Posted in News on June 4, 2025 at 6:00 am
This year’s Summer Reading theme “Level Up at Your Library” is based around puzzles and games. Everyone is encouraged to check out games, crafts, and events at our libraries for kids and families, tweens and teens, and adults. Plus, catch live author talks and track your reading for giveaways and prizes. […]
Tags: activities, adults, authors, books, crafts, events, family, games, kids, parents, programs, Summer reading, teens, tweens
Posted in News on June 3, 2025 at 6:00 am
Get ready for an exciting summer of storytelling, creativity, and inspiration. Our summer series lineup features four incredible authors who have captivated readers of all ages. Each event offers a unique opportunity for K–12 students, educators, and book lovers to hear directly from these acclaimed authors about their writing journeys, creative […]
Tags: author, author talks, books, chapter books, early learners, family, k-12, kids, middle grade books, parents, picture books, reading, series, Summer reading, teens, tweens, young adult books
Posted in News on May 28, 2025 at 6:00 am
Our Online Summer Reading Challenge “Level Up at Your Library” is for everyone—adults, teens, kids, and even infants and preschoolers. The challenge includes giveaways and prizes as well as the many benefits of reading. Start tracking your reading on Sunday, June 1 and through August 31. […]
Tags: adults, all ages, Beanstack, books, early learners, Families, giveaways, kids, prizes, reading challenge, Summer reading, teens, tweens
Posted in Parents and Teachers on August 3, 2022 at 6:00 am
By Alison Johnson One of the most important things to do this summer is to encourage the children in your life to read. For some of us, this can be difficult task. If kids only read for school, they might think of reading as trudging through a “classic” book or reading comprehension assignments. And they […]
Tags: books, challenge, family, graphic novels, kids, parents, reading, reading together, reluctant reader, Summer reading, teens, together, tweens
Posted in Explore and Discover on August 2, 2022 at 6:00 am
By Melissa Rhoades This summer’s reading challenge dares us to “Read Beyond the Beaten Path.” Reading stories by international authors is a wonderful way to do that. International fiction—also called foreign fiction—allows us to not only imagine the sights, smells, and sounds of other landscapes but also gain exposure to diverse customs, […]
Tags: adults, booklists, books, fiction, foreign, international, international literature, reading, Summer reading, world literature
Posted in Explore and Discover on July 13, 2022 at 6:00 am
By Savannah Stewart When it comes to beach reads, mine usually fall into the “this isn’t what I expected” category. Ideally, beach reads are easy-going and don’t interfere with your summer vibe. I’ve found that the books I like to read can’t live up to this ideal. And mostly, I never end up reading very […]
Tags: adults, beach reads, booklists, books, buffy, cold cases, dunder mifflin, fairy tale, fiction, grief, love story, magical realism, mental health, nonfiction, quests, reading, Summer reading, teens, The Office, vampire slayer, yoga, zen
Posted in Explore and Discover on August 7, 2018 at 6:00 am
By Dana Mannino Welcome to August—a great time for a summer reading half-time report! My summer reading looked a lot like this picture of the bulletin board in the staff break room at Spokane Valley Library. Waaaay back in May, PBS launched The Great American Read, a program that highlights 100 of America’s beloved books […]
Tags: book list, books, reading, Summer reading, The Great American Read
Posted in Explore and Discover, kids, Parents and Teachers on June 5, 2018 at 6:00 am
By Gwendolyn Haley Last summer my family was busy with summer activities: camps, road trips, and camping vacations. We planned highly educational and enriching activities for our youngest daughter, but we did not make reading a high priority. When she started school in the fall, her teacher told me that she had definitely lost ground […]
Tags: online reading, online summer reading, reading, reading buddies, reading buddy, summer learning loss, Summer reading, summer reading buddies, summer reading buddy, summer slide
Posted in kids, News on June 29, 2017 at 6:00 am
By Erin Dodge We’re ready for comedy, creativity, audience participation, and outrageously amusing songs this summer. And we hope you are too! Eric Herman performs his cool tunes at our libraries, July 17–21. I reached out to Eric with a few questions and learned a bit about how Siri, poets, and kids influence his music. I […]
Tags: events, family, kids, music, parents, summer, summer performers, summer programs, Summer reading, young learners
Posted in Explore and Discover on June 14, 2017 at 6:00 am
Guest Blog By Kim Brinkmann “I had no idea this place even existed!” This phrase is commonly expressed by first-time guests of the West Valley Outdoor Learning Center. The Outdoor Learning Center is tucked back in a corner on the grounds of Pasadena Park Elementary School, hidden among the towering cottonwoods, cedars, and aspens. It […]
Tags: animal conservation, animals, community, eagles, education, environmental, events, family, habitats, hawks, kids, natural wildlife, nature, owls, parents, raptors, rehabilitate, rescue, summer programs, Summer reading, teens, tweens, West Valley Outdoor Learning Center, wildlife, young learners