Just in time for summer reading, we have a fresh selection of books nominated for three annual awards on display in the Youth Department! There are lots of good choices for every grade, and you’ll have plenty to read all summer long.
The Monarch Award: Illinois’ K-3 Readers’ Choice Award
On the Monarch list , check out The Camping Trip by Jennifer K. Mann. This is the perfect title if you’re planning a camping trip – it even includes a checklist of what you’ll need. Another title for Monarch readers is The Very Impatient Caterpillar by Ross Burach. Remember that very hungry caterpillar? Well this is a similar story, only this caterpillar just cannot wait to turn into a butterfly! It’s hilarious and so much fun to read.
The Bluestem Award: Illinois’ Grades 3-5 Readers’ Choice Award
Bluestem readers should check out Pie in the Sky by Remy Lai. It’s a heartfelt story about a boy who immigrates to a new country where he needs to learn a new language and make new friends. There’s also a lot of pie baking!
The Rebecca Caudill Young Readers’ Book Award
On the Caudill list for grades 4-8, I just loved Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga. It’s a beautifully told story about a girl who moves from Syria to the United States. Though she moves with her mother, she must leave her beloved father, brother, and best friend behind. This one is a must-read.