1,000 Books Before Kindergarten!
Beginning on September 1st, pick up a folder that will include all you and your child will need to begin this self-paced, free, fun, and rewarding program from the Harrisburg District Library!
Why read 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten? You are your child’s first teacher, and sharing books together creates memories and wonderful bonding experiences. Reading out loud to your child builds the pre-literacy skills needed to learn to read. These skills include vocabulary, background knowledge, and knowing the sounds that letters make.
Reading 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten can be accomplished in a number of ways:
1 book a day x 365 days = 365 books
1 book a day x 3 years = 1095 books
3 books a day x 365 days = 1095 books
So many ways to reach 1,000!
Read any 1,000 books with your child (repeating books is welcome because we know how often “Everybody Poops” can be requested at bedtime;)) and checkmark/X/dot/stamp/or/sticker on the logs provided for each 100. Check in at the library with your child so that we can cheer you on at each 100 books read. Small prizes will be rewarded.
Welcome to Miss Emily’s Virtual Story Time Room!
What is a Virtual Story Time Room? This virtual room offers options for more extended fun after story time ends. It also includes a link to click to rewatch the story time through our YouTube channel, anytime! (Story time videos will get deleted from our Facebook page but will always be available here!) There are links to watch other YouTube videos related to the topic or theme each week (letter song, or other movement video). Each room will feature book covers that take you to the library catalog to request the specific book.
Click the links to open up a new page! Links will be available after story time has occurred.
Hello, Friends and Letter A for September 2nd, 2020
Teddy Bears and Letter B for September 9th, 2020
Pirate and Letter C for September 16th, 2020
Dinosaurs and Letter D for September 23rd, 2020
Shapes and Letter E for September 30th, 2020
Apples and Letter F for October 7th, 2020
Pumpkins and Letter G for October 14th, 2020
Fall Leaves and Letter Hfor October 21st, 2020
Slightly Spooky and Letter I for October 28th, 2020
My Feelings and Letter J for November 4th, 2020
Counting and Letter K for November, 11th 2020
Let’s Eat and Letter L for November 18th, 2020
Let It Snow and Letter M for December 2nd, 2020
Animals in Winter and Letter N for December 9th, 2020
Yeti Story time and Letter O for December 16th, 2020
Happy New Year and Letter P for December 30th, 2020
Dragons and Letter Q for January 6th, 2021
Soup-er Story Time and Letter R for January 13th, 2021
Pete the Cat and Letter S for January 20th, 2021
Things that Go and Letter T for January 27th, 2021
Elephant and Piggie and Letter U for February 3rd, 2021
Love and Letter V for February 10th, 2021
Healthy Teeth and Letter W for February 24th, 2021
Story Time and Letter X for March 3rd, 2021
Story Time and Letter Y for March 10th, 2021
Story Time and Letter Z for March 17th, 2021
Chapter Book Genre Fiction Lists
Sometimes it can be overwhelming to walk in the library to see stacks of books organized by author. You aren’t sure where to look for a book to read! Introducing: genre fiction lists. These lists are organized by topic and feature 15 books that can all be found in the Harrisburg District Library.
Click the links to open up a new page and view each book list!
Action & Adventure Fiction: This sheet is updated to include whether the item is available as an e-resource, the AR level and points, and clickable book covers to take you directly to request the item through the library.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid Read Alikes: This sheet is updated to include whether the item is available as an e-resource, the AR level and points, and clickable book covers to take you directly to request the item through the library.
Family Fiction : This sheet is updated to include whether the item is available as an e-resource, the AR level and points, and clickable book covers to take you directly to request the item through the library.
Fantasy & Science Fiction: This sheet is updated to include whether the item is available as an e-resource, the AR level and points, and clickable book covers to take you directly to request the item through the library.
Friendship Fiction : This sheet is updated to include whether the item is available as an e-resource, the AR level and points, and clickable book covers to take you directly to request the item through the library.
Historical Fiction :This sheet is updated to include whether the item is available as an e-resource, the AR level and points, and clickable book covers to take you directly to request the item through the library.
Laugh Out Loud Fiction: This sheet is updated to include whether the item is available as an e-resource, the AR level and points, and clickable book covers to take you directly to request the item through the library.
Magic Fiction : This sheet is updated to include whether the item is available as an e-resource, the AR level and points, and clickable book covers to take you directly to request the item through the library.
Mystery Fiction: This sheet is updated to include whether the item is available as an e-resource, the AR level and points, and clickable book covers to take you directly to request the item through the library.
#OwnVoices: List coming soon!
Scary Fiction : This sheet is updated to include whether the item is available as an e-resource, the AR level and points, and clickable book covers to take you directly to request the item through the library.
