Summer Reading
The Gaston County Public Library’s Summer Reading Program
May 29-August 21, 2021
Our 2021 summer reading theme is Tails and Tales! Choose books, magazines, comic books, ebooks and audiobooks at the library or at home that you love to read. Research shows that reading at least fifteen to twenty minutes a day is optimum for slowing the summer slide, the loss of learning which happens over the summer.
How does Summer Reading work at the Gaston County Public Library?
Babies to age 3
For babies to age 3, grab a free early literacy record at your library. Parents, complete the activities with your child to receive an animal bath toy and be entered into the grand prize drawing for early literacy toys.
Pre-K to Grade 5
For kids in pre-K to Grade 5, pick up your free reading record at the library. Read for 20 minutes a day (read anything you like!) and mark it on your record. Come back to the library later in the summer and a librarian will check your record and give you any prizes you've earned. By the end of summer, you will have a lanyard, 4 badges, wristband and two entries into the grand prize drawing.
Grades 6-12
For teens in grades 6-12, pick up a free teen reading card, read 6 books over summer and bring in your completed card to earn a bag and be entered into the grand prize drawing.
Adults
Adults, pick up a free adult reading card at your library, read 4 books over summer to win your choice of a bag or cup and a chance to win a grand prize.
In addition to printed reading records, you can also pick up a printable activity packet while supplies last. There will also be an online summer reading option for those that prefer to go paperless.
Online Summer Reading
Our online summer reading option for kids is Readsquared. Log your minutes read online at Readsquared between May 29 and August 21 by going to http://gastonlibrary.readsquared.com/
For teens and adults, participate online in our Goodreads group at https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/126078-gaston-library
FREE In-Person And Virtual Library Events
Please view available events via our online calender at http://gastonlibrary.org/events/calendar/
GCPL Youth Services Facebook (for children’s and teen information and programming): https://www.facebook.com/gcplyouthservices
GCPL Facebook (for adult information and programming): https://www.facebook.com/gastonlibrary
Access videos made from our children’s programming staff on our Youtube page: https://www.youtube.com/user/gaslinreglib
Online Reading Tools
Need help strengthening Reading Skills like comprehension, phonics and fluency?
Try Home Reading Helper https://www.homereadinghelper.org/
Concerned about your child’s readiness for Kindergarten?
Gaston County Early Literacy Collaborative provides fantastic resources for birth to age 5
http://gastonlibrary.org/virtual-library-learning/literacy-resources/gaston-county-early-literacy-collaborative/
Reading Suggestion List
Check out these fantastic books recommended and compiled by GCPL Youth Services staff:
Kindergarten:
A Piglet Called Mercy by Kate DiCamillo
The Book Hog by Greg Pizzoli
Saturday by Oge Mora
Three Ninja Pigs by Corey Rosen Schwartz
Windows by Julia Denos
The Pigeon Has to Go to School! by Mo Willems
Tiny T. Rex and the Impossible Hug by Jonathan Stutzman
Corduroy by Don Freeman
Swimmy by Leo Lionni
Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney
Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry
The Princess and the Pony by Kate Beaton
First Grade:
Hello, Crabby by Jonathon Fenske
Sleeping Ugly by Jane Yolen
Princess and the Pit Stop by Tom Angleberger
Dear Dragon: A Pen Pal Tale by Josh Funk
Maurice the Unbeastly by Amy Dixon
It Came in the Mail by Ben Clanton
Penny and Penelope by Dan Richards
Rules of the House by Mac Barnett
Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Pena
The Good Egg by Jory John
How to Read a Book by Kwame Alexander
Tomorrow Most Likely by Dave Eggers
Second Grade:
A Different Pond by Bao Phi
Ella and Owen (series) by Jaden Kent
Zoey & Sassafras (series) by Asia Citro
Princess in Black (series) – Shannon Hale
Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpre by Anika Aldamuy Denise
My Papi Has a Motorcycle by Isabel Quintero
The Patchwork Bike by Maxine Beneba Clark
Dory Fantasmagory (series) by Abby Hanlon
Alvin Ho (series) by Lenore Look
Mia Mayhem is a Superhero! by Kara West
Chicken Squad: The First Misadventure by Doreen Cronin
Sulwe by Lupita Nyong’o
Third Grade:
EllRay Jakes (series) by Sally Warner
Gooney Bird Green and the Room Mother by Lois Lowry
The Miniature World of Marvin and James by Elise Broach
The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden
The Witches of Benevento by Sophie Blackall
The Mouse with the Question Mark Tail by Richard Peck
Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate
Saving Winslow by Sharon Creech
Wedgie & Gizmo by Suzanne Selfors
Dragon Masters (series) by Tracey West
Clubhouse Mysteries (series) by Sharon Draper
Fourth Grade:
The Beast Within (Villains Series) by Serena Valentino
The Runaway Princess (graphic) by Troianowski
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon (series) by Grace Lin
Rump (series) by Liesl Shurtliff
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
The Book of Three (Chronicles of Prydain series) by Lloyd Alexander
The Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Banks
The Borrowers (series) by Mary Norton
RA the Mighty: The Great Tomb Robbery by A.B. Greenfield
Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea
The Great Treehouse War by Lisa Graff
Fifth Grade:
Front Desk by Kelly Yang
The Story that Cannot be Told by J. Kasper Kramer
Willa of the Wood by Robert Beatty
Lionel Messi: The Ultimate Fan Book by Mike Perez
A Journey to Jo’burg by Beverley Naidoo
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller
More to the Story by Hena Khan
The Liberation of Gabriel King by K.L. Going
Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai
Code Word Courage by Kirby Larson
Real Friends by Shannon Hale
New Kid by Jerry Craft
ALSC 2021 Summer Reading List and Battle of the Books
Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) Summer Reading Lists for All Ages: http://www.ala.org/alsc/publications-resources/book-lists/2021-summer-reading-list
Middle School Battle of the Books for 2021-22: https://ncslma.wildapricot.org/resources/Documents/Official%20Book%20List%202021-2022.pdf
High School Battle of the Books for 2021-22: https://ncslma.wildapricot.org/resources/Documents/2021-2022%20HBOB%20Final%20List.pdf
National Summer Learning Week
National Summer Learning Week is July 12-16, 2021. During National Summer Learning Week, we celebrate summertime efforts to keep children healthy, safe, and learning so that they are ready for school success. Learn more at https://www.summerlearning.org/summer-learning-week/.