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Barrington Area Library (IL)
Catalog Website
 
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • BOOKS
  • DATABASES
  • DOWNLOADS
  • KIDS
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  • 6 New E-Books to Read This Week

    The first week of March is National Read An E-Book Week! Here are some new chapter books that are available to download on Libby or OverDrive now!

       

    Broken Wish by Julie C. Dao

    "Sixteen-year-old Elva has a secret. She has visions and strange powers that she will do anything to hide. She knows the warnings about what happens to witches in their small village of Hanau. She’s heard the terrible things people say about the Witch of the North Woods, and the malicious hunts that follow. But when Elva accidentally witnesses a devastating vision of the future, she decides she has to do everything she can to prevent it. Tapping into her powers for the first time, Elva discovers a magical mirror and its owner—none other than the Witch of the North Woods herself. As Elva learns more about her burgeoning magic, and the lines between hero and villain start to blur, she must find a way to right past wrongs before it’s too late."

       

    Golden Girl by Reem Faruqi

    "Seventh grader Aafiyah loves playing tennis, reading Weird but True facts, and hanging out with her best friend, Zaina. However, Aafiyah has a bad habit that troubles her--she's drawn to pretty things and can't help but occasionally 'borrow' them. But when her father is falsely accused of a crime he hasn't committed and gets taken in by authorities, Aafiyah knows she needs to do something to help. When she brainstorms a way to bring her father back, she turns to her Weird but True facts and devises the perfect plan."

       

    The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera

    "There lived a girl named Petra Peña, who wanted nothing more than to be a storyteller, like her abuelita. But Petra's world is ending. Earth has been destroyed by a comet, and only a few hundred scientists and their children – among them Petra and her family – have been chosen to journey to a new planet. They are the ones who must carry on the human race. Hundreds of years later, Petra wakes to this new planet – and the discovery that she is the only person who remembers Earth. A sinister Collective has taken over the ship during its journey, bent on erasing the sins of humanity's past. They have systematically purged the memories of all aboard – or purged them altogether. Petra alone now carries the stories of our past, and with them, any hope for our future. Can she make them live again?"

       

    Julieta and the Diamond Enigma by Luisana Duarte Armendáriz

    "Nine-year-old Julieta is finally about to put a purple pin in her family's world traveling map! She's off to Paris to help her art-handler dad collect pieces for a new exhibit at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. Sadly, they must leave Julieta's very pregnant mother behind, but they're sure they'll be back before the baby is born. Julieta sees the best of Paris: the Eiffel Tower, the Sacré-Coeur, and plenty of great art. But things go awry when she and Dad walk in on a thief stealing the Louvre's most prized piece--a priceless cursed diamond with a shady history. When Julieta runs for help, she accidentally frees the thief instead! Now Dad's job is in danger and he's become a suspect. Can Julieta determine who the thief really is before it's too late?"

       

    Loyalty by Avi

    "When his father is killed by rebel vigilantes, Noah flees with his family to Boston. Intent on avenging his father, Noah becomes a spy for the British and firsthand witness to the power of partisan rumor to distort facts, the hypocrisy of men who demand freedom while enslaving others, and the human connections that bind people together regardless of stated allegiances. Awash in contradictory information and participating in key events leading to the American Revolution, Noah must forge his own understanding of right and wrong and determine for himself where his loyalty truly lies."

       

    Anybody Here Seen Frenchie? by Leslie Connor

    "Eleven-year-old Aurora Petrequin's best friend has never spoken a word to her. In fact, Frenchie Livernois doesn't talk. Aurora is bouncy, loud and impulsive - 'a big old blurter.' Making friends has never come easily. When Frenchie, who is autistic, silently chose Aurora as his person back in third grade, she chose him back. They make a good team, sharing their love of the natural world in coastal Maine. In the woods, Aurora and Frenchie encounter a piebald deer, a rare creature with a coat like a patchwork quilt. Whenever it appears, Aurora feels compelled to follow. At school, Aurora looks out for Frenchie, who has been her classmate until this year. One morning, Frenchie doesn't make it to his classroom. Aurora feels she's to blame. The entire town begins to search, and everyone wonders: how is it possible that nobody has seen Frenchie?"