Superhero Fiction : This sheet is updated to include whether the item is available as an e-resource, the AR level and points, and clickable book covers to take you directly to request the item through the library.
Survival Fiction: This sheet is updated to include whether the item is available as an e-resource, the AR level and points, and clickable book covers to take you directly to request the item through the library.
Video Games Fiction: This sheet is updated to include whether the item is available as an e-resource, the AR level and points, and clickable book covers to take you directly to request the item through the library.
Monarch Award
The Monarch Award is the Illinois K-3 Readers’ Choice Award. Book nominations are accepted statewide from school library media specialists, teachers, public librarians, and students. Books are both fiction and non-fiction and include a range of interest and reading levels for students K-3. Come check out an Illinois Monarch Award winner today!
Harrisburg District Library has copies of Monarch Book Award winners for 2022 & 2023. Links below will open PDF documents for each year!
Bluestem Award
The Bluestem Award is the Illinois Readers’ Choice Award for Grades 3-5. Bluestem books are fiction and non-fiction , ranging interests and reading levels. Come check out a Bluestem Award book today!
Harrisburg District Library has copies of the books in the Bluestem Award lists for 2022 & 2023. Click the links below to open PDF documents.
Accelerated Reader Bookfinder:
Search for books to find the AR Level and points value. If the book is on this website, there is an AR test for it at your school!
Cloud Library
The 3M Cloud Library app is available for Harrisburg District Library patrons to download e-books and e-audiobooks for free! All you need is your Harrisburg District Library card number and 4-digit PIN. The app is available for free download to iOS and Android devices. The Cloud Library has fiction and non-fiction for kids, teens, and adults.
https://www.yourcloudlibrary.com/
*Choose Illinois Heartland Library System when prompted to “Find Your Local Library.”
Hoopla
The Hoopla app is available for Harrisburg District Library patrons to download e-books, e-audiobooks, movies, TV shows, and music for free! All you need is your Harrisburg District Library card number and 4-digit PIN. The app is available for free download to iOS and Android devices. There are items available for all ages, with no wait times. Download the item immediately for easy access or stream online.
*Sign up with an email and password, choose your library, accept the terms and conditions, then enter your library card number and 4 digit PIN
TumbleBooks
TumbleBooks is a fun and interactive library of books available right at your fingertips. It allows you to read along with an animated book or read on your own. TumbleBooks are created by taking story books and adding animation, sound, music, and movement to create an e-book. Find picture books, chapter books, non-fiction, videos, and more for children of all ages on TumbleBooks today!
Kids InfoBits
Kids InfoBits is a database perfect for primary and elementary school learners. It features information on topics such as health, sports, plants, science, and literature. Click the photo to access with either your Harrisburg District Library card number and 4-digit PIN, or using har16592
ABCmouse
Children can visit Harrisburg District Library for free access to ABC Mouse. ABC Mouse
offers activities to improve math, reading, and art skills. Visit the classroom, the zoo, the farm, and more! Access is only available in-house at the library.
Ms. Emily’s Pick of the Month
Miss Emily’s Picture Book Pick
Turkey Trouble by Wendi Silvano
This book is available in print at our library. (HOLIDAYS THANKSGIVING SIL)
Check out the synopsis from Goodreads below.
Turkey is in trouble. Bad trouble. The kind of trouble where it’s almost Thanksgiving . . . and you’re the maincourse. But Turkey has an idea–what if he doesn’t look like a turkey? What if he looks like another animal instead?
After many hilarious attempts, Turkey comes up with the perfect disguise to make this Thanksgiving the best ever!
Ms. Emily’s Pick of the Month
Miss Emily’s Chapter Book Pick
Roll for Initiative by Jaime Formato
Available at our library in print. (NEW J FOR)
Check out the synopsis from Goodreads below.
Perfect for fans of Dungeons & Dragons, Raina Telgemeier, and Jessica Kim, a heartfelt coming-of-age middle grade novel about finding your voice and believing in your best geeky self.
Riley Henderson has never taken a bus to school in her entire life. Or made an afterschool snack, or finished her homework on her own, or—ewww—done her own laundry. That’s what her older brother Devin was for.
But now Devin’s gone. He’s off in California attending a fancy college gaming program while Riley is stuck alone in Florida with her mom. That is, until a cool nerd named Lucy gives Riley no choice but to get over her shyness and fear of rejection and become friends. The best part is . . . both girls are into Dungeons & Dragons. In fact, playing D&D was something Riley and Devin used to do together, with Devin as the dungeon master, guiding Riley through his intricately planned campaigns. So, of course, Riley is more than a little nervous when Lucy suggests that she run a campaign for them. For the chance at a friend, though, she’s willing to give it a shot. Soon, their party grows and with the help of her new D&D friends, Riley discovers that not only can she function without Devin, she kind of likes it. She figures out that bus thing, totes the clothes down to the laundry room and sets up her D&D campaigns right there on the slightly suspect folding table, makes her own snacks and dinner— the whole deal. But when Devin runs into trouble with his program and returns home, it’s pretty clear, even to Riley, that since he can’t navigate his own life, he’s going to live Riley’s for her. Now she has to help Devin go back to college and prove to her mom that she can take care of herself . . . all before the upcoming Winter-Con.
