Grab your sunscreen and your beach towel, and don't forget your book! While you're soaking up the sun, these beach reads are sure to keep you entertained. Curated by Ashley Lee.
Category: Fiction
Animal Narrators
Have you ever looked at your pet or an animal out in the wild and wondered what is going on in their heads? Stories told by animals aren’t just for children. These books are narrated by all kinds of different animals, such as horses, cows, sheep, birds, dogs, and more! Curated by Tabor Millien.
In the Land of Unicorns
Humans have been fascinated by the fantastical creature known as the unicorn for centuries. According to some lore, unicorns are magical creatures whose horns are said to have healing powers. From finding unicorns in our world to visiting other lands they occupy, you can read a story featuring unicorns in celebration of our Tails and Tales 2021 Summer Reading Program. Check out the Fun with Unicorns collection on hoopla for ebooks, audiobooks, and streaming movies. Curated by Samantha Matherne.
Critter Comics
Mice and bunnies! Birds and pigs! Squirrel and foxes and gators and squids! Animals abound in these comics for kids. Curated by Ashley Lee.
Road Trip Audiobooks for the Whole Family
Are you packing up the car and hitting the road this summer? If so, these audiobooks can help you pass the time and are great for the whole family. Curated by Carrie Goodall.
Fun with Formatting
The books that make up this list all have unconventional formats, combining great story-telling with eye-catching visuals or mind-engaging tactics, such as pictures formed by the text, explosions of font to draw your eye, sections of text you need to re-orient the book in order to read, pages styled as different types of documents, or a narrative you can read through multiple different ways. Although some of these books are available in electronic forms, we suggest reading the hard copies for the full formatting effect! Curated by Tabor Millien.
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
"In 1978, a joint congressional resolution established Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week. The first 10 days of May were chosen to coincide with two important milestones in Asian/Pacific American history: the arrival in the United States of the first Japanese immigrants (May 7, 1843) and contributions of Chinese workers to the building of the transcontinental railroad, completed May 10, 1869. In 1992, Congress expanded the observance to a month-long celebration that is now known as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month." (US Census Bureau) This list celebrates new books by Asian American and Pacific Islander authors. Curated by Ashley Lee.
From Book to Screen: Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse
Recently adapted as a Netflix series, Shadow and Bone takes place in Leigh Bardugo's Grishaverse, a multi-series YA fantasy world rich in magic, action, and unforgettable characters. Once you're finished with this series, check out more YA fantasy read-alikes. Curated by Ashley Lee.
Full Cast Audiobooks
Full cast audiobooks bring dramatic readings to the next level by using multiple voices for character and narration. Check out this mix of adult, YA, and children's audiobooks. Curated by Ashley Lee.
Hidden Gems
Looking for new authors? These authors each have a short list of published books, making it easy to binge-read their work. These authors have burst onto the scene with engaging, thought-provoking, and powerful narratives that are sure to leave you wondering when their next books will hit our shelves. Curated by Tabor Millien.
Shelf Analysis 