacGibbon

“We snuggle best this time of year,” from “first thing in the morning snuggles” to “hug and kiss goodnight snuggles,” and all the snuggles in between.

Hush Hush, Forest by Mary Casanova, illustrated by Nick Wroblewski

Fall turns to winter, and day turns to night in this bedtime story, beautifully illustrated with woodcuts by a master printmaker.

The Pine Cone’s Secret by Hannah Barnaby, illustrated by Cedric Abt

Back to the winter forest to celebrate the life cycle of a pine tree. This non-fiction poem explains how one of the season’s best-known symbols grows from a fallen pine cone.

There Was a Cold Lady Who Swallowed Some Snow by Lucille Colandro, illustrated by Jared Lee

“There was an old lady who . . . ” begins the old nursery rhyme, and more books than I can count by illustrator Jared Lee and poet Lucille Colandro, who have made a popular picture book series out of the lady’s strange appetites. In this winter-themed volume, our strange protagonist devours a series of seemingly unrelated objects (a pipe, a scarf, a hat, some coal, see where this is going?), then “hiccups” out a fully formed snowman. This one is for kids who like their snow stories a little gross.

I’m Going to Build a Snowman by Jashar Awan

Steeped in the lore of great snowmen who come to life in classic children’s stories (think Frosty and Raymond Briggs’ Snowman), a boy with high expectations must deal with disappointment when his snowman doesn’t look perfect and can’t sing, dance or fly. Luckily, however, the boy quickly embraces the practical over the ideal, and joy in his own creation carries the day. LK

The Boyd’s

Seasonal Essentials

Bobby and Stephani Boyd, with kids Hank (12), Laney (9) and Mac (6) don’t sit still. The crew are almost always on the go - most of the time at a sporting event. Even when the weather turns cold, the family still celebrates together.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

When it finally snows, we head for the hills at Dad Perry Park and sled until our toes freeze.

With the kids playing basketball, we practically live at the Sports Pavilion. Seriously, we should change our address. Between practices, games and shooting around, we are a basketball family!

Nothing beats cheering on our Jayhawk basketball team at games in the one and only Allen Fieldhouse.

Our crew loves getting hot cocoa at 23rd Street Brewery after they transform into the snow globe for the holidays. The lights are great for kids of all ages.

We make it a tradition to cruise the holiday lights on Mass Street and through the light display at the Youth Sports Complex. While on Mass we’ll stop at the Toy Store and Silas and Maddy’s (it’s never too cold for ice cream).

Hank is pretty serious about his game, so he works out at Evolution Athletics when not at practice and Laney just started competitive dance at Dance Gallery.

We do sneak in an occasional Royal Crest Lanes visit for some overly competitive family bowling and then, of course, grab the mini cinnis at Muncher’s Bakery.

Even when it’s cold we do family walks with our redheaded lab, Fancy (named after Reba McEntire’s song - our only redheaded child!)

We take family drives around Clinton Lake, grab Starbucks and listen to good music. If it’s nice we’ll park by the dam and walk down to the shore to toss in rocks.

BRACES LIFESTYLE to fit your

Youth of Boys & Girls Club

the

YearEach year the Boys & Girls Club (BGC) nominates kids who embody the values of leadership, service, academic excellence, and healthy lifestyles as their Youth of the Year.

The winner will be announced January 27th at the Lied Center.

And the nominees are...

Leah Anderson

Leah is a junior at Free State High School. Her love for dance shines in both her school activities and through her church, where she uses her passion to tell a story. Leah is interested in pursuing a career as a counselor or therapist and is considering attending the University of Kansas. She will speak about how her journey through the years at BGC has been foundational in giving her a vision for what she wants for her future.

more effectively, speak up for “Boys and Girls Club has taught me how to myself and build strong connections with others.”

communicate

Liv Abbey

Liv is a senior at Free State High School. After graduating she plans to pursue a career as a teacher or library technician (or perhaps as a BGC staff member). Liv is motivated to share her experiences of personal loss and bullying, including how her passions for art and BGC have helped her grow and move forward.

