1,000 Books Before Kindergarten!
Stop by the library anytime to 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.
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.
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 2023, 2024, & 2025. 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 2023, 2024, & 2025. 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
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 for free on-site use at the library.
Ms. Emily’s Pick of the Month
Miss Emily’s Picture Book Pick
The Paperbag Princess by Robert Munsch
Available in print at our library (PEOPLE PRINCESSES MUN) and as both an eBook and audiobook on the Hoopla app.
A fearsome dragon leaves Elizabeth only a paper bag to clothe herself. But unswayed, she will chase after the dragon and get back what is hers. What about the Prince?
Ms. Emily’s Pick of the Month
Miss Emily’s Chapter Book Pick
Grasping Mysteries: Girls Who Loved Math by Jeannine Atkins
Available at our library in print. (J ATK)
Told in vibrant, evocative poems, this stunning novel celebrates seven remarkable women who used math as their key to explore the mysteries of the universe and grew up to do innovative work that changed the world.
Evan’s Pick of the Month
Honor Flight: Celebrating America’s Veterans by Jeff Gottesfeld
Available at our library in print. (NEW J 305.906 GOT)
A U.S. veteran narrates a once-in-a-lifetime visit to the military memorials of Washington, D.C., made possible by Honor Flight, a volunteer-run program that takes veterans to the U.S. Capitol.
Kaitlyn’s Pick of the Month
Millie Fleur’s Poison Garden by Christy Mandin
Available at our library in print (NEW NATURE GARDENS MAN) and as an eBook and audiobook on the Hoopla app.
Up on a scruffy hill, Millie Fleur plants her marvelously strange garden, filled with Sneezing Stickyweed, Fanged Fairymoss, and Grumpy Gilliflower. Millie Fleur finds it enchanting, but the townspeople call it poison! If some townspeople want to be sticks in the mud, she’ll take matters into her own hands and find the kindred spirits who appreciate everything the garden has to offer.
Hadleigh’s Pick of the Month
Log Life by Amy Hevron
Available at our library in print. (J 577.3 HEV)
Once there stood a giant fir tree that stretched to the sun. One stormy day, a great gust came. The tree creaked, cracked, and collapsed! And the tree’s new life as a nurse log began… Discover the tiny, fascinating world of nurse logs in this first book in an illuminating picture book series that explores how even the smallest habitats play big roles in nature.
Jacque’s Pick of the Month
When Bluebell Sang by Lisa Campbell Ernst
Available to order through interlibrary loan.
Bluebell is a singing cow — and a dream-come-true for unscrupulous talent agent, Big Eddie. When Bluebell sings, no one can resist her. A diva in demand, she packs concert halls, sets fashion trends, and travels across the country in style. But while Big Eddie rakes in the profits, Bluebell longs for the green pastures of homes. Plotting a clever escape, she leaves the fast life behind and teaches Big Eddie a lesson.