It’s time to Roll for Initiative.
Ms. Hadleigh’s Pick of the Month
5 Minute Baby Animal Stories by National Geographic
This book is available at our library in print (NEW ANIMALS MORE NAT) and as an eBook on the Hoopla app.
Check out the synopsis from Goodreads below.
Curl up with 12 true tales about some of the most adorable baby animals on the planet, from National Geographic Kids ! Each story is the ideal length to be read aloud in five minutes, perfect for bedtime, story time, or anytime.
From inspiring tales of baby manatee and baby wombat rescues to irresistible stories of how panda cubs, penguin chicks, and more babies grow up, this nonfiction 5-minute storybook will engage and enchant animal lovers of all ages. Illustrated with colorful photographs, these true stories are the heartwarming tales you can only get from National Geographic Kids. Each one can be read in about five minutes―perfect for any time you need a little boost of cute!
If baby animals make you go aww, this collection of stories is the book for you!
Ms. Krys’ Pick of the Month
On the Corner of Chocolate Avenue by Tziporah Cohen
Available at our library in print. (J 921 HER)
Check out the synopsis from Goodreads below.
The story of sweet success behind the Hershey’s Kiss! The invention of America’s quintessential milk chocolate bar is brought to life in this STEAM picture book biography.
Hershey’s milk chocolate is the quintessential American chocolate bar. But in Milton Hershey’s time, chocolate was mostly a special treat for the very wealthy. Milton grew up poor and was no stranger to going hungry. When he got a job washing dishes in an ice cream parlor, he realized how happy sweets made people–and how much he liked making people happy.
Over the course of his career, Hershey failed to make many businesses profitable, yet ultimately cracked the formula on milk chocolate. Here was a chocolate that was delicious, didn’t spoil, and could be sold at an affordable price in communities across America and the world. And here was a business that could provide good lives in a welcoming town and an education for those who couldn’t afford it.
Ms. Evan’s Pick of the Month
Lucy in the Sky by Kiara Brinkman
This book is available in print at our library. (J GNF CHI)
Check out the synopsis from Goodreads below.
In this contemporary graphic novel, twelve-year-old Lucy discovers her father’s collection of Beatles records and is inspired to form an all-girl rock band.
It’s the first day of seventh grade, and everything is going downhill for Lucy Sutcliffe. At school, she has the feeling her friends are all leaving her behind. At home, her single father is in a rut, and her perpetually traveling photojournalist mother is more absent than ever. Worst of all, Lucy’s grandmother is undergoing chemotherapy and is no longer the warm, vibrant presence that her family has come to depend on.
But everything changes the day Lucy discovers a box of her father’s Beatles records. Inspired by their music, she gets a drum set and forms an all-girl rock band with her friends. But can she keep the band together when petty rivalries, unrequited crushes, and outside pressures threaten to tear it apart?
Ms. Lisa’s Pick of the Month
Bruce and the Legend of Soggy Hollow by Ryan T. Higgins
Available at our library in print (NEW P HALLOWEEN HIG) and as an eBook on the Hoopla app.
Check out the synopsis from Goodreads below.
Celebrate all things scary with #1 New York Times best-selling author Ryan T. Higgins’s beloved Mother Bruce.
Bruce is a bear who does not like holidays, and he really doesn’t like Halloween. His family of mice and geese decides the only way to get Bruce excited about Halloween is to tell a scary story.
But their campfire tale takes a turn when a ghostly visitor appears. Will Bruce get in the Halloween spirit? Or will the Halloween spirit get Bruce?
Mr. Jordan’s Pick of the Month
Love You Forever by Robert Munsch
Available at our library in print. (ME LOVE MUN)
Check out the synopsis from Goodreads below.
An extraordinarily different story by Robert Munsch is a gentle affirmation of the love a parent feels for their child—forever.
“A young woman holds her newborn son and looks at him lovingly. Softly she sings to him: “I’ll love you forever. I’ll like you for always. As long as I’m living, my baby you’ll be.”
So begins the story that has touched the hearts of millions worldwide. Since publication in l986, “Love You Forever” has sold more than 15 million copies in paperback and the regular hardcover edition (as well as hundreds of thousands of translated copies around the world).
Sheila McGraw’s soft and colorful pastels perfectly complement the sentiment of the book—one that will be read repeatedly for years.