       

    Want more suggestions? Fill out this form to have a librarian pick some new titles for you!


       Youth Services Assistant Librarian Claire 

     

  • Time Loop Books for Teens and Tweens

    Ever wondered what reliving the same day over and over again would be like? In celebration of Groundhog Day, here are some books where the characters are stuck in a time loop!

    • Category Title

    11 Birthdays by Wendy Mass

    It's Amanda's 11th birthday and she is super excited---after all, 11 is so different from 10. But from the start, everything goes wrong. When Amanda turns in for the night, glad to have her birthday behind her, she wakes up happy for a new day. Or is it? Her birthday seems to be repeating itself. Grades 4-7.

    11 Birthdays by Wendy Mass

    Stanislaw Lem's The Seventh Voyage by Jon J. Muth

    Ijon Tichy is caught in a time loop. Alone in his broken spaceship-with no one there to help him-he could remain trapped in space indefinitely! But soon something strange begins to happen Tichy's past and future selves appear... Grades 3-7.

    Stanislaw Lem's The Seventh Voyage by Jon J. Muth

    Kingston and the Echoes of Magic by Moses Rucker

    New problems are on the rise as blackouts blanket the city, and Kingston begins to have a feeling of déjà vu, as if he’s lived this same day before—and he has. Echo City is living up to its name, caught in a repeating time loop. Maestro, his father’s old rival, has found a way to overwrite reality with an alternate timeline where he rules over all. It will be up to Kingston, Too Tall, and V to find a way to enter the Realm and travel back through time to stop him. Book 2 in Series. Grades 5-7.

    Kingston and the Echoes of Magic by Moses Rucker

    Neverworld Wake by Marisha Pessl

    After a night out, Beatrice Hartley and her friends narrowly avoid a collision with a car on a deserted road. Or so they believe. Soon time backbends. Beatrice and her friends are forced to repeat that dreadful day so many times they lose count. This nightmare, this nothingness . . . this is the Neverworld Wake. Grades 7-9.

    Neverworld Wake by Marisha Pessl

    It's the First Day of School... Forever! by R.L. Stine

    On the first day of school, Artie falls out of his bed and hits his head. He tells his mom he's dizzy, and she says ''You’re just worried about your first day of school.'' On the second day of school, Artie falls out of bed and hits his head. He tells his mom he's dizzy, and she says ''You’re just worried about your first day of school.'' Today is just like the day before. Can Artie find a way to change it, before it’s the first day of school...forever? Grades 4-7.

    It's the First Day of School... Forever! by R.L. Stine

    23 Minutes by Vivian Vande Velde

    One day, Zoe Mahar ducks into Spencerport Savings and Loan simply to get out of the rain—and witnesses a bank robbery gone wrong. The good news is that Zoe has a unique ability she can play back time and repeat events. But it's not an unlimited deal—she can only jump 23 minutes, and her first playback creates an even more disastrous outcome. Zoe has only ten tries to get it right before this particular 23 minutes becomes irreversible. Grades 7-9.

    23 Minutes by Vivian Vande Velde

    Odessa Again by Dana Reinhardt

    Fourth grader Odessa Green-Light lives with her mom and her toad of a little brother, Oliver. Her dad is getting remarried, which makes no sense to Odessa. One day she gets mad and stomps across the attic floor. Then she feels as if she is falling and lands . . . on the attic floor. Turns out that Odessa has gone back in time a whole day! With this new power she can fix all sorts of things. Her biggest goal - reunite Mom and Dad. Grades 3-7.

