Summer Reading Books Suggestions for 2016

Parents, are you scratching your head wondering what your birth through 8th grader should read this summer?  The Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association has their annual Summer Reading Book List available online now!  Download a PDF color copy for yourself, or pick one up from the children's room at the library!  There's some really great books on these lists that you surely don't want to miss out on!


Birth to Preschool

Grades Kindergarten to 2nd

Grades 3rd to 5th

Grades 6th to 8th

DOAWK #11 News

Calling all Diary of a Wimpy Kid Fans!

Abrams Books has now revealed the cover of book 11!
Check out wimpykid.com to learn more about the book.
The book will be released on November 1st, 2016...
so...be sure to place your holds NOW! 
  (While the waiting list is still short!!!)

Novels in Verse

Since it is still National Poetry Month is about to come to an end and I've already blogged about my favorite recently published poetry books for children, I thought I should also include books that I have really enjoyed that have been written in verse.  Never heard of novels written in verse?  They are a type of narrative in which a novel-length narrative is told through poetry rather than through prose.  These books can be simply written or have complex stanzas.  Some books will have just one narrator and some will have multiple voices with dialogue and narration.

If you have a elementary or middle school student at home who struggles with reading, these books are perfect choices to give them as they will feel like accomplished readers going through lengthily paged books just like their peers.  The extra white space on each page and the spacing between lines will reward the reader with a positive reading experience.  I especially like to recommend these books to readers who have a short turn-around time to get a reading assignment and book report done for school as these books still carry a lot of punch.

Bat 6 by Virginia Euwer Wolf
In small town, post-World War Oregon, twenty-one 6th grade girls recount the story of an annual softball game, during which one girl's prejudices comes to the surface.  I highly recommend listening to this on audio as listeners can pick up on the multiple voices, views of point, and the personalities of each character.







Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson (Juvenile Biography & Young Adult Biography)
Raised in South Carolina and New York, Jacqueline Woodson always felt halfway home in each place. In vivid poems, she shares what it was like to grow up as an African American in the 1960's and 1970's, living with the remnants of Jim Crow laws and her growing awareness of the Civil Rights movement. Touching and powerful, each poem is both accessible and emotionally charged, each line is a glimpse into her own soul as as a child as she searches for her place in the world.  Plus it is a 2015 Newbery Honor Book and a National Book Award Winner for young people.

The Crossover by Kwame Alexander
This is the story about fourteen-year-old African-American twin basketball stars Josh and Jordan.  They wrestle with highs and lows on and off the court as their retired professional basketball player father ignores his declining health.  I just LOVE this book and very pleased that it won the 2015 Newbery Medal.  It makes for an entertaining, yet emotional read.  I highly recommend this one!!!





Gone Fishing: A Novel in Verse by Tamara Wissinger
Nine-year-old Sam loves fishing with his dad. But when his pesky little sister horns in on their fishing trip, he is none too pleased. This book is told in many different types of poems from Sam and his sister's point of view, making it a fun read, especially for transitional readers.  It also includes a primer at the back of the book on rhyme, poetry techniques, rhythm, stanzas, and poetic forms.

Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai
A young Vietnamese girl chronicles her life-changing year of 1975, when she, her mother, and her brothers leave Vietnam, travel to the United States, and start a new life in Alabama.  A Newbery Honor Book and National Book Award Winner for Young People.

Like Pickle Juice on a Burger by Julie Sternberg
When nine-year-old Eleanor's beloved babysitter Bibi moves away to care for her ailing father, Eleanor must spend the summer adjusting to a new babysitter while mourning the loss of her old one. This book will serve as a good title to share with children who must say good-bye to a favorite babysitter.

Love That Dog by Sharon Creech
Jack DOES NOT like poetry.  In fact, he doesn't want to write a poem for his class assignment.  But then he comes to love poetry through a personal understanding of what different famous poems mean to him.  Then he surprises himself by writing his own inspired poem.

Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse
Billie Jo relates the hardships of living on her family's wheat farm in Oklahoma during the dust bowl years of The Great Depression.  This won the 1998 Newbery Award.

Turning 15 on the Road to Freedom: My Story of the 1965 Selma Voting Rights March 
by Lynda Blackman Lowery (Young Adult Non-Fiction)
This 50th-anniversary tribute shares the story of the youngest person to complete the momentous Selma to Montgomery March, describing her frequent imprisonments for her participation in nonviolent demonstrations and how she felt about her involvement in historic Civil Rights events, all while she turned 15 years old during the march.

Witness by Karen Hesse
A series of poems express the views of various people in a small Vermont town, including a young black girl and a young Jewish girl, during the early 1920's when the Ku Klux Klan is trying to infiltrate the town.  I also highly recommend listening to this on audio as listeners can pick up on the multiple voices, views of point, and the personalities of each character during this haunting time in U.S. history.

Fall and Winter Semester Book Group Registration NOW OPEN!

Starting today, August 1st, children entering grades 1-6 can register for a Tigard Public Library Book Group.  Registration closes August 31st.

The Kids Book Club is for children in grades 1-3 where books will be read and discussed that are written at a second grade reading level.  The books chosen to read are from the 2015-16 Beverly Cleary Children's Choice Award nominee list and participants will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite book from the list while in the kids book club.  The 2015 fall meeting dates are September 22, October 20, and November 17.  2016 Winter meeting dates are January 19, February 16, and March 15th. 

Super Readers is for children in grades 4-6 where they will read longer books.  The 2015 fall meeting dates are September 15, October 13, November 10, and December 8.  The 2016 meeting dates are January 12, February 9, March 8, and April 12.

