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The annual Summer Reading Program kicks off next Saturday (June 8th) at Peter White Public Library. In the coming weeks, make a plan to stop by Youth Services to register your kids, grab a calendar of our summer programming and help your children find some new favorite books. For many, the best part about summer reading is the opportunity to read books just for fun about whatever topics capture one's interest. If one of those topics happens to be cats for someone in your family, cute cats make an appearance in several new titles on the shelves.
No Cats in the Library by Lauren Emmons
Clarisse the cat is a fan of books, and she has decided she must find a way into the library. This quick, sweet story is propelled by Clarisse's wistfulness and hope. While it is the promise of stories that draws the cat inside, this library ultimately offers Clarisse an opportunity for connection and a place to belong. Kids who are sympathetic to Clarisse's desire for attention, might be encouraged to share this story (or another favorite book) with their own pet.
This Little Kitty in the Garden by Karen Obuhanych
The title slightly misleads: instead of just one, there are five kittens in this book's vibrant garden! Can young readers keep track of each kitty's antics? The bright, playful illustrations encourage careful observation of each page to ensure each character is accounted for in every garden task they tackle together. The rhyming text makes it a fun read aloud book, and the story sneaks in some gardening vocabulary to expand content knowledge. Parents will also appreciate that the kittens' burst of energy is followed by a nap.
The Kitten Story: A Mostly True Tale by Emily Jenkins
In this realistic picture book told from a mother's point-of-view, a family decides to adopt a kitten together, but it quickly becomes a little challenging to find consensus on the details. For any child with a sibling who has different tastes, the family dynamics will ring true. When no one can agree upon a name and the first shelter they try to visit is no longer operational, the mother wonders how she will be able to satisfy everyone's demands. Luckily for her family, the mother is able to use her instincts to find a satisfying solution that ultimately allows the minutiae of each individual's wish list to melt away.
Cat & Cat Adventures: The Goblet of Infinity by Susie Yi
In the second story of this graphic novel series, two cat buddies are enjoying the benefits of a magical potion that grants them unlimited snacks. The contentment only lasts for a moment before they realize if they just had one more magical charm, their day could be even better. What begins as a low-stakes storyline evolves into a richer plot, as the protagonists meet other characters on their quest, and realize how their self-interested motivations can unintentionally harm others. Instead of simply focusing on the fun elements of a cute, magical setting, the story sneaks in a gentle lesson on the importance of taking the time to recognize the needs of others.
By Meghan LeBoeuf
Youth Services