We recently asked children's librarians at OKC metro-area libraries to share their favorite books, ranging from toddlers, pre-readers and early readers, up to middle elementary and into tween/teens. Here are some great recommended summer reads from local librarians:
From Emily Williams, Young Adult Services Coordinator at the Metropolitan Library System
Need Books like The Hunger Games?
- Girl in the Arena by Lise Haines – Modern-day gladiators live and fight in televised games, and teenage Lyn may be forced to marry the man who defeated her father.
- Graceling by Kristin Cashore – Warrior-girl Katsa lives in the fantasy kingdom of Monsea, and seeks redemption for how she has used her special skills.
- Matched by Allie Condie – Cassia’s dreams seem to be coming true when she learns she will be matched on her seventeenth birthday, but a “mistake” by a society which never errs leaves her questioning.
- The Pledge by Kimberly Derting – In a kingdom that separates classes by the languages they speak, teenager Charlie Hart has the dangerous power of understanding all languages.
- Uglies by Scott Westerfeld – When Shay runs away to the Smoke to avoid becoming “pretty”, Tally must betray her friend or stay “ugly” forever.
Other Books for Teens:
- Divergent by Veronica Roth – In future Chicago, Beatrice has to choose her future path by deciding which faction she wants to belong to for the rest of her life.
- The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler – In 1996, teenagers Emma and Josh load up an AOL CD-ROM on their first computer, and discover a crazy magic link to their Facebook profiles of 15 years later.
- Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs – Jacob travels to a remote island to learn more about his mysterious grandfather and finds a creepy orphanage populated by kids lost in time.
- The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson – A teenage girl from Louisiana travels to a London boarding school where she witnesses a murder by a Jack the Ripper copycat.
Books for Older Teens:
- Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake – Cas is a ghost hunter who meets his match when he travels to a new town to defeat the spirit known as Anna, Dressed in Blood.
- Ashfall by Mike Mullin – After the supervolcano under Yellowstone National Park destroys Alex’s town in Iowa and throws the country into chaos, Alex sets off to find his sister and parents in Illinois.
- Between Shades of Grey by Ruta Sepetys – In 1941, teenage Lina is forced from her home in Lithuania by Soviet guards and to Siberia, along with thousands of other prisoners.
- The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson – A fearful princess is married off to a neighboring king where she becomes an unlikely heroine in their battle against dark magic.
From Julie Moring, Children's Library at the Pioneer Library System
For the 4-7 year age range:
- Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson
- Henry Hikes to Fitchburg by D.B. Johnson
From Beverly Theige, Children's Librarian at the Norman Public Library
- My favorite for little ones is Flap Your Wings by P. D. Eastman. It's hilarious!
- My Mama Had a Dancing Heart by Libby Moore Gray always makes me cry in a good way.
- For people of Norwegian decent who can read it with an accent: Uff Da! by C. L. G. Martin
- I also enjoyed reading the chapter book Listening for Lions by Gloria Whetan last summer with my daughter.
From Jennifer Jones, Children’s Librarian at the Capitol Hill Library.
Good Stories for Pre-Readers:
- Over in the Arctic by Marianne Berkes
- Over in the Ocean by Marianne Berkes
- Over in the Jungle by Marianne Berkes
- Over in the Tundra by Marianne Berkes
For Beginning Readers:
- Who Says Woof? by John Butler
- Go, Dog, Go! by P.D. Eastman
For New Readers:
- The Grouchy Lady Bug by Eric Carle
- Biscuit series by Alyssa Capucilli
- Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin
- Puppy Place series by Ellen Miles
- Alvin Ho series by Lenore Look
Juvenile Fiction
- Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan
- Superfudge! By Judy Blume (Also, Double Fudge and Fudge-A-Mania)