    Odessa Again by Dana Reinhardt

    The Retake by Jen Calonita

    Zoe knows that the only thing harder than middle school is losing a best friend. She and Laura used to do everything together, but lately things have been weird between them. But then a magical app downloads on her phone...and suddenly Zoe can travel back in time to moments where her and Laura started drifting apart. It's a chance for Zoe to mend their friendship. Until she realizes that second chances don't always go as planned. Grades 3-7.

    The Retake by Jen Calonita

    The Neverending Story by Michael Ende

    When Bastian happens upon an old book called The Neverending Story, he's swept into the magical world of Fantastica--so much that he finds he has actually become a character in the story! And when he realizes that this mysteriously enchanted world is in great danger, he also discovers that he is the one chosen to save it. But it's hard to save a world where time keeps repeating. Can Bastian overcome the barrier between reality and his imagination in order to save Fantastica? Grades 5-7.

    The Neverending Story by Michael Ende

    Tired of reading the same books again and again? Fill outthis form to get some new suggestions from our librarians!

     

     


       Youth Services Assistant Librarian Claire 

  • 3 Books for Fans of The One and Only Ivan

    If you lovedThe One and Only Ivanby Katherine Applegate,try one of these unique animal stories next.

     

    Audrey (Cow): An Oral Account of a Most Daring Escape, Based More or Less on a True Story

    by Dan Bar-el

    “Audrey is a cow with poetry in her blood, who yearns for the greener pastures beyond Bittersweet Farms. But when Roy the horse tells her that she is headed for the slaughter house, Audrey knows that she must leave her home and friends sooner than she ever imagined. With the help of animals and humans alike, Audrey attempts to escape the farm - and certain death. Cleverly written as an oral account, this unique illustrated tale of an animal on the run, uses over 30 narrative voices, including six humans, four cows, three sheep, two sheep dogs, one pig and a very silly rooster.” 

    Audrey is sweet, the cast of characters is hilarious, and overall this makes a perfectly delightful read for an animal lover.

     

     

    The Simple Art of Flying

    by Cory Leonardo

    “Born in a dismal room in a pet store, Alastair the African grey parrot dreams of escape to bluer skies. He'd like nothing more than to fly away to a palm tree with his beloved sister, Aggie. But when Aggie is purchased by twelve-year-old Fritz, and Alastair is adopted by elderly dance-enthusiast and pie-baker Albertina Plopky, the future looks ready to crash-land. In-between anxiously plucking his feathers, eating a few books, and finding his own poetic voice, Alastair plots his way to a family reunion. But soon he's forced to choose between the life he's always dreamed of and admitting the truth: that sometimes, the bravest adventure is in letting go.” 

    I loved the attitude on this snarky parrot! The story itself is touching and surprising.

     

     

     

    Gorilla Dawn 

    by Gill Lewis

    “Deep in the heart of the Congo, a baby gorilla is captured by a group of rebel soldiers. Imara and Bobo are also prisoners in the rebels' camp. When they learn that the gorilla will be sold into captivity, they swear to return it to the wild before it's too late. But the consequences of getting caught are too terrible to think about. Will the bond between the gorilla and the children give them the courage they need to escape?” 

    This chapter book is intense, gripping, and eye-opening. A moving read for young conservationists.

     

    Let us shop the shelves for you! Fill out a Browsing Bundle request, and a Librarian will bag up a small collection books or movies we think you'll love. 


    Youth Services Librarian Allison 

  • Top Circulating Titles of 2021

    Lots of great books were checked out to our community in 2021. The top checkouts tended to be titles from the Illinois Readers Choice Awards (Caudills, Bluestems, and Monarchs). We also saw some serious circulation from the always popular Mo Willems and Jeff Kinney. Here are the most frequently checked-out books from the Youth Services department in 2021:

    Picture Book:

     

    SumoKittyby David Biedrzycki

     

     

    Beginning Reader:

     

    Happy Pig Day!By Mo Willems

     

    Juvenile Chapter Book: it was a tie!

