Reading Lists
Backyard Ballyhoo

Books to inspire you to enjoy and explore the wonders of your own backyard.  


By the Sea

Disappear into cool, crystal-blue water, letting the ocean waves drown out the worries of life and wash away all that icky sweat with these YA ocean-inspired books! ...
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Color Outside the Lines

The world is full of different types of books, many might surprise you. Take a chance on a new book that is outside your box and color outside the lines!


Community Matters

We’re all in this together! These books explore adult friendships and how kindness and compassion can leave a lasting impression on individuals and their community.


Dog Books

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Fishy Tales

The ocean is fascinating, terrifying, and full of wonder. You and your undersea adventurer can explore the ocean with these great books featuring all things aquatic!


Fun with Friends

Young readers can join in on the fun with books that teach the importance of working together toward a common goal and the power of friendship.


Nature Seekers

Introduce young readers to the natural world, travel, conservation, and other adventures while they engage with these exciting stories told by a fun cast of characters.


Ocean Adventures

Learning about the ocean is super fun for kids thanks to the amazingly diverse nature of marine life and environments. The ocean books in this list include fun fictional stories for kids of all ages.


Seas the Day

Cast your net over these books and sea what you might uncover in one of these books!


Sharing and Caring

Engage preschoolers with picture books that feature characters playing, sharing, and celebrating diversity while building a strong foundation for reading.


Travel, Intrigue, & Adventure

These books will capture the imagination of adult readers, with a mix of genres and voices.


United We Stand

Divided We Fall, United We Stand: a diverse range of stories about friendship, acceptance, and real-world issues important to teens.


Wild and Free

A diverse range of stories about friendship, acceptance, adventure, and nature geared toward the YA reader.


Your Stories

We all want to see ourselves in a book, and for many of us, the search for a book that feels as though it was written for us, about us, seems fruitless. With heroes ...
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Birth to 12 Months

Start early and raise a book lover by reading to newborns. These hand-selected books are designed for babies birth to 12 months including durable board books and colorful pictures.


Children's Choice Awards Picture Books (2020)

Favorites voted on by children across the U.S.  Read about The Children's Choice Awards* Titles were top vote gettersMany of these titles are available as ...
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Look Up! Explore Our Universe Infant & Pre-K

The universe is an expansive place! These great books for infants and pre-k explore the Universe we live in and the wonders of the world. This list has been provided by STAR Net.


The Great American Read

The PBS Great American Read list of 100 favorite books. How many have you read?


1000 Books - 12 to 24 Months

Help young children develop a love for reading that will last a lifetime.  Read these fun books about animals and rhymes to your young one and watch their imagination grow.


Children's Choice Awards Grades 3-4 (2020)

Top selections for past year's favorites, voted on by children across the U.S.  Read about The Children's Choice AwardsMany of these titles are available as ebo ...
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Look Up! Explore Our Universe Early Elementary

The universe is an expansive place! These great books for early elementary explore the Universe we live in and the wonders of the world. This list has been provided by STAR Net.


2 to 3 Year Olds

Encourage your toddler to read with exciting books that span from simple picture books to more elaborate stories. Watch your child grow into a lifetime book lover.


Children's Choice Awards Grades 5-6 (2020)

Top selections for past year's favorites, voted on by children across the U.S.  Read about The Children's Choice AwardsMany of these titles are available a ...
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Look Up! Explore Our Universe Upper Elementary

The universe is an expansive place! These great books for upper elementary explore the Universe we live in and the wonders of the world. This list has been provided by STAR Net.


4 to 5 Year Olds

Prepare your child for school by exposing them to reading at a young age. This book list is designed for 4 to 5 year olds as they prepare to enter kindergarten.


Look Up! Explore Our Universe Tweens

The universe is an expansive place! These great books for tweens explore the Universe we live in and the wonders of the world. This list has been provided by STAR Net.


Monarch Award Nominees (2021)

Nominees for the Illinois Monarch Award, voted on by school children in grades K-3 during the upcoming school year.Read more about the  Monarch Award and past winners here


Look Up! Explore Our Universe Teens & Adults

The universe is an expansive place! These great books for teens and adults explore the Universe we live in and the wonders of the world. This list has been provided by STAR Net.


Action, Adventure Fiction Grades 3-7

If you're looking for thrills, survival skills, espionage or something fantastic, throw yourself into these exhilarating stories. Many of these titles are also avail ...
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Audiobooks for Family Listening

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Animal Lovers Chapter Books

Whether it's wildlife or pets, these elementary and middle grade chapter books bring us closer to our animal friends.


Books for 2’s and 3’s

These books are recommended for 2's and 3's but older readers may very well enjoy them.


Books for 4's and 5's

These books are recommended for 4's and 5's but both younger and older readers may very well enjoy them.


Caldecott Medal

The Caldecott Medal was named in honor of nineteenth-century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott. It is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to ...
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Classic Picture Books Old and New

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Colors, Counting and Shapes

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Community Helpers

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Dinosaur Picture Books

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Diversity and Social Justice ( younger readers)

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Diversity and Social Justice (older readers)

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Early Chapter Books

Here is a list of some of our favorite books for early readers.


Empathy Picture Books

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Funny Chapter Books

Sure to make you giggle, snort and laugh out loud. 


Great Graphic Novels

Did you know a graphic novel won the prestigious children's book award - the Newbery Medal- this past year? Go beyond Big Nate and the Baby Sitter's Club to explore ...
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Humorous Books for Young Readers

(who have read all the Elephant and Piggie books)


Interactive Picture Books

If you want to get your child away from the tablets for awhile pick up one of these interactive picture books.Books that address the listener and pretend that the listener’s actions affect the book.


Lost in a Good Book

Whether you're visiting your favorite bookstore or the Land of Stories, lose yourself in these magical tributes to storytelling. 


Magic Tree House Research Guides

Nonfiction companion books to pair with some of the Magic Tree House adventures.


Purrfect Cat Books

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Science - Older Readers

Books for older children who are interested in scientific topics and experiments.


Science - Younger Readers

Books for younger children who are interested in non-fiction topics.


Sports - Baseball

Non-fiction books for middle school readers who love baseball.


Sports - Basketball

Non-fiction books for middle-readers who love basketball.


Sports - Soccer

Books for children who want to learn more about soccer.


Summer Camp

Chapter books about that staple of summer - sleep away camp. 


Unmentionables

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