Summer is here! And that means loads of time for kids to experience books in all their glory. This is also a great time to encourage kids to read the books they choose (without having to worry about school assignments) and to try out new genres that they might be interested in learning more about. This series will offer titles for toddlers to teens and include a variety of formats. Each week will focus on a different genre and will follow the same format: Mondays – Titles for Ages 3-7 Tuesdays – Middle Grade Titles for Ages 8-12 Wednesdays – Young Adult Titles for Ages 13+ Thursdays – Nonfiction pairings Friday – Recap of the Week Picture Books The Circus Ship by Chris Van Dusen With bright illustrations and rhyming text the townspeople of an unexpected coast town find themselves as the new home for circus animals after their ship crashes off shore. Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett A young girl loves to knit and knits garments for everyone and everything in her small town until her yarn is stolen by the Archduke who wants her special yarn for himself. Flashlight by Liz Boyd Make sure you have your flashlight handy to play and read this interactive book! Jumanji by Chris Van Allsburg A board game comes to life in the larger-than-life adventure which has been re-made into two different movies. Mr. Gumpy’s Outing by John Burmingham Mr. Grumpy decides to spend the sunny day on his small boat and soon finds it filled with company which ends in a very happy ending. Oops, Pounce, Quick, Run!: An Alphabet Caper by Mike Twohy A little mouse is quietly asleep until a runaway ball sets off quite the chase in this alphabet adventure. Sam and Dave Dig a Hole by Mac Barnett Sam and Dave are looking for a treasure and so they dig a gigantic hole, just missing treasure at every turn, but in the end the day turns out to be pretty spectacular! Easy Readers Elephant & Piggie series by Mo Willems A fun series of books with two best friends – an elephant and piggie that have grand adventures! Dodsworth in New York by Tim Egan Dodsworth wants to have a wonderful adventure in New York, but he has an unexpected travel companion – a crazy duck that misbehaves! Chapter Books Bink & Gollie by Kate DiCamillo “Meet Bink and Gollie, two precocious little girls — one tiny, one tall, and both utterly irrepressible. Setting out from their super-deluxe tree house and powered by plenty of peanut butter (for Bink) and pancakes (for Gollie), they share three comical adventures involving painfully bright socks, an impromptu trek to the Andes, and a most unlikely marvelous companion.” (Taken from Goodreads) Lulu and the Brontosaurus by Judith Viorst Lulu is used to getting what she wants, but when she doesn’t get a brontosaurus she storms off into the forest in search of her very own dinosaur! Mercy Watson to the Rescue by Kate DiCamillo Mercy Watson likes being sung to sleep, eating buttery toast and snuggles, she also happens to be a pig! Princess in Black by Shannon Hale Princess Magnolia has a secret… she’s also the Princess in Black going on adventures to save the kingdom! Wedgie & Gizmo by Suzanne Selfors “When a bouncy, barky dog and an evil genius guinea pig move into the same house, the laughs are nonstop! Wedgie is so excited, he can’t stop barking. He LOVES having new siblings and friends to protect. He LOVES guinea pigs like Gizmo! He also LOVES treats!” (Taken from Goodreads)