     

    Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Meltdownby Jeff Kinney 

     

    Inklingby Kenneth Oppel

     

    Teen Fiction:

    Other Words for Homeby Jasmine Warga

     

    Graphic Novel:

     

    Be Preparedby Vera Brosgol

     

    Nonfiction:

     

     Torpedoed: The True Story of the World War II Sinking of “The Children’s Ship”by Deborah Heiligman

      

    Audiobook:

     

    Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stoneby J. K. Rowling

     

    e-Book:

     

    Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Deep Endby Jeff Kinney

     

    Want more reading lists delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for our e-newsletters to discover the newest and best books for kids.


    Youth Services Librarian Allison 

  • Our Favorite Books from 2021

    Here are a handful of our favorite books published in 2021 for young readers. Check out the full list for more great recommendations!

    MaryJo recommends...

    Kingston and the Magician's Lost and Found by Rucker Moses and Theo Gangi 

    Alyssa recommends...

    The Smashed Man of Dread End by J. W. Ocker

    Noe Wiley is excited to move to a new house after a sleepwalking incident that ended in her accidentally hurting her friend. But soon she’s confronted with a group of hostile girls that live on her new street and a note that says only, “Don’t go into the basement of your house at night.” Curious, she does exactly what the girls told her not to do and ventures into her basement after dark to find a flat, grinning man oozing out of a crack in the wall. Now she’ll need the girls’ help if she wants to rid her house—and the world—of this monster, but can they figure out who he is and where he comes from in time to save their families and each other? This book was so wonderfully creepy and fast-paced that I read it in a single day. You may want to read this tale of friendship and monsters with the light on. And don’t go into the basement at night!

    Allison recommends...

    Just Like That! by Gary D. Schmidt

     

    Stefanie recommends...

    Little Witch Hazel: A Year in the Forest by Phoebe Wahl

    Travel through the four seasons with Little Witch Hazel, a little witch who is all about helping the inhabitants of her forest community. Her adventures include rescuing an orphaned egg, rafting with her friends, encountering a haunted tree stump, and tending to her many patients in the midst of a blizzard. Heartwarming and cozy, Little Witch Hazel is the perfect choice for fans of books like Frog and Toad and Mister Putter and Tabby.

     See even more of our 2021 favorites!

     

    Subscribe to our monthly e-newsletters to see the newest and best books for kids. 

  • Books About the Refugee Experience

    Thousands of refugees have entered America in the wake of the Afghanistan takeover by Taliban forces, with500 people likely to settle in Illinois. These big numbers and far-off places and situations are hard to understand (often, for adults as well as children!) without the empathy-building stories behind the statistics and news headlines. These books for children of all ages help bring refugee experiences - from all over the world - to light and life.

    • Picture Books
    • Chapter Books

    Marwan's Journey by Patricia de Arias, illustrated by Laura Borràs. Recommended for ages 5-8.

    marwansjourney4246EB06-5F6D-18FE-C150-0FE1C8182A06.jpg

    Lubna and Pebble by Wendy Meddour and Daniel Egnéus. Recommended for ages 5-8.

    lubnaandpebble35D95492-E28D-254E-C968-231F6FF345E9.jpg

    Like a Dandelion by Huy Voun Lee. Recommended for ages 3-6.

    likeadandelion69AFED1B-6E32-F93B-9011-567342594106.jpg

    Lilah Tov, Good Night by Ben Gundersheimer, illustrated by Noar Lee Naggan. Recommended for ages 3-6

    lilahtovgoodnightD889DDE4-C29D-FA5C-D95E-8CA036880B92.jpg

    From Far Away by Robert Munsch and Saoussan Askar, art by Rebecca Green. Recommended for ages 5-8.

