Summer Staff Picks 2017

We certainly hope you’ve been enjoying your summer so far, and we are excited to see you when you visit the library!  Our Summer Reading Program is off to a wonderful start with over 1660 readers registered and more than 1000 levels completed already.  If you haven’t signed up yet, the good news is….you still can! Just stop by the volunteer table to register.  There are loads of fun prizes waiting for you when you complete each level.  To help you get started, here are some staff picks revolving around our Reading by Design STEAM theme for this summer. For a complete list, pick up a brochure or a few books in the Staff Picks Area.

Alissa’s Picks:

Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beatty E BEA

Rosie Revere collects trash to make zany creations, but afraid of failure, she hides them away- until one day, she shows her great-aunt a fantastic flying machine that is a bit of a flop.  Can Rosie learn the value of a first attempt? This great story shows that science and engineering are just as much about failing as they are about trying again.

Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett  J BAL

Petra and Calder, two Chicago kids both in need of a friend, team up to solve a mystery involving a missing painting, an eccentric old woman, and a strange letter.  Can they figure out who is behind the heist before another valuable piece of art goes missing?

Mad Scientists by Sally Lee J 509.2 LEE

Science isn’t always fun–in fact, it can be downright scary! From drinking vomit to breathing in poisonous gasses, these scientists put themselves in harm’s way for the sake of discovery.

Erin’s Picks:

Art’s Supplies by Chris Tougas  E TOU

All of Art’s creative supplies–crayons, markers, pencils, and pastels, to name a few–have a big party, causing lots of messy, artistic fun.

Crayons from Start to Finish
by Samuel G. Wood E 741.23 WOO    

How are crayons made? Find out with this informative book, which takes you inside the step-by-step process of crayon-making. You’ll also discover some fun facts about crayons and learn the history of Crayola.

23 Things to Do Before You Are 11 1/2
by Mike Warren J 745.522 WAR  

You won’t be bored this summer if you have this book on hand.  Crack it open to learn how to build a toolbox, a stomp rocket, and a go-kart. And you can also learn to make stilts, a simple motor, and a compost bin. Best of all, there are instructions for making a solar-viewer…just in time for the solar eclipse on August 21!

Leslie’s Picks:

Doug Unplugged by Dan Yaccarino
E YAC and J DVD DOU   

Doug is a curious robot.  Each day his parents plug him in and begin his information download to become the smartest robot around. One day, Doug wonders what it could be like to UNPLUG for a day. After bravely unplugging, Doug sets off on a thrilling day of outrageous adventures.

Aliens on Vacation by Clete Barrett Smith  J SMI

This story is filled with suspense, action, and adventure! One summer Scrub goes to work for his grandmother’s bed and breakfast. At first Scrub thinks it’s going to be boring, but he soon learns the inn is actually a secret operation that aliens use to vacation on Earth.  Also available as a Playaway.

Liz’s Picks:

Have Fun, Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell  E LOV

Molly Lou doesn’t need fancy toys or electronic gadgets. She has learned how to play the Grandma Melon way. Be amazed as Molly Lou uses hands-on learning and creativity to invent all sorts of things to play with. When a new girl moves in next door, Molly teaches her the Grandma Melon way, and she is amazed.

Who Was Sally Ride? by Megan Stine  J B STI

For those who like to learn about people, this is a wonderful biography about the first woman astronaut in space. You will learn that Sally Ride was not just an astronaut!

The Toothpaste Millionaire by Jean Merrill  JP MER

Kate helps her friend Rufus as he creates his own brand of toothpaste. This is a wonderful historical fiction novel that addresses racism, friendship, entrepreneurship, math, and even stockholdership.

More staff picks will follow soon, and as always, we are glad to help you find something when you visit us. As the sign says at our main desk…PLEASE INTERRUPT US!