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Finding Spring

Spring Is in the Air

Spring is in the air! Animals awaken. Baseball beckons. March winds begin to blow. Get ready for the new season by taking a look at some of its signs — in books!

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Spring Things

Take a nature walk, start a community garden, hunt for edible flowers, listen for the sounds of a rainy day, learn about bees and some of the things that come from nature, and more — through the pages of these picture books, lift-the-flap books, and activity books. 

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Standing Tall

What makes someone stand out? Sometimes it’s that they stand up for what’s right or what they believe in; other times it’s because they stand up to help a friend. In this collection of books recommended for kids ages 0-9 you’ll read about people who stand out because they stood strong. Discover many more related titles with Book Finder.

The Beatles Were Fab (and They Were Funny)

Start the New Year with a Spark!

What do dots, musicians, the alphabet, and science share in common? Each is an art and gets better when a dash of imagination is added. Meet the Fab Four or how collaboration created a fresh ballet. Look at letters and circles anew — and more as you think about art and artists in many forms.

Ben Franklin's Big Splash

Start the Year with a Chortle

What better way to start a new year than with a laugh? It might be a giant belly laugh, a small snort, a quiet chuckle. Take a look at these books and you just might find yourself giggling, guffawing, or even tittering. Pick up a book and find what tickles your silly bone.

Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race

Strong Women in History and the Present

Music, science, and politics — just a few of the areas where women have made significant contributions. Famous and not-so-famous, their stories are worth exploring. Meet the First Lady of Jazz, a 19th century botanist who published the first photography book, the first bilingual storyteller/librarian, and others. You may even learn more about someone you thought you already knew! Celebrate women and their accomplishments this month and throughout the year. Discover many more related titles with Book Finder.

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Summer Olympics and Fun Summer Sports

Experience the thrill of victory, the agony of defeat, and the general fun of the Olympics with these recommended “gold medal” books for kids ages 0-9. Tap into the hubbub surrounding summertime sports by kicking in these winning nonfiction, poetry, and picture books for kids to read.

The Best Bike Ride Ever

Summer Outdoors

July is Parks & Recreation Month — a month devoted to the benefits and fun of nature, being outdoors, games and sports. This year’s theme, “Get Wild” about recreation encourages enjoyment of parks and play, outdoor activities and celebrations!

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Summer Reading Guide 2008

Whether children and families vacation away or stay near home, these are essential. No summer is complete without them. They travel well in cars or buses, on boats, on trains or planes. They tuck into suitcases, backpacks, and under arms. Most can be opened without electricity and are easily shared among many. They’re fun and are good for children and adults alike! And the long summer days are a great time for children to engage with these alone or can be shared with children. What are we talking about? Books and reading, of course! So grab a book, find a comfy place, and enjoy!

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Summer Reading Guide 2009

Books — physical, audio or eBooks — tell lots of tales. These stories can be true or imagined; they can be historical or contemporary; they can be illustrated with photographs or with paints. And most important, they can be shared at home, on vacation, in the car, on a plane or boat, here or there — anywhere, actually! Books and stories of fact and fiction make great summer companions for children and are ideal for adults to share with children. So grab a book, find a comfy place, and enjoy!

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Summer Reading Guide 2010

It’s summertime! What a great time to slow down or cool off with a good book. These days books are available in hardcopy, on audio, or an e-reader. Books in all formats are portable — and shareable! It’s fun to share books with a child, a class, and your family. A range of stories — fact and fiction — are suggested here to get you started. They’re as diverse as the children who will read them and the adults who just might share them with children. Remember, good books share as well with a variety of ages, including grown-ups. So choose a book (or two or three…) and begin a summer adventure!

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Summer Reading Guide 2011

The days are longer, the air is warmer, and it’s time to think about vacations. Whether or not you leave your home, you can go an adventure when you open a book! Try several of the suggestions here — some books are funny, others fantastic; some authors find the stories in real life — and tell them in pictures and words. Books come in lots of different forms: you can download them onto an e-reader, tune in to an audiobook, or just turn the pages of a physical book.