    fromfaraway10EEE64C2-2416-E48F-E8D4-41F091475725.jpg

    Spectacularly Beautiful A Refugee's Story by Lisa Lucas, illustrated by Laurie Stein. Recommended fo

    spectacularlybeautifulF75D4002-FB29-6C07-B3E5-5A0549A57F08.jpg

    Sugar in Milk by Thrity Umrigar, illustrated by Khoa Le. Recommended for ages 6-10.

    sugarinmilk00D906C5-9AA5-6ADE-7082-F657A82B407B.jpg

    The Paper Boat A Refugee Story by Thao Lam. Recommended for ages 6-10.

    thepaperboat8A9AAFA9-77AE-0678-5B89-0AF0BEAF0D50.jpg

    The Most Beautiful Thing by Kao Kalia Yang, illustrated by Khoa Le. Recommended for ages 6-9.

    themostbeautifulthing996EEB52-34D8-DEEC-C15E-418BBCFCBDE1.jpg

    Wherever I Go by Mary Wagley Copp, illustrated by Munir D. Mohammed. Recommended for ages 5-9.

    whereverigo7F335D62-6286-7159-C114-9102D1123B9C.jpg

    The Day War Came by Nicola Davies, illustrated by Rebecca Cobb. Recommended for ages 5-9.

    thedaywarcame14778B6B-C9E4-BD68-BE1A-A902C191A445.jpg

    The Journey by Francesca Sanna. Recommended for ages 6-10.

    thejourney17C09F45-5800-A9EE-348E-F8187EBD3772.jpg

    The Library Bus by Bahram Rahman, illustrated by Gabrielle Grimard. Recommended for ages 4-8.

    thelibrarybusB08A0F8C-003A-7883-92C2-D7FFAE3E89CC.jpg

    Wishes by Mu̕ọ̕n Thị Văn, illustrations by Victo Ngai. Recommended for ages 4-8.

    wishesE13F19FE-F3CD-9E1F-6F37-A30C80FA070A.jpg

    Migrants by Issa Watanabe. Recommended for ages 5-9.

    migrantsF0E812EE-2584-F0BD-1AB9-BEB645C6D574.jpg

    World in Between Based on a True Refugee Story by Kenan Trebinčević and Susan Shapiro. Recommend

    worldinbetween461BDB3B-F2B6-02A8-D836-85F09FC0D4C7.jpg

    Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga. Recommended for ages 9-13.

    otherwordsforhome6B5DCEF2-B6D0-6694-979B-0F0F0E0A1226.jpg

    The Thing I'm Most Afraid Of by Kristin Levine. Recommended for ages 10-14.

    thethingimmostafraidof8935699F-F530-25BE-350D-8D23DD855630.jpg

    The Red Pencil by Andrea Davis Pinkney, illustrated by Shane W. Evans. Recommended for ages 9-14.

    theredpencil391977EB-BF97-B995-9BA2-4395A7B5D372.jpg

    Boy, Everywhere by A. M. Dassu. Recommended for ages 10-14.

    boyeverywhere00B48939-06C9-4DB3-75E7-54C2B20BFCE0.jpg

    When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed, color by Iman Geddy. Recommended for

    whenstarsarescatteredD599C057-FCB3-14BD-718D-0045D2161F3A.jpg

    A Crack in the Sea by H.M. Bouwman. Recommended for ages 10-14.

    acrackintheseaAC7293EF-639C-C473-0221-B4604179D5C0.jpg

    A Land of Permanent Goodbyes by Atia Abawi. Recommended for ages 12-18.

    alandofpermanentgoodbyes3E34D034-F974-1CB5-B526-AE72DBADC9E9.jpg

    Brother's Keeper by Julie Lee. Recommended for ages 8-13.

    brotherskeeper2E55B2B2-4AA8-F1A6-7A34-2C46C6A851F9.jpg

    Crossing the Farak River by Michelle Aung Thin. Recommended for ages 11-16.

    crossingthefarakriverA5FBCDCB-2601-BB72-A627-FFCD054BC688.jpg

    Everything Sad Is Untrue (A True Story) by Daniel Nayeri. Recommended for ages 10-14.