“Boys and Girls Club really emphasizes being kind learn to not let others be bullied.”

to others. I want to look out for kids and help them

Laila Reetz

Laila is a sophomore at Free State High School. She tackles the world head on as a mentor for her siblings and as a member of the Free State Girls Wrestling Team. Laila is interested in pursuing a career as a children’s therapist or lawyer and hopes to attend the University of Tennessee. She was inspired to participate in Youth of the Year because BGC has been a source of mentorship and support for her.

encourage others to put themselves out there

“Youth of the Year has helped me and be open to new things, even if you fail at first.”

The New Hub of Lawrence Childhood

The new Community Children’s Center is a buzzing center of childhood activity, all to support Lawrence families.

In a sunlit room at 346 Maine Street in Lawrence, toddlers sing while volunteers help parents find winter coats. Elsewhere in the building, a family works with a resource specialist on school readiness strategies. This is the heartbeat of the Community Children’s Center, a cornerstone nonprofit that for nearly six decades has helped families in Douglas County thrive. With the opening of its new Early Childhood Community Center, it is poised to make an even bigger difference.

“Simply put, we are a hub of child support for kids from prenatal to five years old,” explained Kim Polson, Community Children’s Center Executive Director. “Having this building is important because it gives us a solid foundation, or a headquarters, where people can find us.”

Founded in 1965 in response to the growing need for accessible and affordable child care, the Community Children’s Center (CCC) has spent more than 50 years bridging gaps in early childhood services for families with children from birth to age 5. It has stayed true to its mission: increasing access to high-quality child care while supporting parents with education, advocacy and resources that build strong, resilient families.

The mission is expanding in exciting ways.

“For years, parents and community leaders discussed the need in Lawrence for a centralized place for early childhood services,” Polson said. “It would be a place where families could find safe care, connect with each other and access tools needed to succeed. In 2022, that vision took a major step toward reality when CCC acquired a building at 346 Maine Street.”

The goal was to transform it into the Early Childhood Community Center, a space offering comprehensive care, education and support services under one roof.

The center opened its doors in phases through 2024 and fully in late 2025. Inside, families find a Family Resource Center, early literacy and developmental support, therapy in partnership with Creating Connections Child Development Center, and a welcoming environment where children and parents feel supported.

“It is a space that fills real gaps in Douglas County, where access to affordable child care has long been a challenge for working families, especially those with nontraditional hours,” Polson said. “We are already planning extended hours and drop-in care options to meet the community’s evolving needs.”

CCC’s impact reaches well beyond crayons and play mats. Its Family Resource Center helps parents navigate some of the toughest parts of care giving, from finding employment and educational opportunities to accessing basic needs and professional referrals. Specialists provide advocacy and personalized guidance, giving families tools to solve complex

challenges and connect with available services.

“One thing we are really excited about is the Early Childhood Clothing Closet, where parents can pick out free, gently used clothing for infants through 5-year-olds,” Polson explained. ”It is a simple but meaningful way to ease financial stress.”

The Grow & Go Playgroup invites families to explore early learning through play, music and socialization, helping children build social and emotional skills while connecting parents with each other.

For local early childhood professionals, including teachers, caregivers and home providers, CCC offers coaching, professional development and trauma-informed resources through its Shared Service Hub. This program strengthens the broader early childhood network in Lawrence and northeast Kansas, ensuring that children throughout the region benefit from high-quality care.

Lawrence is not alone in facing child care shortages, but the Community Children’s Center has taken a leadership role in meeting that need head-on. In 2021, CCC secured a threeyear Community Based Child Abuse Prevention Grant to launch its community center initiative. By 2022, it had gained county support to begin renovations of the Maine Street building and create a true hub for families.

Today, the center serves hundreds of families each year through direct care, support services and family programming. Its impact, measured through distributed clothing items, caregivers served and family touch points, shows how deeply it helps meet community needs.

For many parents across Lawrence, the center has become a vital lifeline offering reliable child care that makes employment possible. For others, it provides a community of support during the isolating early years of parenthood. For all, it stands as a reminder that raising children should not be done alone.

Polson sees the center as more than a building. It is a model for community-centered child care.

