Books and Reading

Reading Clubs | Booklists | Book Databases | Authors and Illustrators

Reading Clubs

Summer Reading Club

For children through 8th grade. Join us in June 2007 for Carnival of Reading celebrating 100 years of books.

Winter Reading Club

For all ages. Warm up with weekly prize drawings, a visit from a Chicago Wolves hockey player and more. Co-sponsored with the Chicago Wolves hockey team. Offered January through February at the library and on the Mobile Library. Registration required.

Friends Book Badge Club

Preschool through 8th grade. Earn badges in a variety of categories including fantasy, scary stories, read-to-me and historical fiction. Sponsored by Friends of the Des Plaines Public Library. Offered September through May. Registration required.

Battle of the Books

For grades 4 - 5 and grades 6 - 8. Read selected books and form teams to answer questions during the “Battle of the Books.” Booklists are available at the Youth Services Desk. Held once a year in May. Registration required.

Rebecca Caudill Book Club

For grades 4 – 8, who do not already participate in a Caudill program. Help select the next winner of the Rebecca Caudill Young Readers’ Book Award. Read or listen to at least three nominated books. Submit a Feedback Form at the library for each book read in order to vote for the winner in February. Wherever you participate, you are welcome at the Caudill Club Book Discussion on the second Wednesday of each month. Registration required.

Monarch Award Club

For grades K – 3, who do not already participate in a Monarch program. Help select the next winner of the Monarch Children’s Choice Award. Read or listen to at least five of the nominated books. Submit a Feedback Form at the library for each book read in order to vote for the winner in February.

Booklists

We Recommend

Booklists created by Youth Services Staff.

Award Winning Books

Caldecott Award

Awarded annually to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children.

Coretta Scott King Award

Presented annually to “African American authors and illustrators whose books promote an understanding and appreciation of the “American Dream.”

Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal

Awarded every two years to an author or illustrator whose books, published in the United States, have made a lasting contribution to children’s literature.

Monarch Award

An Illinois Children's Choice Award for a book voted most outstanding by students in kindergarten through 3rd grade.

Newbery Award

Awarded annually to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.

The Pura Belpre Award

Honors Latino writers and illustrators whose works best exemplify authentic cultural experiences in children's works of literature.

Rebecca Caudill Young Readers’ Book Award

Honors the author of the book voted most outstanding by Illinois students in grades 4 - 8.

Scott O’Dell Award

Awarded to a “meritorious book published in the previous year for children or young adults.”

Book Databases

                                BookFLIX       

Explore animated versions of favorite children's picture books and related nonfiction eBooks in one of nine learning categories. Also includes Spanish titles and educational games. For grades Pre-K – 3.

   Booklist     

Full text access to reviews, columns and read-alike lists from the American Library Association's review journal.

   NovelList     

Allows readers of all ages to search for new book to read by favorite title, author, subject or keywords.

        TumbleBook Library   
 

A collection of animated, talking picture books, puzzles and games. Includes books in Spanish, French & Chinese.

Authors and Illustrators on the Web