    everythingsadisuntrue4ED62AF2-B0FA-AFD1-52BE-9A89A8F6F5E7.jpg

    Flying Over Water by N.H. Senzai and Shannon Hitchcock. Recommended for ages 9-13.

    flyingoverwaterBB80A92B-27EC-0601-048C-673A2120B3B8.jpg

    I Lived on Butterfly Hill by Marjorie Agosín, illustrated by Lee White. Recommended for ages 10-14

    ilivedonbutterflyhillB02E3D87-C2B8-9FFE-A5E5-37E67D1FF2A4.jpg

    The Boy at the Back of the Class by Onjali Q. Raúf, illustrated by Pippa Curnick. Recommended for

    theboyatthebackoftheclass1152E914-4A0D-517C-1A4D-3FB5070AE0C5.jpg

    Manuelito A Graphic Novel by Elisa Amado, illustrated by Abraham Urias. Recommended for ages 12-16.

    manuelito0B9FAA67-E5BA-0C56-A3C3-658EB00DD0E1.jpg

    Nowhere Boy by Katherine Marsh. Recommended for ages 10-14.

    nowhereboy2EE36622-E434-6D7C-608D-16802C9D55BE.jpg

    Refugee by Alan Gratz. Recommended for ages 10-13.

    refugeeD017CF32-76F3-E3BE-FAD8-035B3AFB554F.jpg

    Samira Surfs by Rukhsanna Guidroz, illustrations by Fahmida Azim. Recommended for ages 9-13.

    samirasurfs5D9DFBBA-AB0C-5389-E90D-6B1A2643E067.jpg

    Shooting Kabul by N.H. Senzai. Recommended for ages 9-13.

    shootingkabulE910A8D9-2083-1ACD-0784-8408CE248806.jpg

    The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani. Recommended for ages 8-12.

    thenightdiary11EB62ED-CB1E-308D-4211-4AD5CA92259C.jpg

    The Only Road by Alexandra Diaz. Recommended for ages 9-13.

    theonlyroadC94CECFE-FB3A-B840-0DB8-0B32464B3428.jpg

    The Stray and the Strangers by Steven Heighton, illustrations by Melissa Iwai. Recommended for ages

    thestrayandthestrangers37BE7A2F-EFF4-00C1-552C-F4B1C859E307.jpg

    A Story Like the Wind by Gill Lewis, illustrated by Jo Weaver. Recommended for ages 9-13.

    astorylikethewind2D4E4B3E-78C4-44DE-2B3B-02277E547F4B.jpg

    Yara's Spring by Jamal Saeed & Sharon E. McKay. Recommended for ages 10-14.

    yarasspring588334D1-C5DB-1391-EC79-C0FCB6BBD728.jpg

    Sign up for our monthly newsletters to learn about the latest and greatest books coming to the Barrington Area Library.


    Youth Services Librarian Allison 

     

  • Seek-and-Find Photos from Kids

    Thank you to everyone who has checked out a DIY Seek-and-Find Photography Kit, inspired by our Book of the Summer, Skunk and Badgerby Amy Timberlake. Here are some photos you all captured and shared. See if you can find Skunk, Badger, and one little chicken in each of these kid-created tableaus! 



     

    From Cooper:

    From Duncan:

    From Lyla:

    From Molly and Maddy:

     

    Find activity ideas, discussion questions, and booklists on ourwebpage all about Skunk and Badger. You can also earn the Book of the Summer badge in ourSummer Reading program!


    Youth Services Librarian Allison 

  • New! Read-Along Chapter Books

    In addition to our popular Read-Along Picture Books and Beginning Readers, we now offer Chapter Books with a built-in audio player! These are perfect for elementary kids who are gaining confidence and fluency, or any kids who just enjoy hearing a book read aloud.

    They are simple to use, have a long-lasting battery, and you can either listen with the built-in speaker or your own headphones. When you pause the recording, the device will hold your place for you.

