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Books for Youth
We're here to help families raise readers. Below you'll find links to our youth collections from our catalog and other great reading resources and sites!
NEW Summer Spotlight 2022 Reading Lists!
Who is an Early & Emerging Reader?
An early & emerging reader (PreK - 2nd grade) is beginning to learn how to read independently with assistance from an adult. They are developing Early Reading Skills like:
- Phonemic Awareness - memorizing alphabet letters by sight and sound, and applying that knowledge to sound out new words
- Recognizing Sight Words - memorizing simple, high-frequency words by sight without needing to sound them out (examples: the, and, they, no, yes)
- Fluency - reading smoothly and with expression, with some pauses to identify words
- Basic Vocabulary - absorbing common words and using them in sentences
- Comprehension - understanding the gist of what they read and recalling 2-3 important details
Resources in Our Collection
- Smooth Reading Kits: Designed to help emerging readers practice reading with fluency and expression.
- Take Home Play Kits: Great for introducing little ones to new vocabulary during play.
- New EASY & Picture Books: Browse our newest and on-order picture books and easy readers.
Reading Recommendation Tools & Sites
- BookFlix: Video storybooks paired with non-fiction books, activities, and games for young kids.
- NoveList K-8: Sign in with your library card to browse recommendations by subject, title, author, read-alike, or award winners.
- Maud Hart Lovelace Award and Star of the North Picture Book Award: See previous winners and this year’s selections for Minnesota kids.
- Children's Choice Book Award: See previous winners and this year’s selections for kids nationwide to vote on.
Who is an Elementary Reader?
An elementary reader (3rd - 6th grade) is mostly reading independently. They are developing skills like:
- Intermediate Fluency - developing stamina to read smoothly and expressively for longer periods
- Intermediate Vocabulary - using foundational vocabulary and sentence context clues to solve new words, applying new words correctly in sentences
- Intermediate Comprehension - summarizing the main idea and identifying important details, applying background knowledge and personal experiences to what they read
- Self-Selection & Fit - selecting books that are the right "fit" for them and filtering out ones that aren't, identifying favorite genres and interests
What's the deal with reading levels? At elementary school, their teacher may be using a leveling system to gauge their reading progress. Some common leveling systems are listed below. It's not a bad thing for your child to explore above or below their level! Kids who freely explore books of all difficulties learn self-selection skills.
- AR Book Finder: Search for Accelerated Reader books in English y Español.
- Lexile.com: Provides the Lexile levels of thousands of books.
- Reading A-Z Reading Level Correlation Chart: Translate and compare measures of different reading levels to each other, including Lexile, F&P letters, DRA, and more.
Find Great Elementary Reads
Elementary Book Selection Tips
- Help kids avoid choice overload by narrowing down 2-3 genres or topics to explore before searching.
- Juvenile realistic fiction books range from silly to mildly serious in tone. They tend to depict stories about changing friendships and families, with low-stakes mysteries and drama.
- Juvenile fantasy/sci-fi books are more adventurous than heady. They often feature talking animals, aliens, magic powers, and portals into new lands.
- With nonfiction, go for graphics - kids love exciting pictures and infographics.
Recommended Elementary Collection Items
- Smooth Reading Kits: Designed to help readers practice fluency and expression. Great for 3rd and 4th graders who need extra practice.
- New Chapter Books: Browse our newest arrivals and on-order items for young readers.
- New Juvenile Graphic Novels: Great for engaging reluctant readers! We even have graphic nonfiction books to help engage kids in topics they might consider dull.
- Juvenile Series: Another great way to hook a reluctant reader! Series can be a gateway into reading for kids who feel picky or prefer exclusively reading about their favorite characters.
Libby eBooks & eAudiobooks
In addition to the physical items above, elementary readers can discover downloadable eBooks and eAudiobooks from the Twin Cities Metro eLibrary on Libby.
- Learn how to use Libby: Libby FAQs
- Get the App: Download Libby from your app store and search for "Scott County Library" (listed under "MELSA: Twin Cities Metro eLibrary"). Sign in with your child's library card and PIN.
Reading Recommendation Tools & Sites
- NoveList K-8: Sign in with your library card to get recommendations.
- Maud Hart Lovelace Award: See previous winners and this year’s selections for Minnesota kids.
- Children's Choice Book Award: See previous winners and this year’s selections for kids nationwide.
Who is a Teen Reader?
A teen reader (7th - 12th grade) is reading independently. They're developing skills like:
- Advanced Fluency - stamina to read longer texts (example: novels) and knowing when to change approach based on text type (examples: poetry, plays)
- Advanced Vocabulary - learning and applying academic vocabulary with progressive difficulty
- Advanced Comprehension - fully understanding long texts, making connections to other texts, and applying background knowledge to critically examine topics
Find Great Young Adult Reads
Young adult books have exploded in popularity and there are more options than ever for mature middle schoolers and high schoolers. All our teen books are labeled "YA" but we can help narrow down what's best for your reader. Don't hesitate to contact us for recommendations!
Lower YA for Grades 7-9th Grade
| Upper YA for High School & New Adults
|
Recommended Teen Reads
- New Teen Books: Browse our newest books and on-order items for teens.
- New YA Graphic Novels: Great for engaging reluctant readers! Japanese Manga-style graphic novels are very popular with this age group.
Libby eBooks & eAudiobooks
In addition to the physical items above, teens can borrow downloadable eBooks & eAudiobooks from the Twin Cities Metro eLibrary on Libby.
- Learn how to use Libby: Libby FAQs
- Get the App: Download Libby from your app store and search for "Scott County Library" (listed under "MELSA: Twin Cities Metro eLibrary"). Sign in with your library card and PIN.