Readers’ Advisory

Books for middle school readers who crave fast-paced, heart-pounding stories like those by author Alan Gratz, The New York Times bestselling author of more than twenty books for young readers, including Heroes, Two Degrees, Captain America: The Ghost Army, Ground Zero, Allies, Resist, Refugee, and Ban This Book. Summaries from publishers. A Land of Permanent… Read More about Beyond Gratz: Gripping Survival and Historical Adventures

First developed by Italian historians in the 1970s, microhistory is a genre of history that focuses on small units of research, such as an event, community, or individual. Commonly associated with social and cultural history, microhistories encourage asking big questions about what we think of as “the little things in life." Summaries from Goodreads. The… Read More about It’s the Little Things: Microhistories

Call 630-534-9700 and select 1–10 to hear a story, rhyme, or even jokes read aloud by a staff member any time. Here’s what’s playing now! Press # at any time to return to the menu. Meredith reads How to Staycation Like a Snail by Naseem Hrab Katy reads Can You Do This? by Megan Roy… Read More about Dial 630-534-9700 to hear a story, rhyme, or joke read aloud at any time – April 2026

Ready to move on from the Early Reader section but not quite ready for Percy Jackson? We’ve got you covered! Check out the Beginning Chapter Books, perfect for readers who are taking that next step. These books feature shorter chapters, fewer pages, plenty of white space, and often include illustrations to support growing readers. You’ll… Read More about Beginning Chapter Books

The proverb “in like a lion, out like a lamb” is often applied to spring weather (specifically the month of March), meaning that the weather is very harsh and biting (like a lion) at the beginning, but gets warmer and more pleasant at the end (like a lamb) as summer arrives. These books have nothing… Read More about Adult Recommendations: In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb

Rewind and revisit the top checkouts by Glen Ellyn Public Library cardholders in 2025! Top Things Circulating library book bags and backpacks Mobile Wi-Fi Hotspots American Girl Bitty Baby Doll Top Books The Women by Kristin Hannah James: A Novel by Percival Everett The God of the Woods by Liz Moore The Frozen River: A… Read More about The library’s most checked out of 2025

Stories told through a series of written documents, such as letters, diary entries, emails, text messages, and newspaper clippings. You don't even have to snoop! A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki In Tokyo, sixteen-year-old Nao has decided there's only one escape from her aching loneliness and her classmates' bullying, but before she… Read More about Go Ahead, Be Nosy: Epistolary Novels

2025 Summer Reading: Level Up at Your Library is based around puzzles and games. The titles below embrace competitive spirit. The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer Years ago, a reclusive mega-bestselling children’s author quit writing under mysterious circumstances. Suddenly he resurfaces with a brand-new book and a one-of-a-kind competition, offering a prize that will change… Read More about Adult Recommendations: Level Up at Your Library

This year’s Summer Reading Program theme celebrates the joy of play and how it connects us to others. Through games and puzzles, we can learn about ourselves while building friendships and community. Beastly Puzzles: A Brain-Boggling Animal Guessing Game by Rachel Poliquin What animal could be made out of dinosaur feet, several feather dusters, and… Read More about Youth Recommendations: Level Up at Your Library

Play is one of the ways we learn to relate to others, to think in new ways, and to foster friendships, new and old. Level Up at Your Library is an all-ages summer reading program based around puzzles and games. Readers of all ages can participate in 2025 Summer Reading! If 2,000 people register for… Read More about Summer Reading: June 1-July 31

The Youth Department has a growing World Languages collection. With over 20 languages represented, visitors will find items in many formats including picture books, board books, and graphic novels. Do you speak a language other than English in your home? What stories would you like to see represented in the Glen Ellyn Public Library Youth… Read More about World Languages Collection

You may have noticed a newer collection in the Youth Department called Books with Sound. This section contains titles in VOX and Wonderbook format, which combine printed books with audio narration. These formats enhance literacy by engaging children in multisensory experi- ences, and supporting comprehension, fluency, and vocabulary. They are particularly effective for struggling readers… Read More about Youth Recommendations: Books with Sound