    Find all of our Read-Alongs at the Library, or request one from home using our online catalog.

     

    Tip: Want personalized reading suggestions? Fill out this form and you’ll receive a customized list direct to your inbox!


    Youth Services Librarian Allison 

     

  • Book of the Summer Kit: DIY Seek-and-Find Photography

    Inspired by ourBook of the Summer,Skunk and Badger, we’ve created some special edition backpacks: Book of the Summer Kits! This is our DIY Seek-and-Find Photography Kit. Inside, you’ll find the tools to create your own image inspired by the art in books likeI SpyandFind Momo. 

      

     

    Here’s a few I made around the Library. Can you find Skunk, Badger, and Chicken?

     

    Try creating your own scene and hiding the skunk, badger, and chicken figurines. Send your photo toyouthservices@balibrary.org and we’ll share it here on the Blog!

    Find activity ideas, discussion questions, and booklists on ourwebpage all about Skunk and Badger. You can also earn the Book of the Summer badge in ourSummer Reading program!


    Youth Services Librarian Allison 

  • Our 2021 Book of the Summer: Skunk and Badger

    We’re excited to share our pick for a terrific summer read, for independent readers and family read-alouds:Skunk and Badgerby Amy Timberlake, illustrated by Jon Klassen. You can pick up one of our many copies at the Barrington Area Library, or order a copy to be delivered to one of ourfour sets of lockersaround the Library district. We’ve also got plenty of e-book and e-audio copies onLibby!

         


    Find activity ideas, discussion questions, and booklists on ourwebpage all about Skunk and Badger. You can also earn the Book of the Summer badge in ourSummer Reading program!


    Youth Services Librarian Allison 

  • Count on These Mathematically Marvelous Books for Pi Day

    Check out one of these books that celebrate math-minded kids and might even teach your reader a new mathematical concept.

    • Category Title

    Up To My Knees by Grace Lin

    Mei explores measurement as she plants a sunflower seed and watches it grow. The plant starts off as tall as her toe, but soon it's up to her knees, then her waist, then her shoulders. How tall will it get? Board book, ages 1-4.

    Up To My Knees by Grace Lin

    Count On Me by Miguel Tanco

    A child describes her passion - math - and her ability to see numbers, geometry, and other mathematical concepts all around her. Picture book, ages 4-8.

    Count On Me by Miguel Tanco

    Lia & Luis, Who Has More? By Ana Crespo, illustrated by Giovana Medeiros

    Twins Lia and Luis argue over who has more of their favorite Brazilian snacks. The siblings compare amounts using measurement, counting, estimation, and finally weight to pick the winner. Picture book, ages 3-6.

    Lia & Luis, Who Has More? By Ana Crespo

    Arithmechicks Add Up by Ann Marie Stephens, illustrated by Jia Liu.

    Meet the Arithmechicks - they play, make friends, and use arithmetic all day long. A playful introduction to essential math. Picture book, ages 3-6.

    Arithmechicks Add Up by Ann Marie Stephens

    The Cookie Fiasco by Dan Santat.

    Four friends. Three cookies. One problem. Hippo, Croc, and the Squirrels are determined to have equal cookies for all! But how? A funny story that introduces fractions. Beginning reader, ages 4-8.

    The Cookie Fiasco by Dan Santat.

    Annika Riz, Math Whiz by Claudia Mills

    When the school carnival, the biggest fundraiser of the year, comes around, Annika realizes her class booth is losing money by selling their lemonade too cheaply. Annika embraces her math skills and saves the day. Early chapter book, ages 7-9.

    Annika Riz, Math Whiz by Claudia Mills

    The Boy Who Dreamed of Infinity - A Tale of the Genius Ramanujan by Amy Alznauer, illustrated by Dan

    A young mathematical genius from India searches for the secrets hidden inside numbers. Picture book biography, ages 6-10.

