Tails & Tales Summer Reading Picks for Kids

 

Summer Reading 2021 is underway! We have reading challenges for all ages. Sign up today by picking up a reading log at the library or you can participate online! Visit our website for all the details.

This year's theme is "Tails and Tales". So, get your young readers inspired with these amazing animal stories!

Crossings by Katy Duffield 

This exciting non-fiction book shares amazing examples of crossings like bridges and tunnels built by animal lovers around the world to help animals safely move through human construction. Recommended for grades 2-3.

Like a Lizard by April Pulley Sayre 

Discover how lizards live by learning about 28 different types of lizards! Written by April Pulley Sayre, an amazing nature photographer (though this book is  wonderfully illustrated by Stephanie Laberis). Check out Sayre's many other nature loving books! Recommended for grades K-3.

Fatima's Great Outdoors by Ambreen Tariq

While not about any animal specifically, this is about a young girl's first camping trip and developing a love of the outdoors. Perfect for kids who are less than enthusiastic about being out in the wild! Recommended for PreK-Grade 1.

Lion and Mouse by Jairo Buitrago

A modern retelling of this classic tale from Aesop's Fables. This story of an unlikely friendship is sure to make you smile. Recommended for grades K-3.

What Do You Do With a Tail Like This? by Steve Jenkins

This book has a fun, interactive element that encourages readers to guess what animal is featured on each page. You'll learn about the amazing things animals can do with their tails, ears, eyes, and more! Recommended for PreK-Grade 1.

The Thing About Bees: A Love Letter by Shabazz Larkin

This sweet book features a poem from a father to his two sons about his love for his children and the bees that make so much possible in our world.  Recommended for PreK-Grade 1.

Bedtime for Sweet Creatures by Nikki Grimes

A lovely bedtime story following a young child as they go through their nighttime routine. Beautiful illustrations showcase the child's wild imagination. Recommended for PreK-Grade 1.

Anamalium by Jenny Broom and Katie Scott

Take a trip to a museum in the pages of this book. 160 animals are featured with lovely detailed illustrations. The book is quite large making it fun to page through as you learn new animal facts. Recommended for grades 1-5.

Ice Cream Social

 

The Friends of the Eager Free Public Library are bringing back a beloved Evansville tradition, their ice cream social! This year’s event will take place on Friday, June 25th from 6-8pm at Creekside Place located at 102 Maple Street, Evansville WI. Drive through or walk up to support the Friends of the Library! The Friends provide us with financial support for our collections and programs. Here's a link to the Facebook event for more details.

Here are some sweet reads for you and your kids to enjoy all about ice cream!

Saffron Ice Cream by Rashin Kheiriyeh

Should I Share My Ice Cream? by Mo Willems

Wemberly’s Ice Cream Star by Kevin Henkes

Curious about Ice Cream by Bonnie Bader

How is Ice Cream Made? By Grace Hansen

Groovy Joe: Ice Cream and Dinosaurs by Eric Litwin

Gorilla Loves Vanilla by Chae Strathie

The Little Ice Cream Truck by Margery Cuyler

If You Like Elephant & Piggie

The Elephant and Piggie series by Mo Willems is a stand out for beginning readers. Kids and adults love the back and forth from Gerald (the elephant) and his best friend, Piggie. They are funny, the right balance of challenging and accessible for beginning readers, and all around a joy to read. 

So, what to do when you've read them all but want to keep the fun going?! Here's a list of some other series and books for beginning readers who love Elephant and Piggie. 

Unicorn & Yeti by Heather Ayris Burnell

These two magical friends might seem like opposites, but they have a lot of fun together. These are illustrated in a graphic novel style. 

Croc & Ally by Derek Anderson

A grumpy crocodile and a happy-go-lucky alligator are best friends. Each book has a few stories about this charming duo.

Fergus & Zeke by Kate Messner

The adventures of two cute mice, one a class pet and another who lives at a museum.

Snail & Worm by Tina Kügler

Stories about two quirky friends that's sure to make you smile.

Fox & Chick by Sergio Ruzzier

These books are perfect for graduates of Elephant & Piggie who are reader for books that are a little longer and more challenging. You'll find these funny and sweet books in our first chapter book collection. 

