The kids are back in school and many of them will need to spend 15 to 20 minutes reading each evening as part of their homework. The school library can provide much of what they might be interested in but don’t forget to visit the public library to find cool new books and great older titles too, on lots of different subjects at many different reading levels.
The library has a handful of magazine subscriptions for kids. If your child is intimidated by longer books take a look at the magazines we have available. Sometimes they can help open up the world of reading in a way that books haven’t. We have “American Girl Magazine,” “Cobblestone,” “Ranger Rick,” “Sports Illustrated for Kids,” and “Your Big Backyard.” Magazines only check out for a week at a time.
The new school year means change and establishing new routines. Here are some classic books to read to help establish regular reading as part of your families school year routine.
If your children are still willing to listen to picture books (and that could include many up to and including sixth grade) then share some of these authors with them. Virginia Lee Burton wrote many titles including Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel (I loved that story) and Katy and the Big Snow. Robert McCloskey wrote Blueberries for Sal and Make Way for Ducklings, again favorites of mine.
Richard Scarry’s Busy Busy Town was a favorite of my brothers with its Lowly Worm on each page. Bread and Jam for Frances by Russell Hoban along with the other Frances stories was worn out by so many readings in our family. We loved Frances and her way of looking at the world.
Is your family looking for chapter books to read aloud, then try these? The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken is a spooky tale of three children attempting to thwart the evil schemes of their governess. Another spooky tale can be found in Windigo by Jane and Paul Annixter, set in Quebec in Algonquin territory. Frances Hodgson Burnett wrote tales of orphans or almost orphans with triumphant endings including The Secret Garden and A Little Princess.
Another author with ‘exotic’ British settings is Michael Bond and his A Bear Called Paddington, among others. Arthur Conan Doyle and his ‘greatest detective of all time’ Sherlock Holmes is great for reading aloud. Hans Brinker by Mary Dodge introduced the sport of speed skating to Americans. Beverly Cleary is a well known for her Ramona series, but I loved Ralph S. Mouse even more.
Saturday, Sept. 8, will be the first Saturday we open again for the school year. Library hours from Sept. 8 through May 17 will be Monday and Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Wednesday, noon to 8; Thursday and Friday, 10 to 6; and Saturday, 10 to 3. The junior room is open the same hours as the adult library except for Monday and Wednesday evenings it closes at 6.