BeTween The Lines is a NEW book discussion group for grades 6-8.  This is a great opportunity for readers of this age to discover some fantastic reads from the 2015-16 Oregon Reader's Choice Award middle school/intermediate division nominee list while enjoying snacks, games, and crafts.  The fall 2015 dates are September 28, October 19, and November 16.

Please come to the children's desk at the library to register your child for one semester of their choice for their appropriate age group.  Children may only attend one semester in order to allow more children to participate in the program.  All books have been generously donated by the Friends of the Tigard Public Library for each participant to keep their book.

Summer Reading Suggestions

The Association for Library Service to Children has created their annual Summer Reading List.  Grade levels available are Grades K-2, Grades 3-5, and Grades 6-8.  We've made sure that we have multiple copies of these suggested books in the library collection for check out.  If there's something on the list that your reader would love to read and a copy is not available for checking out, please don't hesitate to place a hold on the title.  These lists contain a lot of great books not to be missed!  If you choose not to print out the list at home, we will have copies available for your use in the children's room.

Harmonica Tunes Play On in "Echo"

Echo by Pam Munoz Ryan begins in the Black Forest, where Otto Messenger meets three mysterious sisters where he gets a book from them that contains an unfinished tale.  He then finds himself entwined in a prophecy, a promise, and a harmonica.  Decades later, the harmonica travels through three children in three different time periods as it unties its lifelong fate. 

First the harmonica travels to 1933 Germany.  Here a young Friedrich Schmidt is constantly bullied at school because of his facial birthmark and his obsession with conducting music that only he can hear in his own head.  So he leaves school to join his father who works at a factory constructing harmonicas. 

Then in 1935, the harmonica meets up with Michael and his younger brother who have both found themselves living in an orphanage during the Great Depression in Pennsylvania.  They both get adopted by a woman who they both fear she is not impressed with them and will return them back where they came from.  Yet, Mike has his sights on joining Albert Hoxie's Philadelphia Harmonica Band.

On it's third stop, the harmonica travels to California in 1942 where Ivy Maria Lopez's father relocates her family to a farm to act as a caretaker while its Japanese owners are relocated to an internment camp during World War II, requiring her to leave her music program behind.  While Ivy's school situation and moving frustrates her, she finds solace in playing her harmonica.   It is up to Ivy to uphold her beloved harmonica's final destiny. 

While each of the three protagonists struggle to keep their families intact, they are all tied together by the music of the same harmonica.  So don't let the length of this 585 paged book alarm you.  It is carefully written and researched, as it pulls readers in, giving them a glimpse of American history, music theory, and music history.  The book also includes a introduction on how to play a harmonica.  It's a perfect read for any reader in fifth grade on up with a love of books and wishes to spend a lazy day emerged in literature.  This book really pulled me in...and I lost a lot of sleep over it too! 

Lego® Construction Zone

One plus one is two. Two plus two is four. Four plus four is eight. Sound familiar? It all adds up to fun with Lego® bricks! Join us February 22 in the Puett Room from 1:30-3:00. We supply the bricks, you bring the skills.

Lego® Construction Zone

Bricks can make blocks and blocks can make worlds. Join us in the Puett Room Sunday, January 25 from 1:30-3:00 for a world of fun! Use your creativity to build a place of your own with kids like you who love to play with Lego® bricks.

Lego® Construction Zone

Maybe you're a future engineer. Maybe you're a kid who likes to build. Or maybe, you're just looking for something fun to do on a Sunday afternoon! Drop by the Puett Room December 28 and build amazing creations. We’ll supply the blocks, you bring imagination. The fun begins at 1:30 and lasts until 3:00.

What Fun Washi Tape

Looking for some fun that will stick? Join us December 7 from 1:30-2:30 for What Fun Washi Tape! We’ll make bookmark people, garlands, decorate journal covers and much more! This program is best for ages 5 and up.

El Deafo: A New Young Superhero

Stuck with meningitis as a four year old, Cece Bell was left without her hearing.  Growing up, she dealt with annoying hearing aids and feeling different from all the other kids around her.  Now an award winning writer and illustrator (and not to mention, Tom Angleberger's wife!), Cece takes her personal story and turns it into triumph through her new-found superpowers in El Deafo.  Here she transforms people of her past into rabbit characters to tell her childhood memoir in this delightfully illustrated, touching and empowering graphic novel for kids.  Even kids who do not have disabilities will make a positive connection with the characters in this book.

Summer Reading Book Lists

Now that school is out, you may be asking yourself, "What books would be good for my child to read during the summer.  Well, look no further!  The library has exactly what you need.  The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) has updated and released three Summer Reading lists. The lists are full of book titles that will definitely keep children engaged in reading throughout the summer.

Lists are available for K-8 students. Each is available to download for free in color and black and white.  The lists are available at: http://www.ala.org/alsc/2014-summer-reading-list.  Feel free to download them, or come visit the library and we'll have copies of the lists available.

"Summer reading helps prevent the summer slide that affects many children each year," said Starr LaTronica, ALSC president. "By encouraging children to stay engaged in reading throughout the summer at home and at their library they will be more prepared for the next school year."

The Summer Reading List was compiled and annotated by ALSC's Quicklists Consulting Committee and School-Age Programs and Services Committee through a 2013 Carnegie Whitney Grant funded by the American Library Association Publishing Committee. The 2014 list was updated by ALSC's Quicklists Consulting Committee.