“We are always trying to find ways to help parents and kids of Lawrence,” she said. “As times change and parents’ needs change, we’ll try to figure out how we can support them. We don’t want to just fill gaps in Lawrence. We want to it build bridges to education, care and support.”

As parents step through the doors each week, they are greeted not only with services but with a community working together to ensure every child has the chance to grow, learn and thrive.

For more information on programs and ways to get involved, visit communitychildrenks.org. LK

Sledding

Spots in The Best Lawrence

It has to snow again sometime, right? Get your sleds, toboggans and snowboards ready....

1. Centennial Park - Between 6th and 9th Streets, Iowa St and Rockledge

The thirty-five-acre park is one of the most centrally located parks in Lawrence. Oregon Trail settlers once used the land now known as Centennial Park as an area to graze livestock as they traveled west. The most popular sledding spot is the big hill just west of the 9th street parking lot. On a snowy day, cars fill the lot and families take to the hill en masse. The wide sledding area has a steep downhill which levels on a large field. Get moving too fast, and you might need the foot brakes before landing in the creek. North of the parking lot and playground is another popular hill. Though not as steep, when ridden correctly, the hill offers a longer ride. Centennial Park is filled with hills and trees, so ditch the crowds, take a walk, and find your own sledding slope.

2. “Dad” Perry Park (two parks) - Between Monterey Way and Parkside Road, Harvard Road and Tiffany Drive

The park is named in honor of the “Father of Gymnastics in the State of Kansas,” L. R. “Dad” Perry. The forty-five-acre park is filled with naturally wooded areas, native grasses, and includes nature trails that wind throughout the park. In addition, two large park shelters with restrooms and parking are available

for families and groups to reserve. Both west and north parks feature solid sledding slopes. The hills near the west playground are steeper and more popular. The playground is on a small plateau with short, steep hills bordering the east and north sides. Tall natural grass puts the brakes on any runaway sleds. The north park has smaller hills, perfect for younger children (and lazy parents). Also, the vast open field is perfect for snow angels, snowmen, and snowball fights. The more adventurous sledders can take to the woods. The central portion of “Dad” Perry Park is dense woods dissected by trails. Many steep, treelined routes are available, but sled at your own risk!

3. Campanile Hill - North

Side of Memorial Drive

Is there a more iconic sledding destination in Lawrence than in the shadow of the symbolic bell tower? Even after recent construction on “The Hill,” the long slope directly north of KU’s Campanile remains a “must-do” for Lawrence sledders. The hill is wide enough to comfortably accommodate the crowds and it’s almost a guarantee that someone will build a snow jump. Without question, Campanile Hill features the most varied selection of rides. Everything from sleds and skis to trash sacks and cardboard boxes will likely be spotted. Speed junkies have been known to forgo the grassy hill and opt for the ice-covered sidewalk. (Bring a helmet!) If classes are in session, parking can be an issue so plan on walking from your car. Be aware that students like to hit the hill after hitting the bar, so you might have to cover Jimmy’s ears a few times. Don’t forget to bring a camera and capture the views of Lawrence and Douglas County.

4. Carruth O’Leary Hall - 1246 West Campus Road

The hills just beyond the parking lot behind Carruth O’Leary Hall on KU’s campus are often overlooked by Campanile Hill sledders. The hills are steep and fast, so they may not be the best fit for younger kids. The parking lots west of Memorial Stadium have cut the length of a few routes, but many options remain for the more daring. If you can dodge sidewalks, a great run could land you on the banks of Potter Lake. Beware of rocks and branches covered by the snow. Like Campanile Hill, parking can be an issue when classes are in session. The buildings on campus may be open, so you might be able to sneak in for a quick restroom break or to warm your hands and toes.

5. That Hill at the Dam East of Clinton Lake - E. 900th Road / Near Outlet Park

For the older kids and parents that are a bit more adventurous, head out west to Clinton Lake. Park on E. 902nd Road and hike up the hill to E. 900th Road. BE VERY CAREFUL AND WATCH FOR TRAFFIC. Be sure to watch for rocks and hold on tight—the ride down is fast and not for the meek. We warned you! LK