Recommended Reading for Kids
Every week our librarians compile thematic list of book recommendations. Check for new lists on this page, or subscribe to our electronic newsletter to have links to them delivered straight to your inbox.
We also have suggested readings for teens and adults.
Day of the Dead
Day of the Dead is like a family reunion--only with our dead ancestors as the guests of honor. This holiday, celebrated primarily in Mexico November 1-2, is a joyful time that helps us remember and celebrate those family members we have lost. If your young reader would like to learn more, check out this list of staff-recommended books.
Voting & Elections
Election day is fast approaching and news about campaigns and early voting is everywhere. If your young reader is curious about how the electoral process works, we have a list of staff-recommended books to help.
Indigenous Peoples' Day
Indigenous Peoples’ Day is celebrated the second Monday in October to raise awareness of the rich history, culture, and traditions of the Indigenous peoples of the Americas.
Halloween Books
Here is a staff-recommended list of Halloween books for kids. Some are a touch creepy and some are just fun, but all are just right for getting in the Halloween mood.
Nevada Young Readers' Awards
Presented by the Nevada Library Association, the Nevada Young Readers' Awards honor extraordinary books intended for readers from kindergarten to twelfth grade. Each year, students in the state of Nevada recommend and vote for winners in four categories: Picture Books, Young Readers, Intermediate, and Young Adult. See the 2020 winners, help pick the winners for next year, and nominate your own favorites for 2022 at the Nevada Library Association website.
Pumpkin Spice Everything
Pumpkin spice season is here. What's not to love about this staff-recommended book list with one thing in common: pumpkins. You'll find fiction and non-fiction for a variety of audiences to get you in the mood for sweater weather.
Hispanic/Latinx Voices
National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 - October 15) recognizes and celebrates the contributions Americans tracing their roots to Spain, Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Spanish-speaking nations of the Caribbean have made to American society and culture. This list of staff-recommended fiction from Hispanic and Latinx voices in celebration of the over 61 million residents of the United States of Hispanic/Latin origin
9/11 Books for Kids & Teens
How can we talk to our kids about 9/11 while still offering optimism and hope? The terrorism of that day exposed the worst in people, but the wonderful stories of heroism and compassion that occurred during and after the attack show the best. The stories in this staff-recommended list of both nonfiction and fiction books about September 11, 2001 can help children and teens recognize how their own compassion can prevent future acts of intolerance and violence and teach them to express their ideas respectfully and to treat people who are different from themselves with kindness.
Middle-Grade Graphic Novels
Have you heard that reading graphic novels doesn't count as "real reading?" Well, we disagree! While the illustrations make graphic novels highly-engaging, especially for reluctant readers, they are still full of complex stories that require decoding of plot, character, and meaning in a similar way to print-only text. Reading graphic novels will improve reading skills just as any other book would and they often build a bridge to traditional texts as readers gain confidence or encounter topics or genres they want to explore further.
Women's Suffrage
August 18, 2020 marks the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, guaranteeing women the right to vote after 72 years of lobbying, marching, picketing and protesting by leaders know as suffragists or suffragettes. Here is a staff-recommended list of books honoring this fight and the one that continued afterward to secure the same rights for women of color.
You Be You
We are all different and that's what makes the world such a beautiful place! Here's a list of picture books that encourage kids to embrace their uniqueness and share their individual talents and authentic selves with the world.