    The Boy Who Dreamed of Infinity by Amy Alznauer

    Bringing Down the Mouse by Ben Mezrich

    A mathematically gifted sixth-grader is recruited by a group of students to game the system at the biggest theme park in the world--and win the big prize. Chapter book, ages 9-12.

    Bringing Down the Mouse by Ben Mezrich

    Maryam’s Magic by Megan Reid, illustrations by Aaliya Jaleel

    The true story of Maryam Mirzakhani, an Iranian girl whose creativity and love of stories helped her and the world see math in a new way, and who was the only woman ever to win the Fields Medal, the most prestigious honor in mathematics. Picture book biography, ages 5-9.

    Maryam’s Magic by Megan Reid

    Millionaires for the Month by Stacy McAnulty

    After seventh graders Benji and Felix 'borrow' from a lost wallet, the billionaire owner challenges them to spend over million dollars in thirty days in order to learn life lessons about money. Chapter book, ages 9-13.

    Millionaires for the Month by Stacy McAnulty

    The Best At It by Maulik Pancholy

    Twelve-year-old Rahul Kapoor, an Indian-American boy growing up in small-town Indiana, strives to find what he’s best at, from basketball to math, all while wondering if he might be gay. Chapter book, ages 9-13.

    The Best At It by Maulik Pancholy

    Grasping Mysteries - Girls Who Loved Math by Jeannine Atkins.

    A biographical novel in verse of seven girls from different time periods who used math to explore the mysteries of the universe and grew up to do innovative work that changed history. Chapter book, ages 10-14.

    Grasping Mysteries - Girls Who Loved Math by Jeannine Atkins

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    Youth Services Librarian Allison 

     

  • 5 Cozy Read-Alouds for the Whole Family

    We absolutely love to hear how families share reading. It’s such a fantastic bonding experience, not to mention modeling the importance of reading to children. But finding books that work for chapter-a-night read-alouds can be tricky. If the book’s too long, kids lose interest. Too mature, and the 4-year-old won’t “get it.” Too babyish, and the 8-year-old will roll his eyes. (Maybe the grown-up will, too!)  

    Here’s a roundup of newer, fantastic read-aloud options, especially for families with different ages of children. These books all have short chapters, occasional illustrations, and gentle stories and themes that can be enjoyed by young children, older children, and perhaps even the adults reading aloud!

     

     

    The Very, Very Far North by Dan Bar-el

    Meet Duane the polar bear, who discovers many potential friendships in other arctic creatures up in the Very, Very Far North. These gentle stories may remind you of Winnie the Pooh. Perfect for reading aloud!

       

     

    Dragons in a Bag by Zetta Elliott 

    When Jaxon is sent to spend the day with a mean old lady his mother calls Ma, he finds out she's not his grandmother--but she is a witch! She needs his help delivering baby dragons to a magical world where they'll be safe. A perfect fantasy adventure for young readers.

       
     

    Megabat by Anna Humphrey 

    A boy adjusting to his new house bonds with a cute little fruit bat (accidentally shipped from the Borneo rainforest) who talks and has a love of all things sweet. A very funny animal story, with a sequel!

       
     

    The Littlest Voyageurby Margi Preus

    A little red squirrel watches men rowing canoes, off to an unknown adventure, and longs to join them in their quest. Stowing away in the canoe, the squirrel finds his true identity - Jean Pierre Petit Le Rouge - and calling as a voyageur. A charming historical fiction novel for young readers and families.

       
     

    Good Dog, McTavish by Meg Rosoff

    When Ma Peachey declares a strike, the rest of the family finds themselves abandoned to chaos: no one cooks dinner, no one picks up the dirty laundry, the children are always late for school, and there is a good deal of squabbling and squalor. Enter McTavish, a rescue dog who, true to his mission, is ready to teach this family some new tricks. A witty tale for family sharing.

       


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    Youth Services Librarian Allison 

     

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