Doggo & Pupper by Katherine Applegate

A first chapter book about old Doggo and his new playmate, Pupper by the author of The One and Only Ivan. 

Pizza & Taco by Stephen Skaskan

What a combo! These walking, talking foods are the stars of some very silly stories.

The Disgusting Critters Series by Elise Gravel

Meet the slug, the bat, the worm, and other so called disgusting critters who are actually adorable and quite funny in these books.

 Happy Pride Month, Evansville!

There are some fun festivities organized by Building a Safer Evansville going on around town this month. Check out their Pride month calendar for more info!

Here are some great board books for families celebrating Pride with their little ones. We also have displays up in our adult and teen areas, so if you're looking for a book for an older reader, stop by to check one out!

Love Makes a Family by Sophie Beer 

Baby’s First Words by Stella Blackstone

My Two Dads and Me by Michael Jooston 

My Two Moms and Me by Michael Joosten 

Pride 1 2 3 by Michael Joosten 

Our Rainbow by Little Bee Books 

Pride Colors by Robin Stevenson

Double Author Spotlight: Eric Carle and Lois Ehlert

This past week the children's book world took a couple of major hits. Both Eric Carle and Lois Ehlert passed away. Whether you grew up having their books read to you or you've read them to your own family or kids you've worked with, chances are you've encountered some of their books and fully understand the magic inside. These two author/illustrators made a huge impact with their writing and artwork. Here's to hoping their legacy lives on to spark a love of books and art in children for many years to come. Below, you will find some favorites by each author. You can click on the links and place a hold on the titles in your SHARE account or stop into the library to pick a copy up. 

Written and Illustrated By Eric Carle:

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

The Grouchy Ladybug

The Very Quiet Cricket

The Very Lonely Firefly

Mister Seahorse

Little Cloud

Have You Seen My Cat?

10 Little Rubber Ducks

Illustrated By Eric Carle:

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?

Written and Illustrated By Lois Ehlert:

Leaf Man

Growing Vegetable Soup

Nuts to You!

Eating the Alphabet

Snowballs

Planting a Rainbow

Waiting for Wings

Lots of Spots

Illustrated By Lois Ehlert:

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

Chicka Chicka 1-2-3

Disney Villains

Okay, who else is wickedly excited for Disney's new live action Cruella movie?! If you've missed all the hype, take a peek at the trailer below. The movie will be released this Friday May 28th in theaters and on Disney+. The Juvenile and Young Adult books below all feature those infamous Disney Villains that you just love to hate. They are also all part of a series, so there are even more villianous adventures for you to discover!

Disney After Dark by Ridley Pearson

Teens battle villains to keep them from taking over the Disney Parks, the Disney empire and the world.

Dark Passage by Ridley Pearson

Teens battle villains to keep them from taking over the Disney Parks, the Disney empire and the world. 

The Isle of the Lost by Melissa De La Cruz

A Disney Villains Descendants novel

Return to the Isle of the Lost Melissa De La Crus

A Disney Villains Descendants novel

 

City of Villains by Estelle Laure

A mash-up of various Disney Villains and Gotham City

Go the Distance by Jen Calonita

The villain: Hades from Hercules

Part of Your World by Liz Braswell

The villain: Ursula from The Little Mermaid 

As Old as Time by Liz Braswell

The villain: The Beast from Beauty and the Beast

Mother Knows Best by Serena Valentino

The villain: Mother Gothel from Tangled/Rapunzel

Evil Thing by Serena Valentino

The villain: Cruella De Vil from 101 Dalmatians 

Library Shorts

Have you checked out the Library Shorts videos put out by the Arrowhead Library System? Each video features a librarian from an Arrowhead library, like our very own Miss Alison. The videos are 5-10 minutes long and touch base on music, science, wellness, math, writing, and art. You can browse the entire collection of Library Shorts from October 2020 to this month by visiting the Library Shorts Blog. 

Here are a few of May's featured videos, which are all about flowers!

Math: Flower Petal Counting

(Eager Free Public Library)

Art: Flowers in a Vase

(Orfordville Public Library)

Science: Dandelion Botany & Dandelion Muffins

(Edgerton Public Library)