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Summer Reading Guide 2012

Want to stay busy on a summer afternoon? Take a trip, meet new friends, or go on an adventure without leaving home? Find a story in a book, on an e-reader, or listen to audio version! You’ll find our recommendations for wonderful fiction and nonfiction picture books as well as audio books — all perfect for outdoor reading, warm summer evenings, and family road trips. Enjoy!

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Summer Reading Guide 2013

Want to stay busy on a summer afternoon? Take a trip, meet new friends, or go on an adventure without leaving home? Find a story in a book, on an e-reader, or listen to audio version! You’ll find our recommendations for wonderful fiction and nonfiction picture books as well as audio books — all perfect for outdoor reading, warm summer evenings, and family road trips. Enjoy!

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Summer Reading Guide 2015

Travel to from Paris to Provence. Find out what it’s like to be a young person in Zimbabwe. Observe Arctic birds. Meet dragons or follow a story thread or maybe share your room with a brownie. You can do all of these things while on vacation — abroad or at home. These and lots more are available to you when you start with a book! Find a story in a book, on an e-reader, or listen to audio version! You’ll find our recommendations for wonderful fiction and nonfiction picture books as well as audio books — all perfect for outdoor reading, warm summer evenings, and family road trips. Enjoy!

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Summer Reading Guide 2016

String up the hammock, it’s time for a summer full of reading! You’ll find books about science and nature (from the ocean depths to the moon), picture book biographies, kid detectives (solve one mystery using coding!), ABCs, poetry, books built on wordplay, audio books, and much more. The age-leveled lists are ready to print and take to your local library or bookstore.

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Summer Reading Guide 2017

String up the hammock, it’s time for a summer full of reading! You’ll find books about science and nature, picture book biographies, graphic novels, adventure stories, poetry, audio books, and much more. The age-leveled lists are ready to print and take to your local library or bookstore. 

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Summer Reading Guide 2018

Too hot, too rainy to be outside? Traveling in a car? On a boat? On a train or plane? You can play with words. Or read about a playing ball. Visit another country or find a new friend. Find out why hippos sink or what whales eat. Meet someone interesting like the woman who had a komodo dragon as a companion. Perhaps you’d rather spend time with the funniest guy in baseball. The age-leveled lists are ready to print and take to your local library or bookstore. You never know what you’ll find or what will inspire you when you open a book for as National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, Jacqueline Woodson, says” “READING = HOPE x CHANGE”

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Summer Reading Guide 2019

Blast off with books this summer! There’s a lot to celebrate: the start of summer, time to sit down and cool off with stories in fact and fiction, maybe a family vacation. Here you’ll find funny stories, friendship stories, science and nature books, poetry, graphic novels, picture book biographies, and more. And there’s even a special anniversary in the summer of 2019 to celebrate through books — the 50th anniversary of man’s first Moon landing. Imagine what it would be like to celebrate your birthday on the Moon or what it felt like for the Apollo 11 astronauts to walk on the Moon.

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Summer Reading Guide 2020

Imagine what it would be like to pull an elephant out of hat. Or create a field of flowing grass from glass. Or get inspired by the sounds of the city around you. Jump into adventures with amateur detective, time travelers, and ordinary kids trying to figure out friendships and life. Discover the surprising lives of animals (including the one and only Bob) and the amazing lives of honeybees. Immerse yourself in poetry about nature, the strength of family and community, and African American heroes. Change your perspective, learn, grow. There’s so much about the world waiting to be discovered when you open up a book. Happy reading!

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Summer Reading Guide 2021

After a long year inside, we’re all looking forward to some outdoor time with friends and family.  It’s always fun to take a book along especially when you’re traveling, trying to cool off on a hot summer day, or just to share with a buddy. Take a look at the books suggested here. You’re sure to find something to appeal!

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Summer Reading Guide 2022

Summer adventures are just waiting to start! Visit the ocean, take a swim, share a recipe with family, friends, and neighbors; create a garden, make new friends, learn a new word and more. These and more can start with a book! Happy reading!

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Summer Reading Guide 2023

Summer is a time to explore. Not only do books travel with you, they also let you explore from the comfort of your home. Visit an underwater ecosystem, travel with a turtle on a 25,000-mile journey, visit Paris, stop in a Chicago airport, or go outside at night to see stars. We hope you’ll have fun exploring!

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